Dance/theater artist Judy Dworin has received widespread recognition among diverse audiences for her socially charged, visually powerful
performance work. Her wide-ranging repertoire gives particular voice to women’s perspectives, human rights and earth-centered issues. Judy
investigates a pared-down, expressive movement vocabulary that is carefully integrated with visual elements, sound and often text. Her work
creates emotionally moving and transformative images that challenge and provoke with a multi-layered intensity. She has been noted for her
sharp wit as well as her ability to delve into the darker reaches of experience shaped by a sense of possibility. Her work is informed by her
commitment to process and collaboration.
Judy is the recipient of a Connecticut Commission on the Culture & Tourism’s Individual Artist Grant and an NEA/Regional New Forms Grant, as
well as numerous state and private foundation grants for her work with the Ensemble and the Moving Matters! Residency Program, including the
Greater Hartford Arts Council, NEFA/ Meet the Composer, Roberts Foundation, Hartford Foundation for Public Giving, Haymarket People’s Fund,
Aetna Foundation, United Technologies Corporation, Kellogg Education Fund and the Dreyfus Foundation to name a few. In addition, she was an
artist-in-residence in Sofia, Bulgaria under the auspices of Dance Theater Workshop's special Suitcase Fund for Eastern Europe, the
International Theatre Institute, and the Chitalishte Foundation.
She is currently Professor of Dance and Co-Chair of the Department of Theater and Dance at Trinity College where she initially designed and
instituted the dance program. She has been selected by the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism as a Teaching Artist for the state
of Connecticut and is a recipient of a Distinguished Advocate for the Arts 1998 and the prestigious Governor’s Arts Award 1999. In 2001, she
was awarded a Connecticut Bloomer Award by Northeast Magazine for her contribution to the Connecticut’s cultural life for ¿dónde estás? and
in 2006, she received a Vision Award for Arts and Education from Charter Oak Cultural Center and the Connecticut Dance Alliance Award for
distinguished contributions to the field. She has had articles published in such journals and books as Contact Quarterly, Northeast
Magazine, Ellison Findly’s(ed) Women’s Buddhism, Buddhism’s Women and Marjorie Agosin & Betty Jean Craige’s(eds) To Mend the
World: Women Reflect on 9/11. She was also asked to contribute a chapter to a new book, “Performing New Lives: Reflectionson Prison Theatre in the United States”, being edited by Jonathan Shailor, Associate Professor of
Communications at University of Wisconsin-Parkside, and being published by Jessica Kingsley Publishers in the spring of 2010.
Kathy Borteck Gersten received a B.S. with a specialty in Dance from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. Her continued
dance studies took her to New York City, Wisconsin and Florida. Kathy has performed with various dance companies in Washington, DC,
including the GWU Dancers, Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, Dance Alliance and Michael Kasper Solos; in New York with the Merce
Cunningham Summer Repertory and Orion Dance Theater which she also directed and choreographed; in Florida with Fusion Dance Company and her
own KBG and Dancers; and in Hartford, CT, with the Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble.
Through all of this time, she has been involved in teaching dance and movement to students of all ages in many different settings. Kathy’s
teaching includes the various Y branches from DC to Hartford; private dance studios, schools (K-12) and colleges - private, public,
performing arts and at risk, and prisons. Kathy is a member of the CT Commission on Culture & Tourism’s Master Teaching Artist Roster and
has lead Teacher/Artist Collaborations in HOT Schools around the state, integrating kinesthetic movement with school curriculum. She has
lead teacher in-service workshops for Hartford Public Schools as well as an instructor at the former School of the Hartford Ballet, the
Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts, and Trinity College.
Kathy’s commitment to dance extends beyond her teaching and performing to include Dance Vice President for the Connecticut Association for
Physical, Health Education, Recreation and Dance; a member of the Dance Committee developing the Connecticut Standards for the Arts in
Dance and the State Guide to Arts Development K-12 Framework and a member of the Dance Certification committee for the Connecticut State
Department of Education. For the Connecticut Commission on the Culture & Tourism she has served on the Artist panels for Art/Artists
Residencies, Arts Development Grants and Teaching Artists Roster. For Aiken Elementary and Hall High Schools, West Hartford, she has
served on the School Improvement Councils. She was a founding member of Dance Services Network and its Director for six years and on the
Board of the Connecticut Dance Alliance. She is currently on the Board of the Judy Dworin Performance Project; Dance Umbrella for Greater
Hartford and the Dance Coalition at Charter Oak Cultural Center.
