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The Experimental Dance Group founded in 1999 by Bryan Alejandro Scott, was created out of a need to form a performing arts dance company and teach dance history to students in the public school system. The idea grew out of an experiment Mr. Scott conducted in 1995 with children with special social/emotional in needs at PS 94 who demonstrated poor academic ability. The question was, could these children develop self discipline that would help them improve their behavior as well as developing a desire to achieve academically?
Despite the fact that the group got a chance to dance around the New York City area participating in various dance festivals and inter-school performances, unfortunately, due to lack of support and funding Mr. Scott was unable to continue working with the special education population. However it should be noted that in speaking with a few of the former members 7 years later, they told him that they were in fact able to implement some of the strategies learned in dance to the classroom, enabling them to have more academic success, transfer to a less restrictive setting, and a few even went on to regular education placements. That was the end of the PS94 Jazzy Dancers.
In 1998, Mr. Scott started working with a small group of students in the school formerly known as PS 61. These students were in the regular education program and were interested in dance, but there were no dance programs in the school at the time. Since Mr. Scott worked in the same building, although in a different school, he decided to meet with the girls once or twice a week for 30-40 minutes and teach them modern dance(the Dunham Technique) and they became known as the PS61 Jazz Dancers. The classroom teachers were very receptive and it became somewhat of a collaborative effort scheduling rehearsal time between academics and Mr. Scott’s prep periods.
It was decided that the 5th/6th grade class taught by Aimee D. would have an opportunity to participate and would meet once a week during the last period of the day. Participation in the group was dependent upon the student’s behavior and academic performance in the classroom. Academic and behavioral progress was discussed periodically amongst the classroom teacher, Mr. Scott and Ms. Velez-Clark.

1. Lyanne Cook
2. Imani Jones
3. Jenny McAbe
4. Stephanie Millan
5. Keira Smyth
6. Josephine Waugh
7. Rorima Wilson
1. Micala Elise-Cruz-Brown
2. Lisa Funfrock
3. Aleksondra Honusiewicz
4. Margret John
5. Zak Kombel
6. Rosa Loveszy
7. Tina Meyers
8. Isabel Paul
9. Rachel Modell-Kowalski
10. Lhazom Ngawong
11. Lucia Urbanic
12. Josephine Waugh
1. Ashley Bermudez
2. Lyanne Cook
3. Paola Estevez
4. Claire Kuhn
5. Jennifer McCabe
6. Stephanie Pena (married name Santos)
7. Keira Smyth
8. Rorima Wilson
1. Micala Elise Cruz-Brown
2. Katie Parker
3. Rachel Modell-Kowalski
4. Rowan Boyce
5. Tina Meyers
6. Najah Scott
7. Lhazom Ngawong
8. Lhamtso Ngawang
9. Rosa Loveszy
10. Norzom
11. Joyce Perez
12. Cierra Garvin
1. Katie Parker
2. Rachell Modell-Kowalski
3. Tina Meyers
4. Najah Scott
5. Lhazom Ngawong
6. Lhamtso Ngawangt
7. Joyce Perez
8. Cierra Garvin
1. Joyce Perez
2. Katie Parker
3. Tina Meyers
4. Najah Scott
5. Ciera Garvin
6. Tiona
7. Sierra Mae Williams
8. Teresa Rodriguez
1. Deja Chislom
2. Rebecca Kellum
3. Sierra Mae Williams
4. Katerina Meyers
5. Teresa Rodriguez
6. Daphne Savoy
7. Nikki Savoy
1. Erika Groissman
2. Rebecca Kellum
3. Sierra Mae Williams
4. Kudyba Sam
5. Katerina Meyers
EDG 2008-2009
1. Katerina Meyers
2. Thairry Griffith
3. Teresa Pvia
4. Isabel Modell-Kowalsky
5. Mikayla Rivera
6. Ruby Diarmit
1. Thairry Griffith (09)
