Toneta is the Founder and Co-Artistic Director of West Virginia's only professional touring
dance company in the history of the state. Toneta's awards include the 2005 WV Governor's Arts Award for "Excellence
in the Arts," WV Woman of the year in 1989 by the WV Women's Commission and the WV Federation of Women's Clubs,
and Monticello Scholarship for Choreography from the National Association of Regional Ballet. Toneta has served as Choreographer
and Master Teacher for Theatre West Virginia since 1983. WVDC was chosen for the National Endowment - WV Commission on the
Arts pilot project, "Arts in the Classroom" which involved an eighty-eight school tour. Her premiere dance presentation
of the "Glass Menagerie" with the Greenbrier Valley Theatre through the Challenge America Grant by the National
Endowment for the Arts and the WV Commission on the Arts was listed in the Charleston Gazette as "The Best Arts Event
in 2002." Toneta graduated from Point Park University in 1977 where she studied with and became friends with Leonide
Massine who greatly influenced her ambitions to become a choreographer. While at Point Park, she trained in ballet with Edward
Caton, Graham with Judith Leifer and Luigi jazz technique with Ron Tassone. Her studies at Point Park included theatre and
acting training from Tom Thomas, Jim Prescott, Cecil Kitkat and Alan Clarey. Toneta continued her studies in New York City
at Alvin Ailey's American Dance Center where she was demonstrator for Hector Mercado's jazz class, received a certificate
from Gelabert's Dance Kinetic Institute, studied with Pearl Lang and others at the Martha Graham School, ballet with David
Howard and Finis Jhung among many other daily classes. Toneta attended the American Dance Festival's six weeks training
program for three summers. She studied intensely with Betty Jones for eighteen weeks. Other studies that have greatly influenced
her work were Anna Sokolow, Lucas Hoving, Daniel Nagrin, Stuart Hodes, Gerri Houlihan and Doug Varrone. She has taught workshops
on many WVDC tours throughout West Virginia as well as 13 other states and Brazil. Toneta has been the master teacher for
the WV Fine Arts Teachers Academy and has been both a master teacher and performer at the WV Governor's Honors Academy.
Donald Laney - Co-Artistic Director/ Tour Manager/ Dancer
Donald graduated from the University of California, Irvine with his MFA in dance in 2004.
He is currently the Rehearsal/Co-Director of the West Virginia Dance Company. Before entering the graduate program at
UCI, Donald performed with the West Virginia Dance Company, Houlihan & Dancers (Miami, FL), Randy James Dance Worx (NYC),
X-Factor (NC), and many guest appearances throughout the Mid-Atlantic states. While attending UCI, he had the opportunity
to perform for Donald McKayle, Loretta Livingston, Lisa Naugle, and Christine Chrest, as well as presenting his own choreography
which was chosen to represent UCI at ACDFA in 2003 and 2004. Donald's work with Lisa Naugle and John Crawford has
produced three dance videos that have been presented at the Lincoln Center and in dance video conferences in Yugoslavia, Japan,
New Jersey, Michigan, Arizona, and at the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC. Donald has taught at James Madison
University, UCI, Lees-McRae College, ACDFA-Southwest region, and at many regionally events. He has been the modern dance
instructor at the WV Governor's School of the Arts from 2005 - 2010.
Angela began her training under Diane Lewis at the Hochstein School of Music in Rochester,
NY. She was a member of West Virginia University's African Dance Ensemble, a scholarship recipient, principal dancer,
teaching assistant and choreographer within WVU's Division of Theatre and Dance. Ms. Dennis has studied with artists such
as Cecil Slaughter, formerly of Dayton Contemporary Dance Company; Michael McGowan, formerly of Hubbard Street Dance Company;
Sharon Butcher of Shenandoah University; Alan Sener, Artistic Director of The Louis Falco Repertory; Bob Durkin, former dancer
under Bob Fosse, and Diane Lewis, formerly of American Classical Ballet and Festival Ballet of New York. Angela has been a
featured dancer in several residency works such as, ‘Volanti Assi' choreographed by Sharon Butcher as well as, ‘Portrait'
and ‘Appalachian Waltz' by Alan Sener. Ms. Dennis' own choreography has been selected for performance at the
2006 AAPHERD National Gala in Baltimore, MD and most recently for the 2009 Create West Virginia Arts Conference held in Snowshoe,
WV. Angela has been commissioned to choreograph and perform works for University High School, Morgantown Children's Theatre,
Sally Ann's Dance Company, WVU's Concert Choir and Fairmont State College. A former member of the Kitchen Sink Dance
Company under the direction of Michael McGowan, Angela co-founded and has served as Artistic Director of Alchemy Dance Project
in Morgantown, WV since its inception in 2003. In January 2009, Ms. Dennis founded Red Stone Dance Initiative, a youth modern
dance organization also based in Morgantown, WV and serves as Artistic Director.
