Bios

Miya Hisaka Silva (Founder/Artistic Director)

Producing/director, teacher, dancer, choreographer, international presenter and city-planner, Ms. Hisaka has worked in El Salvador, Mexico, Guatemala, Nicaragua, Dominican Republic, France, Italy, England, Jordan, Thailand, China, Canada and throughout the United States.

Former Founder/Director of the D.C. Contemporary Dance Theatre, Washington, DC’s first multicultural dance company selected as cultural ambassadors by USIS to represent the United States for a world tour for a decade. Her work has been commissioned by The Kennedy Center, The Smithsonian Institution, The Central American Olympics, The Washington School of Ballet, The Loudoun Ballet, The Ministry of Education of El Salvador, Georgetown and Santa Clara University, University of San Francisco’s Jesuit Foundation, among others.

Originally trained by Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Eric Hawkins, Gloria Contreras, Gene Hill Sagan, Alex Martin and Maureen Basta. Worked extensively with Rod Rodgers, Kevin Iega Jeff, Lloyd Whitmore, Adrain Bolton, Juan Carlos Rincones, among others. Holds a BA in Urban Studies form Columbia University and an MPA from the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs/Syracuse University.

Has served on Washington’s Mayor’s Task Force for Arts and Economic Development in the restoration of the Gallery Row and 14th St. Arts Districts; a Public Service Fellow to the Maxwell School; an Arts Fellow at the National Endowment for the Arts; and recipient of the Mayor’s Arts Award for Emerging Artist in 1986. Has been awarded numerous grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, DC Commission on the Arts and Humanities, the Inter-American Development Bank, Agnes & Eugene Meyer Foundation, among others. Former faculty at the Washington School of Ballet, George Washington University, University of Toronto, and in El Salvador, at the National School of Dance “Morena Celarie”, former Director of the dance program at Georgetown University, the Central American University “Jose Simeon Canas”, and creator of El Centro para Liderazgo en las Artes. Has taught at Alonzo King's’s San Francisco Dance Center, The Marin Dance Theatre, The University of San Francisco, and Stage Dor Performance Space, CA. Currently on faculty at Georgetown University and The Joy of Motion Dance Center, WDC.

Danilo Rivera (Choreographer and Company Member)

Born in El Salvador. Dancer, teacher, choreographer and painter. Graduate of the National University of El Salvador (UES) with a BA in Fine and Visual Arts. Began his training in contemporary at UES under the direction of Alfredo Perez , and continued his studies at the National School of Dance under the direction of Francisco Castillo and Yasmin Hernandez, among others. Has participated in dance festivals in El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, Nicaragua and the USA. In addition to his work as a dancer, has exhibited his paintings, scenic designs, body painting and costumes at the Embassy of Brazil in Salvador, San Francisco and Washington, DC. Has been on faculty at the National School of Dance, and currently at Joy of Motion Dance Center and The Dance Institute. Has been with the Company since l998 as a dancer, choreographer, set designer and teacher.

Maurice Johnson

Born in Kentucky. Received his Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from the University of Kentucky with a minor in Spanish. Studied and performed with a variety of notable dance institutions including The Lexington Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Repertoire, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago, and North Atlanta Academy School. Appeared in the 1997 HBO movie “Miss Evers Boys’” and the 1996 US Olympic Ceremonies. His choreographic talent has enabled him to work with the production teams of Michael Jackson, Janet Jackson, Madonna and Paula Abdul, among others. Today, he is one of the area’s most sought after jazz and modern teachers as evident by his packed classes and enthusiastic, screaming students. Currently on faculty at The National Cathedral School, American and Catholic Universities and Joy of Motion Dance Center.

Cullen Massenberg

Born in Bloomfield, CT. Began his training at the Hartford Ballet School under the direction of Kirk Peterson and continued his training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, where he completed his B.F.A. Received additional training at S.U.N.Y. Purchase, the Dance Theatre of Harlem School, the Juilliard School, and the American Dance Festival. Has been a member of the Washington Reflections Dance Company for two years, and is thrilled to also be apart of TDC. He thanks his family and friends for their continued love and support.

Antoine Lewis

Native to Washington, DC. Has been training in ballet, modern, African and jazz for eleven years. He has had the fortune to work and perform with choreographers Mike Malone, Sandra Fortune Greene, Charles Augins, Adrain Bolton, Katherine Smith, Troy Powell, and Christopher Huggins, among others. A Graduate of Duke Ellington High School for Performing Arts. Has received scholarships from major dance institutions such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and Philadanco. This is his 2nd season with the Company.

