Fresh Features

Amplified! Decadancetheatre

Inspired by the urban folk culture found in clubs and on the streets of contemporary cities, the women of Decadancetheatre incorporate elements of hip-hop into each piece to tell stories of the evolving hip-hop generation. The increased popularity of this underground movement has fostered a trend among youth worldwide that pushes the limits in artistic exploration and experimentation. In their eyes, hip-hop is more than just a genre, it's "an energy, a heartbeat, a philosophy, to make something out of nothing, until your voice is heard."

Founded in 2000, this all-female, Brooklyn-based performance group has recruited women from the United States and Japan to perform hip-hop ballets that transcend the world of dance. Jennifer Weber, founder and artistic director of Decadancetheatre, has trained in numerous dance studios in New York, Philadelphia, and London.

The Dancers

Angela Crain
Teacher by day, dancer by nature, this Baton Rouge native has performed with NBA All Stars group, "Team Up," and gained some international experience dancing in Rio Maracatu in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.

Taeko Koji
In Osaka, Japan, her residence until 2004 when she arrived in New York, Koji choreographed and performed in a number of major dance productions, and since her arrival in the U.S. has danced for Yoko Ono at the United Nations.

Tomoko Onozawa
Also from Japan, Onozawa has made appearances on major TV programs with well-known Japanese artists, and won second place in the All Japan International Young Dancer Competition. She moved to NYC in 2001 and has since had the opportunity to perform in Jermaine Browne's "The Next Step."

Keely Wright
A true New Yorker, Wright has been with Decadance since 2003. She currently teaches dance at the Hudson Valley Conservatory of Performing Arts, and has been applauded by New York Times critics for her role in "The Firebird." Having choreographed for recording artists, she was also featured in the K104 festival.

Stephanie Vavou
Vavou moved from Oregon to New York to continue her dance career that started back when she was only four years old. Fully inspired, Vavou was happy to join Decadance to continue choreographing and performing.

Megan "Megz" Alfonso
At the ripe age of 19, Megz has already helped out with numerous important dance productions such as The Choreographer's Ball with Cynthia Muller. Aside from her involvement in Decadance, Megz also teaches at Michelle Ferraro's Dance USA, and in 2005, appeared in the October issue of Dance Spirit Magazine.

Jamilia Hall
Currently a teacher of African and hip-hop dance in New York City public schools, Hall started her dance career only five years ago in Miami. After graduating Salutatorian of her college class in 2004, Hall has choreographed a number of showcases, and recently appeared in videos of acclaimed artists such as Miss Angelina.

For the Fans

When music man Santosh Vardhana, aka Aphasia, isn't mixing beats for the Decadance girls to groove to, he attends medical school at NYU. Talk about multi-talented.