Guest Artists

Todd Weeks (Guest Choreographer) attended East Central Oklahoma State University where he studied Music Education and Dance. After a six year intensive ballet study with Joyce Seaborne-Bader, an accredited teacher and examiner from the Royal Academy of Dance in London, Todd became a company member with Modern American Dance Company. After dancing with the company for ten years, he spend another ten years in various positions including Associate Artistic Director until 2013. Todd choreographed over fifteen works for MADCO, including two full length works; Cinderella, the Untold Story and Chimera. He was chosen for the local choreographer showcase produced by Dance St. Louis. Todd served as Adjunct Professor of Dance at The University of Missouri - St. Louis from 2007 - 2013. He also has performed thirteen seasons with the Muny Outdoor Theater as a dancer. During his time at the Muny, he also held roles as Dance Captain on several productions and Choreographer on one production. Todd owned Midwest Dance Academy from 1998 - 2014 and was Co-Director for Metro Dance Company from 2004 until 2014. 

Martine Clark (Guest Choreographer) has trained in many dance styles and develops her classes and choreography with a broad perspective. She has taught and choreographed throughout Columbus and Chicago for both television and stage and brings her diverse dance background to each style of dance she teaches. Martine is a long-time faculty member, director and choreographer for multi-genre, pre-professional performing companies at Dublin Dance Centre. Her students have been accepted to many prestigious summer and college dance program including The Ohio State University, Indiana University, University of Cincinnati, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, BalletMet, Kent State and more. Martine was awarded the 2017 Columbus Dances Fellowship for choreography and continues to teach, direct and choreograph in a range of styles in the Columbus dance community for companies such as Columbus Dance Theatre and CoMo Dance.

Francine Butler (Guest Choreographer) is an Intervention Specialist with Delaware City Schools. She is a graduate of the High School of The Performing Arts in NYC, Purchase College (dance), and BGSU (education). Francine danced with Dianne McIntyre’s Sounds in Motion Dance Company, and is a member of SAG-AFTRA. She has choreographed for school and community theater, and performs liturgical dance with her husband, Mark.

Charlotte Ghigliazza (Guest Choreographer) is a performer and choreographer living and working in New York City, with a  diverse artistic background. Though classically trained in both ballet and modern, she has never been limited to just one style or genre. She has choreographed for music videos, commercials, and musical theater. Additionally, Charlotte has performed all over the city as both a modern dance company member and a freelance artist. Her projects include work for Alp Sagnak Jewelry, Merete Meunter, Andres Cordoba Photography, Symphony 61, Chantelle DiBrava, C3 Manhattan, Sublime Dance Company. When she is not performing in NYC, she likes traveling and doing humanitarian work. Her most recent trip took her to Beirut where she got to dance with and teach dance to Palestinian refugees. 

Kelsey Bartman (Guest Choreographer) is originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and began formal training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School (PBTS) and Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). Summers were spent studying at American Ballet Theatre New York, Jacob's Pillow Jazz Program for two years and PBTS for several years.  Kelsey continued as a trainee with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT).  During that time she choreographed works for PBT's school and company. She then joined Nashville Ballet 2 in 2007 and was hired on as a Nashville Ballet Apprentice.   She has had the honor of dancing in Balanchine's Four Temperaments and Serenade, Sarah Slipper's Postcards From the Boys, as well as Paul Vasterling's Adjustable Wrench and Carmina Burana. She also had the pleasure of dancing for the Oddball Comedy & Curiosity Festival.   Since then she has co-created WIP Choreography Project, and choreographed for Nashville Ballet, Nashville Ballet 2, and Texture Contemporary Ballet.  Her work Stills From Italy was performed at the White Wave DUMBO Dance Festival and The Rose was showcased at Dance Canvas in Atlanta.  Kelsey has taught for the School of Nashville Ballet, Evolve Productions, and is now teaching at Laurel Youth Ballet and Millenium Dance Complex.  She has recently had the privilege of teaching a workshop for the group YaleDancers at Yale University.

Hannah Williamson (Guest Choreographer) is a 2017 graduate of Wright State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Magna Cum Laude under the instruction of Terri Wylie McWilliams, Gina Walther, Justin Gibbs, Gregory Robinson, and Erin Robbins. As a student she performed in numerous dance concerts and musical theater productions including The Great Gatsby and No, No, Nanette. She also performed a work entitled “Testament” choreographed by Dwight Rhoden and set by both, Dwight Rhoden and Clifford Williams of Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Upon graduation, Hannah apprenticed with Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre in Carmel, IN and performed in their 2017 production of A Night In India. Hannah is now a company member with MamLuft&Co in Cincinatti.