Presently, Kathy is the Associate Artistic Director and a performing member of the Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble (JDPE). She is the
coordinator for the residency program Moving Matters! at the Parkville Community School in Hartford, CT, where she also teaches along with
the team of JDPE teaching artists and is a guest lecturer in the Department of Theater and Dance at Trinity College.
Carla Iovinella – Administrative Director
Barbara Washer – Director of Community Outreach & Programming
Carla graduated from the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford with a BFA in Printmaking and a minor in Art History in 2004. After graduation, she worked as an Admissions Counselor for the University
for 2 years. When this position ended, she took a job with the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism as the Public Information
Fellow. Simultaneously, she spent time working for TripleFrog, LLC, a
small graphic design firm in Middletown.
Since coming to JDPP in 2008, Carla has carried out the day-to-day operations of the organization, including much of the graphic design, including this new website.
Barbara comes to JDPP with an extensive background in theater as an educator, director, performer, and consultant. Teaching students in pre-school through college, Barbara has experience ranging from providing a first introduction to performance to training for professional careers. Locally, Barbara has served as the Theatre Coordinator at Renbrook School in West Hartford, CT; taught in area colleges; designed and implemented workshops for teachers as an education consultant for Hartford Stage; and written/directed original children’s musicals for Renbrook Summer Adventure and Hartt Community Division. Born in Connecticut, Barbara grew up in North Carolina and has also lived in Louisiana where she earned an MA and MFA from the University of New Orleans and in Spokane, Washington where she and her husband Steve performed with the regional theatre, Interplayers Ensemble. With a passion for the value of arts education for all populations, a strong belief in the collaborative creative process, and as a long time admirer of the work of the Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble, Barbara is thrilled to bring her energy and expertise to the task of furthering the work of JDPP, Inc.
Judy Dworin Performance Project
Heidi Klecak is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and the Hartford Conservatory, and has attended Wesleyan University
taking graduate courses in Dance and Movement Studies. She has served on the dance faculty of Eastern Connecticut State University,
Saint Joseph College and The Hartford Conservatory among others. She currently is owner and Director of the Stafford Academy of Dance
LLC, and Directs the Figments Youth Dance Ensemble. Heidi teaches creative movement at the Preschool for the Arts in Ellington and
Tolland, and also choreographs a musical production for children each summer with Act Out, Sing and Shout.
Tracy Lombardo received a BFA from Adelphi University. She performed with Adelphi Dance Theater for two years, studied with Frank
Hatchett for one year and participated in a Broadway Dance Center Showcase in NYC. Tracy also performed with Sonia Plumb Dance Company
for five years. Presently, Tracy is teacher and choreographer of New Steps Dance Center in Glastonbury.
Lisa Matias received her BA from Trinity College, Hartford, CT., where she was awarded the President’s Fellowship in Theater and
Dance. She has taught and performed with several companies throughout the Northeast. Lisa currently teaches at Trinity College and at her
own studio, Lisa Matias Dance Centre. Lisa has been with JDPE since its inception and continues to be inspired by Judy’s work.
Alexa Melonopoulos began her dance training with Estelle Jones. She earned her BA in Dance from Hofstra University and holds an MA in
Dance in Higher Education and Administration from New York University. She has had the opportunity to perform with choreographers Eleo
Pomare, Remi Charlip, Rosalind Newman, Robin Becker, Stormy Brandenberger, Lance Westergard, Lili Weiss, John Mead and Ching Wen Yeh.
Alexa has been affi liated with a number of groups including Washington Square Repertory Dance Company, Sonia Plumb Dance Company, and
Works / Laura Glenn Dance. She is currently the Director of Dance and Arts Department Chair at Miss Porter’s School in CT.
Kate Seethaler graduated from Springfield College in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in dance and minors in philosophy and theatre. Most
recently, she performed as a freelance dance artist for Lindsey Bauer, Kellie Ann Lynch, and Nazorine Paglia in concerts and festivals in
Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Kate currently works as a dance educator at the Ethel Walker School and with JDPP’s Moving
Matters! Parkville Community School program.
Deborah Thompson (Sign Language Specialist) has worked extensively and passionately with the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Community
for over 20 years. Primarily she has provided interpreting services in American Sign Language. She also is a sign language instructor,
tutor and consultant. Through the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Distinguished Speaker Series, she has had the honor of
interpreting for Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Colon Powell, George Will, Edward James Olmes, Hilary Clinton as well as many other notable
figures. She holds an M.S. in Spirituality from Hartford Seminary.
