The Cuban Project Miami 2023

DENNIS C. MOSS CULTURAL ARTS CENTER PRESENTS
Artistic Director
Leymis Bolaños Wilmott
CUBAN PROJECT
My Story, Your Story, Our Story
Partially Supported by the
JOHNSON/SINGER ART
AND EDUCATION FUND
Ticket Sponsors
OVERTURE GROUP
Travel Sponsor
AMERANT
BANK
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ABOUT THE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Leymis Bolaños Wilmott,
a Cuban-American artist, mother, and teacher
with rhythm inextricably in her bones, found
her voice through dance at an early age. As
the Founder and Artistic Director of Sarasota
Contemporary Dance, she has the privilege
of using those bones to create “stunning
and imaginative” art by Carrie Seidman of
the Herald Tribune. As an Artist-in-Residence
at New College of Florida, she has the
opportunity to share her love of dance and
to be an influential member of Florida’s
dance community. Featured in Sarasota
Scene Magazine’s Arts & Cultural Issue: Ladies of the Arts, Leymis has received
numerous artistic achievement and leadership awards throughout her career. She
was honored to receive the Dance Magazine “Southeast Best Choreographer” award
and was listed in Sarasota Magazine as one of the Top 28 Most Powerful People in
the Arts. Her 80+ dance works include collaborations with artists and organizations
of various disciplines, from musicians to museums. Collaborative highlights include
Sarasota Orchestra, Choral Artists of Sarasota, Westcoast Black Theater Troupe, Asolo
Rep, Salvador Dalí Museum, Kaleidoscope, John and Mable Ringling Museum, Art
Center of Sarasota, Stephen Miles of New Music New College, composer Eduard
Cosla, percussionist Scott Blum, Mark Dancigers of NOW Ensemble, multitalented
Francis Schwartz, and legendary principal harpist, Ann Hobson Pilot. Her works have
been performed nationally at the John F. Kennedy Center, Ailey Citigroup Theater
in NYC, Colony Theater, and Jackie Gleason Theatre in Miami and internationally in
Ramallah, Argentina, and Spain. Leymis pioneered the Dance and Healing certificate
at the University of Florida and holds a Master of Fine Arts in Performance and
Choreography from Florida State University. Her research in dance as a healing art
form and its ability to harness and foster community building came to fruition in
2006 when she and Rachael Inman founded Fuzión Dance Artists, now Sarasota
Contemporary Dance. Leymis is a professor of dance at New College of Florida and
a certified Pilates instructor. Through her Dance for PD certificate experience, she
founded and developed the dance program at Parkinson’s Place in 2012. She served
as Vice President of the Florida Dance Association from 2013-2017 and is a member of
the Arts and Health Coalition in Sarasota. Her most precious honor, however, is being
married to her husband, Kavin, of sixteen years and mother to twelve-year-old Charles
Edward and six-year-old Valda Elizabeth, who inspires her dance-making daily.
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ARTISTS
Juliana Cristina (Dancer) was born in West Palm
Beach, FL. A graduate of the University of North Carolina
School of the Arts (UNCSA). She received her B.F.A Degree
in Dance under the direction of American Ballet Theatre
(ABT) Director Susan Jaffe and Brenda Daniels. Juliana has
studied in multiple Trainee Programs, such as the Nashville
Ballet and Ballet Palm Beach. Mrs. Cristina was a former
dancer for The Palm Beach Opera and has performed works
by internationally known artists, including Azure Barton,
Kira Blazek, Helen Simoneau, Ming Lung-Yang, Juel D. Lane, Orange Grove, and Martha
Graham. Juliana currently teaches at various studios within the SRQ community,
including Diane Partington Studio of Classical Ballet, and as an SCD Teaching Artist.
Mrs. Cristina is in her Fifth season as a company member and is the Development/
Marketing Lead for Sarasota Contemporary Dance. Juliana joined the SCD Community
because she felt the company’s moral and core values as a dancer, performer, and
artist were hers. Sarasota Contemporary Dance creates a healthy and loving working
environment she fell in love with right after graduating college. A true Floridian, Mrs.
