BSDC I MEMBERS
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Matthew Thomas a native of Philadelphia, began his formal dance training at the L&L Dance Productions Studio in West Philadelphia. Originally a tapper, he soon began to study ballet, jazz, hip-hop & african. His training continued with PHILADANCO, the Youth Performing Arts Theater Camp, The Rock School & Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Matthew's youth performing credits include; Duke Ellington's Harlem Nutcracker & Sixers Jr. Dance Team. At the age of 16, he was invited to become an original member of Eleone Connection; Jr. Company of the nationally renown Eleone Dance Theatre. In 2007, he was selected to join the 1st company. As a principal dancer, Matthew has traveled with Eleone nationwide; and has performed works by Christopher Huggins, Diane MacIntyre, Katherine Dunham & Wayne St. David to name a few. He also performed as a soloist with the Rebeca Davis Dance Company for 2 years. Now, Matthew is the Co-Director of Sterling Dance Company and Member of BSwan Dance Company.
Ge’Shaya Fountain born and raised in the West Philadelphia area who’ve been dancing for 19 years. She has studied/trained at multiple Dance Studio’s throughout Philadelphia such as L&L Dance Production, Mrs. Carols Center for Dance, Bodies in Motion and Eleone. Ge’Shaya’s, also a former Captain of the "Ramsquad" Dance Team from “Rosemont College”, where she received her Bachelors Degree of Science in Business Management in May 2017. As of 2018, she is currently working in Childcare Field during the day/night while also managing as a Director of her very Dance Studio known GeTek-Nek School of Performing Arts. Ge’Shaya, is proud to be a Member of “BSwan Dance Company
Michelle Marie is a west Philly native who began her dance career at the very young age of 3 at L&L Dance Productions. Over the course of 13 years she studied ballet, pointe, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop and acrobatics. She spent numerous summers performing at the Young Performers Theatre Camp in the dance department. While attending Eastern University she was a member of their dance team ‘Redefined’ and featured in Eastern University’s dance department spring shows. Michelle has choreographed for Hip-Hop at L&L Dance Production as well as ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and tumbling at B’ella Ballerina Dance Academy. She is an Exercise Science graduate of Towson University in Towson, MD and is currently employed at one of the top surgery and physical therapy centers on the Main Line. Michelle was featured in The Diary of BSwan and is now one of the newest members of the BSwan Dance Company. Aside from dancing, Michelle enjoys traveling and spending her leisure time at various beaches. This sparked her interest to start her very own swimwear line “Double M Swim”. Double M Swim provides statement swimwear at an affordable price ”for girls who have no winter”.
Carol-Lynne Rose Shuford was born a January 14, 1996 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. At a very early age Carol-Lynne discovered her passion for music and dance. Growing up in a vibrant Caribbean household she was brought up listening and dancing to soca music and always enjoyed tapping her feet and moving her hips as a child. It wasn’t until age 13 that she started to explore her passion on her own and joined her church’s praise dance company, Praise In Motion (PIM). Within that company is where she developed professional training and was exposed to performing frequently and traveling all over the city to different liturgical dance events. From then she knew that dance was something that she wanted to continue doing for a lifetime. Entering High School, she then became dance and cheerleading team captain and began choreographing for select school performances. Following her graduation, when going to college for dance and theatre in New York City didn’t go as she had planned, her drive and dedication to continue dancing hadn’t altered. She began researching and looking for opportunities in the city where she could train and grow as a dancer as much as she could, which brought her to BSwan’s Summer Workshop. Since then she has been featured in three Bswan productions and is now a member of BSwan Dance Company.
