Complexions Contemporary Ballet Casting
DWIGHT RHODEN (Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director, Principal Choreographer) has establisheda remarkably wide-ranging career, earning distinction from The New York Times as “one of themost sought out choreographers of the day.” Rhoden began dancing at age seventeen, andperformed with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Les Ballet Jazz De Montreal, and as aprincipal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater.In 1994, alongside Desmond Richardson, he founded COMPLEXIONS Contemporary Ballet,bringing their unique brand of contemporary ballet to the world, forging a center for innovationand cutting-edge programming. Rhoden’s choreography has been the lynchpin of the company’srepertory development. In three decades, he has created over 100 ballets for COMPLEXIONS,as well as for numerous other companies, including the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater,Arizona Ballet, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, BalletMet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Joffrey Ballet,Miami City Ballet, New York City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, PHILADANCO!, Mariinsky Ballet,Zenon Dance Company, The Washington Ballet, The Houston Ballet and The San FranciscoBallet, among many others. Rhoden has also choreographed for So You Think You Can Dance,E! Entertainment’s Tribute to Style, AMICI, Cirque Du Soleil’s Zumanity, Mozart Her Story, andcollaborated with artists including Prince, Lenny Kravitz, Paul Simon, Nina Simone, and manymore. A recipient of The New York Foundation for the Arts Award, The Choo San Goh Award forChoreography, and The Ailey School’s Apex Award, and an Honorary Doctorate from the BostonConservatory in recognition of his extensive contributions to thefield of dance. Currently he isAdjunct Professor at Howard University, and Artistic Professor of Dance at Chapman University.
DESMOND RICHARDSON (Co-Founder, Co-Artistic Director) An iconic American DanceProfessional, Co-Founder and Co-Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Balletcelebrating its 30th year anniversary, Broadway Tony Award Nominee, TedTalk Guest artist &speaker, and So You Think You Can Dance & AMICI (Italy) Guest Choreographer. Richardson is aPresidential Scholar in the Arts and has graced the covers of various publications; he was thefirst African American Principal dancer of American Ballet Theater, a principal dancer with TheAlvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Frankfurt Ballet and a featured guest performer nationallyand internationally. He has received the Capezio, Rosey Roosevelt Thompson, Bessie and DanceMagazine awards. He is an honorary Doctorate Recipient from the University of North CarolinaSchool of the Arts. Currently, Richardson and his collaborator Dwight Rhoden are working onthe Broadway bound “Mozart Her Story” with producers Tegan Summer, Patricia Klausner andChristopher Sepulveda. Richardson’s character Ted appeared on the HBO Max hit series “TheOther Two” Season 3.
NATIYA KEZEVADZE (Rehearsal Director) started her training in Classical Ballet at V. ChabukianiState Ballet School in Tbilisi, Georgia. At age thirteen, she was accepted to the VaganovaAcademy of Russian Ballet on full scholarship in St-Petersburg, Russia. While at the Academy,Natiya studied with professor T. Udalenkova, performed extensively on the celebrated MariinskyStage, and received her BFA. She joined Boris Eifman Dance Company, and then was a soloistwith Ballet Classic. Natiya moved to NYC in 2004 to further pursue her performing career, and ayear later joined Forces of Nature Dance Theater Company, under the direction of Abdel Salaam.In 2007 she joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet, touring worldwide performing works byDwight Rhoden, Desmond Richardson, Igal Perry and Jae Man Joo. In 2012, Ms. Kezevadze lefttouring life to focus on motherhood, and to embrace her love for teaching. She has taught atthe Joffrey Experience in NYC, Broadway Dance Center, was assistant choreographer with theNew York City Ballet’s Choreographic Institute and for Dwight Rhoden’s original internationalproduction of the Great Gatsby Ballet. Today, Natiya continues performing with Complexions asRehearsal Director, teaching as Master faculty at the Complexions Academy, and collaborates invarious dance projects.
NATALIA ALONSO (Rehearsal Director) began her career in dance when joining Ballet Hispanicoin 2001, for which she received accolades in Dance Magazine’s cover story for her work withthe company. Shortly thereafter, she joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet where shedanced for 5 seasons. Natalia then performed the role of Maria Tallchief in the Lincoln CenterTheater play, Nikkolai and the Others. She can also be seen in commercial publications such asDiscount Dance and Baltogs, as well as several TV shows including “Law and Order: SVU”. Ms.Alonso is currently performing with the Metropolitan Opera and has appeared in productionsof Die Rosenkavalier, Carmen, La Nozze de Figaro, Die Fleidermaus, Rigoletto and Turandot.Before beginning her career as a professional dancer, Ms. Alonso, received a BA in Economicsfrom Wesleyan University, where she also performed and co-directed a student run dancecompany. Ms. Alonso has taught master classes at institutions such as The Juilliard School, TheJoffrey Ballet School, Barnard, Broadway Dance Center, Perry Mansfield , and is also a certifiedGYROTONIC® instructor.
