Morgan McEwen (she/her) is the founder, artistic director, and choreographer of MorDance. A former professional ballerina with nearly two decades of experience, Morgan has performed with some of the nation’s most prestigious companies, including The Metropolitan Opera, BalletMet, and Richmond Ballet. As a choreographer, she is celebrated for her powerful storytelling and activism-driven work, with commissions from BalletX, Eglevsky Ballet, and Columbia Collaborative, among others.

Since its founding in 2014, MorDance has been at the forefront of innovation in ballet, earning recognition from The New York Times and national arts institutions. Under Morgan’s leadership, the company has expanded beyond the stage, offering free after-school dance programs, community workshops, and performances that make world-class ballet accessible to all.

Beyond her work in choreography, Morgan is a public speaker, advocate, and thought leader in the arts, addressing audiences at ArtsWestchester, Morgan Stanley, Stericycle Women's Leadership Summit, and the Hudson River Museum. She champions the role of the arts in economic revitalization, education, and community well-being.

Recognized as one of Westchester County’s 40 Under 40 Rising Stars in Business, Morgan has been featured in Crain’s New York, American Theatre Magazine, Dance Enthusiast, and Dance Data Project. Her work has been showcased at renowned festivals, including Battery Dance Festival, Hudson Valley Dance Festival, and Gold Coast Dance Festival, with residencies at CUNY Dance Initiative, Kaatsbaan UpStream, and Vineyard Arts Project.

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Ayaka Kamei (she/her) is a dancer and teaching artist based in New York. She recently performed with The Phantom of the Opera on Broadway and currently performs with The Metropolitan Opera. This is Ayaka’s seventh season with MorDance. Ayaka has danced with many companies including Twyla Tharp Dance, The Phantom of the Opera International Tour, New York Theatre Ballet, AZOTH Dance Theatre, and Ayalis In Motion. She has performed works by choreographers such as Balanchine, Cunningham, Tudor, Roy Assaf, Aszure Barton, Dario Dinuzzi, John Heginbotham, Jessica Lang, Austin McCormick, Matthew Neenan, Alexei Ratmansky, Taryn Kaschock Russell, and Bettijane Sills, among others. Following her early training at Tatewaki Hiroko Ballet School in Ehime, Japan, she graduated from Northern Ballet School in England as well as SUNY Purchase, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a President Award for Achievement in the Conservatory of Dance. She was selected to study abroad at Codarts in the Netherlands and Springboard Danse Montréal as well.

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Lauren Treat (she/her) is an independent dance artist in New York City and has danced professionally with BalletMet Columbus, Milwaukee Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, Lydia Johnson Dance, and Encounters Dance; and as a Soloist Guest Artist for Neglia Ballet, American Circus Theater, Artek Ballet, and Jefferson Performing Arts Center. Additionally, she has performed for the NY Botanical Garden's Holiday Show, in Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance ‘Dancing Beyond’, and at Tribeca Performing Arts Center in works by choreographer Danielle Diniz. Originally from upstate New York, she majored in Dance at Walnut Hill School of the Arts before training at Manhattan Youth Ballet, where she danced in both the school and Youth Company. In addition to dancing with MorDance, she dances with AVID, is the Director of Dance at the Riverdale Y, and is a Movement and Play Educator at Union Square Play. She is thrilled to be dancing in her fourth season with MorDance!

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Joe LaLuzerne (he/they), originally from Minnesota, has been dancing since they were in second grade. They attended Texas Christian University, graduating in 2021 with degrees in Ballet (BFA) and Political Science (BA). After graduation Joe danced in Milano Contemporary Ballet’s International Training Program. In 2022 Joe performed in St. Paul, MN with TU Dance Project. Joe performed in Italy and Vienna at the Odeon Theater with the Tanz Company Gervasi, in the premiere BROWN - 1, 2023. They currently live in Brooklyn since joining MorDance in the Spring season of 2023 and have been a member of the company for three seasons now.

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Lilit Hogtanian (she/her), a Los Angeles native, started her training with Yuri Grigoriev. At the age of 15, was featured in Los Angeles Times ‘Face to Watch’ following her performances as Clara for Los Angeles Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker.