Cristina’s family resides in Florida, and moving back was a way to stay close to home
and join an arts community that values her as an artist both on and off the stage.
Jordan Leonard (Dancer) grew up in Michigan, where
her love for the performing arts developed. Through her
training, she discovered dance’s endless possibilities in
exploration and story-telling. The idea that she would
never stop learning intrigued her, and she began her
journey at Point Park University, earning a Bachelor of Fine
Arts in Dance, a Bachelor of Science in Pre-Medical and
Pre-Professional Studies, and a Minor in Chemistry. While
at the conservatory, she had the privilege of performing
works by Larry Keigwin, John Heginbotham, Mark Burrell, Jess Hendricks, Garfield
Lemonius, Kiesha Lalama, Jason McDole, Robert Priore, and others. She furthered her
training at Keigwin & Company, Sarasota Contemporary Dance, and Chuthis summer
intensives. Jordan also enjoys choreographing and recently had the opportunity to
collaborate on a full-length performance at SCD with company member Samantha
Miller. She also has set work on Sarasota Contemporary Dance Ensemble. Dance
education is an important part of her life, and she strives to promote positivity, strong
foundations in technique, individuality, and self-acceptance in her classes. She taught
at SCD, New College of Florida, and Woodland Fine Arts Academy in Florida. When she
is not dancing or teaching, Jordan enjoys working in clinical research and spending
time with family. Jordan desired to join SCD because the company is a family, and it
fosters a safe environment to grow in artistry. The company constantly provides growth
opportunities in performance, choreography, and teaching. Jordan is excited and
honored to be a part of the SCD family; this is her third season!
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Samantha Miller (Dancer) is an emerging dance
artist from Kendallville, Indiana. She trained for 16 years
in tap, jazz, ballet, and modern at Tri-County Dance
Academy for the Performing Arts. In 2013, Samantha
continued her studies at the University of the Arts
in Philadelphia under the direction of Donna Faye
Burchfield. While at the UArts, Samantha performed
works by Curt Haworth, Douglas Becker, Esther Baker
Tarpaga, Jen McGinn, Sidra Bell, Robert Burden, and
Lauren Putty White. She also worked with Jeanine McCain, performing her work
“Under Her Skin” at the Philadelphia Fringe Art Festival in 2015. Samantha received
her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance in May 2016 and is now exploring the world
of dance in St. Petersburg, FL. Since residing in Florida, Samantha has been able to
perform professionally with local artists, has been involved with dance theater dance
performances, and has been featured in dance photography showcases. She has been
a dancer with RogueDance Company, teaching and choreographing at Jeannelynn
Dance Studio, growing their contemporary program for 7 years. She has also been
a teaching artist for Sarasota Contemporary Dance and is a teaching artist at New
College of Florida. Samantha has been able to present works for SCDs Voices and
collaborate with company member Jordan Leonard to present an In-Studio full-length
performance. Samantha came to SCD during the pandemic, where she found a new
love for performance and sharing stories. She found a home here, and this will be her
4th season with the company. Samantha has a true passion for dance and art and
hopes to continue growing and sharing her knowledge with younger dancers. Dance
performance brings Samantha so much joy that she hopes to spread that joy and
fulfillment in her dancing and choreography. In her words, “all I want to do is dance.”
Samantha joined SCD to find a community of like-minded people who shared her
passion for dance and performance. SCD has an incredible platform to grow as an
individual artist, and that is an important part of her dance journey.
Jessica Obiedzinski (Dancer/Rehearsal Assistant)
is a native, 6th-generation Floridian living in St.
Petersburg. In 2018, Jessica was allowed to join the SCD
Community to make her career about learning and
growing through dance. She was excited at the prospect
of surrounding herself with like-minded individuals
who pushed themselves physically and creatively by
performing and making art, and it stuck! Leymis saw
even more potential to grow and continues to draw it forward. It is truly a rare gift.