Devin Michelle Krahling

Born in Maryland. Graduated Valedictorian from the Kirov Academy of Ballet. Recipient of four gold medals from the World Championships of Performing Arts. Graduated top of her class and received academic awards in attainment of her Registered Nursing Degree from the College of Southern Maryland. Her training encompasses many dance styles from instructors such as Oscar Hawkins, Joe Orlando, Ludmilla Morkovina, and Dawei Zhang. Stage credits include Brothers of the Knight, Dreams, Radio City Christmas Spectacular and the Academy Awards. She has worked with Debbie Allen, Le Jeune Ballet de France, Train Wreck Dance Company and TDC. She is a registered nurse. She has danced three seasons with TDC. ON LEAVE

Hala Shah

Born in Saudi Arabia to Egyptian and American parents. Trained primarily at the Washington School of Ballet during her youth. Recently studied at Steps on Broadway and the Peridance Center in New York City, where she attended workshops with Complexions Dance Company, Elisa Monte, and other notable choreographers and teachers. Hala feels privileged to have studied classical Spanish dance with the late Jose Greco, and performed with his company for an honorary gala at the University of Massachusetts. Aside from dance, she employs her recent New York University BA by working as a freelance journalist. Hala met Ms. Hiska while studying modern dance with her at the Washington School of Ballet. She has danced 3 seasons with the Company. ON LEAVE

Vannia Ibarguen

Born in Lima, Peru. Trained at the Lucy Telge Ballet Studio and at the Univ. of Lima. Obtained her BS in Science and Minor in Contemporary Dance. Former Soloist with the Ballet Municipal de Lima, member of Danzul and faculty at the Univ. of Lima. Finalist in the XIII International Ballet Festival, Trujillo, Peru; Laureate Unesco-Aschberg Bursary for Artists at the Instituto Superior de Arte de La Havana, Cuba; Best Female Interpretation Award in 2004, Cuba; Best Dancer Award at Danza Al Mar Festival, Buenos Aires, Argentina; and First Place in Choreography and Gold Medal for Best Interpretation in the Professional Category. Event Manager at the National Dance Council - Peru and Journalist for DanzaHoy.

Sarah Ewing

Born in Melbourne, Australia. Trained at the New Zealand School of Dance, Marie-Walton Mahon Dance Academy and Western Australian Academy of Performing Arts. Sarah has participated in work experience programs with Chunky Move, Melbourne, and Malaika Kusumi Ballet Theatre in Germany. Most recently, she has performed with Washington Reflections Dance Company and was Director of the Adult Program at the Dance Institute of Washington. This is her second season with TDC.

Anneliese Sari

Born in Laurel, Maryland. Began studying ballet at The Ballet Academy in Beltsville and continued her studies at Suitland High School for the Visual and Performing Arts. Furthered her training at Arlington Center for Dance, and at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Received her BFA in ballet performance from The University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Has performed with Danco2 of Philadanco, Ballet Theatre of Maryland, The Washington Reflections Dance Company, and is currently with The Diamond Project/Keith Lee and the Dance Theatre of Lynchburg. Has had the pleasure of working with Fernando Bujones and Christopher Huggins. This is her first season with TDC.

Vanessa Carmichael - Elder

A native of Guyana, South America. Was introduced to the stage at a very young age by her mother, Artistic Director of a Theatre Company. During her teens she studied voice, acting, and shadow interpreting. Began her dance career in college, and is also majoring in Kinesiology at the University of Maryland. Has performed at the Kennedy Center with Jacque d’Amboise, Helanius Wilkins, Alvin Mayes, the Companies of Motion Mania Jazz Company, City Dance Ensemble, Jam Crew, and Word Dance Theatre. Has also performed at the National Black Theater Festival in North Carolina. In addition to dancing, Vanessa is proud to be a mother of three.

Whitney Robinson

Grew up in Yardley, PA. Trained at the Princeton Ballet School, with numerous summers at Houston Ballet Academy and the Joffrey Ballet School. Has choreographed for the Princeton Ballet School, Princeton Day School, and Houston Ballet's summer session. Danced professionally with the American Repertory Ballet in New Brunswick, NJ under the direction of Graham Lustig. While attending college, she was a member of the Dance Company of Middlebury College where she also obtained her B.A. in Political Science. Recently received her J.D. from American University Washington College of Law.

Elizabeth Fujii

Born and raised in Aiea, Hawaii. Began studying ballet as a child. Later, performed in competitive cheerleading and won a national championship during high school. Was re-introduced to dance at Washington University in St. Louis, where she earned a B.A. in Psychology with certificates in Political Science and Legal Studies. Also, trained in Horton technique under Cecil Slaughter. Liz approaches movement as a way to embody and honor life's abundance.

All Photographs by Enoch Chan