dNaga FAM

Ceressa Allen began her lifelong relationship to physical art as a five year old in gymnastics. She built strength, character, and connections with her gymnastics team-mates over a period of 8 years. Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Hatian, Congolese, Guini, Contemporary and Afro-Brasilian are the dance forms she is most familiar with. In response to the current public health pandemic, she’s developed Tempo, an online dance experience specifically for folks who are either new to the Urban Dance form or who do not consider themselves dancers. She loves creating and facilitating meaningful connections, spending quality time with her two sons, living healthfully, and deepening her spiritual practices. Laughter is also an essential component of her everyday life.

Selma-Louise Asantewa Apara grew up in the African dance community, following after her older sisters who are professional dancers. She has studied different dance styles such as hip hop, jazz, ballet, modern, and many dance styles from the African diaspora such as Samba. She danced with Dimensions Extensions Performance Ensemble in Oakland from 2017-2018 and attended AileyCamp at UC Berkeley during the summer of 2018. She is currently a sophomore at Howard University, studying Computer Science and Theater Arts.

Roz Aronson got her start as a dance accompanist at a summer camp for girls in the Adirondacks, NY with Margery Mazia (Margery Guthrie). She worked at Purdue University and in the West Lafayette, IN public schools. She has studied theory and composition and written scores for several plays for children’s theater and University theater. Roz has two sons and four grandchildren, one of whom, Bebe Aronson, studied at Danspace and danced with dNaga. “It is my joy to play for Claudine and the dancers of DFPD, to be with their creativity, their spontaneity, and their courage in self expression.”

Yael Berrol has danced since she was seven, exploring styles such as ballet, modern, hip hop, jazz, and composition. Yael began working with dNaga Dance Company in 2013. She has been a part of the PEACE, FREEDOM, and GIRL Projects and attended the 2016 and 2019 World Parkinson’s Congresses in Portland and Kyoto. Inspired by her work with dNaga and Parkinson’s Disease, Yael is currently pursuing a bachelor’s degree in cognitive science at UC Davis. She continues to support dNaga as rehearsal director.

Seosaimhín Black is a passionate artist with extensive training in various dance styles, including Irish dancing, ballet, modern dance, and hip hop. They have spent 10 years training and performing with dNaga. Alongside their love for dance, Shosi is a skilled makeup artist and has a deep appreciation for clothing design; spearheading wardrobe & costumes for dNaga’s current show.

They grew up singing and performing Irish folk music with their family’s band, The Black Family, and continues to sing in a Gospel Choir at school. Currently pursuing studies in psychology at UC Berkeley, they aim to merge their artistic interests with their academic pursuits.

Tracey Lindsay Chan began Chinese folk dance at the age of seven, performing in San Francisco’s Chinatown for 20+ years during Lunar New Year. At 16, after joining her school’s dance company, she quickly gravitated to contemporary movement creation and was nominated to choreograph for the Fort Mason Vision Series Festival under her assigned mentor, Deborah Slater. Across the following decade of obtaining her B.S. (Textiles) and M.S. (Human Factored Design), and developing a career in global research, she danced here and there, completing Broadway Dance Center’s ISVP program, the adult program at Academy of Ballet SF, and learned local dance styles (i.e. garba, konto) during her fieldwork in places like Brazil, India and Nigeria. In 2021, Tracey realized that dance is her lifelong love, and it was time to commit to it. She quit her corporate job and dove into training. Since, she’s completed intensives with ArtÉmotionUSA, the Martha Graham School, The Galen Hooks Method, Runqiao Du Ballet Coaching, and Omega Floorwork. She is excited to have joined the dNaga Dance Ensemble and is in the process of creating her first dance film.

Jennifer Chan is thrilled to join dNaga in creating art and building connections in a new digital space. Performing since she was five years old, Jennifer completed her formal training at the San Francisco Ballet School and Joffrey Ballet School. In addition to classical ballet roles, her most inspirational work has been "Journey to the West," an adaptation of the 16th century Chinese historical adventure, which was composed by the revolutionary Fred Ho and performed by the Monkey Orchestra. Jennifer went on to study history and psychology at U.C. Berkeley and continued her graduate work in Chinese history and overseas Chinese at Harvard University. She currently edits children's books and young adult literature, with a focus of culturally diverse communities. With dNaga, she is inspired by the stories of Asian American leaders, past and present, and is excited to be working with such dynamic dancers as they explore social, cultural, and gender identity through performance art.