Jessica has been dancing for five consecutive seasons with the Company, acting
as a dance performer, choreographer, and rehearsal director. Jessica has presented
choreographic works in the Tampa Bay area for SCD Voice’s Rising Choreographers in
2021 and, most recently, through the Hermitage Cross Arts Collaborative residency.
She has been a company member with Elizabeth Streb, Susan Vencl, and Beth Soll’s
companies in New York and worked extensively with Lynn Simonson and Laurie
DeVito on Simonson technique methods. She teaches Pilates and Yoga and is a
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certified Simonson Dance Technique instructor. She has taught Yoga and Simonson
technique classes in Florida at SCD and New College of Florida. In her spare time, she
likes to spend time with her dog, play musical instruments, and spend time in bodies
of water. Her choreographic inspiration comes from patterns in nature and the ways
the body copes with life’s unexpected tides. Jessica loves wellness practices and is
currently exploring the topic of mental health and the roles that trauma plays in
our physical bodies—taking time to listen internally through journaling, watercolor
painting, and, of course, dance-making.
Melissa Rummel (Dancer) was raised in Dryden,
Michigan, where she started dancing at seven. She
graduated from Belhaven University with a BFA in dance,
emphasizing modern dance and choreography. She
has trained with companies such as Eisenhower Dance
Ensemble, RiverNorth Chicago, Ad Deum Dance Company,
and Sarasota Contemporary Dance. This is Melissa’s Eighth
season with Sarasota Contemporary Dance and fourth as
Studio Coordinator. Melissa is the Associate Director for
SCD Ensemble(Student Training program) and the SCD Summer Intensive Director.
She is passionate about teaching and teaches with SCD and Woodland Fine Arts
Academy. She also enjoys fitness and its positive effect on others, and she strives to
find new ways to combine her love of dance and fitness. She strives to never stop
stretching herself as a performer, choreographer, and teacher.
Monessa Salley (Dancer) South Carolina native
Monessa Salley, has been with SCD for five consecutive
seasons, dancing, performing, choreographing, and
teaching professionally with Sarasota Contemporary
Dance Company, serving as Production Lead for the past
two seasons. After attending an SCD summer intensive in
2015, she knew this was a special organization, but it was
not until 2019 that she seized an opportunity to join this
unique company. Her desire to build community relations
aligns with the company’s mission, in addition to it being a safe and nurturing
space that fosters artistic growth in performance, teaching, and choreography. In
addition to her work at SCD, she is a Teaching Artist for New College of Florida an
adjunct Dance Educator for the Booker High School VPA Dance Department. She
serves as an Arts Integration Teaching Artist for several organizations, including The
Van Wezel Performing Arts Hall, Wholehearted Education, and Suncoast Black Arts
Collaborative. Salley enjoys choreographing for musical theater and recently served
as Assistant Choreographer for West Coast Black Theater Troupe. She began training
in dance at a young age and is well-versed in various genres. She holds a B.A. in Dance
Performance from Winthrop University and a Masters of Education in Divergent
Learning from Columbia College. After continued education and serving as a certified
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Dance Educator and Theater Production Manager for 12 years in SC public school,
she went on to pursue her MFA in Dance Performance and New Media at New York
University’s Tisch School of Arts. She has toured and performed professionally with
Sapphire Moon Dance Company, Vibrations Dance Company, T.O. Dance Inc., The
Power Company Collaborative, and NYU’s Second Avenue Dance Company. Salley
enjoys sharing the joy and passion of dance with all ages. She has a “mind, body,
spirit” approach to dance and relishes refining her craft as a performer and teacher,
promoting health, healing, and happiness through dance and enhancing community
relations. Predominantly teaching Tap, Afro-Fusion, and Kids classes, Salley is inspired
by rhythm, culture, and dance as a universal language. When not dancing, she enjoys
reading, spending time with loved ones and her dogs, outdoor and aquatic activities
in nature, viewing sunsets, and doing anything that makes her laugh out loud!
