Jennifer Muller/The Works
The Artists
The dancers of The Works are renowned both for their technical virtuosity and expressive capability. Jennifer Muller draws out of her company members' energy, athleticism, passion and grace – a process that reveals each performer as a distinct individual without compromising the integrity of a coherent ensemble. To get to know the dancers, scroll over the pictures to read company biographies.
Rosie Lani FiedelmanRosie Lani Fiedelman (Artistic Council/Dancer), from Breckenridge, Colorado, graduated in the first class of the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University BFA program. Ms. Fiedelman has performed with Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, MSDT, Calvin Wiley Dance Theater, Subtle Changes and Camille A. Brown. She has worked with Kevin Iega Jeff, Roger C. Jeffrey as his assistant, Ronald K. Brown, Darrell Moultrie, John Paollilo, Iqual Shaheed and David Moore and appeared on Live with Regis and Kelly. She was an original cast member of the four-time Tony Award-winning and 2008 Grammy Award-winning musical In The Heights. She also earned the 2006-07 Drama Desk Award for Outstanding Ensemble Performance Off-Broadway and the 2007-08 Outstanding Broadway Chorus Award from The Actors' Equity Association. She played "Rosario" in Ghostdancer at The Mint Theater. She most recently worked on Heatwave: The Jack Cole Project at the Queens Theater In The Park with WALKERDANCE, where she was both an ensemble member and dance captain. A principle dancer with The Works since 2003, she originated leading roles in such pieces as Island, Flowers, Metamorphosis, Passion Fruit, Aria, Bench, Tangle and The White Room. Ms. Fiedelman has danced in The Works’ NYC Seasons at The Joyce, Cedar Lake and Jerome Robbins Theaters and has traveled internationally with the company to Bangkok, Bolivia, Brazil, and Beijing. Most recently, she assisted Muller in re-staging Bench for Introdans in The Netherlands.
Gen HashimotoGen Hashimoto (Artistic Council/Dancer), born in Chiba, Japan, started his training in dance and acting at Japan University of Arts. Since moving to New York in 1999, he has danced with Igal Perry, Javier Dzul, Mary Seidman & Dancers, Faine Dance Troupe and Nathan Trice, with whom he performed at Summerstage in Central Park in 2002. He first studied with The Works during its Peridance Summer Intensive, subsequently joining the company in 2003. He has toured internationally with the company to Bangkok, Bolivia, Brazil and Beijing and danced in The Works’ NYC Seasons at The Joyce, Cedar Lake and Jerome Robbins Theaters. As principle dancer, Mr. Hashimoto has originated leading roles in such pieces as Island, Flowers, Metamorphosis, Momentum, Passion Fruit, Aria, Bench, Spam and The White Room. He most recently assisted Muller in the residency/commission projects for the Ailey BFA Program, Rutgers University and headed The Works Workshop in fall 2012.
Chellamar BernardChellamar Bernard (Dancer), 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 worked with companies such as Nathan Trice/RITUALS, the Kevin Wynn Collection, Philadanco, Buglisi Dance Theatre, H.T.Chen and Dancers, Philadanco, Genesis Dance and Dzul Dance. He is a dance instructor at New Canaan Dance Academy in Connecticut, and a Private Trainer/Group Exercise Instructor at several gyms in NYC.
Seiko FujitaSeiko Fujita (Dancer/Administrative Assistant to Ms. Muller) began classical ballet training in Japan when she was three years old. While in Japan, she worked in venues such as Tokyo Disney Land and Ballet Studio DUO. In 1997, she came to New York and studied at The Ailey School. She has danced with Von Ussar Danceworks since 1997 and with Elinor Coleman Dance Ensemble, Footprints Dance Company, Flexicurve and Fred Benjamin Dance Company. Seiko joined The Works in 2006. Seiko has assisted Muller in residency projects at Rutgers University, Ailey/Fordham BFA Program and Steps on Broadway. Most recently, she assisted Ms. Muller in re-staging Bench for Introdans in The Netherlands.
Duane GosaDuane Gosa (Dancer), from Pickerington, Ohio, began dancing at 16 at Eastland Performing Arts program in Columbus. He received his BFA in Dance from The University of Akron in 2008, graduating Magna Cum Laude. He was a Fellowship Student at The Ailey School in 2005. Mr. Gosa has performed works by Andrea Miller, Alonzo King, David Parsons, Doug Varone Pascal Rekoert and Luis Salgado. Currently, Duane is performing with Brooklyn Ballet as well as with the contemporary cabaret company, The Love Show, staring in the seasonal production of Nutcracker: Rated R. Recently Duane toured Taiwan as a cast member of Tim Rice and Elton John's Broadway musical Aida. Duane joined The Works in 2007. Most recently, Duane conducted a multi-week summer intensive in Queretano, Mexico and assisted Muller in the reconstruction of Speeds (Excerpts) at the University of Iowa. Duane teaches in numerous locations in NYC and is a certified Pilates instructor.
