“These men and women easily embody the choreographer’s sense of dancers as angelic athletes.”
– Robert Greskovic, The Wall Street Journal
The dancers of the Martha Graham Dance Company comprise the oldest dance company in the United States and one of the most celebrated in the world. Whether performing the masterworks of Martha Graham or new works from some of today’s top choreographers, these versatile dancers are exemplars of contemporary dance. Under the artistic direction of Janet Eilber since 2005, the Company is made up of 20 extraordinarily athletic, expressive dancers of unmatched virtuosity.
Lloyd Knight
Lloyd Knight
LLOYD KNIGHT joined the Company in 2005 and performs major roles of the Graham repertory including Appalachian Spring, Embattled Garden, Night Journey among others. Bessie Nominated for best Performer in 2022, Dance Magazine also named him one of “Top 25 Dancers to Watch” in 2010 and one of the best performers of 2015. Mr. Knight has starred with ballet greats Wendy Whelan and Misty Copeland in signature Graham duets and has had roles created for him by such renowned artists as Nacho Duato and Pam Tanowitz. Knight has performed as a principal guest artist for The Royal Ballet of Flanders directed by Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui as well as with Twyla Tharp Dance. Born in England and raised in Miami, he trained at Miami Conservatory of Ballet and New World School of the Arts. Recently he was an 2023 Dance Research Fellow for The New York Public Library for the Performing Arts and will be performing his One Person show titled the “The Drama” at The Guggenheim in 2025.
Instagram: @lloydknight
Xin Ying
Xin Ying
XIN YING joined the Company in 2011, Dance Magezine cover star, described as “The Fearlessly Radiant Xin Ying Is Every Bit as Tough as the Graham Heroines She Embodies.” She performs The Chosen One in The Rite of Spring and Graham’s own roles including in Hérodiade, Errand into the Maze, Chronicle, Cave of the Heart, Lamentation, Deep Song, and Satyric Festival Song. She has been featured in works created for the Company by Nacho Duato, Pontus Lidberg, Annie-B Parson, Hofesh Shechter, Kyle Abraham, Maxine Doyle and Bobbi Jene Smith. She is also a choreographer and currently getting her MFA in dance interdisciplinary research at NYU Tisch.
Instagram: @Xin_Ying_Dance
Leslie Andrea Williams
Leslie Andrea Williams
LESLIE ANDREA WILLIAMS joined the company in 2015 and since has performed featured roles in iconic Graham ballets as well as in works by some of today’s top choreographers. Her Graham roles have included Medea in Cave of the Heart, and the lead in Chronicle, which earned her a place on The New York Times “Best Dance of 2019” list. Ms. Williams’s has been profiled in Dance Magazine, Teen Vogue, Psychology Today, among others. Her work has been described in reviews as “hypnotic” and “larger than life.” Hailing from Raleigh, NC, Ms.Williams is a graduate of the Julliard School.
Instagram: @lezandrea
Anne Souder
Anne Souder
ANNE SOUDER joined the Company in 2015 and performs lead roles in Appalachian Spring, Cave of the Heart, Diversion of Angels, Dark Meadow Suite, Chronicle, Ekstasis, Immediate Tragedy, and Hérodiade. She has performed repertoire in the Company’s new and commissioned works by Jamar Roberts, Agnes de Mille, Baye & Asa, Annie Rigney, Hofesh Shechter, Sonya Tayeh, Andrea Miller, Maxine Doyle, Bobbi Jean Smith, Lucinda Childs, Lar Lubovitch, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, and Marie Chouinard. Souder began her training in Tennessee and continued on to earn her degree at the Ailey/Fordham BFA program. Upon graduation, she joined Graham 2 and was awarded a Dizzy Feet Foundation scholarship. Anne is a proud member of AGMA and has been the union rep for a total of 5 years and counting.
