Mayzsoul Artists
COLLABORATORS
JESSE GUESSFORD
ROGER NEECE
CONNIE WEIS O’MARA
MICHAEL WIENER 
Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls Oh how we are a maze of souls
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Melanie Lalande, company Founder and Director, has been a noted dance instructor in the DC metropolitan area for many years, based in northern Virginia, following her training at GMU. Meanwhile, she has worked extensively as a choreographer in the corporate/commercial realm—most notably as the tour choreographer for acclaimed hiphop act The Roots. Mayzsoul is the manifestation of a long gestation–the emergence of the artist from the cocoon–allowing Lalande to, at last, showcase not only the whip crackin’ craft of her long trained ensemble, but also, of course, her ideas as a choreographer in her own right, unfettered, with no constraints, not to mention as an amateur scientist, philosopher and all around curious cat. It’s been a long time comin’ …home.
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Toy Falcone, Cofounder, holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Towson University and has been performing professionally for 17 years with such companies as Classical Ballet Theatre, Stage Crew Jazz Company, Tony Powell Music & Movement, Dancin’ Unlimited, Arlington Dance Theatre, Jazzdanz/dc and most currently, Mayzsoul. Toy has also performed in industrial work for Toyota and General Growth Properties and has appeared as a guest artist in the Finest in Family Living Awards, Festival of Trees Ceremony, Alexandria Christmas tree lighting ceremony, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, the American College Dance Festival and ‘Traveling Through Music History’ with the BSO. In addition to performing, Toy is a much sought after dance educator, currently working as the Director of Dance for the Fairfax Academy Dance program. She is the former Director of Performance Programming at the American Dance Institute and former Director of the Joy of Motion Youth Dance Intensive Level III. Toy has worked as a guest teacher for the American High School Dance Festival and as guest choreographer for Bound 4 Broadway.
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Amy Cuppett Stiverson, Artistic and Business Director, is Mrs. Cuppett’s’ Grand Finale’. Under her mother’s tuttelage, Amy performed and competed with the Cuppett Dance Company and danced as a soloist in all the Cuppett ballets. She also studied with the Washington Ballet School, and attended the Teacher’s Training School at Kent University. Amy earned a B.S. degree in Finance from Old Dominion University in 1992 and managed a successful career in Mortgage Banking and Real Estate for 7 years. Feeling a ‘pull’ back to her art, she took her business skills and began managing and promoting the Cuppett Performing Arts Center in the late 90’s, of which her efforts contributed to tripling the enrollment at CPAC. More recently Amy has been rehearsing her ‘Artistic’ side—her award-winning choreography can be seen on the 55-member Cuppett Dance Company for which she directs. Amy served as Master Teacher for a Dance Masters of America Student/Teacher Workshop and was recognnized as a Virginia Governor’s School Outstanding Educator in 2004. She is a teacher member of the Cecchetti Council of America. Amy is the mother for three beautiful girls and a handsome boy.
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Gabby Amato Boselovic was born and raised in Vienna, VA. She studied dance at Vienna Dance Academy, where she currently teaches part-time. Gabby graduated from Virginia Tech in May of 2007 with a B.A. in English. During her time at Tech, she was a member of Dance Company of Virginia Tech and frequently choreographed for the company. In addition to teaching dance, she has a full-time job at Flint Hill School in the Office of Institutional Advancement. Gabby is thankful to everyone who has enabled her to pursue her passion for dance.
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Ashley Cuppett has been dancing since the age of three. She is now teaching and choreographing at the studio that formed her into the dancer she is today—Cuppett Performing Arts Center. She has performed in many award winning dances and has been choreographing since the age of 15. Ashley has recently graduated from high school and now attends Northern Virginia Community College. She has been dancing with Mayzsoul since August of 2007.
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Ashley Devolites started dancing at Cuppett Performing Arts center when she was just four years old. She studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Modern. When she was fourteen, she continued her training at Center for Ballet Arts where she added pointe and lyrical works to her repertory. Recently, Ashley has extended her love of the many styles of dance once again, when she began her training as a Belly dancer. Belly dancing has led to performances with Dance DC Festival and The Rakkasah East Show. Ashley’s life has taken her to countries such as France, Mexico, and England, and she has also lived in ten different states within the USA. Ashley, through dance and moving around in general, has gained a perspective on life that is most unique. Dancing has given her the perfect vehicle to express the joy and energy coming from her heart. Ashley is currently loving her newfound home with Mayzsoul.
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Julius Elegido was born in the Philippines and came to the United States in the early 90’s. Since discovering music videos, his dream has been to dance and choreograph for them. Some of his inspirations are Aaliyah, Michael Jackson and Justin Timberlake. In 2002, Julius attended Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts, where he met Melanie Lalande. She has been his dance teacher and mentor ever since. Julius has choreographed for shows in the Northern Virginia area and performed for the La Me Zoul dance company in Arizona. He currently attends Virginia Commonwealth University and is working on receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Choreography. After college, Julius plans to move to the West Coast to pursue dancing and choreography for music videos.
