Morgan McEwen (she/her) is the founder, artistic director, and choreographer of MorDance, a pioneering ballet company that redefines the art form as a catalyst for social impact, civic engagement, and community building. A former professional ballerina with nearly two decades of experience, Morgan has performed on some of the nation’s most prestigious stages, 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, the 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, securing major grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, and other key funders to further MorDance’s mission.

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 New Rochelle Dance Festival, with residencies at CUNY Dance Initiative, Kaatsbaan UpStream, and Vineyard Arts Project.

Through her leadership, Morgan is shaping a future where ballet is not just a reflection of society but an active force in shaping it. She remains dedicated to uniting, educating, and inspiring through the transformative power of movement.

The music of an award-winning composer Polina Nazaykinskaya (she'/her), is performed regularly in the United States, Russia, and Europe. Her first symphonic poem, "Winter Bells," is in high demand every season by orchestras such as the Minnesota Orchestra and the Utah Symphony, among others.

In the 2024-2025 concert season, Polina's orchestral music will be performed by the Utah Symphony, Portland Youth Philharmonic, Eastern Connecticut Symphony Orchestra, The Syracuse Orchestra, and the Atlanta Symphony. In May 2025, Polina’s new ballet for MorDance will be premiered in New York. In May 2025, Polina’s chamber opera, "Her New Home" will performed at the Garth Newel Center. Recent concert seasons highlights included the premiere of two new ballets, "The Rising" and "Emily," performed by the San Francisco Ballet and MorDance in New York City.

Polina's collaborators include internationally renowned choreographers Pascal Rioult, Yuri Possokhov, Jonah Bokaer, Morgan McEwen, and Ulyana Bochernikova. Polina works closely with the world's leading conductors, such as Osmo Vänskä, Teodor Currentzis, Aziz Shokhakimov, Sarah Hicks, Toshiyuki Shimada, Lawrence Loh, Hannu Lintu and David Hattner. Polina's compositions are actively performed by internationally acclaimed soloists such as trombonist R. Douglas Wright, violinist Elena Korzhenevich, and pianist Anton Nel.

With her larger chamber music works, Polina frequently turns to the tragedy of humanity's collective history, in particular, the Holocaust. Her work "Haim" is performed annually around the world and has become an important ensemble composition of the second decade of the 21st century.

Between 2021 and 2024, Polina was the Philharmonic Orchestra Conductor of the Greater Connecticut Youth Orchestras. Before her work with the GCTYO, she led the British Youth Music Theatre, RIOULT Dance NY, the University of Southern Mississippi Orchestra, and the Russian Youth Symphony Orchestra.

Over the past decade, Polina formed a creative alliance with an award-winning pianist and librettist, Konstantin Soukhovetski, with whom they have premiered many works of diverse genres, from solo piano to ballets. Currently, they are working on an opera commissioned by Opera Mississippi to commemorate the company's 75th anniversary and to be premiered in 2025.

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.

Claire van Bever (she/her) is a New York based performer, teacher and choreographer. Originally from Portland, OR she trained at The Rock School and SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. Claire started her career with American Repertory Ballet where she danced works by Kirk Peterson, Gerald Arpino and Patrick Corbin. After moving to New York, Claire graduated summa cum laude from The New School with a BA in Liberal Arts and began freelancing in New York. She has danced with the Metropolitan Opera, Chamber Music NorthWest, and the Dallas Opera, and her choreography has been commissioned by Woman in Motion. Last year Claire made her Broadway debut with The Phantom of the Opera after performing with the International Tour of The Phantom of the Opera for two years. She is thrilled to be in her fourth season with MorDance!

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!

David Hochberg (he/him) is from New York, where he trained at Studio Maestro/Manhattan Youth Ballet under Francois Perron and Nadege Hottier, and Ellison Ballet under Edward Ellison. In 2012 David joined Sarasota Ballet under director Iain Webb. He then joined Nevada Ballet Theater in 2014, where he danced for five seasons under James Canfield, and Roy Kaiser. Since returning to New York in 2019 he has worked as a freelance dancer for MorDance, The Metropolitan Opera, Tom Gold Dance, Amanda Selwyn Dance Theater, Movement Headquarters, The Chase Brock Experience, Guggenheim Works & Process, East Coast Contemporary Ballet Graham Lustig at The Princeton Festival, XAOC Ballet, and Margo Sappington. This is his fourth season with MorDance.

