MADELYN HO, M.D. is from Sugar Land, Texas where she began dancing at Kinard Dance School with Shirley McMillan and later trained with BalletForte under the artistic direction of Michael Banigan. She graduated from Harvard College with a B.A. in Chemical and Physical Biology. While there, she was awarded the Artist Development Fellowship and attended the Taylor School Winter Intensive. She was a member of Taylor 2 from 2008 to 2012 and left to attend Harvard Medical School, during which time she was a guest artist for Alison Cook Beatty Dance and performed with Urbanity Dance. She joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Spring 2015 and completed her Doctorate of Medicine in May 2018.

“I learned Taylor fundamentals during Intensives; the athleticism and emotional quality was exciting. And Ruth Andrien taught Taylor and set Aureole on us in college.”
Taylor 2 audition: “During that nerve-racking walk across the room you’re thinking, I don’t know if I know how to walk anymore! And I was the only idiot in shorts; wrong choice – there was knee work and sliding!”
PTDC audition: “Paul’s validation meant all the world. He said, ‘Well, medicine can wait.’”
Juggling act: “Taylor would perform Saturday, I’d travel to Boston for medical rotation on Monday, and bus back for Tuesday rehearsal.”
Taylor’s work: “Expansive. Athletic. Layered.”
Favorite restaurant: “Leland in Brooklyn.”
Fun fact: “I do worm composting in my apartment and love science fiction books.”
Dream: “To meet Michelle Kwan.”

@madho4

Madelyn Ho in Aureole, photo by Whitney Browne.

KRISTIN DRAUCKER was born in Washington D.C and grew up in York, Pennsylvania. She began her training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under Marcia Dale Weary.  In 2005 she was awarded a Fellowship to study Horton and Graham at The Ailey School. Since moving to New York City she has danced with Michael Mao Dance, ArmitageGone!Dance, New Chamber Ballet, and at Bard’s Summerscape in Les Huguenots. In 2009 she joined the 50th Anniversary International Tour of West Side Story and in 2010 performed in Tino Sehgal’s KISS at The Guggenheim Museum.  Ms. Draucker began creating dances in 2014 and has shown her work in New York, Philadelphia and as part of the LaMAMA Umbria Festival in Spoleto, Italy. She joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Winter 2017.

“After I was in a high school production of The King And I, I knew I wanted to spend my life in the theater.”
Taylor dream: “The piece I really wanted to dance was Aureole – I think it’s hands down the most perfect dance ever created. Every role is exceptional.”
Audition: “The first thing I danced for Paul was the women’s trio from Scudorama. I felt incredibly calm and grateful dancing that. Afterward, I thought, Well, if I don’t get the job, at least I got to dance that for Paul.”
Taylor’s work: “Human. Complicated. Musical. The dancers are so present with each other.”
Days off: “Exploring the East Village.”
Favorite restaurant: “Il Posto Accanto on East Second Street.”
Favorite music: “Dylan. Stravinsky.”
Great place: “Tuscany.”
Favorite artwork: “‘The Master and Margarita.’”

@kristertwister

Kristin Draucker in Roses, photo by Nina Wurtzel.

LEE DUVENECK grew up in Arlington, Texas, where he trained with Anne Oswalt and Gwen Price. In 2010, he earned his B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University, where he studied with Taylor alumna Ruth Andrien and jazz dance icon Danny Buraczeski. While in New York, he has danced for Annmaria Mazzini, Mari Meade and Jessica Gaynor. Mr. Duveneck joined Taylor 2 in 2012, and joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Summer 2017.

