Spring 2026 Guest Artists
Ehizoje Azeke (Zoje) is a movement-based director, choreographer, and artist based in NYC. He is represented by McDonald Selznick Associates and Wilhelmina Models. He trained at Chicago Festival Ballet and Southeastern Virginia Dance Theatre as a teen. In college, he studied dance and psychology at Columbia University and began his professional dance career while there.
Ehizoje’s performance and choreography credits span across film, television, fashion, and theatre.
Some commerical projects he has worked on as choreographer/movement director (lead, contributing and associate) include: VOGUE WORLD, Day After Your Departure (HBO), Lady In The Lake featuring Natalie Portman (Apple +), It’s Bruno (Netflix), Raising Kanan: Season III (STARZ), Numero Magazine, ELLE Magazine, Pyer Moss - Paris Fashion Week, Nike, Loreal, and Palomo Spain. Currently, he serves as a movement coach for the Purple Rain musical in development for Broadway.
In film and television, he has performed in Tick Tick Boom (2021), directed by Lin Manuel Miranda, In The Heights, Gilded Age (Max), Succession (Max), Hawk Eye (Marvel), Bolden, Days After Your Departure, Freedom, Vinyl (HBO), The Get Down (Netflix), and Tell Me a Story (CBS).
Some of his live performance credits include the Tony Awards, the Grammys, the VMAs, Victoria's Secret Fashion Show, Saturday Night Live, Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon, and the Macy’s Thanksgiving Parade.
He has performed with several recording artists including Beyonce, Bad Bunny, Ariana Grande. Kendrick Lamar, Madonna, Prince, Rihanna, Nicki Minaj, Katy Perry, Lizzo, Jennifer Hudson, Leslie Odom Jr, Bebe Rexha, Ingrid Michaelson, Joss Stone, Carrie Underwood, and Harry Styles.
He has been featured in several campaigns, including Nike, Adidas, Reebok, Coach, Anthropologie, Lululemon and Core Water.
Ehizoje has presented Black Masculine (an original work and mixed media solo exploration) at the Museum of Contemporary African Diasporan Art, Movement Research, University Settlement, and Anoko House.
He is currently developing Black (Untitled), an ensemble work exploring Blackness, gender, and contemporary music of the diaspora.
www.ehizojeazeke.com
www.instagram.com/zojea
Dormeshia’s journey in tap dance is nothing short of remarkable, marked by her exceptional talent, tireless dedication, and groundbreaking contributions to the art form. Born with rhythm in her veins, Dormeshia's passion for tap started at a young age, propelling her into a lifelong pursuit of excellence.
Throughout her career, Dormeshia has earned the moniker "the queen of tap," a title bestowed upon her by The New York Times, a testament to her unmatched skill and artistry. She has been recognized with prestigious awards, including the Doris Duke Artist Award, the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Award, the Dance Magazine Award, and the Bessie Award. Notably, her electrifying performance in Broadway's "After Midnight" earned her an Astaire Award for Best Female Performer.
Beyond her accomplishments on the stage, Dormeshia has also made significant strides as a choreographer and educator. Her tap choreography for the production of “Jelly’s Last Jam” at New York City Center received rave reviews. Her first full length work, "And Still You Must Swing," captivated audiences and critics alike, earning praise as the "Best of Dance for 2016" and again in 2019, by The New York Times. Dormeshia was also awarded (Bessie Award for Outstanding Creator/Choreographer) for her latest work, “Rhythm is Life”. Her dedication to preserving and advancing the art of tap dance is further evidenced by her role as the creator and producer of the "Ladies in the Shoe" Tap Conference, an annual event celebrated during Women's History Month. Additionally, as co-director of the Jacob’s Pillow Tap Program, Dormeshia has played a pivotal role in nurturing the next generation of tap dancers, sharing her wisdom and expertise with aspiring artists.
Dormeshia continues to push the boundaries of tap dance while honoring its rich tradition and legacy. Her influence is felt not only in the world of dance but also in popular culture, having served as the tap dance instructor to none other than the legendary Michael Jackson for over a decade. Her inclusion as one of five dancers representing tap dance in the Forever Collection of U.S. Postage Stamps immortalizes her legacy for generations to come.
In addition to her artistic endeavors, Dormeshia is eager to share her passion for tap dance and inspire students with her knowledge and enthusiasm for the art form. As she continues to grace stages around the world, Dormeshia remains a beacon of inspiration, pushing the boundaries of tap dance and leaving an indelible mark on the world of dance.
Doug Varone and Dancers, also known as DOVA, brings to life the creative vision of choreographer and director Doug Varone and his collaborators. Our work dives into the stories of human nature, sparking conversations with audiences and creative communities around the world. These connections fuel everything we do—from our artistic work to our rich educational programs – all of which reflect our commitment to creating space for diversity and belonging.
Founded in 1986, Doug Varone and Dancers has been bringing the power, beauty, and humanity of dance to audiences everywhere. We believe dance is more than movement—it’s a way to connect, to inspire, and to open hearts. This guiding philosophy has allowed us to grow, endure, and earn a reputation as one of the most respected and adventurous dance companies today. Across decades, we’ve created a rich legacy that spans dance, theater, opera, and film—an expansive body of work that continues to evolve.
The Company has been honored with 11 Bessie Awards and has shared our work in more than 125 cities across 45 U.S. states, as well as in Europe, Asia, Canada, and South America. From the Kennedy Center and Lincoln Center to London’s Queen Elizabeth Hall, Moscow’s Stanislavsky Theatre, Buenos Aires’ Teatro San Martin, and the Venice Biennale, our performances have reached stages large and small, touching audiences worldwide. In theatre and opera, we collaborate regularly on productions directed or choreographed by Doug Varone, bringing our movement vocabulary into powerful storytelling across art forms.
At our core, Doug Varone and Dancers is about connection—between dancers and audiences, students and teachers, artists and communities. Our residency programs create hands-on experiences that go beyond the studio, engaging people of all ages and backgrounds, whether seasoned dancers or first-time viewers. Each year, our intensive workshops at leading universities welcome students and professionals from across the country, while our DEVICES choreographic mentorship program cultivates the next generation of artists and dance-makers, ensuring that the art we love continues to grow, inspire, and resonate.
Annie Rigney is a New York based dancer, choreographer, Gaga teacher, and Ilan Lev Method therapist. Her choreographic interest and movement research lies in the intersection between extreme physicality and healing; in the conflict between the need for art to challenge and destroy and the simultaneous healing and uniting power of movement. An alumnus of the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase, Annie danced with the Batsheva Ensemble under the artistic direction of Ohad Naharin, Inbal Pinto and Avshalom Pollak Dance Company, and was a cast member of Punchdrunk's immersive theater production Sleep No More from 2015-2019. Her work has been commissioned by institutions including Martha Graham Dance Company, NYU Tisch, SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, Alvin Ailey/Fordham BFA Program, the University of the Arts, and Resilience Dance Company and presented at venues including the Joyce Theater and 92NY. Annie was the 2023-24 Artist in Residence at the 92NY, a recipient of the Moving Women Residency from Gallim Dance, and a 2023 CUNY Dance Initiative Space Grant. She is an adjunct professor at the Alvin Ailey School, NYU Tisch, and the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance. A practitioner of the Ilan Lev Method since 2012, Annie runs a private practice treating dancers and musicians for injuries and functional limitations. She is currently the Director of the Ilan Lev Method School in New York.