She was a semi-finalist in the Prix de Lausanne and won first place in the contemporary and classical category of the Youth American Grand Prix, Long Beach, Ca. Lilit graduated from Academie Princesse Grace on full scholarship and went on to work as a professional dancer at the Slovak National Theatre, Ballet Memphis, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and State Street Ballet.

She has performed soloist and principal roles in various classical and contemporary productions including Nikiya in La Bayadere, the Sylph in La Sylphide, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Nacho Duato’s Coming Together, Square Dance by George Balanchine, and Cupid and Kitri’s Friends in Don Quixote.

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Lindsay Jorgensen - Dancer

Lindsay Jorgensen is a NYC-based performing artist, teacher, and choreographer. She currently performs with The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Buglisi Dance Theatre, and Ballet Nepantla. She has previously performed with American Repertory Ballet, VALLETO, and Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theatre. Jorgensen has performed at Lincoln Center, the David H. Koch Theatre, Battery Park Dance Festival, Asbury Park Dance Festival, and works by Alvin Ailey, Paul Taylor, Robert Battle, Patrick Delcroix, Blakeley White-Maguire, and Michael Trusnovec. Notable theatre credits: Sunday in the Park with George (Ensemble, Dance Captain) and Grease (Cha Cha) at Axelrod PAC. Her poetry was featured at APAP and Women/Create, and her choreography was showcased at Bell Works and Ailey Citigroup Theatre. Jorgensen is a summa cum laude graduate of the Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. Dance Program, with a double major in Dance and English and departmental honors in Dance. She also holds a graduate certificate in Creative Writing from the University of Pennsylvania. Jorgensen teaches for Steps Youth Program, Montclair State University, and the American Repertory Ballet Trainee Program.

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Jared Allan Brunson is a Saint Petersburg, Florida native where he received his initial training at Academy of Ballet Arts under the direction of Suzzanne Pomerantzeff.

At age 18, after working briefly with Florida Dance Theatre, Jared joined BalletX in Philadelphia as an apprentice. He performed as a guest artist with Philadelphia Ballet (formerly PA Ballet) and the University of the Arts on multiple occasions notably the Kennedy Center, The Mann Center, and the Academy of Music.

He joined Oregon Ballet Theatre under the direction of Kevin Irving, performing works by Nacho Duato, George Balanchine and Christopher Stowell. He joined Ballet Memphis in 2014 where he performed as a soloist and principal dancer for four seasons. There, he acquired acclaim in Dance Magazine, the New York Times and many national publications for his performances.

He then went on to dance with Complexions Contemporary Ballet in New York City from 2018 to 2021, debuting in world premieres by Dwight Rhoden in Germany, New Zealand, Czech Republic, and more.

Jared is currently the Artistic Associate at Ballet Virginia where he continues to perform, teach, and choreograph in the Hampton Roads area. He is also a Resident Artist at Rochester City Ballet where he sets new work and performs as a guest artist.

With over 15 years of professional experience Jared has worked with some of the worlds finest choreographers on world premiers including Jennifer Archibald, Dwight Rhoden, Mathew Neenan, Nicolo Fonte, and Stephanie Martinez to name a few.

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Originally from Biloxi, MS, Jarred Bosch is a New York based dancer and choreographer. He received his BFA from Marymount Manhattan College, where he performed the works of Dwight Rhoden, Aszure Barton, Paul Taylor, and Emory LeCrone to name a few. 

Since graduation, he recently performed with The Metropolitan Opera, Les Ballet Trockadero and Carolyn Dorfman Dance. He has performed throughout Europe, China, Canada and the United States. Most notably he was a featured dancer in Square Productions film “Exit12: Moved by War” and a performer at the Yang Li Ping International Dance Festival in Beijing. He's also worked with many New York artists such as Mike Esperanza, Destini Rogers and LaneCoArts, and spent summers studying with Parsons Dance, Springboard Danse Montreal, and Nederlands Dans Theater. Bosch is a guest teaching artist for many studios, universities and intensives around the US including Peridance Capezio Center, the Destro Experience, and Physique 57. Bosch’s choreography has been presented at the Young Choreographers Festival and the Bryant Park Contemporary Dance Series. 

