Creator and Director of National City Stars of Ballet and Broadway benefit performances and year-round program

The Joffrey Ballet-Complexions-Movin’ Out

Scouted from an early age for her versatility and technique, Meg Paul began her professional dancing career at age fifteen. After winning the International Dance Competition of the Americas, she was invited under full scholarship and the guidance of Edith D’Addario, to move to New York City and train with the Joffrey Ballet School.

Meg was quickly promoted to dance with the Joffrey II apprentice company and was then promoted at the age of nineteen to dance with the Joffrey Ballet. Shortly there after, she was honored as a recipient of The Princess Grace Award.

Her classical training paired with her unique artistic interpretations has touched audiences and critics around the world. Leading roles such as The Sugar Plum Fairy, Italian Suite, Valentine, Les Patineurs, Light Rain, Les Presages, and ballets created on her such as The Gardens of Boboli, Billboards, A Trifling and A Streetcar Named Desire are a few of the numerous works she has performed. 

New York City Ballet

Albert Evans was born in Atlanta, Georgia. He began his ballet training at Terpsichore Expressions in Atlanta. In 1986, he was awarded a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet. Mr. Evans was made a member of New York City Ballet's corps de ballet in the spring of 1988, and was immediately given leading roles in two American Music Festival ballets: William Forsythe's Behind The China Dogs, and Eliot Feld's The Unanswered Question. He was promoted to soloist in the spring of 1991, and to principal in the winter of 1995.

More info about Albert

RON DE JESÚS DANCE was founded in February, 2007, by Artistic Director Ron De Jesús. The Company’s mission uses the founder's choreographic vision to reveal the unique language of dance as an essential element in the lives of individuals and their communities.  Interactive, participatory workshops and performances are designed to enhance creativity and facilitate dialogue within and across cultures.  The company's contemporary work is driven by the belief that what and how we dance affects the way we see, think and act.

RON DE JESÚS (Artistic Director/Founder) is the 2006 (“Common Grounds”) and 2007 (“Platforms”) recipient of the New York Musical Theater Festival Award for Excellence for Best Choreography; the 2006 award recipient of the Melinda Atwood/Jerry Mitchell “Dance Break Choreographic Competition 2006”; and the Irvine, California‘s “National Choreographers Initiative 2006”. In 2007 and 2008 he was invited to be an adjudicator for Dance Break.

Ted Louis Levy - Co-Director National City Stars of Ballet and Broadway 2008 benefit performances

Black and Blue - Jelly’s Last Jam
Bring in ‘Da Noise, Bring in ‘Da Funk
One More Rhythm

His professional training began in Chicago with Mrs. Shirley Hall Bass & Mr. Finis Henderson II, Master Tap Dancer and former manager of Sammy Davis Jr.. His career began at The Victory Gardens Theater in Chicago. He made his Broadway debut in the smash hit Black & Blue. He collaborated with George C. Wolfe and Gregory Hines on the Choreography of Jelly's Last Jam, for which he  received a TONY NOMINATION, DRAMA DESK NOMINATION and the OUTER CRITICS CIRCLE AWARD. He was awarded an EMMY AWARD for his television debut performance as host of the PBS Special Precious Memories, and appeared in Spike Lee's Malcolm X for his film debut. With his production of Ted Levy and Friends, directed by Gregory Hines, he was honored and celebrated as one of America's premier Tap Dance Artists. Influenced by Mr. Hines, he acquired his directorial debut as Director of Savion Glover's, Dancing Under The Stars at the New York Shakespeare Festival's Delacorte Theater. He also assisted in the choreography of Broadway's Tony Award winning hit Bring In 'Da Noise! Bring In 'Da Funk!

More about Ted Louis Levy

New York City Ballet

Wendy Whelan was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, where at the age of three she began taking dance classes with Virginia Wooton, a local teacher. At age eight she performed as a mouse with the Louisville Ballet in its annual production of The Nutcracker. Joining the Louisville Ballet Academy that year, she began intense professional ballet training. In 1981 she received a scholarship to the summer course at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, and a year later, became a full-time student there. In 1984, Ms. Whelan danced as an apprentice with New York City Ballet. Ms. Whelan became a member of New York City Ballet's corps de ballet in January 1986. She was promoted to the rank of soloist during the 1989 spring season and to the rank of principal dancer in the 1991 spring season.