Diamond Maxwell was born and raised in the West Philadelphia area. At the early age of 3, she developed an interest in dance. Diamond started her training at L&L Dance Productions studying ballet, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, and acrobatics. She continued her training as a teenager at Franklin Learning Center majoring in FLC DANCE but her training excelled with The Philadelphia School of Dance Arts also, joining PHILADANCO’S D3 Youth Ensemble. She studied and gained proficiency in classical ballet, pointe, modern (introduced to Horton and Graham), jazz, and acrobatics. At the age of 13, she was introduced to Cha’Yvon V Dessus who’s professionally known as BSwan from teachers at L'& L to be featured in her very own productions titled The Diary Of Bswan (2014), The Evolution Of Bswan (2016), and BLXCK OUT (2017), where she followed BSwan’s different approach to choreography known as “Swanography” which Diamond loved and was inspired. She followed her meaning to BSwan’s motto: “BRare, BNoticed BYou'' as a young artist. Diamond spent a portion of her time excelling her pre-professional training with Straight To the Pointe Dance School and becoming a company member of her studio’s company for three years as well as being Co-Captain for two years. The Philadelphia Sixers Dream Dance Team, Young Performing Theater Camp (YPTC), Pure Project ll, Next Generation Dance Conservatory, and Grace Dance Theater Summer Intensive Advanced Level. With her intensive training and experience, she is now the Assistant Director of iBalance Dance Studio and Rehearsal Director of iBalance Dance Company, where she creates a safe and creative environment for students to express themselves through the art of dance. Diamond’s main goal is to continue to learn from as well as inspire other dancers/artists within her community. Diamond finally found her way back to the SwanPond but now as a professional dancer continuing her meaning to the motto: “BRare, BNoticed, BYou”
Dominique Donald was born and raised in the West Philadelphia area. Dominique has been dancing since the age of 3. She has been training/dancing at her very own Mother's Dance School known as L&L Dance Productions. Dominque’s years of training consist of Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Acrobats, Tap, and Hip Hop. Dominique also attended Young Performers Theater Camp for several consecutive Summers. For the past couple of years, Dominique has been in two dance companies (L&L Sterling Dance Company and The Pure Project II). Dominique was also featured in all three of BSwan’s Productions. She currently teaches and choreographs for L&L Dance Productions. She teaches tap and Jazz with ages ranging from 5-12 year olds. Her career goal is to take over her Mother’s Dance School and continue to help children find their passion through dance and to grow as young artists. Dominique is now a member of BSwan Dance Company
Lillian Saunders-Harris - dancer from the Mount Airy section of Philadelphia, PA. She got her start when she was enrolled in the St. Benedicts Daycare center(which later became Pointe Flex Dance Studio) at the tender age of 2. Along with affordable childcare, the program provided dance lessons in Tap, Ballet, Jazz, African, lyrical, and Hip-Hop. Due to unforeseen circumstances her family was no longer able to pay tuition, but that never stopped her drive. Lillian took classes anyway she could. From researching different styles of dance, to honing her technique by having her friends (who were still able to take class) teach her EVERYTHING they knew. She got her second chance after being invited to open auditions at Pointe Flex Dance Studio. The same place she got her start, and hasn’t stopped since. Private classes, summer intensives, late night stretching, and complete dedication to the craft. Now she’s giving back, by offering the same opportunities afforded to her. Specializing in ballet, lyrical, and jazz techniques she’s teaching her own classes at Pointe Flex. Hoping to change lives the same way dance saved hers. Lillian is also a graduate from JNA Institute of Culinary Arts, and is in the process of starting her own catering company “The Pink Apron”, which she hopes to one day be a driving force in the fight against breast cancer. "I am hoping as a new member of BSwan Dance Company (BSDC) to be that inspiration for little girls that every Black- African American Ballerina was to me growing up.
Qayla Green was born and raised in Southwest Philadelphia. She started her dance training at the age of 3 at Bodies in Motion Dance School. She’s been training for 18 years. Qayla is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, hip-hop, & acrobatics. Over the years she received training B.I.M, Eleone Dance Unlimited, Showstoppers at the Kimmel Center, Y.P.T.C, and the M.O.B. She completed several seasons with Bodies in Motion dance company, 3 seasons with Eleone Dance Incorporated dance company, and 3 years with C.A.P.A dance company where she completed High School. Qayla is also a dance instructor and has been teaching ballet, jazz, hip hop, & acrobatics at The M.O.B dance school. With all her years of experience Qayla is one of the newest members of BSwan Dance Company. Outside of dance Qayla is B.S/ M.S college student at Jefferson University pursing Health Science B.S./ Athletic Training M.S.. She is an aspiring athletic trainer for professional athletes.
Sierra Alexandria, a native of Columbia, SC, relocated to Philadelphia to pursue her graduate studies in social work and public health. At the age of 3, she began training in Ballet at the Columbia City Ballet (SC) and continued on to train in Pointe, Jazz, and Modern. Sierra began training pre-professionally at the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities under Irina Ushakova, Tracy Vogt, Miriam Mesa Pelly, and Josee Garant. Throughout college, she continued working on her craft while training with Georgetown University’s Dance Company (GUDC), Groove Theory hip hop team, and throughout the DMV area. She is grateful for the community that she has found through dancing with BSwan Dance Company and in the Philly dance community. When she isn’t dancing, she is finding creative strategies to promote mental health and emotional wellness as a full-time therapist or buying plants
Bobbi A. Bordley started dancing at the age of 3 yrs. Bobbi has danced for the Philadelphia 76ers Mini Dream Team for two seasons. She’s danced at The Rock School of Dance Education (Phila), Bobbi has won back to back scholarships at the Monsters of Hip Hop Convention where she learned from top choreographers in the business such as Nappytabs, Jabberwockeez, Rhapsody & more… She danced for Mariah Carey during the Rockefeller Christmas Special and has even had the opportunity to work with Debbie Allen! Bobbi is excited to have joined BSDC on the strength of love and having a home. She will continue to grow with her new found family and is excited to see what the future holds.
Dajah Delee born in West Philadelphia began her dance career at the age of 4 at Point Breeze Performing Arts Center. She later then transitioned to L&L Dance Production and The Making of Bosses Dance Studio. Over the course of 19 years she studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, acrobatics, modern and hip hop. While attending West Chester University she was a member of the hip hop dance team D.R.E.A.M Team. She later became captain and choreographer for 3 1/2 years. Dajah is one of the newest members of BSwan Dance Company. She is proud to be apart of The Pond family and grateful to dance beside other talented dancers.