Instagram: @anniesoud
Laurel Dalley-Smith
Laurel Dalley-Smith
LAUREL DALLEY SMITH, from Bath, England, joined the Company in 2015. Laurel performs lead roles in Appalachian Spring, Steps in the Street, Errand into the Maze, Cave of the Heart and Maple Leaf Rag amongst others. Also dancing the Title role of ‘Cowgirl’ Agnes De Mille’s Rodeo, and features in new works by – Hofesh Shechter, Jamar Roberts, Pam Tanowitz, Andrea Miller, Bobbi Jene Smith, Maxine Doyle, Lucinda Childs, Lar Lubovitch and Marie Chounaird. Laurel guests internationally working with award winning Yorke Dance Project, Kim Brandstrup and had the privilege of dancing for the late Sir Robert Cohan. She was a member of the 50th Anniversary cast of West Side Story performing featured Jet and Shark roles. Laurel graduated from Central School of Ballet London with a First Class Honours Degree.
Instagram: @laureldalleysmith
So Young An
So Young An
SO YOUNG AN, a native of South Korea, joined the Company in 2016. She performs featured roles in such Graham classics as Embattled Garden, Errand into the Maze, Diversion of Angels, and Secular Games and in roles in contemporary works by Anne-B Parson, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Lar Lubovitch, Hofesh Shechter, Bobbi Jene Smith and Maxine Doyle. Ms. An is the recipient of the International Arts Award and the Grand Prize at the Korea National Ballet Grand Prix. Ms. An has danced with Korean National Ballet Company, Seoul Performing Arts Company and Buglisi Dance Theatre. She has also performed works by Yuri Grigorovich, Jean-Christophe Maillot, Mats Ek, Patricia Ruanne and Samantha Dunster.
Instagram: @so.young.an
Marzia Memoli
Marzia Memoli
MARZIA MEMOLI, from Palermo, Italy, graduated with high honors from the Academy of Teatro Carcano in Milan. Memoli attended the Bejart School under the direction of Michael Gascard. She was asked to perform by Artistic Director Gil Roman in The Ninth Symphony and Le Sacre du Printemps with the Bejart Ballet Lausanne. In 2016 she joined the Martha Graham Dance Company. Her repertory with the Company include Graham’s The Rite of Spring as the Chosen One, El Penitente, Chronicle, The Princess in Cave of the Heart, Satyric Festival Song, Diversion of Angels, Dark Meadow Suite, Acts of Light, and Deep Song. She performed works by Hofesh Shechter, Elisa Monte’s Treading, Bobbi Jean Smith, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Maxine Doyle, Pam Tanowtiz, Sonya Tayeh, Pontus Lidberg, Micaela Taylor, Lar Lubovitch, Andrea Miller and Jamar Roberts. In 2022 she performed for Twyla Tharp in In the Upper Room and Nine Sinatra Songs at New York City Center. Memoli is a recent recipient of the Fini International Rising Star Award.
Instagram: @marziamem
Richard Villaverde
Richard Villaverde
RICHARD VILLAVERDE, born and raised in Miami, FL, he began dancing at the age of 13, privately coached by Maria Eugenia Lorenzo, is a New World School of the Arts graduate and received his B.F.A from University of the Arts in Philadelphia, PA. Notably, he was a part of Arsenale della Danza 2012 at La Biennale de Venezia under the direction of Ismael Ivo. He later joined BalletX (2012-2021) where he was featured in works by Matthew Neenan, Kevin O’Day, Dwight Rodan, Nicolo Fonte, Penny Saunders, Cayetano Soto, Trey McIntyre, Jodie Gates, and Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. He’s performed at the Vail International Dance Festival, Ballet Sun Valley, Belgrade Dance Festival as well as at Jacob’s Pillow.
Instagram: @Richardvillaverde
Devin Loh
Devin Loh
DEVIN LOH, from Fanwood, NJ, joined the company in 2021. She has performed Graham classics such as Appalachian Spring and Chronicle, and contemporary works by Jamar Roberts, Hofesh Shechter, and others. Ms. Loh holds a BFA from SUNY Purchase and is a recipient of the Bert Terborgh Dance Award. Ms. Loh was a member of Graham 2.
