Artistic Director’s Note

Welcome to another season of Verve at COCA! 

My predecessors have curated something truly special for you this season, and it is an honor to inherit a program of such pristine integrity and undeniable joy for dance. Thank you to the entire COCA family especially the wonderful Board of Directors, Indigo Sams, Shawna Flanigan, and Kirven Douthit-Boyd—for welcoming me into the fold. I do not take this position lightly.  

The COCA Dance Program is already in such a high place, and I am thrilled for you to see where we head next. Thank you for supporting COCAdance and Ballet Eclectica. 

Enjoy the show, 

Jay Staten 

Artistic Director of Dance 

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Program

FRI, MAY 8 | 7:00PM – SAT, MAY 9 | 7:00PM – SUN, MAY 10 | 1:00PM – SUN, MAY 10 | 5:00PM

FRI, MAY 8 | 7:00PM

Coppelia “Girlfriends” 

Choreographer: Lauren Anderson 

Music: Léo Delibes 

Ballet Eclectica 

Senior Solo

AJ Bentley  

Elles 

Choreographer: Julien Guérin 

Music: Erik Satie 

Ballet Eclectica 

Michelle Jing and Lexie Kummant 

Senior Solo 

Isabelle Williams 

Start to Finish 

Choreographer: My’Kal Stromile 

Music: Jlin 

Ballet Eclectica

AJ Bentley, Dwight Erdmann, & Zarah Vaughn 

Dedicated to Kristin Johnson, COCA Board President 

Senior Solo 

Lexie Kummant 

Senior Solo 

Fiona Van Allen 

It Ends in the Beginning 

Choreographer: Arpège Lundyn 

Music: Flying Lotus & Alfonso Peduto 

Ballet Eclectica 

INTERMISSION 

Iris After the Rain (Excerpt) 

Choreographer: Austin Coats 

Music: Sam Gendel & Carlos Niño 

COCAdance 

Senior Solo 

Eva Baxter 

Jest Gest 

Choreographer: Thang Dao 

Music: Elizabeth Skornik, Guy Skornik, Anne Sophie Versnaeyen, & Cody Lynn Boyd 

COCAdance 

Senior Solo 

Harper Clark 

Finding Peace 

Choreographer: Levi Marsmann 

Music: Nils Frahm 

COCAdance 

Senior Solo 

Michelle Jing 

Feels Kinda Blue 

Choreographer: Kirven Douthit-Boyd 

Music: Uwazi Zamani 

COCAdance

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SAT, MAY 9 | 7:00PM

Coppelia “Girlfriends” 

Choreographer: Lauren Anderson 

Music: Léo Delibes 

Ballet Eclectica 

Still, In Motion 

Choreographer: Carrie Fernandez 

Music: Ludovico and Leo Einaudi 

Ballet Eclectica Second Company 

Elles 

Choreographer: Julien Guérin 

Music: Erik Satie 

Ballet Eclectica 

Cast: Ava Phillips & Scarlett Tipton 

Paquita Pas de Deux 

Choreographer: Marius Petipa, coached by Ashley Hamann 

 Music: Ludwig Minkus 

Ballet Eclectica 

Start to Finish 

Choreographer: My’Kal Stromile 

Music: Jlin 

Ballet Eclectica 

Eva Baxter, Audrey McMillin, & Ava Phillips 

Dedicated to Kristin Johnson, COCA Board President 

Unboxed 

Choreographer: Carly Vanderheyden 

Music: Oliver Davis, Kerenza Peacock, Paul Bateman 

Ballet Eclectica Second Company 

It Ends in the Beginning 

Choreographer: Arpège Lundyn 

Music: Flying Lotus & Alfonso Peduto 

Ballet Eclectica 

INTERMISSION 

Iris After the Rain (Excerpt) 

Choreographer: Austin Coats 

Music: Sam Gendel & Carlos Niño 

COCAdance 

Plateau 

Choreographer: Dave McCall 

Music: Ethel Cain, Essie Jain 

COCAdance Second Company 

Finding Peace 

Choreographer: Levi Marsmann 

Music: Nils Frahm 

COCAdance 

Quickly Now 

Choreographer: Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson 

Music: Betty Carter 

COCAdance Second Company 

Feels Kinda Blue 

Choreographer: Kirven Douthit-Boyd 

Music: Uwazi Zamani 

COCAdance 

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SUN, MAY 10 | 1:00PM

Coppelia “Girlfriends” 

