Joelle was born and raised in Brooklyn, New York where she started her training at the age of three at Dance Works Dance Center under the direction of Margaret Tapogna Gatzonis. In 2005, she was awarded Dance Spirit Magazine's Future Star Award and was picked along with 50 other members to travel to Beijing, China and participate in a Cultural Festival in preparation for the 2008 Summer Olympics. As her passion for dance grew, Joelle trained at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts under the direction of Michelle Mathesius. Joelle has performed in several works by Adam Barruch, Pedro Ruiz, Milton Myers, and Sidra Bell. Joelle has performed in Disney World, Orlando, Florida and Madison Square Garden for several years as a member of The United States Dance Team. Currently, she is a Fellowship Student in her third and final year at The Ailey School. At The Ailey School, she has had the honor of performing in Alvin Ailey's "Memoria" for the past two years at City Center as well as represented the Ailey School in the Thanksgiving Parade in celebration of their 50th year Anniversary. Joelle joined DeMa Dance Company in 2010.

Jenna Simon began dancing at the age of five at Mid Maryland Performing Arts Center in Frederick Maryland.  There she received training in the R.A.D. and Graham technique under the direction of Esperanza Alzona.  At the age of thirteen she joined the Potomac Classical Youth Ballet Company dancing soloist roles in ballets including, Peter and the Wolf, Paquita, and The Nutcracker.  Jenna graduated cum laude from Goucher College in 2008 with a BA in Communications and Media Studies and a minor in Dance Performance.  At Goucher she performed in works choreographed by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Michael Vernon, Sonya Tayeh, William Whitener, Nilas Martins, and Anne Hutchinson-Guest.  During her last semester of college, she joined Washington Reflections Dance Company for one season.  She has also been a guest artist for the Baltimore Ballet Company.  In 2008, Jenna moved to NYC after receiving a fellowship to dance at the Alvin Ailey Summer Program.  Jenna joined DeMa Dance Company in 2009.

Lola Shapiro is currently a candidate for a BFA in Modern Dance at Marymount Manhattan College under the direction of Katie Langan.  In June 2008, Lola graduated with honors from LaGuardia Arts High School Dance Department under the direction of Michelle Mathesius.  She was recipient of the Desiree Keres Scholarship.  At LaGuardia, she performed in works by Elise King, John Selya, Sonya Tayeh, Tokyo, Penny Frank, Deborah Zall, Yesid Lopez, Matthew Neff, Ginger Cox, Braham Logan Crane and Nathan Trice.  She began her dance studies at the age of six at the Vicky Simegiatos Performing Arts Center, training in classical ballet with Matina Simegiatos and Vicky Simegiatos, and in jazz and contemporary dance with Despina Simegiatos.  She performed feature roles in full length ballets with the Vicky Simegiatos Dance Company.  Lola joined DeMa Dance Company in 2009. 

Victory Chen is a contemporary ballet dancer of Asian American decent originally from Oklahoma. She trained at the Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education under the direction of Marcello Angelini, before joining Tulsa Ballet II for their 2006-2007 season. Her classical repertoire includescorps work from Michael Smuin’s Romeo and Juliet, Andre Prokovsky’s Great Gatsby, and Marcello Angelini’s theNutcracker. She has also performed the women’s dances from Val Caniparoli’s Going for Baroqueand Ma Cong’s Carmina Burana. Victory joined DeMa Dance Company in 2009.

Nanette Michele began dancing under the direction and guidance of Vicky and Evan Simegiatos. Without these two influential people Nanette Michele would  not have continued with her dancing career. Nanette has had the wonderful experience of performing  in ballets such as Coppelia, Cinderella, Stars and Stripes and of course Nutcracker. Then continuing her career in the performing arts Nanette Michele was cast in shows such as Nickelodeon's Rugrats A Live Adventure, The Kennedy Center's production of Carnival, Paramount/Vicom's Star Trek The Experience, The Glass Menagerie, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Slow Dance On The Killing Ground, And Then They Came For Me: Remembering The World Of Anne Frank, and Masquerade Show In The Sky. Nanette has had the opportunity to tour the US and also resided in Las Vegas for a number of years while performing in various shows. She has also participated in a number of benefits such as Broadway Bares XVII Myth Behavior/Equity Fights Aids, Golden Rainbow and Circus Freaks where she performed side by side with Cirque Du Soleil artists.In addition, Nanette has had the opportunity to work with wonderful choreographers and directors such as Danny Herman, Rocker Verastique, Vicky Simegiatos, Tara Foy, Christopher Cilders, Deanna Duplechain, Courtney Young, Tokyo, Yesid Lopez, Despina Simegiatos, Matina Simegiatos, Robert Longbottom and Josh Prince. Nanette joined DeMa Dance Company in 2009. Nanette Michele is also a proud member of Actors Equity Association.

