SYRACUSE CONTEMPORARY DANCE COMPANY
Established in 1986
Meet the 2026 Choreographers
Rachel Adkins - Contemporary
Rachel Adkins was born and raised in Syracuse, NY. She grew up dancing at Syracuse School of Dance and Irish dancing for the McDonald School of Irish Dance. She continued her training at SUNY Fredonia where she received her BFA in Dance. Rachel now teaches for The Ballet & Dance Center and is a social worker in North Syracuse. This is her third season with the company and she is very excited to be choreographing this year.
Ruth Arena - Contemporary
Ruth K. Arena is an Adjunct Professor at Le Moyne College, where she was recognized as the 2021 Outstanding Part-Time Faculty Member of the Year, and on faculty at The Ballet & Dance Center. Ruth holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona and a MA in Teaching Artistry from Wayne State University. She studied on scholarship at the Paul Taylor Dance Company School, and performed with Dzul Dance in New York City. Her choreography has been presented by the Syracuse Fringe Festival, the National Water Dance, several Boot & Buskin productions at Le Moyne, in concert with Syracuse Symphony, and in Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company concerts. Ruth is the author of Asking Evolving Questions to De-center Whiteness in the Dance Studio, published in the journal Dance Education in Practice. Ruth is a founding member of Dance Educators Living With/Through Cancer, a collaborative research project dedicated to building and disseminating knowledge as well as supporting dancers and dance educators with cancer experience.
Adriana Battle - Modern
Adriana Battle has been with Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company for four seasons and this will be her third season as a choreographer. She was previously the Executive Director of the Le Moyne Student Dance Company at Le Moyne College where she was also a choreographer and dancer for four years. She’s excited to continue having the opportunity to perform with Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company.
Cristina Battle - Modern
Cristina Battle has been a choreographer for the Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company since 2014. She is the moderator for the Le Moyne Student Dance Company at Le Moyne College, and has taught and choreographed for LSDC over the last 16 years. Cristina spent some time teaching and choreographing at The Ballet & Dance Center, where she had the opportunity to choreograph some pieces for the Syracuse Orchestra. She has danced for a variety of local dance teams, and has been a dance and Zumba instructor for many local and out of state fitness centers, studios, and schools. She is grateful for her SCDC family & the opportunity to share the stage with her sister.
Laurie Deyo - Modern
Laurie Deyo has taught, choreographed, and performed in the Syracuse area since 1984. She holds a MFA in Dance and Dance Education from NYU where she studied modern with the Limón, Graham, and Cunningham modern dance companies, while continuing her ballet and jazz training at NYC studios with various teachers including David Howard, the Joffrey School faculty, and STEPS. She also performed and traveled with the Kaleidoscope Dance Company and NYU’s Student Dance Company. She spent 15 years as Dance faculty at Syracuse University teaching modern, ballet, jazz, creative movement for the classroom, tap, and aerobic dance. She also choreographed and performed pieces for both faculty and student concerts. Laurie has been teaching at The Ballet & Dance Center since 2010 and currently teaches all levels of modern.
Brandon Jones - Hip Hop
Brandon Jones has been dancing and studying hip hop, musical theater, and jazz for the past 13 years. He has choreographed and taught for The Ballet & Dance Center, Dance Theater of Syracuse, Dominique's Dance Creations, Say Yes to Education, Peaceful Resolution, the Le Moyne Upper Bound Summer program, and has choreographed for several SCDC concerts and was part of the Syracuse School of Dance faculty for 10 years.
Barbara LaNeve - Tap
Barbara LaNeve studied and performed ballet, tap, jazz, modern, and musical theater since childhood. This continued in college and thereafter, adding other genres to her repertoire. Her areas of study for her BS and MA degrees were Exercise Physiology, Dance, and Nutrition, while serving as a Dance Graduate Assistant. She currently teaches and choreographs dance at local studios, and for Syracuse University’s Dance Minor and Department of Drama. She completed a NYS teaching certificate in Dance Education. Her mission is to continue to study dance and spread the love of dance to all.
