A New Jersey native, Alexis Branagan trained at New Jersey School of Ballet and spent summers at The Juilliard School, American Ballet Theatre, Kaatsbaan, and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. She received her degree in English with an emphasis on theater studies and dance from Princeton University, where she also founded Princeton University Ballet. She danced with New York Theatre Ballet from 2012-2022. She has also performed with Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance, Armitage GONE! Dance, and New Jersey Ballet and in Battery Dance and Westfest Dance Festivals to perform work by choreographer Amanda Treiber. She has performed works by Sir Richard Alston, Merce Cunningham, Susan Marshall, Agnes de Mille, Clove Galilee, Liza Genaro, Robert LaFosse, José Límon, Donald Mahler, Keith Michael, Jerome Robbins, Pam Tanowitz, Antony Tudor, and William Whitener. She has also danced in opera productions, in productions of Shakespeare in the Park by the Public Theater, at Carnegie Hall with the NY Pops for Holiday and Broadway hits concerts, and for television. Alongside her freelance dancing, Alexis works in communications for Princeton University Concerts and manages the Ballet Connoisseurship seminar program for School of American Ballet.
Arianna Tsivkin is a performing artist from New York City. She received her early dance training at the School of American Ballet where she performed with New York City Ballet in productions of "The Nutcracker" and "Firebird". She then studied at the JKO School of American Ballet Theatre where she performed in Alexei Ratmansky’s "The Nutcracker". Arianna has also trained at French Académie of Ballet, received scholarships to dance at Belvoir Terrace Performing Arts Camp, and has studied under Mignon Furman, Merle Sepel, and her mother Rebecca Tsivkin. She graduated from Laguardia High School of Performing Arts as a dance major, and has studied Fosse technique and theatre jazz with the Verdon Fosse Legacy. Arianna was honored to be part of the inaugural class of Pa’lante Scholars in the Professional Studies Program at Ballet Hispánico (BH) under the direction of Rodney Hamilton. While there she helped originate roles in works by Norbert De La Cruz III, Tsai Hsi Hung, and Juan Rodriguez, performed in works by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Michelle Manzanales, Pedro Ruiz, Gerald Arpino, Gustavo Ramirez, Alberto Alonzo, and more, and was a representative student for BH in Canada's National Ballet School's Assemblée Internationale '23. Arianna is delighted and grateful for the opportunity to perform with Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance.
Barrington Hinds is from West Palm Beach, Florida. He began his training at the School of Ballet Florida under the direction of Marie Hale. Hinds holds a BFA in dance from SUNY Purchase College and has worked professionally with VERB Ballets, Northwest Professional Dance Project, and the national tour of Twyla Tharp’s Broadway show, Movin’ Out. In 2011 Hinds was honored as a finalist for the Clive Barnes Award for young talent in dance. In 2022 he was awarded a Bessie for outstanding choreography alongside with the Bill T. Jones Company, Bill T. Jones, and Janet Wong . He has worked with leading choreographers including Laurie Stallings, Edgar Zendejas, Sarah Slipper, Helen Pickett, Thaddeus Davis, and Cherylyn Lavagnino to name a few. Hinds has also danced with the Stephen Petronio Company and has freelanced in commercial, TV, and print work. In addition Hinds is also a choreographer and teacher. His work has been shown at Purchase College, Dixon Place, Warwick Summer Festival, Arts On Site, and The Tank. Barrington currently is a Performer with the Bill T. Jones/ Arnie Zane Company in NYC. You can follow him @bar_hinds and his website www.barringtonhinds.com
Claire Westby is originally from Minnesota and now resides in Philadelphia, PA. She holds a BFA in Dance from Tisch School of the Arts NYU and also studied at Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance (SEAD). Mrs. Westby has been a part of the Liz Gerring Dance Company for 13 years where she is also the Executive Director. She played the role of Red Queen in Third Rail’s production of Then She Fell. Additionally, Claire has performed in, and helped create original roles in works by John Jasperse, Brandon Collwes, Gwen Welliver, Benjamin Kimitch, Gerald Casel, Cherylyn Lavagnino, Helen Simoneau, and RoseAnne Spradlin. Claire Westby has also had the pleasure of teaching at New York University, Columbia College Chicago, Gibney Dance, Mark Morris Dance Center, St. Paul Ballet, Steps on Broadway, Western Washington University and Jacob's Pillow.
Dervla Carey-Jones is originally from San Francisco, CA, where she trained with the San Francisco Ballet School and with the ODC dance school. Dervla received a BFA from NYU’s Tisch dance program in 2018. During her time at Tisch, Dervla joined CLD and has continued working with the company since. In addition to performing in Cherylyn Lavagnino’s work, Dervla has performed in works by Gwen Gussman, Jordan Lloyd, Jenny Rocha, Maddie Schimmel, and in Opera Theatre of St Louis’ premiere of “Fire Shut Up in My Bones.” Dervla looks forward to continuing to work as a performer, vocalist, and dancer in the projects that the NYC community has to offer.
