Blakk Jakk Dance Collective, Founded by RonDale Simpson, was formed in the summer of 2020 as a community project-based dance company. The styles include Hip-Hop fusion, Modern Afro Beats, HBCU dance style, and stepping. Our organization’s mission is to create opportunities for dancers of color to improve their skills, perform and build a network of emerging and professional dancers, create works of artistic excellence, and broaden the appreciation of dance in our community. Blakk Jakk Dance Collective’s vision is to preserve, transform, and unify our communities with the arts, focusing on dance in the African diaspora. To be rooted in advancing cultural awareness, social mindfulness, and self-empowerment. We hope to protect our culture, challenge social norms, and validate our experiences by extending, exploring, and investigating the black narrative through dance. Artistic statement - Ron’Dale Simpson, 2018 Graduate of Thee Central State University Through my work with Blakk Jakk Dance Collective, I recognized the need for more accessible opportunities for community youth to connect with performing arts outside of school. That's why my ultimate goal is to expand my mission and create a performing arts school that offers classes in dance, theater, music, and more for children and teenagers in underprivileged neighborhoods. I envision my school as a safe space for young artists to express themselves, learn new skills, and build confidence. I also want to provide a platform for local artists to showcase their talents and share their knowledge with the community. My school will employ a diverse range of instructors who represent different cultures, styles, and backgrounds. By doing so, we can create a collaborative and inclusive learning environment that celebrates the richness of our differences. In addition to teaching performing arts, my school will prioritize community outreach and engagement. We will partner with local organizations to bring the arts to those who may not have access to it otherwise. We will also offer scholarships and work-study programs to ensure that finances are not a barrier for aspiring young artists. My ultimate dream is to create a network of performing arts schools and companies across the country that are focused on creating a positive impact in their communities. By empowering youth through the arts, we can foster a more equitable and just society for all.

Krooked Collective was established in 2024 by Aaron Kint, Emily Karn, Jessica “Diba” Bennett, and MaryJo Bono. As a versatile production company, we cater to individuals dissatisfied with their current artistic environments, offering an escape for those seeking inspiration and collaboration. Our aim is to unite like-minded artists who aspire to challenge the limits of their creativity. Krooked Collective is a place for rebels, revolutionaries, and disruptors, leveraging technology to create an extensive network of artists. We strongly believe in the power of collaboration as a pathway to the future, striving to curate experiences that push both artists and audiences beyond their comfort zones. This piece will be choreographed by Emily Karn and Aaron Kint.

Tingyu Xie is a dancer, choreographer, dance instructor, and fitness instructor with an MFA in dance from Case Western Reserve University and a bachelor’s degree in physics from Southeast University in China. Xie has previously served as a part-time lecturer at CWRU dance department and a dance faculty at Fairmount Center for the Arts. She’s also been working as a dance teacher for children and adults at several Chinese Culture Schools in the communities. She offers regular online dance classes to amateur dancers in China and the US, and she also loves sharing her inspirations and knowledge in dancer wellness with the dancer community. Her interests and contribution extend beyond the realm of dance, encompassing an approach to fitness and overall well-being. She’s been engaged in a project that integrates dancer wellness with choreography, fitness, and personal health. This innovative initiative has garnered her over 26,000 followers on her social media platform.

She has over fifteen years of dance performance experience, which includes training in ballet, modern& contemporary dance, Chinese classical dance, and Jazz. Xie was awarded the Edna Rafael Award for Excellence in Performance of Modern Dance in 2022. Her original choreography has been featured in CWRU and the Cleveland Annual Dance Collaborative Show. During her graduate years at CWRU, she has also performed in works such as Like Fragments of an Old Song by Pam Tanowitz, Caffeinated by Larry Keigwin, and Spaces and Places and Sisters by Gary Galbraith, as well as creating several dance films. Xie was a lead dancer in the College Student Art Troupe of Southeast University in China and won the first prize in Jiangsu Province’s University Art Exhibition and the National Excellent Dance Performance in Hong Kong.

Theresa (Bonvissuto) Holland began her training with Joanne Morscher and Ana Lobe at The Royal School of Ballet. She furthered her training in the Mercyhurst University Dance Department under the direction of Tauna Hunter, receiving a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Her professional career began with Ohio Dance Theatre, continued with Neos Dance Theatre, Cleveland Ballet, and North Pointe Ballet. Theresa has danced principal and soloist roles in Paquita (Paquita), The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Dew Drop), Peter Pan (Wendy), Raymonda (Soloist), and Ramon Oller’s Coppélia (Friend). Noteworthy contemporary repertoire includes Robert Wesner’s Searching for the Find, Dracula, Homage, A 1940’s Nutcracker, Joseph Morrissey’s Suite for Strings, and a featured tango in Ramon Thielen’s My Cycle of Love. Theresa has performed as a guest artist with The Lake Erie Ballet, City Ballet of Cleveland, Canton Ballet, Ballet Theatre of Ohio, Holmes Center for the Arts, Central Ohio Youth Ballet, and Dance Arts by Regina, appearing as the Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. Today, she continues to perform as a freelance artist and trains with the renowned instructor and former principal ballerina Pam Pribisco. Alongside her professional career, Theresa has been teaching and choreographing in the Northeast Ohio area for over fourteen years. She has had the privilege of judging at OhioDance Masters. In addition, Theresa was the Ballet Mistress at Artistry in Motion Dance Center for seven seasons and served as Ballet Mistress and Rehearsal Assistant for North Pointe Ballet. Her choreography has been presented in multiple avenues, including the prestigious OhioDance Festival, Kent State University’s Dance Concerts, Cleveland Dance Project’s Showcases and Community Collaboration Show, and Cleveland Dance Fest. Theresa is a part-time faculty member at Kent State University, where she earned a master's degree in educational psychology and now teaches Psychology of Coaching in the Department of Teaching, Learning, and Curriculum Studies. She serves as the Ballet Director at Center Stage Dance Studio in Northfield and is Artistic Director of their Ballet Training Program.

Mary Vaccani is the CEO of MAX Dance Pro. Mary is a graduate from Kent State University with a BFA in Dance Performance. While at KSU she won the Alpha Psi Omega Choreographer and Set Design awards. Her work "Touch" was selected by the University to represent Kent State at the American College Dance Festival. She spent her early post-collegiate years traveling to study at the most prestigious dance studios and conventions. From New York's Broadway Dance Center, to Co. Dance, West Coast Dance Explosion, and LA Dance Force, she has studied under some of the dance industry's most celebrated artists. Highlights in her dance career include AT&T and ADIDAS commercials, choreographed promo tours for BETs 106 and Park, performed for NASCAR/Hendrick Motorsports, NASCAR/Speed Street, and MMA events, the Orange Bowl Half Time Show, Monsters of Hip Hop with the EleKtriK Dance Crew, and WCNC's National Dance Day with Millennium Dance Charlotte and RED Company real.edge.dance in Akron, Ohio. She represented the United States in the International Jazz World Congress dance competition in Costa Rica. Mary is also a Dance Plug "Circuit Breaker. Most recently, she was an adjunct professor at the University of Mount Union and Youngstown State University, and works with local artists in Canton, Ohio. She is locally and nationally recognized for her choreography.