MDC ALUMNI
DARRIEL JOHNAKIN
CLASS OF 2018
Darriel Johnakin and I’m from Miami, FL. I began dance at an early age and graduate from New World School of the Arts in Miami, FL in 2018. I’m 21 years old and currently a student at PACE University majoring in Commercial Dance. I was voted the 2019 Dance Spirit Cover Model. I will begin my senior year in September with future plans of working in New York City. I have performed many works with several choreographers including Martha Nichols, Peter Chu, Jenn Freeman, Dee Caspary, Jenn Hamilton and Ray Leeper. I’m currently represented by GO2 Talent Agency.
SOFIA GONZALEZ
CLASS OF 2019
Sofia Gonzalez is a 20-year-old college senior majoring in Dance at New York University Tisch School of the Arts. She attended New World School of the Arts High School where she trained in all forms of dance but especially enjoys contemporary, ballet, modern, and composition. Ever since she was 13, she has had a passion for creating and choreographing. Sofia was recognized as a Youngarts Finalist for choreography in 2018 with her piece titled, “Variation of a Tango” and as a YoungArts Honorable Mention for modern/contemporary in 2017. In addition, Sofia has had the opportunity to perform in a number of guest works, Oblivion, choreographed by Jessica Lang which she performed in 2019, and Ehad Mi Yodea choreographed by Ohad Naharin (taught by members of Batsheva Dance Company; Bret Easterling, Ian Robinson, Bobbi Jean Smith) performed in 2018. Sofia choreographed her solo, City of Stars, where she was awarded 1st place and performed in the Gala at New York City Dance Alliance Nationals in 2017 where she was named 6th runner up. Sofia continues to choreograph pieces on herself and others year after year and has also been delving into her passion of music within the last two years. Sofia has been singing and recording her own music, as well as accompanying herself on the piano. She is a storyteller through her art in every facet and is excited to continue challenging herself and to hopefully inspire others.
SHOSHANA SKLAR
CLASS OF 2019
Shoshana Sklar was born in Miami, Fl and attended New World School of the Arts High School for dance. She trained with Miami Dance Collective and Marie Gaschler since the age of thirteen studying ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. In 2019 Shoshana was a Finalist in the prestigious YoungArts competition for Contemporary/Modern dance. She is currently a student at The Juilliard School in New York City in hopes of dancing with a professional contemporary dance company in the future. Shoshana has attended Nederlands Dans Theater summer intensive and Alonzo King Lines Ballet summer intensive.
JAMAII MELVIN
CLASS OF 2019
Jamaii Melvin is a 20-year-old dancer/choreographer from Homestead, FL and has been dancing since the age of 5. He will enter his Junior year at The Juilliard School in Fall 2021. He previously trained at New World school of the Arts and was also a part of the Pre-Professional company at Miami Dance Collective, where he trained under the direction of Marie-Louise Gaschler, Kristin Douthit Richards and Irene Balague. Jamaii has trained in various styles, which has led him to performing on the Ellen DeGeneres show, to being awarded a Young Arts Gold award recipient and finalist in Modern/Contemporary and Choreography in 2019. He has been accepted into exceptional summer programs such as the Nederlands Dans Theater summer program, Alonzo King LINES summer program, The School at Jacobs Pillow contemporary and contemporary ballet summer program and many more. Jamaii is not only inspired by these professionals but has worked with Peter Chu, Bobbi Jene Smith, Jamar Roberts, Ohad Naharin, Banning Bouldin, Cindy Salgado, Bret Easterling, and Risa Steinberg, just to name a few. Jamaii found his love for creating pieces at the age of 10 and has embarked on his new found movement and choreographic voice through the years. Jamaii believes “as artist there’s this unspoken act of vulnerability that one must surrender to. It is in vulnerability that we truly find strength, naturally and purely yours, to preserve and to give”.
EMMA DANON
CLASS OF 2019
Emma is currently a student at Columbia University in NYC. When not pursuing her History or Dance Major, she is across the street at Barnard training and dancing in the studios. Between the dance department and the 3 dance clubs that she’s involved with, she’s never not moving! Emma also recently passed down her title as the senior honored dancer for Revive and Adrenaline!
GIO CASTELLON
CLASS OF 2019
Gio currently attends North Carolina School of the Arts with a full scholarship (Kenan Excellence Scholarship).