In addition to Hannah’s work as a professional dancer, she also has a passion for choreography. Having received accolades from both students and professors for her choreography throughout her college career, her crowning achievement was when her senior piece “White Shores” was chosen from among the entire 2017 graduating class’ works to be performed in the annual faculty concert. Her piece was performed along side pieces choreographed by legendary choreographers such as Dwight Rhoden and Bob Fosse. Most recently, Hannah was selected through an adjudication process to the Columbus Modern Dance Company’s January 2018 Emerging Choreographer Residency.

Robert Poe (Guest Choreographer) is originally from Aiken, SC and began dancing with Carl Crosby at Crosby's School of Dance. Later, for high school, he graduate from the S.C. Governor's School for the Arts and Humanities with honors. Once graduated, Robert performed as a dance artist with the Columbia City Ballet, the Nashville Ballet, Cedar Lake II, The Missouri Ballet Theatre and even the Nashville Opera before finding his way to The Big Muddy Dance Company where he is walking into his 6th season. Robert's passion for dance education has led him to teach in studios all over Missouri, South Carolina, North Carolina, Nashville and Illinois while his choreography has been seen on the Nashville Ballet as well as their training company (NB II), Missouri Ballet Theatre, The Big Muddy Dance Company and most recently, Texture Contemporary Ballet. Beyond teaching and choreography, Robert is on fire for the Senior Embrace program that the company provides to the community and sits on the Senior Outreach Committee. Robert will also be serving as Rehearsal Assistant this season and is humbly blessed to work with such passionate and talented artists.

Lindsay Hawkins (Guest Choreographer) is from Columbus, Indiana and has trained at Butler University and its affiliate academy, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the former Indianapolis Ballet Theatre. In 2002 she received her B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas, under the direction of Jeremy Blanton.

In 2003, she joined MADCO under the direction of Stacy West and has worked with Frank Chaves, Robert Battle, Janice Garrett, Michael Foley, John Beasant III, and Gina Patterson, among many others. Performance highlights include Contemporary Moves presented by Dance St. Louis, DanceNow NYC, Toronto Fringe Festival for Independent Dance Artists, and Dance St. Louis’s Spring to Dance Festivals 2008-2013. MADCO has now presented thirteen of her choreographic works in their repertory and two of her pieces have been selected for Dance St. Louis’s Spring to Dance Festival including her most recent work, Accidentally on Purpose in collaboration with Double Date A Cappella Quartet. Lindsay has set commissioned work on dance students at St. Louis’s Grand Center Arts Academy, Notre Dame University, Missouri State University, University of Missouri St. Louis, and John Hopkins University and has also taught master classes at Webster University in St. Louis. She has taught at many studios in St. Louis including Ballet Midwest, COCA, and Arts In Motion, and is excited to join the faculty at Rokita Dance Center.

In 2008 and 2009, she served as a teaching artist for St. Louis ArtWorks, and was the Director of the ballet program and ensemble at Arts In Motion from 2006 until August 2013 when she left St. Louis to pursue her master’s degree at the University of Arizona in Tucson. Lindsay was recently awarded a Choreographic Fellowship from the University of Kansas to re-stage Conversations and Fits (spring 2016) and received her Master of Fine Arts in Dance with a dual emphasis in Choreography and Performance from the University of Arizona in May 2015. Lindsay is thrilled to return to St. Louis to teach and choreograph, and to join MADCO again for her 11th season as a company member.

Dustin Crumbaugh (Guest Choreographer) began his formal dance training at Houston Metropolitan Dance Company's pre-professional second company, Houston Met Too. Since graduating high school, he spent two years as a dance major at Point Park University where he performed works by renowned choreographers such as Margo Sappington, Robert Battle, and Harrison McEldowney. He then completed his traineeship with Ballet Austin, where he performed works by Stephen Mills, Gina Patterson, Septime Weber, and Dwight Rhoden, and trained at LINES Ballet, where he studied under master teachers such as Alonzo King, Maurya Kerr, and Amy Raymond. Dustin joined Houston Metropolitan Dance Company as a professional company member in 2005, and in 2007 joined Luna Negra Dance Theater under the direction of Eduardo Vilaro, performing works by Edgar Zendejas, Alejandro Cervera, and Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. He then danced on scholarship at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and participated in Springboard Danse Montreal, working with Jose Navas/Cie Flak and Julian Barnett. In 2009, he performed with Cerqua Rivera Dance Theater until joining The Big Muddy Dance Company in 2011, with whom he has performed works by Lauri Stallings, Lou Conte, Kate Skarpetowska, and Brian Enos. Dustin is also a master teacher and choreographer, who has taught and created works for dance schools across the country.