“A local dance company gave a presentation at my elementary school and by lunchtime I was using a playground rail as a ballet barre; the dancers using their bodies to communicate characters really appealed to me.”
Taylor introduction: “Ruth Andrien staged Cloven Kingdom on me in college; the power I felt dancing the Men’s Quartet and the freshness of Paul’s choreography, mixed with the timeless shapes he created, made me want to work with him.”
Taylor’s work: “Generous. Courtly. Bizarre.”
Favorite restaurant: “Kiki’s, a Greek place in Chinatown – all the signage is in Chinese.”
Favorite composer/music: “Steve Reich: “Electric Counterpoint.”
Great place: “Berlin, for the energy.”
Fun fact: “My great-great-grandfather Frank Duveneck was an American master; I’ve found his paintings at several American museums including the Met.”

@Lee.Duveneck

Lee Duveneck in Margie Gillis’s Rewilding, photo by Whitney Browne.

ALEX CLAYTON grew up in Louisville, Kentucky, He received his B.F.A. in Dance with a Minor in Visual Arts from Stephens College in 2013. He was a Graham 2 company member from 2014 to 2015. He also performed with companies including 10 Hairy Legs, Abarukas Project, Curet Performance Project and Performa15. He served as Rehearsal Assistant for Paul Taylor American Modern Dance “Taylor Company Commissions” choreographer Lila York when she created Continuum in 2016. He joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Summer 2017.

“I wasn’t aware that Black people could dance professionally until I was 16, when I saw Alvin Ailey. I felt there was a future for me.”
Taylor introduction: “I was taught Brandenburgs by Cathy McCann; it was galvanizing. I was Rehearsal Assistant for Lila York’s commissioned dance; Taylor dancers had big personalities, and I fought even harder to get into the Company.”
Audition: “When Paul chose me I stood there and sobbed.”
Taylor’s work: “Loaded. Complex. Satisfying.”
Favorite restaurant: “Vinateria in Harlem.”
Specialty dish: “Cacio e pepe.”
Favorite artists: “Tina Turner. Hans Zimmer.”
Fun fact: “My great-grandfather, principal of Central High, saw greatness in Muhammad Ali and passed him even though some teachers didn’t want to! Louisville breeds strong people; I feel that resoluteness.”
Favorite artwork: “Bernini’s ‘Ecstasy of Saint Teresa’.”

@a_ _clayton

Alex Clayton in Concertiana, photo by Paul B. Goode.

DEVON LOUIS who hails from Washington, DC, is a graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts. He attended the Ailey School as a recipient of the Oprah Winfrey Scholarship, and furthered his dance education at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival under the direction of Milton Myers. Mr. Louis has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Matthew Rushing, Christopher Huggins, Nathan Trice, Ronald K. Brown and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. He has also performed as a member of Ballet Hispanico’s junior company, BHdos; The Metropolitan Opera; and Nimbus Dance Works. Mr. Louis joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Summer 2018.

“I didn’t know about modern dance until I turned thirteen. Around that time I had the opportunity to see Matthew Rushing perform Ailey’s Love Songs; I wanted to make people feel the way he made me feel.”
Audition: “The second time I auditioned for Taylor I had a huge Afro; they didn’t recognize me until I started walking across the floor.”
Inspiration: “Syzygy made me want to really invest in being a Taylor dancer.”
Taylor’s work: “Eclectic. Dramatic. Impactful.”
Favorite song: “McCoy Tyner’s ‘Contemplation.’”
Great place: “Lugano, Switzerland.”
Favorite artwork: “Goya’s ‘Saturn Devouring His Son.’”
Personal catchphrase: “If you got it, you got it.”
Fun facts: “I’m into fashion and jewelry. I write poetry; I love Kahlil Gibran and Maya Angelou. And I’d like to choreograph in the future.”

@silk_c._

Devon Louis in Kyle Abraham’s Only the Lonely, photo by Nina Wurtzel.

JOHN HARNAGE a native of Miami, Florida, studied dance at the Miami City Ballet School and New World School of the Arts. He was a Modern Dance Finalist in the 2010 National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts YoungArts competition. In 2014 he graduated from The Juilliard School, where he performed works by Pina Bausch, Alexander Ekman, Jose Limón, and Lar Lubovitch, among others. He then began working with Jessica Lang Dance, and joined the company in 2015, performing and teaching around the world. He also performed as a principal dancer in Washington National Opera’s 2017 production of Aida at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. Mr. Harnage joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Fall 2018.