MaKayla Lane (Apprentice) was born and raised
in Dallas, Texas, where she found her love for dance
at the Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts. She then
attended Point Park University, earning a Bachelor of
Fine Arts in spring 2023. During her time at Point Park,
she has performed in various works by Jason McDole,
Jesse Factor, Kiesha Lalama, Kiki Lucas, and others.
While in Pittsburgh, she also took part in events within
the community. She has performed with the Pittsburgh
CLO, Botanic Gardens, and the world-renowned Pittsburgh Steelers. As much as
she loves the stage, she also loves to teach and choreograph. Working with Dance
Masters 2022, as well as various studios around the area, MaKayla has been able to
inspire many young dancers. After graduation, MaKayla moved to Sarasota to expand
her artistic talents as a dancer, instructor, and choreographer. This will be her first
season dancing with Sarasota Contemporary Dance. MaKayla is also thrilled to join
the community as a SCD and Woodland Fine Arts Academy teacher. She is passionate
about inspiring others and will continue to do so through her artistic voice.
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GUEST PERFORMERS AND MUSICIANS
PRE-SHOW PERFORMANCE
Miami Guitar Duo is a twin sister classical guitar
duo from Miami, Florida. Patricia and Angela
Hernandez have shared the love of guitar since
the age of 7 years old. Throughout the 13 years of
playing, Angela and Patricia have individually won
1st place and other awards in various solo guitar
competitions such as Florida Guitar Foundation
Youth Competition, Florida State University Guitar
Competition, James Stroud Competition and more. They have had numerous master
classes with esteemed guitarists such as: Manuel Barrueco, Texas Guitar Quartet,
Martha Masters, Brazil Guitar Duo, and many more. They both now study at the Frost
School of Music, University of Miami, with professor and head of the classical guitar
program Rafael Padron. Their music consists of various styles including but not limited
to Hispanic, Spanish, Cuban, Classical, Romantic, Baroque, Brazilian, and contemporary.
Brian Dean Fidalgo II (Dancer) is a 3rd generation
Tampanian. He has been an active member of the arts in
Tampa for over two decades. While attending Howard W.
Blake Magnet Arts High School, dance called to him. There,
he fell in love with the duality of physicality and emotion
without vocal expression. After college, dance led him in
many directions, performing with numerous local companies,
including Spanish Lyric Theatre (Tampa), The Florida Orchestra,
Fuzion Dance (Sarasota), Gaudere Danza (Tampa), Moving
Ethos (Sarasota), Moving Current dance collective (Tampa) and Ledges and Bones
(Los Angeles/ San Francisco). His national and international projects have taken him
to places such as California, Utah, New York, St. Louis, Seattle, and Colombia. Brian
is a past recipient of the Hillsborough County Emerging Artist Grant, Florida Dance
Association’s Choreographer in Residence, and 25 to Watch from Creative Loafing. He
has been honored to work with inspiring artists: Holly Johnston, Paul Matteson, Lynne
Wimmer, Nina Watt, Andy & Dionne Noble, and many others. He has choreographed
for St. Petersburg College, MusInc, and SLT productions (The Full Monty) and served
as co-artistic Director of the Moving Current dance collective. He co-developed the
base//flight partnering technique for modern dance with his life partner, Erin Cardinal.
Together, they have taught and presented at festivals and schools, including the
American College Dance Festival, Howard W Blake Magnet High School (Semester
Residency), Dance Gallery Festival (Sam Houston State University), Dr. Phillips High
School (Orlando), and Hillsborough Community College, to name a few. With his family,
he continues to explore the human condition by both experiencing life to the fullest
and artistically investigating the choices we make in life. He spends his days working in
IT as a Service Manager for PriceWaterhouseCoopers Llp.
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Michael Foley (Dancer) has performed, taught,
and choreographed internationally for nearly 30 years.
