Donna L. Jacobs (DLJ), studied dance at a school much like Morton Street where she trained with Michael Peters, Chuck Davis, and Frank Hatchett. As an honors graduate in dance from the New York City School for the Performing Arts, she studied with Gertrude Sher, Penny Frank, Mary Anthony and many others. While attending Wesleyan University, she was invited to join the dance department faculty where she produced numerous works and major dance productions. She began directing the Morton Street Dance Center in 1992. Ms. Jacobs has been recently recognized for her choreography by the Broadway Dance Center in New York and the Maryland Council for Dance. Jacobs, an attorney and currently a Senior Vice President at the University of Maryland Medical System, was recently inducted into the “Circle of Excellence,” of Maryland’s Top 100 Women for her work as a professional, artist, and mentor.
Elana Anderson (EA), holds a BA in African American Studies and is an adjunct member of the Deeply Rooted Dance Theatre Ensemble and the Corps de Ballet of the Lyric Opera in Chicago. She is a graduate of Chicago State University and The Duke Ellington School of Performing Arts in Washington, DC. She has had the opportunity to perform with Philadanco. Her extensive training has enabled her to collaborate with choreographers the world over.
Algernon Campbell (AC), originally from Savannah, GA, began dancing with Ballethnic. He has studied at the Ailey School and danced with Dallas Black Dance. Mr. Campbell has since danced all over the U.S. and is happy to bring his talent and expertise to MSDC.
Diedre Dawkins (DD), a Bessie Award winner, was a full time dancer with Ronald K. Brown/ Evidence Dance Company, a freelance artist with Deeply Rooted Dance Company of Chicago co- directed by Kevin Jeff and Gary Abbot and a Body Conditioning instructor at Howard University. Diedre graduated from the N.Y.C. High School of the Performing Arts and received her B.F.A. in dance from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. Diedre was the choreographer’s assistant on: “Serving Nia” (The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre), Ms. Dawkins has a deep love for children and the art of teaching.
Amanda Fair,(AF) is a graduate of The Baltimore School for the Arts and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She received a BFA in Ballet Performance while also performing with Danco 2, Philadanco’s second company. She has worked with such choreographers as Milton Myers, Kim Bears, Faye Snow and Ronen Koresh and has taught Pointe in the University’s summer intensive. Amanda was given the opportunity to study at The Dance Theatre of Harlem where she trained under Arthur Mitchell, Robert Garland, Ronald Perry and Laveen Nidu.
Katrina Hein, (KH) began her training at a very young age and has had a love for it ever since. She has trained at the Harrisburg Dance Conservatory and later was a scholarship recipient at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She has choreographed, taught, and performed in several different venues. This is her first season at MSDC.
Madi Jackson,(MJ) received her BFA in Dance Choreography and Performance from Kent State University. She was a scholarship recipient for Malashock Dance & Co. and went on to perform with the San Diego Opera production of Aida. Since then she has been able to work with DCDC and Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre in Ohio, Sean Curran, and Martha Myers from New York. She has also performed at the Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Congress as a guest artist. Currently she is teaching in several studios and choreographing.
Dante Jenifer, (DJ) began his training at the age of five, and began his professional career at the age of 13. He has represented the USA twice in the World Championships of the Performing Arts winning 3 gold, 2 silver, and a bronze. He has been a featured dancer for Debbie Allen. He was also a founding member of Full Circle Dance Company. He has had the opportunity to be a principal dancer, soloist, for Westchester Ballet, Donestk Ballet, Washington Ballet and others. Mr. Jenifer founded Project X Dance Entourage to bring together professional, street and student performers.
Barclay Pease,(BP) began her dance training in Baltimore at the Peabody Preparatory, Towson University’s Children’s Dance Division, and the Baltimore School for the Arts. She then studied at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet on scholarship for two years. After graduating from high school in 2000, Barclay spent a year in an apprentice program with Ballet British Columbia in Vancouver, Canada. She then moved to South Carolina to dance with the Charleston Ballet Theater for two years before returning to Baltimore and becoming a dance major at Towson University. Barclay has taught ballet, pointe, and repertoire classes at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Towson’s Children’s Dance Division, Rage Box.
Tamika Pittman,(TP) was born and raised in Philadelphia. Her experience comes from her years at Philandanco, one of Philadelphia’s premier dance studios. Tamika is very knowledgeable about tap and focuses strictly on tap. She discovered her love for tap at the early age of six (6). Dancing for twenty (20) years, her form and creativity have moved tap to another level. Her dance history includes performances at many mainstream venues such as The Academy of Music, The Clef Club and The Philadelphia Arts Bank. Tamika is co-founder of Philadelphia’s only all female tap company, Chocolate Soda. She is known for traveling with her tap shoes or to be willing to go get them from the trunk of the car. She has choreographed many performances at Philadanco and various other companies.
Sadie Rozenburg,(SR) trained in the woodlands,Texas until going to college where she majored in dance. She worked with Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston,TX, and then with Louder Than Words Dance Theatre in Denver, CO. Currently Sadie is teaching in several studios in the Columbia/Baltimore area. This is her first season with MSDC.
