Guest Artists

Each semester RWU’s Dance & Performance Studies Program welcomes a diverse roster of artists to work directly with our students via our outstanding guest artist residency program.  These internationally renowned artists offer students a range of dynamic first-hand learning experiences via master classes, repertory rehearsals, and face to face feedback – enhancing each dancer’s networking skills and professional contacts.

Working with a steady rotation of touring artists also helps RWU dancers experience the vast potential and varied paths within the field of movement studies – which helps each student develop their own identities as artists, scholars, and professionals.

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Guest Artists: 

Spring 2024

Layne Paradis Willis w/ Anna Tse

February 19-24

LAYNE PARADIS WILLIS (she/they) is originally from central Massachusetts, and is a queer freelancing artist and co-founder of HEAVY BOOTS dance and film company located in Los Angeles, CA. Layne graduated Magna Cum Laude from Roger Williams University (2018) under the Judge Thomas J. Paolino Theatre/Arts Scholarship, and researched physical theatre and movement studies in London, England under Donna Meierdiercks and Katie Lusby at The Place. She has had the pleasure of performing both commercial and live work by Punchdrunk, JA Collective, Candela Capitán, Mike Tyus, Jacob Jonas the Company, Amy Gardner, Nadine Bommer, Netta Yerushalmy, Kayla Farrish, Christina Robson, Shawn Ahern, KJ Holmes and more. From 2018-2023, Layne performed full-time in the award winning off-Broadway immersive production Sleep No More at the Mckittrick Hotel in NYC. You can find her featured in music videos for Billie Eilish, Labrinth, Sia, RYX, Deftones, Wrabel, Jordy, Biianco, NOIA and more. Her print work can be found in Vogue Magazine, Vogue Italia, Lady Gunn, Flaunt Magazine, Mob Journal, Beyond All Magazine, Theme Magazine, Paper Magazine and others.  @layne_willis

ANNA TSE has successfully partnered with brands like Nike and NOWNESS, consistently crafting cutting-edge digital content that form connections with vast, young audiences.  Tse has had the pleasure of capturing video/photo BTS for artists like Sia, Sofia Reyes, MUNA, Awgust, and ZAUR. Having worked with a number of dance companies in LA, Tse is now the co-founder of the dance film company HEAVY BOOTS. She is an incredibly versatile cinematographer with an acute passion for the relationship dance can have with the camera.  @tse_cheese

Janice Rosario – in Partnership with Newport Contemporary Ballet Company

February 29:  Masterclass – Contemporary Ballet Technique 

JANICE ROSARIO is a nationally recognized contemporary dance choreographer, educator, and activist. As a native New Yorker, Janice studied at some of NYC's most elite institutions including Ballet Hispánico, Ballet Academy East, and The Ailey School. She is a graduate of LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts and Hunter College. When not in the studio, she is running her nonprofit, The Good Neighbor Collective Inc, to support and empower those underserved in our communities. As a choreographer, Janice has been commissioned by numerous prestigious institutions throughout the United States including Dance Kaleidoscope, Newport Contemporary Ballet, Ohio Contemporary Ballet, Broadway Dance Center's ProSem, Elon University, Vassar College, Hofstra University, Barnard College/Columbia University, Montclair State University, The University of Alabama, Case Western University, Steps on Broadway Conservatory, Ailey/Fordham University, The Ailey School's Professional Division, Manhattanville College, Bucknell University, Howard University, Dean College, Brockport University, Baltimore School of the Arts, Grand Canyon University, Irvine Valley College, Sacred Heart University, Drexel University, Hunter College, The Martha Graham School, New York Dance Project, Steps on Broadway's Conservatory, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, the Dance Institute of Washington, the Snug Harbor Cultural Center and Botanical Garden, Davidson High School, Passaic County Technical Institute, The Thacher School, the Joy of Motion Dance Center, Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts, Fort Hamilton High School, Norte Maar's Counterpointe Series, Periapsis Music and Dance, La MaMa Moves! Dance Festival and the Battery Dance Festival. In addition to her choreographic endeavors, Janice has taught at The Ailey School, Peridance Center, The Martha Graham School, The University of Alabama, Montclair State University, Barnard College/Columbia University, Cornish University, Bucknell University, Manhattanville College, the University of Oklahoma, the University of Florida, Ballet Hispanico, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts, Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, Gibney Dance Center, New York Dance Project, Frank Sinatra High School for the Performing Arts, Fort Hamilton High School, Sacred Heart University, Grand Canyon University, Hunter College, Harvard University, High Tech High School, the American Youth Dance Theater, Irvine Valley College, the Contemporary Dance Festival in Tobago and the Joy of Motion Dance Center. Through her work as an artist, educator, and activist, Janice is driven to "create spaces where we can see each other past the divides to contribute to making an ever more inclusive community." 

