Creative Movement/Partnering

Gaspard Louis

Gaspard Louis- Founder/Artistic Director of the Durham based company Gaspard&Dancers (G&D). He received a BFA in dance from Montclair State University and continued his dance studies on scholarship at Gus Giordano’s in Chicago and Nikolais/Louis Dance Lab in New York. Following his studies, he joined the New York based company called AllNations where he performed traditional dances from many parts of the world for US troupes across the globe.

Subsequently, he joined Pilobolus and traveled worldwide with the company. In 2012, Gaspard received an MFA from the Hollins University/American Dance Festival Program and became the Director of ADF’s year-round creative movement outreach program. Since forming G&D he has created over 25 works, which has been shared with audiences around the world. Additionally, Gaspard has been a guest teacher and choreographer at University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), Duke, Elon and North Carolina Central Universities.

AJ Guevara

(He/Him) hails from Central Coast California. He earned his BFA in Dance & Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University, with additional training from the Accademia dell’ Arte (Arezzo, IT) and American Dance Festival as a scholarship recipient.

He has worked with AXIS Dance Company Abarukas, chrisbelldances, CompanySBB, Emursive Productions, FELD Entertainment, Heidi Latsky Dance, VON HOWARD PROJECT, Urban Bush Women,  and Company|E, among others.

He has also had the privilege of performing the works of Jennifer Archibald, Marc Brew, Robin Dekkers, Rachel Erdos, Bill T. Jones, Aaron Burr Johnson, Jodi Melnick, Walter Matteini, Thomas Noone, Joshua L. Peugh, Arthur Pita, Annie Rigney, and Shen Wei, among others.

His work with Company|E, in partnership with the US State Department, has allowed him to serve as an Artistic Diplomat for Cultural Exchange to Israel, Cuba, The UK, Palestine, Uruguay, Thailand, Tunisia and the UAE.

Choreographically, his work has been presented in Mexico, Uruguay, Thailand, Carthage, and the U.S.

He is grateful to be returning to G&D this season!

Daeyana Moss

Daeyana Moss a Bronx native, attended Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts where she received the Father Fame award in 2017. She then continued her education at Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase graduating in 2021. Ms. Moss has perform works by Alvin Ailey, Janis Brenner, Joseph Hernandez, Annie Rigney, José Limón, Lajamartin, Anna Sokolow, and Doug Varone. Briefly after graduating she then joined Doug Varone and Dancers in 2021. She recently performed in Armenia, Colorado, and Durham, North Carolina with Gaspard & Dancers in 2023. Ms.Moss performed in The McKittrick Hotel Halloween and The Last New Year’s party under the creative direction of Stephanie Batten Bland and Marla Phelan. Starting in June 2024 Daeyana will join Whim W’Him in Seattle under the direction of Olivier Wevers.

Evan Lee Wilkins

Evan Lee Wilkins is a North Carolina Native that now calls NYC Home. He is a Graduate of The University of North Carolina School of the Arts High-school program. And has a BFA in dance from Marymount Manhattan College. While attending University he had the opportunity to perform works by Jose Limon, Martha Graham, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Ming Yang, Larry Keigwin, Tami Stronach, John Heginbotham And Michale Mao. Post graduation Evan had the opportunity to tour internationally with Gaspard and Dancers, worked in residence as a dancer for multiple nightlife venues in NYC, performed with musical artist for festivals such as “The Glam Awards” “Bushwig” and “Paradise Music Festival”, and was able to collaborate and perform in three music videos which all released this year. Evan also has been able to pass along his love for dance through teaching at Ballet Academy East, Dance All Styles Coaching, and choreographing for many live performances in NYC. Evan is excited to return for another year with G&D.

