Company Members
Melanie Cortier
Melanie Cortier (Co-Founder/Director) has danced professionally with several companies and choreographers throughout the U.S. and abroad, including Michael Mao Dance, Dances Patrelle, Lydia Johnson, Stamford Ballet, American National Ballet, and Gen Horiuchi, for whom she was dance captain at the Opening Ceremonies of the 1998 Winter Olympics (Nagano, Japan). She graduated cum laude from Marymount Manhattan College with a BFA in Dance and has choreographed for Phoenix Productions (Evita), The Puppeteer Cooperative, as well as over 18 ballets for Eidolon Ballet where she has been resident choreographer since its inception. She is currently on faculty at Chicago Ballet Arts and was a faculty member of Ballet Academy East New York, and has guest taught at Steps on Broadway, the 92nd St Y Harkness Dance Center, American Youth Dance Theatre, and Ball State University. Her work has been has performed at Joyce SoHo, Ailey Citibank Theater, Lincoln Center’s Clark Studio Theater, Lincoln Center’s Out-of-Doors Festival, New York City Center Studios, Dance Parade’s Dance Fest at Tompkin’s Square Park, The Downtown Dance Festival, Merce Cunningham Studio Theater, Steps on Broadway, The Bridge for Dance, Dixon Place, The Brecht Forum, Borders Bookstore at 57th Street, Summerstreets, the CBS morning show, White Wave Cool NY Dance Festival, Dumbo Dance Festival, Dance Tracks Choreography Showcase, the 92nd St Y Harkness Dance Center, "Going Dutch" at Links Hall, Chicago Freelance Dance, and at Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out Dance Festival. Visit Melanie's Website.
Justin Allen
Justin Allen (Dancer) has been a member of Eidolon Ballet since 2006. In that time he has originated numerous roles, taken female roles and made them male, and gladly followed in the footsteps of those Eidolon Dancers who came before him. In the past he has also danced with Idaho Dance Theatre, Manhattan Dance Theatre, and Dances Patrelle. Justin is also a writer of imaginative literature. His first novel, Slaves of the Shinar, was published in 2007, and his second novel, Year of the Horse, was published in October 2009 by The Overlook Press. Justin is also the author of Murder at the Masque: The Casebook of Edgar Allan Poe, a story adapted for ballet with original music by Patrick Soluri and choreography by Francis Patrelle. Visit Justin's Website.
Billy Blanken
Billy Blanken (Dancer) grew up in Springfield, Ohio and graduated from Ball State University with degrees in acting and dance and trained at the Joffrey Ballet School. He has worked with Lane & Co Arts, Amy Marshall Dance Company, Mobile Ballet, York Dance Works, Atlantic City Ballet Theatre, Brooklyn Ballet, Catherine Gallant Dance, Ballet Mink Colbert and Les Ballets Grandiva. Billy joined Eidolon Ballet in 2008. He would like to thank his family and friends for their support. Visit Billy's Website.
Hannah Marie Corbin
Hannah Marie Corbin (Dancer) is originally from Portland, Oregon. She has performed with Matthew Westerby Company, Pheonix Entertainment, Danscores, Mexico Now!, Sitelines, MacArthur Dance Project, Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Elan Artists, Hudson Guild Theatre, Teen.com, E!, College Humor, Good Morning America, and recently made her Off-Broadway debut in Fuerza Bruta. Hannah Marie joined Eidolon Ballet in 2013.
Visit Hannah Marie on Vimeo.
Visit Hannah Marie on Vimeo.
Danielle Cortier
Danielle Cortier (Rehearsal Director) grew up and began her dance training in South Bend, IN. She is a graduate of Ball State University, where she received her Bachelor's degree in Dance and a minor in Dance Education. Since moving to New York, Danielle has worked with the Puppeteers' Cooperative, and performed at events such as "On the Matter of Moby Dick" at Lincoln Center, "Big City Blues" in the 'Out of Doors' Festival, and "IndepenDance" at City Center. She has performed with Common Thread Dance Company, and currently dances with Mariana Bekerman Dance Company. She is on faculty at Ballet Academy East. Danielle has enjoyed working as rehearsal director for Eidolon Ballet since 2008.
Valerie Cortier
Valerie Cortier (Dancer) is originally from South Bend, IN. She attended Webster University in St. Louis, MO where she received a BFA in Dance. She has performed choreography by Gary Hubler, Beckah Voigt, Jennifer Medina, and Stacy West, as well as danced for the musical group In Twilight in their latest video production. She has also performed with the Puppeteer Cooperative at Lincoln Center’s Outdoors Festival, and Common Thread Dance Company. Valerie has been on faculty at Ballet Academy East since 2004 and guest teaches at Bridge for Dance and Broadway Dance Center. She has been with Eidolon since 2005.
