Thomas Ortiz DANCE

	Ginna Ortiz (Rehearsal Director) is a founding member of Thomas/Ortiz Dance. She was born in San Juan, Puerto Rico where she began her early dance training. She studied at the New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL, and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts from Purchase College. A recipient of scholarships to both the Richmond Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem, Ms. Ortiz danced with DTH from 1994 to 1998 and subsequently continued to work with independent choreographers in NYC. Ms. Ortiz is presently the co-director of the New England Academy of Dance in New Canaan, CT, and The New England Dance Theater.

	Janey Choi (Musical Director) gave her Carnegie Hall recital debut in 1997 presented by Artists International and continues to perform as a recitalist, chamber musician, orchestral player and on Broadway. An avid collaborator, she has performed with such artists as Bono, Elton John, Kanye West, Jay-Z, Quincy Jones, the Parsons Dance Co and Peridance. She is the recipient of numerous awards including the Ontario Arts Council’s Chalmers Performing Arts Training Grant and First Prize in the Canadian Music Competition. Dr. Choi attained her doctorate at Rutgers University and holds both a BM and MM from The Juilliard School. She is a Teaching Artist for several Lincoln Center organizations and was recently appointed Violin Faculty at SUNY Binghamton.

	Angelica Burgos (Dancer) is of Dominican heritage and is beginning her fifth season with Ballet Hispanico. Ms. Burgos has danced with The Scramento Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Ron Cunningham’s Carmen and Rite of Spring, and Balanchine's The Fourth Temperaments. She has worked with Dwight Rhoden, Val Caniparoli, Trey McIntyre and Septime Webre. Ms. Burgos appears courtesy of Ballet Hispanico.

	Nicole Corea (Dancer) is a founding member of Thomas/Ortiz Dance, originally from Palmyra, NY. Nicole received her early dance training from Sandy Stramonine and Lynne Kareken, as well as the Boston Ballet and NYSSSA. Upon graduation from high school, Ms. Corea was accepted to The Juilliard School, under the direction of Benjamin Harkarvy, where she worked with such choreographers as Lar Lubovitch, Lila York, and Mauricio Wainrot. In May 2000, she graduated with a BFA in dance. And since she has danced for Ballet Hispanico, Elisa Monte Dance Company, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet as well as countless independent choreographers. Ms. Corea is currently a member Memphis Ballet and a two-time Princess Grace Award nominee.

	Serge Desroches Jr. (Dancer) was born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Queens. He holds a BFA from SUNY Purchase and has studied at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, Studio Maestro, and Lines Ballet. He has received honorable mention from the National Foundation of the Advancement of the Arts and the Greg Burg Award from the LaGuardia High School of Music, Art, and the Performing Arts. He is a dancer with American Repertory Ballet and this is Serge's second season with Thomas/Ortiz.

	Rafael Ferreras (Dancer) received his training at Dance Theater of Harlem and The Joffrey Ballet School. As a professional, he has danced with the Hartford Ballet, Ballet Memphis, Tulsa Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, and the Elisa Monte Dance Company. He has appeared as guest artist throughout the United States, dancing lead roles created by esteemed choreographers Marius Petipa, George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Nacho Duato, Trey McIntyre, and Arthur Mitchell. Mr. Ferreras appears courtesy of the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.

	Alexandra Gonzalez (Dancer) started her ballet training at the age of 3 in Miami, Florida. At the age of 7 continued her ballet training in Colombia with the Ana Pavlova Ballet Academy. At the age of 15 received a full scholarship to join the San Francisco Ballet School where she was featured in Dance Magazine. Once finished with all school levels she joined the San Francisco Ballet Company under the direction of Helgi Tomasson where she danced professionally. Later on moved to Miami were she guest with the Miami City Ballet, Ballet Florida, Americas Ballet, Michel Uthoff Dance Theater among others. She joined the New World School of the Arts under the direction of Daniel Lewis were she graduated with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance Performance in 2004. After graduating Alexandra joined Cedar Lake in New York City were she danced for over a year and now she is currently dancing for Ballet Hispanico

	Virginia Horne (Dancer) began her training in Honolulu, HI, where she studied under Rosalie Woodson, Laurie Lubeck Yeames, and Shamil Yagudin. She has danced with Ballet Hawaii, Colorado Ballet, Konstantin Uralsk’s Ballet New York, and Dario Vaccaro Dance Project. Ms. Horne danced as a guest artist with Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico, and has worked with several independent choreographers throughout New York City. She has performed in the National Tour of 42nd St. The Musical International projects include “Fusion” in Guatemala City, and the Choreographer’s Showcase in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Virginia is currently a soloist at Connecticut Ballet. This is Virginia’s sixth season with Thomas/Ortiz Dance.

	Josh Kurtzberg (Dancer) originally from Atlanta, Georgia. Mr. Kurtzberg began his training on full scholarship with the Atlanta Ballet under the direction of John McFall and Sharon Story. After four years, he was offered a company position but decided to further his training by attending the Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy on full scholarship. Thorought Mr. Kurtzberg professional career, he has worked with such notable choreographers as; Stanton Welch, Michael Pink, Ben Stevenson, Peter O’Brrien, Lonne Moretton, The Eglevsky Ballet, Alan Hineline, Thom Clower and Fernando Bujones. This is Josh’s first season with Thomas/Ortiz Dance.

	Min-Tzu Li (Dancer) a native of Taiwan, has enjoyed her education at The Boston Conservatory, Ms. Li has gained many diverse experienced working with the faculty and students at the Conservatory. She has had the fortunate opportunity to perform works by such masters as Jose Limon, Martha Graham, and Murray Louis. She has been dancing with Ballet Hispanico for a year. This is her first season with Thomas/Ortiz Dance.

	Mark Taylor (Dancer) was born in Tuscan, AZ and raised in Houston, Texas studied gymnastics starting at age 7 and qualified for the junior Olympics at age 14. He began his formal dance training at Ballet Austin while studying acting at the University of Texas. He furthered his training on scholarship at Houston Ballet, and in 2002, finished his BFA in dance at the University of Hartford while dancing with Dance Connecticut (formerly the Hartford Ballet). Upon graduating, Mark became a scholarship student and summer intensive coordinator of the Paul Taylor Dance Company. Mark has been recently seen dancing with Full Force Dance Theater, Maxine Steinman, Christopher Caines Dance Company, Dance Anonymous, and Nadine Yavel. Mr. Taylor appears as courtesy of Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company and he is thankful for the opportunity to continue dancing with Thomas/Ortiz. This is Marks sixth season with Thomas/Ortiz Dance.

	Royce Zachery (Dancer) a native of Atlanta, Georgia. He received his B.F.A. from Southern Methodist University and then worked in such musicals as Oklahoma! and Tommy Tune's My One and Only. Royce then ventured to Germany to choreograph and teach. He has worked with Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre, Rebecca Kelly Ballet and Nathan Trice to name a few. This is Royce third season with Thomas/Ortiz Dance.