Khalid Dunton

Khalid Dunton was born and raised in Washington DC/Maryland. In 2020, Dunton completed his Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Dance as well as a Minor in Business from Montclair State University. Dunton has performed with dance companies such as: Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater(2021), McKoy Dance Project(2022), Carolyn Dorfman Dance(2021-2023) and Gaspard & Dancers(2023-2024). During 2021, Dunton worked as a professional dancer in the iconic Black Iris Project which received a New York Emmy Award for WILD: Bird of Paradise. Along his dance journey, Dunton had the privilege of performing works by Martha Graham, Stacey Tookey, Juel D. Lane, Bill T. Jones, Carolyn Dorfman, Danial Shapiro and Joanie Smith, Maxine Steinman, Christian Von Howard, Earl Mosley, and many more. Dunton has performed in numerous spaces such as the Joyce Theater, Alexander Kasser Theater, Bryant Park, New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), UTC Fine Arts Center and stages around the world.. Showcasing his diversity, Dunton had the opportunity to work with celebrity artist, Todrick Hall, featured as a dancer in his music video WIG. Within the midst of his career, Dunton has trained and worked in the commercial dance industry alongside Dana Foglia, James Alonzo, and Yanis Marshall. Dunton strives to improve his artistry as a performer and is grateful to be succeeding in his career.

Lauren Aureus

Lauren Aureus (she, her) was born and raised in California. She recently graduated from Marymount Manhattan College this past spring where she received her BFA in Dance with a double concentration in Modern and Ballet. She has had the opportunity to perform works by Cameron McKinney, David Parsons, Katie Langan, Jennifer Archibald, Christian Von Howard, Mary Ann Lamb, and Dwight Rhoden. She has trained with Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, FLOCK, and Sidra Bell. Lauren is also a certified yoga teacher trained in Power Vinyasa. She is very excited to be joining G&D this season!

Marsha Guirlande Pierre

Marsha Guirlande Pierre (Bronx, New York) is a Haitian-American freelance artist who began her dance training at Knecht Dance Academy (Levittown, Pennsylvania) under the direction of Elise Knecht. From Montclair State University, she graduated with a Bachelors in Fine Arts in Dance Performance in May 2019. Throughout college, Ms. Pierre has performed works by Camille A. Brown, Bill T. Jones, Daniel Shapiro and Joanie Smith, and Alwin Nikolais. Outside of Montclair State repertory she has performed professional works with Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, The Nathaniel Hunt Project, VOID: a female memory, Padierna Dance Project and The Lab by SGalberth. Since graduating, Ms. Pierre has worked with Gaspard & Dancers as well as Maxine Steinmein & Dancers. She joined Limón Dance Company as an apprentice during their 2019-2020 season. Ms. Pierre also interned for Sidra Bell Dance New York, and was a resident artist of ARTS by the People, a non-profit organization where she coordinated educational art programs for groups ranging from after school programs to senior living activities. Early 2021, she debuted as a lead dancer for the music video “If you care” by the artist Q. Ms. Pierre is pleased and excited to join G&D for a second season as a dancer and first season as Company Manager and Rehearsal Director.

Matthew Mancuso

Matthew Mancuso is originally from East Haven, Connecticut. He began his training at the age of 8 at Gloria Jean’s Studio of Dance under the direction of Stacy Eastman. In 2023, Matthew graduated from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts where he earned a BFA in Dance and a Minor in Entertainment Business. While at school, Matthew got to learn and perform repertoire from Sidra Bell and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company. He also was chosen to study abroad in Prague, Czech Republic at The National Theatre. Matthew most recently performed at the Carnival Choreographer’s Ball, New York City Fashion Week, Battery Park Dance Festival, and for Broadway Cares Red Bucket Follies at the New Amsterdam Theatre. He loves teaching and choreographing, as well as passing his love for dance onto the next generation.

Riley Rienert

Riley Rienert is a freelance artist, choreographer, and teacher born and raised in Hooksett, New Hampshire. She began her dance training at her mother’s studio, New Hampshire School of Ballet. In 2023, Riley earned her BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Montclair State University, graduating summa cum laude. She has had the privilege of performing works by Ohad Naharin, Stefanie Batten Bland, Paul Taylor, Urban Bush Women, Roderick George, TweetBoogie, Brice Mousset, and many others. She has performed at New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC) with K&M Dance Collective, she’s also co-curated her own summer intensive with her sister for the past five years. Riley is thrilled to return to Gaspard & Dancers for another season.