Instagram: @devinloh
Antonio Leone
Antonio Leone
ANTONIO LEONE (New Dancer), a native of Italy, graduated from the Rudra Bejart School in Switzerland. In 2021 he joined Graham 2 and the main company in 2022. He performs featured roles in Errand into the Maze and Diversion of Angels by Martha Graham, as well as roles in commissioned works by Agnes DeMille, Sonya Tayeh and Yin Yue. He is the first male dancer with CRDance and a Pearl Lang Award recipient for Excellence in Performance.
Instagram: @antoniioleone
Meagan King
Meagan King
MEAGAN KING (New Dancer), of Brooklyn, NY, is an Ailey/Fordham BFA graduate and LaGuardia H.S. alumna. Ms. King danced with Ailey II, receiving features in Dance Spirit, The TODAY Show, PIX11, NY12, Good Day Sacramento, and named BLOCH Young Artist. She performed at Holland Dance Festival and Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary and choreographed for Women/Create! This is her first season with the company.
Instagram: @meaganking__
Ane Arrieta
Ane Arrieta
ANE ARRIETA (New Dancer), dual citizen of Spain and the U.S., grew up in Rhode Island and trained at the Newport Academy of Ballet. She received a BFA in Dance Performance and Pedagogy from the Hartt School at the University of Hartford, earning the Outstanding Senior Award. She has worked with choreographers Jacqulyn Buglisi, Pascal Rioult, Bryan Arias, Francesca Harper and Colin Connor, and has been a member of Newport Contemporary Ballet, Buglisi Dance Theater and Graham 2. This is her first season with the company.
Instagram: @anearrieta
Zachary Jeppsen
Zachary Jeppsen
ZACHARY JEPPSEN (New Dancer), raised in Southern Wisconsin, is an alumnus of The Juilliard School where he received his BFA in Dance. He has had the pleasure of performing pieces by Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Jacqulyn Buglisi, Donald McKayle, Paul Taylor, Ohad Naharin, and many other choreographers. Before Juilliard, Zachary attended The Chicago Academy for the Arts where he studied under Randy Duncan and Patrick Simoniello.
Instagram: @zachjeppsentoy
Amanda Moreira
Amanda Moreira
AMANDA MOREIRA (Apprentice), originally from Roxbury, NJ, grew up dancing at a small competition studio before attending college at Marymount Manhattan College where she received her BFA in Dance and graduated Cum Laude in May 2022. While at Marymount she has performed works by Martha Graham, Twyla Tharp, Pascal Rioult, Sidra Bell, Jessica Lang, and Jennifer Archibald and has apprenticed with Parsons Dance during her senior year. After she graduated she joined Graham 2. Here she’s had the opportunity to perform lead roles from Graham’s repertory including ‘The Pussycat’ in The Owl and the Pussycat, ‘The Woman in Yellow’ in Diversion of Angels, as well as the solo Satyric Festival Song. She is currently in her second year of Graham 2 and is also in her first year as an Apprentice with the Martha Graham Dance Company.
Instagram: @amanda__nicole18
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Jai Perez
Jai Perez
JAI PEREZ (Apprentice) started his dance journey at the National Dance Institute where he cultivated a love for dance. He continued his training at the Alvin Ailey Junior Division, and is now an Alumni of the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase. He has performed works by Ronald K. Brown, Doug Varone, Ja’Malik, Ayodele Casel, Norbert De La Cruz lll, Martha Graham and Jacqulyn Buglisi.
Instagram: @jai.perez
Ethan Palma
Ethan Palma
ETHAN PALMA (Apprentice) is originally from Appleton, Wisconsin where he began his training at Barb’s Centre for Dance. Ethan graduated from Marymount Manhattan College with a Bachelor’s in Fine Arts with a concentration in ballet. At Marymount, Ethan has performed in works of many choreographers including Martha Graham, Sidra Bell, Jenn Freeman, Chanel Dasilva, Pedro Ruiz, and Darshan Bhuller. This is Ethan’s First season with the Martha Graham Dance Company.
Instagram: @ediggie1