artists

Maria is an educator and artist. She received her BA in Dance from the University of Alabama and MA in Dance Education from the University of Northern Colorado. She is also pursuing an MFA at Wilson College. Maria is the owner and artistic director of Athletic Arts Center, a studio that offers dance, voice, and theatre opportunities for both children and adults. Through a movement style primarily built on classical ballet with modern and contemporary influences, she seeks to use her art to entertain, communicate, and build community. She had the privilege of serving as director and choreographer for Walker Community Theatre and Bevill State Community College summer theatre program. She serves on the board of the Chamber of Commerce of Walker County, Boys and Girls Club, and Walker County Arts Alliance. Through her work she hopes to foster interest in the art form, as well as inspire others to pursue their creativity and passion.

Squall Line

Choreography: Maria Ross Campsey

Dancers: Maria Ross Campsey, Kellie Giles

This work was created in May 2020 marking the beginning of the National Covid quarantine

Alex Childress

Alex is a 21 year old native of Jacksonville Florida. He began dancing at the age of 8 at the Jacksonville Center of the Arts, under the direction of Kezia Rolle. Since starting his training, he has worked with accredited choreographers in the dance world such as Troy Powell and Christopher Huggins. After a 4 year hiatus from dance, he relocated to Atlanta to continue his training and received performance opportunities such as performing in Komanse dance company’s’ premier show entitled SKID under the direction of Raianna Brown. He has also been involved in artist showcases such as RawArts and the Dance Awards Atl. He currently teaches at multiple studios in the Atlanta area and is Phusion’s Performing Arts Alliance company director. While in Atlanta, he has found a new passion for choreography. While choreographing, he likes to create movement that allows dancers to beautifully portray a story or emotions while also adding a level of athleticism.

"'Amen' is a piece that I choreographed in order to reflect on a time of lost and darkness, while also serving as a reminder that we as people survive through these dark times. This piece is an excerpt from a project I choreographed on Phusion Contemporary Dance Theater entitled “Scattered Thought”. “Scattered Thoughts” served as a self reflection on the 7 stages of grief, and how I personally dealt with a time of grief in my life. “Amen” represents the transitional phases between Depression and Acceptance/Hope. Due to COVID-19 “scattered thoughts” production was put on hold but I am currently working on a couple of new video projects that I am excited to release."

Dancers: Aiyana Woods, Ya’Mya Fasion, Journi Hunter, Jade Foster, Lauren Price, Keirra Davidson, and Deijah Stevenson

Videographer: John Nalls

Beth Del Nero

Beth Del Nero is originally from the Detroit area but has been in Atlanta since 1994. Her dance background includes training in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and aerial dance. Almost all of her dance training has occurred at various Atlanta area studios and professional workshops, as well as with Ginny King, cast member of the original 42nd Street. Beth danced for Ginny’s professional company at Bacchus Productions for several years, honing her skills in showgirl/cabaret style, Latin dance, and more. Beth has attended numerous masterclasses in NYC at Steps and Broadway Dance Center while attending the Martha Graham Summer Intensive on two separate occasions. In addition to this, Beth has been involved in aerial dance since 2005 and trained at both Canopy Studio in Athens, GA and the former D’Air Studio here in Atlanta where she ended up teaching for almost 10 years.

Beth currently teaches dance full time (or at least did, before the pandemic!). She can be found teaching ballet and jazz at The Atlanta Dance Academy and aerial dance to all ages at the relatively new Challenge Aerial in Grant Park and at Inspire Aerial Arts in Midtown.

Beth’s past performing experience includes Showbox nightclub in Atlanta as one of 6 can-can dancers/showgirls; with Dance Brasil as a samba dancer, and with Gathering Wild modern dance as a company member for several years. She also has performed for well-known choreographers David Dorfman and Otis Sallid. Beth has danced and choreographed for Atlanta's Dames Aflame showgirls since 2004, performing often with the Kingsized Orchestra and Puddles the Clown. Currently Beth dances and choreographs in the air with D’Air Aerial Dance Company as well as solo. She is a co-founder of the showgirl/entertainment company, Two Chandeliers. She has done original choreography (contemporary and aerial) at Dance Chance Atlanta, Skwhirlhaus, Decatur's October Dance Gala, and Open Grip aerial showcase on more than one occasion. She was a 2017 Dance Canvas Choreographer, debuting a contemporary/aerial cube piece which was an audience favorite.