Choreographer: Lauren Anderson 

Music: Léo Delibes 

Ballet Eclectica 

Still In Motion 

Choreographer: Carrie Fernandez 

Music: Ludovico and Leo Einaudi 

Ballet Eclectica Second Company 

Elles 

Choreographer: Julien Guérin 

Music: Erik Satie 

Ballet Eclectica 

Ava Phillips & Scarlett Tipton 

Paquita Pas de Deux 

Marius Petipa, coached by Ashley Hamann 

Music: Ludwig Minkus 

Ballet Eclectica 

Start to Finish 

Choreographer: My’Kal Stromile 

Music: Jlin 

Ballet Eclectica 

Eva Baxter, Audrey McMillin, & Ava Phillips 

Dedicated to Kristin Johnson, COCA Board President 

Unboxed 

Choreographer: Carly Vanderheyden 

Music: Oliver Davis, Kerenza Peacock, Paul Bateman 

Ballet Eclectica Second Company 

It Ends in the Beginning 

Choreographer: Arpège Lundyn 

Music: Flying Lotus & Alfonso Peduto 

Ballet Eclectica 

INTERMISSION 

Jest Gest 

Choreographer: Thang Dao 

Music: Elizabeth Skornik, Guy Skornik, Anne Sophie Versnaeyen, & Cody Lynn Boyd 

COCAdance 

Plateau 

Choreographer: Dave McCall 

Music: Ethel Cain, Essie Jain 

COCAdance Second Company 

Finding Peace 

Choreographer: Levi Marsmann 

Music: Nils Frahm 

COCAdance 

Quickly Now 

Choreographer: Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson 

Music: Betty Carter 

COCAdance Second Company 

Feels Kinda Blue 

Choreographer: Kirven Douthit-Boyd 

Music: Uwazi Zamani

COCAdance 

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SUN, MAY 10 | 5:00PM

Coppelia “Girlfriends” 

