Featured Guests - MAD 2026

Introducing the incredible guest artists for MAD Weekend 2026! Meet the amazing talent Nazareth University’s Dance Program is partnering with to bring you the ultimate dance festival.

*Read more bios at the end of the page

Boston Dance Theatre Dancers all posed in a circular clump exploding outwards with a dancer centered

Boston Dance Theater (BDT)

Under the co-artistic direction of Jessie Jeanne Stinnett and award winning, Dutch-Israeli, choreographer Itzik Galili, Boston Dance Theater (BDT) is Boston’s first contemporary dance repertory company with international ties at the leadership level. With a commitment to presenting works of socio-political relevance, BDT matches the talents of Boston-based dancers with those of acclaimed global choreographers, broadening the scope of contemporary dance practice and performance in our city. BDT is a registered 501(c)3 tax-exempt charity as of 2019.

Classes:

TBD

Beatriz Garcia Diaz Headshot

Beatriz Garcia Diaz

BEATRIZ GARCÍA DÍAZ (she/her) was born in Havana, Cuba, and trained National Ballet School and the University of the Arts of Cuba. She has danced with Danza Teatro Retazos, Malpaso Dance Company, and NW Dance Project, performing in works by Osnel Delgado, Ohad Naharin, Trey McIntyre, Aszure Barton, Sonya Tayeh, Robyn Mineko Williams, Florian Lochner and Alice Klock (Flock), Iratxe Ansa and Igor Bacovich (Metamorphosis), Mike Tyus & Luca Renzi, Pepe Hevia, Ihsan Rustem, Sarah Slipper, Nicole von Arx, and Gustavo Ramírez Sansano among others. Beatriz has also begun choreographing her own works for Acosta Danza, Malpaso Dance Company, PARA.MAR Dance Theatre, NW Dance Project (NWDP), Dimensions Dance Theatre of Miami, Santa Fe College and the XXVII Miami International Ballet Festival. Beatriz joined Boston Dance Theater as a Sr Core Member in 2025.​​​​

  • Ballet - Thursday, January 22, 6:15 - 7:45 PM, Location: George 154 

Photo Credit: Melissa Blackall

Jon Lehrer Headshot

Jon Lehrer

Jon Lehrer Dance Company began in 2007 in Buffalo, NY.  Jon moved the company to his hometown of NYC in 2019, where they have become a vibrant addition to the city’s dance community. Under Jon’s artistic direction, the company showcases his unique choreography and definitive style - an organic, athletic, artistic, entertaining, and often humorous blend of modern and jazz dance. 

JLDC tours extensively both nationally and internationally. They have toured to Russia four times and will embark on their 5th tour to Europe in March 2025.  As Dance Magazine said, “The company took the house not so much by storm as by quantum physics.”

Classes

  • JLDC Technique - Saturday, January 24, 10:30 AM - 11:45 AM, Location: George 154
  • JLDC Repertory - Saturday, January 24, 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM, Location: George 154
  • JLDC Technique - Sunday, January 25, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM, Location: George 154
  • JLDC Repertory - Sunday, January 25, 11:25 AM - 12:40 PM, Location: George 154

- Photo by Kiesha Stephens

Sarah Zehnder Headshot

Sarah Zehnder

SARAH ZEHNDER is a MA-and-NY-based dance artist whose research is rooted in feminism. Zehnder’s choreographic work has been produced internationally, including Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, the American Dance Guild Festival, Reverb International Dance Festival, DUMBO Dance Festival, the Solo/Duo Festival, and the Women in Dance Project. Her work has been presented at Dixon Place, MMAC, Gowanus Arts, Triskelion Arts, 92nd Y, Greenspace, and CPR. She has also shared her passion as a Guest Artist at Gibney Dance, Steps on Broadway, GCU, and UNCO among others. Zehnder currently serves as director of dance at Springfield College.

