Chard Gonzalez (Artistic Director)

Chard Gonzalez has created work and performed throughout the USA, Europe and Taiwan. After receiving his BFA from Purchase College State University of New York, Chard danced with Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company and Douglas Dunn & Dancers. He also has extensive international experience through his work in Italy with ALDES, Company Blu, and Compagnia Virgilio Sieni Danza; and in England with Cathy Seago, Jonathan Burrows and Rosemary Butcher. Chard received a Master of Arts in Dance Studies from Laban Centre in London. And after four years of pursuing a PhD at Laban, Chard decided to return to the USA to continue his life’s work.

As a dance educator, Chard reflects on the ever-changing dance community by saying, “Technical skills have always been important. The part of dance as an art has not changed, however, it is more important for dancers to be articulate verbally about dancing, their bodies and concepts that relate to the type of complexity choreographers now work with. Dancers need to be savvy with new technology, which is being used more often all over the dance world.”

Currently on the dance faculty at NOCCA, Chard enjoys teaching a variety of contemporary techniques based on Cunningham, Graham, Limon and Klein. Besides technique he also enjoys teaching choreography, improvisation, dance history and performance studies. Chard has taught in many different schools that include: Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, London Contemporary Dance School, Laban Centre, London Studio Centre, Roehampton University, Winchester University and in many dance studios throughout the USA, UK and Italy.

Chard has most recently choreographed “The Divine Feminine” for the 2010 New Orleans Fringe Festival.  He won 2 Big Easy Classical Arts Awards in 2010 for his choreography “The Box” performed by NOCCA students and for “Sensitive Boys” performed by CGDT at the 2009 New Orleans Fringe Festival.  Chard’s performance art piece called “and/or” was performed at the inaugural New Orleans Fringe Festival in November 2008.   Other works Chard has created include f.fwd (2006) performed in Jacksonville, Florida; LOGO (2006), Tea & Apathy (2004) and Eyespace (2003) performed in London at The Place; LOCO (2005) was created for “Effetto Venezia” in Livorno, Italy; Martini Monkey (2004) was performed at Roehampton University in London; mememem (2004) performed at The Y Theatre in Leicester, UK; Happenstance (2000) was choreographed for a performance at Union Chapel in London. And Chard’s choreography entitled …ions (2001) has been presented at the Almada International Dance Festival in Portugal. He earned a mark of distinction for this piece during his graduate work at Laban.

Chard has presented his choreographic research at the Nordic Society for Phenomenology in Stockholm, Sweden; the Congress for Research on Dance in Taipei, Taiwan; and The Changing Body Symposium in Exeter, UK. He has also set choreography for dance students from London Contemporary Dance School, Laban Centre, Winchester University, Roehampton University, London Studio Centre, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts and New Orleans Center for Creative Arts.

Chard has had the luxury of working with many great artists and collaborators including dancer/performers such as Max Barachini, Tara Brewer, William Bryant, Jarina Carvalho, Mary Carol Chenet, Heather Regis Duncan, Lauren Elliot, Christopher Forsyth, Michael Gale, Genevieve Grady, Reese Johanson, Katherine Keator, Jason Kirkpatrick, Mandy Kirschner, Jana Mahoney, Keisha McKey, Maritza Mercado-Narcisse, Patricia Okenwa, Jennifer Plauche, Kira Riikonen, Peryn St Raymond, Cathy Seago, Danielle Scheib, and Amanda Thomas; composers/musicians Martin Pyne, David Leahy, Chris Getz and Ken Anoff; costume designer/scenographer Hetta Johnson; and film artists Daneeta Loretta Jackson and Patrick Jackson.

Christopher Forsyth (Performer)

Christopher Forsyth, native of Houma, LA, has restarted his performance career since becoming an educator. After receiving his BFA in Dance Education from the University of Southern Mississippi, Christopher traveled to New York City in 2002 and co-founded Pyrrhic Awakening, an acting improvisation troupe which also involved dance performances. After about four years of New York life, he traveled back to Louisiana to pursue his career in education. Christopher is currently a math teacher at South Terrebonne High in Bourg, LA and has taught creative movement classes at Stay and See Learning and Development Center in Houma, LA.

