STAFF
BIANCA BONNER
DIRECTOR OF EDUCATION & COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT
Bianca Bonner was born and raised in the Bronx, NY. She began her dance training at Ruth Williams Dance Studio at a young age. She later trained with Mary Barnett, former associate artistic director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, in ballet, jazz, modern and African dance. Bonner has also studied under Melba Lucas, Aziza, Rae Ross Sandifer, Ann Vachon, Ruth Williams, Laura Williams, Bruce Hawkins, Kariamu Welsh, Chuck Davis and many others. Bonner holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Broadcasting, Telecommunications and Mass Media and a Master of Education degree in Dance from Temple University. Bonner served on faculty at Temple University in Philadelphia, PA. She has taught in various schools, studios and camps including The New Freedom Theatre and National Youth Sports Program. In 2000 Bonner co-directed an arts consortium that aimed to heighten appreciation and skilled development in dance called Cayenne Entertainment. Bonner has performed with Kariamu & Company Traditions and has received certification in the Umfundalai technique, a Pan-African contemporary technique developed by Dr. Kariamu Welsh. She toured nationally and internationally with Chuck Davis and The African American Dance Ensemble, partaking in residencies, dance workshops, lecture demonstrations and outreach celebrating African dance through love, peace and respect. Bonner has served on the board of Charlotte Dance Festival and was named Best Choreography at the Charlotte Emerging Dance Awards in 2009. During that same year she received a choreography award from the North Carolina Theatre Conference for Studs Terkel’s Working. In 2012 she was awarded the John W. Parker Award for Excellence in Directing from the North Carolina Theatre Conference for Ntozake Shange’s For Colored Girls who Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf. For six years, Bonner has choreographed main stage theatre productions with the Union County Performance Ensemble under the direction of Larry Robinson. Bonner served as dance educator for seven years at Central Academy of Technology & Arts in Union County Public Schools.
KIMBERLY PEREIRA
EDUCATION MANAGER
Kimberly Pereira was born and raised in Brooklyn, NY where she began her dance training at the age of 5. Growing up, Kimberly studied at Ms. M’s Dance Center, The Ailey School, Broadway Dance Center and with John M. Goring. Her dance training is in Horton, Limón, Ballet, Afro-Caribbean and Jazz. She holds a BFA in Dance from SUNY Brockport. Realizing her passion for arts administration, Kimberly took an internship with Lois Welk and soon after became the Education Coordinator at Jacob’s Pillow. While at Jacob’s Pillow she coordinated The School application process, internship program and JACOB’S PILLOW CURRICIULUM IN MOTION®. Kimberly, has performed the works of Limón, Bill Evans, Sean Curran, Christopher Walker, Rain Sadkane and Clyde Alafiju Morgan. Her teaching credits include Jacob’s Pillow, 171 Cedar Arts Center, The Art Factory, Inc., various summer arts integrated camps and festivals. In keeping with her dedication to the community Kimberly has also served the department of the Army as a family liaison in Germany. In 2019 Kimberly was selected as a Dance/USA Institute for Leadership Training Mentee and participated in EMC Arts Incubating Innovation. She is passionate about providing accessible arts education and continues to make strides in the field through her work in arts administration and teaching.
EDUCATION AND COMMUNITY ENGAGEMENT STAFF
Emma Manion
Community Engagement Administrator/Teaching Artist
EMAIL
TEACHING ARTISTS
AMBER JOHNSON
Amber Johnson is a Charlotte-based dance artist and teacher. She holds a BA in international studies with minors in French and dance from UNCC. She began dancing at age seven and is trained in ballet, modern, and jazz. To continue her training, she has attended multiple dance festivals including the American Dance Festival. From 2004-2019 she performed classical and contemporary ballet roles with Dance Central. Amber dances professionally with local dance companies and choreographers in the Charlotte area. She has also performed in several arts festivals including Sensoria, Boom, and Fête de La Musique. She has performed internationally in Belgium, France, and Canada. Amber served on CDF’s Board as secretary and coordinated many of its youth community stages for several years.
ASHLEY SUTTLAR MARTIN
Ashley holds a MFA in Dance from Temple University and a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She danced professionally for companies based in Philadelphia and New York City. Ashley’s creative works have been presented nationwide. She developed the dance minor curriculum at Morehead State University, was guest faculty at QCC – City University of New York, and has served on faculty at Central Piedmont Community College, Coker College, Winthrop University, Queens University and the Governor’s School of Arts & Humanities. Ashley earned certification as an Instructor of Umfundalai, a Contemporary African Dance Technique. She is also a member of the International Dance Council. Currently, Ashley is a Teacher, Secondary Dance at Northwest School of the Arts.