Katie Lemos Brown - Musical Theatre Jazz
Katie Lemos Brown is thrilled to be a part of the SCDC family, last concert she was honored to debut with "Nobody" from "Bandstand!" As a graduate of Shenandoah Conservatory with a BFA in Musical Theater, Kate has continued pursuing her first love through the avenues of performance, directing, and choreography here in CNY. Most recent musical theater credits include director/choreographer for "Pippin" and choreographed "Rent" with Baldwinsville Theatre Guild. She teaches Jazz/MT/Ballet at The Ballet & Dance Center and SCDC, as well as freelances with her MT-inspired workshops. Kate’s latest choreographic endeavors include, "Harry’s Wonderful World" with The BDC and Syracuse Orchestra, as well as I "Gotcha!" from "Fosse" for Le Moyne’s Student Dance Concert. With a heart full of gratitude, a sincere thank you to Kathy and the SCDC family, and her Brownies, for all their love and support, it means the world to this dancing artist. All Glory goes UP!
Benny Simon - Contemporary
Benny Simon, MA, is an educator, dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator. He is a PhD candidate at The Ohio State University, where his research examines the social effects of dance and technology, drawing on dance and performance studies, new media theory, and critical digital pedagogy. Recently, he served as Assistant Professor of Dance at Ohio University and as Director of Arts Administration at Le Moyne College. He has also taught at BalletMet, Gibney Dance, The Mark Morris Dance Center, and Peridance Capezio Center. As a performer, Benny has danced in works by Alexandra Beller/Dances, Diane McCarthy Dance, Kendra Portier, Renee Gerardo Dances, and The Lovelies. His choreography has been presented at The Ohio State University, BalletMet, New York University, the Everson Museum of Art, Syracuse University, the Upstart Festival, and Triskelion Arts' WAXworks and Split Bill. Recent works include "Layer", a collaborative piece premiered at the Everson Museum; "Folding In: Redux", a dance-film evoking Judson-era dance spaces; "Further Responses", in collaboration with choral composer Caroline Shaw; and "Orbit and Sum" at the Agnes Varis Theater. Recent scholarly work includes “Drones, Dance, and Destruction” presented at The Conference for Research on Choreographic Interfaces; "Kissing Drones: Embodied Relationships with Surveillance Technologies" for the Dance Studies Association; and “Live Scoring” at the National Dance Education Organization. Benny also serves as co-editor for the upcoming Routledge anthology, "Robot Theaters." His administrative work includes serving as Director of Marketing for Gibney Dance and on the boards of OhioDance and New Dance Collective. He is also the founder of the Simon Family Scholarship, which supports emerging dancers.
Sarah Strauss - Contemporary
Sarah Strauss is a senior at Le Moyne College studying psychology and minoring in visual art and dance. She has been dancing for 4 years, she has been with the Le Moyne Student Dance Company (LSDC) since 2022, and Le Moyne Dance Team since 2025, and has choreographed for both groups. This is her second time with Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company and her first time choreographing! She has worked on numerous projects through Le Moyne College including The Art of Movement, Edgar and The Red Room, YERMA, The Butterfly Effect, The Water Movement. She is so excited for you to come see the show and all the hard work that goes into it.
Lisa Stuart - Contemporary
Lisa is thrilled to be choreographing for the 2026 Syracuse Contemporary Dance Concert, marking the second time she has created and brought a new work to life for this inspiring event. With more than 50 years devoted to dance, Lisa’s passion was sparked by the allure of Broadway and refined through early training in New York City with legendary jazz artists. She earned her BA from the University of New Hampshire, and with a concentration in dance she served as a teaching assistant, dance captain, and recipient of the Jean Mattox Scholarship. Her professional career carried her across the U.S. and Caribbean, performing in productions such as 42nd Street, Chicago, Sugar Babies, and shows with Holland America Cruise Lines. She has been a faculty member at The Ballet & Dance Center for over 10 years, inspiring the next generation of dancers through solid foundations in jazz, tap, and ballet. Lisa spent 25 years choreographing musicals at CNS High School, shaping memorable productions like West Side Story, Hairspray, Addams Family, Tuck Everlasting, Chicago, and Mean Girls. This year, she is excited to bring her creative vision to Jamesville-DeWitt High School with Footloose. Believing that dance is an essential part of the human experience, Lisa teaches with a focus on strong technique, expressive artistry, and the power of storytelling. Her mission is to guide students in developing the skills, confidence, and imagination that allow movement to become a universal language—one that connects dancers and audiences alike.
