M2DT - a North Texas Modern Collective
“Edgy, edgy. Wacky, wacky.
On their toes, so to speak...
Go. Go. See. See. Laugh. Cry.”
HISTORY
Established in 2005, M2DT began as a project-based organization by Lesley Snelson and Amy L. Sleigh after the two completed MFA degrees in dance from Texas Woman's University. The two desired to create opportunities to utilize the collective talents of other dance artists emerging from surrounding Dallas and Fort Worth universities. M2DT continues to seek new experiences that can provide local performance and choreographic opportunities for North Texas dance artists.
COLLECTIVE MISSION
M2DT’s mission is to support the work of North Texas dance artists who develop the human experience by connecting everyday experiences to perspectives that ask audiences to question their values, morality or perceptions. M2DT seeks to provide local performances and choreographic opportunities for dance artists in their evocative use of dance as an organic art form.
FOUNDING DIRECTOR, Lesley Snelson
A Dance Educator with over 27 years of teaching experience, Lesley Snelson was chosen as the Lebrecht Endowed Chair for Scholarly and Civic Engagement from 2009 -2011 for Collin College. She is currently the Outreach Coordinator and Lead Teacher for Dallas Black Dance Theatre. Before arriving at Collin, she served as adjunct faculty for Texas Woman's University, Tarrant County College, and University of North Texas and was faculty & choreographer for Denton Dance Conservatory. Ms. Snelson completed her MFA studies in choreography and dance performance at Texas Woman's University, where she also taught Modern, Jazz, Hip-hop, and Pilates classes as well as theory courses related to the understanding of dance as an art form and popular, visual culture. She was honored to receive the Outstanding Performer award and the first Outstanding Leadership award the Dance Department offered. From 1998-2001, Lesley served as co-choreographer, assistant to the artistic director and a performer for The Butterfly Project, a Bay Area performance group whose mission is promoting the empowerment of women. The Butterfly Project formed at Mills College of Oakland, California where Ms. Snelson completed her undergraduate degrees: a BA in Dance and a BA in Business Economics. Her love for movement and fitness led her to become a Certified Pilates Trainer through Colleen Glenn's PeakPilates System. Lesley has also studied the Power Pilates System and does her continuing education through the Traditional Pilates community. Ms. Snelson's choreography has been presented all over the United States in universities, colleges and numerous festivals including: DUMBO Dance Festival, Vissi Dance Theatre, Jazz Dance World Congress, International Dance Festival of NYC, Spelman College, University of Central Oklahoma, St. Mary's College Repertory Dance Company, Perpetual Motion of OKC, Continuum One, Mills College Repertory Dance Company, Stephen F. Austin University, Oklahoma Contemporary Dance Festival, NYC DUMBO Dance Festival, Monterey's Emerging Choreographers Festival, Dallas Morning News Dance Festival, Big Range Texas, Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, TWU DanceMakers, Denton Summer Musicals, DanceExpress, TWU DanceWorks, Fort Worth Dance Festival, South Dallas Dance Festival, Barefoot Brigade, Collin College's Dance Fusion and Tarrant County CollegeDance Collective.
Photo: Jeanne S. Mam-Luft
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, Kiera R. Amison
Kiera R. Amison began as a company member with M2DT in 2007 after completing her Bachelors of Arts in Dance with Teacher Certification from Texas Woman’s University. Her dance education began at Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and she continued training at Tarrant County College where she would later become the Dance Program Director of the South Campus.
Upon receiving her BA she taught dance for Fort Worth ISD and Garland ISD before continuing her dance education by pursuing her graduate degree. Kiera earned her Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University then returned to Dallas and continued performing and choreographing with M2DT.
Ms. Amison is the Dance Program Director at Tarrant County College’s South Campus where she directs the Continuum Dance Company and Co-Director of the Cornerstone Honors Program.
Ms. Amison has performed and/or participated in many dance workshops including Dallas Black Dance Theatre's summer workshops, International Association of Blacks in Dance Conferences, Texas Dance Improvisation Festivals, Florida Dance Festival, and the American College Dance Association Conferences. She had the opportunity to teach master classes and/or complete residencies at Prairie View A& M University, Paradise Valley Community College, Abilene Christian University and the Governor’s School at Radford University. Ms. Amison looks forward to continuing to choreograph, perform and lead Muscle Memory Dance Theatre as we strive to be “Smart- Human- Physical- Fresh”.
Photo: Alex Hernandez
COMPANY MANAGER, Rhodessa Bell
RHODESSA BELL, got her start in dance at the age of 12 under the direction of Koni Riley at Dance Dimensions studio in Mineola, Texas. She received her B.S. at Stephen F. Austin where she was a member of the SFA Pom Squad and the SFA Repertory Dance Company. After graduation Rhodessa moved toHouston where she studied with Richard Hebscher, Jhon Stronks, and Dina Veil. Houston expanded herperformance vocabulary and from 2004 to 2008 she performed with several professional companies such asHouston Metropolitan, Psophonia, Wyld Style, and Planet Funk. This exploration expanded her training to include ballet, modern and hip hop. Since 2004 Rhodessa has worked for Marching Auxiliaries teaching dance and creating choreography for children of all ages nationwide. In 2009 Rhodessa completed a year of residency in Amsterdam Netherlands. During her stay she taught hip hop and lyrical jazz for Amsterdam Dance Centre, Body Action, and Lucia Marthas Institute for Performing Arts. Within the year, Rhodessa also choreographed an evening length work called “Laughter” set on a performance company she created called UniverSouL Dance Company. She was honored to showcase her work as well as perform at several festivals and local venues throughout Holland. Rhodessa's love for teaching and performing has spanned more than two decades. Thorough in her approach, she gives special attention to the specifi c needs of each dancer she teaches. After leaving a class with Rhodessa dancers are sure to feel more accomplished,energized, and empowered.
Photo: Alex Hernandez