·         PRECIOUS ALAMU

Precious Alamu (Vocalist) is a multidisciplinary artist and vocalist performing in the MFA Dance Thesis production for her second consecutive year. She previously collaborated with Joshua Ikechukwu on “Branches”. With a background in neuroscience and linguistics, she brings a thoughtful, embodied approach to storytelling through sound. A Nigerian immigrant, her artistry is shaped by cross-cultural experiences, faith, and a lifelong love of music. With extensive choir experience and a passion for vocal expression, Precious invites audiences into moments of reflection and encounter, bridging art and spirit while inspiring empathy, presence, and transformative connection.

·         DANTRAE ALONSO

Dantrae “ADR3LO” Alonso (Percussionist) is a multi-genre musician, DJ, and producer from Buffalo, NY, and is excited to be performing in his second MFA production. With a musical journey that began at age six, he brings a deep passion for rhythm and live performance, specializing in djembe and traditional West African percussion, including the duns. Dantrae is grateful to collaborate with such a talented group of dancers and creatives for this special performance. He extends his sincere thanks to the team, as well as his family and friends for their continued support in all his artistic pursuits.

·         ALLY BALASH

Ally Balash (Dancer) is a dancer from Elmira Heights, New York and a current freshman dance major at the University at Buffalo. She has trained at Dance Force Studio for the past fifteen years in Elmira, New York. During her time there, Ally was a part of the competition team and was able to assist her teachers and teach some of the classes. Along with taking classes at her studio, she was able to take master classes with professional dancers through the competition's convention classes. This studio offered many performance opportunities. Ally is very grateful and excited to be performing in another production with the UB Dance Department.

·         EMILIA-MARIE CHE

Emilia-Marie Che (Dancer) is a Junior English Major and Dance Minor. She has been dancing since she was two years old. She is currently a full-time employee at The Dance Workshop as a choreographer and instructor. This is her first departmental UB show. Thank you Charity for the opportunity to join the piece this semester!

·         KIKI DURANTE

Kiki Durante (Dancer) is a freshman dance major and communications major at the University at Buffalo. Prior to UB, Kiki trained at Perkins School of the Arts in Norwich, New York where she taught and performed. This past fall, Kiki made her UB Dance debut, performing in Choreographers Showcase, and was also just a company member in ChoreoLab Sp’26. She is so excited to perform in MFA Dance Thesis!

·         OLIVIA EHMKE

Olivia Ehmke (Dancer) is a freshman BA Dance and BFA Music Theatre double major from Binghamton, NY. She has studied dance since age 3, and continued dancing in high school and for the private studio: Dance Connection. A few roles include: Angela Robson (Billy Elliot) with The Hangar Theater, Roxie Hart (Chicago) & Donna Sheridan (Mamma Mia!) with the Rod Serling School of Fine Arts, & Oracle (The Lightning Thief) with Penobscot Theater. Olivia is beyond grateful to be working with such amazing dancers and choreographers.

·         MADDI FIRMSTONE

Maddi Firmstone (Dancer) is currently a first-year dance major at the University at Buffalo. Prior to UB, Madison trained at A Touch Dance Performing Arts Studio in Rochester, New York where she had various performance opportunities. This past fall, Madison made her UB Dance debut, performing in Choreographers Showcase. She is extremely excited to perform in this year’s Choreolab and MFA Dance Thesis! She would like to thank her choreographers for the opportunity to be performing in their pieces.

·         MIA GANAPOLSKY

Mia Ganapolsky (Dancer) is a current BA Dance major at UB. Mia is from Brooklyn, NY. Collegiate debut at the UB Choreographers Showcase (2025). Prior to UB, she has done various performance/community service events, including Dance Against Cancer Gala Benefit at NYC Center (2024) choreographed by Frederick Earl Mosley, performing as a soloist in Lyrics for Life (2023) supporting the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention. Mia is also a member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Mia received her training and degree at Fiorello H. LaGuardia of Music and Art & Performing Arts High School (NYC), Triple Threat Performing Arts Company, and Dance Molinari.

·         ANNABELLA HOPKINS

Annabella Hopkins (Dancer) is a Senior Criminology/ Pre Law Major and Dance Minor. She has been dancing since the age of two and has a wealth of performance experience. Currently she is a full time staff member at The Dance Workshop, where she teaches competitive and recreational dance classes. Recently she was involved in Fall 2024, and Spring 2025 MFA Thesis Concerts, and Dancers Workshop, as well as Fall 2025 Choreographers Showcase. She is so excited and honored to be in Charity’s piece and cannot wait for it to take stage. Thank you so much, Charity, for believing in me and taking me on this journey with you!