CHRISTINA DOOLING (Rehearsal Director) began her career performing with ComplexionsContemporary Ballet after working with Dwight Rhoden at NYU Tisch. After several exhilaratingyears with the company, Christina parted ways to pursue additional opportunities. Creditsinclude The Phantom of the Opera, Radio City’s Christmas Spectacular, The Marvelous Mrs.Maisel, Flesh & Bone, and performances with Artists Pharrell and Camilla Cabello to name a few.Christina is honored to support Complexions in its 30th Season. Represented by Lakey Wolff &Company.
MICHAEL KORSCH (Resident Lighting Designer) is a lighting, projection and scenic designerbased in Philadelphia, PA, where he earned his BA in theatre from Temple University. He hasworked with numerous directors and choreographers, creating hundreds of visual designsfor dance, theatre and other live performances throughout North and South America, Europe,Asia, and Australia, as well as New Zealand. Michael has been the resident lighting designerfor Complexions Contemporary Ballet since 1998, and Ballet Arizona since 2001. In addition,Michael has created designs for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, American Ballet Theatre,Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Backhausdance, BalletMet, Ballet Nice Méditerranée, Ballet West,BalletX, Carolina Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Cleveland Play House, CzechNational Ballet, DanceBrazil, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company,Disney Creative Entertainment, English National Ballet, FELA! The Concert, Houston Ballet,Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, MOMIX, Oakland Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, PhiladelphiaBallet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Royal Danish Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, San Francisco Ballet,Staatsballett Berlin, and Washington Ballet among others.
CHRISTINE DARCH (Resident Costume Designer) has designed for COMPLEXIONS since 2006.She designs and builds costumes for many choreographers including Julia Adam, NatashaAdorlee, Jennifer Archibald, Val Caniparoli, Rena Butler, Jorma Elo, Nicolo Fonte, Jen Freeman,Adam Hougland, Jae Man Joo, James Kudelka, Gabrielle Lamb, Edward Liang, Matthew Neenan,David Parsons, Caili Quan, Amy Seiwert, Merián Soto, Septime Webre, and Yin Yue. Ms. Darchhas been commissioned by Alvin Ailey, Astana Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Ballet Hawaii,Ballet Memphis, Ballet Met, Charlotte Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Dayton Ballet,Gibney Dance, Gwangju City Ballet, Houston Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Madco, Marin Ballet,Milwaukee Ballet, Le Ballet Nice Méditerranée, Oklahoma City Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre,Pacific Northwest Ballet, Parsons Dance, Pennsylvania Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Post:ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Seoul Metropolitan Ballet, Singapore Ballet,Tulsa Ballet, WashingtonBallet, and BalletX. Her full length works include four Nutcrackers, Sleeping Beauty, AMidsummer Night’s Dream, and Dwight Rhoden’s Othello. She builds costumes from her studioin East Northport, New York.
BILGUDE ARIUNBOLD (Dance Artist) originally from Mongolia, trained as a ballet dancer at the Mongolian Conservatory from 2005 to 2012. In 2009, while still a student, he was chosen to join the State Academic Theater of Opera and Dance, where he performed as a soloist until 2015. He then joined Wise Ballet Theatre in South Korea as a principal dancer (2015-2021). Bilgude studied Choreography for three years at Mongolian National University of Arts and Culture, where he created and performed his own choreography called (Energy). He joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet in January 2024.
AERON BUCHANAN (Dance Artist) his formal training began at age ten at Maryland Youth Ballet, but Aeron’s passion for dance has been there since birth. Having a mother who was a former dancer and studio owner, Buchanan’s love of movement came naturally. He trained at The Washington Ballet and then at Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) graduating in 2017. He spent summers attending programs such as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, The School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. After graduating from BSA he attended the year round programs at Boston Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet before joining Cincinnati Ballet’s second company, followed by Nashville Ballet as an Apprentice in 2020 and promoted to Company Artist in 2022. During his four seasons with the company he was featured in works by Jermaine Spivey, Jennifer Archibald, Justin Peck, Jiří Kylián and Matthew Neenan. Aeron joined COMPLEXIONS in 2024.
MICHAEL CHERRY (Dance Artist) was born and raised in Springfield, Virginia. He is a graduate of George Mason University and received a BFA in Dance as well as a minor in Arts Management. Michael has had the opportunity to dance in works created/set by Camille A Brown, Alejandro Cerrudo, Doug Varone, Manuel Vignoulle, Rafael Bonachela, Rena Butler, Fiona Jopp, Susan Shields, Shaun Boyle-Darcy, and Christopher d’Amboise. He has had the opportunity to attend the Juilliard summer dance intensive twice, Complexions Summer and Winter intensives, as well as LINES Summer dance intensive. He is beyond excited to dance with Complexions Contemporary Ballet for his first Season (2024).
