Dance Connections Instructor Bios

Nicolette Ferguson was a principal dancer and master instructor with Garth Fagan Dance for 21 years, touring, performing, and conducting master classes. She has performed numerous seasons at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, City Center, Joyce Theater, Jazz at Lincoln Center, and Jacob’s Pillow. She also taught at the Garth Fagan Dance School and the Garth Fagan Dance Summer Movement Institute. She continues to lead classes at all levels of experience and ability throughout the Rochester area.

Frances Hare is a dance teaching artist with a goal of connecting community and sharing through the arts. She enjoys bringing together students of any age to take on artistic tasks that engage, challenge, and create environments for connection. She has danced with Buffalo Black Dance Workshop, later called Kariamu and Company, and Garth Fagan Dance.

Adriene B Hodge began her formal dance training at Duke Ellington School of the Arts in Washington, DC, and is an Ailey/Fordham BFA graduate. A member of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater and Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, Adriene has performed works by Sean Curran, Earl Mosely, Helen Pickett, Jennifer Muller, David Parsons, Kevin Iega Jeff, Gary Abbott, Martha Graham, Lester Horton, and Alvin Ailey. Adriene joined Garth Fagan Dance in 2014 and was a principal dancer with the company from 2015 to 2020. 

Jillery Hoops has been hooping in Rochester, NY, since 2009. Jillery runs a Circus Arts Skill Share in Rochester over the summer to connect local circus and flow artists. The weekly event provides opportunities to learn new skills and hone their existing skill set. She has taught workshops and performed at numerous flow and fire festivals throughout the US and in Canada. Jillery ran corporate “Hoop for Health” workshops at Paychex, and countless local events. She also brought out-of-town flow instructors to Rochester periodically to offer workshops using various props. 

Sarah Johnson has been studying and practicing the art form of Capoeira for 25 years, studying under Capoeira Mandinga and Comexpressao led by Carcará aka Todd Russell. She has taken many workshops over the years by different capoeira master practitioners (mestres) in both regional and Angola forms from different regions of the country. She also dances with BioDance, a Rochester-based dance company, for the past 10 years under the direction of Missy Pfohl Smith. Sarah has her BA and MA in dance education from SUNY Brockport and currently teaches at the Genesee Community Charter School.

Cecilia Mitchell grew up in Montclair, NJ, where she trained at Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts and performed around her community. Mitchell graduated with a BA in dance performance from Stockton University in 2022 and is currently teaching, choreographing, and freelancing on the east coast. She has trained in many styles including modern (Horton, Graham, and Limón), ballet, jazz, musical theater, hip hop, Umfundalai, West African, contemporary, and improvisation. Mitchell continues to expand her personal repertory as well as a growing passion for dance performance and education. She has performed professionally at the Koresh Artist Showcase, Putty Dance Project, and Alma Dance Company.

From Rochester, NY, Bajan-American dancer and creative visionary Renée Sobers had an interest in dance and music composition that quickly translated to a fruitful choreographic career. Using the wealth of knowledge obtained locally, they were able to catapult their works onto a national stage. Upon expanding their reach, Renée returned to Rochester, rediscovered community, and used this opportunity to find their work’s performances throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East.  

A native of Cape Verde Islands and raised in Boston, Massachusetts, Euridece graduated from SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor of Science in Dance. She began her career as a dancer in Boston with Back Porch Dance Company and Dance Collective. In the Rochester area, Euridece has danced with Sankofa African Dance and Drum Ensemble, United Rhythm Alliance (M*Shaka Fusion), Movida Dance Company, and Arthur Murray Ballroom Dance Studio. Euridece was co-director of Akoma Ntoaso for 8 years. She is currently dancing with Biodance Company.  

Ebony Patricia Vasquez is a Dominican-born, New York-raised graduate from SUNY Brockport with a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in dance and a Bachelor’s of Science in psychology. After attending the Summer Movement Institute for Garth Fagan Dance, Ebony was asked to join the company as an apprentice while completing a dual degree at Brockport. She also taught youth classes for The Garth Fagan Dance School. In 2022, she reconnected with longtime mentor Nydia Padilla-Rodriguez, Artistic Director of Borinquen Dance Theatre (BDT), and served as Master Instructor and Program Coordinator for BDT from 2022-2024. 

Elton Ward is an active curator and ambassador for the Rochester dance community. He has been dancing for 12 years in various styles, including tutting, waving, and krump. Elton also acquired an Associate’s degree in Visual Arts from Monroe Community College before dedicating himself to personal and artistic growth. He has participated in NYS Dance Challenge, World Annual Fringe Festival Show “Late and Live,” and Puerto Rican Festival. Elton created a community organization known as TruKrump Collective to share his experiences with dancers in the Rochester dance community. Elton is on a mission to empower and excite the youth of Rochester, through krump.

Monique Williams’ journey through dance is a testament to her passion and dedication to the art form. From the vibrant streets of Brooklyn to the serene beauty of Dominica, her heritage has infused her dance with a unique blend of cultural influences. She leads the Nazareth University Dance Team and Dance Peace, and has experience with semi-pro dance teams and as a student at Garth Fagan Dance. As an instructor at Ballet Afrikana, she was shaping the next generation of dancers, passing on the techniques and the spirit of dance. Her story is one of perseverance, cultural richness, and the transformative power of dance.