NANÁ VASCONCELOS (Composer) is one of the cluster of endlessly inventive Brazilian percussionists who were changing the direction and sounds of Brazilian jazz in the post-bossa nova 1970s. Vasconcelos is a inventive virtuoso of the berimbau, one of the instruments of Capoeira. As the son of a guitarist, Vasconcelos got his start in his father’s band at age 12 playing bongos and maracas. He moved to Rio de Janeiro in the mid-‘60s and caught on with the young Milton Nascimento. He lived in Paris for two years, occasionally gigging with Don Cherry in Sweden. From 1980 to 1983, he worked with Pat Metheny Group. Since then, Vasconcelos has played on and off with Cherry, toured and recorded with Jan Garbarek, among others, and continues his work as a composer.

MICHAEL KORSCH (Lighting Designer) is a lighting and scenic designer based in Philadelphia, PA, where he graduated from Temple University with a BA in Theater. Michael has worked with numerous directors and choreographers, creating visual designs for dance and theater throughout North and South America, Europe, Australia and Asia. In addition to his continuing work as a freelance designer, he has been the resident lighting/ scenic designer and technical director for Complexions Contemporary Ballet since 1998 and the resident lighting designer for Ballet Arizona since 2001. Other companies for whom Michael has designed include the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Disney Creative Entertainment, English National Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Pennsylvania Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Staatsballett Berlin and Washington Ballet.

MARCELO MOACYR (Lighting Designer). As a lighting designer, Mr. Moacyr has designed for several companies, his own dance company, Brazilian Choreographers Festival, and DanceBrazil. As a choreographer, Mr. Moacyr has created more than 70 pieces in Brazil, England and USA. He was the artistic director of the Mantra Dance Company (1989-1993). He also directed and choreographed for DanceBrazil in NYC (1993-1995). He was awarded a Virtuose Scholarship from the Brazilian Ministry of Culture to England in 1997/98 and served as Artistic Director with Gicá Young Dance Company from 1998 to 2007. He is currently a teacher and dance coordinator at the Dance School of Cultural Foundation in Brazil.

KIM PALMA RICHMOND (Lighting Designer) toured with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company as Lighting Supervisor from 1995 to 1998 and taught lighting design at the Orange County High School of the Arts in Southern California from 2000 to 2004. Kim directed the “Mo’olelo to Joyce” program, providing Southern California teenagers an opportunity to intern backstage in New York City. Her lighting designs for dance include works for Helios Dance Theater, Onidance, Keith Johnson/Dancers, the Southern California Dance Theater, and Winifred Harris/Between Lines Dance Company. Kim currently teaches at a Montessori school in Honolulu, where she and her husband live and are expecting their first child.

JORGE ALBERTO (Costume Designer) has worked for many years as a set designer in Brazil and internationally. He has created costumes and scenery for the Cultural Foundation of Bahia, Daniela Mercury, Carnival and many dance companies.

MARCELO ZARVOS (Composer). Brazilian pianist and composer Marcelo Zarvos has written for virtually every medium, from dance to the concert stage, film, television and theater. Highly active also as a film composer, Zarvos’ work has been praised by Hollywood Variety for its “affecting score, which neither drowns out nor underplays the steady sentiment.” Recent work includes scores for the hit comedy Kissing Jessica Stein (Fox Searchlight), Academy Award nominated short film A Soccer Story, and a collaboration with Eumir Deodato on Bossa Nova (Sony Classics Pictures). As a recording artist, Zarvos released three highly acclaimed albums, Dualism, with saxophonist Peter Epstein, Labyrinths, which landed on the CD NOW top 10 list of Jazz albums in 1998 and, most recently, Music Journal. Concert appearances include Merkin Hall, Knitting Factory, Americas Society, Guggenheim Museum, NJPAC, AT&T Latino Arts Festival and New York Texaco Jazz Festival. Zarvos’ work has been profiled on CNN, CBC, NHK and NPR. International performances include conducting appearances with the Tokyo Symphony Chamber Orchestra in Japan. Commissions include the ballet The Path for DanceBrazil, which received its premiere in 2001 at The Joyce Theater, and a new score commissioned by the Guggenheim Museum for its fall 2001 exhibit on Brazilian Art. Zarvos is currently composing a new dance score commissioned by Denver based company Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, as well as a NYSCA commission by the Quintet of the Americas.

CORRADO VERINI (Technical Director/ Lighting Supervisor) was born in Italy and lives between Italy and the US. A former school teacher and animal trainer, he joined the theater/dance world in 1983 with the Lindsay Kemp Company, touring extensively around the world and playing several roles for almost ten years. Since then, he has worked and traveled with several European artists and companies. He joined Momi x in 1994 and has toured throughout the world with the company as Stage Manager, Technical Director and Lighting Supervisor. He also teaches theater techniques in Rome for European community and Region Lazio projects.

PATTY BRYAN (Executive Director) was the Executive Director of DanceBrazil from 1995 to 2005 and was asked to rejoin the company in 2009. After leaving DanceBrazil, she served as Executive Director for Shen Wei Dance Arts and Director for the New York State Dance Force. She also works with Armitage Gone! Dance.