“When my grandmother took me to ‘The Nutcracker’ as a kid, I danced around so much they took me to the back of the auditorium.”
Taylor introduction: “Promethean Fire. I was awestruck; it was beautiful and touching. I didn’t know dance could be like that.”
Taylor’s work: “Human. Large. Giving.”
Taylor wisdom: “Taylor’s about real people and human connection: a special exchange of ideas and emotions.”
Favorite food: “What my husband and I cook.”
Favorite composer: “Paul’s love of Bach rubbed off on me. I hear more and more every time.”
Exquisite moment: “Dancing at Paul’s memorial was a special experience, and my parents and I shared the moment their son made it to Lincoln Center.”
Fun fact: “I’m an avid reader and collector of books; you’ll never catch me without one!”

@johnharnage

John Harnage in Pam Tanowitz’s all at once, photo by Paula Lobo.

MARIA AMBROSE grew up in Meredith, New Hampshire and began her dance training at age four under the direction of Sally Downs. She furthered her training with Edra Toth and performed with the Boston Dance Company. She attended George Mason University where she was awarded the Harriet Mattusch Special Recognition in Dance. And graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance Performance in 2011. She has performed with Elisa Monte Dance, The Classical Theatre of Harlem, LEVYdance, AThomasProject, and Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance. In 2018, she traveled to China as an ambassador for Parsons Dance to teach dance to young musicians, and then to Japan as part of the Dance International Program. She began studying at The Taylor School in 2012, and joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Spring 2019.

“Dancing was always when I felt my truest self. I wanted to be a Taylor dancer before I ever saw his work; my mom always talked about the power and strength that set Taylor apart.”
Audition: “April 8^th, 2019, I took my normal Taylor class and Michael Novak asked, ‘Can you start in 20 minutes?’ On May 20^th I was officially offered the job; I don’t think I ever fully exhaled in my life until that moment!”
Taylor’s work: “Honest. Poignant. Human; Taylor dancers take ownership of the movement.”
Specialty dish: “Spaghetti al limone.”
Favorite restaurant: “Pasquale Jones in Little Italy.”
Favorite musican: “I have two Prince tattoos.”
Great place: “Lake Winnipesaukee, New Hampshire.”
Fun fact: “Every year I hike another 4,000-footer in the White Mountains.”

@maria.ambrose

photo: Bill Wadman

LISA BORRES CASEY a native of Staten Island, New York, is a graduate of LaGuardia High School of Music and Art and Performing Arts.  At the Hartt School of the University of Hartford, from which she graduated in 2011, she studied with Stephen Pier and Katie Stevenson-Nollet and danced in works by Martha Graham and Pascal Rioult. She participated in Summer Intensives at the Joffrey Ballet School, Martha Graham Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and Parsons Dance, and has taught dance at The Hartt School. Since 2012, Lisa has been part of the selection process for Ballet Tech, Eliot Feld’s tuition-free school that draws its students from the NYC public school system, whose diversity reflects the full American spectrum. She has performed with Amy Marshall Dance Company, Elisa Monte Dance, DAMAGEdance, and Lydia Johnson Dance. She joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Spring 2019.

“Maria Ambrose said, ‘The way you move, I think you’d like Taylor.’”
Inspiration: “Speaking in Tongues was genius – life-changing.”
Audition: “I’d just turned thirty; ‘If not now, when?’ The second I got home I got the call; euphoria, knowing your life is about to change.”
Taylor Wisdom: “When you get hired everybody says, Welcome to the family. Everyone is here for each other, and wants to honor Paul’s work. You can call an alumnus and say, ‘In 1982 you did this step, can you tell me about it?’”
Favorite restaurant: “Felice.”
Great place: “Savannah. I try to visit an art museum in every tour city.”
Exquisite moment: “The first moment on stage at Lincoln Center, after thinking my career might not happen this way, was magical.”