·         SYLVIA LEONARD

Sylvia Leonard (Dancer) is a freshman Dance Major and Nutrition Minor at the University at Buffalo, from Hershey, Pennsylvania. She has trained at One Broadway Dance Academy for three out of her fifteen years of dancing. Throughout her time there, Sylvia was a part of the competition team and worked as an assistant to many of her teachers. She has also attended many intensives from companies such as Ground Grooves, Entity Contemporary Dance, and Broadway Dance Center. She cannot wait to continue her love for dance and performance here at UB. Sylvia is beyond excited to be performing in her first production with the UB Dance Department!

·         KUHLE MBAWU

Kuhle Mbawu (Vocalist) is a PhD student in Theatre and Performance at the University at Buffalo SUNY. She holds an MA in Theatre and Performance from Bowling Green State University (BGSU), and completed her undergraduate theatre training with the focus in Acting and Devising in Johannesburg at The Market Theatre Laboratory, South Africa. Her research interests center around African performance and African culture, where her current focus is on African objects, Rituals, and African Womanism. Her previous work was on virtual activism that focuses on the lives of the LGBTQIA in black churches in America. She also examined the use of female masculinity (“butchness”) on South African Television, as a way to introduce queerness in the remote areas of South Africa.

·         SAM MUSCATO

Sam Muscato (Dancer) is a dancer from Rochester, New York and is a freshman double major in Dance and Psychology at the University at Buffalo. She began her dance journey at Marilyn Schneider School of Dance, and continued there upon graduation. Sam trained in all styles including ballet, tap, jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip hop, acrobatics, and musical theatre. Throughout her career she has learned from and trained with many choreographers, including Joe Lanteri, Megahan Sanett, Suzi Taylor, and Derrick. Last semester she performed in Choreographers Showcase. Sam is very excited to perform in another show at UB.

·         ALETHEA ODUDU

Alethea Odudu (Vocalist) is a passionate singer and Operations Manager at the Community Foundation for Greater Buffalo. With a lifelong love for music, she has been singing since childhood. A dedicated minister at RCCG in North Tonawanda, Alethea is committed to her community and faith. She studied fine arts, and her love for the arts continues to inspire her. Outside of work and music, Alethea enjoys cooking and traveling, always seeking new culinary experiences and exploring new destinations. She’s thrilled to bring her voice and energy to the stage in this exciting dance production.

·         CHRISTIAN QUAYSON

Hailing from Ghana in West Africa, Christian Quayson (Percussionist) is a dynamic and multifaceted artist specializing in choreography, performance, and dance education. Christian is a Graduate student, as well as the Touring Manager for Sankofa Dance and Drum Ensemble at the Department of Dance Studies, SUNY Brockport in New York. Christian plays a pivotal role in promoting and preserving African cultural traditions through performance and education. His artistic practice is deeply rooted in African dance, which he seamlessly blends with contemporary dance and Afro-Pop to create vibrant, innovative, and culturally rich works.

·         DANIELLE SAPOR

Danielle Sapor (Dancer) is a sophomore BFA Dance and BA Mathematics double major from Rochester, New York. She transferred this year from Marymount Manhattan College, where she danced in their Fall 2024 Dancers at Work. She grew up training at a competitive dance studio. This is her first show at UB, and she is so excited and grateful to perform!

·         LILLY SCHLEGEL

Lilly Schlegel (Dancer) is a sophomore, double majoring in BA Dance and BS Exercise Science. Originally from Buffalo, NY, she obtained her training at Lancaster Dance Center, where she has danced with her sisters since she was 3 years old. While Lilly loves all forms of dance, her true loves are tap and jazz. She has also had the opportunity to perform in previous UB THD shows such as Dancers Workshop (2025) and Choreographers Showcase (2025). She was also so excited to make her debut in Choreolab this semester, and is beyond grateful to perform with such amazing dancers and choreographers!

·         KIRA SETHI

Kira Sethi (Dancer) is a senior dance and architecture major from Long Island, NY. She has performed in Emerging Choreographers Showcase, ChoreoLab, Dancers Workshop, and MFA Dance Thesis Concert throughout the past four years. She has choreographed for Dancers Workshop, Campus 2 Community, and the Informal ChoreoLab Showcase. Kira is so excited to have been the student assistant to the director for ChoreoLab this year. Kira would like to express thanks for all the support from her friends, family, and the UB Dance department.

·         KAMRYN SKROCKI

Kamryn Skrocki (Dancer) is a dancer from Florida, and a current freshman dance major at the University at Buffalo. She is also a part of the Honors College. She trained at New Dimensions Dance Academy for the past nine years in Oviedo, FL. Throughout her time there, Kamryn was a part of the competition team and worked as an assistant to her teachers. She also attended The Villages High School, where she has had many opportunities to both perform and choreograph for various shows each year. Last fall Kamryn made her UB Dance debut as a performer in Choreographers Showcase, and was thrilled to be a part of this semester’s ChoreoLab production, as well! Enjoy MFA Dance Thesis!