Katie Houff - Dancer
Katie Houff graduated from James Madison University in May 2010 with a BA in dance where
she was a member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company (VRDC) and the Contemporary Dance Ensemble. In 2008, Katie participated
in the London Contemporary Dance and Performance Summer Intensive and was awarded the position of Student Technical Director
her senior year. Throughout her time at JMU, Katie had the opportunity to work with guest artists including Faye Driscoll,
James Martin, Christalyn Wright, Derrick Evans, Adriane Fang, Daniel Burkholder, Shannon Hummel, and Deborah Riley. She toured
with the VRDC performing in Ohio, several locations throughout Virginia, at the Brooklyn Arts Exchange (BAX) in New York,
and at Dance Place and the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington DC. Katie was a Production Intern
at the American Dance Festival for the summer of 2010. This is her first season dancing with WVDC.
Cyan Maroney - Dancer
Cyan Maroney is a native of Renick, West Virginia, and a graduate of Connecticut College
where she received a BA in Dance. Cyan was a member of Trillium Performing Youth in Lewisburg, WV; participated in the 2002
West Virginia Governor's School for the Arts; attended The American Dance Festival in Durham, NC; And performed with Theatre
West Virginia for three summer seasons. During her time at Connecticut College, Cyan studied under David Dorfman, Heidi Henderson,
Lan-Lan Wang, Lisa Race, Robyne Watkin, Adele Myers, and Richard Schenk among many others. She was a participant in both the
2007 and 2008 New England ACDFA competitions and has performed works by choreographers Doug Elkins, David Dorfman, Isadora
Duncan, and Paul Taylor.
Rachel Oliver - Dancer
Rachel Oliver, originally from Missoula, MT, has danced extensively in venues in San Francisco,
Chicago, Montana, West Virginia, local ACDFA performances, and at Beloit College in Wisconsin. After completing a double major
in biochemistry and dance at Beloit College, she moved to San Francisco to pursue dance. While there, Rachel performed with
companies Double Vision and Dance Theatre/Shannon, as well as teaching and performing for Presidio Dance Theatre and DanceOUT
of PPAF. While in San Francisco, she completed her Pilates mat certification through ITT Pilates and worked as a physical
therapist aide at Presidio Sports & Medicine. Currently in Lewisburg, she teaches Pilates and is involved with Trillium
Performing Arts Collective, choreographing and dancing in local performances as well as co-directing Trillium Performing Youth,
a high-school aged dance company, and teaching modern and ballet to children and adults. This is her second year dancing
with West Virginia Dance Company.
Aymen Robertson - Dancer
Aymen Robertson is originally from Winston-Salem, North Carolina. He graduated from University
of North Carolina Greensboro College with a BFA degree in dance. In college, he studied under choreographers and faculty member
such as B.J Sullivan, Jan Van Dyke, Eluza Santos, John Gamble, Duane Cyrus and many other faculty and graduate students. While
attending college, he performed and danced with the John Gamble Dance Theater company and Cyrus Art Productions. He also performed
in the musical dramas and broadway productions with Theatre West Virginia for six seasons. This is his third year dancing
with the West Virginia Dance Company and is excited to be back.
Carli Mareneck holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Utah. She has taught children
and adults in Lewisburg since 1982. As a founding member of Trillium Performing Arts Collective she continues to broaden community
involvement with modern dance through her teaching, choreography, and performance. Her work has been featured at James Madison
University, Hollins University, Yes, Virginia - Dance, Goose Route, FestivALL, on tour with the West Virginia Dance Company
and in New York with Monica Bill Barnes at Context Theater and Dancespace. In addition to her work as a dance professional,
Carli teaches workshops on Learning Through the Arts for public schools, conferences, and teacher training's.
Stephanie Nerbak-McLaughlin - Choreographer
A dancer, teacher, choreographer and Licensed Massage Therapist, Stephanie received a
Bachelors of Arts in Dance from Point Park University in 1997 and a National Certification in Massage and Bodywork in 2004.
While attending Point Park Stephanie's choreography was chosen for the American Collegiate Dance Festival's Gala performance
at the University of Southern Illinois, Champaign-Urbana. She attended the American Dance Festival in the summer of 1997 where
she had the opportunity to study with such names as Gerri Houlihan, Doug Nielsen, Molissa Fenley, Daniel Lepkoff and David
Dorfman. Stephanie joined the West Virginia Dance Company in 1997 and toured with them until her relocation to Los Angeles
in 2001. In Los Angeles she had the pleasure of joining Donna Sternberg and Dancers (Santa Monica, CA), Naomi Goldberg's
Los Angeles Modern Dance and Ballet (Los Angeles, CA), and most notable Collage Dance Theatre, a site-specific dance company
(Los Angeles, CA). Stephanie has also worked extensively with Carli Mareneck of Trillium Performing Arts Collective (Lewisburg,
WV) and has showcased her own choreography with Trillium Performing Arts and their Performing Youth. She has taught master
classes at James Madison University, Marshall University, The West Virginia Contemporary Dance Festival, West Virginia Dance
Company and Trillium Performing Youth.