Alex Pernice is a Point Park Alum with a BA in dance and Musical Theatre minor. Originally a Florida native, she performed with Orlando City Ballet where she danced leading roles by the age of fourteen. She attended ballet intensives with American Ballet Theater and Orlando Ballet. She has worked with artists such as Broadway's Tome' Cousin and Rachelle Rak, Michael Lichtefeld, Jack Allison, Doug Bentz, PBT's Jaibin Pan, Luba Gulyavea, Jason Winters, Jeff Saver, Mary Rawson, SYTYCD's Neil Haskell and many more. Regional Broadway credits include: West Side Story (Graziella) and The Music Man. Other career highlights include Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as well as performing at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. She has recently been seen as one of Paramount Pictures' promotional Captain America girls.This is her first season with DeMa Dance Company. Ms. Pernice is a proud              member of Actors Equity Association (AEA).

Jerome Melsaun Warren, (Dancer) Is from Brooklyn, NY. Mr.Warren has recived his dance training from the Alivin Ailey School, Ballet Hispanico, Creative Outlet, Jeffrey Ballet and Walnut Hill. Mr.Warren has Performed with Philadanco in Philadelphia, PA Founder & Executive Artistic Director Joan Myers Brown and Creative Outlet Dance Theatre Of Brooklyn Founder & Executive Artistic Director Jamel Gaines , Errol Grimes Dance Group, Jazz Ain’t Dead Artistic Director & Choreographer Candice Michelle Franklin and Balance Dance Theatre Founder & Executive Artistic Director Obediah Wright. He has worked with choreographers Jawole Zollar, Lynne Taylor-Corbet, Ronald K. Brown, Geoffrey Holder, Talley Beatty, Christopher Huggins, and George Faison of Bahiyah Sayid-Gaines, Nathan Trice, Obediah Wright, Shirley Black-Brown, Matthew Rushing, and Jamel Gaines, Lakai Worrell. This is his first season with DeMa Dance Company.

Ada Cacciatore is a native of Lecce, Italy. She began her dance training under direction of Margherita Parrilla at “National Academy of Dance" in Rome, where she studied ballet, modern and composition with choreographers and dancers like Dino Verga, Elsa Piperno, Adriana Borriello, Fara Grieco and Clarissa Mucci. She also trained at The Ailey School, The Place (LCDS) and Danceworks in London. She has attended several summer dance intensives including Random Dance Company, Phoenix Dance Theater, Martha Graham Dance School, Joffrey Ballet Dance School and she was selected to participate in Alonzo King Lines Ballet. Ms. Cacciatore has performed works by many choreographers including Zarko Prebil, Tuccio Rigano, Max Luna lll, Fabrizio Varriale, Lanette Alvarez, Darshan Singh Bhuller, Amaury Lebrun, Earl Mosley, Stefanie Batten Bland, Donal Byrd, Lakay Worrel, Kevin Joseph, Jacqulyn Buglisi and Sidra Bell. This is her first season with DeMa Dance Company

Hali Bekofsky  was born and raised on Long Island, New York. She attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and graduated with Honors in May 2010 with a BFA in Jazz Dance Performance. She received the Faculty Award for “Excellence in Dance” and was also a founding member and soloist of the Xhale Dance Company for 5 seasons. The past year she was honored to have the opportunity to dance in Israel under the MASA Apprentice Program with Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company. While in Israel she had the pleasure to perform choreography by Rami Be’er, Mats Ek and Sharon Vasivaser.  Since returning to New York she has worked with Amalgamate Dance Company, BEings Dance Company and performed in the 2012 NYC REVERB festival for Marissa Joseph and Katrina Cunningham. This is her first season with DeMa Dance Company