"'The Anxiety of Waiting' is exactly what the title implies: the not so great feeling involved with waiting for any and all outcomes from or during the Covid-19 pandemic. These include health outcomes, financial outcomes, safety outcomes (especially for people of color), and the feeling of just being lonely. This can range from manic moments to boredom to emotional exhaustion. It's a theme I think all of us can relate to on many levels during this stressful time. "

Choreographed and performed by Beth Del Nero

Rachel Feinberg

Rachel is an Atlanta native who graduated from Eckerd College with a degree in Psychology. Earlier this year, she received her Masters in Human Computer Interaction from The Georgia Institute of Technology. She is passionate about photography and continuously seeks out subtle patterns in day to day settings and searches for the allure of nature even in urban environments.

Her work submitted to "The Quarantine Chronicles" represents raw female power, magic and 'badassery.' You can visit her website by clicking her name above.

McKay House

McKay House is originally from Chattanooga, TN. She received her Bachelors in Dance from the University of Alabama in 2016 where she was awarded Outstanding Artistic Achievement. Since then she has conceived and performed original works at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, the Going Dutch Festival, and Kindling Art Festival. She lives and works in Nashville as a freelance dance and performance artist focusing most of her work on dance film and improvisation. She also teaches and organizes for Nashville Contact Improvisation and has been a guest teacher of improvisation at several universities.

"over and over"

"hair grows like grass does

over and over

like children and love do

over and over

bound together by longing, by nature, by vanity

we braid ourselves

over and over

into each other

mother, sister, friend, lover

(one must go over, one must go under)"

Film conception and performed by McKay House and Utam Moses

Videography by Meg Anderson

Heather Hunt with Tristan Hallman and Colin Kemper

Heather graduated Summa Cum Laude from the University of Alabama with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance, and a second major in General Business. She has spent summer and winter breaks studying with the American Ballet Theatre, the Gus Giordano Dance School, the Rockettes Summer Intensive, Alvin Ailey, and more. She has had the privilege of performing original and restaged works by Cornelius Carter and Lawrence Jackson of the Cleo Robinson Dance Ensemble, Gus Giordano, Sarah M. Barry, Jimmy Locus, Grace Kurosaka, Elijah Gibson, and many more.

While at the University of Alabama, Heather had the opportunity to lead as vice-president of the renowned student organization, Dance Alabama!. This enabled her to lead, organize, and teach students. She also had her choreography featured in the Dance Alabama! show, the Alabama Dance Festival, and more.

She also has a love for fitness and marketing, and plans to use these skills in combination with dance. She aims to offer her unique voice to others through her dancing, choreographing, teaching, and more.

"Tristan Hallman is the Director and Cinematographer of “Energies of Woman.” Tristan is a senior at the University of Alabama from Northport, Alabama studying a B.F.A. in Acting and Creative Media. He has worked primarily with dance films, and has entered the Dance Alabama! Film Festival for two years as both roles of a Director and Director of Photography, and also served as the lead videographer for Alabama’s Gymnastics team.”

Colin Kemper is a Composition graduate student at the University of Alabama at Tuscaloosa, where he has studied with Drs. Amir Zaheri and Craig First. Prior to his entering the program, Kemper earned a Master of Arts in Composition at Tulane University, where he studied with Drs. Maxwell Dulaney, Richard Snow, and Barbara Jazwinski. Colin has written for stage, theater, ensembles, orchestra, soloists, games, and dance film. His music has been performed by members of the Dal Niente Ensemble, the Lunar Ensemble, the Meridian Percussion Trio, Houston’s Foundation for Modern Music, the University of Alabama Contemporary Ensemble, and soloist Orlando Cela. Recently he completed the full soundtrack to Earthborn Interactive's "Flutterbombs”. It was released on Xbox360 and PS4 American and European marketplaces.

"The Energies of Woman"

Directed by Heather Hunt and Tristan Hallman

Cinematography by Tristan Hallman

Composed by Colin Kemper

Dancers: Liv Philips, Gracie McCraney, Jordan Bee, Kylie Long, and Brelyn Reece

Jacob Lavoie

Jacob is an Atlanta, GA based maker, performance artist, and educator. He is currently a company member with Sideways Contemporary Dance and a teaching artist with Atlanta Music Education, specializing in Drama, Dance, and Musical Theatre. Jacob recently presented an original new work at Excuse the Art co-hosted by Fly On A Wall and The Windmill Arts Center in March, 2020. He is a Stretch Coach with Kika Stretch Studios where he works with clients and through gentle assisted stretching, help clients maintain youth and vitality with designed tension relief that aids in increased flexibility and overall wellness.