@lisaborres

photo: Bill Wadman

JADA PEARMAN began dancing at the Motion School of Dance in Hamilton, Bermuda where she trained extensively in all styles of dance. In 2013, Jada attended The Grier School in Pennsylvania, as a pre-professional dancer under the direction of Jocelyn Hrzic. Whilst at The Grier School, she worked with choreographers such as Jon Lehrer, Melissa Rector, Kiki Lucas, Phil Orsano and many more. As a member of Grier Dance, she performed at the Palm Springs Choreography Festival, Steps on Broadway Choreography Festival and Koresh Artists Showcase. She attended summer intensives including Alvin Ailey, Point Park, University of North Carolina School of the Arts and Hubbard Street. She earned her BFA from the University of Arizona in Spring of 2019 where she performed works by Martha Graham, Larry Keigwin and others. She joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Summer 2019.

“I saw old video of Esplanade and wanted to do a baseball slide. I love the animalistic, free quality of Paul’s work.”
Audition: “The opening walk is the hardest thing to do!”
Taylor’s work: “Risk-taking. Fluid. Human. Paul wanted you to be you on stage. We’re all so different, and you see that, as well as being together, when we dance. I love that about this Company.”
Pandemic recovery: I had a bit of stage fright. Then I remembered, being on stage, performing the work, connecting with the audience, is what I live for.” Favorite restaurant: “Catch Steak in Chelsea.”
Great place: “Cartagena, Colombia.”
Hometown feature: “Pink sand beaches.”
Role model: “My mom taught me to give 110 percent in everything.”
Fun fact: “I enjoy the ocean life: snorkeling, paddleboarding.”

@forever_jrp

photo: Bill Wadman

SHAWN LESNIAK from New Haven, Connecticut, began dancing at the age of seven. For most of his youth, Shawn trained in various dance techniques such as ballet, jazz, modern and tap, and he danced competitively for more than a decade. He continued his training at The Ailey School and Point Park University. He has toured both internationally and domestically as a member of Parsons Dance, and has worked with choreographers such as Trey McIntyre, Matthew Neenan, Matthew Powell and Emery LeCrone. Mr. Lesniak joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Winter 2019.

“My mom saw me moving to a Michael Jackson video and asked if I wanted to take a dance class.”
Taylor introduction: “Cathy McCann staged Taylor’s Runes on us at Parsons Dance Company. I’d heard you have to audition for Taylor for years; when Michael Novak offered me the position I was shocked.”
Taylor’s work: “Dynamic. Relatable. True.”
Favorite restaurant: “Kiki’s.”
Favorite music: “Beyoncé’s.”
Great place: “Jamaica – the Island culture, the weather, spirit of the people.”
Role models: “I look up to both of my parents. They worked hard to take care of my ailing grandmother while raising me at the same time. I admire their strength and perseverance through difficult times.”
Fun fact: “At 13 I took gold in Junior Theatrical Jazz at an international competition in Germany.”

@shawn_lesniak

photo: Bill Wadman

JAKE VINCENT was born in Atlantic City and grew up in Flemington, New Jersey He attended the Taylor School Summer Intensive in 2012, and received a B.F.A. in Dance and Dance Education in 2014 from Montclair State University. He performed with Rioult Dance NY, Von Howard Project, DiMauro Dance, Zullo/Raw Movement, 360Dance Company, Mazzini Dance Collective, 10 Hairy Legs, Douglas Dunn and Dancers and Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance. He joined Taylor 2 in summer 2017. He joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Winter 2020.

