Faculty Bio

MASDI Faculty
		Derrick Evans
		Derrick Alfonso Evans, originally from St.Thomas U.S.Virgin Islands, began dancing with the Ballet Theatre of the Virgin Islands. He continued his dance education at Western Michigan University where he was named a Presidential Scholar in Dance. Derrick's performance credits: Wellspring Dance Collaborative, Joel Hall Dancers, James Kelly Choreography Project, Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago (rehearsal director), River North Chicago Dance Company, Cecilia Marta Dance Company, Michael Jackson HBO Special and History video, Monte Carlo Sporting Club, Sweet Charity (Big Daddy and dance captain), and numerous industrials, fashion shows, award shows and commercials (Intel, JC Penney, Swatch, Culligan). Derrick has also assisted on numerous projects including award shows, industrials (NIKE, Pathmark, Paul Mitchell), commercials (JC Penney, Heineken starring John Leguizamo), recording artists (Enrique Iglesias, Lou Bega) and musicals (off-Broadway HOLA nominated Four Guys Named Jose). Choreography credits include: 7th European Youth Winter Olympics Opening Ceremonies, Motion Mania Dance Company, Shippensburg University Dance Team, Giordano Chicago Dance Company, River North Chicago Dance Company (one of four choreographers featured in River North's Emmy winning PBS Special), Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines Ltd., Sweeney Todd, Chorus Line, and numerous industrials. Derrick has taught master classes throughout the United States, Europe, and the Caribbean. He has been on faculty at St.Thomas School of Dance (U.S.V.I.), Broadway Dance Center, Stepsnyc, Monthey Dance Center (Switzerland), Virginia School of the Arts, West Virginia Dance Festival 2008, Mid-Atlantic Summer Dance Intensive (JMU/MMDC), Gus Giordano Dance Center and Western Michigan University (Assistant Professor). In 2006, Western Michigan University named Evans the 2006 Distinguished Alumni Award Recipient. Evans continues to teach master classes and choreograph in the United States, Europe and the Caribbean.

				Bonnie Slawson
				Artistic Director/Founder Born in New York City, Bonnie studied with master teachers such as Phil Black, Frank Hatchett, Danny Daniels, Shimon Braun, Andrea Brown, Mia Michaels, Doug Caldwell, Jackie Sleight, A.C., Slam, Choe, Madame Darvash and Luigi. Bonnie holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Mercyhurst College. Bonnie has taught and choreographed for a number of colleges including Stephens College, Perry-Mansfield, Dickinson College, Temple University, Penn State, and Elizabethtown College. Her roster of Master Classes includes James Madison University, Crickets Performing Arts Center, Georgetown Day School, Sandy Spring Friends School and New Cumberland Ballet. Bonnie performed in Summer Stock Theatre and was dance captain for Equity Theatre productions in L.A. She danced for A&M Records in MTV videos and choreographed a number of fashion videos while teaching in L.A. studios. In Washington, D.C. Bonnie danced with numerous professional dance companies. Teaching all throughout the DC Metro area she continued to choreograph stage shows, industrials and concert works. Bonnie was chosen as a “Critic’s Pick” by The Washington Post, was honored to be a part of the National Dance Institute’s Washington residency and received the Governor's School for Visual and Performing Arts Outstanding Educator Award. Bonnie created Motion Mania Dance Theatre in 1988. They have performed for twenty years for entities such as the Corcoran Gallery of Art, AT&T, Xerox and The Kennedy Center's Open House.
				Dawn Hessler
				Dawn Hessler received her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Ohio University. Originally from Toledo, Ohio, she spent her childhood training as a dancer and a gymnast. She has toured as a professional dancer throughout the US and Japan. Dawn has worked as a company dancer, in musical theatre and in the fashion industry. As a skilled choreographer, Dawn has set pieces on numerous commercial and non-commercial entities. Dawn is a trained Stott Pilates instructor and a certified Zumba instructor. Dawn brings to all of her classes an unparelled enthusiam. She has taught for several commercial studios and guest teaches throughout the east coast. Students pick up on her exuberant spirit and style as well as her technical expertise.
				Cynthia Thompsonson Cynthia Thompson received her MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madsion where she was a Marie L. Carnes Fellow. She has taught, performed and choreographed nationally and internationally with thompson and trammell, a company she co-founded and directs with Kate Trammell. Cynthia was a soloist M.M. Colbert Modern Ballet Company, the Chattanooga Ballet and Ballet South. Her choreography has been selected for choreographer's showcases in Washington, D.C., Wisconsin and at American College Dance Festivals. As an independent artist, she has performed at the Kennedy Center & Dance Place in Washington, D.C. and at the Wisconsin Uniion Theatre. Her work has been supported by the Virginia Commission for the Arts and numerous grants and awards from JMU. she was awarded the 1995 JMU Carl Harter Distinguished Teacher Award.

			Julio Agustin Matos Jr.
			Julio Agustin has performed on Broadway in the original companies of Fosse, Steel Pier, Never Gonna Dance, Bells Are Ringing (revival), and was featured opposite Bebe Neuwirth in Chicago, the musical. He appeared in the movies Center Stage and The Producers, the Movie. As a director, he has staged and choreographed productions of Lippa's The Wild Party, Whistle Down the Wind, Breath, Boom, and the world premiere of Out of Line. As a recent Shelfer Scholar for the College of Music at the Florida State University, Julio taught his Transition Workshop (www.TheTransitionWorkshop.com) to the students of the Musical Theatre Program. He is currently on faculty at The City College of New York, where he teaches Acting, Speech for the Stage, Acting the Classics, and Musical Theatre Workshop.