Maureen Duke
Maureen Duke (Dancer) holds a BFA in Dance Performance and minor in Musical Theater from the University of Missouri-Kansas City Conservatory of Music and Dance. Her professional credits include Dances Patrelle, New York Dance Theater, Kelly/McCarthy Dance/Music, Omaha Theater Ballet, St. Louis Ballet, Les Grande Canadian Ballet, Fort Wayne Ballet, the St. Louis Muny, and Jersey Shore Entertainment. She has been a guest artist with the Omaha and Kansas City Symphonies and is currently a teacher at Ballet Academy East. Maureen has been a member of Eidolon Ballet since 2009.
Meredith Fages
Meredith Fages (Dancer) has performed with Armitage Gone! Dance, Alexandra Beller/Dances, Monica Bill Barnes/Waterwell, Wally Cardona, Deborah Hay, Mana Kawamura, Heidi Latsky Dance, Motley Dance, XYZeta Projects/Jimena Paz, Laura Peterson Choreography, Becky Radway Dance Projects, Sarah Skaggs, Steeledance, Palissimo/Pavel Zustiak, Mitzi Adams, Eidolon Ballet, Helen Heineman, Todd Rosenlieb Dance, and Virginia Ballet Theatre. She has been featured in the ballets of Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, Lew Christensen, and Antony Tudor. She has served as rehearsal assistant for Heidi Latsky, Laura Peterson, Oliver Steele, and Ginger Thatcher, and she was a member of the ballet faculty for the 2009 Peridance Summer Teen Intensive. On film she has collaborated with directors Bat-Sheva Guez, Deborah Lohse, Donnell Oakley, and Mark O'Maley, and will be appearing in a documentary by Richard Move on Heidi Latsky Dance. She has summited Kilimanjaro, appeared in the New York TimesSunday Styles spread, and bakes the occasional wedding cake. She was born in Charleston, SC and graduated from Columbia University with a Pre-Medical Concentration in English. Meredith has been a member of Eidolon Ballet since 1999.
Josiah Guitian
Josiah Guitian (Dancer) began dancing in his hometown of Minot, ND in high school. Mr. Guitian earned a degree in Dance through the Fordham/Ailey BFA program under Anna Marie Forsythe and Denise Jefferson. While at The Ailey School, he was selected to perform at the opening ceremony for the Joan Weill Center for Dance with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. He went on to dance with Samar King in Yaa Samar Dance Theater and Jennifer Muller/The Works. Mr. Guitian currently dances full time with RIOULT Dance NY, and is honored to perform with Eidolon Ballet since 2014.
Anne Kelly
Anne Kelly (Dancer) studied at the School of American Ballet with teachers such as Kay Mazzo, Suki Schorer, and Susan Pilarre, and she also trained with Deborah Wingert. Ms. Kelly graduated magna cum laud from Barnard College of Columbia University with a BA in English and Dance. While at Barnard, she studied with Francis Patrelle, Lourdes Lopez, Allegra Kent, Barbara Sandonato, and Katie Glasner, and she performed lead roles in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Lew Christiansen’s Con Amore, and in the works of Elisa Monte, Lila York, Daniel Pelzig, and Karla Wolfangle. Since graduation, Ms. Kelly has performed with Dances Patrelle, Fugate/ Bahiri Ballet NY, the Christopher Caines Dance Company, Eidolon Ballet in Concert, and has also worked with Dennis Nahat. Anne has been a member of Eidolon since 2005.
A. Temple Kemezis
A. Temple Kemezis (Dancer) hails from good ol’ Tennessee. At age 15 she started her classical ballet training at the School of Nashville Ballet. After two years she was asked to continue her training with teachers Dennis Marshall and Marjorie Grundvig in Seattle, Washington. From 2005-2007 she danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as a trainee. She has spent summers at the Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre (NYC), and in 2007 participated in the Northwest Professional Dance Project in Portland, Oregon. Temple has danced in New York City since the Fall of 2007 and worked with several choreographers including Kate Thomas, John Prinz, Yesid Lopez and Connecticut Ballet. Temple has also been a contributor for Pointe Magazine and is an avid salsa dancer. He joined Eidolon Ballet in 2008.
Caitlin Maxwell
Caitlin Maxwell (Dancer) is a native of Aurora, Ohio. She trained at Sharron's School of Dance and Cleveland City Dance Academy and won the title of Miss Dance of America 2002-2003 through Dance Educators of America. Caitlin moved to New York City to attend Marymount Manhattan College. During her experience there she had the pleasure of working with many amazing choreographers including Donald Byrd, Twyla Tharp and Johannes Wieland. She graduated Magna Cum Laude in 2007 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance with a Jazz concentration. Caitlin is has been a member of Eidolon since 2008.
Meaghan Maxwell
Meaghan Maxwell (Dancer) is originally from Ohio. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from The Ohio State University with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance. She performed in Columbus, OH with the company Backspace before moving to New York. Meaghan has been performing with Eidolon Ballet since 2010.
Claire McKeveny
Claire McKeveny (Dancer) began her training with Maggie Black and studied through the Royal Academy of Dance, the Rock School, and BalletMet Columbus. In 2004, she completed her BFA at Marymount Manhattan College where she received the Gold Key for outstanding ballet performance. She has since danced in both New York and Montreal with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montreal, CasPublic, and Ballet Deviare. Claire has been a member of Eidolon since 2005.
