OUR MISSION

PROGRAMMING

KineoLab is a not-for-profit organization that endeavors to be both a catalyst and key contributor to the growth of dance in New York State. We will accomplish this in part by:

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• offering dance and movement training that teaches the necessary means to master one’s own movement and use of space and time;

• advocating for and expanding the presence and role of dance education in K-12 schools throughout the region;

• providing opportunities and resources for the creation, production, and performance of movement-centered works;

• providing resources and training in dance management for dance artists and managers;

• inspiring, nurturing and growing appreciation for dance in the region;

• and advocating for the field at all layers of government, and in training our next generation of dance advocates.

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Community is central to all that we do at KineoLab. More than just an idea or a buzz word, community is the lifeblood of our organization, and that of the city and region that we serve. We aspire to cultivate collaborative communities for people of all ages, abilities, and backgrounds by:

• addressing conflict in our communities and providing sustainable solutions for those communities to transform themselves from the inside out;

• providing performance and communal spaces that spark and support critical thought and dialogue;

• and offering community-based workshops and practices that nurture the bonds that connect community as they empower and strengthen, providing a platform for the voices of those who continue to go unheard.

OUR BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Governance | Accountability | Support

Whitney Denesha - President
Curtis Stedge - Vice President | Treasurer
Alex Andrasik - Secretary

CURTIS STEDGE  MFA, MA, CMA, R-DMT (candidate)

Founder | Executive/Artistic Director

Curtis is a dancer, choreographer, educator, researcher, and an arts manager. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance and Business Administration from SUNY Potsdam (Potsdam, NY), a Master of Arts in Arts Management from the University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY), an MFA in Dance from the University of Maryland (College Park, MD), and a CMA in Laban Movement Analysis from the Laban Bartenieff Institute for Movement Studies (New York, NY). He is currently working toward certification as a Board Certified Dance/Movement Therapist or BC-DMT, with Kinections (Rochester, NY).

As a professional dancer Curtis has toured regionally as a principal with Geomantics Dance Theater (Rochester, NY). From 2005 to 2011, he studied contemporary dance and Laban Movement Analysis intensively with CMA Richard Haisma. He has also studied with Christopher K Morgan, Adriane Fang, PEARSONWIDRIG DanceTheater, Elizabeth Streb, Catherine Burge, Troika Ranch, Ruth Solomon, and Wally Cardona.

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As an educator Curtis has taught both arts management and dance at the undergraduate level in higher education, and has taught dance extensively to people of all ages and backgrounds. Curtis' areas of research interest include the choreographic process, dance and community, dance and peacebuilding, as well as dance and placemaking. He is currently Faculty in Dance at Bard High School Early College in Newark, NJ.

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As an arts manager he has worked for various national and international not-for-profit arts organizations including The National Centre for Early Music (York, England) as Marketing Associate, Geva Theatre Center (Rochester, NY) as Associate Director of Box Office Operations, Capital Fringe Festival (Washington, DC) as Box Office Manager, Projective Kinetics (Rochester, NY) as Executive Director, and Neglia Ballet Artists (Buffalo, NY) as Managing Director. He is currently Executive Director of he Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies in addition to being the Founder, Artistic Director & CEO of KineoLab.

WHITNEY DENESHA  MSW, R-DMT (candidate)

Associate Artistic Director |
Director of Community Collaboration

Whitney is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and social worker. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and Dance from SUNY Potsdam (Potsdam, NY), and a Masters of Social Work from the University at Buffalo (Buffalo, NY).

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As a dancer she began her movement training in the Cecchetti Method of classical ballet at age eight, under the artistic direction of Jean Spear. She had performed as a company member with the Thousand Islands Festival Ballet for four years, touring throughout the Northeast US and Canada. She has worked extensively with internationally known teacher, choreographer and performer, Richard Haisma, and was a principal dancer in Mr. Haisma's company Geomantics Dance Theater from 2005 to 2013.

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As a social worker, Whitney has worked extensively throughout the greater Rochester area with Mary Cariola Children's Center (Rochester, NY), and House of Mercy (Rochester, NY) serving diverse populations, including developmentally delayed youth and their families, underserved youth, and the homeless. She is the Associate Artistic Director and Director of Community Collaboration for KineoLab.

ADVISORY BOARD

Wisdom | Expertise | Support

TBA

PLACE

Our work spans New York State with three centers of operation: Rochester, NY | Old Forge, NY | Kingston, NY