62 East 4th Street
(Btw 2nd & 3rd Aves)
New York, NY 10003
MAP & DIRECTIONS
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Ph#212-674-9066
Fax 212-674-9068
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rodrodgers.dance
@verizon.net
KIM GRIER, Artistic Director a native New Yorker, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts (now University of the Arts). She is a featured soloist with Rod Rodgers Dance Company and has assisted Mr. Rodgers in numerous teaching and creative projects. She is the Rehearsal Director of the Rod Rodgers Dance Company and Coordinator of the RRDC Performing Workshop. Ms. Grier formerly was the Director of Dance Programs at the Harlem School of the Arts and served on the teaching staff for 14 years. She was Rehearsal Director for three of Harlem School's resident dance companies. Kim works as a dance specialist for Arts Connection, Annenberg Initiative via Bronx Arts Ensemble, Alvin Ailey Summer Outreach Programs/Mach Ailey Camp and Hudson Repertory Dance Theater.
She has taught Art-In-Education residency programs in the Tri-State Area, New Orleans, DesMoines, Iowa and Master Classes at a number of Colleges including California State University in Humboldt, Long Beach, Dominguez Hills and Arcata, Long Island University in Brooklyn, Black College Dance Exchange (various locations), Florida A&M University, Howard University and Adelphi University (list incomplete).

Ms. Grier also choreographed an Off-Broadway production, "Dark Star from Harlem" a tribute to Josephine Baker, and made her debut at the Metropolitan Opera House as principle dancer in George Gershwin's "PORGY and BESS," choreographed by Carmen de Lavallade. She appeared in performance with several dance theater companies as a Guest Artist, i.e., in Missouri with Wylliams/Henry Dance Theater, in NYC Blondell Cummings, Forces of Nature, Duane Cyrus and Company, Alpha-Omega Dance Company, Footprints and in Philadelphia with LEJA Dance Theater. Kim has performed works by Milton Myers, Tee Ross, Lonne Morretton, Eleo Pomare, Fred Benjame, Talley Beatty, Heidi Latsky, Sean Curran and is a recipient of the Lila Wallace Award.
KAYOKO SAKOH is a native of Japan. She started her dancing career with Mihoko Yamada in Kagoshima, Japan where she won a “New Artistic Talent” award. In Japan, she choreographed, performed and taught dance throughout children to adults. Since coming to New York, she studied at Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and with Dr. Alfredo Corvino (the faculty of the Julliard School for 42　years, Ballet Master to Pina Bausch’s Tanztheater Wuppertal). Kayoko performed with Kristin Jackson Dance, Chen & Dancers, Ernesta Corvino’s Dance Circle Company, Opus Dance Co. and among others. She has been a member of RRDC since 1993.

Ms. Sakoh also has started her choreography career since 1985 when she was in Japan. The pieces choreographed by Kayoko in New York have been performed at the Theater for New City, The LaMaMa Theatre, Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture, NYU, Dance Space and HERE Arts Center. She choreographed a stage for jazz musician, Leon Parker for his Central Park “Summer Stage” in 1999 and also appeared in his CD, “The Simple Life” as a vocalist. In 2002, The Yamada Modern Dance Group performed her work in Japan. The “Dream” was selected by DRA’s Remember Project 2002 and performed at St. Marks Church.
NAMI KAGAMI who is from Japan, received her initial training at Masako Kaji Dance School and has worked with the RRDC since 1997. She is a graduate of Hofstra University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance with honors. She continued her study at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center and at the Peridance Center. Ms. Nami Kagami also has assisted Rod Rodgers and Ms. Kim Grier in master classes and workshops. She has taught at the Harlem School of the Arts (under Ms. Grier's guidance) and in Arts in Education programs.
KARA ROSALES began working with RRDC in October 2000. She holds a Masters of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Adelphi University. With RRDC, Kara has professionally performed works by Rod Rodgers, Kim Grier, Sean Curran and Kayoko Sakoh.

At RRDC Kara continues to study with Kim Grier and Martha Tornay. At Adelphi University Kara studied with Rebecca Wright, Carmen de Lavallade, Regina Larkin, Gail Gilbert and Michael Blake as well as performed works set by Marlies Yearby, Justin Ross, Donlin Forman and by Homer Avila and Edisa Weeks.