Classes:

  • Jazz Dance Explorations - Saturday, January 24, 12:00 PM - 1:15 PM, Location: George 154
  • Technique and Partnering - Saturday, January 24 - 1:30 PM - 2:45 PM, Location: George 102
  • Contemporary Explorations - Sunday, January 25 - 12:50 PM - 2:05 PM, Location: George 154 

- Photograph by Chris Evans

Marisa Ballaro Headshot

Marisa Ballaro

A proud Buffalonian, Marisa F. Ballaro is Artistic Director of NYC-based Ballaro Dance; she centers community-based, collaborative projects prioritizing sensory-rich, multidisciplinary work. Marisa received her MFA from Montclair State University while selected as Convocation Speaker for the College of the Arts. This fall, Marisa was awarded an Outstanding Service Award from the Brockport Alumni Association, and her collaborative film Descent was screened in Detroit, MI at the prestigious Dance City Festival. Her 47-minute multidisciplinary work The Distance was presented by Green Space at Take Root; she premiered a collaborative work, Goddess, with new music by John Carroll at Dixon Place.

Classes:

  • Modern MOVES - Friday, January 23, 2:30 PM - 3:45 PM, Location: George 154
  • Community Imprints - Friday, January 23, 5:30 PM - 6:45 PM, Location: George 154

-Headshot by Michelle Hudson

Aldo Katton Headshot

Aldo Katton

Originally from Merida, Mexico, Aldo Kattón is a choreographer, artistic director and educator with over a decade of comprehensive experience in professional dance. His expertise extends beyond artistic direction and choreography to include collaboration in logistics, production management, and marketing for both small and large-scale theatrical productions. His choreography fosters diversity, equity, and inclusion, to preserve the art of ballet by allowing to evolve. A member of the International Dance Council CID, he also holds two Bachelor of Fine Arts degrees, in Classical Ballet and Performing Arts. He currently serves as a Professor of Dance for Syracuse University. 

Classes: 

  • Pre-Professional Ballet - Sunday, January 25, 12:50 PM - 2:05 PM, Location: George 102
  • Neo-classical Ballet - Sunday, January 25, 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM, Location: George 102

-Headshot by Marc Safran

Felipe Panama Headshot

Felipe Panama

From Guadalajara, Mexico, he teaches Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary dance in the Department of Drama of Syracuse University, as a full-time faculty member and Assistant Program Coordinator for the Musical Theater BFA. He creates work for Syracuse University’s productions such as Shaina Taub’s adaptation of “As You Like It,”directed by Rodney Hudson and Clare Barron’s “Dance Nation” directed by Katherine McGerr.

Panamá has choreographed “Big Fish” and “Tuck “Everlasting” for the RedHouse co-productions with ARC of Onondaga. This Fall, he will choreograph “Guys & Dolls” for the RedHouse mainstage, and is the associate director for “Bernarda Alba,” directed and choreographed by William Carlos Angulo at Syracuse University. Panamá was in “West Side Story” in Cagliari, Italy as ‘Nibbles’ and served as Dance Captain for Francesca Zambello’s production, directed by Eric Sean Fogel, featuring original Jerome Robbins choreography.

 Classes: 

  • Ballet For Musical Theater Performers - Sunday, January 25, 11:25 AM - 12:40 PM, Location: George 102
  • Musical Theater Repertoire: "Be Italian" from NINE - Sunday, January 25, 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM, Location: George 154

- Photograph by Brian Offidani

 

Stevie Oakes headshot

Stevie Oakes

Stevie Oakes became enamored with dance at her first ballet performance while living in Amsterdam. Her serious study of classical ballet began soon after under the tutelage of Sandra Balestracci. Oakes received her MFA in Dance from NYU/Tisch School of the Arts. She has performed works by a diverse collection of artists including Tere O'Connor, Gina Gibney, and Kendra Portier. 

As a member of the team at the Harkness Center for Dance Injuries, Stevie combined her passions for dance and science as both educator and researcher. In 2018, she received the Dance Educator Award from the International Association of Dance Medicine & Science. Stevie feels lucky to continue this work with dance faculty positions and national guest teaching while she currently pursues a Doctor of Physical Therapy degree through Tufts School of Medicine. Ultimately the combination of art and science continues to promote health and wellness of all movers and performing artists!

Classes:

  • Contemporary Ballet - Saturday, January 24, 4:30 PM - 5:15 PM, Location: George 102
  • Who Has Time For Cross-Training: Getting the Most Out of Class Time for Dance Fitness - Sunday, January 25, 2:15 PM - 3:30 PM, Location: Sands Studio

- Photograph by Truman Gray

 

Headshot of Jessie Stinnett

Jessie Jeanne Stinnett

JESSIE JEANNE STINNETT (she/her) is a dance teacher, choreographer, and co-artistic director of Boston Dance Theater with veteran Israeli choreographer Itzik Galili. She received a BFA in Dance Performance from The Boston Conservatory and an MFA in Creative Practice: Dance Professional Pathway from Trinity Laban Conservatoire, in conjunction with Independent Dance/Siobhan Davies Dance. Jessie has performed for the Metropolitan Opera, Tate Britain (UK), Prometheus Dance, Institute of Applied Systems Analysis (Vienna), The Boston Baroque Opera, and Bard College’s SummerScape Festival.