“I grew up skiing and playing soccer and baseball, but transitioned to theater – and then in high school I saw the movie ‘Billy Elliot.’ When music, cinematography and choreography come together it can be super-powerful and life-changing. I’d like to choreograph for film one day.”
Taylor introduction: “As a freshman at Montclair I was in Company B.”
Taylor’s work: “Honest. Complex. Exciting.”
Favorite restaurant: Dagon Mediterranean.
Favorite music: “Anything from the ’70s.
Favorite Taylor music: “Bach; you feel the low notes down in your body and they help you get more grounded and athletic, which works really well with Paul’s dances.”
Great place: “Wine country north of San Francisco.”
Fun fact: “I was on a comedy improv team in high school.”
Personal slogan: “Not if, when.”

@sliceofjake

Jake Vincent in Company B, photo by Whitney Browne

JESSICA FERRETTI originally from Port Chester, New York, started her dance training at Westchester Dance Academy. She graduated magna cum laude in 2019 from Marymount Manhattan College, where she performed works by Larry Keigwin, Jessica Lang, Michael Thomas, Loni Landon, Nancy Lushington, Pedro Ruiz, Chase Brock and Tito Del Saz. She attended the Paul Taylor Summer Intensives in 2016 and 2018 and the Martha Graham Intensive in 2017. She joined Taylor 2 in fall 2019. She joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Summer 2021.

“I started dancing at three. Taylor alumna Denise Hurlin is like my second mom; I heard about Paul Taylor throughout my life. During college I saw the Company do a tech rehearsal of Also Playing– they took the comedy very seriously, which was the funniest part. I immediately enrolled in the Summer Intensive.”
Audition: “It was on college graduation day; I figured I’d get cut in time to attend the ceremony but I kept moving on.”
Taylor’s works: “Brilliant. Groundbreaking. Ineffable.”
Specialty dish: “Pasta primavera.”
Favorite food: “Sushi 24/7.”
Hometown feature: “It has a million restaurants and ethnically it’s very diverse.”
Favorite music: “Disco. Show tunes.”
Great place: “Anywhere there’s a beach.”
Fun fact: “If I weren’t a dancer I would be a florist!”

@jessica_ferretti

Jessica Ferretti and Shawn Lesniak in Roses, photo by Ron Thiele

AUSTIN KELLY is from Overland Park, Kansas where he began dancing at Jody Phillips Dance Company and later studied at the University of Hartford’s The Hartt School where he graduated Summa Cum Laude earning a B.A. in Performing Arts Management with minors in Dance Performance and Business Management in 2021. He has performed works by Paul Taylor, José Limón, August Bournonville, Lar Lubovitch, and Stephen Pier. While earning his degree, he simultaneously studied Paul Taylor’s style through The Taylor School’s winter intensives, summer intensives, and virtual classes held during the Covid-19 pandemic. Austin danced with Alison Cook Beatty Dance after graduating. He joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Winter of 2021.

“Dance was athletic meets artistic, and about building community and camaraderie.”
Taylor’s work: “Communal. Organic. Liberating.”
Virtual classes: “Challenging, but fulfilling to be connected to the style I love.”
Taylor wisdom: “It doesn’t matter how high your extensions are; it’s about who you are as a person and what you bring to the dance.”
Role models: “The Taylor men who’ve come before me. It’s a privilege to be part of the lineage, the chosen few, to keep Paul’s work alive.”
Exquisite moment: “We’d performed Promethean Fire in Minneapolis, my first time on stage with the Company, and I was overcome thinking, Wow, I’m part of this community, this legacy. After the curtain fell, I bawled. The dancers hugged me; they’re such great people and artists.”

@austintkelly

KENNY CORRIGAN is originally from Southwick, Massachusetts and received his BFA from Point Park University. He has performed in Carmen (Houston Grand Opera), as Carnival Boy in Carousel (Riverside Theatre), An American in Paris (First International), Queen of The Night (NYC), Rock the Ballet – SweetbirdProductions, and Rasta Thomas’s Romeo and Juliet (International). He has also been seen on America’s Got Talent (Season 9 Semi-finals), Bad Boys of Ballet, MACYS Thanksgiving Day Parade as Jimmy Fallon’s body double, Saturday Night Live (Harry Styles), and a Swarovski commercial (Karlie Kloss). Kenny joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Spring 2022.