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.

Craig Wasserman (he/him), originally from New York, received his dance training at the School of American Ballet in New York City, Often performing with New York City Ballet. He then joined Pennsylvania Ballet (now Philadelphia Ballet) in 2011. Working His way through the ranks, he performed numerous Principal and Soloist roles, including in works by Christopher Wheeldon, Justin Peck, Wayne McGregor, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and Trey McIntyre. He then joined Kansas City Ballet in 2019 for 3 seasons as a leading dancer. Returning to New York, Craig has since been performing as a freelance dancer. Throughout his career, Craig has received several prestigious accolades, notably being included singularly in “Wendy Perron’s Best of 2016”, Dance Magazine”.

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.

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.

Agustin Gomes - Dancer

Agustin Gomes (he/him) began his professional dance training in his hometown of São José dos Campos, Brazil. He was awarded a full scholarship to attend Lamondance in Canada, where he had the opportunity to work with esteemed choreographers.

Following his time at Lamondance, Agustin joined New York Dance Project where he performed Carmen Suites, restaged by Sonia Calero Alonso, as well as works by Gerald Arpino.

Agustin later became a member of Ballet Hispánico’s second company, performing works by celebrated choreographers including Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Gustavo Ramírez Sansano, Eduardo Vilaro, Pedro Ruiz, and others. Afterward, he joined Nimbus Dance for a season before being invited to return to Ballet Hispánico as a guest artist with the main company in Doña Perón.

Currently, Agustin is performing with the Metropolitan Opera in its new production of Aida and is thrilled to begin his first season with MorDance.

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!

Nadya Meykson holds Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in Violin Performance from the Eastman School of Music, where she also served as a Teaching Assistant to Mikhail Kopelman. As a soloist, Nadya has performed with the OSSIA Orchestra, Shoals Symphony Orchestra, Tuscaloosa Symphony Orchestra, and Alabama Youth Symphony Orchestra. Her awards include the Noel Levine Award, First Prize at the Ray Dunmyer Youth Concerto Competition, the Howard Hanson Scholarship, the Charles W. Kennett Scholarship, and First Prize at the Shoals Symphony Orchestra Young Artist Competition.

Nadya has performed as a soloist and chamber musician at venues such as Weill Recital Hall at Carnegie Hall, the Millennium Stage at The Kennedy Center, Merkin Concert Hall at the Kaufman Center, Tchaikovsky Concert Hall at the Moscow State Philharmonic Society, The Great Hall of the Moscow Conservatory, and David Josefowitz Recital Hall at the Royal Academy of Music in London.

In 2018, Nadya graduated from the Film Scoring program at the Moscow Film School. The following year, she was selected to participate in Envision Sound, a film scoring program led by Emmy Award-winning composer Michael Price.

Nadya is a dedicated educator with a wealth of experience spanning across various age groups. In the past she has taught at the Eastman School of Music, The Brooklyn Conservatory of Music, Williamsburg Music Studio and The New York Conservatory. Nadya performs in Baroque and early music ensembles, including Pratum Integrum Orchestra, the Madrigal Ensemble of the Moscow Philharmonic Society, La Villa Barocca, and Collegium Musicum. In recent years, Nadya has been invited to perform with the Questa Musica Ensemble, Moscow

Philharmonic Orchestra, State Academic Chamber Orchestra of Russia, Nordic Symphony Orchestra in Estonia, Malta Symphony Orchestra, and The Orchestra Now in the USA.

Nadya Meykson plays the 1880 Emile (Guarini) Mennesson.

Jack Rittendale is a freelance violist based in New York City who is currently pursuing his performance degree at the Manhattan School of Music (BM ‘23, MM ‘25) and music education at Columbia University Teachers College (MME ‘26). Past teachers include Karen Dreyfus, Shmuel Katz, and Sam Rhodes. Hailed for a deeply musical style and rich tone, Jack has given solo performances at coveted venues around North America and France in cities such as Paris and Nice, and halls including Carnegie, Merkin, and David Geffen. Most recently, Jack had the opportunity to perform with the Experiential Orchestra in a side by side concert at Alice Tully Hall bringing light to works by the underrepresented composer Julia Perry. This past summer, Jack’s quartet, the “Expat Quartet” was selected for two prestigious fellowships including the Centrum quartet seminar with the American String Quartet, and the Encore fellowship string quartet program in Cleveland. Throughout the year, Jack enjoys a regular section position with the Brooklyn Chamber Orchestra as well as the Westside Chamber Players ensemble and as Principal viola of the MSM Symphony Orchestra.

