Cardell Dance Theater

Performers and collaborators

Bethany Formica has eighteen years of international experience as a modern dance teacher in elementary and high school, college and professional performance environments and as a professional modern dance performer, actress, and choreographer.  Also a singer/actress that teaches vocal/movement/theatre classes to connect one with their own voice and breath in order to enliven and complete the often-silent dancer. Right now she is performing with MacArthur Dance Project, Philadelphia, PA- Philadelphia performances. She has performed  works by Curt Haworth, Makoto Hirano, Cardell Dance Theatre, Melanie Stewart Dance Theatre, Megan Mazarick, Ladybird, Boan Danz Action, Philadelphia, PA- International and National touring, Nichole Canuso Dance Company, Dada von Bzdülöw Theatre, Gdansk, Poland- New York City, Philadelphia & Poland touring, Lee Etzold/My Kinda Pony, , Kate Watson-Wallace, Philadelphia, PA- Philadelphia and New York City performances, Koncentrat, Warsaw, Poland- Gdansk, Poland performance, Martha Bowers Dance Theatre, New York City, NY- New York City performances and Mass MoCa performance, Pearson/Widrig DanceTheatre- New York City, NY- U.S. touring/teaching

Sinéad O'Neill, originally from New York, earned her BFA in modern dance performance at the University of the Arts. While attending UArts she performed works by Twyla Tharp, Silvana Cardell, Curt Haworth, Zane Booker, and Myriam Herve-Gil, with whom she performed in Rethel, France. In Philadelphia, she has performed in Silvana Cardell’s Vertex at the Annenberg Theater, Brian Sanders’s Flushdance, and was a part of Group Motion’s Revival. She has additionally performed at Carnegie Hall, Summer Stage in Central Park (Marta Renzi’s Reunion), and the Ted Shawn Theater at Jacob’s Pillow (under the direction of Chet Walker)

William Robinson,  holds a B.F.A. in Modern Dance Performance from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and was awarded the school’s prestigious President’s Award, along with the 2008 Outstanding Achievement in Modern Dance award. Mr. Robinson has also taught modern dance technique based on the work of Doris Humphrey at Temple University in Philadelphia, and is currently a member of Cardell Dance Theatre and Brian Sanders’ JUNK, both based in Philadelphia. He has also worked with the Martha Graham Dance Company, Momix, Group Motion, Curt Haworth, Wally Cardona, Rennie Harris, David Crosby, and Raven Symone. In January 2010, Mr. Robinson will begin work on the Local Dance History Project as part of the Philadelphia Dance Projects.

Leanne Grieger hails from Long Island, NY. She moved to Philadelphia to attend the University of the Arts, where she earned her BFA in Modern dance performance, and was also awarded Outstanding Overall Performance in Modern Dance. She has worked both academically and professionally with Silvana Cardell, Curt Haworth, Manfred Fischbeck (Group Motion), Brian Sanders (Junk), Zane Booker, Gabrielle Revlock, and Wally Cardona. She has also studied at the Ailey School (NY), and the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, which she attended under scholarship. 

Zachary D. Svoboda graduated from The University of the Arts, Philadelphia, PA .  Faculty at Geoergian Court University, NJ.Performer  with Jaamil Owale Kosoko  (Joyce SoHo, NYC, NY) Myra Bazell  (Zoellner Arts Center, Bethlehem, PA),  Kate Watson-Wallace (Philadelphia, PA, Curt Haworth (Annenberg Center for the Performing Arts, Philadelphia, PA),Revival - Wally Cardona (Metropolitan Opera Theatre, Philadelphia, PA)-Sonic Dances - Manfred Fishbeck, John Luna, Olive Prince (Public Spaces, Philadelphia, PA -, - Lisa Krauss (Mt. Pleasant Historic Mansion, Philadelphia, PA)- Rondo- Akira Kitamura (Theatre Tram, Tokyo, Japan)- Silvana Cardell (Governor’s School, Erie, PA) Oscar Araiz (Broad Street Ministries, Philadelphia, PA)Production Experience Lighting Design, Cinematographer/Editor (IGA Theatre, Guatemala City) In the Round - Technical Director, Lighting   Design/Installation/Operator (Levitt Auditorium, The University of the Arts-Three on 3 - Lighting Design (CEC Meeting House Theatre)Re:Parture - Technical Director, Lighting Design (Bikram Yoga Studios)The Great Kafka Theater - Technical Director, Lighting Design (Hamilton Hall, The University of the Arts) Technical director at Georgian Court University Dance department.

Shavon Norris is an artist, educator and performer.  Originally from New York City, she received a BA from Manhattanville College where she majored in Biology and a Master of Fine Arts in dance from Temple University.  As a dance maker, Shavon's work has been presented at Manhattanville College, The Philadelphia Live Arts and Fringe Festival, Temple University, The National Constitutional Center, Art's Sanctuary, Chester Eastside Ministries, the CEC, and at Joyce Soho. As a performer she has worked with Nia Love, Max Luna, Treva Offut, Gabri Crista, Silvana Cardell, Marianela Boan, Kemal Nance, Meghan Durham, Manfred Fischbeck, Leah Stein, Merian Soto, Makoto Hirano, Jumatatu Poe and Charles Anderson. As an educator, Shavon teaches school age children to college students, locally and nationally. 

Mina Estrada received her Bachelor’s degree in Dance from Texas State University, and her MFA in Dance from Temple University. A diligent artist, Mina is constantly teaching, creating, and performing around the country. Her choreography and workshops, which are rooted in contemporary movement ideas and improvisation, have been commissioned by numerous college, high school, and studio dance programs, including University of Southern Mississippi, Spelman College, and Texas Tech University. Most recently her work has been selected for the CEC New Edge Residency. Mina has been an active faculty member for numerous university dance programs including Rowan University, Christopher Newport University, Old Dominion University, Temple, and Drexel.



Olive Prince Dance,  originally from Rochester, NY, Olive Prince completed her MFA in dance at Temple University in 2005. She is presently working with Group Motion Multimedia Dance Company and Kun-Yang Lin/Dancers, and Merian Soto. She has worked with many choreographers including, Oscar Araiz, Myra Bazell, Silvana Cardell, and KineticArchitecture. Her work and has been featured at the National American College Dance Festival at the Kennedy Center, the International Contemporary Dance Conference, and throughout upstate New York and Philadelphia. Prince's dance and video works earned numerous accolades, including the New Edge Residency for Dance, American College Dance Festival/Dance Magazine Award Nominee for Outstanding Student Performer; the Temple University Emerging Choreographer Award; a project completion grant from the Graduate Board of Temple University; and a grant from the Experimental Television Center. Currently,Prince teaches dance at Drexel University.

Jumatatu Poe hails from California, by way of Philadelphia, PA. He is an alum of Swarthmore College and a graduate of the MFA program at Temple University. As a performer, Jumatatu has performed for several Philadelphian choreographers, including Charles Anderson, Myra Bazell, Silvana Cardell, Marianela Boan, Tania Isaac, Kun-Yang Lin, Merián Soto, Leah Stein, Keith Thompson, Kate Watson-Wallace, and Kariamu Welsh.  Jumatatu was a resident choreographer of Susan Hess Modern Dance's Choreographers' Project (Philadelphia). His choreography has been featured at Swarthmore College, Temple University, as well as the Philadelphia Live Arts and New Edge Mix festival series. His choreography has also been commissioned by Danse4Nia, Prince Music Theater, and New Jersey Governor's School. Jumatatu is the artistic director of idiosynCrazy productions.  Currently, Jumatatu serves on faculty at Swarthmore College and the Univeristy of the Arts.