Ericka Richerick
Ericka Richcrick (dancer) was born and raised in York, PA, where she began her dance training. She has studied at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Point Park College, and has attended many summer intensives, including the Washington School of Ballet Summer Intensive. She has danced professionally with the Northern Ballet Theatre, the Ballet Theatre of Maryland, the Ballet for Young Audiences, Laura Ward/Octavia Cup Dance Theatre, Long Island City Ballet and the Undertoe Dance Project. She joined Eidolon Ballet in 2010.
Jerry "Chip" Scuderi
Jerry “Chip” Scuderi (Dancer) was born and raised in Mt. Airy, Maryland. Chip graduated in 2007 from Towson University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Chip has attended numerous dance intensives such as American Dance Festival, American Ballet Theater, Richmond Ballet, Paul Taylor Dance Company and Dodge Dance Company all of which he attended on scholarship. After graduation he joined Ballet Theatre of Maryland. Since moving to New York, he has danced with Ballet for Young Audiences and has been a member of Eidolon Ballet since 2008.
Alfredo Solivan
Alfredo Solivan (Dancer) has danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, Ridgefield Dance Theatre, Diesel Fusion Dance Theatre, Rahway Dance Theatre and was a production dancer on Celebrity Cruise Line. He is a New Jersey native and trained at the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. He has been a member of Eidolon Ballet since 2009.
Ashley Talluto
Ashley Talluto (Dancer) is a native of North Reading, Massachusetts. Ashley received her early training at The Northeast Youth Ballet and went on to train at The Boston Ballet School under the direction of Laura Young. Ashley holds a BFA in Dance from The Boston Conservatory. There she was privileged to work with choreographers such as Sandra Stone, Leslie Woodies, and Michael Utoff. Since moving to New York in 2008 Ashley has danced with Ballet for Young Audiences, Inclined Dance Project, and has performed at the Streb Trapeze School benefit. She is currently touring the U.S. in Westside Story. Ashley has been a member of Eidolon Ballet since 2009. Visit Ashley's Website.
Guest Collaborators
Ginger Thatcher, Choreographer
Margy Bernstein, Choreographer
Hayden Production Services / Andrew Martini, Lighting Equipment and Design
Sia Balabanova, Set Design & Graphic Design
Marciel Irene Greene, Lighting Designer
Gwyndolyn Kay, Stage Manager
Charles King, Stage Manager
Robert Laniewski, Pianist
Pamela Pardi, Dance Tracks Production Company
Francis Patrelle, Honorary Chair 2003
Natalia Paruz, Musician
Red Hook Ramblers, Musicians
Melissa Rodnon, Musician
Matthew Williams, Choreographer
Chris Cortier, Musician & Sound Design / Technician
Margy Bernstein, Choreographer
Hayden Production Services / Andrew Martini, Lighting Equipment and Design
Sia Balabanova, Set Design & Graphic Design
Marciel Irene Greene, Lighting Designer
Gwyndolyn Kay, Stage Manager
Charles King, Stage Manager
Robert Laniewski, Pianist
Pamela Pardi, Dance Tracks Production Company
Francis Patrelle, Honorary Chair 2003
Natalia Paruz, Musician
Red Hook Ramblers, Musicians
Melissa Rodnon, Musician
Matthew Williams, Choreographer
Chris Cortier, Musician & Sound Design / Technician
Board Members
Marwa Bernstein
Melanie Cortier
Andrew Martini
Day Mitchell
Christopher Orr
Melanie Cortier
Andrew Martini
Day Mitchell
Christopher Orr
Former Company Members
Kathryn Albarelli
Julio Cesar Alegria
Nya Bowman
Marwa Bernstein
William Brown, Jr.
Regine Davenport
Beth Disharoon Wright
Lisa Dutchover
Della Hasselle
Nina Heintz McKim
Alecia Hill
Erin King
Syrie Mann
Tara Maynor
Tara Mora
Christina Chockley Neil
Lilly-Rose Paraskevas
Robert Eric Ragan
Marianne Raub
David Samis
Amy Schulster
Jill Schulster
Dr. Rachel J. Sorrentino
Jennifer Swift
Lisa Tachick Hooper
Amanda Theunissen
Becka Vargus
Julie Voshell
Lydia Walker
Ann Marie Waltz
Dianna Warren
Rebecca Woods
Julio Cesar Alegria
Nya Bowman
Marwa Bernstein
William Brown, Jr.
Regine Davenport
Beth Disharoon Wright
Lisa Dutchover
Della Hasselle
Nina Heintz McKim
Alecia Hill
Erin King
Syrie Mann
Tara Maynor
Tara Mora
Christina Chockley Neil
Lilly-Rose Paraskevas
Robert Eric Ragan
Marianne Raub
David Samis
Amy Schulster
Jill Schulster
Dr. Rachel J. Sorrentino
Jennifer Swift
Lisa Tachick Hooper
Amanda Theunissen
Becka Vargus
Julie Voshell
Lydia Walker
Ann Marie Waltz
Dianna Warren
Rebecca Woods