  • Yoga for Dancers - Saturday, January 24, 10:15 - 11:30 AM, Location George 154 

Photo Credit: Melissa Blackall

Daniel Gwirtzman Photograph

Daniel Gwirtzman

Dancer, educator, and filmmaker Daniel Gwirtzman, known for his blend of innovative and charismatic work, celebrates thirty years as a NYC choreographer and company director. Collaborations that blend genres and disciplines, take risks, involve community, promote optimism, and celebrate individuality and humanity are areas of focus. The New Yorker and The Village Voice describe him as “a choreographer of high spirits and skill,” and “an abundantly inventive artist with a subtle defiance of gender roles.” The New York Times writes “Mr. Gwirtzman does know that in dance less can be more. He can evoke strong feelings with a few gestures.” 

Film Screening:

  • Framing Ménerbes -  Satuday, January 24, 5:30 PM - 7:00 PM, Location: Shults Forum in the Shults Center 

- Go to the official eventbrite page to purchase advance tickets 

Classes: 

  • Power, Rhythm, Speed: Modern Technique in Action - Thursday, January 22, 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM, Location: George 102
  • Stepping and Stomping: The Art of Folk Dance - Friday January 23, 1:00 PM - 2:15 PM, Location: George 102

 - Self-Portrait by Daniel Gwirtzman

Teresa Fellion

Teresa Fellion

Teresa Fellion founded BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance in 2011, after choreographing independently since 2004. She has performed for Lucinda Childs, Sarah Skaggs, Kimberly Young, M’Bewe Escobar, Skip Costa, and Martha Bowers, and performed works by Twyla Tharp, Deganit Shemy, Liz Lerman, and Megan Boyd. Teresa completed a Dance MFA from Sarah Lawrence under Scholarship, a Certificate from the Ailey School on scholarship, and a BA in French & English Literature with a dance minor from NYU as a Merit Scholar. She received Choreographic Fellowships from NYS Dance Force Choreographers’ LAB, SummerStages Dance Festival, ICA Boston, and an American Dance Guild Fellowship for Jacob’s Pillow’s Choreographers’ Lab.

Classes: 

  • Modern Dance Partnering in Motion - Friday, January 23, 4:00 PM - 5:00 PM, Location: George 102
  • Jazz Technique - Friday, January 23, 5:15 PM - 6:30 PM, Location: George 102
  • Dance Lab: Emotion in Motion - Saturday, January 24, 10:45 AM - 11:55 PM, Location: George 102
  • Modern - Saturday, January 24, 3:00 PM - 4:15 PM, Location: George 102
  • Choreographic Explorations and Presence in Performance: Tools, Scoring, and Play - Sunday, January 25, 12:50 PM - 2:05 PM, Location: Sands Studio 

- Headshot by Jaqlin Medlock

Catching Mangoes Dance

Catching Mangoes

Catching Mangoes Dance uplifts immigrant and hyphenated-American stories through performance, education, and community programming. Founded by Filipino-American choreographer Jacquelyn (Jacque) Pritz, the company weaves movement, storytelling, and cultural exchange to spark dialogue on identity, belonging, and healing. Their work centers intergenerational memory and the spirit of kapwa—shared humanity—creating spaces where audiences witness, reflect, and connect. From stage works to community celebrations, Catching Mangoes Dance fosters inclusion and imagination, reimagining how dance can build bridges across difference and honor resilience.

Classes: 

  • Dancing With Our Ancestors - Saturday, January 24, 1:30 PM - 2:35 PM, Location: A14
  • Contemporary Partnering - Sunday, January 25, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM, Location: George 102

-Photograph by Shannel Resto (SJR Photography) 

32nd Pack Dance

32nd Pack Dance

32nd Pack is a Queens-based contemporary dance company founded in 2021 by Caroline Sherwood, Rachel Daly, and Vivian Lucas. Their work is rooted in communication, collaboration, and community, often bringing human experience into dance. The company's work explores themes such as personal transformation, resiliency, and womanhood while using theatrical elements and storytelling to support their full-bodied movement

32nd Pack has performed in venues across New York State in venues such as Ailey Citigroup Theater, Dixons Place, Callahan Theater, and the Chain Theatre. The company recently self-produced a night of works titled “Becoming” at CPR- Center for Performance Research in Brooklyn, NY.

