Queensboro Dance Festival 2022 Night 1

Flushing Land Acknowledgement: We acknowledge that our show today is on the native land of Munsee
Lenape and Canarsie people, who continue to live and work on this land to this day.

Friday September 30th, 2022
PERFORMANCES at Queens Theatre in Flushing Meadows Corona Park

*Denotes Queens Premieres

Veil*
"Veil" is a duet that focuses on the rhythmical intricacies of music and how it relates to creating and portraying

relationships on stage.

Company: Robert Mark Dance
Choreography by Robert Mark Burke
Dancers: Robert Mark Burke and Jared McAboy
Music: Nocturne No. 20 in C-Sharp Minor, Op. posth. (Composed by Chopin, performed by Alice Sara Ott)

Robert Mark Dance(Astoria)
Robert Mark Burke is a New York City- based dance artist who has worked for Lucinda Childs, 10 Hairy Legs,
Megan Williams, Matthew Westerby, Doug Elkins, and Meagan Woods. He has been a guest artist at numerous
colleges and universities and his dances have been seen throughout the United States.

Bollywood Mix + Chutney Mix*
Our dances utilize the translations of the Hindi lyrics to English, which refers to ideas about religion, festivals,
community, and celebrations. They contain movements that are typically seen in Caribbean style festivals and

performances from the islands of Trinidad and Tobago with semi-classical movements.

Company: Wendy Kamal and the David Ali Dance Academy
Choreography by Wendy Kamal

Dancers: Prya Harbajan and Varsha Boochay
Music: "Prem Ratan Dhan Payo" by Palak Muchhal, "Rama Bachaye" by Anuradha Sriram, "Chamma Chamma"

by Neha Kakkar, "Aa Re Pritam Pyaare" by Sajid–Wajid, "Gup Chup Gup Chup" by Alka Yagnik and Ila Arun,
"Chal Gayee" by Kanchan and Babla

Wendy Kamal and the David Ali Dance Academy(Ozone Park)
The Wendy Kamal and David Ali Dance Academy specialize and are experienced in teaching exponents of
Kathak, Bharatanatyam, Folk, Bollywood, and Indo-Caribbean Dancing. Our dance style mainly consists of
semi-classical movements.

흥 | Joy
The core of Korean culture lies in Han (sorrow) being transcended into Hung (Joy). In face of dreadful events,

all that we could do is dance and sing. This dance is a process to let go of sorrow by surrendering to joy.

Company: Belamovado
Choreographed and performed by Dahyun Kim

Music: 악단광칠 (ADG7) - 북청 (Lion Dance)

Belamovado (Long Island City)
Dahyun Kim is a dancer from Seoul, Republic of Korea. She performed with Unique Factor, a Jazz Dance
Company based in Seoul, Republic of Korea, and is currently studying for her Masters Degrees at Tisch &
Steinhardt, NYU. Her movement is ever flowing and changing, and her growth is never-ending.

Dances of Carnaval de Barranquilla*
The Inchworm dance is a storytelling and dance performance, with rhythm of "Tambora". Exalts the value of
friendships and communal support. Stresses the importance of leaving in harmony with the environment. The
second dance is Cumbia, a traditional dance that is a communication in a circle. Traditional dances from

Colombia.

Company: Karla Florez School of Dance
Choreography by Karla Flroez

Dancers: Elvira Bustamante, Enrique Olaya, Valentina Olaya-Florez, Marcia Kressne, Karla Florez
Music: Gusanito, Alvaro Agudelo, Mi bella Cumbiamberita Joaquin Pérez

Karla Florez School of Dance (Middle Village)
Karla Florez has provided various choreographies, education, writings and research based in Colombian folk
roots and contemporary dance techniques. Her school of dance produces cultural programs and brings
iItinerant class programs to communities. KFSD has performed at different events around the world and works in
collaborative dance projects with artists from different cultures.

We’re Good*
A small disagreement about parking turns into a larger argument that requires a little alone time. Thankfully all is

forgiven, and they drive off into the sunset.

Company: chrisbelldances
Choreography by Chris Bell with Nicole Baker

Dancers: Chris Bell and Margaret Jones
Music: "This is Love" by Charlie and Ray / Ave Maria (Intro) by Monet X Change/ C U Around by PWR BTM/ Take

Me I'm Yours by Jobraith

chrisbelldances (Long Island City)
chrisbelldances has presented work in 6 states and 4 out of 5 boroughs including evening length works
presented at Green Space Dixon Place and Gibney Dance Center. chrisbelldances was the first dance
company in residence at the Cherry Grove Community House and Theater, America’s oldest continuously
operating LGBTQIA+ theater.

Mental Health "Graveled Grooves" *
Mental Health has been a huge topic. This piece challenges us to take a look at the Stigmas centered around
mental health as we all struggle with it. "Graveled Grooves” inspires us to find a little piece of joy and "groove" in

the rough moments in our minds.