“I was obsessed with the martial arts of Power Rangers; I took karate and acrobatics, and dance class to learn how to flip. That led to jazz, tap, hip hop, ballet, and modern.”
Taylor introduction: “I did the ‘Dancers for Good’ benefit and got to see Taylor dancers up close, and I’ve worked with Lauren Lovette in Josh Prince’s Dance Lab New York.”
Cool achievement: “I reached the Season Nine semifinals of ‘America’s Got Talent’ with Bad Boys of Dance.”
Favorite restaurant: “Harlem Public in Harlem.”
Great place: “Cape Cod and Provincetown.”
Role model: “My hardworking grandfather had his own pizza shop; he believed growing old is inevitable but growing up is optional.”
Singing voice: “Baritone.”
Fun fact: “Named my rescue pup Becs after my favorite sandwich: bacon, egg and cheese.”

@kennycorrigan

Portrait by Darnell Bennett

GABRIELLE BARNES was born and raised in Tampa, Florida, where she began her dance training at the age of 4 and furthered her studies at Florida State University’s School of Dance, graduating with a BFA in Dance in 2021. She is a dancer and Balanced Body Comprehensively Certified Pilates instructor. She has performed works choreographed by Paul Taylor, Norbert De La Cruz III, Merce Cunningham, Jawole Jo Willa Zollar,  Donna Uchizono, David Parsons, Trey McIntyre, Francisco Graciano, David Grenke, and Laura Halzack to name a few. Gabby has recently performed with The Heraclitus Project, Nanm: A Robenson Mathurin Dance Company, and Laura Halzack. She received a scholarship for the Taylor School in 2022 and joined the Taylor Outreach Ensemble in 2023. Gabrielle joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in the Summer 2024.

@gabby.barnes_

Portrait by Blaga Ditrow

EMMY WILDERMUTH is originally from Littleton Colorado where she began her dance training at the Belliston Academy of Ballet. In 2021, she graduated summa cum laude from the University of Oklahoma with degrees in Modern Dance Performance and Professional Writing. While at OU, Emmy worked under the instruction of Austin Hartel, Roxanne Lyst, and Leslie Kraus and performed works by renowned artists such as Rena Butler, Jiri Kylian, Paul Taylor, and Alejandro Cerrudo. She has performed internationally with programs in Barcelona and Beijing. Throughout her professional career, Emmy has performed as a company member of Kizuna Dance, rogue wave, and NewBrese Dance Project in New York, Atlanta, Connecticut, Oklahoma, Pennsylvania, and Vermont. Emmy has also created a collection of works for stage and film which have been presented at festivals throughout the country under the collective name dance WILD. In 2023, Emmy and her collaborator, Catherine Messina, founded the unKEMpT Dance Festival, with a mission to provide performance opportunities for artists, regardless of background or resources. In conjunction with this festival, the pair runs an affordable class series that provides a platform for New York-based movement artists to teach classes of a variety of styles at an accessible rate. Emmy joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in the Summer 2024.

@wild.em

Portrait by Emma Iskowitz

ELIZABETH CHAPA is from Barrington, Illinois where she trained at Joffrey Ballet and A&A Ballet. She furthered her studies at Butler University, where she studied under Taylor alumna, Susan McGuire. In 2020, Ms. Chapa was the recipient of the Eileen Poston Dance Scholarship award. After graduating with a B.F.A in Dance Performance in 2023, she began her professional career with Ballet Fantastique. She attended the 2023 & 2024 Taylor Winter Intensive, as well as the 2024 Taylor Summer Intensive. Elizabeth joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in Summer  2024.

@elizabeth_chapa_

Portrait by Maximillian Tortoriello