Bios

For over four decades, Jamey Hampton has had a storied career in dance theater that is as varied as it is accomplished. He was born in Portland, Oregon, where he began his dance training in the burgeoning modern dance scene of the early 1970's. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1976 with a BFA degree in Drama, receiving the Marcus Hieman Award for Artistic Excellence.

A native of Southeastern Virginia, Jessica holds a BFA in Dance and a minor in Psychology from NYU. Throughout her career, she has performed contemporary, opera, and dance theater works by Florian Bilbao, Reut Shemesh, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, and Zoe Scofield, among others. Training includes Elbert Watson, The School of Richmond Ballet, The Ailey School, Strictly Seattle and NYC Gaga Intensive.

Javan Mngrezzo is a company dancer at Bodyvox, a local dance teacher, and certified instructor of The Ellové Technique®. His dance journey began during his first year of college at Western Oregon University in Monmouth, Oregon. He graduated in three years, magna cum laude, with a B.S. in Dance and Sociology.

Brent fell in love with dance at the Vancouver School of Arts and Academics in Vancouver, Washington, and worked with BodyVox for a year before he went on to attend Point Park University, where he graduated with a BFA in Modern Dance. While in college, Brent performed in works which include “Minus 16” by Ohad Naharin and “The Constant Shift of Pulse” by Doug Varone, among many other pieces and performances.

Maria has been performing, teaching, collaborating, and creating for more than 20 years. She received scholarships to Gus Giordano Dance Chicago and the University of Arizona School of Dance. In addition to the Giordano technique, she has studied the styles of jazz dance greats such as Luigi, Joe Tremaine, Frank Hatchett and Patsy Swayze.

Born in Taipei, Taiwan. Lee-Wei Chao started his ballet training with Ms. Xiao Lee,who brought from Russia the Vaganova ballet method to Taiwan.

Nicholas Le-Jurica (he/him), did most of his growing up in Beaverton Oregon. Always a mover as well as many other things, it was his love of wiggles and his mother enrolling him in a free ballroom class that led Nicholas to start dancing at a local dance studio. In highschool he spent nearly all of his time studying formalized dance techniques at Arts and Communications Magnet Academy (ACMA) as Well as The Portland Ballet.

Laure Redmond began her career in the fitness industry in the early 1980’s, eventually owning and operating one of New York City’s well-known fitness establishments. She has endorsed dozens of impressive wellness products and has produced and starred in popular DVD workouts, including Mary Tyler Moore’s Everywoman's Workout. With more than 30 years as a dynamic mind/body instructor, Laure has become one of the country’s most trusted experts.

For over four decades, Jamey Hampton has had a storied career in dance theater that is as varied as it is accomplished. He was born in Portland, Oregon, where he began his dance training in the burgeoning modern dance scene of the early 1970's. He graduated from Dartmouth College in 1976 with a BFA degree in Drama, receiving the Marcus Hieman Award for Artistic Excellence.

A native of Southeastern Virginia, Jessica holds a BFA in Dance and a minor in Psychology from NYU. Throughout her career, she has performed contemporary, opera, and dance theater works by Florian Bilbao, Reut Shemesh, Charlotte Boye-Christensen, and Zoe Scofield, among others. Training includes Elbert Watson, The School of Richmond Ballet, The Ailey School, Strictly Seattle and NYC Gaga Intensive.

Jenelle Garerlan is a young dancer, choreographer and teacher from Portland, Oregon. She has danced with BodyVox’s Junior Artist Generator since the program began in 2013, training on full-scholarship for the past 5 years. In eighth grade Jenelle began finding her artistic voice through choreography, submitting pieces to local young choreographer competitions.

Jeff George trained with Ballet Arts of Minnesota and Broadway Dance Center in New York. He performed on the East Coast Tour of Sesame Street Live and then moved on to travel the world for the next six years performing on various Royal Caribbean and Norwegian Cruise Line ships.

Rachel Slater is a dancer, choreographer and teacher in Portland, Oregon. She holds a BFA from the University of the Arts in Modern Dance Performance. In Portland she has performed for Tracey Durbin, Carla Mann, Franco Nieto of NW Dance Project,Tere Mathern, and Sara Parker, among others. Rachel's previous work included performance engagements across the U.S. and Southern France.

Heather trained on scholarship at Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet and at 14 became a Ballet Major at the University of Utah where she earned her BFA. Heather has danced with Utah Ballet and Ballet West performing classic ballets as well as works by George Balanchine and Paul Taylor. Before leaving Salt Lake, Heather was an administrator and instructor at the School of Ballet West.