antelope dance project
Yael Shtainer (artistic director) was born and raised in Israel. Upon graduating from the Kibbutz dance academy in Israel in 1990, she won first prize in the "Gvanim Bemahol" competition for student choreographers in Tel-Aviv. Since moving to New York City in 1991 she has performed with various choreographers and showed her own work at venues such as Dance Theater Workshop and Contex. She founded Antelope Dance Project in 2007. Yael is a Core energetics therapist and a Reiki Master and enjoys exploring the connection between art and healing.
Sarah Andrew joined the Antelope Dance Project after being inspired by a previous Antelope Dance Performance "CircleinNY." Sarah enjoys dancing to help relieve stress and as a means to express her creative side. When not dancing with other Antelopers, you can find Sarah belly-dancing, swimming, and taking it easy at the park. As a means to provide for herself, she works as an assistant to three Partners at Cahill Gordon & Reindel, LLP. Sarah pours the rest of her heart and soul into her 9 year old pug dog - Mr. Puppy. Sarah would like to thank Yael, Kate C., Kate J., Stacey, Theo, Daniel, Suzanne, & Mr. Puppy for inspiring her to continue dancing over the past couple of months.
Kate Collins spends most of her time using her brain to study human emotion and behavior as a psychotherapist and a Ph.D. student in Neuroscience. However, thanks to Yael, she is also able to use her body in this same pursuit. She would like to express her gratitude to and love for: Yael, Sarah, (the other) Kate, Stacey, Theo, & Korcea (her co-conspirators in this operation) as well as James (her partner), Mom, & Dad (her parents), Mike, Pete, Chris, Liz, Matt, & Grace (her siblings), Anne& Ted (her aunt and uncle), Bailey, Ffred, Connor (and Liam) (the puppies), who always let her dance in the living room, and sometimes even join her.
So here is this dude who up until 6 months ago couldn't even sit indian style. What on earth is this guy thinking joining a modern dance company? This, along with a lot of cursing, was the question running through Theo Ellis's mind when he first joined the Antelope Dance project. Between Acting auditions, freelance editing for a human rights organization, bar tending at night, production jobs, class, filming and making music. Living in the city, for Theo is a very strange and busy experience. So why? As someone who strives to be an artist, any chance to open up the creative instrument is worth the time. What began as an experiment to test the boundaries of personal comfort, body and mind, became an experience Theo Ellis will never forget for the rest of his life. Theo would like to thank Yael for whipping him into shape (both figuratively and literally) Kate J., Kate C., Sarah and Stacey.
Kate Jackman has a long history of performing dance, music and theater. Her most recent starring roles include Wife and Mother in the dramatic adaptation of Her Own Life. When she gets paid for her work, she is a nurse. From beginnings in ballet and modern dance, she now dances Argentine Tango, when she gets a chance. What fascinates her about tango is the conversation without speaking. She also thoroughly enjoys dancing with the wonderful people involved in Meta.
Stacey Shapiro began dancing with sequins, jazz hands and tap shoes and has slowly shifted to a more barefoot, investigative and upside down way of moving. She keeps a complicated schedule, traveling to the end of Queens and back to help with an arts program in public schools, do grant writing for a modern dance company, and teach Chinese to children. Working with antelope dance project has been a major outlet for her unstoppable improvising, bursts of enthusiasm and inability to sit still. She's leaving for China in a matter of hours.
Khaled Dajani (guitar and vocals) is a musician and songwriter from the Middle East. He
moved to New York City to share his music and learn more about what
music has to offer. Khaled's career has earned him many achievements
and exposed him to a range of cultures and musical journeys. He aims
to be a well versed and disciplined musician. You can learn more
about Khaled at http://khaledis.me
Ken Ficara (harmonica) is a Brooklyn songwriter and musician whose primary background is in traditional American music (old-time, traditional blues, country and bluegrass) and original songs. Over the last year or so he has been developing a new genre called "Harmonitronica," based on his lifelong interest in electronica and experimental music. Combining the organic and vocal nature of the harmonica with the layering and atmospherics of ambient music, Harmonitronica is harmonica like you have never heard it before.