Choreographer: Lauren Anderson 

Music: Léo Delibes 

Ballet Eclectica 

Still In Motion 

Choreographer: Carrie Fernandez 

Music: Ludovico and Leo Einaudi 

Ballet Eclectica Second Company 

Elles 

Choreographer: Julien Guérin 

Music: Erik Satie 

Ballet Eclectica 

Michelle Jing and Lexie Kummant 

Paquita Pas de Deux 

Choreographer: Marius Petipa, coached by Ashley Hamann 

Music: Ludwig Minkus 

Ballet Eclectica 

Start to Finish 

Choreographer: My’Kal Stromile 

Music: Jlin 

Ballet Eclectica 

AJ Bentley, Dwight Erdmann, & Zarah Vaughn

Dedicated to Kristin Johnson, COCA Board President 

Unboxed 

Choreographer: Carly Vanderheyden 

Music: Oliver Davis, Kerenza Peacock, Paul Bateman 

Ballet Eclectica Second Company 

It Ends in the Beginning 

Choreographer: Arpège Lundyn 

Music: Flying Lotus & Alfonso Peduto 

Ballet Eclectica 

INTERMISSION 

Jest Gest 

Choreographer: Thang Dao 

Music: Elizabeth Skornik, Guy Skornik, Anne Sophie Versnaeyen, & Cody Lynn Boyd 

COCAdance 

Plateau 

Choreographer: Dave McCall 

Music: Ethel Cain, Essie Jain 

COCAdance Second Company 

Finding Peace 

Choreographer: Levi Marsmann 

Music: Nils Frahm 

COCAdance 

Quickly Now 

Choreographer: Jorrell Lawyer-Jefferson 

Music: Betty Carter 

COCAdance Second Company 

Feels Kinda Blue 

Choreographer: Kirven Douthit-Boyd 

Music: Uwazi Zamani

COCAdance 

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Dance Companies

Ballet Eclectica First Company 

Ballet Eclectica Apprentice Company 

Audrey McMillin 

Evelyn Overmyer 

Scarlett Tipton 

Ballet Eclectica Jr. Apprentice Company 

Lillian Brine  

Willie Hartmann 

Jaidyn Madrid 

Bella Milligan 

Ballet Eclectica Second Company 

COCAdance First Company 

COCAdance Apprentice Company 

COCAdance Second Company 

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Production Team

Production Manager: Carolyn Carter

Stage Manager: Emily Birnstein

Technical Director: Cameron Tesson

Lighting Designer: Jayson Lawshee-Gress

Costume Manager: Cody Floyd

Assistant Stage Manager: Hayden Munro

Light Board Operator: Morgan Brennan

Sound Board Operator: Justin Foster

Artistic Team

Senior Director of Artistic Strategy & Programs: Shawna Flanigan

Artistic Director of Dance: Jay Staten

Interim Artistic Director of Dance: Kirven Douthit-Boyd

Dance Manager: Kate Bircher

Pre-Professional Division Manager: Rachel Schneider

Artistic Director, COCAdance: Kirven Douthit-Boyd

Ballet Eclectica Rehearsal Directors: Ashley Hamann, Carrie Fernandez, Carly Vanderheyden 

COCAdance Rehearsal Directors: Gabby Ray, Dave McCall

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Choreographers

Lauren Anderson

Native Houstonian Lauren Anderson danced with Houston Ballet from 1983 to 2006, performing leading roles in all the great classical ballets, appearing across the world to critical acclaim, and in the process, becoming one of Houston Ballet’s most beloved stars. In 1990, she became the first African-American to be promoted to principal dancer at Houston Ballet and one of the very few African-American ballerinas at the head of a major ballet company anywhere in the world. In 2007, Anderson assumed her new role in Houston Ballet’s education department where she teaches ballet classes at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy, conducts master classes at area schools, and lectures to students on dance and her historic career as one of America’s most distinguished African-American ballerinas. Her contemporary repertoire included works by George Balanchine, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Christopher Bruce, James Kudelka, Trey McIntyre, and Stanton Welch AM. Anderson created the title role in Ben Stevenson’s Cleopatra, and her performance as Cleopatra received accolades from international critics. Anna Kisselgoff of The New York Times compared her to the great Italian actress Eleanora Duse, and Christine Temin of The Boston Globe pronounced her “a powerhouse in interpreting the role that Stevenson created on her.”

In April 1999, Anderson was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine. She has also been featured in People and Pointe magazine; as well as on the television programs “A&E Breakfast with the Arts,” “CBS News Sunday Morning,” and the game show, “To Tell the Truth.” Anderson is an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. In 2016, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture awarded her with a permanent exhibit. In 2017, she received the Texas Medal of Arts Award for her contribution to the dance world. In 2021, she was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. Most recently, a production chronicling her life, Plumshuga: The Rise of Lauren Anderson premiered at Stages Theater.

Austin Coats

Austin Warren Coats is an interdisciplinary artist with a bachelor’s degree in dance studies from Kent State University and a MFA from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. Originally from Reynoldsburg, Ohio, he attended Kent State University to receive formal dance training and graduated magna cum laude. He has had the honor to work with artists such as Silvana Cardell, Angela Luem, Catherine Meredith, Jess Pretty, Jamal White, and Ronald K. Brown. Through scholarships, he has attended summer intensives from The Joffrey Ballet School, Ruth Page Center of the Performing Arts, and Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE, A Dance Company dance intensive and workshop series. Coats also has many interests in the arts including writing, illustration, dance, film, and fashion design. In 2020, his film The Black Dancing Body: Covid-Era (Draft 1) was selected for the Dance On Camera Film Festival. Also, upon graduating from Tisch in 2020, Coats joined EVIDENCE, a Dance Company where he still performs. He is a published illustrator in college publications and illustrates for various dancers’ projects. His life goal is to become a choreographer and artistic director, in hopes to pour some soul, joy, and acceptance through art into the world and hopefully find a space where all his artistic interests can collaborate and emulsify.

Thang Dao

Thang Dao resides between Los Angeles and New York City where he works as a freelance choreographer, educator, and coach. He is a graduate of Hollins University (MFA ’21) and New York University (MA ’09). Dao received his formal dance education from the Juilliard School and Boston Conservatory (BFA ’01). Dao has choreographed for Ballet Austin, Ballet Austin II, Ailey II, Ballet X, Philadanco, Taiwan National University of the Arts, Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Program, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Kennesaw State University, Troy University, Michigan State University, and the Boston Conservatory along with many universities and performing arts schools nationally and internationally.