2. Jose Pacheco (09)
3. Isabel Modell-Kowalsky
4. Roxanne Benson
5. Isabella Pena
6. Hailey Subeevi
7. Matilda Molina
8. Kyla Simancas
9. Teresa Pavia
10. Dori Chuckno
11. Katya Groscost
12, Mikayla Rivera (09)
1. Kyla Simancas
2. Isabell Modell-Kowalski
3. Chloe Beckert-Brown (10)
4. Matilda Molina
5. Isabella Pena
6. Teresa Pavia
7. Juliana Pratt
8. Francesca Vigilante (10)
9. Beatrix Aster Johnson (10)
10 Olive Raymond (10)
11. Katya Naphtali (dropped out)
12. Victoria Brooks
13. Katya Groscost
EDG 2010-1011 (Fall)
1. Kyla Simancas
2. Isabell Modell-Kowalski
3. Chloe Beckert-Brown (10)
4. Matilda Molina
5. Isabella Pena
6. Teresa Pavia
7. Victoria Brooks
8. Francesca Vigilante (10)
9. Beatrix Aster Johnson (10)
10. Chloe Imhof (10)
11. Olive Raymond (10)
12. Sarah Boulamaali (10)
1. Kyla Simancas (09)
2. Isabell Modell-Kowalski (08)
3. Chloe Beckert-Brown (10)
4. Matilda Molina (09)
5. Isabella Pena (09)
6. Teresa Pavia (08)
7. Juliana Pratt (10)
8. Francesca Vigilante (10)
9. Olive Raymond (10)
10. Victoria Brooks (10)
11. Katya Groscost (09)
12. Stella Hollier
13. Alegra Lleo (12)
14. Miette Maolidi (12)
1. Kyla Simancas (09)
2. Chloe Beckert-Brown (10)
3. Matilda Molina (09)
4. Isabella Pena (09)
5. Francesca Vigilante (10)
6. Olive Raymond (10)
7. Victoria Brooks (10)
8. Katya Groscost(09)
9. Stella Hollier (11)
10. Miette Maolidi (11)
11. Haley Kreigstein (12)
12. Simone Convery (12)
13. Erin Steinhauser (12)
1. Meelan Dessejour (13)
2. Kyla Simancas (09)
3. Chloe Beckert-Brown (10)
4. Matilda Molina (09)
5. Isabella Pena (09)
6. Francesca Vigilante (10)
7. Olive Raymond (10)
8. Katya Groscott (09)
9. Stella Hollier (11)
10. Miette Maolidi (11)
11. Maria Riker (13)
12. Jaedin Rodriguez (13)
13. Erin Steinhauser (12)
14. Victoria Brooks (10)
15. Ida Murata-Dästner (14)
1. Naveah Gamble (14)
2. Georgia Rainey (14)
3. Chloe Beckert-Brown (10)
4. Matilda Molina (09)
5. Isabella Pena (09)
6. Francesca Vigilante (10)
7. Imogen Drake (14)
8. Katya Groscost (09)
9. Stella Hollier (11)
10. Mika Roque (14)
11. Maria Riker (13)
12. Erin Steinhauser (12)
13. Victoria Brooks (10)
14. Ida Murata-Dästner (14)
Founder/Director Bryan Alejandro Scott with new rehearsal director and assistant choreographer Asha Jordan attend a winter gala event.
The Experimental Dance Group also had a documentary entitled “Dunham Dance Steps to Success” written, produced, and edited by Havelock Nelson which premiered on March 18th, 2015 on Manhattan Cable Television Network (MNN) go into depth about what the company is about and how it evolved. “Dunham Dance Steps to Success” provides the viewers with the inside story as to how the group developed from just an “experiment” during free time during the school day, to an established elementray school based dance company. The documentary shares interviews by founder/director Byan Alejandro Scott, company members, administration/principal, friends, parents and supporters. It is gripping, real, motivating and proves to be a project of love.
This was our first year that we were able to invite a guest artist to teach a class. On April 23rd, 2015 we were fortunate to have the multitalented Abdur-Rahim Jackson teach a class. Some of Mr. Jackson’s credits include: former Alvin Ailey principal dancer, co-choreographer of “Halo for Beyonce, as well as choreographing the LED sections of Beyonce’s “Crazy” In Love” Super Bowl XLVII Halftime Show. He was able to share his talent, experience and expertise, helping the girls develop their technique, in addition to teaching various ways to emote their feelings from the stage to the audience, thereby making their performance more powerful. It was a moving moment for all of us!
