Kyla Ernst Alper

Kyla began her dance training in Vermont, where she performed with Patricia Wilson's Dunham technique-based dance company and was mentored by Dana Holby. She studied with Christine Sarry, Daniel Levans and Richard Thomas at the Ballet Tech School in New York City. She has danced with Eliot Feld's Ballet Tech, Elisa Monte Dance, Battery Dance Company, Sensedance, C. Eule Dance, Williams Works, Kenny Larson, and Yep Collaborative. She is currently a second-degree black belt and studies Shaolin Kung Fu with Thad Wong at the New York City Shaolin Center. She has been a member of Dzul Dance since 2008.

Photo: Rojelio Rodriguez

So Young An (Dancer)

So Young An received her BFA from Dong-Ah University in South Korea. She was awarded the top prize at the International Seoul Arts Competition in 1995 and the Gold Medal at the Korea National Ballet Grand Prix in 2001. Ms. An was a member of the Korea National Ballet Company from 2001 to 2006. In Seoul Musical Art Theater's production of Romeo & Juliet, she played the role of Juliet. Ms. An has also performed works by Yuri Grigorovich, Jean-Christophe Maillot, Mats Ek, and Patricia Ruanne. Currently Ms. An dances with Buglisi Dance Theatre and Dzul Dance.

Photo: Deena Mariam Fienberg

Ji-Hyuen Bang (Dancer, Aerialist)

Ji-Hyeun was born in Seoul, Korea where she began studying ballet. She attended Duk-won Art High School and furthered her classical ballet training at The Se-Jong University. While studying at Se-Jong, she became a member of the Aeji Ballet Association with whom she performed modern and classical ballets. After graduating Ji-Hyeun studied at Ballet Academy of Canada and Canada National Ballet Center and participated in workshops with Korean National Ballet Company and Universal Ballet Company. In 2002 she became a principal dancer with Lee Ballet Company and also performed with Seoul Ballet Theater. In addition, she was awarded both the grand prize and first prize at the Korean Ballet Contest. Ji-Hyuen has been a member of Dzul Dance since 2005.

Photo: Rojelio Rodriguez

Chellamar Bernard (Dancer)

Chellamar was born in Brooklyn, NY and is a graduate of the prestigious F.H. LaGuardia High School for the Performing Arts. He went on to receive his BFA from SUNY Purchase Dance Conservatory. Chellamar has had the opportunity to work with companies such as NathanTrice/RITUALS, the Kevin Wynn Collection, Philadanco and Buglisi Dance Theatre. He enjoys working as a dance instructor at Boys and Girls Harbor Dance Conservatory in Harlem and New Canaan Dance Academy in Connecticut. Chellamar joined Dzul in 2009.

Photo: Rojelio Rodriguez

Cornelius Brown (Dancer, Aerialist)

Cornelius began dancing at the Academy of Dance in Georgia. He pursued his study of dance with Columbia City Ballet in South Carolina and Boston Ballet on scholarship. He received his BFA in Dance from Southern Methodist University at which time he also became a member of the Fort Worth Ballet. Since his arrival in New York Cornelius has apprenticed with Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance and taught at Eliot Feld’s Ballet Tech School. He has danced with Jennifer Archibald, Young Soon Kim, Dodge Dance Company, Redwall Dance Company, Christopher Caines and C. Eule Dance. Cornelius has been a member of Dzul Dance since 2006.

Photo: Matthew McMullen Smith

Robin Taylor Dzul (Dancer, Aerialist)

Robin moved to New York in 1996 and joined Lori Belilove and Company: The Art of Isadora Duncan. She toured both nationally and internationally with Lori Belilove and became a soloist company member. In 2001 Robin joined the faculty at the Isadora Duncan Foundation. She also competed nationally in Ballroom and Latin Dance with international champion, Ian Folker. Robin has been a member of Dzul Dance since 2003. She has assisted in the restaging of Javier Dzul’s choreographies in Mexico and has led dance and aerial workshops in New York and abroad. In 2009 and 2010 she acted as rehearsal director for Javier Dzul’s Compania de Danza Contemporanea in Mexico. Photographs of Robin and Javier Dzul by Acey Harper are featured in Private Acts: the acrobat sublime published by Rizzoli in September 2011.

Photo: Deena Mariam Fienberg

Jason Jordan (Dancer)

Jason began his dance career at the age of seven when he won five dollars for being the best dancer at a Brooklyn house party. Mr. Jordan has since danced with Feld Ballets/NY, Ballet Tech (as a Principal dancer), Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Mandance Project, Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, Rubberbandance Group and Buglisi Dance Theatre. Jason joined Dzul Dance in 2007.

Nicole Lichau (Dancer)

Nicole began studying classical ballet at a young age. She attended The School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center on scholarship and went on to receive her BFA from the University of New York at Purchase where she was introduced to modern dance. After graduating Nicole apprenticed with Complexions Dance Company and became a certified Pilates instructor. She joined Dzul Dance in 2004.

Matthew Sparks (Dancer)

Mr. Sparks graduated from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance in 2004. He has performed with numerous dance and theatre companies in the United States such as: Ballet Internacional, Louisville Dance Theater, Gregory Hancock Dance Theater, Dance Kaleidoscope, Indiana Ballet Co., Oregon Shakespeare Festival, Music Theater Louisville, and Stage One. Matthew also plays drums/back-up vocals for Polaris Breach, Jason Vonkraut, and Blow-Up Castle in NYC. He has been a member of Dzul Dance since 2009.

Photo: Rojelio Rodriguez

Anna Venizelos (Contortionist, Aerialist)

Anna has returned to New York City following a three year contract with Cirque du Soleil’s Quidam. For the Asia/Pacific tour in 2004 Anna performed as part of the women’s trio aerial hoop act. For the North America/Canada tour in 2006 Anna took on the featured solo ‘Contortion in Silks’. She has also performed with Montreal based circus companies, Les Gens d’R and Cirque Eloize. Anna performs with Acroback Inc. and has been performing with Dzul Dance since 2006.

Photo: Acey Harper