Navarra Novy-Williams is a passionate arts leader with extensive experience in dance, movement education, development, programming, and community engagement. Formerly the Programming and Development Director at GALLIM, she’s also had an international performing career includes Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Batsheva Ensemble, Cedar Lake, and The Metropolitan Opera Ballet. A dedicated teacher of Gaga, ballet, and creative movement, she has taught at NYU, SUNY Purchase, Sarah Lawrence College, and DVP, et.al., and is deeply committed to access, inclusion, and intergenerational arts engagement. She holds a BFA from Juilliard and an MA from The New School

navarra@dvpnyc.org

djassi daCosta johnson is a native New Yorker, classically trained modern dancer, choreographer, photographer, filmmaker, designer, writer, Doula and mother. djassi received her B.A. in Anthropology/English from Barnard College, trained at Harlem School of The Arts, Clark Center, was a scholarship student and repertory company member at Ballet Hispanico, and a fellowship student at Alvin Ailey for seven years. She obtained her M.F.A. in Dance & New Media/ Technology from NYU Tisch in 2018 as a Dean’s fellow. djassi has apprenticed, performed and toured with, Dance Brazil, Earl Mosley, Bill T. Jones, Hernando Cortez, Urban Bush Women, Forces of Nature, and was a soloist with MOMIX. djassi lived abroad as a dancer and choreographer in Brazil and Italy for almost a decade working on TV & Film at Cinecitta.

djassi@dvpnyc.org

Matthew Dameron is a filmmaker and producer who serves as Marketing and Production Manager at Dances for a Variable Population, where he leads the organization's public voice and brings its programs to the stage. He directs DVP's communications across social media, email, web, video, and print, and produces Movement Speaks® and REVIVAL, DVP's free outdoor performance series across New York City. Trained in film and theatre at Scottsdale Community College, Matthew works as a production and location manager on film sets. He brings a storyteller's eye to making DVP's work visible, accessible, and joyful for older adults in every borough.

matthew@dvpnyc.org

Bryanna Dean is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer who was born and raised in Shenandoah, Virginia. She began studying dance at a recreational studio at age nine. Since that young age, teaching and creating movement became a clear path at which she follows with eager curiosity. Dean gained her BFA degree in Dance at Florida State University where she has created work as well as taught in the Tallahassee region. Dean is now exploring the art community of her new home in Brooklyn. Along with working with DVP, she teaches jazz, contemporary, and gymnastics to young artists at studios throughout the area.

bryanna@dvpnyc.org

Sara Ziglar is an interdisciplinary artist working across dance, theater, and film. She holds a BA from The Ohio State University and a post-baccalaureate in Dance Studies from Columbia College Chicago. She is completing her final year in the Dramaturgy MFA program at Columbia University School of the Arts. Based in New York, Sara has collaborated on over 20 new works as a performer, movement director, and dramaturg. Her professional experience includes work with Red Clay Dance Company, Cleveland Play House, and Kinfolk Collective. While the Director of Education and Community Partnerships at Red Clay Dance Company, she developed the "Making the Artivist™" program, focusing on civic engagement through the arts at the Cook County Temporary Juvenile Detention Center.

sara@dvpnyc.org