The Dance Data Project® Team
Ballett Zürich in rehearsal with Cathy Marston
Photo by Admill Kuyler
Advisory Council:
Research Design & Statistics
DDP is fortunate to have the following individuals as a resource in designing our research studies, to check our methodology and statistical protocols. We are grateful for their collaboration.
Raheela Gill Anwar
Raheela brings more than 25 years of experience in executive outplacement and financial services to Group 360, with expertise in M&A, executive compensation, corporate delayering, and building and leading diverse teams. She is a leader in guiding professionals and organizations through career transition, connecting them with networks and resources to help them find their next opportunity. Prior to launching Group 360, Raheela served in executive roles for BPI group and a national boutique executive outplacement firm, where she managed client relationships, developed growth strategies, and advised clients on opportunities to implement leadership coaching, succession planning, and talent development.
Learn more about Raheela’s work here.
Lauren Cramer
Learn more about Lauren’s work here.
MELANIE DOERNER
Melanie Doerner is a proven arts leader and fundraiser with 19 years of nonprofit management experience, and has raised over $15M for the arts. Melanie began her career in arts administration in 2001 with the José Limón Dance Company. She is currently the Director of Development for North Carolina Theatre in Raleigh, previously working for Carolina Ballet and Children’s Musical Theater of San Jose. She is a founding board member of sjDANCEco. Melanie holds a J.D. from Osgoode Hall Law School and formerly practiced as a corporate attorney in her native Canada. Her husband Michael Doerner is a ballet dancer, having performed with the National Ballet of Canada under Reid Anderson and James Kudelka, Alberta Ballet under Mikko Nissinen, and Ballet San Jose under Dennis Nahat.
SUMRU ERKUT, PHD
Sumru Erkut, Ph.D., is senior scholar and former senior research scientist and associate director at the Wellesley Centers for Women (WCW) whose research has focused on racial/ethnic diversity and gender equity in leadership and development across the life course. She was part of a team that found that three or more women on a corporate board of directors constitute a critical mass, which improves the functioning of corporate boards, and she has analyzed data from interviews with diverse women leaders, which resulted in Inside Women’s Power: Learning from Leaders. Erkut directed the postdoctoral research training program on variations in child and adolescent development funded by the National Institute for Child Health and Development.
Lynn Garafola
Lynn Garafola is Professor Emerita of Dance at Barnard College, Columbia University. She is the author of Diaghilev’s Ballets Russes and Legacies of Twentieth-Century Dance, editor of José Limón: An Unfinished Memoir and other books, and curator of several exhibitions, including Dance for a City: Fifty Years of the New York City Ballet and Arthur Mitchell: Harlem’s Ballet Trailblazer. La Nijinska: Choreographer of the Modern, a biography of the twentieth-century’s most eminent woman choreographer, will be published by Oxford University Press in early 2022.
Preetinder Gill
Jennifer Heimlich
Jennifer Heimlich is currently the senior fitness editor at Well+Good. A graduate of New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts, she was previously the editor in chief of Dance Magazine and senior editor of Pointe. She has also contributed to publications such as The Atlantic and Runner’s World. She has served on panels and been an adjudicator for American College Dance Association, Future Dance Festival, Youth America Grand Prix and New York City Dance Alliance Foundation.
AMY HOLIHAN
Amy Holihan performed with Pennsylvania Ballet and New York City Ballet during a seven-year career as a working artist. She attended summer training programs at Miami City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and School of American Ballet (SAB), enrolling in SAB’s Winter Term in 2017. She trained for 3 years at SAB, with opportunities to perform in New York City Ballet’s The Nutcracker, then accepted a position with The Pennsylvania Ballet where she danced for seven seasons. Featured roles included the Siren in George Balanchine’s The Prodigal Son as well as Russian Divertissement and Big Swan in Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake. She also had the privilege of performing notable works by William Forsythe, Jerome Robbins, and Twyla Tharp.
In addition to her ballet career, Amy holds a B.A. in English from the University of Pennsylvania and an M.A. in Arts Policy and Administration from the Ohio State University. Her Thesis examined the working relationship between dancers and Artistic and Executive leadership at a major U.S. ballet company with the goal of better understanding dancers’ critical role as contributors to decision-making in arts organizations. She has had the pleasure of working in many different arts fields as administrator, including with the School of American Ballet, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, The Columbus Foundation, Columbus Metropolitan Library, and Next Stage Arts Project. While with the School of American Ballet, she helped manage the Virginia B. Toulmin Female Choreography Project designed to foster early female choreographers at the school.
Amy currently resides in Columbus, Ohio and is the Senior Project Manager for the Columbus Music Commission. In this capacity, she is leading research in the music community to identify areas of need and inform future programs to support the Columbus music community. Amy is also a fiber artist who loves to go hiking, play with her dog, and explore new places.