BILLY bell

Billy Bell was born and raised in West Palm Beach, Fl where he first started dance at the age of 12. He attended the Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. School of the Arts in West Palm Beach, Fl and graduated in May 2008. There he worked with many prestigious choreographers including Kathy Posin, Margot Sapington, Jeff Satinof, and Jan Hanniford-Geotz. Now, at age 20, he has done more than most his age: He has danced with Broadway’s Liza Minnelli, and Joel Grey in “Back to Back to Broadway”; toured with Broadway Arts Productions as “Baby John” in their production of “West Side Story;” and was on season six of FOX’s hit television show So You Think You Can Dance. He has trained at Alvin Ailey, Joffrey Jazz and Contemporary and participated in Springboard Danse Montreal, where he has had the pleasure of working with many dance companies and choreographers from across the world. Billy also started his own ensemble at Dreyfoos School of the Arts called the Dreyfoos Dance Ensemble, and was lucky enough to be selected to be awarded a Silver Award and Presidential Scholar nomination from NFAA YoungARTS. He also was in an HBO documentary with Jaques D’Amboise called “Master Class”.  He is currently in the class of 2012 at The Juilliard School, in New York City, where he studies dance, and has been able to choreograph and perform the works of José Limon and Sidra Bell. Most recently, Billy set his first work, “Burgeon,” at Dreyfoos School of the Arts. Billy joined DeMa Dance Company in November of 2009, and is excited to grow with this new opportunity.

Bryant is originally from Sylacauga, Alabama. He has studied extensively as a dancer and choreographer in ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop and contemporary.  He graduated magna cum laude from The University of Alabama with a degree in Dance and Public Relations, and was a member of UA’s resident company. Bryant has worked within the Miss Alabama Pageant system as a performer and choreographer, served as a counselor for the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive, and interned at Broadway Dance Center in NYC. Bryant is also a choreographer and his work has been seen throughout Alabama, appeared at the American College Dance Festival, and in New York City. His work ranges from concert dance to full musical productions.  Bryant regularly teaches class throughout New York City, New Jersey, Long Island, and Alabama. Bryant performed in Times Square with singer Ne-Yo for an X-Box promotion, and recently made his NYC debuts at the Joyce SoHo, Baryshnikov Performing Arts Center, and New York City Center. This is first season with DeMa Dance Company



Hillary was born in Middle Village, New York where she began her training at the age of six. She studied at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts under the direction of Michelle Mathesius and is now a sophomore at New York University’s Gallatin School of Individualized Study. She was the recipient of the Dr. Carol and Marvin Eiger Scholarship and is a Gertrude Samuels scholar. In 2008, Hillary was awarded as a National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts Finalist and 1st Place winner. She was also a Presidential Scholar in the Arts nominee and semifinalist. Hillary’s first season with DeMa Dance Company began in 2009.

Elizabeth Cappabianca began her dance training at the early age of three in Brooklyn, New York. She studied at Vicky Simegiatos Performing Arts Center under the direction of Vicky Simegiatos, Matina Simegiatos, and Despina Simegiatos. Elizabeth is a dance major of The Boston Conservatory where she is a B.F.A. candidate. Her performance credits include various productions with the Vicky Simegiatos Dance Company, LaGuardia High School of the Performing Arts, and Regis High School. She has performed works by Yesid Lopez, Sonya Tayeh, Ginger Cox, Matthew Neff, Chris Coates, Brian Mulley, Latrice Gregory and Caitlin Gray. Elizabeth has performed at Madison Square Garden during the season opening game of New York Liberty. Elizabeth joined DeMa Dance Company in 2009.

Matthew Flatley was born and raised in Maywood, New Jersey. He began dancing at the age of 3 at Dance Dimensions in New Milford, New Jersey. Matthew attended the Bergen County Academy for Visual and Performing Arts and graduated in June 2009 with a concentration in Acting. In the spring of 2009 , he performed in the Dancers Responding to Aids benefit at the Joyce Theater. Matthew now attends New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts as a BFA dance major, and recently appeared in an original work by Deborah Jowitt. Matthew can be found assisting teacher and choreographer, Marinda Davis, at dance studios and conventions all along the East Coast. He is currently performing with MarInspired: The Company, and is very excited to now be working with DeMa Dance Company. Matthew has been with DeMa Dance Company since 2009.