BIOGRAPHY
JoLea Maffei is a master teacher of the Horton technique and has been teaching Horton in New York City for over twenty years. She has been on the faculties of Marymount Manhattan College, New York University, City College of New York, and Ballet Arts at City Center, and is currently on faculty at Hofstra University. She has taught at summer festivals including Hunter College Summer Sampler, Jacob’s Pillow, Internationale Tanz Wochen in Vienna, Austria, and the Cleo Parker Robinson Summer Festival in Denver, Colorado.
Ms. Maffei has premiered work at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Theatre of The Riverside Church, the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado, the Clark Studio Theater, the Tribeca Center for the Performing Arts, the Cunningham Studio, and Hofstra University, and has participated in showcases throughout NYC. She is currently the artistic director and choreographer and for the Maffei Dance Company, and was co-director, choreographer, and performer for the East/West Repertory Dance Ensemble from 1990 until 1995.
Ms Maffei served as the choreographic and teaching assistant to Milton Myers from 1988-98, demonstrating the Horton technique and setting his work at festivals and companies throughout the U.S. and Europe. Her performing credits include the Maffei Dance Company, The New York Ballroom Company in the work of Gary Pierce and Christian Holder, East\West Repertory Dance Ensemble in her own work and the works of Milton Myers, Lonne Morretton, Rod Rogers, William Adair and Leni Williams, Milton Myers Dance Company, and numerous independent choreographers.
Originally from Michigan, Ms. Maffei graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Michigan, where she received the Gertrude Heubner Award for excellence in dance.
CLASS DESCRIPTION
Come and discover why the modern dance technique of Lester Horton is a classic technique uniquely suited for training the contemporary dancer. Through its study, strength, flexibility, and a balanced body can be attained without imprinting the dancer with a discernable style. We will be examining the fundamentals of this exciting technique, exploring elements of the studies and fortifications, and incorporating them into choreographic phrases both in the center and across the floor. Musicality will also be a primary focus as we work in tandem with our class accompanist. No previous experience with Horton technique is required.