“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 17 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 performed his one person show titled the “The Drama” at The Guggenheim in 2025.
Instagram: @lloydknight
Xin Ying
Xin Ying
XIN YING, dancer and choreographer, MFA candidate, Dance Magazine cover star and a mother, joined the Company in 2011 and performs many of Graham’s own roles, including Herodiade, Errand into the Maze, Chronicle, Cave of the Heart, and others. Her performance as The Chosen One in The Rite of Spring was noted as “Transcendent and heroic” by the New York Times. She has also been featured in works created for the Company by many contemporary choreographers including Nacho Duato, Annie-B Parson, and Hofesh Shechter.
Her posts of her improvisations have garnered attention across major social media and press platforms, and her growing resume as a collaborator and choreographer, includes
While completing her MFA at NYU, Xin has created a GPT for the Graham Company, MarthaBot, as well as Lamentation: Dancing the Archive, a project using volumetric film and AR tracking technology, set to premiere at Jacob’s Pillow in 2025. Letter to Nobody, a collaboration with media that allows her to dance with Martha Graham, and is receiving its world premiere this season at The Joyce.
Instagram: @Xin_Ying_Dance
Leslie Andrea Williams
Leslie Andrea Williams
LESLIE ANDREA WILLIAMS grew up in Raleigh, North Carolina. She earned her BFA from The Juilliard School and joined the company in 2015. Williams performs iconic Graham solos such as “Lamentation” and “Deep Song.” Her expansive repertoire of roles include Medea in “Cave of the Heart,” and notably, as the lead in “Chronicle,” which was highlighted in The New York Times’ “Best Dance of 2019” list. Outside of Graham, Williams serves as a board member of the theater company Off-Brand Opera.
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 6 years and counting.
Instagram: @anniesoud
Laurel Dalley Smith
Laurel Dalley Smith
LAUREL DALLEY SMITH, having joined the company in 2015, enjoys performing principal roles in Clytemnestra, Errand, Appalachian Spring and Chronicle amongst others. New creations by; Hofesh Shechter, Jamar Roberts, Pam Tanowitz, Bobbie Jene Smith, Pontus Lidberg, Lar Lubovitch and Lucinda Childs. She had the privilege of revising Agnes De Mille’s title role of ‘The Cowgirl’ in Rodeo. Laurel guests internationally, working closely with Olivier award winning choreographer Kim Brandstrup, award winning Yorke Dance Project and had the privilege of dancing for the late Sir Robert Cohan.
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, a Miami native, is in his fourth season with the Martha Graham Dance Company. He trained at the New World School of the Arts and earned his BFA from the University of the Arts. Before joining the Company in 2021, Villaverde had an illustrious career with BalletX. His notable leading roles in the Graham company include dancing Lead in Maple Leaf Rag, “yellow couple” in Diversion of Angels, and the Husbandman in Appalachian Spring. The New York Times praised his portrayal of The Roper in Rodeo for his expressive movement and commanding stage presence. Villaverde has also been featured in Hofesh Shechter’s CAVE and participated in Twyla Tharp’s celebrated revivals at New York City Center in 2022.
Instagram: @Richardvillaverde
Devin Loh
Devin Loh
DEVIN LOH, from Fanwood, NJ, holds a BFA from Purchase College, and is a Bert Terborgh Dance Award recipient. Ms. Loh joined Graham 2 in 2019, and the company in 2021. She has performed Graham classics and works by Jamar Roberts, Hofesh Shechter, and Sonya Tayeh with the company. Ms. Loh is a certified Graham Technique teacher, and is the 2025 Distinguished Graduate of UCAPA High School for passing Martha’s legacy to the next generation.
Instagram: @devinloh
Antonio Leone
Antonio Leone
ANTONIO LEONE, 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, 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!
Instagram: @meaganking__
Ane Arrieta
Ane Arrieta
ANE ARRIETA, from Rhode Island, is a dual citizen of Spain and the U.S. She earned a BFA from the Hartt School, receiving the Outstanding Senior Award. She’s danced with Newport Contemporary Ballet, Graham 2 and Buglisi Dance Theater. At Graham she’s worked with Jamar Roberts and Baye and Asa and has performed soloist roles in Graham masterpieces Cave of the Heart and Appalachian Spring.
Instagram: @anearrieta
Zachary Jeppsen-Toy
Zachary Jeppsen-Toy
ZACHARY JEPPSEN-TOY, 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 (New Dancer), originally from Roxbury, NJ, graduated from Marymount Manhattan College. She has assisted dance conventions with Deviate Dance and has apprenticed with Parsons Dance. She has performed works choreographed by Pascal Rioult, Twyla Tharp, Sidra Bell, Jessica Lang, May O’Donnell, and Jennifer Archibald among others. After graduating she joined Graham 2.
Instagram: @amanda__nicole18
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Jai Perez
Jai Perez
JAI PEREZ (New Dancer) is from Harlem, NY. He started his dance journey at the National Dance Institute, where he cultivated a love for movement. He continued his training at the Ailey School, then at SUNY Purchase, where he received a BFA in dance. He has performed works by Hofesh Schechter, Jamar Roberts, and Ronald K. Brown. Jai has performed with Buglisi Dance Theater and A.I.M. by Kyle Abraham. This is Jai’s second season with the company.
Instagram: @jai.perez
Ethan Palma
Ethan Palma
ETHAN PALMA (New Dancer) is originally from Appleton, Wisconsin. Ethan received a BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. At Marymount, Ethan has performed in works of many choreographers including Martha Graham, Jenn Freeman, Chanel Dasilva, Pedro Ruiz. Ethan danced in the 2024 MET Opera’s Ainadamar.
Instagram: @ediggie1
Isabella Pagano
Isabella Pagano
ISABELLA PAGANO (Apprentice) bio coming soon…