Class:

  • Authentic Artistry: Int/Adv Contemporary - Sunday, January 25, 3:15 PM - 4:30 PM, Location: George 154

- Photograph by Jay Bradnova 

Nancy Hughes Headhsot

Nancy Hughes

Nancy Hughes co-founded the Buffalo Contact Improvisation (CI) Jam in 2010 and was a coordinator for the Global Underscore for eight years. For 25 years, Hughes has taught CI labs and classes including as an adjunct professor at Alfred University and Brockport College. She received grants from NYS DanceForce, Arts Services Initiative and, most recently, NYSCA’s Support for Artists in collaboration with the Burchfield Penney Art Center. Hughes produces events such as Mission Improvable: CI Intensive, featuring local and international dance makers. When not dancing in museums, homes, and silos, find her teaching Pilates at her studio Center Pilates.

Classes: 

  • Pilates With the Oov - Sunday, January 25, 11:25 AM - 12:40 PM, Location: Sands Studio

- Photograph by Jessica Helen Brant

Michaela Neild Headshot

Michaela "M" Neild

M is an interdisciplinary artist, dance educator, movement coach, and nonprofit professional based in Buffalo, NY. Primarily a dancer, she enjoys infusing her choreography with other visual, video, and installation art mediums. Their choreographic process is experiential, collaborative, and emergent—combining traditional composition techniques with devised theatre, improvisational games, and chance operation structures. When M isn't performing, they can be found working behind the scenes as a freelance grant writer and program manager for arts nonprofits and independent artists–building infrastructures that open doors for who gets to participate in dance, who gets to watch dance, and how dance happens.

Classes: 

  • Restorative Movement for Nervous System Regulation - Sunday, January 25, 10:00 AM - 11:15 AM, Location: Sands Studios

 

Caitlin Mahon jumping in the air

Caitlin Mahon

Caitlin E. Mahon is currently an Assistant Professor at Colorado Mesa University where she

teaches: Tap, Jazz, Hip Hop, Dance Appreciation, History and Philosophy of Dance as well as West African Dance Elements. She graduated from SUNY Brockport with her BS, and Honors College degree, in Dance, Environmental Science and Political Science in 2014 and earned her MFA 2017. Mahon previously taught at Nazareth University 2020 - 2023. She was awarded the UW Milwaukee Faculty Development Award (2019) & the Distinguished Professor Research Award (2017) for her choreographic & theoretical research on re-defining modes of peaceful embodiment, through the lens Krumping. This research was influenced by her appointment as co-artistic director – alongside Master Khalid Saleem — of the SANKOFA: African Dance & Drum Ensemble (2015). Along with teaching Caitlin is Artistic Director of MAYHEM//dance (@mayhem.dance) which premiered at NYC’s Mark Morris Dance Center in 2017.

MAD Guest Artist Showcase Choreographer  

Featured Nazareth Faculty - Bios

Heather Roffe

Heather Roffe (MFA) is a Professor/Program Director of Dance at Nazareth University and a Certified Evans Technique dance educator and pilates (BASI Pilates Mat & Reformer for Dancers) instructor. She approaches Dance and Pilates with an anatomical eye, and uses that focus to help people move more effectively, efficiently, safely, powerfully, and gracefully! She has performed nationally and internationally with the Garth Fagan Dance Company, and at Jacob’s Pillow, the international Dance Festival, the American Dance Guild, and DUMBO Dance Festival, in her own work as a member of the Bill Evans Dance Company, FuturPointe Dance, and Assemblage Dance Companies. Roffe’s choreography has been presented in venues across the country and internationally, and has been commissioned by other dance companies and college programs. In addition, to performing and creating, she serves on the advisory council of NDEO (National Dance Education Organization) and served the Northeast Regional Board of ACDA (American College Dance Association) for many years, and she was recently awarded the New York State Dance Association’s “Outstanding Educator in Post-Secondary School”. Outside of teaching, she loves to garden, spend time with family & friends and cuddle with her 3 rescue cats. Dance continues to be her platform for expression, and that passion spurs her to perform and create work for her company, HR Dance.