Through his time in college, Christopher has been in several dance performances through Southern Miss Repertory Dance Company including “American Cheese Tales” by Brook Broussard and “Transending Drudgery” by Kristen Boudreaux performed at the American College Dance Festival in Hammond, LA (1999); “Having a Ball” by Angie Brocato, “Exceeding the Grasp” by Mederra Saul and “Incessant Spiral” by Angela Gray at the Young Choreographers Concert in Hattiesburg, MS (2000); “Continuum” by Shellie Neilsen and “I saw it on my face” by Micky Thomas in Hattiesburg, MS (2001). At the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC, he also performed in “Ambrosia” by Carlos Rodriguez (2001). With Pyrrhic Awakening, Christopher performed in “The Tass Wars” (2003), “Rebellion” (2004), and “The Rise of Moloch” (2005).

Christopher’s last work was “The Wall” (2001) at the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC. He also presented “A Light Upon a Shattered Mirror” (2000) in Durham, NC and Hattiesburg, MS; “Senses” (2000) and “Consequences” (2000), and “Pajama Game” (1999) co-choreographed with Monica Azzolini in Hattiesburg, MS.

He has also studied and worked with several great artists throughout his years including Patricia A. McConnel, Joelle Van Sickle, Stacy Reischman, Shellie Neilsen, Janet Prieur, Repertory Dance Theater, Jane Comfort and Company, Ballet Florida, Liz Lerman Dance Exchange, Micky Thomas (Sean Curran Company), Kraig Patterson (Mark Morris), Brain Simmerson (Momix), Jim Sutton, David Beadle, Donna Faye Burchfield, Andrea Woods (Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane). Christopher has had the privilage to collaborate with actors Joseph Crutchfield, Marshal Crutchfield, Selena Frederick, and Jeff & Caroline Himel.

Reese Johanson (Performer)

Reese Johanson is a producer, visual and performing artist, writer, fundraiser for the arts, about town socialite and party girl and has been for over 20 years. She graduated from the National Shakespeare Conservatory in New York where she trained in acting, dance and theater production. In New York, she performed Off-Off Broadway in numerous plays, theatrical performances, (dance, puppetry and performance art). She was a founding member and Assistant Artistic Director for the Oronoco Theater Company creating, producing and performing original works of theater. She wrote reams of poetry and performed them at public readings around the city. She starred in several low budget films, hosted a cable TV comedy show and was featured in comedy acts on public cable television stations.

A summer of traveling around Europe found her writing, drawing and reading poetry, crashing where the wine was cheap and the company she kept was cheaper. Settling in France for a year, she continued writing and explored building puppets and had baby number one.

In Boston she founded The Subconscious Café, a monthly performance series held at the Zeitgeist Gallery in Cambridge MA. The series evolved into Open Faucet, producing and performing at 3 locations monthly, The Actors’ Theatre Workshop in Boston, The Middle East in Cambridge and at rotating pubs in the Boston area. She also participated with several theatrical works at Mobius Art Space and had baby number two.

In New Orleans she focused on producing special events and started an event production company, Party Girl Productions. She managed countless public events including art gallery openings for Jonathan Ferrara Gallery and Steve Martin Studios, a Summer Solstice Celebration with the bar, d.b.a., the Best Bartender of New Orleans competition with Where Y’at Magazine, the Beaujolais Nouveau Wine Celebration for Le Meridien Hotel (3 years), Twelfth Night Celebration, (3 consecutive years (1)1nternational House Hotel, (2)Hotel Monaco and (3)Hotel Le Cirque), with the Contemporary Arts Center of New Orleans she produced White Linen Night, Art for Arts Sake, Sweet Arts Ball, Canal Place Uncorked and the Rain Vodka event, she handled alcohol promotions independently for Old New Orleans Rum and later with Glazers of Louisiana represented over 50 liquor brands, privately she handled boutique parties for local NOLA residents including Michalopoulos, Dorian and Kell Bennett, Randy Smith and George and Wendy Rodrigue. As a performer, she made cameo appearances at the Gambit Weekly’s Alternative Fashion Awards at the House of Blues, with the Three Ring Circus’ Magazine in Motion at the Positive Space Gallery, with the New Orleans School of Circus Arts’ Come to Your Senses at the Howlin’ Wolf, with Women and Words at the Neighborhood Gallery, and was a featured internet webcam show host for www.nola.com Boubocam and Paradecam for 2 years. She was also a columnist for Scat Magazine. (Somewhere in there came baby number three!)