His choreography has been commissioned by major
international dance companies from the U.S., Mexico, Ireland,
Italy, Sweden, the Dominican Republic, Cuba, Panama, and
the Cirque du Soleil organization. Michael received his MFA
in Dance from the University of Washington and has taught
workshops and master classes at over 100 universities,
academic institutions, dance festivals, and private studios
around the globe. Michael has received numerous recognitions for his work in the
Arts, including a William J. Fulbright scholarship from the United States government
for his research and teaching in Mexico with Delfos Danza Contemporànea, a
Kennedy Center/American Theater Festival Award, and he was the Ruth Page Visiting
Artist at Harvard University. In 2019, he received the Chicago National Association
of Dance Masters’ “Artistic Achievement Award.” Michael is currently a Professor of
Dance at the University of South Florida, where he is also director/creator of the USF
Dance in Paris Programs. He is thrilled to be a part of Cuban Project and working
with this inspiring group of artists.
Valda Elizabeth Wilmott (Dancer) is a confident
six-year-old new to performing on stage and premiered in
2022 in the Cuban Project. Her favorite dish is empanadas,
which she enjoys making with her mom and adding her own
special sauce. She likes all things that sparkle and hearts.
She hopes to grow up and become a fashion designer who
makes costumes for her mom’s company dancers.
José G. Martínez (Composer)
José’s music incorporates a wide range
of influences from Colombian folk
tunes to contemporary composition
techniques while borrowing from Latin
music, heavy metal, and audio sampling
techniques. His works range from solo
pieces with electronics to orchestral works,
passing through chamber ensembles,
electroacoustic pieces, and interdisciplinary collaborations. Among others, his music
has been performed by groups such as Alarm Will Sound, Wild Up, Grammy awardwinning
quartet Third Coast Percussion. An alumnus in percussion and composition
of the National University of Colombia, he studied composition at the University of
Missouri and UT Austin. José was a Visiting Professor at East Carolina University
and New College of Florida. Currently, he is an Assistant Professor of Music at
Colby College.
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José’s music has also been presented by Spanish ensemble Taller Sonoro, LA-based
Piano duo Hockett Duo, the Orchestra of St. Luke’s from New York City, Grupo de
Cámara de Bogotá, and Austin-based percussion ensemble Line Upon Line, among
others. He has participated in institutes and festivals such as the Banff Ensemble
Evolution program, DeGaetano, Splice, SEAMUS, Missouri International Composer
Festival, Line Upon Line Winter Composer Festival, ClarinetFest, and VIPA.
José is a recipient of the 2008 National Composition Prize for Young Composers, the
2011 “Ciudad de Bogotá” Composition Award, and the 2013 National Cultural Prize.
The US has received the 2013 Sinquefield Composition Prize and the 2019 Rain Water
Grant for Innovation. He is part of the C3 Collective and the artistic director of the
concert series Stack Overflow, which creates opportunities for composers interested
in electronics.
Hugo Viera-Vargas (Accompanied Musician) is a
cultural historian whose research focuses on the intersection
of race and musical expressions in Puerto Rican and Caribbean
societies. His teaching interests include Afro-Caribbean
musical expressions, Latin American and Caribbean History,
Race relations in the Caribbean, and Historical Thinking.
Celeste N. Silsby Mannerud (Lighting Designer
Technical Director) is co-founder of Flip Flop Productions and
specializes in design and archival for theatrical and private
events. She received her BA in theatre design from USF and
her MFA in design management from IADT, and her repertoire
includes lighting design and production video/ photography
for local and international dance and theatre companies; stage
lighting instruction at various Florida colleges; and production
management, technical/artistic design, and lighting/audio installations for the
Dali Museum, Tampa Museum of Art, L’Unione Italiana Ybor City, and ArtLab Studios
in Germany. Aside from her “real job,” Celeste is renovating an old Airstream to tour
the U.S. and is most at peace when under sail with her husband, Andreas,
and son, Cobyn.
