E75: Dancer Development Workshop

July 8th - 11th, 2025 | 10:00 AM - 6:00 PM

Governor’s School for the Arts | 325 Granby Street, Norfolk, Virginia 23510

ERA Dance Company, founded by Virginia Beach native Jelani Taylor, hosts the E75: Dancer Development Workshop.

A four-day intensive experience for aspiring and professional dancers in Virginia, ages 16+. Dancers will experience a myriad of dance forms and training practices over the course of the 4 days while grounding in the contemporary modern practice of ERA Dance Company.

E75 is an opportunity for dancers to experiment, network, and grow to their hearts content!

Workshop Schedule

10:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Elemental Body Alignment System (EBAS) with Scott Putman
11:40 AM - 1:20 PM | Commercial Jazz - Marquise Hitchcock
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Lunch
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Ballet with Scott Putman
4:10 PM - 5:40 PM | Contemporary with Jelani Taylor & Taylor Bonadies
10:00 AM - 11:30 AM | Elemental Body Alignment System (EBAS) with Jelani Taylor
11:40 AM - 1:20 PM | Floorwork Focus with Megan Siepka & Madelyn Wansong
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Lunch
2:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Evo-Soul: Life Groove with Valerie Winborne
4:10 PM - 5:40 PM | Contemporary with Jelani Taylor & Taylor Bonadies

FACULTY BIOS

Jelani Taylor - Contemporary & EBAS

**Jelani Taylor is a dancer, choreographer, and arts administrator from Virginia Beach, Virginia, currently working out of New York City.** He is the Founder and Artistic Director of ERA Dance Company and the Artists of Color Council Coordinator for Movement Research. Jelani’s choreography has been presented nationally at Inside/Out at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, Danspace’s Draftwork program, the International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference (IABD), National Dance Society Conference (NDS), and various festivals in Virginia and New York City. He has performed in work by Nathan Trice, Sinclair O’Gaga, and Mariah Lopez. Jelani and ERA Dance Company were artist/company in residence at Norfolk State University and a part of the Digging in Group, Artist Residency program at Green Space Studio. He is currently a 2024/25 Performance Project Fellow at University Settlement. Jelani graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU) with a B.F.A in Dance and Choreography in 2019. While at VCU, Jelani was the recipient of the African American Studies Department’s “Black History in the Making” Award.

Taylor Bonadies - Contemporary

**Taylor Bonadies (she/they) is a New York City-based freelance performer and movement artist, currently in collaboration with ERA Dance Company, URBAN TRIBE, and Jay Beardsley.** Taylor earned their B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University, performing works by Hélène Simoneau, Scott Putman, and Autumn Proctor-Waddell, and studying with faculty Jenna Riegel, André Zachery, Trebien Pollard, MK Abadoo and more. She received the VCU Dance Outstanding Performer and Outstanding Choreographer awards upon graduation in 2020.
After graduation, Taylor joined the dance faculty at her alma mater, the Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, Virginia, uncovering a deep love for teaching and cultivating rich movement experiences for the next generation of dance artists. Since relocating to NYC to focus on performance, she has performed works by choreographers Merce Cunningham, Jelani Taylor, Mark Bankin, Delilah Gamson-Levy, and Natalie Long, performing at venues including the MoMA Bartos Theater, St. Marks Church in-the-Bowery, Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theater, New York City Center Studios, and Arts on Site among others. Taylor is grateful to experience and share what makes dance and performance poignant with her surrounding community.

Valerie Winborne - Evo Soul: Life Groove

**Valerie A. Winborne is a versatile artist with a dynamic career as a dancer, choreographer, repetiteur, actor, dance movement therapist, educator, and presenter**. She toured with the internationally renowned Urban Bush Women and played a role in bringing Jawole “Willa Jo” Zollar’s Shelter to the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, at the request of Judith Jamison. Winborne has collaborated with numerous esteemed choreographers such as Ron Brown and David Rousseve, while also showcasing her own choreography at renowned venues like Danspace and Performance Space 122 in New York City. She was a featured performer in the Off-Broadway production of The Story of Josephine Baker. She served as Summer Director for Robert Wilson's Watermill Center and Movement Coach/Rehearsal Director for his acclaimed work, The Temptation of St. Anthony. As a Registered Dance/Movement Therapist, Winborne has led workshops for various communities, including survivors of trauma and women living with cancer. She was the Artistic Director of Norfolk State University’s Dance Theatre and has been recognized with multiple awards as a dance educator for exemplary curriculum writing, innovative projects and work on a major long-term study demonstrating the positive impact of dance education on academic performance. Winborne served as the Department Chair of the Gifted Dance Education program at the Edward E. Brickell Academy for Advanced Academics and the Arts at Old Donation School in Virginia Beach, VA. Winborne is the President-Elect of the National Dance Society and does healing work using Dance/Movement Therapy. She is also pursuing certification as a Tea Sommelier and cherishes her role as a proud mother.

Marquise Hitchcock - Commercial Jazz

Marquise Hitchcock is a multi-hyphenate dancer seen on stages and screens across the nation. Notable credits include performing in the Christmas Spectacular starring the Radio City Rockettes. He recently made his National Tour début as the iconic bird soloist in The Lion King followed by his Broadway début in The Lion King.

Marquise’s regional credits include Seaweed in Hairspray, Ian in Silueta: A New Musical, Ensemble in Legally Blonde, and Ricky in Whitney: The Last Interview. He has also performed live as part of LGBTQ+ pride events for both Netflix and Billboard. Marquise’s performance credits are not limited to the stage- he also performed as dancer Michael in FX’s POSE.

Marquise is also an award-winning choreographer and a recipient of the Professional Advancement Award in Dance provided by the prestigious School at Jacob’s Pillow. He has performed works by some of the industry’s most influential choreographers like Judith Jamison, Kyle Abraham, Arthur Mitchell, and George Faison. Some of his choreographic credits include Tituss Burgess’ Take Me to the World: An evening at Carnegie Hall, Titus Burgess’ “Dance Mf” music video which he also performed in, and Broadway Cares.

Madelyn Wansong - Floorwork Focus

Madelyn Wansong (she/her) is a New York City based dancer/artist. Originally from St. Louis, Missouri, Madelyn began her dance training at Dance Project and continued as a pre-professional company member with Center of Creative Arts (COCA). In May 2022, she received a BFA in Dance from University of the Arts (UArts) under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield. While at UArts, she had the opportunity to perform works by Doug Varone, Merce Cunningham, Jordan Lloyd, and Kim Bears-Bailey. She is currently a company member with Alessandra Corona Performing Works and The Equus Projects. Additionally, she has performed works by Mystical Feet Company, John Passafiume, and Augie Sherman. Madelyn joined Era Dance Company in 2024.