ARTISTS
Main Company
ERICA ISAKOWER
Artistic Director / Choreographer / Dancer
Erica Isakower is a choreographer, educator, and dancer based in New Jersey. Erica aims to push the boundaries of dance through layering movement, creating work that reflects life’s dynamic and complex experience. She is currently an MFA in Dance candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and earning her Certificate in Nonprofit Management after earning her BFA from Hofstra University.
Erica is the artistic director, choreographer, and dancer for Chutzpah Dance, presenting her work in prominent cities throughout the United States such as New York City, Philadelphia, Salt Lake City, Chicago, Detroit, various cities throughout New Jersey, and made her international choreographic/producing debut in Edinburgh, Scotland in a show she curated called “Vibrance” at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, following her mission to create opportunities for marginalized artists and break barriers of accessibility. She was nominated for an award through the Neurodiverse Review (UK) for her outstanding leadership for the standout show “Vibrance”.
Erica was a guest artist at Bucks County Community College (PA) and in residence at Broward College (FL) in 2022. She also taught and presented work at Nazareth University's MAD Festival (NY) in 2023. Erica danced with Hanna Q Dance Company, Allegory Dance Theatre, and at Dorney Park, contributing to the rehearsal processes. During her time at Hofstra University, she had the privilege of performing in works by Larry Keigwin, Anita Feldman, Luiza Karnas, and José Limón. She currently teaches at multiple dance studios in New Jersey and Pennsylvania. She also taught workshops abroad in Panama as part of the Movement Exchange Organization in 2019. In 2021, Erica was awarded the South Jersey Artist & History Professional COVID Relief Grant award, recognizing her commitment to the dance community in South Jersey.
Lana Fuqua
Dancer
Lana Fuqua (she/her) is an arts manager and dancer currently located in New York City. She is a summa cum laude graduate of The University of Alabama where she received a B.A. in Dance and Communication Studies with Honors. During her tenure at UA, she received various awards for her academic and artistic accomplishments including the Algernon Sydney Sullivan Premiere Award, Lou Wall Award, and Artistic Achievement Award. Lana has performed with Alabama Dance Works, Southeast Alabama Community Theatre, Yonder Contemporary Dance Company, Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, and Dance Alabama!. She has toured regionally in the Southeast U.S. Prior to moving to New York, Lana worked with BodyStories: Teresa Fellion Dance and Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education to develop and coordinate various dance programming. She is dedicated to providing equitable and accessible dance opportunities to diverse populations and continues her work in DEI initiatives within the arts.
Natalie Long
Dancer and Social Media Admin
Natalie Long grew up in Spartanburg, South Carolina and received a BA in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of South Carolina. She has danced professionally with Yuhas & Dancers, Moving Body Dance Company, STEME DANCE NYC, Laura Ardner Choreography and mmmChoreo. Currently based in NYC, Natalie is dancing with crystalandthomas in addition to Chutzpah Dance and is the director of ERELONG. Created in 2022 to house Natalie’s choreographic works, ERELONG has participated in 20+ performances in NYC and beyond. Highlights include Edinburgh Fringe, unKEMpT and 7MPR’s Midnight Performances. Natalie is also a co-founder of 5$Movement, a community-centric improvisational dance collective.
Claudia Logi
Dancer
Claudia Logi is a New York City-based dancer and choreographer, originally from Paris, France. She began her formal dance training in classical ballet at The American Academy of Dance of Paris and furthered her studies in the pre-professional ballet program at L'Académie de Danse de Paris. She relocated to New York City to train at The Ailey School, where she graduated with a Certificate in Dance in the spring of 2024. She has also trained during the summer with companies such as Paul Taylor Dance Company, Kibbutz Contemporary Dance Company, Hofesh Shechter Company, Jacob Jonas The Company, and Batsheva Dance Company. She has performed repertoire by Jie-Hung Connie Shiau, Paul Taylor, Jacob Jonas, Johan Inger, JiÅ™í Kylián, and Alvin Ailey. As a choreographer, Claudia has showcased her original works in notable institutions and festivals across New Jersey, New York City, and Paris. She currently performs as a Soloist with American Liberty Ballet and is thrilled to jcontinue dancing with Chutzpah Dance.
