Company Dancer, Dance Captain, & Faculty Member, Anastasia Ellis: Anastasia Ellis is a freelance dancer and dance instructor based in New York City. A graduate of Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in English Creative Writing, she began dancing for Alden Moves Dance Theater in late 2015 and was thrilled to begin teaching and assisting classes at Studio 1203 during the spring semester of 2016. While at Butler, Anastasia had the opportunity to perform in full-length ballets and contemporary works, including The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Susan McGuire's Idyllwild, and Butler ArtsFest's Song and Dance Festival. In addition to teaching at Alden Moves Dance Theater, Anastasia assisted and taught classes at her hometown dance studio for 5 years and served as a guest teacher at the studio's 2016 summer intensive. While studying Classical Teaching Analysis at Butler University, Anastasia was trained to teach the traditional Vaganova, RAD, and Cecchetti syllabi followed by ballet schools across the globe. She is so happy to combine her classical training and teaching skills with the unique, nurturing, and focused atmosphere at Alden Moves Dance Theater.
Company Dancer, Choreographer, & Faculty Member, Gregory Kollarus: Gregory is a proud alumnus of the Long Island High School For Arts (LIHSA) dance Program. While attending LIHSA, he also attended the Martha Graham Teen Program. After graduation, Gregory attended the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City for two years, and spent 7 weeks at the Summer Intensives at Joffrey Midwest. Gregory also graduated from The William Esper Studio where he studied the acting technique of Sanford Meisner.
Gregory currently performs with independent choreographers, and is one of the founders of Logos Dance Collective. He has Choreographed Allegory Of The Cave/Echolocation/Flutter with Barbra Montero with original music by Dmitri Tymoczko. He was also one of the creators of The Missing Shade Of You alongside his cofounders Barbra Montero, Patra Jongjitirat, and Theresa Duhon. He also created his own jazz piece called Falling Into The Current that has recently appeared in New York City.
Gregory is proud to be teaching dance alongside his mentor Jamie Chandler-Torns at The Studio For The Preforming Arts in Commack, Long Island. He has been seen in theatrical productions of West Side Story at the John Engeman Theater, Carrie The Musical, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Other credits include appearances at City Center for the Dance Rocks: Electrifying Evening of Entertainment preforming Peter Pucci’s Willing & Able, and performances of Hoopla at Joyce Soho. He also appeared in competition winning performances XYZ NYC at The Tank performing Ghost In The Underground, and Static/Sensation. Gregory values innovation in the arts and enjoys collaborating with others who are similarly willing to risk making inroads into uncharted territories.
Gregory currently performs with independent choreographers, and is one of the founders of Logos Dance Collective. He has Choreographed Allegory Of The Cave/Echolocation/Flutter with Barbra Montero with original music by Dmitri Tymoczko. He was also one of the creators of The Missing Shade Of You alongside his cofounders Barbra Montero, Patra Jongjitirat, and Theresa Duhon. He also created his own jazz piece called Falling Into The Current that has recently appeared in New York City.
Gregory is proud to be teaching dance alongside his mentor Jamie Chandler-Torns at The Studio For The Preforming Arts in Commack, Long Island. He has been seen in theatrical productions of West Side Story at the John Engeman Theater, Carrie The Musical, Seven Brides For Seven Brothers. Other credits include appearances at City Center for the Dance Rocks: Electrifying Evening of Entertainment preforming Peter Pucci’s Willing & Able, and performances of Hoopla at Joyce Soho. He also appeared in competition winning performances XYZ NYC at The Tank performing Ghost In The Underground, and Static/Sensation. Gregory values innovation in the arts and enjoys collaborating with others who are similarly willing to risk making inroads into uncharted territories.
Company Dancer & Faculty Member, Kana Takahashi: Originally from Saitama, Japan, is a NYC based dancer and actor. She received her certificate in dance from the Ailey School in 2012. Her recent theatre credits include Lilt in South Pacific at MAC and West Virginia Public Theatre, Miss Saigon (BroadwayWorld Denver's best dramatic musical 2014), Oklahoma!, Hair, Six Strings Sonics, and The Magic Flute. As a dancer, Kana has performed for the John Cage Centennial Festival, ALDEN MOVES Dance Theater, Bullish Dance Theatre, Ailey Citigroup Theater, MuSE, and Azul Dance Theatre, among others. Kanatakahashidance.com
Company Dancer & Faculty Member, Natsumi Sophia Bellali:
Natsumi Sophia Bellali grew up in Montreal, Canada, and trained at the Ballet Montreal Performing Arts School under the direction of Paula Urrutia. She graduated from the Certificate Program at The Ailey School in May 2017. She has had the opportunity to work with Ephrat Asherie, Brice Mousset, Matthew Rushing, Clifton Brown, Jon Ole Olstad, and Jacqulyn Buglisi, and to perform works by Alvin Ailey. She is a founding member of MICHIYAYA Dance, all-women improvisational based contemporary company. Natsumi was also an understudy dancer for The Hard Nut 2017, and is so grateful to be a part of ALDEN MOVES Dance Theater’s vision.