JAMILDO ALENCAR (Dancer) was born in Salvador in 1983 and began his dance career with the study of Capoeira. In 1996, he worked with the Projeto Axé, in 1999, he joined the Gicá Young Dance Company directed by Marcelo Moacyr, and in 2001, he joined the Balé Teatro Castro Alves.

ANDREZA BASTOS (Dancer) started studying classical ballet in 1988 and through the years, broadened her training to jazz and contemporary dance. In 2005, while she was studying at the Federal University of Bahia, she had the opportunity to participate in a summer program at The Ailey School in New York City. She graduated with a degree in Dance in 2006. She has worked with several dance companies, including Tran-chan and a Companhia de Dança Contemporânea de Jorge Silva and has been an apprentice with DanceBrazil since 2009.

ERLON BRAGA (Capoeirista – aka Morceguinho) was born in Maranguape, Ceara, Brazil, where he started his Capoeira training at the age of 11 with Instructor Morçego in Grupo Capoeira Brazil. He continued his training with Mestre Jelon. Today, he holds the rank of Instructor. In 2006, Mr. Braga lived in Holland and traveled through Europe, participating in many Capoeira events. He has also been a special guest in many Capoeira events in Brazil. This is Mr. Braga’s third year with DanceBrazil. .

CESAR NUNES CARVALHO (Dancer) was born in Bahia and began his artistic career in 2003 with Master King. During the same year, he entered the School of Ballet and Arte, studying jazz, modern dance and classical ballet. Through a public audition, he entered the Course of Professional Dance of the Fundação Cultural do Estado da Bahia in 2004. He has participated in diverse events and festivals, including the Project Cultural Interchange between Brazil and Holland, the Ópera do Morcego at the Teatro Castro Alves and the Body of Ball EBATECA. In 2005, he was invited to the Festival Mondiofolk to participate in a tour in France. He has danced with Balé Teatro Castro Alves and is currently majoring in Dance at the Universidade Federal da Bahia. Mr. Carvalho joined DanceBrazil in 2006.

CENOVIA CUMMINS (Violin) is an active freelancer in New York City and has served as concertmaster for many orchestras, including Riverside Symphony, Eos, Roanoke Symphony, Naumberg Orchestra, NY Pops and San Francisco Ballet. She is also an active chamber musician, having played with the Chamber Music Society of Lincoln Center, Grand Canyon and Moab music festivals. She has appeared on “The Late Show with David Letterman,” “Saturday Night Live,” VH1, and “Good Morning America,” backing up artists such as Tony Bennet, Britney Spears, Paul McCartney, Diana Krall, P. Diddy, and Rod Stewart, among others. She has twice toured with Barbra Streisand as associate concertmaster. Cenovia’s violin solos have been featured in the major motion pictures Lovely and Amazing, and Julie and Julia. Cenovia plays on a violin made in 1716 by Giovanni Grancino of Milan and a bow made by contemporary bow maker, Michael Yeats.

STEPHANIE CUMMINS (Cello) received her Master’s degree from The Juilliard School. She is a former member of the New Jersey Symphony and continues to perform with American Ballet Theatre and Mostly Mozart. She was selected by Jerome Robbins to perform as an onstage soloist for his Suite of Dances with the New York City and San Francisco Ballets. Stephanie can be seen and heard on numerous films, commercials, and television shows nationwide. On Broadway, Stephanie’s credits include The King and I, Footloose, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Sweet Charity, and Mary Poppins. Stephanie has performed with thousands of artists, including Leonard Bernstein, Paul McCartney, Rodger Daltry, Donna Summer,Hall & Oates, Beyonce, John Mayer, Elmo from “Sesame Street,” and Jeff Beck. Last summer, Stephanie toured the US with Diana Ross.

CRISTIANE SANTOS DE JESUS (Dancer) started her dance training in 1993 studying classical ballet and modern dance at the Candolina Dance School in Salvador, Bahia. From 2001 to 2006, she performed and toured internationally with Balé Folclórico Da Bahia. In 2006, she was a dancer for the Brazilian popstar Daniela Mercury. Since 2007, Cristiane has worked with DanceBrazil, taking a leave from the company in 2009 to work with Dubax Dance Company in Germany.

ISIS PAULA BARBOSA DOS SANTOS (Dancer) was born in Salvador, Bahia and began studying at the Centro Acadêmico de Ballet da Bahia in 1994. She was certified as a dancer by the Royal Academy of Dance. She continued study at the Academia de Balé da Bahia, and in 1998, she came to New York and studied in the Alvin Ailey School of Dance’s summer program. From 2002 to 2004, she studied dance at the Universidade Federal da Bahia and toured the US with Balé Folclórico da Bahia. From 2004 to 2007, she performed as part of the cast of The Lion King in Germany and most recently, has performed in Mystic Rhythms in Tokyo. Also in 2004, she toured with Daniela Mercury. This is Miss Santos’ third year with DanceBrazil.

