WINTER INTENSIVE
FACULTY
DESMOND RICHARDSON
Founding Artistic Director of Complexions Contemporary Ballet
Desmond Richardson was the first African-American principal dancer of American Ballet Theatre and is hailed by The New York Times as one of the greatest dancers of his time. Nominated for a Tony Award for his role in the original Broadway cast of Fosse and deemed a standout in the Tony-Award winning production After Midnight, Richardson is highly esteemed by the concert dance and American theater community.
Richardson appeared in Twyla Tharp’s Broadway production Movin’ Out, and on celebrated stages across the world, been a member and invited guests of prestigious companies including Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Frankfurt Ballet, Royal Swedish Opera Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Washington Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet, to name a few.
Richardson has received numerous awards and an honorary doctorate degree in recognition of his extensive contributions to the field of dance.
Richardson has been a celebrity guest performer and choreographer for productions across media. Internationally and domestically, he is a master teacher for dance programs such as the New York’s All Stars Project, YoungArts Miami, United Way, The Pulse, NYCDA, and ASH.
You can read his full bio on Complexionsdance.org
JILLIAN DAVIS
Jillian Davis is from Kutztown, PA and began her ballet training at the age of 3. She studied with Risa Kaplowitz and Susan Jaffe at Princeton Dance and Theater Studio in Princeton, NJ. Jillian attended San Francisco Ballet, School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and LINES Ballet programs. Jillian has been a Company Artist with Complexions since 2014. She has been part of Dwight Rhoden a number of World Premieres including Woke, Love Rocks, Snatched Back From the Edges, Endgame, For Crying Out Loud, and a world-premiere solo, Elegy. She has also performed installation works by Desmond Richardson and performed works by William Forsythe, Jae Man Joo, Jenn Freeman, and Ricardo Amarante. Along with being a dancer with Complexions, Jillian is part of the Master Faculty for Complexions Academy. IG @Jillange93
MIGUEL SOLANO
Miguel is from Medellin, Colombia. He started dancing at age 17 at the District University of Bogotá and continued his training at BalletStudio Bogotá under the direction of Patricia Niño. In 2013, he moved to NYC to complete his studies at the Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet on full scholarship, performing with Kirkland’s studio company. He has participated in summer programs including Hubbard Street Dance, Oklahoma City Ballet, and Batsheva Dance Company in Israel. Miguel has worked with Awaken Dance Theater, Thomas/Ortiz Dance, RudduR Dance and Connecticut Ballet. He has worked with choreographers Earl Mosley, Christopher Rudd, Darrell Moultrie, Larry Keigwin, Nadege Hottier, Larissa Calero, Eve Chan, and Ted Thomas.
He currently dances with Complexions Contemporary Ballet. IG @miguellsolano
LARISSA GERZSKE
Larissa Gerszke is a Canadian Ballerina. She is sponsored by Gaynor Minden pointe shoes and is represented by Clear Talent Group. For 7 seasons, Ms. Gerszke performed in NYC's renowned Complexions Contemporary Ballet company. She is featured in publications such as the New York Times, Pointe Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine andthe Jerusalem Post.
Critically acclaimed for "her impressive musicality which is tied to a powerful body that crackles with energy" (— Bachtrack.com), Ms. Gerszke has performed on prestigious stages for audiences worldwide. She appears in music videos for artists Jill Scott, & Jennah Bell, as well as advertisements for the multinational make-up brand, Shiseido Cosmetics. She performed in the CBS TV broadcast of the "43rd Kennedy Center Honors", which celebrated the artistic legacies of Debbie Allen, Joan Baez, Garth Brooks, Midori, & Dick Van Dyke. In her early career as a dance competitor, Ms. Gerszke competed in elite competitions ranging from American, Canadian & British dance circuits.
As a passionate dance educator, Ms. Gerszke is a guest lecturer at Fordham University, & Penn State University. She has taught master classes & intensives across the United States, Canada & the Bahamas. Her life's work is in sharing a modern day relevance of the 16th century art of Ballet.
TIM STICKNEY
Tim began his dance training at age three and furthered his training at The Gold School in Massachusetts. He continued his education at the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program earning his degree in 2014. Tim spent summers at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and The Equus Project in Sweden. In 2012, he became a member of the Francesca Harper Project. Tim participated in visual artist Nick Cave's HEARD NY installation at Grand Central Station and The Let Go at the Park Avenue Armory. Tim has performed the works of choreographers Alvin Ailey, Dwight Rhoden, Ronald K. Brown, Bob Fosse, and Alejandro Cerrudo.
Tim danced seven seasons with COMPLEXIONS and continues his work with Complexions as a faculty member for the Academy.
JOURDAN EPSTEIN
Jourdan Epstein is a professional performer, choreographer and educator based in NYC. Her most recent work includes being Assistant choreographer to Andy Blankenbuehler on Only Gold and performing with The Radio City Rockettes in the Christmas Spectacular. Company credits: Complexions Contemporary Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, Company XIV, and Bad Boys of Dance, as well as being Dance Captain of The Prince Of Egypt and a contestant on SYTYCD. Jourdans film and TV credits include Jimmy Kimmel Live, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel, The Flight Attendant, Dispatches from Elsewhere, Evil and the In The Heights Movie. Jourdan is on faculty at The Joffrey Ballet School in NYC, Complexions Contemporary Ballet Academy programs, and enjoys guest teaching the next generation as well as performing whenever she gets the chance.