Yurie Yoshida started her dancing career at the age of 3 in Tokyo, Japan. Though many years of rigorous and technical training in her early years, she began choreographing her own dancing pieces using the skills that she had learned and honed while she was just a high school student. Thus leading to her receiving numerous awards in national dance competitions throughout Japan.
In 1989, Yurie Yoshida became a member of Japan’s Modern Dance Association, where she performed with many dance companies and festivals within the Tokyo region. After she received her degree with Bachelor's of science in Physical Education, She has also studied at Alvin Ailey's American Dance Center in NY, the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Ohio with the scholarship that was awarded to her for her diligence and dancing prowess. In 1995-1998, Yurie served as an Artistic Director for the Dance Studio Contempo of Tokyo, where she produced dance shows and workshop seminars there for many years.
Since 1997, Yurie has been dancing for several Dance Companies and Festivals in tri-state area, such as Chen & Dancers, Salter Dance, Michael Mao Dance, Rod Rogers Dance Company, and Kennedy Dancers. Since 1999, She has been teaching at dance schools, Fitness Centers, and dance competitions, via master workshop classes. She has also been judging local dance competitions and choreographing many dance pieces for Jr. Dance companies in the NY tri-state area.
Yurie's most recent accomplishment was establishing her own modern dance company called the Urban Folk Dance Ensemble, and running a children’s dance program called the Little Stars Performing Arts, since 2005. Now, she is working on her dance performances with her friends and producing dance shows and events. Recently, Yurie has released 2 dance class music CDs and DVD with Carman Moore who is a musical composer for New York Ballet, and Mike White, who has worked with celebrity singers as a sound tech engineer.
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A native of Gabon, Africa, Don-Makosso, started his early
education with his native National Ballet of Gabon.
He studied various African dance styles and danced in many
dance festivals in Gabon before expanding his knowledge of
dance with his teacher Nadine Husson Poyard in France.
Later he went on to receive a scholarship at the Alvin Ailey
American Dance Center and received a full scholarship from
Dance Theatre of Harlem during the summer of 1996.
During the fall of the same year, he became an apprentice of
the Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble, Dance Theatre of
Harlem School education and outreach program. Following Dance
Theatre of Harlem, he was invited to teach African dance
workshop and choreography for the summer festival in Tokyo,
Japan. In 1998, he performed for the International Peace
Festival in Kyongu, South Korea. At the Alvin Ailey American
Dance Center, he taught African dance for the junior division
summer program and stage-managed various shows including The
Summer Sizzler Performances for the Ailey School (1998-2000,
2003-2004), The Ailey Camps Summer Shows?E(2003-2004) and
worked for the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater as a
Production Assistant(1998-2000). In 2003, he graduated from
North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem with a
Bachelors Degree in Design & Production in Fine Arts.
Currently, he is working with Alonzo King Lines Ballet as a
Technical Assistant, Stage Manager for Dance Theatre of Harlem,
and with Yurie Yoshida as a Technical Director of Urban Folk
Dance Ensemble.
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Melody has been dancing since 1984 and is trained in all areas of
dance. She has trained and danced professionally with the Kennedy
Dancers in Jersey City. She has also appeared in the movie
"Caven Point" created and choreographed by Dian Dragone.
Melody began teaching in 2001 and her focus is to have all her
students learn an appriciation for dance. Melody's Tap classes
are for beginners through advanced beginners - classes focus in
coordination, rhythm, timing and musicallity.
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Colin Roberts was born in Georgetown, Guyana. He began his
dance training in 1984 at Motiance school of Dance in St.
Martin. In 1987, Colin joins the Arlene New House and toured
with the company throughout Holland, Antilles, the Caribbean
and Aruba. In 1988, he received a scholarship to study at the
Rotterdam School of the Arts in Holland. In 1993, Colin came
to New York to study at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center.
In 1995, He received a scholarship to the Martha Graham school
of Contemporary Dance and later danced with the Martha Graham
Dance Ensemble.Currently, Colin is dancing with the Chezzam
Entertainment Group and Annabella Gonzallas Dance Theater.
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