Heather Taylor-Martin - Choreographer
While earning her BA from Point Park University, Heather performed in many Pittsburgh
Playhouse productions, as well as KCACDFA. Upon graduation, she joined the West Virginia Dance Company, which gave her the
opportunity to perform statewide. She performed the role of Laura in a dance interpretation of The Glass Menagerie at the
Greenbrier Valley Theatre. She worked with Theatre West Virginia as a dancer and ensemble actor for many summer seasons. Heather
has also worked with Kitchen Sink Dance Company and Nadia Tarr at the Brooklyn Lyceum. She performed with Tarr's company
in Weightfall: An Elizabeth Pape Memorial Concert. Currently, Heather is an independent dancer, teacher, and choreographer,
working regionally and in her home of Pittsburgh, PA.
Sara Belcher -Choreographer
Sara Belcher is originally from Matheny, WV, and has studied dance under Toneta Akers-Toler
for almost 20 years. Sarah attended WV Governor's School for the Arts, for dance. She has spent ten summer seasons with
Theatre West Virginia and four seasons with the West Virginia Dance Company. Sara has taught dance at the River City Youth
Ballet, Pineville Dance Theatre, and at the WV Mini Dance Festival. She is currently a gymnastics instructor in Oceana, WV,
where she resides with her daughter Emilee.
Daniel Nagrin - Guest Choreographer
Mr. Nagrin, one of the country's most distinguished an critically acclaimed solo dancers
and choreographers , began his career in 1940 after earning a Bachelors of Science Health Education from the City College
of New York. Mr Nagrin's dance study was done mostly in the Graham technique, including a one-year scholarship with
Martha Graham and one season with a variety of other modern dance teachers, including Helen Tamiris and Hanya Holm.
Nagrin's career spans over four decades, ranging from Broadway, to film, to being a solo concert artist, lecturer, and
an artist-in-residence on the university touring circuit.
Gerri Houlihan - Guest Choreographer
Gerri Houlihan began her professional career at the Juilliard School, studying with Antony
Tudor, Alfredo Corvino, and members of the Martha Graham and Jose Limon dance companies. She performed with the Metropolitan
Opera Ballet and the Paul Sanasardo Dance Company and spent five years as a soloist with the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company touring
extensively throughout the United States and Europe. Ms. Houlihan has taught or choreographed for such institutions as N.
Y.'s High School of the Performing Arts, the University of Wisconsin- Milwaukee, the Bates Dance Festival, the Boston
Ballet, the Harvard Summer Dance Center, Meredith College, the University of South Florida, North Carolina School of the Arts,
the University of Richmond, the University of North Carolina- Greensboro and Virginia Commonwealth University. From
1984-1987 she directed her own school and company, the Boston Dance Project. She was one of five finalists in the Boston Ballet's
International Choreography Competition. From 1988-1999, Ms. Houlihan was on the faculty of New World School of the Arts in
Miami, Florida. During that time, she was also the artistic director of Houlihan and Dancers. The recipient of two Florida
Individual Artist Fellowships in Dance/Choreography in 1991-92 and 1996-97, Houlihan and Dancers was on the touring roster
for the state of Florida. Ms. Houlihan has been on the faculty of the American Dance Festival from 1981-1983, and from
1987 to the present. As an international representative for ADF she has participated in fifteen international linkages, teaching
in Korea, China, Brazil, Paraguay, Chile, Estonia, Poland, the Philippines, Moscow and Mongolia. She will teach in February
of 2008 in Shanghai. She is the 2005 recipient of the Balasaraswati, Joy Ann Dewey Beinecke Endowed Chair for Distinguished
Teaching, and received her MFA degree in 2007 from the Hollins University/American Dance Festival MFA program. She is currently
an associate professor at Florida State University.
Gerri Houlihan brings an American Masterpiece to WV West
Virginia Dance Company hosted master choreographer and teacher, Gerri Houlihan for a week in
September. Ms. Houlihan set her dance work, titled 4 x 4, on the WVDC dancers.
WVDC will perform 4 x 4throughout its upcoming season. Her visit to Beckley was made possible through
an American Masterpiece grant from the West Virginia Division of Culture and History. For more information about Gerri
Houlihan see her biography below.
Dr. Eluza Maria Santos - Guest Choreographer
Eluza Maria Santos has been on the dance faculty at UNC Greensboro since 1996. She
holds a degree in physical education from Universidade Federal de Espirito Santo in her native Brazil, BFA and MFA degrees
in dance from Arizona State University. Her research focuses on the cultural origins of contemporary Brazilian concert
dance.