While training at MDC and NWSA, he participated in numerous productions and performed pieces. He has danced in works by renowned choreographers such as Robert Battle, Gerard Ebitz, Peter London, Peter Chu, Ohad Naharin, and Jessica Lang. He is also an award-winning international ballroom dancer and has trained with Ivan Mulyavka, Loreta Kriksciukaityte, Eugene Katsevman, Maria Manusova, Ana Llorente, and Michael Chapman. Castellon has participated in prestigious summer intensives such as the Joffrey Ballet NYC Jazz and Contemporary Summer and the UNCSA Contemporary Dance Intensive.
ANTONIA GILLETTE
CLASS OF 2020
Antonia is currently a Sophomore at the prestigious Juilliard School pursuing her BFA in Dance. While in Miami she trained exclusively with the Miami Dance Collective since from age of
2 -18 and attended NWSA for high school.
KIRSTEN VELASCO
CLASS OF 2020
Kirsten Velasco is currently 19 years old. She has been dancing since the age of 4. Her love for dance continued so she attended New world school of the arts for high school. She is now going to be entering my sophomore year of college at SUNY Purchase. She has had the pleasure of working and performing pieces by Jessica Lang, Peter Chu, Jenn Freeman, Robert Battle and Matt Luck
ZOE ZEN
CLASS OF 2020
Zoe Zen is a 19-year-old dancer who works hard every day to fulfill the highest expression of herself as a human being and an artist. Zoe has studied and competed in all genres of dance for 12 years at Miami Dance Collective in Miami. She loves the adrenaline rush of Hip Hop but feels in her element in
contemporary class. She is known for being a very “powerful” dancer who can move people with her performance. She is humble and a student who loves to learn from every dancer she meets. Zoe has performed at prestigious venues and many local auditoriums and was named New York City Dance Alliance National Senior Female Outstanding Dancer in Atlanta in 2018. She was the recipient of many scholarships including Body Traffic in LA, Steps on Broadway and a scholarship to attend college at Montclair State University. She was accepted into
the Gibney Professional Training Program 2019-20 at Gibney Dance Company in Most recently she attended and completed a three-month Professional Development Cohort Program “Climate of Possibility” with Gibney Dance focusing
on combining professional development workshops, artist discussions, and mentoring, to support dancers in creating their own careers. Zoe's goal in the future is to study Behavioral Science and to be a professional dancer, and forever pay it forward.
CATHERINE DISHINGTON
CLASS OF 2020
Catherine was born in Mexico City and raised in Miami FL where she attended Gulliver Preparatory. While simultaneously being apart of her high school dance team she trained with Miami Dance Collective and Marie Gaschler since the age of fifteen studying ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip hop. Catherine graduated in 2020 and will be entering her sophomore year at The University of Texas at Austin where she will continue her studies in dance and psychology. Entering her sophomore year her studies in dance will be embellished upon by focusing on African Dance and movement improvisation while also keeping consistent in her ballet and modern technique classes.
ANGELINA DIAZ
CLASS OF 2020
Angie is originally from Miami, Fl where she exclusively trained at the Miami Dance Collective. She currently just closed out her freshman year at SUNY Purchase and will be continuing her dance journey with exploring her love for teaching in Miami! Angelina is also the curator and creator of "MOVEnest". Based out of Miami, FL and New York, NY, MOVEnest brings together dancers from all over to produce projects representing present human emotions that connect us individually and collectively. Channeling the honesty of being human, MOVEnest helps connect each individual milieu to produce narratives of current physical, mental, and environmental states.
JONATHAN CUBIDES
CLASS OF 2020
Jonathan Cubides is from Miami, FL where he trained at the Miami Dance Collective and NWSA. He is currently a sophomore at the prestigious USC Kauffman school pursuing a BFA in Dance.
Ella Yao
CLASS OF 2020
Ella originates from Miami, FL where she studied at Miami Dance Collective and NWSA. She is currently a Sophomore at Fordham University and a member of the Expressions Dance Alliance.
class of 2021
STELLA BECKER
SUNY PURCHASE
DANCE MAJOR
GABI MACHADO
UNIVERSITY OF TEXAS AUSTIN
DANCE MAJOR
DEBORAH WINER
PACE UNIVERSITY
COMMERCIAL DANCE MAJOR