Who We Are

Who We Are

Rachel Grisi -----(Founder/Director)

Miss Grisi started her dance training and performing in Bucks County. She has studied at Princeton Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, Steps on Broadway, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance all on scholarship. In 1996, she started working with choreographer Geoffrey Doig-Marx and soon rose to become his assistant. In 1999, Miss Grisi was asked to join The Martha Graham Dance Ensemble under the direction of Kenneth Topping where she danced for four years. While at Graham, her roles included “The Woman in White” from “Diversion of Angels”, Ethel Winter’s solo “En Dolor”, and various other Graham ensemble pieces. In 2002, Rachel started studying Ballroom dance. She currently is a member and rehearsal assistant of Divino Ritmo Dance under the direction of Lucas Jaime and competes pro/am International Latin with Mr. Jaime as well. Miss Grisi teaches ballet and modern to all age levels and is currently on faculty at Bucks County Dance Center, Connecticut Ballet, and Steps on Broadway. She is also available to teach private ballroom lessons. Four years ago, she founded The Nest bringing dance and music workshops to the students of Bucks County and producing performances collaborating with the students and faculty of The Nest.

Dr. Daniel Bernard Roumain ---(Music Director/Composer in Residence)

Mr.Roumain is originally from Florida and currently resides and works in Harlem, New York. Dr. Roumain received his masters in music and completed his doctoral work at The University of Michigan. Some of his credits include Music Director, Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Company, Assistant Composer in Residence, Orchestra of St. Luke’s, and Artist in Residence, Tribeca Performing Arts Center. He has been described as “a combination of Mozart, Andrew Lloyd Weber, and Prince”. Dr. Roumain represents one of the most exciting developments in contemporary music blending classical and hip-hop idioms and styles. Visit his website at www.dbrmusic.com.

Geoffrey Doig-Marx ---(Jazz)

Mr. Doig-Marx is the Director and Founder of “The Mantis Project” Dance Company and cocreator/Artistic Director of The Elan Awards. Geoffrey is currently on staff at Marymount Manhattan College, Princeton Dance Studio (Susan Jaffe and Risa Gary Kaplowitz, directors), and Dance Cavise. His work has appeared on “PBS”, “CBS”, “DRA”, “The Best of Broadway Dance Center”, “New Dance Group”, and New York City’s “First Night”. As a performer, Mr. Doig-Marx has been seen in the National tours and Regional Theatre Productions of West Side Story, Pippin, A Chorus Line, Cabaret, La Cage Aux Folles, Fiddler on the Roof, and Jesus Christ Superstar. Visit his website at www.themantisproject.org

Wynne Bennet--- (Musician)

Miss Bennetis from New Jersey. She is currently a sophomore at Mannes School of Music as a composition major.

Jennifer Emerson-- (Composition/Modern) - Bio to follow

Patrizia Herminjard ---(Yoga/Modern) - Bio to follow

Whitney V. Hunter ---(Modern)

Mr. Hunter is a native of Chicago, currently residing in New York City. He graduated from Howard University with a BFA in dance. While in Washington D.C., he performed with Kanlouran West African Dance Company, Images of Cultural Artistry, Doug Hamby and at The Kennedy Center for The Performing Arts. In 1999, he received The Coca Cola Scholarship from The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance where he quickly became a member of The Martha Graham Dance ensemble. Mr. Hunter as worked with Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Reggie Wilson/Fist and Heel Performance Group and was a soloist with The Rod Rodgers Dance Company. He has toured internationally with Pascal Rioult Dance Theatre and has appeared in The Metropolitan Opera’s “Les Troyens”. Whitney is currently dancing with The Martha Graham Dance Company.

Christophe Jeannot ---(Modern/Partnering)

Mr. Jeannot is a native from France. He received a grant to come to New York to study at The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in 1997. He soon joined The Martha Graham Dance Ensemble and became a member of the senior company in 1998. Christophe has also performed with The Pearl Lang Dance Theater, The Stephanie Nelson Dance Group, The Saba Dance Theater, The Dankmeyer Dance Company, and The Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company. Christophe is currently a soloist with the Martha Graham Dance Company.

Molly Sparrow Johnson--- (Hip Hop)

Molly is from Michigan. She is assistent to Geoffrey Doig-Marx. Molly is currently studying Swedish Massage.

Yuko Suzuki ---(Modern/Ballet/Gyrokinesis ®)

Miss Suzuki is originally from Tokyo, Japan where she started her training and performing with The Inoue Ballet. In 1996, she moved to New York City to study at The Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance where she met Miss Grisi and other faculty of The Nest and is happy to be working and performing with them. Yuko is a GYROTONICS® instructor and dances with The Martha Graham Dance Company.

Michelle Van Doeren--- (Jazz)

Michelle is from Pittsburgh.
She is on faculty at Point Park College and Carnegie Mellon University.

Maurizio Nardi (Modern/ Performacmce)

Maurizio is native of Florence Italy. He came to NY with a scholarship at the Grhahm school in the summer of '98. Since then Maurizio has danced with the Martha Graham Dance Ensemble, Battery Dance Co., Pearl Lang Dance Co.and Coyote Dancers. He is currently a member of the Martha Graham Dance Company