WHAT'S NEW AT BRYN MAWR THIS YEAR?

We're delighted to welcome some new dance faculty to Bryn Mawr this year.

David Krensing began his training at Stephens College where he received his BFA in 1985. He joined Pennsylvania Ballet in 1986, was promoted to Soloist in 1988 and elevated to Principal in 1996.
While with PA Ballet, Mr. Krensing performed numerous leading classical and contemporary roles by such choreographers as George Balanchine, Sir Fredrick Ashton, Ben Stevenson, John Cranko, Paul Taylor, Peter Martin, Lar Lubovitch, Kevin O' Day's, Dwight Rhoden, John Butler and William Forsythe. Additional performance credits include world premieres by Jorma Elo, Ib Anderson, Antony Rizzi, and Trey McIntyre, and Christopher Wheeldon.
Mr. Krensing has toured the United States and Europe both with Pennsylvania Ballet and as an independent artist and has been featured internationally with dancers from New York City Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. He has taught at numerous universities and colleges and for professional dance companies including University of the Arts, Stephens College, Washington Ballet, Ballet British Columbia, BalletX, Ballet Idaho, and The Trey McIntyre Project. David is also a certified yoga instructor.

Michelle Stortz is a Texas native who received her BFA in Dance from the University of Texas at Austin before migrating to San Francisco where she worked both collaboratively and independently as producer, performer and choreographer for eleven years. Her work has graced stages in San Francisco, Los Angeles, New Orleans and Austin, Italy and Singapore where she did a year long residency--choreographing, teaching and performing. She received her MFA in 2005 from Ohio State University. She is currently teaching and performing and is the Artistic Director of Ring Dance Theater. Michelle will be choreographing a work for Modern Ensemble.

Victor Colon has been dancing since childhood. Raised in Puerto Rico, Victor's extensive background provides him knowledge of styles to include Salsa, Mambo, Merengue, Bachata, and Cha-Cha. Victor's classic style, elegance, and understanding of the natural island rhythms make him a perfect lead for students of any level. Victor began his career performing with Luna Negra, shortly after graduating from Penn State University with a B.S. in Engineering. Only eight months after joining Luna Negra, Victor became the director and choreographer of Luna Negra and La Luna Dance Studio in Bensalem, PA. In addition to his contributions at La Luna Dance Studio, Victor has taught and choreographed classes for adults and teens as well as routines performed at salsa congresses in the tri-state area and has performed in venues ranging from Cuba Libre Restaurant in Philly to the Tropicana Hotel and Casino in Atlantic City and on TV as well. Victor quickly earned recognition in the national salsa circuit by traveling extensively to perform and compete at Salsa Congresses in the USA and the Caribbean since 2006. In his first year of competition, Victor won the Philadelphia Salsa Congress 2006 and placed in the Semi Finals at the Puerto Rico Salsa Congress 2006. More recently, Victor finished in 5th place at the World Salsa Competitions 2007 in Las Vegas, Nevada and 3rd at the Philadelphia Salsa Congress 2007.

Jorge Laico is a native of Manila, Philippines. He was trained in the Royal Academy of Dancing (R.A.D.)syllabus and the Vaganova Method. He has taught in numerous ballet schools in the US for 13 years including the Rock School for Dance Education,North Carolina School of the Arts, University of the Arts, and Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts. Mr. Laico danced professionally for 23 years with companies such as Philippine Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Eugene Ballet, and Manila Metropolis Ballet. He was a guest choreographer for Regional Dance America's Craft of Choreography 2007. (2008-09)

Noemi Segarra will be returning in a new role. In addition to being a salsa dancer extraordinaire, Noemi is a beautiful and powerful modern dancer. Se will be teaching our Modern II this semester. Noemi Segarra Originally from Puerto Rico, Noemí Segarra is a trained dancer, but now considers herself more broadly as a performer, desiring to have a broader platform on which to investigate diverse disciplines interfacing the experience of body and presence. She is also a certified yoga instructor and massage therapist, and enthusiastic educator, NYC- based since 1994. Since 1995, Segarra has been a member and collaborator with Merian Soto and Pepatian. Segarra holds a BFA from Hunter College. In 2004, Segarra was awarded a Future Faculty Fellowship from Temple University to pursue an MFA. Upon graduation, Segarra received a Transformation Award and is now on the faculty at Temple University as well as Bryn Mawr College. At present, she lives in both Philadelphia and NY. Her work has been recently presented at The Kitchen among other NY venues.

Check out the FACULTY/STAFF page for more info on these talented artists.

TAP DANCE PROJECT

If you are a tap dancer and would like an opportunity to dance at a higher level than we offer in our BMC courses, consider joining a new program in Philadelphia called UNITING COLLEGES THROUGH TAP. Corinne Karon, who has taught at Bryn Mawr for several years, also teaches at the University of the ARts and Rowan College. She is starting UCTT, an enxemble for tap students from college dance programs. Corinne is interested in creating new choreography drawn from her deep knowledge of current and vintage tap and hoofing styles. The plan is to perform the work in the early spring.

Rehearsals will be held on Sundays for 1 1/2 hours somewhere between 12:00 and 3:00 (still to be determined) at the Community Education Center in West Philly near the Drexel campus. It is an easy walk from 30th Street Station. This initiative is free, and the Dance Program can help with train fare.

If you are interested, send your name to Mady Cantor and you will be put in touch with Corinne. We are investigating the possibility of PE credit.

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David Krensing
© Paul Kolnik

Jorge Laico

photo of Noemi by Sandra Lynn Belanger