Rowan Young - Contemporary Ballet
For over 15 years, Rowan’s dedication to ballet and pointe work was nurtured through rigorous training from various schools and private coaching. Rowan’s passion for dance led her to trainee and apprenticeship programs, including enriching experiences with The Washington Ballet (Julie Kent) and The United Ballet Theatre (Joseph Gatti), where she was supported by scholarships. Early in her professional career, Rowan showcased her talent with the Connecticut Ballet Company for two seasons. Seeking artistic growth and new horizons, Rowan decided to go back to school. She was accepted at LINES Ballet in San Francisco as a trainee, delving into contemporary and modern techniques, improv, and the LINES Ballet repertoire. During this time, she experimented with her newfound growth in choreographic works that she created on her peers, both group and pas de deux. She currently dances with Syracuse City Ballet.
Meet the 2026 Guest Artists
Anjani Dance Academy
Anjani Dance Academy is the region's premier Indian Dance Ensemble, based in Syracuse, New York. They offer training in Indian Classical Kathak Dance, Bollywood Dance, Rajasthani Folk Dance, Bhangra, and Yoga Dance. Seema Sureshkumar is an adjunct dance professor at Le Moyne College, a recipient of CNY Arts education grant, CNY SCR Grant, NY State seed grant, and a former member of the International Dance Council. She is trained in Indian Classical Kathak Dance, Bollywood Dance, Rajasthani Folk Dance, Bhangra dance.
The Ballet & Dance Center Youth Company
In The BDC Youth Dance Company is for students who are interested in furthering their dance training, performing more throughout the year, and using their art to connect with outside communities. The company offers students the opportunity to perform at town festivals, fundraisers, charity events, and other community performances. It also gives students the chance to expand their dance education through workshops, master classes, and intensives. Through these opportunities, dancers will be able to refine their technique, hone their performance skills, and learn a variety of repertoire that will be performed throughout the year.
Margaret Falcone & Jamie Rieger - Contemporary
Margaret K. Falcone is a Brooklyn-based dance artist from Syracuse, NY who received her BFA in Contemporary Dance Performance with an emphasis in choreography from Boston Conservatory. In addition to performing with The Bang Group throughout the year, she tours annually in their seasonal run of Nut/Cracked, performing at venues such as the 92nd Street Y, Kaatsbaan Cultural Park, and the National Arts Club. Falcone began her career in Boston as a member of BoSoma Dance Company and has also performed works by Marcus Schulkind, David Parker, Adrienne Hawkins, Lindsey Leduc, among others. As a choreographer, she was honored to premiere her work, Revitalize, on BoSoma Dance Company in 2024 at the Boston Center for the Arts for their 20th Anniversary Season. She was also an inaugural member of Movement Under Development, a collective of Boston based creators that collaborate to invent movement generating methods. In addition to performing and choreographing, Falcone has a passion for sharing the health benefits of dance with others and is working toward her Dance for PD® certification at Mark Morris Dance Center. She is also the program director of two divisional outreach programs at Boston Conservatory: Movement Matters, which brings dance to senior citizens in the Boston area, as well as Step by Step, an adaptive dance program for students who have autism and Down syndrome. Margaret is excited to return home to be part of SCDC In Concert 2026!