His works have toured throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia with acclaimed reviews. His ballet Stepping Ground, choreographed for Ballet Austin for the 1st Biannual New American Dance Talent, received the Audience Choice Award all four nights. Dao was the recipient of the 2008 Princess Grace Choreography Fellowship, the 2009 Special Project Grant, and the 2012 Vilcek finalist for Creative Promise in choreography. In 2012, his work Waiting Women was featured at NYCDAF Gala: Destiny Rising at the Joyce Theater in New York. Dao was part of the creative team for the James Brown Project: Get On The Good Foot commissioned and produced by the Apollo Theater in collaboration with PHILADANCO! under the artistic direction of Otis Salid. In 2017, Dao garnered 1st Prize for his choreography at the DAP Festival in Pietrasanta, Italy.

Kirven Douthit-Boyd

Kirven Douthit-Boyd began his formal dance training at the Boston Arts Academy in 1999 and as a member of Boston Youth Moves under the artistic direction of Jeannette Neill and Jim Viera. Douthit-Boyd studied as a fellowship student at The Ailey School and on scholarship at the Boston Conservatory. He is a graduate of Hollins University where he earned his MFA in dance. He began his professional career as a member of Ailey II from 2002–2004 and performed at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival as a member of Battleworks Dance Company in 2003. In June 2004, Douthit-Boyd joined Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre performing both nationally and internationally for 11 years. During his tenure with the company, he performed leading roles choreographed by Alvin Ailey, Judith Jamison, Robert Battle, Ron K. Brown, Geoffrey Holder, Jiri Kylian, David Parsons, Camille A. Brown, Ulysses Dove, Christopher Wheeldon, Hofesh Sheckter, Twyla Tharp, Wayne McGregor and Ohad Naharin. He joined COCA – Center of Creative Arts in 2015 as Co-Artistic Director of Dance with his husband Antonio Douthit-Boyd. In 2010, Douthit-Boyd performed at the White House tribute to Judith Jamison hosted by then first lady Michelle Obama. He also appeared as a guest artist in ballet and contemporary dance galas in Argentina, Mexico, and Canada. He is the 2014 recipient of the “Black Alliance Award” for his performance in Wayne McGregor’s “Chroma,” the 2015 recipient of the “Next Generation in Leadership Award from the Freedom House in Boston, the 2016 recipient of the Boston Arts Academy’s “Apollo Award,” the 2021 recipient of the “Excellence in the Arts Award” from the Arts and Education Council in St. Louis, and the 2022 recipient of the Dance Teacher Magazine Award. Douthit-Boyd has choreographed workshops for The Ailey School, The Juilliard School, Webster University, Boston Arts Academy, Boston Youth Moves, and COCA. He has also choreographed works for Dallas Black Theatre and Ailey II.

Julien Guérin

Julien Guérin began his dance studies at the La Rochelle Conservatory in France at the age of 9 and completed his training at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. After he graduated with the State Degree as a Ballet Teacher from Centre National de la Danse de Paris in 2005, Guérin joined the English National Ballet. In 2006, he performed with the Ballet of the National Opera of Bordeaux and the Scottish Ballet before joining Les Ballets de Monte Carlo from 2007 until 2019. As a choreographer, Guérin has created his first piece “Suite de danse en Concerto” when he was a student at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris. Over the last eight years he was commissioned for the Académie Princesse Grace in Monaco, the Beijing Dance Academy in China, the Cannes Jeune Ballet Rosella Hightower for the festival “le Printemps des Arts” and Les Ballets de Monte Carlo in several showcases promoting choreography. In 2013, he was nominated as a Protégé for the Rolex Mentor and Protégé Arts Initiative. In 2014, Guérin was a recipient of the New York Choreographic Institute (affiliate of New York City Ballet) where he created “Beaudelaireans Souls” in association with the Composer Gity Razaaz for the music performed with the musicians of Juilliard School.

Arpège Lundyn

Arpège Lundyn started her dance journey with different recreational programs in South Central before finding her home at On the Edge Dance Studio, under the tutelage of Robert Gilliam and Kim Borgaro. Lundyn went on to receive her BFA in dance from Alonzo King LINES Ballet, as well as her BA in Psychology from Dominican University in California. During her education, she had the pleasure of working with Alonzo King, Michael Montgomery, Maurya Kerr, and Robert Moses. In her commercial career, Lundyn has worked with major networks such as BET, Disney and Nickelodeon; performing at award shows, in music videos, appearing in multiple TV/ film projects and directing short films. Lundyn is excited to share her passions with the world in her second season with Saint Louis Dance Theatre.