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Kelliann Grzegozewski began dancing at seven years old, learning the disciplines of Ballet, Jazz and Tap. She has studied with Toy Falcone and Melanie Lalande from the age of nine through today. At the age of twelve she discovered Cuppett Performing Art Center where she began her Pointe, Modern and Company Performance training in addition to Ballet, Jazz, Tap and Lyrical. Taught by Mozelle Stanton, Christine Musig, Connie O’Mara, Amy Stiverson, Nicole Perricelli, Adrian Bolton, Lisa Grau, and Alzine Cuppett, Kelliann danced at CPAC throughout high school. With Cuppett’s she danced in many master classes, workshops, and competitions, including Dance Masters of America Titleship Competition (in 2003) as a soloist, group member, and choreographer. During her junior and senior years of high school, she elected to dance during school in the Fairfax Academy for the Arts. As a senior in high school, Kelliann danced the role of “Kitri” in CPAC’s excerpts from “Don Quixote” where she learned pas de deux under the instruction of Cuppett’s Ballet Director, Christine Musig and guest artist Brian Skates. Currently, she studies dance and choreography at George Mason University while teaching for CPAC and performing with Mayzsoul.
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Lindsay Ingram began her dance career with Russell School of Ballet, danced with them for five years and was a member of the Junior Company. She was a member of Chantilly High School’s show choir program. Lindsay attended George Mason University and after her graduation in the spring of 2007, joined Mayzsoul. She enjoys taking classes and experimenting in dance forms ranging from swing dancing to traditional Bolivian dancing. Lindsay is currently enjoying being an active member of Mayzsoul and is planning her graduate school career.
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Ben Kirsch started studying martial arts when he was four and gymnastics when he was seven. In the seventh grade, Ben became a power tumbler and moved on from there. After giving cheerleading a try, he changed his mind because it wasn’t for him. The next endeavor was diving, and eventually different dance groups. His biggest step in the dance world was with a personality group in high school, which taught a variety of dance forms including jazz, tap and swing. A little ballet and things came from friends who base their lives on it, and he picked it up. Ben aspires to work with Cirque Du Soleil one day, and currently works as a professional clown/character impersonator.
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Laura Lamp is grateful for all that she has learned from several charismatic schools including Fairfax Academy for Communications and the Arts, the College-Conservatory of Music in Cincinnati, Ohio and North Carolina School of the Arts. In 2006, she performed with the Ballet Adriatico international school and festival in Ascoli Piceno, Italy under the direction of Anna-Marie Holmes. Laura has attended summer programs at North Carolina School of the Arts, the Chautauqua Institution, and American Ballet Theatre. She directed the film short, “Elfindorfs” which won the People’s Choice Award at the Charleston Symphony Orchestra Silent Film Festival in 2008. Currently, she studies modern dance and arts administration at George Mason University. Laura joined Mayzsoul in 2006 and has loved the adventure ever since.
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Ahmad Maaty is a student at George Mason University. He is working towards a major in theater and a minor in dance. His first run in with dance was belly dancing, which he learned through his Egyptian roots starting at a very young age, and continues to both perform and teach belly dancing today. His love for hip-hop and jazz came through watching many music videos and being able to catch on to the choreography and put his own twist and flavor to it. He became co-captain/choreographer of his high school dance team his sophomore year, and was captain/choreographer both junior and senior years of high school. He loves many other styles of dance including tap, modern, and Broadway jazz. He performed as a guest artist at the annual Arabian Nights Joy of Motion showcases, and taught belly dance workshops at Encore! Dance Studio. He also teaches children jazz and hip-hop at the Academy of Russian Ballet in Manassas, Virginia, and acting at A Class Act: Acting For Young People youth theater program in Fairfax, Virginia. He has a firm belief that anything can be accomplished if you have the passion and optimism to accomplish it!
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Michelle Murgia has been dancing since the age of three, the majority of those years at Dancensations Dance Center, and has had the opportunity to work with many talented and versatile directors and choreographers. She is grateful dance has given her an edge in her other passion, theatre. Michelle plans to continue her education in dance and theatre, while continuing to expand on her choreography abilities.
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Monica Murgia has been dancing since three years old and has made dance a large part of her life. She dances at Radford University during the school year and is so thrilled to be a part of Mayzsoul!