Ellen Vierse (Guest Choreographer) graduated summa cum laude in 2012 from Texas Christian University (TCU) with Departmental Honors and a BFA in Modern Dance. While at TCU, Ellen performed choreography by Christian von Howard, Loretta Livingston, KT Niehoff, and Doris Humphrey. She has additionally worked intensively with Doug Varone, Michael Foley, Jon Lehrer, and Alicia Graf Mack. Ellen currently dances with Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company in St. Louis, MO, under the direction of Jennifer Medina, where she has had the opportunity to perform works by Uri Sands (TU Dance) and Jennifer Huffman Olivas (Diavolo). She has also collaborated with various St. Louis-based choreographers and companies, including Leverage Dance Theater and ANNONYArts. When she isn't dancing, Ellen teaches at Arts in Motion School of Dance & Movement, where she enjoys sharing her passion with the next generation of dancers. Headshot by Bob Morrison.

Renie Viola (Board of Directors) began her dance studies as a young child in eastern Ohio, under the instruction of Cathie Provan. There she studied tap and jazz technique, choreography, and dance education. She then went on to study dance intensively at the Ohio State University under Bebe Miller, Susan Hadley, Tere O'Connor, Karen Elliot, and many other amazing dance artists. After receiving her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from OSU in 2004, Renie moved to New York City, where she danced and choreographed for Grove Dance Theatre from 2005-2008, performing on stages all over NYC. She also continued her studies with such artists as Irene Dowd, KJ Holmes and Barbara Mahler. In 2008 Renie took a hiatus from dance to nurture a recurring spine injury, and to focus on completing her Yamuna® Body Rolling certification. She was lucky enough to study directly under Yamuna Zake, founder of Yamuna® Body Sustainability, and completed the curriculum in 2008. This led Renie to another calling: teaching others how to care for their physical selves, which she has been doing ever since. In 2013 Renie returned to Columbus and to her first love of dance. She is honored that CoMo Dance Company has given her the privilege of doing so. Renie serves as Company Yamuna Instructor.

Marlayna Locklear (Guest Choreographer) hails from Milwaukee,WI. She is currently a member of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. She began her training at the age of 12 and graduated from Milwaukee High School of the Arts and University of the Arts In Philadelphia, PA with a BFA in dance. Marlayna was one of the founding members of The Milwaukee Dance Connection and has gone on to dance with Eleone Dance Theatre, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Dallas Black Dance Theatre II and DCDC. She has performed works by Christopher Huggins, Dwight Rhoden, Ron Brown, Donald Byrd, Diane McIntyre to name a few. She also has worked with members of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Momix, Martha Graham Company, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Milwaukee Ballet, Deka dance, Philadanco and Koresh

Damien Highfield (Guest Choreographer) danced and trained at BalletMet from 1979-1993. He also performed with and was a founding member of JazzMet. Damien earned a BFA in Dance from Butler University with the Emma C. and Elizabeth Ronecker Scholarship and received the Outstanding Performance Award for Butler Ballet. He then danced with Atlanta Ballet and Ohio Ballet. Damien teaches and choreographs throughout Northeast Ohio. He is currently one of five company members of GroundWorks Dance Theater in Cleveland.

Adam Lanter (Guest Choreographer) began his training with Ann O'Hara and the Dayton Ballet School. There he danced pre-professionally with Dayton Ballet II. He also studied with the Virginia School of the Arts, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Pontecorvo Ballet Studios, and Burklyn Ballet Theater. He danced professionally with the Ballet Theater of Maryland, Charleston Ballet Theater, Ballet Tennessee, and the Charleston Ballet of West Virginia. In 2002 he was asked to dance in Scotland at the Festival Fringe, where he danced the Mad Hatter in Alice in Wonderland. Adam taught dance for the Maryland School of Classical and Contemporary Dance, Dayton Ballet School, Danceworks, and the University of Dayton Dance Program. He collaborated with Wilmington Performing Arts Studio to develop a pre-professional ballet program and was the ballet program coordinator and instructor. Adam has choreographed both classical and contemporary works for Burklyn Ballet Theater, Wilmington Performing Arts Studio, and the University of Dayton Dance Ensemble. He holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from The Ohio State University. 

Jacquelyn Stokes (Guest Choreographer) is currently the Director of Dance for Tri-Cities High School in East Point, Georgia. With a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Southern Methodist University and a Bachelor of Science in Health and Physical Education from Norfolk State University, Jackie is devoted to dance education with years of study in Jazz, Dunham Technique, Ballet, African, and Modern Dance. As a professor in the Department of Health, Physical Education and Recreation at Benedict College in Columbia, South Carolina, Stokes was the Artistic Director of the modern-based resident dance company, “The Dance Collective” Contemporary Dance Theatre. Serving on the Board of Directors for the National Black College Dance Exchange and actively participating in state and national conferences for dance and health, Jackie is passionate about continuing education in the field of dance. She is particularly dedicated to the research of Katherine Dunham and preservation of her legacy.