Dance/theater artist Judy Dworin has received widespread recognition among diverse audiences for her socially charged, visually powerful
performance work. Her wide-ranging repertoire gives particular voice to women’s perspectives, human rights and earth-centered issues. Judy
investigates a pared-down, expressive movement vocabulary that is carefully integrated with visual elements, sound and often text. Her work
creates emotionally moving and transformative images that challenge and provoke with a multi-layered intensity. She has been noted for her
sharp wit as well as her ability to delve into the darker reaches of experience shaped by a sense of possibility. Her work is informed by her
commitment to process and collaboration.
Kathy Borteck Gersten received a B.S. with a specialty in Dance from the George Washington University in Washington, DC. Her continued
dance studies took her to New York City, Wisconsin and Florida. Kathy has performed with various dance companies in Washington, DC,
including the GWU Dancers, Maida Withers Dance Construction Company, Dance Alliance and Michael Kasper Solos; in New York with the Merce
Cunningham Summer Repertory and Orion Dance Theater which she also directed and choreographed; in Florida with Fusion Dance Company and her
own KBG and Dancers; and in Hartford, CT, with the Judy Dworin Performance Ensemble.
Carla graduated from the Hartford Art School at the University of Hartford with a BFA in Printmaking and a minor in Art History in 2004. After graduation, she worked as an Admissions Counselor for the University
for 2 years. When this position ended, she took a job with the Connecticut Commission on Culture and Tourism as the Public Information
Fellow. Simultaneously, she spent time working for TripleFrog, LLC, a
small graphic design firm in Middletown.
Since coming to JDPP in 2008, Carla has carried out the day-to-day operations of the organization, including much of the graphic design, including this new website.
Heidi Klecak is a graduate of the University of Connecticut and the Hartford Conservatory, and has attended Wesleyan University
taking graduate courses in Dance and Movement Studies. She has served on the dance faculty of Eastern Connecticut State University,
Saint Joseph College and The Hartford Conservatory among others. She currently is owner and Director of the Stafford Academy of Dance
LLC, and Directs the Figments Youth Dance Ensemble. Heidi teaches creative movement at the Preschool for the Arts in Ellington and
Tolland, and also choreographs a musical production for children each summer with Act Out, Sing and Shout.
Tracy Lombardo received a BFA from Adelphi University. She performed with Adelphi Dance Theater for two years, studied with Frank
Hatchett for one year and participated in a Broadway Dance Center Showcase in NYC. Tracy also performed with Sonia Plumb Dance Company
for five years. Presently, Tracy is teacher and choreographer of New Steps Dance Center in Glastonbury.
Lisa Matias received her BA from Trinity College, Hartford, CT., where she was awarded the President’s Fellowship in Theater and
Dance. She has taught and performed with several companies throughout the Northeast. Lisa currently teaches at Trinity College and at her
own studio, Lisa Matias Dance Centre. Lisa has been with JDPE since its inception and continues to be inspired by Judy’s work.
Alexa Melonopoulos began her dance training with Estelle Jones. She earned her BA in Dance from Hofstra University and holds an MA in
Dance in Higher Education and Administration from New York University. She has had the opportunity to perform with choreographers Eleo
Pomare, Remi Charlip, Rosalind Newman, Robin Becker, Stormy Brandenberger, Lance Westergard, Lili Weiss, John Mead and Ching Wen Yeh.
Alexa has been affi liated with a number of groups including Washington Square Repertory Dance Company, Sonia Plumb Dance Company, and
Works / Laura Glenn Dance. She is currently the Director of Dance and Arts Department Chair at Miss Porter’s School in CT.
Kate Seethaler graduated from Springfield College in 2008 with a Bachelor of Arts in dance and minors in philosophy and theatre. Most
recently, she performed as a freelance dance artist for Lindsey Bauer, Kellie Ann Lynch, and Nazorine Paglia in concerts and festivals in
Connecticut, Massachusetts and Rhode Island. Kate currently works as a dance educator at the Ethel Walker School and with JDPP’s Moving
Matters! Parkville Community School program.
Deborah Thompson (Sign Language Specialist) has worked extensively and passionately with the Deaf and Hearing Impaired Community
for over 20 years. Primarily she has provided interpreting services in American Sign Language. She also is a sign language instructor,
tutor and consultant. Through the State University of New York at Buffalo’s Distinguished Speaker Series, she has had the honor of
interpreting for Maya Angelou, Toni Morrison, Colon Powell, George Will, Edward James Olmes, Hilary Clinton as well as many other notable
figures. She holds an M.S. in Spirituality from Hartford Seminary.