Ms. Rosales has directed the LuHi Summer Dance Program in Brookville, Long Island for the past 12 years. Also, Kara has assisted Ms. Kim Grier in master classes and workshops.
DAVID BROWNE a son of the Caribbean soil, mission as a dancer started some 21 years ago and since has dances and direct dance works in many of the bigger Islands. Most memorable are CASSBO (Chornicle Atlantic Steel & Brass Orchestra), Barbados Dance Theater, Little People, Ashe, L’acadco, University Dance Society (Mona) & NDTC. Came to the USA and continued with Companies such as the Nanette Bearden Contemporary, Forces of Nature, Albany Berkshire Ballet & Phyllis Rose Dance Company before being apart of Rod’s dream. Thanks to God for the ability to make this mission continuously satisfying.
SARAH COSNER began working with the Rod Rodgers Dance Company in September of 2002. Sarah started her dance career in West Virginia at the early age of 3. She studied in a small school in Inwood, WVuntil the age of 14. She then continued her studies at a performing arts high school in Lynchburg, Va.: The Virginia School of the Arts. After graduating from VSA she moved to New York City to pursue her career at The Joffery School and Alvin Aliey American Dance Center.
After dancing with those two prestigious schools Sarah also toured the Mediterranean, Caribbean, Central America and South America with The Royal Olympic Cruise Line. Sarah is honored to be involved with Rod Rodgers Dance Company and welcomes the opportunity to develop as a performer as well as to add to the tradition of this reputable company.
JESSICA ST. VIL is a graduate of Lehman College , where she received her B.A. in Mass Communications (major) and Dance (minor).  She thus continued her training with a partial scholarship from the Alvin Ailey School ; where she completed the independent study program.  She began working with RRDC in September of 2002; where she continues to study with Kim Grier.  Jessica teaches many workshops and gives classes in Modern, and Haitian folklore, throughout various schools, studios and programs. Some of her teaching credits include: Pratt Institute, the NAACP, and the Dance New England Foundation in Maine .   She currently works as a teaching artist for the Alvin Ailey School . 
She is also one of the founders and co. owners of a dance studio in Valley Stream, Long Island ; called Danse Xpressions LLC.  She has worked with many choreographers such as Christopher Huggins, Marcea Daiter, and Dyane Harvey.  Jessica also worked with choreographers Sean Curran and Kayoko Sakoh through RRDC. She has worked and performed with several dance theater companies, such as Feet of Rhythm, the Joan Peter’s Dance Company, Vissi Dance Theater, Tamboula D’ayiti, and Opus Dance Theater.  Jessica recently worked in collaboration with Unimix films; choreographing a short film titled “One More Try”.  Jessica is extremely grateful for all opportunities she has been given and aspires to continue to enrich her life and the lives of others through performing, choreographing, and teaching the art of dance.
JAMAL GREEN  is a native of Augusta, Georgia.  He began dancing at the age of 18 and received his Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Musical Theater from Elon University in North Carolina. 

He has resided in NYC since May 2001 and has worked with various Dance and Theater companies in the city such as Kenetic Dance Theatre and the Les Guirvories Company with Rose Marie Guiraud.  Jamal joined the Rod Rodgers Dance Company Dec. 2004 and has been performing with the company ever since.

THEA JONES who is from Nashville, TN, received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Howard University.  She has had the opportunity to study with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Def Dance Jam Workshop and Rod Rodgers Dance Company before becoming the newest member in September 2005.  She currently assists Ms. Grier in workshops and classes within the Rod Rodgers youth program and New York Arts and Education programs.

NIKIA KARA MANDERS a native of Bermuda, graduated from State University of New York at Buffalo (UB) with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance (Cum Laude) in May 2003. She returned to Bermuda and where she became a substitute teacher in the Public and Private School System and also, began teaching classes in Jazz and Modern Dance at the "In Motion School of Dance." .
March 2004, she began her professional dance career as an entertainer on the Celebrity Cruise Line which toured the Caribbean, Canada and the Mediterranean and since then she has performed with the Bermuda Dance Company, Concepts in Motion and choreographed for The Bermuda Drum line Festival and Toni n' Tina's Wedding (Bermuda). While studying at UB Nikia performed and choreographed for Zodiaque Studio Dance Ensemble and Zodiaque Dance Company. Through the Black College Dance Exchange she had summer scholarships with Philadanco Dance Company, Milwaukee Dance Connection, and Dallas Black Dance Theater. She was also given the opportuntiy to perform in a benefit in honor of Eartha Kitt at Spellman College, Atlanta, Georgia, in connection with Disney Productions and the Philadelphia Arts Festival. Nikia, continues to develop her self as a professional artist through the support of the Bermuda Arts Council and is honored to perform with The Rod Rodgers Dance Company
RONALD BURTON started his dance career at the age of fifteen with a three-year scholarship at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. It was at this institution that he studied Ballet, Jazz, Horton and Graham, and Dunham techniques. In furthering his dance career and multi cultural interests, he sought other dance opportunities by working with Afro-Brazilian, Haitian and African dance companies, while fulfilling another appointed scholarship at Clark Center For The Performing Arts. He later journeyed to the West Coast where he graduated from the University of California Los Angeles (UCLA) in the World Arts and Culture program. Ronald furthered his studies in Afro-Brazilian dance and culture as well as exploring dances of Mexico, Cuba and East Indian Bharatyam Natyam techniques.
Ronald has performed in neo-classical East Indian theatre, vaudeville cabarets, avant-garde dance theatre, stadium and arena events and currently participates in Art and Education programs in the New York City public school system.
KEVIN GAUDIN is a native of New Orleans. He began his professional dance career with the New Orleans Contemporary Company. Mr. Gaudin has studied theatre and voice at the University of New Orleans, Northwestern University and at Nat Horne’s Musical Theatrical School in NYC. He has performed as a guest artist and soloist with numerous dance companies including Ballet Hispanico, Sounds on Motion and the Danny Sloan Dance Company in Boston. He has worked with some of the leading choreographers of our time including Michael Peters, Eleo Pomare, Dianne McIntyre and Rod Rodgers. PBS documentary “Ark of the Spirit”, with Avery Brooks are among his recent TV and film credits. Mr. Gaudin has performed in many Theatrical productions such as “The Mystery of Edwin Drood”, “Their Eyes Were Watching God”, and Oscar Brown Jr’s “Harlem After Dark”. He can be seen in the Radio City Christmas and Easter Shows.

MARQUIS WALLACE (Apprentice) was born in 1990, in Bronx, NY. He is now a freshman at the High School of Arts & Design in NYC, studying fine arts. Marquis has trained and danced with the Rod Rodgers Dance Company Youth ensemble for 4 years.