·         HANNAH SPENCER

Hannah Spencer (Dancer) is a freshman dance major at the University at Buffalo. Prior to coming to UB, Hannah trained at Steppin’ Out Dance Academy in West Seneca, NY, where she now teaches and assists. She is both a performer and choreographer. Her professional dance credits include backup dancing for Ava Max, Todrick Hall, Icona Pop, Nicky Youre and Now United. She performed in Choreographers Showcase last semester, and ChoreoLab just last week! Enjoy the show!

REBEKAH BONO - CHOREOGRAPHER

Rebekah Bono is a dance educator, performer, choreographer, and administrator, and an MFA candidate at the University at Buffalo. With over 15 years of teaching experience, she has served as an adjunct professor at Mary Baldwin University and as Lead Faculty in tap, jazz, hip hop, modern/contemporary, and ballet at Cora Dance in Brooklyn and Valley Dance Theatre in Virginia. She currently teaches technique courses at UB and is on faculty at Elite Dance Company. Rebekah has performed across the East Coast with Soul Steps and Shannon Hummel/Cora Dance. Her work in dance education and choreography centers on creativity, storytelling, discipline, and building meaningful relationships through movement.

CHARITY JOHN - CHOREOGRAPHER

Charity John is a dance educator, performer, choreographer, and dancer from Nigeria, currently a third-year MFA Dance candidate at the University at Buffalo with a concentration in African dances, Afro house, African jazz, and contemporary dance. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from the University of Ibadan, Nigeria, majoring in Dance and Acting with a minor in Speech and Rhetorical Arts. Her performance and choreographic credits span local and international stages. She has performed in Danscore (2023) and the Sankofa Dance Festival (2024) organized by SUNY Brockport, and was an invited guest artist for their Dance Awareness Days in 2025, later performing in the 2026 MFA Thesis Concert as a Narrator and dancer. At UB, she co-choreographed Black Tales for the MFA Showcase (2023, Fall) and contributed as a musician, vocalist, and dancer for the 49th and 50th Zodiaque Dance Company (Fall eds.), later returning as a choreographer for the 50th Spring edition. She served as Graduate Assistant for the 2024 Emerging Choreographers Showcase (Fall), where she also choreographed Vumani. Her work extends beyond the university. She has featured as a dancer and dance captain in an opera performance with Sotte Voce Company, choreographed by Kerry Ring and dancers; taught African dance with Peace of The City; and collaborated with Urban Bush Women. Within her time in the US, she has choreographed and performed in MFA thesis concerts as both a dancer and storyteller, and taken on roles as Research, Graduate, and Teaching Assistant. These experiences that have wholistically enriched her entire creative process. Charity aims to share her knowledge and culture, while building community through dance, theatre, and performance.

CHANON JUDSON (Faculty Advisor) is an Associate Professor at the University at Buffalo. She is a Bessie nominated choreographer and served as Co-Artistic Director with Urban Bush Women. Chanon is an investigative-innovator in the tradition of makers that have used the arts to unmask history, mend, learn and access liberation. Chanon makes by way of dance-theatre, visual design, and the curation of art-based communal practices. Choreographic credits include “Haint Blu” (UBW), "Chronicle X” (Nia Witherspoon),“The Hang” (Taylor Mac, Niegel Smith), “Cannabis! A Viper Vaudeville” (Talvin Wilks) “The Invention of Tragedy” (Meghan Finn). Performance-Collaborator Credits include Dancing with Glass, and the Tony award winning musical Fela!

LISA GALLAGHER (Lighting Designer - Bono) is a senior Theatre Design/Technology student at the University at Buffalo. As a theatrical designer and technician, Lisa has worked in audio, lighting, scenery, video, and stage management. Last year, Lisa had the honor of attending the American College Theatre Festival's National Conference as a Sound Design Finalist, where she won the Eugene O'Neill Theater Center Audio Fellowship. Lisa was excited to Sound Design once again, for UB’s production of Macbeth, earlier this Spring Semester. Lisa was thrilled to build upon her Lighting Design for Rebekah Bono’s MFA Thesis piece, originally performed in its first iteration in Choreographers Showcase, last semester. Please enjoy MFA Dance Thesis, and “Living Chapters.”

FAITH MARSALA (Stage Manager) is in her first semester of her senior year as a BFA Theatre Design/Tech student, and is excited to be stage managing UB’s production of MFA Dance Thesis. Her involvement in this production follows her success in stage managing ChoreoLab last week, costume designing Urinetown last fall, and puppet designing Macbeth this semester. She would like to thank the cast, crew, and her mentor Ally Hasselback for their support. Finally, she would like to give a special thanks to her parents for supporting her throughout her college career. She hopes everyone enjoys UB’s production of MFA Dance Thesis!

THOMAS EIKEL (Sound & Projection Engineer & Operator) is a freshman in the School of Engineering and Applied Sciences. Last week Thomas joined ChoreoLab, as Head Electrician and Lighting Programmer. This week he continues his work in the department, as Sound & Projection Engineer, and Board Operator. Please enjoy the show!