Find more at Janice Rosario and Company and Newport Contemporary Ballet

Moussa Traoré

West African Dance Class Accompanist – full semester 

MOUSSA TRAORÉ was born and raised in Mali, West Africa. He has been playing the djembe for over forty years – in 1984, after completing a twelve-year apprenticeship, he was deemed a "master" by his teacher, Sega Cisse. Moussa has achieved great recognition throughout Mali as an accomplished musician in theater, traditional ceremonies, as well as the Malian pop scene. Among musicians in Bamako, Moussa is considered to be one of the top djembe players in the country. Since moving to the U.S., Moussa has continued to distinguish himself as a highly respected teacher and performer. He has given drum workshops in cities throughout the U.S. and China. Currently, he is teaching at schools, offering weekly community classes, leading drum ensembles for West African dance classes, and performing for special events and workshops, and is skilled in traditional methods of drum repair.

Seydou Coulibaly

West African Dance Class Accompanist – full semester

SEYDOU COULIBALY is one of Mali’s leading dancers, teachers, and choreographers. He was named Mali’s #1 dancer in the final Biennale Arts Competition with his company Troupe Commune Quatre, before the coup d’état in 1990. He then founded and was artistic director of Mali’s nationally respected and award-winning Troupe Komée Diosée, which toured throughout Mali. Seydou now also works extensively in the US, where he teaches Mande dance, music and culture at Wheaton College, Brown University, the Dance Complex (Cambridge, MA), and frequently visits schools throughout New England. Seydou also runs Yeredon, a cross-cultural school in Bamako, which aims to bring a greater knowledge of Malian culture to foreigners while preserving the work of Mali’s most talented artists. His film credits include Steven Spielberg’s Amistad, Mali Djembekan, Street Party in Lafiabougou, and numerous educational films on Malian music, dance and culture. Seydou’s djun-djun playing can also be heard on Mohamed Kalifa Kamara’s Africa Kanben.

Fall 2023

Anthony Torres 

September 15 – November 5

Guest artist ANTHONY TORRES of Grooves on West started his dance journey as a self-taught Freestyler in Hip Hop & Street Styles. At age 20, he began training in Hip Hop choreography and deepened his training by traveling around the United States to attend master classes and workshops focused heavily on Hip Hop fundamentals. He began competing in All Style Jams, and performing with professional teams at events like World of Dance. He began directing competitive Hip Hop crews by the age of 23, and is currently Co-Director of the studio, Grooves on West. In 2023, he is still committed to his work as a student, and attended the Professional Training Program at Bates Dance Festival to broaden his scope. Anthony’s credits include performing with Rhode Island Company Liv3lihood, and performing in a dance installment at the Institute of Contemporary Art in Boston. He currently dances for Boston Company, N/A.

Claudia-Lynn Rightmire w/ Simon Thomas-Train 

September 24 – 29

Guest artist CLAUDIA-LYNN RIGHTMIRE of c/s movement projects spends her days writing stories, drawing faces, and creating dances. Claudia-Lynn holds an Honors summa cum laude BA from Roger Williams University and is a certified health coach. She has taught, created, and collaborated in Florida, Australia, and NYC. Claudia-Lynn moves with David Dorfman Dance Company, INSPIRIT Dance Company, Rosie Herrera Dance Theatre, and Cortney Andrews. She has worked with New York City Children’s Theater, Third Rail Projects, Kinesis Project Dance, Moving Ethos Dance, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, and others. In 2021, she formed c/s movement projects alongside her partner, Simon Thomas-Train. She is driven by storytelling, voice, and shadow. 