Erin Gallagher began her formal dance training at the Academy of Dance Arts in her hometown of Red Bank, NJ. She continued her studies at Studio Maestro (currently Manhattan Youth Ballet) in New York City with Deborah Wingert and François Perron. In addition, Erin participated in training programs at The Rock School of Dance Education, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School, American Ballet Theatre, as well as several summers in Washington D.C. studying with Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts. Professionally, Erin has worked with New Chamber Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Neglia Ballet Artists, TranscenDance Group, Accent Dance NYC, and Ballets with a Twist. Erin Gallagher is a graduate of Eugene Lang College of Liberal Arts at The New School.
Justin Faircloth is a performing artist from North Carolina. Since relocating to New York, Justin has had the pleasure of working with Blaze Ferrer, Cherylyn Lavagnino, Doug LeCours, loveconductors (FOH), Rashaun Mitchell + Silas Riener, Maddie Schimmel, Then She Fell, Third Class Citizen, Erik Thurmond, Ash Yergens, Jessie Young, Abby Zbikowski, and others. Instagram: @bacnneggs
Based between Denver & New York City, Gwendolyn Gussman is dancer, choreographer, teacher, and director. She is the Founder & Artistic Director of interdisciplinary performance company, HOLDTIGHT (HT). Most notably, Gussman’s work has been presented nationally at The Newman Center for the Performing Arts (CO), The Arts Complex with Denver Arts & Venues (CO), The Cell Theatre (NYC), National Sawdust (NYC), The Gallery Players (NYC), The Olympic Auditorium Complex (CO), Carroll Hall (NYC), and others. Gussman’s performance career has spanned contracts and collaborations with artists/companies including Shen Wei Dance Arts, Sean Curran, Cherylyn Lavagnino, dir. Daniel Fish, comedian Amy Sedaris, Vanessa Walters, Heidi Latsky, Control Group Productions, Cleo Parker Robinson Ensemble, and others. She is currently choreographing a 90-min Eco-Dance/Chamber-Jazz Orchestra piece, From the Ashes, in collaboration with composer Daniel Weidlein, to be premiered in 2025. Gussman graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts with her BFA in Dance. Gussman has danced with CLD since 2016 and is honored to be part of the 25th Anniversary Season!
Michael Miles was born and raised in St. Mary’s County, MD. He started dancing at the age of 9 at Bunny Bailey Studio of Dance where he studied tap, jazz, and show dance. Michael continued his dance training at Abigail Francisco School of Classical Ballet where he studied ballet, character, jazz, and tap and went on to receive a BFA in Dance from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. Since graduating, Michael has had the pleasure of dancing with Amanda Selwyn Dance Theatre and Lydia Johnson Dance. He is grateful for the opportunity to perform with Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance.
Philip Strom is a movement artist based in New York City. He performs with the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Bennyroyce Dance (Seattle & NYC), Cherylyn Lavagnino Dance, & RyderDance. Philip was raised in Washington State where began his dance training under Debra Pearse Rogo. He continued his education at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where he received his BFA. As a student Philip performed works by Ronald K. Brown, Maxine Doyle (Punchdrunk), Emese Nagy (MA•ZE), Crystal Pite, Ishan Rustem, Sonya Tayeh, and Paul Taylor. In addition to performing and touring, Philip creates his own work and teaches. He is an Artistic Associate of Bennyroyce Royon, having rehearsal directed Royon’s company, assisted them in choreographic processes, and staged their work. As a teaching artist Philip has led students at The Ballet Hispánico School of Dance and Rutgers University; as well as summer intensives at The Juilliard School and the Joffrey Ballet School.
Ramona Kelley is from Berkeley, CA where she began her training at Berkeley Ballet Theater. She went on to earn a BFA in dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Ramona danced the principal role of ‘Betsy’ in the touring production of Twyla Tharp’s Come Fly Away and went on to dance with the Tharp company creating new roles in addition to performing repertory works. She is a principal guest artist with Oakland Ballet and has also performed with Minnesota Dance Theatre, Claudia Schreier and Co, Post:Ballet, Sidra Bell, and Phantom of the Opera (25th Anniversary Tour) among others. Ramona has taught master classes in Tharp technique across the country and is a guest teacher at NYU’s Tisch Dance. She began dancing for Cherylyn in 2006 and is thrilled to be performing with CLD this season.
Kara Walsh, a native New Yorker who has a deep passion for movement, wellness, and compassion for all living beings. Kara has been dancing since she was a child and has trained extensively in ballet, modern, and contemporary dance at the School of Performing Arts in Litchfield Ct. She spent summers at the Jillana School in Taos, NM and continued her studies at the Ailey School. Kara was a member ofDonald Byrd's Spectrum dance Theater in Seattle WA and played the role of Dream Laurey in the 5th Avenue Theater’s production of Oklahoma. In NYC she performed with The Black Iris Project and has worked with choreographers Benoit Swan Pouffer, Susan Misner, Mary Ann Lamb and Francesca Harper. Kara can be seen in Fosse/Verdon and Fued on FX. Currently Kara is dancing and working on many projects with Karole Armitage.