GRETCHEN JAX
Gretchen graduated from Winthrop University with a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance Performance. She performed in Meredith Monk’s Obie Award-winning Quarry at the 2003 Spoleto Festival in Charleston, SC. In 2006, she was one of eight selected to study at the School of Jacob’s Pillow Choreographer’s Lab. Gretchen is the co-founder of Sinergismo, a group of dancers, artists, poets, and musicians using collaboration as a means to produce choreographic works. Gretchen currently teaches modern at Davidson College and choreographs for their dance company The Gamut. Gretchen has been a faculty member at Charlotte Ballet Academy since 2003. Gretchen also teaches a Dance for Parkinson’s class, classes for special needs adults and senior dance classes.
ROBIN GRAY-BISHOP
Robin is a Julliard graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree and has graduated from the University of North Carolina in Charlotte with a teaching certificate in Dance Education. Currently, she is teaching dance at Waddell Language Academy. She has studied at the Brooklyn Academy of Music, the American Ballet Theatre and Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Her performance credits include being a featured dancer in the films; The Wiz and Fame and principal dancer for Jubilation! Dance Company. Robin is a talented, mature dance professional; highly trained in modern, ballet and jazz with over twenty-five years of dance, teaching and choreographic experience.
ELSIE MUFUKA
Elsie is the Founder/Creative Artistic Director of MufukaWorks Dance Co., and is a current candidate of Arts Administration Masters at Winthrop University. She is a Coker College graduate of 2008 of Dual Bachelor of Art degrees in Dance (under direction of Professor Angela Gallo and Dr. Wanda Ebright) and Communications (under direction of Professor Dick Puffer) in addition to choreographer/Mentor Natty Mncube. Both internationally and locally, Elsie enlightens her skills back into MufukaWorks Dance Co., Benton Heights Elementary School of the Arts Public School Dance Teacher, Curator of Boom Festival, Ebb and Flow Movement Studio and teaching artist of Charlotte Ballet. Elsie holds the 2018 outstanding young alumni award of Coker College.
JAVONNE M. GBENYON-SPEARMAN
Javonne, originally from West Africa, Liberia, had an early interest to learn cultural diversity of all dance genres. Javonne’s college studies included folk/traditional dance forms under Mrs. Eleanor Gwynn of the E. Gwynn Dance Company at North Carolina Agricultural and Technical State University. Javonne received a dual BA degree in Interdisciplinary Studies/Special Education and Dance/Performing Arts with honors. Currently, Javonne is a high school instructor teaching Creative Movement/Dance, and Performing Arts drama and theater classes at Sugar Creek Charter High School.
EMMA MANION
Emma Manion, originally from Philadelphia, PA, began dancing at age three. She grew up training in the pre-professional program at the Mill Ballet School where she studied ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, and musical theater. At Mill Ballet, Emma was a student assistant for children’s classes and the educational outreach program. She also danced with Roxey Ballet Company in their professional productions and educational assemblies. Emma graduated from Temple University with a Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resources and a minor in Dance. Throughout her time at Temple, she performed works by Kun-Yang Lin, Brain Sanders, T. Lang, and Yael Bartana, among others. She was also a company member of Expansions Contemporary Dance. Emma’s background in business administration and passion for dance education led her to the Education & Community Engagement team at Charlotte Ballet.
LORRAINE CRITTENDON
Lorraine, originally from Indianapolis, IN, graduated from UNC Charlotte in 2012 with a B.A. in Dance. Classically trained, Lorraine has a focus in Latin and African dance arts. She currently teaches middle and high school dance for a local title one charter school and is an active member of Sigma Gamma Rho Sorority Inc. As a dance professional, she currently trains with three active Charlotte dance companies and is the newest teaching artist for Charlotte Ballet. Lorraine will receive her NC state certificate for Dance Education this Spring 2019; after which she’ll begin her masters in Dance from UNC Greensboro.
FREDDIE D. RIVERA
PERCUSSIONIST
Freddie began drumming at the early age of five with the Cuban Conga drum. He began studying the Djembe drum with lead musician of the Chuck Davis Dance Company, Mr. Ronald Love. Freddie has worked with Lee Strasberg School of Acting, Myers T’chaka Ensemble, Dance Africa New York, Stevie Wonder, Stacey Latersaw, National Ballet of Guinea West Africa, Chuck Davis and the African American Dance Ensemble. Freddie can be noted as one of the first musicians to perform Ballet Monsoka. In 1992 he was the first drummer to open the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre School to traditional Guinea style drumming. Freddie is currently working in the education and outreach department with Charlotte Ballet.