CAMILA FREITAS (Dancer) was born in Santo Amaro, Bahia. She started dancing at the age of seven at the Escola de Dança da Fundação Cultural do Estado da Bahia and graduated from the Royal Academy. She has studied ballet with Carlos Moraes, worked with Emilia Biancardi Ferreira, the Orquestra Afro Baiana do Pelourinho, Balé Teatro Castro Alves, and popular music singer Ivete Sangalo. She was also a special guest in the Ateliê de Coreógrafos Brasileiros Ano V.

DAVID A. GOLD (Viola) is Principal Violist of the Grace Church Chamber Orchestra, a core member of The Willow Ensemble, and a former member of the New York City Opera National Company. He has appeared regularly with the Radio City Music Hall Orchestra and on Broadway in the orchestras of South Pacific, Wicked, Spamalot, Gypsy, Kiss Me Kate and The Lion King. In the world of dance, David has collaborated with many companies, including DanceBrazil, the Mark Morris Dance Group, Merce Cunningham Dance Company, and the José Limón Dance Company. David has performed with Christina Aguilera, Hall & Oates, Diana Krall, Patty Griffin, John Mayer and Burt Bacharach, and has recorded with Tony Bennett, Norah Jones, Ray LaMontagne, Martha Wainwright, Sheryl Crow and David Byrne, among many others. He has appeared on “Saturday Night Live,” “Sesame Street,” in Lou Reed’s live performance DVD Berlin, and on PBS’ “Live from the Artist’s Den” and “Soundstage.”

RAPHAEL NOVAES (Capoeirista – aka Fogo) was born in Rio de Janeiro. He started training Capoeira with Mestre Jelon when he was nine and currently studies ballet with Carlos Moraes. He has danced with Balé da Mata, EBATECA in the project “Mae Estrela Cano” at the Teatro Castro Alves and with Daniela Mercury at the Festival de Verão. He has been a guest teacher for the Capoeira Foundation and at the Alvin Ailey Dance Center and at Capoeira events in Gainesville, FL, San Antonio and Houston, TX, and special guest at Project Exchange in Bahamas.

MAURO REFOSCO’s (Percussion) band Forro In The Dark has been touring the world and releasing albums to critical acclaim since 2002, when it started as part of a weekly party at Nublu on the Lower East Side. Mauro has been touring and recording with David Byrne since 1994. He also played percussion in John Lurie’s Lounge Lizards, a pioneering and influential downtown punk jazz outfit. Most recently, Mauro joined Thom Yorke and Flea on a project band called Atoms for Peace. He graduated with a MA from the Manhattan School of Music, where he studied with Christopher Lamb of the New York Philharmonic. He is a native of Santa Catarina State in southern Brazil and has been living in New York since 1992.

LUIZ ALBERTO DE SANTANA (Capoeirista – aka Vagalume) was born in Encarnaçào de Salinas, Bahia, Brazil, where he studied Capoeira with Mestre Jelon in a special program created by the Instituto de Artes Urbana da Bahia and DanceBrazil. Mr. Santana holds the rank of Instructor and today, he is the leader of Instituto de Artes Urbana da Bahia under the supervision of Mestre Jelon. In 2005, he began working with DanceBrazil as an understudy and participated in a conference for young people organized by UNICEF in Trinidad. He was a special guest at Project Exchange in the Bahamas and has also danced with Balé Folclórico da Bahia. This makes Mr. Santana’s fourth year with DanceBrazil.

LEANDRO SANTOS DA SILVA (Capoeirista – aka Alegria) was born in Salvador, Bahia (Brazil). He currently lives in New York, where he teaches Capoeira and Silva Technique, his own unique blend of Afro- Brazilian dance, Capoeira and contemporary dance. Leandro performed with DanceBrazil from 1999 to 2008 and is delighted to tour with the company again. He has also worked with the Brazarte Dance Company (Miami, FL), Cleo Parker Robinson Dance (Denver, CO), Orquestra Popular da Bahia (Brazil), and Ballethnic Dance Company (Atlanta, GA) and participated as director and choreographer of National Black Arts Festival (Atlanta, GA) and assistant choreographer of Fox’s hit series “So You Think You Can Dance” (Canada).

PAULO SILVA (Capoeirista – aka Chuvisco) was born in Goiania, where he started his Capoeira training at the age of twelve with contra-mestre Guerreiro in Grupo Candeias. Today, Mr. Silva studies Capoeira with Mestre Jelon and holds the rank of professor in Capoeira Luanda. Mr. Silva has been a guest teacher at the Federal University of Santa Caterina and Colegio Avila, among others. He has also guest taught in Spain and France and was a special guest for UNICEF at the Exchange Program in Trinidad as well as at Project Exchange in Bahamas. This is Mr. Silva’s fifth year with DanceBrazil.

ARISMAR SILVA DE SOUZA JUNIOR (Dancer) is from Salvador, Bahia. His dance training includes four years of study with Bale Folclorico da Bahia in Salvador. He has also toured internationally with the company for two years. For the last three years, he has toured with pop singer Daniela Mercury.