dawsondancesf breaks down the barriers placed on classical ballet, and brings to light the strength and beauty that artists possess within themselves, allowing them to explore their voices through choreography and vision. Through this process, artists transform themselves, audiences, and the world of dance that surrounds them.

Gregory P Dawson former Lines Ballet dancer, received a BA from Saint Mary’s College. In 2007 he formed dawsondancesf (ddsf) as an outlet for his choreographic goals and vision. Shortly thereafter he created “which light in the sky is us” for Company C Contemporary Ballet (nominated for an Isadora Duncan Award for choreography) and became the Assistant Director of the California State Summer School of the Arts’ Dance Department in Southern California. In the fall of 2011, Mr. Dawson became Artistic Director of Dawson Wallace Dance Project in Denver, Colorado (formerly David Taylor Dance), where the Denver Post named him “the best choreographer in Denver.” Soon after, Dawson received a CHIME grant, partnering him with choreographic mentor Elizabeth Streb for one year. In September 2013 dawsondancesf re- established its presence in San Francisco with the world premiere of “fabricca matterasso d’argento” at Zaccho Dance Theatre. Following this, Mr. Dawson created “birds eye view” (a collaboration with the Richard Howell Quintet) for the 2014 Black Choreographers Festival, which received an Isadora Duncan Award in 2015. Also, ddsf presented “MONOCHROME” at the BAN7 Festival 2014 in San Francisco. In Fall 2014 dawson premierered “in this moment” with Richard Howell. The Zellerbach Foundation funded ddsf next premiered, “intrinsic motion project“, and this past summer 2015 ddsf completed 5th week residency at CSSSA’s summer intensive at Cal Arts where Dawson is assistant to the Chair. In spring of 2015 ddsf premiered Intima produced by Al’myra Communication which collaborated with Ali Kaf – visuals, and Ashraf kateb – music. dawsondancesf made its debut in New York City in the Fall of 2014, at Baurch College, with a return in September 25-27 of 2015. Dawson currently teaches and choreographs for all the LINES Ballet Educational Programs.

Jordan Drew began her dance training under the tutelage of the late Timothy M. Draper at the Draper Center for Dance Education in Rochester, New York. While training, she was awarded many prestigious honors, including the 2002 Hope Award and 2004 Top 12 Finalist at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York City, as well as scholarships to both the American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive and the Paris Opera Ballet School. In 2008, she continued her training at Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Training Program in San Francisco from 2008-2010. While there, she danced repertory by Alonzo King, Kara Davis, Gregory Dawson, Yannis Adoniou, Carmen Rozestraten, Keelan Whitmore, Robert Moses, and Maurya Kerr.

William Fowler was born and raised in Augusta, GA and studied dance at Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School. After graduating, He began study at The University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem, NC. He has danced works by Maurya Kerr, José Limón, Grady Bowman, Bill T. Jones, Juel D. Lane, Susan Jaffe, Merce Cunningham, Ming-Lung Yang and Kimberly Bartosik. From 2009-2014, he has spent his summers in Asheville, NC, with Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance as an apprentice. In the summer of 2013, William had the honor of performing Twyla Tharp’s “Sweet Fields” for Sally Ride’s Tribute at the Kennedy Center. Afterwards, he attended the Alonzo King Lines Ballet summer intensive. This is William’s first season with dawsondancesf.

Ilaria Guerra was born in Torino, Italy and moved to Palos Verdes Estates, California at the age of five. She trained at Lauridsen Ballet Center, performing with their pre-professional company, South Bay Ballet, for seven years. Ilaria graduated Magna Cum Laude from the Alonzo King LINES Ballet BFA Program at Dominican University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Arts Management in 2013. She was nominated for a Dizzy Feet Foundation Award in 2012. She joined dawsondancesf in 2013.

Isaiah Bindel was born and raised on the coast of California. He began dancing at the age of four. After his training at University North Carolina School of the Arts as well as the San Francisco Ballet School, Isaiah began his first season with dawsondancesf in September of 2013. Works such as, fabbrica materasso d’argento, Birds Eye View, Monochorme, In This Moment, Intima, and DENT-BEND-DROP have been set on Isaiah since joining the company. He continues to work and support the vision that Gregory Dawson has created for dawsondancesf.

Frankie Lee Peterson III received his BFA in contemporary dance from the University of North Carolina school of the Arts in May 2014, where he performed works by Larry Keigwin, Alwin Nikolai, Maurya Kerr, Shen Wei, Juel Lane, Doug Elkins and Merce Cunningham. He has been a consistent scholarship student and faculty assistant at the American Dance Festival, where he performed works by Ohad Naharin, Mark Dendy, Titiana Bagonava & Donald McKayle. He has performed works by Jeremy McQueen at “The Young Choreographers Festival”, “The Capezio ACE Awards”, “Jacobs Pillow Inside/Out Series”, and by Mark Dendy in the World Premier of his site specific work, “Ritual Cyclical”, part of NYC Lincoln Center out of Doors. He recently attended/assisted Springboard Danse Montreal, where he performed works by Johannes Wieland & Helen Simoneau. He is excited to take on something wonderfully new with Gregory and dawsondancesf.

Alexander Vargas of Lakeland, Florida began his dance training at Harrison School of the Arts during his freshman year of high school. After 3 years Vargas transferred to Blake High School for the Arts, in Tampa, and studied as a trainee with Next Generation Ballet. Throughout his high school years Vargas also trained with Miami City Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and LINES Ballet on full scholarships. Upon graduation Vargas attended the LINES Ballet Training Program. He has worked with choreographers including Peter Stark, Uri Sands, Jennifer Archibald, Iratxe Ansa, Carmen Rozestraten, Eric Wagner, Kara Davis, Maurya Kerr, and Gregory Dawson. Alexander was honored to become a company member with dawsondancesf in 2014.