Katherine HozierKatherine Hozier (Dancer), from Watsonville, California, graduated from Marymount Manhattan College Dance Department Magna Cum Laude in 2008. Katherine has studied with Katie Langan, Pedro Ruiz, Francisco Martinez, Virginia Johnson, Denise Vale, and Kristina Berger just to name a few. She has danced with the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, and performed around the tri-state area with The Parker Project. Katherine has also appeared in a variety of commercial projects including the Tommy Hilfinger's Fashion Night Out, dancing backup for Joss Stone, America's Got Talent as in-house backup talent, Fashion Cares, the My Fair Wedding Promo Commercial on the WE network and three seasons (the last as back up dancer for Nicki Minaj) with Victoria’s Secret Fashion Show on CBS.
Olivia JordanOlivia Jordan (Dancer), from Jacksonville, Florida, received her early training from the North Carolina School of the Arts. She graduated Cum Laude from Jacksonville University BFA dance program in 2011 and was recognized as Student of the Year for the College of Fine Arts. Olivia is a certified Pilates instructor.
Caroline KehoeCaroline Kehoe (Dancer), received her early dance training in Princeton, NJ from American Repertory Ballet’s Princeton Ballet School under the direction of Maria Youskevitch and Graham Lustig, and intensive training from Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Boston Ballet, NYU, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. She graduated from Ailey/Fordham in 2010 with a BFA in dance, where she performed works by Alvin Ailey, Lar Lubovitch, Larry Keigwin, Paul Taylor, Ronald K. Brown, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Pedro Ruiz, and Jennifer Muller. She performed in Memoria with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at NY City Center in 2009-10 and for their 50th Anniversary season in 2008-09. Caroline's additional performing credits include American Repertory Ballet and Flexicurve, and her broadcast and print credits include the PBS series "IN THE LIFE/Voices of Pride: Pas de Deux”, a photo series called “Beautiful Dancers on the Town”, and the photography book, Dance Magic, both of which were shot by dance photographer Richard Calmes.
Jen PetersJen Peters* (Dancer) from St. Joseph, Michigan, graduated Cum Laude from the Ailey/Fordham BFA program in 2006. She has danced professionally with Pascal Rekoert/Flexicurve and was a scholarship student at The Works before joining the company in 2007. She has assisted Ms. Muller in multiple residency projects, including Jacksonville University, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and Florida Community College Jacksonville, and for Tanztechnik, the 2010 project documenting Muller Polarity Technique in Koln, Germany. Ms. Peters is spearheading JMTW’s newest community partnership, M2Dance Crew at Ronald McDonald House-New York. Most recently, she assisted Muller in the reconstruction of Speeds (Excerpts) at the University of Iowa. She a freelance writer for Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, and Pointe Magazine, and is a certified Pilates instructor. * on hiatus
Michael TomlinsonMichael Tomlinson (Dancer) was born and raised in Olathe, Kansas. He received a BFA in dance at the University of Missouri-Kansas City's Conservatory of Music and Dance. Michael has worked with numerous choreographers including Gary Abbot, Kevin Iega Jeff, Joshua Beamish, Mary Pat Henry, Paula Weber, and Deanna Hiett. He has danced with Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company and OwenCox Dance Group, both located in Kansas City. He has performed with MOVE in Vancouver, British Columbia, touring with the company to Thailand where he performed for the royal family.
Jenna LiberatiJenna Liberati (Apprentice), originally from Crystal Lake, Illinois, graduated Summa Cum Laude from Marymount Manhattan College in 2008. While there she performed works by Jennifer Muller, Stephen Petronio, Twyla Tharp, David Parsons, Francisco Martinez and Geoffrey Doig-Marx. She has performed professionally with Pascal Rekoert/Flexicurve, A.Gise and Dancers, A.H. Dance Company, Geoffrey Doig- Marx and Julia Pond Dance. Jenna currently dances with John J. Zullo Dance, Ian Spencer Bell Dance and is an apprentice with Alison Chase Performance. She is also an instructor of the Refine Method, a Metabolic Resistance Training technique.
Kensaku ShinoharaKensaku Shinohara (Apprentice), originally from Sapporo, Japan, started dancing and creating his own pieces while studying anthropology at International Christian University in Tokyo. He danced in such companies as Dance Company Normade-s, Grinder-man and directed his own company Team Punchinello, In 2009, he moved to NYC where he has collaborated with artists such as Daria Fain, Daniel Lepkoff, Julie Bour, Darcy Naganuma, Anthony Aiu, Charly Wenzel, Martin Lanz, Giada Ferrone and Lovid. In New York, he has presented his work for Movement Research at Judson Church, Broadway Dance Center showcase, Arts Cure, PMT dance showcase and both HATCH and HATCHed. Ken is also a certified Pilates Instructor.
Photos by Paula Lobo.