Three For the World

(Performer) Itzkan Barbosa began classical ballet training at age 2 at the USC Dance Conservatory and the Center for Dance Education with Carolina Ballet, where she performed several roles including Odette in Swan Lake. Itzkan has studied Summer Intensive Trainings at CPYB, ABT, SFB, Barcelona Dance Center and she was awarded a full scholarship with the Paris Opera Ballet. Since 2014 she has trained in New York City at Ballet Academy East and she has performed the lead role in Balanchine’s Walpurgisnacht Ballet, amongst many other works. She came to Miami City Ballet School Summer Intensive in 2018, where she soon joined the corps de ballet from 2019-2022. Itzkan has been highlighted by the Adrienne Arsht Center mural project painted by Brazilian artist Eduardo Kobra.

(Performer) is a Dominican Republic native and a Rutgers University alum holding a BFA in Dance. Montes De Oca has performed works by Bill T. Jones, Darrell G. Moultrie, Frederick E. Mosley, George Balanchine, Maxine Doyle, Keith Thomson, Maxine Steinman, Randy James, and many others. Montes de Oca is a former Ballet Hispano’s BHdos dancer, and currently is a member of the Company of Collaborative Artists under the direction of Camille Moten. This is their fourth season with Dzul Dance.

(Performer) affectionately known as “Buddy”, Robert received his dance training at the San Francisco Academy of Ballet and the San Francisco School of the Arts. He also earned a BFA from The Juilliard School. Some of the companies Valdez has performed with include Luna Negra Dance Theater, 360º Dance Company, Riedel Dance Theater, Jennifer Muller/The Works, Flexicurve, Armitage Gone! Dance, and ZviDance. Commercial work includes NYFW, Fashion/One, Comedy Central, & Janet Jackson’s Made for Now music video. Valdez is SAG-AFTRA Eligible.

Craig Bohmler ( Composer) is a composer and pianist whose works have been frequently performed in North America, Europe, and Japan. Mr. Bohmler has three operas and fourteen musicals to his credit and 200 songs as well numerous choral and orchestral works. His musicals ENTER THE GUARDSMAN and GUNMETAL BLUES have been performed internationally including Off-Broadway and London’s West End. His opera RIDERS OF THE PURPLE SAGE was commissioned and premiered at Arizona Opera in 2017 where it was broadcast on the radio internationally and then remounted in 2020. Past projects include a long time relationship with the San Jose Chamber Orchestra for whom he has written a HARP CONCERTO, PENTIMENTO (featured on this dance concert) and SAINTS AND SINNERS. He has been the recipient of several grants including three NEA grants and three "meet the composer" grants.  His works are published by Theatrical Rights Worldwide (TRW), Santa Barbara Music Publishing, Concord Theatricals, E.C. Schirmer, and Dramatic Publishing as well as recorded by Columbus, Centaur, Original Cast, and BMS records. More info can be found at Craigbohmler.com and Ridersopera.com

Sasha Bass-Ulmer is originally from Fayetteville, NC but attended high school in Chicago, IL. She graduated in May (22’) from NYU with a B.A. in Politics with a minor in Psychology while also being in the scholarship program at The Ailey School. This summer Sasha has attended Springboard Danse Montreal, The Ailey School summer intensive, and The Rockettes Conservatory July and August sessions. Sasha is thankful for her family and mentors for this wonderful opportunity.

(Performer)

Originally from New Mexico where he began his dance training as a teenager at the suggestion of friends with Michele and Kevin Self, Federico went on to attend the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and The Rock School summer programs among others. While earning a degree in opera performance at New Mexico State University he continued to study dance performing with the university contemporary dance company and thus began his move into modern/contemporary dance. He began dancing with Dzul Dance shortly after moving to New York in 2012 and has also danced with Staten Island Ballet, Darrell Thorne and other projects around the city.

(Performer) Oren’s relationship to dance is a reflection of his family’s encouragement to be wildly bold and courageous with creativity. Their graceful acceptance informed Oren’s openness to all forms of movement and in recent years has led him to find his own version of dance. As an untrained dancer, movement to him as only ever served as a tool for tender expression with a strong emphasis on connecting himself and others back to truth. In the past year, Oren has worked under the supervision of Francesca Dominguez performing in her latest work of “Galvanizing Steel” as part of her MFA thesis from Hunter College, as well as “Nesting” which was done in collaboration with Doug Varone at Gibney Performing Arts Center.