Cat Olson

Cat DeAngelis Olson, a dynamic force with over a decade shaping NYC’s arts scene as a performer and director. As a creator and performer, Cat has had the privilege to work with incredible artists such as Susan Marshall, Gallim Dance, Summation Dance, Gideon Obazanek, Spiegelworld, and Raja Feather Kelly. Notably, she performed a lead in the long-running sensation “Sleep No More” and various projects with immersive theater luminaries Punchdrunk (UK). Cat is proud to be Nazareth University Faculty in the Theater Dance Department.

Beth Bartholomew

Beth Bartholomew is currently on the Teaching Staff at The Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education in Rochester NY. Along with teaching she also coaches Classical and Contemporary variations and solos for International Ballet Competitions as well as stages and rehearses choreography for the Professional Trainee Program. Ms.Bartholomew is an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Nazareth University and previously at the University at Buffalo. She also served as Rehearsal Director for The Rochester City Ballet for 19 years. 

Beth began her professional career in NYC with the Joffrey ll Dancers and later joined the Joffrey Ballet. She has danced in works by Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, John Cranko, Paul Taylor, Frederic Ashton, and Anthony Tudor to name a few. She went on to spend four Seasons with The Washington Ballet under the direction of Mary Day and later Kevin McKenzie where she enjoyed performing works by Balanchine, Choo San Goh, and Nils Christie. The next ten seasons were spent at The Scapino Ballet Rotterdam in the Netherlands learning a different way to move and performing works by innovative artists and choreographers such as Georg Reischl, Anthony Rizzi, Inma Rubio Tomas, Ederson Rodrigues Xavier, Ed Wubbe. Krisztina de Chatêl, Thom Stuart, Rinus Sprong and LeineRoebana. During her time in Europe, Ms. Bartholomew received her teaching diploma for The Gyrotonic Expansion System. She also participated in several freelance Dance and Theater projects in Europe and the US. She has been guest faculty at The Rotterdam Academy (Codarts) in The Netherlands, Neglia Ballet Artists in Buffalo NY, The Ballet Alliance Festival in Seattle, New Albany Ballet in Ohio, and the Otto M. Budig Academy of Cincinnati Ballet.

  • Ballet III - Friday, January 23, 10:00 AM - 11:25 AM, Location: George 102
Fidel Ernesto Orrillo Puga

Fidel Orrillo Puga, born in Lima, Perú, studied with his Aunt Stella Puga in Trujillo, Perú. At age 13 he received a scholarship to the renowned "National School of Ballet" in Havana, Cuba, directed by Alicia Alonso where He performed with the school and the National Ballet of Cuba until his graduation. Later he was offered a contract and danced for 4 years in Ballet de Camagüey in Camagüey, Cuba.

Mr. Orrillo Puga has danced in several companies in South America and the Caribbean as a guest and most recently was a Soloist in Ballet del Teatro Municipal in Trujillo, Peru and a Principal Dancer in Ballet National of Perú in Lima, Perú. While in Lima, he worked with Martin Padrón who invited him to dance with him in Paris and later in Spain. Mr. Orrillo Puga is also on staff at the Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education, the official school of the Rochester City Ballet where he is a Principal Character Dancer and Ballet Master Guest. Along with teaching He also coaches Classical and Contemporary variations, Pas de Deux's and solo's for International Ballet Competitions. Mr.Orrillo Puga is an Adjunct Professor of Classical Ballet Technique at Nazareth University. 

  • Open Ballet - Thursday, January 22, 9:25 AM - 10:40 AM, Location: George 102
Alexandra Insinga

Alexandra was Associate Artistic Director for Gelsey Kirkland Ballet in New York City and Melbourne Academy of the Arts in Australia. She is trained as a ballet teacher in the Russian Vaganova method, and combines this approach with a focus on alignment, kinesthetics and coordination, in order to develop refined, yet expressive technique. She has guest taught for ballet companies in the US and Australia, and has experience teaching and choreographing for all ages and abilities, from age 3 to 73! She is currently undertaking a Master of Sports Coaching to complement her technical and artistic knowledge.

  • Contemporary Ballet- Friday, January 23, 2:30 PM - 3:50 PM, Location: George 102