HCC Dance Festival Teaching Artists

Ann-Marie Gover

Ann-Marie Gover (she/her) is a dance performance artist and somatics educator investigating how stories, environment, belief, and emotion shape our embodied experience. Artistically, spiritually, and performatively, she creates temporal altars and brief movement vignettes—portals into shared emotional landscapes.Her work braids together social justice anthropology, somatic psychology, queer theory, and pleasure activism with her love of 90s lyrical, jazz, and modern dance, somatic modalities, club and ball culture, and improvisation. Through simple, welcoming movement patterns—and an invitation to leave the shoulds and shames at the door—she fosters spaces where people can explore belonging together.

Teaching since age sixteen, Ann-Marie has guided movers of all ages in dance techniques, somatic practices, and movement expression. She has facilitated I See You, a movement workshop for LGBTQIA teens; Inner Goddess, a dance-and-divination altar-building workshop; and Play as Strategy for Resistance, a creative playspace countering narratives of isolation and struggle.Working with what emerges, she centers flow, ease, and curiosity to shift how we relate to our bodies—and how those relationships ripple outward into community and environment. Ann-Marie is devoted to building a world with Dance/Movement Warriors that honors and welcomes all bodies, regardless of appearance, ability, notoriety, or experience.

Adjetey Klufio -  African Dance

Adjetey Klufio is a returning professional at Towson University and a former member of the National Dance Company of Ghana (Ghana Dance Ensemble). During his 9 years tenure with the National Dance Company, Adjetey served as the lead male dancer, soloist and Assistant stage manager. Adjetey is also a teaching faculty and a choreographer at CityDance Connections, CityDance Dream, CityDance conservatory at the Strathmore music center and Soul In Motion drummers and dancers. He was an adjunct faculty at Anne Arundel Community College for 2 years. As a performer, Adjetey has performed on the most prestigious stages like the Kennedy Center in Washington DC and the Lincoln theater also In DC As a choreographer, his recent works KURO and DECLARATION, were both premiered at the Lincoln Memorial Theater and performed by both CityDance Dream and Conservatory. Adjetey has worked with the Alvin Ailey Dance summer program Baltimore for the past three summers as their West African dance Instructor. In 2012, Adjetey was mentioned in the New York Times as “Being subtle and Spectacular” in Dance Africa New York the biggest African Dance festival in the United States. He was also recently mentioned in the Baltimore Sun as being “energetic and flying through the skies”.

Ryan Bailey - Contemporary Dance and Partnering

Ryan Bailey is a dancer and choreographer based in the DMV & NYC. Upon graduating with a BA in dance from UMBC in 2016, Ryan was granted outstanding senior in choreography and dance after he was awarded an American College Dance Association Gala Finalist. He then furthered his education by attending training programs with dance companies in Chicago, NYC, LA, Portland, and Tel Aviv. In 2017, Ryan premiered his company Pacing Bodies first evening length show funded by Earl and Darielle Linehan which premiered at UMBC. Ryan was featured on national television on season 14 of So You Think You Can Dance that same year. Ryan has danced professionally for MADBOOTS DANCE company on various projects and performances at Gibney Dance, New York Live Arts, and at the Joyce Theater in NYC. He has also had the opportunity to dance for Project 44 Dance Company, performing at the Jack Crystal Theater in NYC. Ryan has performed with Priore Dance directed by Robert Priore based in D.C. Ryan was also a background dancer for the music video “Moons” by Micah McLaurin. Currently, Ryan teaches and choreographs dance at various studios, conservatories, and universities. Recently Ryan set work for Peabody Dance Conservatory and Howard County Dance Company. In 2024, Ryan danced in a second evening length work for Haus of Pvmnt Dance Company in NYC at Abrons Art Center. Choreographically he presented a work in progress evening length piece for Baltimore Dance Project and ASCEND summer intensive at UMBC this past year.

Eduard Rotman - Piano Accompanist  

Eduard Rotman graduated from the Music College of St. Petersburg Conservatory and received a master’s degree in piano performance at the Belarus State Conservatory. Before coming to the United States, he traveled all over the world as an accompanist for the Children’s Concert Chorus. He has worked as a ballet accompanist for many institutions, including Towson University, the Peabody Institute, and the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, as well as the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, DC, for the last seven years. He is on the faculty at Washington School of Ballet and Maryland Youth Ballet.

Alex Armbruster - Percussion Accompanist

Alex Armbruster (Sound Designer) is a percussionist, audio engineer, and music teacher born and raised in Baltimore, MD. Alex recently joined the department as Adjunct Professor, Audio Coordinator, and Accompanist for Modern Dance classes. They also teach 4th-8th grade Band at Hampstead Hill Academy, and private drum lessons at Peabody Prep and Patterson Park Academy of Music. Alex graduated from UMBC with a B.A. in Jazz Studies and a B.A. in Global Studies. They are thrilled to be working on this production here at HCC!

Ama and Chris Law/Project ChArma  -  Hip Hop and House

Born and raised in the vibrant DMV metropolitan area, Ama and Chris Law are co-founders and co-directors of Project ChArma, a dynamic dance theater collective that harnesses the power of art as a force for activism and social dialogue. Their journey together began in high school, uniting their passion for dance and an unwavering commitment to creative expression.