ROXY ROLLER (COMPOSER) Roxy fell in love with Rock N' Roll at an early age and was influenced by the first wave of glam rock bands like T Rex, Kiss, Queen and Bowie. He knew then at a young age what he wanted to do with his life. Roxy moved to San Fransisco at the height of the Lollapalozza nation and worked at the Warfield Theater for Bill Graham Presents for 5 years.He met his wife Barbara and they collaborated on pieces that were performed with Lula Washington Dance Theater, Well Tempered Ballet and at various venues in Los Angeles. NYC was calling and Roxy turned his attention to loops, drum machines,  sound scapes and the industrial environment of 4th Ave Brooklyn and NYC. Inspired by early industrial music like Einsturzende Neubauten and Test Department as well as Lou Reeds Metal Machine Music, he immersed himself in musical creation, solitude, recording music and oil painting. Since he has returned to the West coast he has been a prolific performer. His band Lucabrazzi was voted by SPIN Magazine one of the top 10 unsigned bands in 2010. Lucabrazzi was know to be the hardest working band in the Bay area for many years. He also played bass for Meat Hook and the Vital Organs and they were know to be the most dangerous band in the Bay area!! Mixing Glam, Gutter Punk and Industrial.. He then  joined forces with punk legend Steve Ricablanca from VIKTMS and co fronts the band Pleasure Parade. He also plays in a bands with his wife Barbara Koch XoX. Roxy is also a radio personality and has worked on FCC Free Radio and Mutiny Radio in the Mission. Composing original music for Golden Mean was his first collaboration with SOULSKIN.

(Performer) Andrea Dusel-Foil is originally from Casper, WY and has performed professionally in North Carolina, Maryland, Las Vegas, Copenhagen, and New York. This is Andrea’s fourth season with Dzul Dance. Additional credits include- Concert Dance: Martha Connerton Kinetic Works, Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Ballet Mink, The Coppola Rhythm Ensemble, The Flowers Project, Miriam Barbosa Dance (Transcending & Bliss), and Dzul Dance. Variety: The Cougar Ball, The Cougar Ball Third Time’s a Charm, and Night of 1000 Stevies. Teaching: Ballet Theatre of Maryland Conservatory of Classical and Contemporary Dance, and University of Nevada Las Vegas. Education: UNC Charlotte (BA in Dance), North Carolina Dance Theatre (Professional Training Certificate), Alvin Ailey (Independent Training program), Pennsylvania Western University (MA in Exercise Science). When Andrea is not dancing you can find her teaching Pilates, Lagree Fitness, Yoga and Barre around NYC. In early 2018 she started her business Andrea Dusel-Foil Fitness, and is very passionate about helping others to reach their health and fitness goals in a supportive and non-judgemental manner.

( Performer) Barbara was born in Muncie, Indiana. She attended high school at North Carolina School of the Arts and received her BFA from the California Institute of the Arts. She received a scholarship as an exchange student from London Contemporary Dance School. She also trained with Stefan Wenta, Bella Lewitzky, Shelly Senter, Bill Evans and Zvi Gotheiner. She worked with Zvi Dance in NYC for over a decade and has the pleasure of touring with the company to Columbia, Germany, Poland, Russia and across the USA. Barbara has also worked for Tandy Beal, Dandelion Dance Theater, Aerol Grimes, Chen and Dancers, Lula Washington Dance Theater, and The Well Tempered Ballet. She was involved in a project on Gotland Island in Sweden. It was a collaboration of 5 choreographers and dancers from the UK, The Royal Swedish Ballet, and the The Cullberg Ballet. The project toured Stockholm, The Royal Opera House in London and a beautiful medieval church on Gotland Island. As a solo artist Barbara has performed her work in Los Angeles, San Francisco, India, and Nepal. She has also created and performed pieces on trapeze. Barbara is thrilled to be joining SOULSKIN for this season!

Jaco Strydom (Filmmaker) is a filmmaker and visual designer based in Los Angeles. He has created dance films, visual projection designs and installations for Dance Brigade, SoulSkin Dance, Axis Dance Company, and PERSpectives Dance. He was nominated for an Isadora Duncan Dance Award in 2019 for the installation of “Sin Palabras II: The Butterfly Effect," choreographed by Krissy Keefer. In 2021 he created a 30-minute dance film with choreographer Adrianna Thompson — “Closer” premiered at Aspen FallFest and was also shown in San Francisco. His collaboration with Axis Dance, "Roots Above Ground” choreographed by Marc Brew, toured Germany, Dubai, and the US in 2021/2022 and was featured on the The Joyce's digital streaming platform.