The Legacy Project: Community Performance

Maiko Harada, a native of Japan, holds a BFA in Dance Education from Ochanomizu National University of Japan and studied Contemporary and Stage Composition. Falling in love with the diversity of dance in NYC, she relocated shortly after her graduation. Starting as a Latin Ballroom dancer, she was reintroduced and trained in Ballet, Modern techniques and Theatre Jazz in Steps On Broadway as a part of their international student program. She has recently been with General Mischief Dance Theatre, and worked with choreographers such as Karen Gayle, Richard Pierlon, Marie Meade, Lonne Moretton and Marijke Eliasburg. Maiko also found passion in aerial arts and rock climbing during the pandemic. Maiko joined Carolyn Dorfman Dance in 2021.

Brandon Jones has been a student of dance for 3 decades. Trained in seven genres, he competed for 10 years both regionally and nationally, and performed at the Count Basie Theater, St. Mark’s Church, Madison Square Garden and Aloha Stadium by age 20. Brandon earned a full artistic scholarship to the Conservatory of Performing Arts at Point Park University for a B.A. in Dance with a jazz concentration. He has since danced works by concert choreographers such as Michele DeLaReza and Peter Kope of Attack Theatre (PA), Ron DeJesus of Giordano Dance Chicago (IL), Kim Gibilisco; formerly of Alwin Nikolai- Murray Louis co. of KGDances (NYC), Cleo Mack of Rock Dance Collective (NJ), Obediah Wright of Balance Dance Theatre (NYC) and has toured to Vienna, Tel Aviv, Amsterdam, Moscow, Belgrade, Brisbane and Bucharest with recording artist Crystal Waters. In 2012, Brandon began collaborating with Mod Arts Dance Collective (NYC) and the Tiny Starr Productions Theatre Group (NYC). As a teaching artist, and through the lens of Carolyn Dorfman Dance’ dance education, Brandon has been on faculty for the NJPAC’s Young Artist Institute since 2014, taught in the public school district of his hometown of New Brunswick, NJ, and in East Brunswick, NJ. He has also been fortunate to share, and develop his artistry in contemporary jazz dance as a guest teacher at Centenary University, Brandeis University, the NJ SummerDance Intensive, and for the Dance NJ organization, in addition to many more dance, and performing arts schools. Brandon has been a member of Carolyn Dorfman Dance since Fall 2011.

Kaila Moses is from Garnet Valley, Pennsylvania, and began her dance training at Kicks Academy of Dance under the direction of Kristin and John Davis. After high school, she attended Fordham University and The Ailey School. In 2015, she graduated with honors and received her BFA in dance. During that time she performed works by notable artists such as William Forsythe, Martha Graham, Jessica Lang, Ray Mercer, and Nicholas Villeneuve among others. Kaila has danced with the Steps Repertory Ensemble, Elisa Monte Dance, and toured with Jessica Taylor’s DamageDance in Denver, CO. She joined Carolyn Dorfman Dance in 2018.