Both earned MFAs in Dance and Choreography from the University of Maryland College Park, where their diverse training shaped their unique styles. Ama brings decades of experience from the Kankouran West African Dance Company, alongside rigorous training at Broadway Dance Center NYC. In contrast, Chris combines elements of Hip-Hop, roller skating, martial arts, and modern dance, creating innovative choreography that breaks boundaries.

Project ChArma, pronounced "karma" to reflect its guiding philosophy, beautifully intertwines their names and shared ideals. Partnering with the Kennedy Center, they helped with planning National Dance Day 2023 to honor Hip Hop's 50th Anniversary and showcased their artistry in April 2024 as recipients of the Local Dance Commissioning Fund.

The Laws have enriched the dance community through teaching and choreography at prominent institutions, including Dance Place DC and Howard University. Their research presented at the International African and Diasporic Dance Traditions Conference in Brazil and involvement in the BlackLight Summit at UMCP highlight their dedication to advancing African dance culture. With community building and preservation at the heart of their mission, they lead discussions that inspire and uplift, infusing their teaching with principles of connection and empowerment.

Amanda Fair - Jazz and Ballet

Amanda T. Fair is a graduate of the Baltimore School for the Arts. She holds a BFA in Ballet Performance from The University of the Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Choreography from Wilson College. She's a mom of 1, an author, educator and mentor, and an interdisciplinary artist whose work incorporates movement, theatre, and spoken word poetry. Amanda has taught ages 3-Adult in all levels in different styles of dance. She has taught in K-12 as well as college, university, and studio settings. Having over 25 years’ experience as a dance educator and private dance coach, she has also taught poetry classes and workshops through her own community classes and in a Baltimore City public school. She has taught at several schools including The Washington School of Ballet, The University of the Arts summer intensive, The Dance Theatre of Harlem community outreach program, The Dance Conservatory of Maryland, Metropolitan Ballet Theatre and The Dance Institute of Washington. Amanda is faculty at Goucher College, The University of Maryland, Baltimore County, The Community College of Baltimore County, The Baltimore School for the Arts and Peabody Preparatory at John’s Hopkins University. This is her 3rd time participating in the HCC Dance Festival and she wishes all the participants great fun and an inspiring and rewarding experience.

Jenelle Figgins  -  Ballet Technique and Contemporary Ballet

Jenelle Figgins is a process-driven, knowledgeable, dedicated dance artist. She has numerous professional achievements in her 15+ career in Ballet as a dancer and choreographer. In 2014 she received the Princess Grace Award; was named Dance Magazine’s Top 25 to Watch in 2015 and has had over 20 commissions created on her by prominent choreographers. She is noted as possessing electrifying musicality, captivating theatrical presence, and strong adaptable classical and contemporary technique. Figgins is a teacher and choreographer in the ballet and contemporary ballet disciplines.

Darion Smith (HCCDF Director)  -  Contemporary Movers

Darion Smith is a dance artist and educator. He started his dance training at Santa Barbara City College. He continued his dance studies at the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany and the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow, Russia. Smith earned his MFA in dance from the University of Oregon. Smith’s professional career credits include the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Metropolitan Opera Ballet, New York Theatre Ballet, and Buglisi Dance Theatre to name a few. In 2007, Smith co-founded Janusphere Dance Company and became artistic director. Smith serves as Assistant Professor of Dance at HCC and as a dance faculty member at the Peabody Preparatory Program in Baltimore, MD. Smith has taught at the University of Oregon, UC Santa Barbara, Pacific Lutheran University, American College Dance Association, Santa Barbara City College, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Washington School of Ballet, and Eugene Ballet Academy. Darion’s choreography has been presented throughout the US, in Mexico and Spain.

Miguel Ledesma - Tap Dance

Miguel Ledesma is a dance artist from Maryland. He received his A.A. in Dance from Howard Community College in 2017, and his B.A. in Dance from the University of Maryland, Baltimore County in 2019.  He received his M.F.A. from Hollins University where he also taught as the Graduate Teaching Assistant. He has performed with the Baltimore Dance Project, Kinetics Dance Theatre, Misako Ballet Company, and Connect the Dots Dance Company as well as performed repertory from the Eric Hampton Foundation, and the Paul Taylor American Modern Dance Company. He has toured with Titans of Dance Convention since its founding in 2012 as a Dance Assistant, and currently as an operations Technician.  Ledesma has also had the privilege to work projects with Adidas, USDA, USA Today/Gannet Co., and The D.C. Bridal Show. Ledesma is currently teaching at Studio Dans in Fulton MD, Howard Community College as an adjunct Faculty Member, and Coppin State University as a Full-time Professor and has been teaching throughout the DMV for the past 17 years. 

Hank Wang - Photoshoot for Dancers

I’m Hank, born and raised for the first eighteen years of my life in Beijing, China. My father gave me my first camera when I was seven. Since then, I’ve always been fascinated by what light and shadow can create. After I moved to the East Coast of the United States, I remained passionate about photography and joined the Lifetouch Photography Event and Sports Division to pursue this passion professionally. I love to photograph everything from landscapes and animals to people and events, but mostly I love action. Two images with action will never be the same. The image of each frozen moment becomes a unique way of telling a story. After I began photographing performing artists in action, I realized how a collaboration between my camera lens and kill together with an artist's expression comes to life.

Jayamangala

Jayamangala is a premier non profit institution that has promoted and preserved classical Indian dance and music through performances, teaching, tours, conferences and outreach programs in the DMV area for more than three decades. Recipient of grants from the state and county, Jayamangala dancers are known for their innovative approach to traditional art forms.