Kent Alexander is the author of five non-fiction books and numerous stage plays. His work has been produced in various theatres throughout the Unites States. While based in NYC, Kent conducted theatre-related workshops at the FDR Veteran’s Hospital in Montrose, New York with adult psychiatric patients using theater to confront issues of identity, anxieties due to long-term substance abuse, PTSD, and displacement when attempting to re-integrate into civilian life. Through The Working Theatre of NYC, Kent facilitated theatre workshops that examined issues of race, sexual discrimination and isolation, staging over 150 plays written by NYC non-uniformed union members. Kent is a lifetime member of The Ensemble Studio Theatre of New York City and a co- founder of the award-winning BluesEnBop Theatre Company. Currently, Kent is also the Director of Intercultural Programming at Elms College in Chicopee, MA where he also co-teaches cultural competency classes.
Earthdance Board of Directors
Karen Bernard is a solo performance artist and Founder and Director of New Dance Alliance (NDA), which produces the Performance Mix Festival. As an artist and Director of NDA, she teaches, lectures and serves on advisory panels across the U.S., Canada and Europe. Her performance work has received critical acclaim, support through foundations and government grants, and residencies including a Bogliasco Fellowship. Bernard is committed to encouraging multi-disciplined performance at Earthdance and serves on the Programming Committee, as well as one of the curators and organizers of the E-Merge residency program.
Leslie Cohen-Rubury has a been a passionate member of the Earthdance community for the past 16 years although her ties to the community go back 23 years. She has served on the Earthdance Board of Directors for the past three years as the facilitator of the Board, and as point person for the Building and Grounds Committee. She has also served on a number of task forces committees including the Building and Grounds Master Plan TF, the Exec. Director Hiring TF, the Exec. Directors Evaluation task force, and currently on the 9 Mt. Task Force. Being involved with Earthdance at the Board level has allowed her to give back to and participate in this incredible organization and community.
Chisa Hidaka is Director of Dolphin Dance Project (www.dolphin-dance.org). A long time attendee at Earthdance workshops and jams, Chisa currently sits on the Board of Directors where she serves on the Nominating Task Force. Chisa also serves on the Contact Improvisation Committee, supporting the seasonal jams, as well as the Programming Committee. A practitioner of Contact Improvisation for over 20 years, Chisa's main focus is the Dolphin Dance Project, which brings together talented human dancers and wild dolphins, documenting their improvised underwater collaborative dance-making on film. With a BA in Dance from Barnard College and and MD from Cornell University Chisa also teaches Applied Anatomy at the Barnard Dance Department and is an Assistant Scientist in the Biostatistics and Epidemiology Department at the Hospital for Special Surgery in New York City.
Lisa Martineau Shaw has a professional background in film, theatre and fine art and is a graduate of Tufts and the School of the Museum of Fine Arts. Her participation in civic service spans from 1990, when she chaired committees for long range planning in her hometown. She is a frequent jam and workshop participant in the Earthdance, CI and Dance New England communities. She joined the Board in 2009, and has served on committees and task forces since 2007, including the Staffing Committee, Fundraising Committee, Building Code Task Force and Bylaw Task force, and is a dedicated participant at volunteer work weekends. Her belief in the Earthdance mission and love and gratitude for the community are what motivated her to serve as a committee and Board member.
Justis Hatch
Jen Harmon
Robin Shaw