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Catherine Ross is originally from Northern Virginia and holds a BFA in Modern Dance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. She has performed the works of Martha Graham, Bob Fosse, Manfred Fishbeck, Curt Haworth, Silvana Cardell, and PearsonWidrig Dance Theater. In the fall of 2007, she performed Martha Graham’s “Panorama” as part of the 80th Anniversary of the Martha Graham Dance Company at the Annenberg Center in Philadelphia. Catherine joined Mayzsoul in 2008 and is currently preparing to move to New York to further pursue her dance career.
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The age of three is when Joye Thomas started dancing. She started her training a couple years later at the Russell School of Ballet, home of the Fairfax Ballet, in Chantilly, Virginia. After Joye was asked to be in their company, she had the opportunity to perform at numerous venues such as George Mason Center for the Arts, Joy of Motion, and Dance Place. She danced in works by Tony Powell and Lucy Bowen-McCaley. During her last two years of high school she had the opportunity to take a dance class everyday for the last half of a school day. That class was a highlight in her life; there she got to work with Melanie Lalande, whose visions are out of this world. She also got to meet people that are still in her life to this day. After graduating high school Joye went on to attend Point Park University, for dance, under the teachings of Nicolas Petrov and Judith Leifer- Bentz. After a year and a half she left college to be a part of her mentor, Melanie Lalande’s, dance company—Mayzsoul. A year later Joye decided to continue her education at Virginia Commonwealth University for dance. Since being in Richmond she started teaching at Jessica Morgan School of Dance along with setting pieces on Mayzsoul. Joye hopes to always be part of Mayzsoul, even though she is so distant. Being part of Mayzsoul helps reassure her love of dance.
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Gracie Valdez is a graduate of George Mason University with a B.A. in Art (History). Gracie danced through college with the nationally ranked George Mason Masonettes Dance Team. Gracie was a teacher at the Cuppett Performing Arts Center in Vienna, VA from 2003-2008 and the coach of the James Madison High School Dance Team. Gracie has completed her Cecchetti I Teaching certification and is currently working towards further teaching certifications through Cecchetti and Dance Masters of America. Gracie has been dancing with Mayzsoul since 2006 and was named Rehearsal Director and Operations Manager in 2008.
Michael is a New York City based film and theater actor, performer and writer. Recent film: a central role as new age cult leader in The Other Way Round, the feature film debut of noted novelist Brian Pera. Next: title character, a disturbed Hasidic man, in Where is Joel Baum, the first narrative film from award-winning documentary filmmaker Pearl Gluck (”Divan”). A music collaboration, The Children… celebrates its first album release with a multimedia performance at St. Mark’s Church, Nov. 18. Michael is volcalist-lyricist of this group, composed of alumni from bands like Swans, Cop Shoot Cop, and Barkmarket. Michael’s projects have taken him to theaters, museums, galleries, rock clubs, college campuses, the pages of magazines, television talk shows, film festivals, runways and hotels all around the country. Much of this activity has occurred, or been birthed in New York City, and occasionally, his native Washington D.C. He is greatly inspired by this nascent collaboration with Melanie, Toy and Mayzsoul.
Most people would classify Jesse Guessford as an experimental composer, his family, however, thinks he should write horror movie soundtracks. Over the years he has softened; occasionally a chord may appear that is not fully dissonant. Generally, he sees himself taking the rules broken in the 50’s and 60’s (which are now half a century ago) and borrowing what he needs fro different schools of thought for each piece. He subscribes to no set ideology, but that in itself is an ideology. He usually can found composing for electronics, but then again he also composes for solo instruments and chamber groups, so it all depends on what is on the program. Also, he has a secret interest in becoming a lounge pianist, which does not fit in musically with his compositions. As a side note, he does have a doctorate in composition, which lends a hint of credibility to some of his crazy ideas.
Connie has been dancing for 32 years and teaching for over 25. During this time, she toured throughout the Washington area with the Kathy Harty Gray Dance Theater. She also performed with Upright Vertebrates, Diane Floyd & Saturday Company, Contemporary Dancers of Alexandria, and as a guest performer for several local choreographers. Connie’s dance training has emphasized the historic modern techniques of Martha Graham, José Limon, Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman. She holds an A.B. in Sociology from Miami University in Ohio. Connie has been honored with scholarships to study at the University of Chicago, where she received an M.A. in Urban Studies, and to study dance with the Joyce Trisler Company of New York and at the Dance Project in Washington, D.C. with Jan Van Dyke. Connie teachers Moern and Yoga for the Cuppett Performing Arts Center, stretch and tone classes for private corporations, and private/individual classes upon request.
Roger Neece’s home base is Washington, DC, where he founded the Contact Jam 26 years ago. His work last appeared in NYC at DTW in 1982, in a collaboration with Robin Feld. He studied Contact Improvisation with Steve Paxton, and Improvisation with Barbara Dilley, Arawana Hayashi, and Julie Ince, and composition with Mary Overlie and David Gordon. In addition to dancing and making new work, he is an investment banker and expert on green economic development.