Carolyn Choy has danced since she was five, starting with ballet, and began exploring styles such as modern and jazz in high school. She danced and choreographed with a student-run dance company, A Different Drum, at Yale University.  She now works at Community Arts Stabilization Trust (CAST), a community-centered real estate organization committed to ensuring artists and cultural workers can stay anchored where they create. CAST works in deep partnership with communities across the San Francisco Bay Area, particularly communities that have endured systemic oppression and historical underinvestment. It was through CAST’s work with EastSide Arts Alliance that Carolyn initially connected with dNaga, and officially joined the company in 2023.

Annamarta Dostourian was born in Massachusetts, received her BA from Clark University and attended San Francisco Art Institute. She has exhibited at 5 Claude Lane Gallery, Mina Dresden Gallery, SOMArts Cultural Center, and 111 Minna Gallery (San Francisco), Berkeley Art Center (Berkeley), Creative Growth Art Center, Studio Quercus (Oakland), O’Hanlon Center for the Arts (Mill Valley) and Abrams Claghorn Gallery (Albany). Her work was selected for the California Finale Juried Exhibition through RUSH Philanthropic Arts Foundation in collaboration with Bombay Sapphire and 5 Claude Lane Gallery, and has been worn by models in Hot Couture Runway Shows at The Crucible, at the Port Moody Art Center (BC, Canada), and in Vicarious Reality (short film) created by Oliver De Lantsheer, (Billboard Magazine, Supernatural Factory) for 2016 Film Fashion Award by Nick Knight, (SHOWstudio London). Hear more of Annamarta’s story and see more of her stunning art pieces.

Marie Fontejon is a multi-faceted creative ranging from filmmaking, photography, and graphic design since 2015 within the Bay Area. What started off as just a wedding videographer led to more opportunities working on film sets, collaborating projects in her community, video editing, and digital design. Her sense of empathy and forward-thinking strategies continues to help her create engaging content online and offline.

Martha Friedberg is now retired from her 40-year immigration law practice in Oakland. As a child, she took ballet classes and over the years has enjoyed dabbling in other forms of dance including modern, Indian and salsa although, ironically, she never performed until having Parkinson’s. Martha was diagnosed with PD in 2010, and strives to face its challenges with courage, grace and grit. She is honored to be a part of our wonderful, whimsical dNaga dance company and Dance for PD classes.

Martha Friedberg マーサ・フリードバーグは2010年に診断が下りましたが、勇気と感謝と根性で、病気に明るく立ち向かっています。dNagaで踊ることは、今や生活の中心になりました。オークランドの患者を代表して、京都で踊れることを光栄に感じています。

Grace Marie Grafton’s most recent book, LENS, from Unsolicited Press, features poems inspired by California artists, 1853-2010. She is the author of six previous collections of poetry. Her themes range from lyrical sonnets to experimental prose poems, with a concentration on response to fine art. Ms. Grafton taught for many years in the California Poets In The Schools program, for which she was awarded twelve California Arts Council grants.  She was named Teacher of the Year by the River Of Words annual student poetry contest co-sponsored by Robert Hass, United States Poet Laureate. Born and raised in California’s San Joaquin Valley of a Finnish American farming family, she now lives in Oakland with her husband and their extended family.

Herb Heinz is still trying to figure out what music is, but he understands the joy it brings his life. Before he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, Herb was an experimental pop composer, and avoided dancing at all costs. In 2007 he stumbled into a dance class for Parkinson’s, and began to practice conscious, creative movement. As a DJ, Herb likes to play music for your head, heart, and hips: quirky, inventive, often intricate music with soul that grooves!

