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
APRIL WATSON
April began her dance training at age eight at University of North Carolina School of the Arts Preparatory Program. In 2016, April graduated from University of North Carolina School of the Arts High School Program. She spent her summers with School of American Ballet, Houston Ballet, Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Charlotte Ballet, Indiana Ballet Conservatory, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Joffrey of Chicago all on scholarship. After graduating from UNCSA, she spent two years in Los Angeles, CA studying under the direction of Debbie Allen as an Artist in Residence on scholarship. April joined the COMPLEXIONS in 2019 as an apprentice. This is her second season with COMPLEXIONS as a full company member. IG @wca
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.