Guest artist SIMON THOMAS-TRAIN of c/s movement projects began dancing at Middlebury College, transitioning from an extensive background in competitive cross- country skiing to graduate with a joint BA in Dance and Architectural Studies in 2009.  He has danced professionally in NYC and Europe for the past 12 years for companies including David Dorfman Dance, Rosie Herrera Dance Theater, Third Rail Projects, Palissimo and Vanessa Anspaugh. Simon holds an MBA in Sustainability Systems from Presidio Graduate School. He has created dances at numerous colleges and served as a guest choreographer, artist and/or teacher at a variety of institutions. Simon is the co- founder of c/s movement projects where he creates works of dance and performance in collaboration with his life partner, Claudia-Lynn Rightmire.

Hannah Barrows

Freestyle Masterclass, October 23

Find more information about Hannah @junebug.344

Colin Stilwell

October 23 – 27

Guest artist COLIN STILWELL of colinmoves.com was a company member with Doug Varone and Dancers and continues his relationship with the company, teaching and setting repertory on their behalf. Mr. Stilwell has worked with multiple esteemed companies and artists in New York City (NYC), including Dance by Neil Greenberg, RoseAnne Spradliin, Netta Yerushalmy, Bill Young/Colleen Thomas Co., Jon Kinzel, robbinschilds, Curt Hayworth, Daniel Charon, and Sarha White-Ayon: iLAb. He was honored to work with Trisha Brown in developing dance material for the Opera Da Gelo a Gelo, collaborate with German performance artist John Bock in Lecker Puste and Lecture, work with playwright, director, and multi-media artist John Jesurun in Shadowland, and dance in the Metropolitan Opera's Les Troyens, Le Sacre du Primtemps, and the Minnesota Opera's Faust. His choreography and dance films have been presented at Aunts, Dixon Place, Hofstra University, Hunter College, and other performance venues in NYC. As an adjunct professor at Hofstra University and Hunter College, he guest taught at numerous colleges and universities in the U.S., including Roger Williams University, Purchase College, Barnard College, Marymount University, and Princeton University. In 2015, the New Museum in NYC selected him for their Research and Development Season in Dance, where he taught a workshop on awakening proprioception through modern/contemporary dance technique. In the '23-'24 season, he will be a faculty member at the Newport Ballet School and a guest artist/teacher at Providence College. Mr. Stilwell has an MFA in Dance from Hunter College, a BFA in Dance from Purchase College, and is a certified massage and bodywork therapist. As a dance artist, choreographer, teacher, and bodyworker, Mr. Stilwell's passion is to offer audiences, students, and clients the space and time to see, discover, and feel their body's vast movement potential, dynamic energy, and emotions. 

Charles Z. Kalajian

Guest Percussionist and Accompanist

Guest artist CHARLES Z. KALAJIAN B.M., & M.M., University of Rhode Island, is a percussionist, educator, and entrepreneur who uses his wide-ranging talents to adapt comfortably to a variety of environments. As an instructor and performing artist, he performs and teaches master classes and clinics throughout the Southern New England area. Charles has had the opportunity to study and perform at some of the most reputable venues across the northeast, including Carnegie Hall in New York City; Seiji Ozawa Concert Hall at Tanglewood in Lenox, Massachusetts; Koussevitzky Music Shed in Lenox Massachusetts; Lupo’s Heart Break Hotel in Providence, RI; Martha’s Vineyard Performing Arts Center in Oak Bluffs MA; and The George Kent Performance Hall Westerly, RI. Charles has studied under some of the most influential minds in music education such as Prof. David Martins, Boston University; Prof. H. Robert Reynolds, University of Michigan; Tim Gennis, Principal Timpanist, Boston Symphony Orchestra; Mr. Sam Solomon, percussion instructor, Boston University; Prof. Ann Danis, University of Rhode Island; Dr. Gene Pollart, University of Rhode Island; Mr. Ron Stabile, University of Rhode Island; Craig McNut, Principal Timpanist, Rhode Philharmonic Orchestra; and Rob McEwan, Principal Percussionist, Rhode Island Philharmonic Orchestra.

More about RWU’s Dance & Performance Program

• Dance-Performance Web Pages
• RWU Dance Theatre Instagram

Contact

Professor of Dance and Performance Studies, Cathy Nicoli, cnicoli@rwu.edu