KOBE ATWOOD COURTNEY (Dance Artist) began their professional career with Orlando Ballet.In 2021 they continued their career with Festival Ballet Providence, where they were able todance leading roles in pieces choreographed by artists like Yury Yanowsky, Ja’ Malik, and LiaCirio. Here they have begun a mission to educate the dance community on the value of genderequality and the role the LGBTQ+ community has and continues to play in this field. Startingtheir pointe work and being able to travel and speak in many theaters and colleges to the nextgeneration of artists. All while continuing to choreograph on larger platforms, creating more roles for non-binary artists to be able to share their stories. They remain strong on their missionto open more opportunities for marginalized communities in the ballet and dance world. Kobe joined Complexions in (2023).
JILLIAN DAVIS (Dance Artist, Assistant Rehearsal Director) is from Pennsylvania in theUnited States and began her ballet training at the age of 3. She studied extensively with RisaKaplowitz and Susan Jaffe at Princeton Dance and Theater Studio in Princeton, NJ. She hasbeen a Company Artist with Complexions since 2014 and has been a part of several DwightRhoden world premieres. Additionally, she is a Co-Assistant Rehearsal Director and a ProductionAssociate with the Company. Jillian is also a Choreographer Assistant with Jae Man Joo andDwight Rhoden. Jillian is a Master Faculty member for Complexions Academy, teaching at theWinter and Summer Intensives, as well as Master Classes around the U.S. @jillange93
ANGELO DE SERRA (Dance Artist) grew up in Sassari, Sardinia, Italy. He began his professionaltraining at the age of 14 with Sharon Podesva, his private ABT ballet teacher. He attendedsummer intensives at The Royal Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre and Academie PrincesseGrace. At the age of 17 he was awarded Senior Male Classical Top Six at Youth America GrandPrix Italy, and a year later won first place in Classical Soloist the Expression International DanceCompetition in Florence were he received a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey School. He thenmoved to Cannes, France, graduated from PNSD-Rosella Hightower and joined Cannes JeuneBallet. After moving to New York City to attend The Ailey School, he attended intensives at theComplexions Academy and joined the Company as an apprentice in 2022. Angelo was promotedto company member in 2024. @angelodeserraa
CHLOE DURYEA (Dance Artist) received her early dance training near her hometown of Haslett,Michigan. While in high school she attended American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive as aNational Training Scholar on full scholarship. Chloe graduated from Indiana University’s JacobSchool of Music with Highest Distinction, earning a Bachelor of Science in Ballet with an OutsideField of Kinesiology. At Indiana University she was featured in works by Twyla Tharp, DwightRhoden, and as Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty. Chloe has guested with the Ruth PageCivic Ballet and the Indianapolis School of Ballet, performing George Balanchine’s NutcrackerPas de Deux. Chloe has previously danced professionally with Elements ContemporaryBallet, James Sewell Ballet, and has performed at the Cannes Dance Festival. Since joiningComplexions in 2023, Chloe has had the opportunity to dance works by Dwight Rhoden, JustinPeck, and Ricardo Amarante, as well as perform at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival.
JOE GONZÁLEZ (Dance Artist) is from Boston Massachusetts, where he trained at RoxburyCenter Performing Arts and the Boston Arts Academy. Joe has participated in BostonConservatory’s summer intensive, American Dance Festival, Bates Dance Festival and twiceat Springboard Danse Montreal. He received his BFA from Boston Conservatory. Gonzalez hascommissioned works for a few universities, educational institutions, and dance companies. Joetoured nationally and internationally as performing artist with Philadanco, Anna Myer & Dancers,Prometheus Dance, #DBdanceProject, WaheedWorks and was the 2020/21 DanceVisions Artistin Resident at Performance Garage. He is currently founder and Artistic Director of Jo-Mé Danceand was on faculty at Temple University, Georgian Court University and Boston Arts Academy.He joined Complexions in 2022. @j.gonzalez.dance
MARISSA MATTINGLY (Dance Artist) grew up in Tampa, Florida where she was trainedin several different styles of dance since the age of three. She started to take ballet andcontemporary more seriously at the age of 13 when she began training at All American DanceFactory and Classical Ballet School under the direction of Terri Howell and Julio Montano.With this training she took part in many ballet competitions. She is a 4 time YAGP finalist,and performed in the UBC 2022 finals gala as a Legacy Award winner. She attended her firstComplexions Summer Intensive in 2021, and was invited to take part in their two week TraineeProgram in the spring of 2022. She then joined the company in August of 2022 at the age of17. Since then, she has performed in numerous ballets by Dwight Rhoden, including two worldpremieres,“Endgame” and “For Crying Out Loud”, at the Joyce Theater. @marissa_mattingly_