THANK YOU TO OUR SPONSORS
TRAVEL SPONSOR
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TIMELINE OF EVENTS
1959
Revolution ends;
Fidel Castro overthrows
Fulgenico Batista
(Jan 1)
1961 - March
Cuba becomes
communist state
(Mar 1)
US ends all diplomatic
relations with Cuba
(Mar 27)
1961 - October
Siblings Laida (10),
Justo (9), and
Leandro (6) Ruíz
leave Cuba (Oct 3)
Siblings Helio (13),
Renaldo (10), &
Martica (8) Ruîz
leave Cuba (Oct 31)
1960
Cuba allies with
Soviet Union
Operación Pedro Pan
begins (Dec)
1961 - April
Bay of Pigs invasion
fails (Apr 15)
1962 - F
Jose Migu
Marta (13
leave Cub
PERFORMANCE PROGRAM
Pre-show performance by Miami Duo Guitar
September 28-October 1, 2023
The Moss Center
Dennis C. Moss Cultural Arts Center
La Familia (The Family)
Juliana Cristina, Brian Fidalgo II, Michael Foley,
Jordan Leonard, Samantha Miller, Jessica Obiedzinski,
Melissa Rummel, Monessa Salley, Valda Elizabeth Wilmott
La Salida (The Departure)
Voice of Helio A. Ruíz
Featuring Valda
Los Padres (The Parents)
Featuring Monessa & Michael
Reflections & Real
Voice of Carolina Garcia
(Dos Patrias Poem by Jo
Featuring Jordan & Juli
Seperados (Separa
Featuring Monessa, Mic
Las Maletas (The S
La Pelota (The Ba
Voice of Jose Migue
Featuring Brian Fida
Desempacar (U
Voice of Betty Galve
Featuring Jessica Ob
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1962 - April
Helio and siblings
are reunited with
parents (late April)
1962 - October
Cuban Missile Crisis
(Oct 16-28)
The US and Cuba shut their
borders, leaving 8,000
children waiting to reunite
with their parents.
Operación Pedro Pan
ends (Oct)
1967
Jose Miguel and
Marta are reunited
with their parents
(Feb)
ebruary
el (12) and
) Bolaños
a (Feb 6)
1962 - June
Laida and brothers
are reunited with
parents (late June)
1965
Freedom Flights
begin (Dec 1)
An agreement between the
US and Cuba providing flights
between Cuba and Miami to
help reunite families.
izations
Serpa
sé Martí)
ana
ted)
hael, Juliana & Jordan
uitcases)
ll)
l Bolaños
lgo II
npacking)
z & Michelle Arnette
iedzinski
Las Hermanas (The Sisters)
Voice of Leandro J. Ruíz
Featuring Melissa Rummel and Samantha Miller
La Pecera (The Fishbowl)
Voice of Laida Ruíz Bolaños
Featuring Leymis Bolaños Wilmott
Los Niños (The Children)
Voice of Helio A. Ruíz
Featuring La Familia
How ironic that they chose that name [..] Peter Pan, the child who
never grew up. No, I grew up overnight; I ceased being a child the
moment I became part of the Pedro Pan Operation.”
– Armando Mendez, Pedro Pan
Excerpted from HistoryMiami Museum Archives
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Artistic Director
Leymis Bolaños Wilmott
exhale
18TH SEASON | 2023-2024
NOV 30–DEC 3
SCD + WBTT
PRODUCING SPONSORS: SHANE & MONIQUE CHALKE
JAN 18-21
EVOLVING/REVOLVING:
ALYSON DOLAN &
DREW SILVERMAN
MUSIC SPONSOR: BERNARD FRIEDLAND
MAR 14-17
DANCE MAKERS
PRODUCING SPONSOR: SAM ALFSTAD
MAY 2-5
VOICES –
RISING CHOREOGRAPHERS
DANCE SPONSORS: THE EXCHANGE & OVERTURE GROUP
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To become a Producer,
contact Dan Barzel: Dan.Barzel@gmail.com

Artistic Director
Leymis Bolaños Wilmott
Audience Survey
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Artistic Director Leymis Bolaños Wilmott
1400 Blvd of the Arts, Suite 300, Sarasota, FL 34236
info@sarasotacontemporarydance.org | 941.260.8485
SarasotaContemporaryDance.org
SARASOTA CONTEMPORARY DANCE IS A NON-PROFIT 501(C)(3) ORGANIZATION.
SCD PHOTOS BY SORCHA AUGUSTINE
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