More info about Wendy

Glenn Seven Allen was nominated for a Helen Hayes award for Best Leading Actor for his work as Clifford Bradshaw in CABARET at Arena Stage in Washington D.C. under the direction of Molly Smith. He recently played Edward Rutledge in 1776 at the Goodspeed Opera House. Other credits include A FINE AND PRIVATE PLACE at the York Theatre Company across from Christiane Noll, and THE LIGHT IN THE PIAZZA at Lincoln Center , understudying the roles of Fabrizio and Giuseppe. Previously, he originated the role of Giuseppe in the regional productions of ...PIAZZA at the Goodman and Initman Theatres. Regional credits include JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR (North Carolina Theatre) PIRATES OF PENZANCE and JULIUS CEASAR (Utah Shakespeare Festival), THE ARK (Village Theatre), LIGIEA (Aspen Music Festival), A MICHIGAN MAN (Solo Show-On The Boards), and THE STUDENT PRINCE (Papermill Playhouse).

Concerts include The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center's American Songbook (Casino Paradise), Symphony Space, NY Historical Society, Joe's Pub, Minetta Lane Theatre, and the Ars Nova Broadway Spotlight.

Mr. Allen is an Adjunct Acting Instructor at Collaborative Arts Project 21 (Cap21) in New York City. Training : MFA in Acting-University of Washington Professional Actor Training Program; BFA in Musical Theatre -University of Michigan; Interlochen IAC. Vocal Training: Arthur Levy, Mark Oswald, Julian Patrick, and George Shirley.

More about Glenn Seven Allen

The Color Purple - All Shook Up-Fosse - Sweet Charity

Conceptual pop artist Francesca Harper blends original choreography, dance, music and film to create groundbreaking stage works that are bold and category-defying. Harper was raised in New York City, where she studied at the School of American Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet School, The Ailey School and under Madame Darvash and Barbara Walczak. After performing with the Dance Theater of Harlem, she danced as a principal in William Forsythe’s Ballett Frankfurt from 1994-1999. Since returning to the States in 2000, Francesca has performed in several Broadway productions including Fosse, The Producers, The Frogs and The Color Purple. Most recently she played Helene, a Principal role opposite Molly Ringwald in a national tour of Sweet Charity.  As a singer and lyricist Harper has released singles in Europe and Japan. In November 2003, her single Would I? was released on Powerhouse Records. In 2006, she released her debut solo album Modo Fusion with 10 original tracks of soul-inspired R&B and rhythmic electronica.

More about Francesca Harper

Recording Artist

New Jersey's Kenny Bobien is one of the most widely recognized male singers in house and is often referred to as the “King of Gospel House Music”, but he doesn't fit the image commonly associated with underground dance music. Kenny is a Singer, Songwriter and Producer and as well as being a Pastor at his church, Bobien is a dedicated family man and the father of a large family. In 1999 he released Blessed (A Gospel Dance Theory), a full-length album of soulful, uplifting New Jersey house. As well-loved as he is in the soulful house scene, he has also carved out a name for himself as a background vocalist in R&B, making his voice almost impossible to avoid in urban music. He has also performed with R & B legend Teddy Pendergrass, Celine Dion, Taylor Dayne, Jennifer Holiday & Milira. He has also worked with top producers Frankie Feliciano and Albert Menendez, Guy Vaughn and Sherick Guy, Paul Scot, Shank Thompson, Teddy Douglas, Kerri Chandler, DJ Spen & Karizma.

More about Kenny Bobien

Chicago native, Dante Adela, began dancing at age 20, studying under Ron De Jesús at the Lou Conte Studio.  He has since studied at the North Carolina School of the Arts with Duncan Noble, Gyula Pandi, Melissa Hayden and Frank Smith.  He has studied in New York City at Steps with Peff Modelski, Michael Vernon and most recently with Wilhelm Burmann.  He has danced with Kansas City Ballet, Northern Ballet Theater, Cedar Lake Ensemble, The Metropolitan Opera in NYC, BalletNY, and lma Dance Chicago and he has appeared as guest artist with several other dance companies. He has worked with choreographers Alonzo King, Mark Dendy, Julie Taymor, Trey McIntyre, Fernando Bujones, Fernand Nault, Pauline Koner and Ron De Jesús. He has danced with Mr. De Jesús doing his other projects at DRA, Dance Break and In the Company of Men at Dance New Amsterdam.  He teaches at Summer Workshops, and also enjoys doing Martial Arts and Rock Climbing in his spare time.

Originally from Vancouver, Canada, he danced with Alberta Ballet and Ballet British Columbia after graduating from the National Ballet School of Canada. In 2003, he moved to New York City to join Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet and later, the casts of "Movin' Out" and "The Phantom of the Opera". Justin has performed at The Metropolitan Opera, The Kennedy Center, on Broadway, on national television and in feature films. He has performed the works of George Balanchine, Alonzo King, James Kudelka, Jiri Kylian, Crystal Pite, Twyla Tharp, and Christopher Wheeldon, and Ron De Jesús, amongst many others.