Melanie Hilario is a student in the Adult Ballet program at Danspace and volunteers with Dance for PD. A Bay Area native and long-time Oakland resident, she received her MFA in Creative Writing from Mills College. Co-creator of the middle grade graphic novel, Debian Perl: Digital Detective (Lion Forge, 2019), she continues to work on projects as part of Triple Dream Comics. While she didn’t grow up dancing, she is very grateful to be doing so now.

Richard Jackson, Jr. is a New Jersey native and an avid music lover who is guilty of influencing and nurturing his daughter, Jhia Jackson’s, love of music and dance.  His extensive library of over 1,500 of record albums (vinyl) and attending live performances, afforded him an opportunity to connect today’s music with its roots in yesterday’s artists. He is a graduate of Howard University, with a Bachelor’s degree in mechanical engineering, and Pepperdine University, with a Master’s degree in Business Administration. He has performed with dNaga dance company at the World Parkinson Congress in both Japan and Spain, and co-presented a research poster with Jhia at the World Parkinson Congress in Spain. He has also collaborated with Jhia on virtual and in-person works for the American Society for Bioethics and Humanities, and for the Joe Goode Performance Group. Richard, who has been living with Parkinson’s for over 20 years, has attended over 20 years of Jhia’s dance and cheer performances.

Michelle Johnston: My first memory of dance class is being asked to leave at age 5 for chasing the boys. It was a ballet class . In elementary school, we started learning Scottish country dance, which was compulsory for everyone. That was much more fun and turned into a lifetime love affair. When I got to America I was 24, I signed up for Scottish country dancing in Berkeley, but found the people to be far too serious about it.
When I was 63, I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and friends encouraged me to participate in Claudine’s dance for PD class. At first I said “no” finally I went. Dancing has taken on a new meaning in my life, playing a major role in my acceptance of Parkinson's. Working with Claudine , those with PD, those without , young and “old“ has  been inspirational, I am blessed to be part of this community.

Lucie Jerome has danced with dNaga's intergenerational dance company since she was seven years old. Born and raised in Oakland, she has studied myriad dance styles including modern, ballet, samba, salsa, afro-brazilian, butoh, swing, and blues. She has performed with dNaga in the Bay Area, New York City, Japan, and most recently Barcelona for the 2023 World Parkinson Congress. She received her B.A. in Psychology with a minor in Dance at Chapman University in Orange, California, and her Masters of Occupational Therapy at New York University. She currently lives in Brooklyn where she is an Occupational Therapist at NYU Langone Orthopedic Hospital.

Janey Madamba began dancing at the age of three. Her early training was in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz, then progressed into Hula, and Tahitian dance. In 2002, she started dancing professionally as a hip hop dancer and shortly after began developing herself as a choreographer. From 2002-2008 she danced with Freeplay Dance Crew, ultimately directing the non-profit dance company from 2007-2008. From 2007-2012, she was the artistic director of Funk4soul a hip hop fusion company. Janey has danced with Joe Landini, Allan Frias, dNaga Dance, the Academy of Hawaiian Arts, and has acted and danced in music videos for Joshua Klipp (featured on MTV Logo), Kenneth Ronquillo and Katastrophe. Janey has performed at the West Wave dance festival, San Francisco Hip Hop Dancefest, Women on the Way Festival, SF Pride, and the Palace of Fine Arts. She has taught dance classes in the bay area since 2005: she is currently teaching Adult Hip hop at Danspace in Oakland (Mondays at 7:30 p.m.). She is a resident choreographer with COterie DAnce under the artistic direction of Kimberly Valmore and is an active board member with both the Asian Pacific Islander Cultural Center and Dimensions Dance Theater.

Kathleen Meagher retired from law practice in 2010, and happily turned to several new interests and challenges, including sewing her own clothes and studying to be a docent at the San Francisco Asian Art Museum. Life presented her with another challenge when she was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2015. Fortunately, she had met Claudine Naganuma in her sewing class and was able to turn to Dance for PD® for support, inspiration and fun. With the encouragement of Claudine and the young dNaga dancers, she overcame her fears and travelled to Barcelona in 2023 to dance at the World Parkinson Congress. Kathleen is grateful every day for the blessings dance brings her.