Becky Richardson & Kathy Taylor - Modern
Becky Richardson graduated from James Madison University, where she focused the majority of her training and performance in modern dance. She began her teaching career with Centreville Dance Academy (VA) in 2004, before moving to Syracuse in 2008. While in Syracuse, she taught at Syracuse University, Le Moyne College, Syracuse School of Dance, and The Ballet & Dance Center, all of which she loved immensely before life took her back to Virginia. Her New York performance and choreography credits also include Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company ('12), Take Away Dance (Benny Simon), and Vision of Sound (Society of New Music). Since returning to Northern Virginia in 2013 she has continued to choreograph and teach at Centreville Dance, and also danced with the modern dance company ClancyWorks. She believes strongly in helping students experience the beauty and joy inherent in dancing (and life!) and to find and appreciate the unique beauty that they each bring to the world. She is thrilled and so very thankful for the opportunity to dance again with her dearest friends and dance family in Syracuse!
Kathy Taylor is the owner of the Centreville Dance Academy, located in Centreville, Virginia. With 35 years of experience teaching dance and running a studio, she enjoys bringing the joy of dance to everyone she encounters. When not in the studio, she can be found hiking or reading a good book on the couch with pets stacked in her lap!
Hanni Schwarzlander - Jazz
Hanni Schwarzlander has worked as a professional dancer, director, choreographer, and teacher for over 30 years. Raised in Syracuse, she began her early training at Syracuse Ballet Theatre and Lorraine School of Dance. She danced her way through a BA at Oberlin College and Syracuse University, after which she performed extensively in Paris and throughout Europe in revues, on cruises, and for Europe TV. Back in the US she continued performing, touring nationally with the Broadway musical "Will Rogers Follies" and working in both dance companies and regional theaters in the Northeast. Between shows, she returned to NYC to take classes with many notable teachers at STEPS, Broadway Dance Center, Djoniba’s, and the David Howard Studio. As a dance educator, Hanni currently teaches at Syracuse University and The Ballet & Dance Center. She has taught master classes internationally and is also a certified Zena Rommett Floor-Barre® Mentor, training teachers worldwide and bringing this valuable strengthening and aligning technique to the Syracuse area. Passionate about her work, she creates environments where individuals are empowered through creative expression, while simultaneously challenged as they develop both technique and performance quality. Hanni is excited to bring a piece to. Syracuse Contemporary Dance Company's concert again this year!
SpeakDanceCNY
SpeakDanceCNY is on a quest to increase the visibility and normalcy of professional modern dance performance in Central New York, and to prevent flight of aspiring artists from our communities by providing regular opportunity for creation, rehearsal, and performance of original dance works. Led by Diana Torba, who brings over 15 years of professional dance creation and production launched from the South Bronx to greater NYC, the East Coast, and a number of domestic and international tours, SpeakDanceCNY brings together local professional dancers who have had a chance to study and mature. Homegrown dance performance opportunities provide hope for the young dancers of greater CNY that dance does not have to stop when one graduates high school.
Diana Torba was born in Oswego and earned her Bachelor of Arts in Dance and Political Science from Barnard College, Columbia University. Her Bronx-based company, St. Michael’s Warriors, regularly performed across the East Coast, and on two international tours. After having five children, Diana moved back to CNY and created the modern performance company, SpeakDanceCNY, sponsored by the Y of CNY, with additional funding from CNY Arts. SpeakDanceCNY regularly performs original dance works at venues around CNY, collaborating with various musical artists, and always pushing boundaries to pave new ways to make professional dancing in Central New York, successful. Company members draw from various local studios and college programs: Jamie Carey, Mackenzie Jackson, Briana Macri, Amanda St. Amour, Sarah Walter, and Jordan Winans electrify! Socials: @speakdancecny
Lily Wegerski is a dynamic choreographer with roots in modern and contemporary dance whose work delves into emotional nuance through intricate partnering, musical sensitivity, and athletic movement. She crafts pieces that highlight human connection and physical storytelling, blending technical precision with expressive depth. Wegerski continues to shape fresh perspectives in dance through her inventive, collaborative approach to creation and performance.