We again were chosen to participate in the New York City Dance Educator’s Showcase held at Long Island City High School on May 9, 2015 and performed to a new ballet “Tryin’ Times” by the incomparable Miss Roberta Flack. The response was phenomenal and diffrent from anything we had ever presented before.
On May 23rd, 2015 The Experimental Dance Group performed at the Off Broadway Theater “Theater For The New City” Our protion of the show included our new ballet “Tryin’ Times” by Miss Roberta Flack, along with the crowd favorites “Rock Into Your Soul by Lisa Lisa, and “Turn The Beat Around” by Vicki Sue Robinson. EDG alumni were in the audience along with EDG supporters and after the show we all celebrated at I Coppi di Matilda; our longtime fundraiser supporters.
2015-2016 is The Experimental Dance Group’s 17th year!!! We are proud to say that we have 6 new members, along with 7 returning members, three of which are alumni. Among the new members we have 5 new 3rd graders and 2 new fourth graders, none of which have studied the Dunham technique before. We are also delighted that Ida Murata from The East Village Community School also returned for her second season with the company.
This year the company will focus on strengthening their knowledge of the Dunham Technique and hopefully revise our successful ballet to “Rock Into Your Soul” by Lisa Lisa. In addition, Adriane Anderson will be helping the company farther develop the webiste, Facebook page as well as other social media outlets. Sonia Rosario will continue as my assistant, and Asha Jordan will consult when available as she completes her senior year at New York University.
EDG 2015-20161. Ida Murata (13)
2. Maria Riker (13)
3. Georgia Rainey (14)
4. Aletheia Bala (15)
5. Aviel Herrmann (15)
6. Cleo Snyderman (15)
7. Nixie Berlinghof (15)
8. Ella Frank (15)
9. Mia McDonagh (15)
10. Redding Scheaffer (15)
11. Matilda Molina (09)- currently alumni
12. Victoria Brooks (10) – currently alumni
13. Kyla Simancas (09) – alumni
During the summer of 2016 Mr. Scott was invited to teach two Dunham workshops in Birchington, England at Rhythm Express. He taught a junior group and a senior group and the kids got a real kick out of it. They had never had a Dunham based class before, but they were very attentive and enjoyed every second. They can’t wait for him to return again!!
The 2016-2017 marks the Experimental Dance Group’s 18th year!!! We had many students show up for the auditions and thankfully all students were accepted. One major difference this year is that we finally have more participation from students attending the East Village Community School. In addition, we have a returning alumni member, Victoria Brooks who has made history by dancing with the company for 8 years. She continues to dance with the company and is now my resident assistant in training. The Experimental Dance Group currently has 11 members and is preparing for upcoming shows in the Spring of 2017. These are the following company members with the year they started with the company:
1. Ida Murata (’13)
2. Adele Charvon (’16)
3. Georgia Rainey (’14)
4. Maya Eaton (’16)
5. Elizabeth Mercado (’16)
6. Cleo Snyderman (’15)
7. Nixie Berlinghof (’15)
8. Ella Frank (’15)
9. Mia McDonagh (’15)
10. Redding Scheaffer (’15)
11. Victoria Brooks (’10) – currently alumni
12. Lovinia Grandoit (’17)
The Experimental Dance Group had the wonderful opportunity to participate in the 11th Annual Dance Parade on May 20th, 2017. The parade route started at 21st street all the way to Ave. A & Thompkins Square Park. We did our Dunham Technique moves all the way to the captivating music of Fela, La Lupe, Cesaria Evora, Celia Cruz and Nina Simone. It was a fun day for the company members, friends and family!!

EDG 2017
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On May 27, 2017 The Experimental Dance Group once again performed at the Off Broadway Theater “Theater For The New City.” This was a special occasion for the company because they paid tribute to Primy Rivera who had coordinated the shows there for the past several years and but suddenly passed away this year. As a tribute to him The Experimental Dance Group performed Dunham Technique demonstrations to the music of Fela Kuti, Celia Cruz, Cesaria Evora, La Lupe and Nina Simone. It was a great tribute to Primy Rivera and everyone was moved; he will never be forgotten. We closed the show with Earth, Wind and Fire’s “Boogie Wonderland” which was a resounding success. The Experimental Dance Group once again made history!
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