Ellicia Clayton (Ellie X) [she/her] is a graduate from The University of the Arts, where she received a BFA in Dance under the direction of Dona Faye Burchfield, May, 2020. Clayton’s recent notable work and appearances include being a company member for MADC, Choreographer for The Winnipesaukee Playhouse's Once on This Island, Vanguard Theater Company’s Tuck Everlasting, Opera Philadelphia’s Rigoletto, and Prince George's County’s 40th annual Choreography showcase. As a black woman, Clayton finds it necessary to continue using her artistry to shed light on underrepresented topics pertaining, but not limited to, narratives centered around BIPOC bodies and BIPOC experiences.

Solenn Etienne (she/her) was born in Guadeloupe, surrounded by her generous Caribbean culture. As a result, she inherited a profound, yet pure connection to nature and spirituality. 

Attracted by the vibrating energy of New York City, she then joined the Ailey School in 2021 and graduated in May 2024. 

Solenn learned repertory from Hofesh Shechter company, Martha Graham company, Cleo Parker Robinson Ensemble, and worked with choreographers such as Juliano Nunes, Ronald K. Brown, Norbert De La Cruz, and Petra Zanki. 

Solenn is a current member of MODArts Dance Collective and aspires to evolve and to assert herself in the modern dance world by freeing her unique expression while transcending her physical limits.

Mireille Lorenzo (she/her) is a graduate scholarship student from The Ailey School. She was born and raised in the Philippines and has been dancing ballet since the age of 6 at Dance Theater Manille, Philippines, in affiliation with The Australian Conservatoire of Ballet, Melbourne. She is currently a dancer with the Nai Ni Chen Dance Company and the iKADA Contemporary Dance Company. Mireille is a teaching assistant for the Junior Division at The Ailey School.

Shakerah McDowell (she/her) is a Philadelphia native who began early dance training at Bodies In Motion. Since exploring her passion for dance, she has danced with several companies, including Eleone Connections, Creative Reactions, and CAPA. After graduating as a Dance Captain under the direction of Ladeva Davis, she went on to earn a certificate from The Ailey School. During her time at Ailey, she worked with esteemed choreographers such as Bradley Shelver, Amy Hall, Hollie Wright, and Patrick Coker. Shakerah was given the opportunity to perform at the 2022 Ailey Spirit Gala. Afterwards, she began working professionally with Mathew Westerby Company 2 and Torch Dance Theater, where she taught Movement to preschool- and school-aged kids. Shakerah began her journey with MODArts Dance Collective (MADC) in 2024. Since joining MADC, she has been able to cultivate her movement artistically and hopes to continue her journey in the upcoming season.

Lauren Mueller (she/her) is a DC/NYC-based dance artist, choreographer, and teaching artist. Lauren is a company artist with MODArts Dance Collective, a Harlem-based modern dance company performing works around NYC by Artistic Director Leah Tubbs. She graduated with her BFA in Dance in 2024 at the University of the Arts (UArts) under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield. At UArts, Lauren trained with renowned artists including Kim Bears-Bailey, Michael Sheridan, Tommie-Waheed Evans, Wayne St. David, Mark Caserta, Gary Jeter, and Courtney Henry. She has performed in various works at UArts: How to Kill a Ghost by Juel D. Lane, assisted by Gabrielle Loren (2023), Vespers by Ulysses Dove, staged by Alfred Dove and Kim Bears-Bailey (2022), and D-Man in the Waters by Bill T Jones, staged by Shayla-Vie Jenkins and James McGinn (2022). Passionate about giving back to her community, Lauren taught ballet at the Dance Institute of Washington in Washington DC and hosted master classes in heels as well as Horton tutoring sessions at her university. Lauren studied abroad at the Jerusalem Academy of Music and Dance in Jerusalem, training with Alexander Alexandrov, Mate Moray, Shlomit Fundaminsky, and performing in works by Noa Zuk. Lauren was a company member with Eleone Dance Theater (2021-22) in Philadelphia, PA, where she performed in multiple works, including the principal role, Mary, in the company’s annual performance “Carols of Color” (2022). 

Toni Owens (she/her), originally from West Palm Beach, FL, began her professional training at A.W Dreyfoos School of the Arts and graduated in 2018. She then attended the Ailey School Certificate Program as a member of the Ailey Student Performance Group under the direction of Freddie Moore and performed works by Alvin Ailey, Jessica Castro, Amy Hall Garner, Patrick Coker, and Hollie Wright.  She had the opportunity to perform with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during the 2021 New York City Center Season and Robert Battle’s Awakening at the 2022 Ailey Spirit Gala at Lincoln Center. After graduating, she became a company artist at MODArts Dance Collective under the artistic direction of Leah Tubbs and is currently in her third season with Jamel Gaines Creative Outlet. She has had the opportunity to perform and work with Jamel Gaines, Christopher Huggins, Kevin Iega Jeff, and Thera Ward. She has also had the privilege of performing works by Yaa Samar, Will Ervin Jr., Walter Rutledge, Kathy Sledge, and Leah Tubbs. Toni is also currently working with Petra Zanki on a new work: “Till It Tears Us Apart,” which premiered in December. Toni is a freelance artist based in New York who continues to explore the different avenues of dance and her artistry.