RWU Dance Theatre

The Roger Williams University Dance Theater will perform at the University’s Performing Arts Center: Thursday, May 2 – Saturday, May 4 at 7:30 PM and Sunday, May 5 at 2:00PM.

Dance and Performance Studies students perform works by guest artists Mary Ellen Beaudreau,
Renaud Wiser, and Raphael Xavier – as well as by RWU dance faculty Kathy Gordon Smith.
Pieces by students Mia Jolie Cana, Abbie Dougherty, and Maggie Sabella will also be presented.
Mary Ellen Beaudreau is the Producer for Performance & Residencies at GIBNEY in New
York and former Director of the Brooklyn Ballet School and Dance Chair of Usdan Summer
Camp for the Arts in NY. She holds an MA in Choreography from Laban Conservatoire and a
BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School. Mary Ellen performed with San Francisco Ballet,
Pilobolus Dance Theatre, Charlotte Ballet, and RUBBERBANDance Company. Her
choreography has been presented at Festival Ballet Providence, Classic Stage Company, Royal
College of Music, American Players Theatre, Charlotte Ballet, Fort Wayne Ballet and Judson
Church. Mary Ellen is proud to be returning to her roots in RI to create new work with the
students at Roger Williams University.

Erin Saunders is a 2018 RWU Dance and Performance Studies / Arts Administration alumna.
At RWU, she trained with: Christina Robson, Netta Yerushalmy, Ephrat Asherie, David Parker
& The Bang Group, Hilary Easton, Sydney Skybetter, K.J. Holmes, Gary Shore, France Hunter,
Cathy Nicoli, and Michael Bolger. She performed at Tisch School of the Arts for Christina
Robson of Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company. Erin has performed at the Dance Complex, Green
Street Studios, and the Somerville Theatre – and her choreography has been featured at Boston
University during the American College Dance Conference. Erin trained in London with Katie
Lusby, Stephen Pelton, and Jorge Crecis and participated in intensives of the Trisha Brown
Dance Company. Currently, she is a dancer with Project31, and teaches in Boston.

Renaud Wiser is a choreographer based in London. He was born in Switzerland and trained in
dance in Geneva before joining the Ballet Junior in 1998. During his studies, Renaud was
awarded the Migros Bursary for young talent for three consecutive years. He then pursued an
international career as a dancer with renown companies including the Geneva Ballet, the Ballet
National de Marseille, the Gothenburg Ballet, Rambert and Bonachela Dance company. Early on
in his career, his interest for choreography led him to make work for young choreographers’
platforms and in 2013, Renaud launched Renaud Wiser Dance Company.

Raphael Xavier, originally from Wilmington, Delaware, is a self-taught Hip-Hop dancer and
Breaking practitioner. Since 1983, Raphael has forged an exceptional approach to improvisation.
Brenda Dixon Gottschild deemed Xavier, ‘A fine rhythm technician who transforms a bravado
dance style into an introspective meditation.’ A self-described Innovative Movement
Conceptualist, Xavier creates new ways to expand the vocabulary of the dance form. In addition
to touring and teaching he is a Professor of Dance at Princeton University. As a life coach for
artists, you can find Raphael at: RaphaelXavier.org

The RWU Performing Arts Center is located on the University’s Bristol Campus at One Old
Ferry Road. Tickets: $10 general admission / $5 students and seniors. Seating is limited.

For tickets, purchase online at: www.brownpapertickets.com/event/4032404
For media inquiries, contact Associate Professor of Dance and Performance Studies Cathy Nicoli
at (401) 254-3623.