SADC Virtual Major Dance Concert: May 7 Choreographers

From May 7-9, 2020, SADC will be embarking on its first virtual dance concert. The concert will be running for three nights, each night featuring eight different choreographers. On May 7, the featured Choreographers will be Sarai Daniels, Maclean Frey, Savannah Gaillard, Amanda Labuda, Basia Lamy, Oriana Siphanoum, and John Trunfio. 

Sarai Daniels: 

Sarai Daniels began dancing at three years old in New York, learning jazz, tap, hip-hop, and ballet. At age ten, she decided to concentrate her training in classical ballet at the Charlotte Ballet Academy. During her time there, she learned ballet from teachers such as Patricia McBride and jazz class instruction by Rachel Tucker. Sarai has been accepted into summer intensive programs at the American Ballet Theater, the Joffrey Ballet School, and Charlotte Ballet. From 2011-2016, Sarai performed in the Charlotte Ballet Academy’s rendition of the ballet The Nutcracker directed by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. In 2021, she will graduate from New York University with a double major in Dance and Computer Science. While attending the school, she had the opportunity to perform pieces by Sidra Bell, Ronald K. Brown, Elizabeth Coker, and peer-choreographers. Currently, she assists Elizabeth Coker, with her research utilizing sensory-based bio-feedback technology to analyze balance ability in dancers. Post-graduation, she strives to meld technology with dance, utilizing her two degrees to elevate performance art.

Maclean Frey:

Born in Ottawa, Ontario, Maclean began his formal dance training at the age of 3 at Dimensions In Dance in Kitchener, Ontario Canada. He furthered his studies at Miami City Ballet under the direction of Lordes Lopez, where he received a classical ballet education. In 2016, he joined WESTSIDE Dance Project under the direction of Jessie Riley. During his time there, Maclean had the opportunity of performing works by Bryan Arias, Jermaine Spivey, Spenser Theberge, Barak Marshall and Norbert De La Cruz III (to name a few). Moving to New York City to pursue a BFA in dance, Maclean will graduate in May 2020 where he will aspire to pursue a professional career in dance. While attaining his BFA at NYU, he has danced the works of Wayne McGregor, Lar Lubovitch and Sidra Bell.

Savannah Gaillard: 

Savannah Gaillard began dancing at Manassas Ballet Theater. She furthered her technique with Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., the Ailey School, and Future Dancers and Dancemakers (NYU Tisch). Last year she made her off-Broadway debut in the Oklahoma! “Dream Ballet,” directed by Daniel Fish and choreographed by John Heiginbotham. In 2019 she was a nominated finalist of the Princess Grace Award. Savannah Gaillard will receive her BFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts in 2020, having danced in works by the Wayne McGregor (staged by Davide Di Pretoro), Ronald K. Brown, Sidra Bell, Rodney Hamilton, and other peer works. She too will have trained in Berlin, Tel Aviv, and Barcelona. Savannah’s interests do not end with dance. A minor in Public Health and infatuated by the prospect of philanthropy through dance, Savannah hopes to make an impact on the stage off the stage.

Amanda Labuda: 

Amanda Labuda was born and raised in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and trained in classical ballet, pointe, tap, contemporary, and musical theatre under the direction of Liz Mackin Karas and Beth Robertshaw at Wexford Dance Academy. During this period, she attended summer intensives including Chautauqua Dance Festival, Texas Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, and the first year of New York University’s Tisch Dance High School Program. Currently, she is in her final year at NYU Tisch School of the Arts and will graduate with a double major in Dance and Computer Science. While attending NYU, she has had the privilege of performing in Daniel Fish’s Oklahoma! at St. Ann’s Warehouse and Sidra Bell’s new work “Spherical Heart”. In addition, she studied abroad in Berlin under the direction of Judith Sánchez Ruíz, Eva Duda, and Shamel Pitts (b12 Berlin Workshop Festival). Amanda will begin working at Roivant Sciences in their Technology Development Program upon graduation.

Basia Lamy: 

Basia Lamy was born in San Diego, CA where she began her dance training at Neisha’s Dance and Music Academy. After a move with the military Basia moved on to train in at Inmotion Performing Arts Studio in Poulsbo, WA where she competed in various dance competitions and performed lead roles in several ballets. In 2013, Basia accepted a full tuition scholarship to train at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School where she performed in various works including George Balanchine’s Serenade. Basia also participated in several summer intensive programs including Miami City Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and LINES Ballet. Currently, Basia is a student at New York University in the Tisch School of the Arts majoring in Dance and minoring in the Business of Entertainment, Media, and Technology. Here she studies ballet, contemporary, improvisation, and composition, as well as performs in creative works by students, faculty members, and guest artists.

Riana Pellicane-Hart: 

Riana Pellicane-Hart, from Dallas, TX, received her training at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, graduating with high honors in dance. During high school, she performed works by Dwight Rhoden, Robyn Mineko Williams, MADBOOTS, Ida Saki, and Joshua Peugh while being selected as the youngest emerging choreographer for Regional Dance America SW. Riana continued her dance studies at New York University, Tisch School of the Arts. During her 2nd year at NYU she also performed in the St. Ann’s Warehouse Off-Broadway production of Oklahoma! directed by Daniel Fish and choreographed by John Heginbotham. While at NYU she has performed works by Sidra Bell, Wayne Mcgregor, Lar Lubovitch and was rehearsal assistant for Ronald K. Brown. In the last two years she has choreographed 5 pieces at NYU. She will graduate in Spring of 2020 with a double major in dance and politics, and plans on continuing her dance career after graduating from NYU.

Oriana Siphanoum:

Oriana Siphanoum was raised in Springfield, MA, where she trained under the direction of Jennifer Dubilo at Artistic Dance Conservatory. She has had the opportunity to receive scholarships to supplement her training at programs like Complexions Contemporary Ballet Summer Intensive, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago’s Pre-Professional Program, and Northwest Dance Project’s Advanced Platform Program. During her time at NYU, she has had the privilege of dancing in the works of Ron K. Brown, Wayne McGregor, Lar Lubovitch, Allyson Green, and Cari Ann Shim Sham. She has also performed in several works choreographed by members of the Second Avenue Dance Company and her peers at NYU. Outside of NYU, she has performed works by Patrick Delcroix, Alejandro Cerrudo, Elijah Labay, and with the BFA program at Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Siphanoum is currently in her final year at New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts where she will graduate with a BFA in Dance and Politics as a Tisch Dean’s Scholar.

John Trunfio: 

John Trunfio began dancing at a local studio in Naples Florida, until he studied at the Naples Dance Conservatory. Before attending NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts, he was a featured dancer in Theatrezone’s equity production of Brigadoon, and attended Doug Varone and Dancers summer intensives. While attending NYU, he has performed works by Wayne McGregor, Sidra Bell, Jim Martin, Ryan Mason, and Emilie Camacho. In addition, he has choreographed a variety of works on his fellow classmates. John is in his final year at NYU and will graduate with a BFA in Dance along with minors in East Asian Civilization and History.