Jacob graduated Summa Cum Laude from Keene State College in May 2019 with a B.A. in Theatre and Dance with dual concentrations in Dance: Choreography and Performance and Theatre Arts: Directing.

Jacob’s artistic research has been presented at Keene State College’s Academic Excellence Conference twice. Once in the form of an original modern dance work and the other through his direction of a short play by James Still. He is also a two time participant in the Kennedy Center American College Theatre Festival’s Stage Directors and Choreographers Society (SDC) Fellowship Program and a two time performer in the American College Dance Association's New England Regional Conference. In May 2018 Jacob received the Julia McHale Redfern Memorial Prize for Excellence in the performing arts.

"Farewell Sonata" is a collection of short solo dance films created in response to the Covid-19 Pandemic. This body of work examines our separation from the world we lived in prior to the Covid-19 Pandemic and how the massive shutdowns and stay at home orders that erupted in March 2020 have impacted us as we were forced to bid adieu to the world we once knew.

Choreography by Jacob Lavoie in collaboration with performers

Videography by Haley Varano

Dancers: Kia Street and Megan Long

Catherine Messina

Catherine Messina, a graduate of Emory University, has been dancing for over 20 years. A scholarship recipient, she has studied at the Bates Dance Festival in Maine, staibdance Summer Intensive in Italy, and ADF Bates Winter Intensive in New York. As an Atlanta based artist, she has worked with local choreographers Jessica Bertram, Jacquelyn Pritz, George Staib, Greg Catellier, Sarah Hillmer, Jillian Mitchell, and Kristin O'Neil as well as Mark Caserta, Niv Sheinfeld, Oren Laor, John McFall, and the Trisha Brown Dance Company. Additionally, she has performed at festivals including the Modern Atlanta Dance Festival, the Inman Park Festival, the American College Dance Association, and the Women in Dance Conference in Philadelphia, her hometown. She has shown her work at festivals such as femmefest, play.risk.research, Immerse ATL Creates, Dance Canvas, Yes! Dance Festival, and Emory University. She also has experience in arts administration, teaching, and technical production. She currently dances with Atlanta based company Kit Modus and other independent artists.

'For bodies' celebrates how different bodies can move in different spaces together now that distance is no longer a factor. We create together, we experiment with angles, and we work with our various surroundings. We can find unity through our solitude. It includes an original sound score by Peter Flamming.

Choreography by Catherine Messina with assistance from dancers

Dancers: Laura Briggs, Athena Miros, Diarra Webb, Jada Willis

Editing by Catherine Messina and Leah Behm

Music by Peter Flamming

René Nesbit

René Nesbit is a dancer, painter, and poet, and the founder of Can I Color Now Studios. She believes that art is powerful and that it can unite and change the world. She understands that creativity is an essential part of our humanity. Although quarantine has been full of challenges and isolating at times, these obstacles have pushed her to focus on the big goals, to ask the really hard questions, and to explore new and various outlets of expression. Her piece, “You Had Time,” reflects on the loneliness that the pandemic has created for so many people.

Choreography by René Nesbit

Tara Lynn Steele (AbunDance Company)

Tara Lynn Steele is a graduate of the University of Alabama where she performed with both DanceAlabama! and Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre (ARDT). Tara Lynn double majored in Dance & Musical Theatre while at UA creating opportunity for diverse experiences. After graduating Tara Lynn simultaneously pursued MT and Choreography/dance in NYC. She helped found AbunDance Company. This company creates a safe space for all artists to collaborate and hone their craft. It is a woman founded company & is always in search of collaborators that are innovative, empathetic, and seek social change.

"Tenth Street After Hours" Choreographed and Performed by: Tara Lynn Steele Composed by: Raphael Crystal

"This piece was born out of quarantine times. Raphe and I have collaborated many times over the passed 10 years, starting at The University of Alabama. When Covid 19 hit and we retreated to the safety of our homes, we decided it was time to create through new mediums. As a musical theatre performer, I often approach choreography from a storyline standpoint. Raphe had these wonderfully crafted snippets of music I was drawn to, and a dream about a clown/cabaret worker spurred this creation. I hope you enjoy the quirk of the character that comes to life when just the ghostlight is present."

"Fratte Flow" Choreographed by: Tara Lynn Steele & Joseph Akin Danced by: Ryan Jacobs, Joseph Akin, Jill Michalsky, Abby Marchesseault, Angela Joy, & Tara Lynn Steele

"This piece began as an experiment with poetry as movement--and partnering. It then evolved and was a collaboration that still brings joy to the company. Although it was choreographed and performed pre quarantine we wanted to share it's joy and visceral energy. It's about discovery, rhythm, and learning to lean on your people when you need to....find the flow."

