OUR MISSION
Dance Kerr & Dancers works to provide a safe environment for dance performances and learning opportunities for all individuals who are supportive of our creative work and values. We believe that through dance performances and community engagement learning opportunities, the message of dance can be experienced as a kinesthetic-interdisciplinary way of discovering & embracing self, others & life within our shared world.
DK&D is in the early planning phase of planning free community-building dance workshops for adults, both dancers & non-dancers, beginning in Fall 2023. We also want to have community engagement workshops for high school students that promote acceptance & inclusivity. These workshops will address the issue of bullying by providing a non-judgmental, creative learning environment.
discover our story
DanceKerr & Dancers 501(c)(3) is a NYC/NJ based dance company founded in 2015 by Brooklyn native dance artist/educator Michael Kerr.
Kerr's developing repertoire of dances are rooted in modern and contemporary dance techniques that play with the contrast of stillness and great physicality within the realm of dance expressionism.
Kerr's dances are a by-product of his lived experience, emulating internal struggles and successes. The themes of equality and inclusion can be seen throughout his choreography. He believes there is power in spreading these values through dance.
Meet "Dance Kerr", MICHAEL KERR, MA
Meet "Dance Kerr", MICHAEL KERR, MA
Meet "Dance Kerr", MICHAEL KERR, MA
Meet "Dance Kerr", MICHAEL KERR, MA
Meet "Dance Kerr", MICHAEL KERR, MA
Michael founded Dance Kerr & Dancers in 2015 and has been self-producing his choreographic works since. He founded Dk&D with a mission to promote diversity, equality and inclusion through performance and community engagement projects. He holds permanent NYS K-12 Teacher Certification in Dance and recently retired after a stellar twenty-fi
Michael founded Dance Kerr & Dancers in 2015 and has been self-producing his choreographic works since. He founded Dk&D with a mission to promote diversity, equality and inclusion through performance and community engagement projects. He holds permanent NYS K-12 Teacher Certification in Dance and recently retired after a stellar twenty-five year teaching career with NYCDOE. Kerr was awarded the Diana Domoracki-Kisto Dance Educator Award by the New York State Dance Education Association at the 2015 NDEO Conference. He is also a Dance Education Laboratory Ambassador. Mr. Kerr has performed for a variety of choreographers and dance companies in the United States and Europe including Maher Benham's Coyote Dancers, Deborah Damast, Gemini Dance Theater, Floorplay Contemporary Dance Theater, Amy Kail, Dance Consort: Mezzacappa-Gabrian and Deanna Losi while teaching dance throughout the Tuscany region of Italy for several years. During his tenure, Mr. Kerr has served as Chair of UFT/NYC Dance Educators, as a cooperating teacher for Columbia University Teachers College and New York University, served on the faculty of the Dance Education Laboratory (DEL), the Dance Department at Mason Gross School of the Arts and Graduate School of Education at Rutgers. Mr. Kerr is furthering his education and pursuing doctoral studies as an Arnhold Fellow Recipient in the Ed.D Dance Education Program at Columbia University, Teachers College. Mr. Kerr is also an aspiring film actor and is thrilled to be choreographing contemporary dance once again.
Meet the Dancers
ASHLEY HACKER
ASHLEY HACKER
ASHLEY HACKER
ASHLEY HACKER
ASHLEY HACKER
Ashley is so excited to be dancing with DanceKerr & Dancers! Born and raised in upstate New York, Ashley began her endeavor as a life-long dancer at the age of 2 ½. She continued her dance studies as an undergraduate at The College at Brockport, SUNY where she earned a BFA in Dance, a BS in Psychology and a minor in Music. After gradua
Ashley is so excited to be dancing with DanceKerr & Dancers! Born and raised in upstate New York, Ashley began her endeavor as a life-long dancer at the age of 2 ½. She continued her dance studies as an undergraduate at The College at Brockport, SUNY where she earned a BFA in Dance, a BS in Psychology and a minor in Music. After graduation she made the move to the Big Apple to pursue her MA in Dance Education with a PreK-12 Dance Certification from New York University. Ashley continues to perform in NYC, holds certifications in Zumba, Strong Nation, Mobility Specialization and Yoga, and keeps up to date on dance research and education by attending and presenting yearly at national conferences. Currently she teaches dance at Poly Prep Country Day School to Middle School students in grades 5 through 8.