Currently, as the Executive Director for Artist International Connection, Inc. (Artist Inc.), she is heading up the development of a performing and visual arts and community center. With Artist Inc. she produced the open forum, presenting series, The Salon, at the Marigny Theatre’s All Ways Lounge and upstairs at the Blue Nile. From the Salons came the development of the show UnRoute, presented at the Blue Nile and then a more elaborate version of UnRoute with the New Orleans Fringe Festival, at the Michalolpoulos Studio. She started the outdoor market, Elysian Fleas. In March 2010 she produced Joan Evan’s show Decade at a Glance.  Outside of Artist Inc. she performs with Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre. Most recently, in The Divine Feminine, Double Entendre Tooth Tiger, Quarters and Sensitive Boys.

Reese Johanson lives most of the time in New Orleans, Louisiana, USA with her two sons and one daughter, Sebastien, Nigel and Tallulah, and her hubbie, artist James Michalopoulos. In the summers they pick up and skip over to their summer home in the tiny village of Montagny Sur Grosne, France, (population 65.)

Peryn St. Raymond (performer)

Peryn is a native New Orleanian who has always had a passion for dance and the arts.  She began her ballet training at the age of five under the instruction of Jacqueline Fry at New Orleans Dance Academy.  She danced in many local productions throughout her childhood, most notably when she appeared as Little Alice in the New Orleans Ballet Ensemble’s production of Alice in Wonderland.  During a summer program at New Orleans Dance Academy, Peryn met modern dance instructor Lula Elzy who encouraged her to audition for the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts (NOCCA).  The school accepted Peryn into the high school program as the youngest student at age 12.  During her years at NOCCA she attended several summer dance programs, including Hartford Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and The United States Scholar Athlete Games.  After graduating from NOCCA in 2001, Peryn decided that although dance was her passion, she was also interested in pursuing a career in business.  She was able to find a balance when she interned with the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) in 2004.  Working with NOBA gave Peryn the opportunity to learn the business aspect of a dance production.  Peryn graduated from the University of New Orleans in 2008 with a Bachelor of Science in Accounting and is currently working for Jacobson, Doullut & Adler, LLC. With her business career moving forward, Peryn has found new energy and inspiration that has brought her back to the stage.

Maritza Mercado-Narcisse (performer)

Maritza was born in Newark, New Jersey and spent her formative years in Los Angeles and New Orleans. A graduate of New Orleans Center for the Creative Arts (NOCCA), she continued her dance studies with Milton Myers and attended the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City. In the summer of 2000, Maritza returned to New Orleans and began to foster a relationship with the growing theatre and dance community. She has performed with Tsunami Dance Company as well as in Confederacy of Dances 5, 6 and 8. Most recently, Maritza worked with Happensdance, Battery Dance Company and Classical Indian choreographer, Sanjay Doddamani on their Ocean of Light Project. In 2004, Maritza began creating and performing with ArtSpot Productions/Moving Humans, collaborating on such projects as Chekhov’s Wild Ride and the New Orleans Suite. She is currently employed as a full-time Education Artist with the New Orleans Ballet Association (NOBA) and has also worked with KIDsmART as a resident teaching artist. In the fall of 2005, Maritza was awarded a Creative Development residency from The Jacob’s Pillow Foundation, and attended in the spring of 2006. From that residency, Maritza was able to develop material that was used to create Familia Sonata, commissioned by NOBA, which premiered at the Luna Negra Dance Theater concert in August 2006. Maritza is the proud recipient of the 2007 Louisiana Division of the Arts Artist Fellowship.