Growing up in Irvine, California, Paul Gong is a freshman at The Juilliard School, pursuing a bachelor's degree in double bass performance under the tutelage of Timothy Cobb. He has performed with the Pacific Symphony Youth Orchestra, NYO2, and the Juilliard Orchestra. This summer, Gong will participate in the International Society of Bassists competition, the Colorado College Summer Music Festival, and the Aspen Music Festival.

As an expressive and nuanced violinist, Claire Olsen has captivated many audiences throughout her artistic career. Growing up in Missoula, Montana, Claire began learning to play the violin at the age of four with her teacher, Madeleine McKelvey. During her undergraduate at BYU, Claire studied with Monte Belknap and additionally studied with Madeline Adkins, concertmaster of the Utah Symphony. Currently, she is pursuing a

Master of Music at Mannes School of Music, studying under Ann Setzer.bCollaboration has always played a major role in Claire's career. During her undergraduate studies at BYU, Claire was concertmaster of the BYU Philharmonic and was known for her expressive playing and leadership. In 2022, she toured with the BYU Chamber Orchestra and performed in venues such as Smetana Hall. She has acted as a principal player in her experiences at Mannes School of Music. Claire has regularly participated in chamber music in different capacities throughout her career. In 2022, Claire recorded tracks for short films "Cenote" and "The Witch's Cat," both of which won student Emmys in 2023 and 2024. She has premiered compositions by composers such as Simon Cheek and Gustaf Nielsen. She continues to collaborate with composers in an effort to share her passion for contemporary music.

Nathaniel is a cellist and double bassist with a devoted commitment to exploring a wide variety of music. Currently attending the Mannes school of Music for his masters, Nathaniel has extensive experience as a performer, both within the classical tradition into the 21st century, and well outside of that. He is currently based in New York City, where he studies and performs as a freelance musician on both cello and double bass. Primarily a classical musician, Nathaniel also plays music within the jazz and bluegrass traditions, free and structured improvisation, interpretation of graphic scores, musical theater/opera, among other worlds.

Teya Klein-Berger, is a flutist from New Haven, CT. She plays as principal flute of the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra. She is co-winner of the 2024-2025 NMS Concerto Competition. She participated in the CMEA Southern Regional Festival through middle and high school, placing first in 2022-2024, and participated in the Connecticut All-State Music Festival in 2023 and 2024. She also attended the NAfME Eastern Division Conference in April 2025. Teya has attended various summer festivals, including Kinhaven Music Camp Junior Session, Encore/Coda Music Camp, Interlochen Arts Camp Intensives and Large Ensemble Program, and Brevard Music Center Orchestral Institute. During these festivals, she studied with Sharon Sparrow, Christina Jennings, Dilshad Posnock, and Amy Porter. This fall, she will attend the University of Michigan School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, studying Flute Performance with Professor Amy Porter.

Hannah Klein-Berger is a violinist from New Haven, CT. She is concertmaster of the Greater New Haven Youth Orchestra. Hannah is a founding member of the Chamber Music 360 Program, and performs as first violinist of The Lieder Quartet. She is in the Young Artist Diploma Program, through which she has played in masterclasses with Hilary Hahn, David Harrington and Sunny Yang of the Kronos Quartet, the Haven Quartet, and more. During the summers, Hannah attends Kinhaven Music School Senior Session, where she studies with Professors Sarah Kim and Marjorie Bagley. This coming summer will be her fifth at Kinhaven. She was a member of the CMEA Southern Regional Orchestra through middle and high school, and a member of the Connecticut All-State Orchestra in 2023 and 2024. This fall, she will attend Oberlin Conservatory of Music, studying Violin Performance with Professor William van der Sloot. She plans to minor in pedagogy and teach college violin in the future!