Company Dancer & 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 & Faculty Member, Ayana DuBose:
- Ayana originally from Atlanta, Ga is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a BFA in dance. While in College Ayana studied teaching for dance and student taught dance at the Lab school Pre- school program. She also completed a dance teaching practicum for elementary age students. She has taught children ages 5- 18 for the past five years. Professionally Ayana has been a Mamma Mia at Arkansas Repertory Theater, Danced with Flying foot Forum at the Guthrie Theater, Park Square Theater, and the Cowles Theater in Minnesota, she has also performed at the Strand Theater in Atlanta, Ga. In College Ayana has danced the works of Uri Sands, Garth Fagan, and Martha Graham (Northrop Auditorium). Ayana believes that teaching makes her a better dance,r and is excited to teach ,learn, and dance at Alden Moves Dance Theater at Studio 1203.
Company Member & 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: 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.