Jasmine Rivers
Dancer
Jasmine Rivers is a dancer, choreographer, and non-profit administrator from San Francisco, now based in Brooklyn. She grew up training with ODC/Dance and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, before attending Princeton University where she majored in medical anthropology and pursued a certificate in dance. At Princeton, Jasmine trained under the mentorship of Rebecca Lazier, Tina Fehlandt, Davalois Fearon, Rashaun Mitchell, and Silas Riener, and performed in repertory works by Urban Bush Women and Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE. Her interdisciplinary anthropology and dance senior thesis, which culminated in a 30-minute choreographic work integrating spoken word, live musicians, and projections to explore the complexity of multiracial identities, won the 2024 Princeton Lewis Center for the Arts Action Based Community Engagement Award. Jasmine currently works in non-profit administration – supporting organizations that uplift underserved communities through mental health services and free dance workshops – and is continuing to dance and choreograph in the NYC area. She is thrilled to be joining Chutzpah Dance!
Sonja Stahl
Dancer
Sonja Stahl (she/her) is a native of Baltimore, Maryland, and began her formal dance training at the Baltimore School for the Arts (BSA) through their afterschool TWIGS (To Work in Gaining Skills) program. She then continued to study dance at BSA as a high school student. She has attended summer intensive programs at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and the American Dance Festival among others. Sonja is a graduate of Towson University and received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance and Choreography with a minor in Health Sciences. She has performed in works by choreographers including Dianne McIntyre, Ephrat Asherie, Alan Danielson, José Limón, Caroline Rocher-Barnes, Laura Halzack and Dana Tai Soon Burgess among others. Sonja is also Mat Pilates certified. She looks forward to her first season with Chutzpah Dance!
Training Company
Alison Waller
Trainee
Alison Waller is a contemporary dancer newly based in NYC. She recently danced in “The Hole Story: A Docu-Cabaret” at The Tank in works choreographed by Leslie Galán Guyton. Prior to relocating to NYC, Alison was a member of Catalyst Dance Company in Lancaster, PA, and her choreography was featured in Kun Yang-Lin/Dancers’ 57th Inhale Performance Series in Philadelphia, PA. Alison has a BA in Dance and English-Creative Writing from Franklin & Marshall College, where she studied with faculty Jennifer Conley, Elba Hevia y Vaca, Pamela Vail, and guest artists Megan Curet, Joshua Culbreath, Emily Pietruszka, and Samuel Reyes.
Alise Dular
Trainee
Alise, originally from New Hampshire, holds a B.A. from the University of New Hampshire in Psychology and Theatre: Dance. In addition to being a trainee with Chutzpah Dance, Alise dances with American Liberty Ballet and is also a full-time Development Coordinator at a nonprofit. Alise is classically trained in Jazz, Tap, Ballet, Pointe, and has also studied Contemporary, Modern, and Bollywood dance styles. Her professional shows include The Nutcracker with Northeastern Ballet Theatre and, most recently, The Titanic Tale and La Zambra del Zorro with American Liberty Ballet. | @alisedular
Sam Siewertsen
Trainee
Sam Siewertsen graduated from Connecticut College with a B.A. in Dance and Holistic Health. During her time at Conn, Sam had the opportunity to learn from faculty including: David Dorfman, Heidi Henderson, Lisa Race, Rachel Boggia, Rosemarie Roberts, Shani Collins, and Martha Tornay. She has performed in works by Shakia Barron, Rachel Boggia, Shani Collins, Ellie Goudie-Averill, Lauren Horn, Lisa Race, Rosemarie Roberts, Khadija Tariyan, and Nathan Trice. In the spring of 2022, Sam had the privilege of performing and presenting her work at the American College Dance Festival.
Shaindel Tomasovitch
Trainee
Shaindel Tomasovitch is a passionate and dedicated dancer with 20 years of experience in modern dance, modern ballet, and contemporary movement. She began her training at Wayne State University, where she studied dance alongside English, and continued her education at New York University, earning a Master of Arts in Experimental Art and Humanities. Throughout her career, Shaindel has taught modern dance to both beginners and seasoned dancers in small, intimate home studios, sharing her deep understanding of choreography and dance technique. Shaindel’s artistic inspirations come from a range of sources, with a particular admiration for the choreography of Batsheva Dance Company. After taking a break post-graduate school due to the challenges of balancing work and life, she is eager to return to dancing within a company setting—a goal she was unable to pursue immediately after undergrad due to the pandemic. In addition to her dance practice, Shaindel is a freelance writer in the entertainment industry; she is also a harpist, percussionist, and poet. She lives in Flatbush, Brooklyn, with her partner Michael, their six shelter cats, and one shelter dog. Shaindel is excited to continue her dance journey with Chutzpah Dance!
Meghan Dhawan
Trainee
Bio coming soon!