Jennifer Plauche (performer)

Jennifer began her training in Metairie, LA where she studied various styles of dance. After high school, she continued her dance training at The University of Southern Mississippi where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance and choreography. She was a four-year performer with the Repertory Dance Company and also choreographed two pieces of her own. In addition to training with the Southern Miss faculty, Jennifer has had the privilege to attend classes and intensives with those such as Misnomer Dance Theatre, STREB, and Nikolais Louis Dance Company. She is currently teaching in studios throughout the New Orleans area.

Mary Carol Chenet (performer)

MC began studying ballet as a child in Lake Charles and moved on to Los Angeles as a teenager to discover modern dance. She studied the techniques of the masters Graham, Humphrey and Limon before moving to New Orleans in 1995. She taught ballet for the New Orleans Recreation Department for eight years and, now a mother of two, MC continues to instruct privately and train at the New Orleans Dance Academy.  She has performed locally with Anne Burr, Cheryl Sullivan and Eddie Villalta.  Performing The Divine Feminine at the 2010 New Orleans Fringe Festival was MC’s first appearance with Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre.

Jarina Carvalho (performer)

Jarina is a former member of Dance Theatre of Harlem where she performed with the company in many of the major cities around the world. A native of Brasil, she joined the Ballet Vera Bublitz School where she had the opportunity to dance with Peter Boal     (Artistic director of Pacific Northwest Ballet) who invited her to come to America. She continued her education at the School of America Ballet on scholarship.  Recently, Ms. Carvalho has performed with Gregory Schramel and Marjorie Hardwick at the New Orleans Ballet Theatre. She has also performed with the Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble at the Hobby Center for the Performing Arts in Houston.  Jarina currently teaches ballet at NOCCA.  She has appeared in two works with Chard Gonzalez Dance Theatre, Sensitive Boys and The Divine Feminine.

Eric Thielman (performer)

Eric recently joined the dance and music theater faculty at the New Orleans Center for Creative Arts and faculty at NOBA.  He trained at the Pittsburgh CLO Academy, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, the Virginia School of the Arts and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia.  Some teachers that have left an imprint on Eric include Maurice Curry, Lorraine Graves, Roni Koresh, Joe Lanteri, Brice Mousset, Milton Myers and Buddy Thompson.  Performances have been with the Alabama Shakespeare Festival, Gateway Playhouse, Pittsburgh CLO, the Manhattan Movement Arts Center and toured with Susan Stroman’s Tony Award winning Contact throughout the United States and Canada.  Eric has also worked with the Joffrey Ballet School Manhattan, PBS, Sony Pictures Entertainment and the International Ballet Competition hosted in New York City.  Eric would like to thank all who continue to support dance in their communities and those who help further art education in all disciplines.

Daneeta Loretta Jackson (Filmmaker/Collaborator)

Daneeta Loretta Jackson is a producer at the Elektrik Zoo, a creative partnership she co-founded in 2000 in London with Patrick Jackson. They produce films, photographs and writings. Originally from Southeast Louisiana, Daneeta has lived abroad in Asia and Europe for the past 15 years working as a writer and as a filmmaker. She returned to New Orleans last year with her partner to begin work on the Elektrik Zoo’s second feature. Daneeta professionally trained as a filmmaker at the London Film School from where she holds a terminal MA with a distinction in directing and producing. She holds an MA in literature from George Mason University and a BA in Literature from Loyola University.

Patrick Jackson (Filmmaker/Collaborator)

Swedish born Patrick Jackson has worked in Asia, Africa, Europe and the U.S. His film work crosses genres to include shorts and features, fiction and documentary, experimental and visual art. He also produces still photography and is the author of JosephNils Blog. He graduated from the London Film School and the Brunnsvik Documentary Film School in Sweden and he attended the Stockholm Film School.  Patrick and Daneeta’s recent Elektrik Zoo commissions include 5 portrait documentaries for LA Green Corps; Dance/Film Collaboration “ATAWii” with Chard Gonzalez; “Little Baby Eyes,” a music video for musical artist Franz Kirmann, and a short documentary for Operation Reach, Inc., which was featured on President Obama’s “United We Serve” website.