Javier Dzul 

Artistic Director/Choreographer

Originally from Mexico, Javier has worked with numerous dance companies. He performed primarily with Martha Graham Dance Company, Pearl Lang Dance Theater, Battery Dance Company, Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, and American Indian Dance Theater. He established Dzul Dance in 2003. Javier's work fuses dance, aerial arts, and contortion as a means to communicate indigenous pre-Hispanic culture. By transforming bodies into earthbound and airborne forces of nature, Javier Dzul breaks physical and cultural boundaries.

Stephen Barber 

Composer

Stephen Barber has had over 40 years of professional experience as a composer of concert and film music and as an arranger, performer, and producer for projects ranging from Afropop to the BBC Natural History Unit and art installations. He was raised in Abilene, TX but is now settled between New York and Austin. He studied composition privately with John Corigliano through Juilliard. Barber's love of travel has immersed him in many cultures, which has shaped a lasting and impactful impression on his music. Thanks to his mentors and musical talent he has been amalgamating musical genres which are then woven into a culturally diverse sonic tapestry. His musical career spans across a diverse list of leading artists including Willie Nelson, Keith Richards, David Byrne, John Legend, Caetano Veloso, Femi Kuti, Ornette Coleman, Arto Lindsay, to the folk ensemble of Trakia (Bulgaria), London Symphony Orchestra, Meridian Arts Ensemble, American Boy Choir, and Czech Radio Orchestra. *photo by Shaun Hopper

Ricardo G. Barrett 

Dancer

Ricardo G. Barrett attended the American Musical and Dramatic Arts Academy. He continued his training at the Martha Graham School as a member of Graham 2. He was a member of the second Company for two years. This is his fifth year with Dzul Dance.

Kine Swensson-Darnell

Dancer

Born in Bergen, Norway, Kine studied at the National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam. She has been in productions with companies such as The Dutch National Ballet and Ajkun Ballet. This is her third performance with Dzul Dance.

Andrea Dusel

Dancer/Aerialist/Company Manager

Andrea was born in Wyoming and has been dancing since the age of five. She holds her BA in Dance from UNC Charlotte and her MS in Exercise Science from Pennsylvania Western University. Andrea has been fortunate to perform in beautiful locations around the world including New York, Mexico, and Copenhagen. This is her sixth season with Dzul Dance.

Federico Garcia

Principal Dancer

Federico is a dancer, performer, and Pilates instructor in the NYC area, originally from New Mexico. He began studying ballet as a teenager and eventually transitioned to modern and contemporary dance in college. He has been dancing with Dzul Dance for eleven years.

Margot Hartley

Dancer

Margot Hartley is a ballet & contemporary dancer. Originally from upstate, she relocated to NYC as a teenager to attend the Joffrey Ballet School on merit scholarship. Margot is currently a soloist at Connecticut Ballet. In the past she has worked with NYC-based contemporary ballet companies Gleich Dances and XAOC Contemporary Ballet. Past work includes seven Merce Cunningham Trust repertory showcases, including the MCT Fellowship showing of Changing  Steps and Scenario; dancing at New York Fashion Week; and acting in the video installation for the show Pierre Chareau: Modern Architecture and Design at the Jewish Museum. In 2018, she toured as a demi-soloist with Vladimir Varnava's evening-length work ISADORA. The piece featured Natalia Osipova and premiered in the US at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts, and in Russia at the Stanislavskyi Theatre in Moscow. This is her first performance with Dzul Dance.

Cassandra Punzo

Dancer

Cassandra began as a gymnast then transitioned to a ballet education at The Nutmeg Conservatory, with further training under the Bolshoi Ballet in NYC, and a traineeship with Charlotte Ballet. She has performed with professional classical and contemporary ballet, ballroom, and Graham companies across the US and finally calls NYC her home. This is her second performance with Dzul Dance.

Jason Mejias

Guest Artist/Aerialist

Jason is a Circus, Cabaret and Variety performer and has been working in the New York City Nightlife scene since 2009 as a regular performer at venues like The Slipper Room, Galapagos Art Space, The Bridges, House of Yes and Coney Island, among others. He performs mainly as an aerialist and is co-creator and troupe member of Boys Night Revue. His passion for circus began in 2007 after he became a Flying Trapeze Instructor at Trapeze School New York where he brought a fun, yet intense approach to teaching, perfecting skills and adapting the techniques he has learned from his own experiences. Jason is a part of Aerial Arts NYC, a circus school based in Manhattan where he teaches Aerial Rope, Hammock, Aerial Silks, and Dance Trapeze classes. Jason has produced shows like "The Waterfront Follies", "Bawdville!", "DELIRIO" and is co-creator of "We Want It Darker" as well as co-creator/producer of "Boys Night: An All-Male Cirquelesque Revue" where they have headlined for Atlantis Cruises and have a monthly residency at The Slipper Room NYC. He has also performed at the legendary Moisture Festival in Seattle, WA, The Burlesque Hall of Fame in Las Vegas, NV and has worked for major companies like Sublime Boudoir.

Katie Whittemore

Lighting Designer

Katie attended Salem State University, receiving her BFA in Theatrical Design with a concentration in Lighting Design. She spent two years after graduating as the Lighting Supervisor at North Shore Music Theatre where she was lucky enough to act as the associate designer for many productions. In 2019, Katie moved to NYC with her husband and has worked on everything from new works, festivals, and regional theaters. She also frequently works as an associate/assistant designer.