Levi Philip Marsman

Levi Philip Marsman was born and raised in Boston, MA and he began his training at the Boston Arts Academy, OrigiNation Cultural Arts Center, and Jeanette Neill Dance. He attended the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program. Marsman’s performance credits include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular (New York), Movements Dance Company (Jamaica), OrigiNation (Boston), Lula Washington Dance Theatre (Los Angeles), Reed Dance (Pittsburgh) and PHILADANCO! (Philadelphia). Marsman is currently an instructor at Urbanity Dance and in the Ailey Extension program at the Ailey School and has been Artist in Residence at the Boston Arts Academy, the Boston Conservatory at Berklee and Teacher In Residence for Urbanity Dance. The Isabella Stewart Gardner Museum commissioned him to create a new work entitled ‘Colorful’ in conjunction with the opening of their exhibit, “Boston’s Apollo” in 2020, and he created, “some kind of peace,” to close out Richmond Ballet’s 2021 season. He was choreographer for Boston Lyric Opera’s 2021 production of “Cavalleria Rusticana,” Urbanity Dance premiered a trio of his in Boston as part of their 10th anniversary season and, most recently, Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Encore! commissioned a second work of his this spring. He has also created works for institutions such as Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Encore!, the Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, LaVilla School for the Arts, Sharron Miller Academy for the Performing Arts, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School for the Arts, Marygrove College, Renaissance High School, Boston Youth Moves, Dean College, Endicott College, Eastern Michigan University, Wheaton College, Georgetown University’s Black Movements Dance Theatre, the Joffrey School, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, The Ailey School, Reed Dance, the Chamber Music Society of Palm Beach, Ballet Eclectica at COCA, OrigiNation, and MOVE(NYC). 

My’Kal Stromile

My’Kal Stromile studied with Kim Abel, Ceyhun Ozsoy and Dereque Whiturs in Dallas, and Anna-Marie Holmes in Boston. He entered the Juilliard School from 2014 to 2018, where he graduated in dance. Stromile has performed for several companies: Bruce Wood Dance, Dallas Black Dance Theatre II, Disney Productions and Repertory Dance Company I. His repertoire includes William Forsythe’s Blake Works III, Aszure Barton’s Return to Patience, Crystal Pite’s Grace Engine, Dwight Rhoden’s Rise, Jerome Robbins’ MOVES, and George Balanchine’s Chaccone. In 2014, Stromile was named a U.S. Presidential Scholar in the Arts. That same year, at the invitation of TITAS Presents and choreographer Bruce Wood, he participated in the 2014 Command Performance Ballet Gala. During his time at Juilliard, he received Choreographic Honors three years in a row and was awarded the school’s Hector Zaraspe Prize in 2018. That same year, he joined the Boston Ballet II and in 2019 the Boston Ballet as artist, where he was a 2019 Princess Grace Award Nominee. In 2023, Stromile created Form and Gesture, for the Boston Ballet. 

Thank you, Kristin Johnson, COCA Board President, for your years of service! 

Start to Finish choreographed by My’Kal Stromile and performed by Ballet Eclectica is dedicated to Kristin Johnson, COCA Board President. Kristin is a devoted advocate for the arts who has generously served COCA for 24 years. A former ballet dancer, she brings a deep understanding of the arts’ power to inspire and build community. Over the course of her service, Kristin has held numerous board leadership roles, including Vice President of Corporate Relations, Vice President of Corporate and Foundation Giving, Vice Chair of Human Resources, and President-elect, and she is now completing her third and final year as Board President—marking a truly momentous chapter in COCA’s history. 

COCA Advisory Board Members: Carlton Adams, Tanya Agee Harris, Briston Ashe, Christy Beckmann, Joan Berkman, Bob Burmeister, Lisa Caplan, Pamela Dern, David Diener, Susan, Gilbert, Gregory Glore, Stacey Goldman, Kit Heffern, Audrey Jones, Steve Knight, Amy Lefton, Sheila Little-Forrest, Sandra Moore, Mary Schoolman, Glenda Seldin, Greg Sullivan, Caryl Sunshine, Susan Sylvia, Richard Tao, Debbie Tarlow, Peter Tuteur, Cathey Williamson, Nancy Ylvisaker, & Risa Zwerling