LAURA ARDNER
ASHLEY HACKER
LAURA ARDNER
Laura is from York, PA, and she recently earned a BFA in dance and a minor in writing from Slippery Rock University in 2021. After graduating, she continued her training through Broadway Dance Center’s Independent Training Program in the fall of 2022. Laura has performed in various student works at Slippery Rock University in addition to
Laura is from York, PA, and she recently earned a BFA in dance and a minor in writing from Slippery Rock University in 2021. After graduating, she continued her training through Broadway Dance Center’s Independent Training Program in the fall of 2022. Laura has performed in various student works at Slippery Rock University in addition to works by Pearl Primus, Cameron McKinney, Ursula Payne, Samantha Baker, Jennifer Meckley, and Francine Ott. Presently, Laura is performing with NYC-based companies: Chutzpah Dance, and DanceKerr & Dancers. She is also a selected choreographer to present work through the Digging in Group choreographic mentorship program at Green Space this year. Laura’s choreography has recently been featured in Spark Theatre Festival, Spring for Spring dance festival, Broadway Dance Center's Performance Project, and Koresh Artist Showcase. Her short dance film was also featured in the Quarantine Screen Selection of the 2020 92Y Mobile Dance Film Festival. Additionally, Laura has presented her undergraduate research project, "Frames of Mind: The Theory of Multiple Intelligences Applied to Choreography" at the 2021 National Conference on Undergraduate Research (NCUR) and at the Slippery Rock University Student Research Symposium in 2021.
Lilianne Gering
Lilianne Gering
Lilianne Gering
Lilianne is a dancer, choreographer, dance educator, certified Pilates instructor, and arts administrator. She grew up training on Long Island, New York, and continued her training at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. In 2021, she graduated magna cum laude from Muhlenberg College with a BA in Dance Choreography and Performance, and a B
Lilianne is a dancer, choreographer, dance educator, certified Pilates instructor, and arts administrator. She grew up training on Long Island, New York, and continued her training at Muhlenberg College in Allentown, PA. In 2021, she graduated magna cum laude from Muhlenberg College with a BA in Dance Choreography and Performance, and a BA in Arts Administration. Some of her credits include work with Monica Bill-Barnes, Heidi Cruz-Austin, Jeffrey Peterson, and Shelley Oliver. Lilianne is currently in her second season with DanceKerr & Dancers.
LINDSEY JONES
Lilianne Gering
Lilianne Gering
MARIANNA ALLEN
Lilianne Gering
MARIANNA ALLEN
Marianna is an emerging dance artist based in New York and New Jersey. She attended the dance program at Mason Gross School of the Arts where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with her BFA in Dance Performance. During her time at Mason Gross, Marianna performed in several works by renowned guest and faculty choreographers including Chuck Wilt
Marianna is an emerging dance artist based in New York and New Jersey. She attended the dance program at Mason Gross School of the Arts where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with her BFA in Dance Performance. During her time at Mason Gross, Marianna performed in several works by renowned guest and faculty choreographers including Chuck Wilt, Dawn Marie Bazemore, John Heginbotham, and Abby Zbikowski. More recently, she has performed for Ani Javian and John Evans, OcampoWang Dance, and Friends Who Dance Collective. With a focus in modern and contemporary based movement, Marianna looks to create and perform material that explores dance as an art as well as a part of humanity.
OLIVIA VILLALBA
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OLIVIA VILLALBA
Olivia is a founding company member of DK&D who grew up in Stamford Connecticut where she has been studying dance since a young age. Olivia is a Hofstra University graduate where she received a B.S. in Dance Education K-12. She is a dance artist/educator who teaches ballet, tap, hip-hop, and jazz in a variety of studios in New York and Co
Olivia is a founding company member of DK&D who grew up in Stamford Connecticut where she has been studying dance since a young age. Olivia is a Hofstra University graduate where she received a B.S. in Dance Education K-12. She is a dance artist/educator who teaches ballet, tap, hip-hop, and jazz in a variety of studios in New York and Connecticut. Olivia also works with different studios to create outreach programs to bring movement classes into public schools. Olivia joined DanceKerr & Dancers in 2015 and is excited to continue to grow within the company.
REBECCA LIGHT
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OLIVIA VILLALBA
Rebecca began dancing at the age of four at The Acton School of Ballet. She danced with Commonwealth Ballet Company before earning her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Fordham University and The Ailey School. While at Ailey, Rebecca had the opportunity to perform works by Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, José Limón, Chuck Wilt, Gabrielle Lamb, Hen
Rebecca began dancing at the age of four at The Acton School of Ballet. She danced with Commonwealth Ballet Company before earning her Bachelor’s of Fine Arts from Fordham University and The Ailey School. While at Ailey, Rebecca had the opportunity to perform works by Alvin Ailey, Robert Battle, José Limón, Chuck Wilt, Gabrielle Lamb, Henning Rübsam, Chalvar Monteiro, and Tina Bush. Rebecca has also trained with The Limón Institute, BalletX, and Ballet Hispánico. Professionally, Rebecca has danced with Nefelaba Dance Theater, Elizabeth Burr Dance, The 98 Art Collective, Buglisi Dance Theatre, DanceKerr & Dancers, and Eva Dean Dance.
JOIN DANCE KERR & DANCERS
JOIN DANCE KERR & DANCERS
JOIN DANCE KERR & DANCERS
Are you interested in joining our dance team? We happily accept email inquires at dancekerr@aol.com.