Francesca Harper

		Principal Company Members Francesca Harper, Kristina Bethel, Alec Donovan, Julius Hollingsworth, Jessica Perrizo, Karine Plantadit, Bradley Shelver, Michael Thomas and Hattie Mae Williams.
		Francesca Harper, dancer, choreographer and singer, was raised in New York City, where she studied at the School of American Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet School and The Ailey® School. After performing with the Dance Theater of Harlem, she danced as a principal in William Forsythe's Ballett Frankfurt from 1994-1999. Since returning to the U.S., Francesca has performed in several Broadway productions. In 2000-2002, she was a featured performer in Fosse. In January 2004, Ms. Harper completed a tour with The Producers. As part of the 2004 Lincoln Center Summer Festival, Francesca performed in another Susan Stroman project -- The Frogs. Currently Francesca can be seen at the Broadway Theater in the new musical The Color Purple. Her choreographic career began while still in Germany, where Ms. Harper choreographed a full evening for the Holland Dance Festival. She has since choreographed two works for Ailey II, and dances for The Ailey School’s Spring Concerts in 2001 and 2002. Her choreographic work Apex received its world premiere in December 2002 as part of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater’s 44th season performances at New York's City Center. In April 2004, Ms. Harper set a new work on Tanz Graz that premiered at the Graz Opera House in Austria. Ms. Harper's work, fusing dance, theater and video, was first seen in 50 minutes with Harriet and Phillis, a collaboration with Pulitzer Prize-winning writer Margo Jefferson and composer Paul Miller a.k.a. Dj Spooky, performed in 2000 at the Cherry Lane Theatre. Ms. Harper premiered The Fragile Stone Theory at the 2002 Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. The piece, created and performed by Ms. Harper, synthesized dance, text, music and video in what has been described as a "conceptual pop concert."
		Kristina Michelle Bethel is a native of St. Thomas, VI. Her career began in the living room of a quaint townhouse in Houston, TX. Since then she has gone on to dance with Ailey II, Lion King (Gazelle Tour), Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and presently Lion King on Broadway. Thank you family and friends for all of your love and support, Izell for being the best boyfriend a girl could have, and Starbuck's for the invention of the peppermint hot chocolate... delicious!!!
		Alec Donovan trained on full scholarship at the Houston Ballet Academy and has since danced for the Houston Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet NY, and TU DANCE under the direction of Uri and Toni Sands. Alec has also designed costumes for Uri Sands, Mary Hudetz, and North Carolina Dance Theatre. Currently Alec lives and works freelance in New York City.
		Julius Hollingsworth is an actor, singer and artist. He is a recipient of two Ford Scholarships in Shakespearean drama and a graduate of Playwrights Horizons Theatre School Professional Program. He has worked with Risa Jarslow and Dancers, The Ken Rubenstein Dance Theatre with Judith Jamison in Romeo and Juliet and appeared at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Jane Comfort's Dance Opera Asphalt as Eddie The Preacher in 2001 and in Francesca Harper’s The Fragile Stone Theory in 2002. He appeared on Broadway in the Showtime T.V. production of The Me Nobody Knows as Clorox. Julius Hollingsworth co-starred as Chucky in the Emmy winning show To Be A Man. He is also the resident Dramaturg for his own production company Soul Mending Communications. "Let Go, Let God - Peace"”
		Jessica Perrizo met Francesca Harper on the road with Mel Brooks' The Producers. She went on to perform that same show on Broadway and to participate in the motion picture of the same name. Some of her previous performing credits include the Broadway tour of Cabaret, Rob Marshal and Sam Mendes directors. The Flying Foot Forum, Joe Chavala Choreographer. Numerous theatrical credits throughout the US as well as Russia and around the Mediterranean.
		Karine Plantadit was raised in Cameroon, West Africa, and came to New York to study at The Ailey School. She first danced professionally with The Jamison Project and then for seven years with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She has since performed in several Broadway shows, including The Lion King, Saturday Night Fever and Movin’ Out. Karine was co-director of her own project RhythMEK with Michael Thomas and Elizabeth Roxas. She has also appeared in several films, including Chicago and opposite Selma Hayek in Frieda.
		Bradley Shelver is originally from South Africa. He received his training at the National School of the Arts, the I.S.T.D in London as well as the Alvin Ailey School. He has performed with Elisa Monte Dance, Complexions Dance Company, Alvin Ailey II, Ballet Hispanico and as a guest artist with opera singer Jesse Norman and Bill T. Jones.He is currently a member of the Limon Dance Company. He has choreographed, taught and performed his solo works throughout the US, Europe and Africa and has been presented on PBS and at various venues. He has performed the works of Jiri Kylian, Angelin Preljocaj, Ohad Naharin, Jose Limon, Lar Lubovich amongst others and is a monthly columnist for Dance Spirit Magazine. Please visit www.bradleyshelver.com
		Michael Thomas made his professional debut with the renowned dancer/artistic director Judith Jamison. He was a principal with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Lar Lubovitch Dance Company, Complexions, Your Arms Too Short To Box With God and Julius Ceasar in New York. His commercial credits include a national spot for American Express and he was co-director of his own project, RhythMEK. Michael would like to thank Francesca and the dancers for their generous and open spirits. Hattie Mae Williams graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Dance Program in 2003 with choreography honors. She has worked with companies such as the Kevin Wynn Collection, Johanna Mendel-Shaw Dancing with Horses project, and Avila/Weeks Company. Hattie Mae is currently working with her company The Tattooed Ballerinas a modern "guerilla style" based company bringing movement to everyday people. The company has performed works in Manhattan, Brooklyn, and Miami, Florida.