MIGUEL SOLANO (Dance Artist, Assistant Rehearsal Director) originally from Medellín,Colombia, began his dance journey at the age of seventeen. He initially trained in Colombiabefore moving to New York City to complete his studies at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy ofClassical Ballet on a full scholarship, performing with Kirkland’s studio company. Miguel hasperformed with Awaken Dance Theater, Thomas/Ortiz Dance, RudduR Dance, and ConnecticutBallet. He has had the privilege of collaborating with esteemed choreographers such as EarlMosley, Christopher Rudd, Francesca Harper, Ricardo Amarante, Jenn Freeman, Darrell Moultrie,Larry Keigwin, Nadege Hottier, Larissa Calero, Eve Chan, and Ted Thomas.In addition to his performance career, Miguel is a faculty member at Complexions Academy,where he teaches intensives and leads master classes globally. Miguel joined COMPLEXIONS in2018, and became Assistant Rehearsal Director in 2023. @miguellsolano
LUCY STEWART (Dance Artist) grew up right outside of Denver, Colorado, dancing at ColoradoBallet and Kinetic Arts Dance Studio. She spent her summers training with American Ballet Theatre, The Joffrey Ballet, COMPLEXIONS, and Colorado Ballet. Lucy attended numerousComplexions summer intensives from the years 2017 to 2021, in addition to the pre professionalprogram in New York in 2019 and 2020. She studied at The Juilliard School in the dance divisionfrom 2020-2022, before joining Complexions for their summer tour that year. She has had theopportunity to study with various leading artists in the dance world, including Ohad Naharin,Francesca Harper, Tiler Peck, Rena Butler, James Whiteside, Karole Armitage, Matthew Neenan,Jae Man Joo, Jenn Freeman, and Ricardo Amarante, as well as the opportunity to perform Setand Reset by Trisha Brown. Lucy spent her 2024 summer dancing with Traverse City DanceProject and teaching at Complexions Florida Summer Intensive.
DIEGO TÁPANES (Dance Artist) is a graduate of the Fernando Alonso National School of Cuba.He has earned multiple accolades, including a Bronze medal in 2014, Gold medals in 2016 and2018, and a Technical Mastery Award. Tápanes has performed as a Principal Dancer with theNational Ballet of Cuba and the contemporary Malpaso Dance Company, as well as a Soloist withTexas Ballet Theater. He has brought to life works by renowned choreographers such as BenStevenson, Gemma Bond, Alexei Ratmansky, Ohad Naharin, Robyn Mineko Williams, and AszureBarton, among others. His artistry has graced stages worldwide. Diego joined Complexions in 2025.
MANUEL VACCARO (Dance Artist) was born in Modica, a small Sicilian city in Italy. His passionfor dance has lived since he learned how to walk. He began his dance studies at the age of six ata private school in Sicily. When he turned ten, Manuel was admitted to the Rome Opera Housedance school where he studied for four years. In September 2018, he started studying at theRosella Hightower dance school in France. After sending a video audition to the Bolshoi BalletAcademy in Moscow, Russia in 2019, he was admitted and studied for three years. In June 2022,Manuel received his diploma in professional dance and ballet teaching from the prestigiousBolshoi Ballet Academy. Manuel joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet Academy in 2023. @manuel_vaccaro_
APRIL WATSON (Dance Artist) began her dance training at age eight at University North CarolinaSchool of the Arts Preparatory Program. In 2016, April graduated from University North CarolinaSchool of the Arts High School Program. She spent her summers with School of American Ballet,Houston Ballet, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Charlotte Ballet, Indiana Ballet Conservatory,Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Joffrey of Chicago all on scholarship. After graduating from UNCSA,she spent two years in Los Angeles, CA studying under the direction of Debbie Allen as anArtist in Residence on scholarship. April joined COMPLEXIONS in 2019. April is also part of theComplexions Academy faculty. @wca
ARISTOTLE LUNA (Apprentice) began as a trainee with Complexions Contemporary Ballet inthe Spring of 2022 while in college. He grew up on Salt Spring and Orcas Islands in the SalishSea and began dancing full-time at age 10 under the direction of Anthony the Dancer. He wasa member of The Island Inspiration All Stars, studied ballet, contemporary, tap, hiphop, salsa,jazz and aerial acrobatics, and performed in many shows, including Billy in Billy Elliot. He alsotrained with Ariel Serrano at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School, Homer Bryant of the ChicagoMultiCultural Dance Center and did an apprentice-residency with Dance Now! Miami. Summerintensives include Jacob’s Pillow, Orsolina28, Hubbard Street, Houston Ballet and Interlochen.Aristotle completed his BFA in dance and graduated from NYU Tisch School of the Arts, in May2024, and is thrilled to be performing with Complexions. In his spare time, Aristotle is an avidcapoerista and Charles Mingus devotee.