Company: Drye/Marinaro Dance Company
Choreography by Jamie Drye

Dancers: Chieh Hsiung, Marc Nuñez, Marion Helfenstein
Music: Mental Health Spoken Word by Mim Shaikh & R//Y//B by San Salvo

Drye/Marinaro Dance Company(Forest Hills)
Drye|Marinaro Dance Company was established in 2011 by Jamie Drye and Francesca Marinaro. DMDC has
presented at Fresh Series, Jennifer Muller’s Hatch & Hatched,Winthrop University, QDF, and Philadelphia Fringe
Festival. Also self-produced many shows at NYC venues, including Dixon Place, Playroom Theatre, Club Nublu,
Caveat , Abrons Arts Center, and NYLA.

A Beautiful Summer 美丽夏日
Charming and passionate Cha Cha Mix international Paso doble dance presented with love and positive

energy from my heart

Company: RuDanceNY
Choreography by Bao Ru
Dancers: Paul Ru, Lulu Tan, Chris Mcguire, Karen Liu, Raymond Chen, Sarah Zhang, Norman Pang, June

Music: Plum Flowers

RuDanceNY (Flushing)
RuDanceNY inherits the spirit of “art, health and value” as our school motto and “dancing refines your soul;
dancing exercises your body; dancing builds your life” as our philosophy. Our school is located: one in Queens
132-01 Roosevelt Ave 2FL Flushing, the other one is located at Long Island 284 Main ST Port Washington.

Summer Suite 4.0*
Gotham Dance Theater’s annual "Summer Suite" is an upbeat, joy-filled street jazz and hip-hop dance medley
set to global pop music in multiple languages including Arabic, Hindi, Korean, Spanish, and Tagalog, reflective

of our company dancers and audiences. This year, a storyline will be incorporated for the first time.

Company: Gotham Dance Theater
Choreography by Marc Nuñez, Nadia Khayrallah, Emily Hart Lopez, Guest: Jainil Mehta
Dancers: David G. Lee, Emily Hart Lopez, Kenzie Ginter, Kristo Ruffennach, Lyndsay Dru Corbett, Marc Nuñez,

Nadia Khayrallah, Sarina Gonzalez, Shreya Rawat, Stephanie Shin
Music: "Chandra" by Shreya Ghoshal, "Intro to Shamstep" by 47SOUL, "De Vuelta Pa' La Vuelta" by Daddy

Yankee & Marc Anthony, "The Feels" by TWICE

Gotham Dance Theater (Woodside)
Marc Nuñez is Filipinx-American founder/director of Gotham Dance Theater (GDT). Credits: Rihanna, Todrick
Hall, Donald McKayle’s Etude Ensemble, Mike Esperanza’s BARE Dance Company. GDT Credits: Queens
Council on the Arts Grantee (2021), Queensboro Dance Festival (2015-2021), City Artist Corps Grantee (2021),
Boundless in Brooklyn 48-Hour Film Contest Winner (2017).

Soli
Soli (Donba) is a dance done in both Mail and Guinea by young men/women after initiation. they are taken
away from their parents for 3-4 months and taught what their responsibilities are to their family/community.

When they return home, this dance is done to celebrate their growth process.

Company: Kofago Dance Ensemble
Choreography by Kevin McEwen

Dancers: Krystal Jenkins, Kyashia Darden, Devine Zephryne,Pricilla Caledria, Chelsea Vallenia
Drummers: El Hadji Faye, Lawrence Upson, Kevin McEwen

Kofago Dance Ensemble (Jamaica)
Founded in 2015, Kofago was a social justice project, highlighting police brutality against Black men in
Washington, DC. Our founder, Kevin McEwen, would relocate to New York in 2016. After his father's death in
2018, Kevin brought Kofago back focusing on social justice issues & healing through the performing arts.

Performances followed by a Danceback with Wendy Kamal and the David Ali Dance Academy—
join us in the lobby for a mini dance lesson!

The Queensboro Dance Festival (QDF) was launched in 2014 with the mission to strengthen the dance
community in Queens, and garner a greater appreciation for Queens dance. Presenting Queens-based
dance companies of diverse cultures and styles, QDF tours performances & classes every summer throughout
Queens theaters, parks, plazas, libraries, and street events to bring local dance to Queens neighborhoods, and

provides career resources for Queens dancers.

QDF 2022 Tour Crew
Founding Executive Director: Karesia Batan
Stage Managers: Lee Donegan, Natalie Morrow
Sound Engineers: Ruben Jessurum, Shahob Newman
Videographers: Eden Chan, Michela Monte, Alex Ortiz, Sabrina Sade Parker

Photographer: Joe Pinlac
Content Manager: Kristina Mahaney
Load-in Crew: Joey Newman, Darryl Warren, David Velazquez, Blake D’Arienzo
Volunteers: Deborah Wible, Jinelle Thompson

Marketing: Nadia Conway
Graphics/Editing: Heesun Arthur, Desteny Echavarria

Huge Thank You to Queens Theatre

Two more nights of Finale Weekend!
Tomorrow Saturday Oct 1 7:30pm & Sunday Oct 2, 5:00pm
UP NEXT: Our ultimate dance competition is back! Grab a front seat: bit.ly/DWTQSevent

Special Thanks

Media Partner