Natsumi Sophia Bellali grew up in Montreal, Canada, and trained at the Ballet Montreal Performing Arts School under the direction of Paula Urrutia. She graduated from the Certificate Program at The Ailey School in May 2017. She has had the opportunity to work with Ephrat Asherie, Brice Mousset, Matthew Rushing, Clifton Brown, Jon Ole Olstad, and Jacqulyn Buglisi, and to perform works by Alvin Ailey. She is a founding member of MICHIYAYA Dance, all-women improvisational based contemporary company. Natsumi was also an understudy dancer for The Hard Nut 2017, and is so grateful to be a part of ALDEN MOVES Dance Theater’s vision.
Company Dancer & Faculty Member, Brittany Couch:
Tracie Ellis Ross enthusiast, Instructor, Production Assistant, & Photographer
Brittany Couch is a Brooklyn based dance instructor and aspiring multimedia artist with a B.A. in
Entertainment and Media Studies from the University of Georgia. She is originally from Tifton, GA, and began teaching for youth and adult dance programs while studying film and production in college. After graduating, Brittany began her professional career in non-profit arts administration as studio manager of Dancefx in Athens, GA, home to 400+ dancers and 15 dance companies. There, she choreographed for and produced nearly ten shows a year. With a drive to find a balance of film and the dance arts, she spent her time outside of the office and studio touring the U.S. as a photographer, videographer, and production assistant for dance competitions and fashion shows like Open Call, PULSE Dance Experience, Society Fashion Shows, and Star Systems. In 2017, Brittany relocated to New York City to develop a career somewhere between the lines of production, administration, and choreography. She is currently working in documentary post-production and teaching for youth dance programs in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Brittany is excited to join a dedicated and skillful staff at Alden Moves Dance Theater. Seeing the development in character, technique, and style in her students across a semester is the most rewarding experience as a dance instructor and she looks forward to working with your dancer!
Tracie Ellis Ross enthusiast, Instructor, Production Assistant, & Photographer
Brittany Couch is a Brooklyn based dance instructor and aspiring multimedia artist with a B.A. in
Entertainment and Media Studies from the University of Georgia. She is originally from Tifton, GA, and began teaching for youth and adult dance programs while studying film and production in college. After graduating, Brittany began her professional career in non-profit arts administration as studio manager of Dancefx in Athens, GA, home to 400+ dancers and 15 dance companies. There, she choreographed for and produced nearly ten shows a year. With a drive to find a balance of film and the dance arts, she spent her time outside of the office and studio touring the U.S. as a photographer, videographer, and production assistant for dance competitions and fashion shows like Open Call, PULSE Dance Experience, Society Fashion Shows, and Star Systems. In 2017, Brittany relocated to New York City to develop a career somewhere between the lines of production, administration, and choreography. She is currently working in documentary post-production and teaching for youth dance programs in Brooklyn and Manhattan. Brittany is excited to join a dedicated and skillful staff at Alden Moves Dance Theater. Seeing the development in character, technique, and style in her students across a semester is the most rewarding experience as a dance instructor and she looks forward to working with your dancer!
Company Dancer & Faculty Member, Sophia Andreyev:
Sophia Andreyev resides in New York City as a dancer and freelance theater maker. She graduated from Mercyhurst University with one of the first two BFA's in Dance conferred by the school. There she performed extensively in leading roles in both recognized works, such as full-length classical pieces and an excerpt of José Limon’s Waldstein Sonata, and in original pieces created by her faculty, peers, and various guest artists. She performed past graduation both internationally and in her home state of Vermont. At Mercyhurst, Sophia discovered her love of choreographing and mixed-media performance. She is currently performing, creating short screendance pieces, teaching, and is working toward forming her own dance company.
Sophia Andreyev resides in New York City as a dancer and freelance theater maker. She graduated from Mercyhurst University with one of the first two BFA's in Dance conferred by the school. There she performed extensively in leading roles in both recognized works, such as full-length classical pieces and an excerpt of José Limon’s Waldstein Sonata, and in original pieces created by her faculty, peers, and various guest artists. She performed past graduation both internationally and in her home state of Vermont. At Mercyhurst, Sophia discovered her love of choreographing and mixed-media performance. She is currently performing, creating short screendance pieces, teaching, and is working toward forming her own dance company.