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Héloïse is a French dancer from Lyon based in New York. She started her dance training with Ballet and early on, joined renowned dance schools in France such as Rosella Hightower in Cannes, and later the National Dance School of Marseille. She pursued her training at Iwanson International Dance School in Munich, Germany, where she explored different contemporary practices. Héloïse moved to New York in 2020. She graduated from the Certificate program at Peridance Center in 2022. Héloïse also attended dance intensives such as the Batsheva Dance Company, Bodytraffic, and Gallim. After graduating, Héloïse danced as a trainee with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. She then danced professionally for companies such as Tabula Rasa Dance Theater, Nuevo Tango Ballet, WDTanztheater. She had the opportunity throughout her dance journey to perform works by Andrea Miller, Mark Bankin, Doug Varone, Paul Taylor, Sagí Amir Gross, Mizuho Kappa, and more. 

Héloïse is really excited to join MorDance as an apprentice this season!

Zachary Kirsimäeis an Estonian-American bassist, composer, and interdisciplinary artist—a New York native who calls Yonkers home. His work blends jazz, math rock, and contemporary classical music through experimental improvisation and evocative songcraft. He teaches at The New School of Jazz & Contemporary Music, where he also assists NEA Jazz Master Reggie Workman. He also served as Program Director of The Charles Mingus Institute under Sue Mingus, helping preserve the Mingus legacy through archival and educational initiatives. He has performed across North America and Europe, including a recent residency at the 50th Bern International Jazz Festival. Zachary is musical director for Fats Waller’s Rhythm, a jazz-infused ballet by Yonkers-based dance company MorDance, and hosts a monthly jam session at The Good Witch in Hastings-on-Hudson. His forthcoming debut album delves into themes of identity, transformation, and memory.

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Dré Hinds a native of the DMV area now a proud NY resident is excited to perform with MorDance Company and this incredible band. A triple threat, Dré studied Jazz and Modern Dance Performance at Point Park University in PA. Afterwards returning to DC to where he found a love for Musical Theater working Regionally in the DC Theater scene in some noticeable houses such as The Kennedy Center, Ford’s Theater, Signature Theater and Olney Theater Center. Recently Dré was seen in the 1st National Tour of Tina: The Tina Turner Musical as an Ike Turner cover. Truly grateful to work and play with this group of artists.

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Noam Avnon is a Brooklyn based pianist, composer arranger, specializing in jazz and improvised music. His music is rooted in practices that pull from jazz tradition and drawing from European classical music and the popular song. Noam brings his personal voice to the groups he performs with as sideman, as well as leading bands that perform his original compositions, arranging, and forging directions that tap into various aesthetics.

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Rafael Castillo-Halvorssen is a trumpeter, vocalist, and composer who has been performing in the New York City area for the past twelve years, appearing with the likes of Catherine Russell, Bobby Sanabria, Howard Fishman, and The Hot Toddies Jazz Band. His own band, The Rhythm Ruckus, performs for swing dancers at venues such as the Back Room and You Should Be Dancing. He has joined forces with vocalist Edith Hazel and pianist Jon Weber for their trio cabaret show Yes, And! - a show that, in the words of CabaretScenes.org, "charmed the audience." You can find him playing an intimate duo show every Sunday evening at Caledonia Bar on the Upper East Side. He also gives tours at the Louis Armstrong House Museum in Corona, Queens.

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Liz Hocking is a saxophonist/woodwinds player from Aotearoa New Zealand and the UK. She moved to New York City a year ago to pursue graduate study in performance and composition at the New School.

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Russell Markey is a drummer and percussionist from Cleveland OH, residing in New York City. He is a graduate of the School of Jazz & Contemporary Music at The New School, having studied with Jerome Jennings, Lenny White, Allison Miller, and many others. He can be heard playing with Chronic Delta, SHIPRECK, and other local groups and artists.

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