Artists

Michelle Cole

Michelle Cole, is an educator, choreographer, dancer, scholar and mother. She received her Master’s degree in Dance Education from New York University, Steinhardt and holds a Bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Florida International University’s Honors College. In 2019, she began her own dance teaching company, Dance Culture LLC, to conduct independent dance residencies and professional development at universities, and public, private, and charter schools throughout NYC. Michelle became an adjunct faculty member of NYU in 2015, she currently teaches Afro-Caribbean, Anthropology of Dance, and Hip-Hop Dance Culture. She is co-advisor of NYU Steinhardt's new Master's in Dance Education concentration: Teaching Dances of the African Diaspora. As a choreographer and performer, Michelle has presented and performed in New York, Chicago, Miami, Martha’s Vineyard, Kampala, Uganda and more. She was the Associate Choreographer of the 2023 Off-Broadway play (pray), which was named the New York Times Critic's pick and nominated for 6 Lucille Lortel Awards. She is an advocate for decolonizing dance education, social justice in the arts, centering African Diaspora cultures and dances, and culturally integrated dance pedagogy. She was the recipient of the 2020 NYSDEA Outstanding Dance Educator: Teaching Artist award.

This is Michelle first season with Maliek Dance Theater.

Jasmine Presti

Jasmine Presti (she/her) is from Long Island, New York. She graduated from Adelphi University with a BFA in Dance in 2022. At Adelphi, she worked with many acclaimed modern choreographers like Larry Keigwin, Winston “Dynamite” Brown, Takehiro Ueyama, and dancers from the Mark Morris Dance Company. She also studied the Paul Taylor and Martha Graham technique. After college, worked with an African Diasporic dance company named Kofago Dance Ensemble where she performed works in New York and New Jersey. She is a current company member of Limón 2 for her first season. She has performed with the main company in their production of Missa Brevis, choreographed by José Limón, at New Jersey Performing Arts Center. Jasmine is excited to be working with Maliek Dance Theater and director Nasir Campbell for the first time.

Blossom Reid

Blossom Reid is always found smiling, and more notably, dancing. At just twenty-seven, this Trinidad and Tobago native is not only a professional dancer but also a fervent advocate for the arts. Her dance journey began at three years old during the Tobago Heritage Festival, sparking a lifelong passion for dance and cultural preservation.

Educated initially at the University of Trinidad and Tobago, Blossom's talent earned her a scholarship to the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. Her training spans a diverse range of styles including African folk, contemporary, ballet, hip-hop, street jazz, modern, and Indian Classical dance, and she remains committed to exploring even more dance forms.

Blossom has performed alongside renowned international soca artists like Machel Montano and Destra, and currently dances with Eden Arts Inc. and Zante - Sesame Flyers. Her latest notable appearance was in “In Her We Trust” at the 2023 United States Conference on HIV/AIDS, held during the Black Woman Summit in Washington, D.C.

As a rising star, Blossom is dedicated to showcasing Caribbean talent globally and addressing challenging topics through her performances. She is also keen on developing platforms that celebrate diversity and unite the dance community through innovative projects. This is Blossom first season with Maliek Dance Theater.

Ghislaine van den Heuvel

Ghislaine van den Heuvel originally from the Netherlands, holds a BFA from Fontys School of Fine and Performing Arts in the Netherlands. Ghislaine has recently graduated from the Martha Graham School, successfully obtaining her teacher training certificate. During her tenure, she danced with Graham 2 for three seasons, where she performed featured roles in iconic pieces like "Diversion of Angels," "Appalachian Spring," and "Chronicle." Notably, she was an original cast member in contemporary works by esteemed choreographers Yoshito Sakuraba and Bradley Shelver. Ms. van den Heuvel was a recipient of the Armgard Von Bardeleben Award in 2022 for her excellence in Graham Studies and nominee for the Next Step Award from the VandenEnde Foundation in the Netherlands. This is her first season with Maliek Dance Theater.

Qianna McDonald

Qianna McDonald is a New Jersey based artist. She graduated from the University of the Arts where she received a bachelors in dance and minored in business. She began dancing in church as a child and went on to study performing arts to further explore her passion for dance. Throughout McDonald’s years of dancing, she has had the opportunity to study abroad. She has worked with various artists, including Camille Brown, Kim Bears- Bailey, Sidra Bell Dance New York, Boris Charmatz, and Cleo Parker Robinson to name a few. While McDonald is presently active in the professional dance community, she teaches dance classes within the Tri- state area. Additionally, McDonald is currently pursuing her certification in pilates with a Pilates Academy International (PAI) training program. As she continues to grow and hone her skills, McDonald hopes to continue exploring new discoveries within her journey as a movement artist and educator.

This is Qianna second season with Maliek Dance Theater.

Virginia Santucci

Virginia Santucci was born in Florence, Italy. She started dance at a very young age, attending "La Scuola del Balletto di Toscana"and continued her training at "Opus Ballet" and "Axe Ballet" where she developed her skills in ballet, contemporary and modern dance. At the age of 19, she moved to Paris to attend the "Institut de Formation Professionnelle Rick Odums" where she improved her jazz technique and enhanced her artistry. While there she was able to be a part of the two young companies "Jeune Ballet Jazz" and "Jeune Ballet Modern". In 2019 Virginia moved to New York City to enroll in the Certificate program at "The Ailey School" and graduated with honors in May 2022. During her time at Ailey, she had the chance to be in the NDCL Coreography Lab where she danced for Helen Simoneau and Daniel Ross. She took part in the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre season of 2022/23, dancing at ‘New York City Center Theater’ and David Hock Theatre at Lincoln Center. All the while taking part in a number of shows by "Fredrick Earl Mosley's Diversity of Dance" and also became an apprentice with "Philadanco! II”. Now Virginia is a freelancer in New York City and dances with Torch Dance Theater. This is Virginia second season with Maliek Dance Theater.