Zachary Todd with Xavier DeMar

Originally from Milwaukee, WI, Zachary is a multi-disciplinary artist that focuses on dance, choreography, visual mixed media work, and filmmaking. Zachary is a graduate of the prestigious Milwaukee High School of the Arts, and a former member of Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, The Atlanta Dance Connection, The Proia Dance Project, and Okwae A. Miller & Artists. He has had the opportunity to perform the works of noted choreographers as well as serve as an instructor for several summer intensive programs, master classes, and lecture demonstrations. Zachary’s filmmaking and visual art practice is grounded in his dance background. Whether he’s working on a live performance or choreographing for film, Zachary uses movement as a means to create a sense of community and connection between the artist(s) and the audience.

Zachary’s featured film project, Wise Beyond Our Years, is an interweaving of ten movement episodes, which embraces the differences and the inherent beauty of being black.

A native of Indianapolis, Indiana, Xavier DeMar is a New York/ Atlanta based dancer, performing artist, choreographer and dance educator. Xavier began dancing at an early age as a member of his family’s West African drum and danced company, Xangue. After beginning to train in classical ballet at the age of 12, he was afforded a scholarship to attend Jordan Collage Academy of Dance, an affiliate of Butler University. Shortly after graduating from Broad Ripple High School, he began his professional career with The Georgia Ballet, where he performed lead roles in Sleepy Hollow and the company’s Nutcracker Suite. Xavier has danced and choreographed for various dance companies and organizations, including Dance Canvas, The Atlanta Dance Connection, and Proia Dance Project. He has performed the works of noted choreographers Alexander Proia, Becca Shade, Allyne Gartrell, Lonny Davis, Tracey Vogt, and Richard A. Freeman, Jr.

As a choreographer, Xavier loves pushing artistic boundaries and sharing his gifts with his students. He has created works for Atlanta Dance Connection, Gibson Repertory Ensemble, Gotta Dance Contemporary, and AREA | Atlanta’s Resource for Entertainment and Arts. He currently serves as the Co-Director of TranscenDANCE Summer Intensive, where he oversees the ballet/jazz training program and serves as a resident choreographer. Xavier has been teaching dance for nearly 10 years in many dance studios, colleges, community centers and after school programs. Xavier recently moved to New York City to fulfill his dream of becoming a full-time performing artist and choreographer but has moved back to Atlanta due to the pandemic and is excited to be back in Atlanta enriching the young Artists of future.

Direction and Cinamotagraphy by Zachary Todd

Choreography by Xavier DeMar

Dancers: Corea Batey, Kendall Brown, Akeem Edwards, Jadyn Floyd, Lenataa Goka, Kamryn Grymes, Michaela Johnson, Ganesa Laguerre, Jasmine Mercer, Javon Moore, Jasmine Roberts, Veronica Silk, Erin Smith, Alicia Thompson, Darion Turner, Mikayla Whitten, and Kaleigh Woodruff

Julia Urrea and Gracen Pace

Julia attends the University of Georgia and has been dancing from a very young age. She has danced with Dancefx Atlanta and Dancefx Athens where she has performed with their youth and adult companies.

Gracen also attends the University of Georgia and like Julia, has been trained with both Dancefx Atlanta and Dancefx Athens where she has performed with their youth and adult companies.

Their piece, "On the Attack" features some of the yough company dancers from Dancefx Atlanta.

"The intention behind this project was to simply have fun. Often times, dance companies are consumed by the stress of competitions, conventions, and end of year performances. Having experienced these situations ourselves, my best friend, Gracen Pace, and I decided to take on and complete this summer project as a way to reward the teen company for their hard work throughout the school year, and give them a chance to let loose. The piece was co-choreographed by both Gracen and myself, and filming and editing done by Jose Carrasquero."

Modco Dance

Modco Dance's piece, "Ecdysis," is a piece about survival. The work was conceived out of the idea of exploring some of the negative emotions we as humans experience. We are multifaceted beings that make up more than the binary notions of 'good' or 'bad' simply based on how we feel.

Choreography and editing by Meredith Olivia

Videography by Mary Lindsay

Dancers: Kia Street, Samone Pittman, Morgan Smith, Melissa Hoover, Eilene Epperson, Justin Tucker, and Julia Urrea.