Rose Nisker is a performer, teacher, director and arts administrator. At the age of eight, she made her debut with Gamelan Sekar Jaya at the Bali Arts Festival in Denpasar, and has performed across the globe including tours to Indonesia, Europe, China and throughout the US and Canada. She received her BA from UCLA in World Arts and has served as the Artistic Director of Les Aerielles, a youth aerial arts company in Oakland. She is the Program Manager of the renowned Balinese music and dance troupe Gamelan Sekar Jaya, and a principal actor in the internationally-touring Iranian theater production, “Feathers of Fire.”

Cathy Wake Quides always wanted to study dance growing up, and since joining Dance for PD® and dNaga she feels she is finally fulfilling her childhood dancing dream. She is inspired by those in her Dance for PD® class and by the members of dNaga, guided by the wonderfully talented and enthusiastic teacher, director and choreographer Claudine Naganuma. She is lifted up both physically and spiritually when dancing with the younger dNaga dancers. Cathy was diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2014 and retired 1-1/2 years later after a career as a pediatric nurse practitioner for patients with developmental disabilities. The courage and dignity with which her patients and their families and caregivers faced the challenges they encountered inspire her as she makes her journey as a person with Parkinson’s.
Cathy Wake Quides キャシー・ワケ・キーデスは2014年にパーキンソンと診断され、投薬によって症状をコントロールする努力をした後、2018年にDBS手術を受け、生活の質が改善されました。dNagaのダンサー達と踊っていると、身体的にも精神的にも元気が出ます。

Manny Torrijos is married to husband JS Tan.  They live in a typical New York condominium in the Clinton Hill neighborhood in Brooklyn.  Manny has 7 other siblings.  All but an elder sister reside in LA, California.  The elder sister lives in Hawaii.  Born in the Philippines, Manny moved to the United States in his 20’s with his family.  First living in Hawaii, then moving out on his own to San Francisco and finally to New York.  Born in Singapore and where most of JS’s family resides with the exception of a sister who now calls Vancouver home, JS move to New York in 2007.

Parkinson’s has affected his mobility and gait, and he notices an increase in rigidity and stooped posture as the disease progresses. Through his neurologist, Manny discovered the Dance for PD program a year after he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008.  And dancing helps Manny manage these changes.  Retired 6 years ago as a National Bank Examiner, Manny spent his post retirement life traveling, pursuing a masters degree in disability studies (which he has put on hiatus after his cancer surgery), enjoying film, music and theater performances at BAM and dancing at the Mark Morris Dance Center.  He also participates actively in several Parkinson’s conferences as both a participant as well as a panelist.

4 years ago, a malignant tumor was discovered lodged between Manny’s nasal and brain cavity.  Through radiation, chemotherapy and an operation, the tumor was removed.  Due to complications post surgery, he suffered a stroke and spent the next month in the hospital and another month in a rehab facility. A month after his discharge from rehab facility, he was back at the Mark Morris Dance Center.  He has been dancing since. It has been a little harder for him to get around these days due to the more pronounced symptoms but that doesn’t stop Manny from keeping weekly dance and fitness commitments with the help of his husband, JS.  Manny’s take “Dance and fitness positively impacts one’s movement, emotions and cognitive functions and is the next best thing to a cure.  It is not what is the matter with us but WHAT MATTERS to us”.

Gary Turchin is the author/illustrator of the cult classic picture book, If I Were You (Simon DeWitt 2011), and the award-winning (San Francisco Book Festival, 2013) illustrated verse collection, Ditty-Ditty Doggerel; A Life From Bad To Verse (Simon DeWitt 2012). In 2013, Sugartown Publications released his poetry collection, Falling Home. His most recent poetry book, PRE-MEDICATED Poems was published in 2021 by Naked Bulb. Gary used the early months of the pandemic to finish and publish a novel, Through a Broken Window, which subsequently won first place in the 2020 Best Indie Book Award—BIBA, mainstream fiction category— and the 2021 NYC BIG BOOK AWARD (first place, Sports Fiction).