LORY LANNON
Lory currently leads The Philanthropy Workshop’s Americas East portfolio and partners with philanthropists and social investors to establish social impact goals, create strategic roadmaps for community engagement and educational programs, and curate expert connections and resources for her members. Lory graduated from Boston College with a B.A. in Economics and received her M.S. in Global Affairs from New York University. She currently serves as an Advisor to the President of the Ethiopian Red Cross Society, is a Next Generation member of UNICEF USA and NEXUS Global, and a 21/64 Certified Advisor on Multigenerational Family Philanthropy. Lory also performed for the Quezon City Ballet from 2003-2007.
KIERSTEN MAREK
Kiersten Marek, LICSW, is the founder and publisher of Philanthropy Women. A former Senior Editor for Inside Philanthropy, Kiersten is the author of hundreds of articles on gender equity funding as well as two books. Know Thyself: A Kid’s Guide to the Archetypes and Cooking for Emotional Wellness: Recipes to Nourish Your Archetypes. Kiersten served as Board Member and Treasurer for the Rhode Island Center for Law and Public Policy from 2008 to 2016, working to support legal services for those with limited financial means. In 2004, Kiersten helped her family facilitate the creation of the Stoppleworth Conservation Area in Tolland, Connecticut, a 55-acre open space hiking park.
For over 20 years, Kiersten has been practicing clinical social work, specializing in trauma recovery and identity development for all ages. She lives with her family in Rhode Island.
JERMAINE MCGHEE
Jermaine McGhee is an accomplished and versatile scholar, practitioner, and choreographer, renowned for his profound dedication to the field of dance. He embarked on his journey by receiving comprehensive training in the Education and Arts Enrichment program at North Carolina Dance Theatre, now Charlotte Ballet. He further honed his skills under the guidance of Rebecca Massey, a former ABT company member, while being awarded a prestigious scholarship/fellowship at Piedmont Dance Conservatory in Kannapolis, North Carolina.
Jermaine’s exceptional talent and commitment to excellence earned him the distinguished title of the 2003 Charlotte Mecklenburg Schools Dancer of Distinction during his tenure at the Northwest School of Visual and Performing Arts. Seeking to expand his artistic horizons, he pursued further training at the esteemed Alvin Ailey School in New York, where he successfully completed the certificate program under the esteemed direction of Denise Jefferson. Complementing his practical experience, Jermaine obtained a BA in Performing Arts from St. Mary’s College of California in 2018.
Possessing a remarkable range in both commercial and concert dance, Jermaine effortlessly transitions between various styles, from classical ballet to hip-hop and jazz funk. His unique vision revolves around bridging the gap between the entertainment industry and academia, forging a seamless connection between dance skills and essential life skills. As an innovative educator, Jermaine creates immersive and transformative learning environments, fostering the growth of students on both artistic and personal levels.
Jermaine’s relentless pursuit of knowledge led him to achieve an MFA in Dance: Creative Practice, coupled with a certification in Dance Stage Management. This advanced degree empowered him to share his expertise as a guest artist at the University of Alabama and as a co-author, collaborating with the communication department at Ohio Northern University. Moreover, Jermaine serves as a distinguished advisory council member for Dance Data Project, a prominent nonprofit organization renowned for its global resourcefulness in promoting equity through data analysis, advocacy, and impactful programming within the arts.
In the upcoming fall of 2023, Jermaine will undertake the prestigious role of a core tenured principal dancer for the Pulitzer Prize-winning composition, Omar, at the renowned San Francisco Opera. This remarkable blend of academic accomplishment and professional performance background equips Jermaine with a distinctive ability to create immersive and rigorous studio experiences that nurture and cultivate artistic growth.
Jermaine McGhee’s illustrious background, unwavering dedication to the arts, and unwavering commitment to fostering artistic growth make him an exemplary candidate for the Director position on the advisory council. His multifaceted expertise and profound impact on the dance community position him as an invaluable asset in shaping the future of the council’s endeavors.
VICTORIA MORGAN
During the 25-year tenure of Victoria Morgan as Artistic Director, Cincinnati Ballet experienced tremendous growth and critical success. In 2008, Morgan took on the additional role of executive leader, serving as both the Artistic Director and CEO. After years of growing deficits, the Company became financially stable, built an $13 million endowment, and a substantial operating reserve which provided Morgan the opportunity to create and curate major artistic productions that redefined the caliber of Cincinnati Ballet’s dancers and repertoire. With the hiring of Scott Altman as the Company’s new chief executive in 2016, Morgan was able to fully focus on the Company’s artistic future.
Exciting moments during her leadership include the Company’s tours to The Joyce Theater in New York City and to The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.; rich local, regional, and national collaborations, which included musicians such as the legendary Peter Frampton; shared productions with a diverse list of companies including BalletMet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, and Elementz Hip Hop Cultural Arts. Many additional collaborations flourished under her leadership, connecting the Company to new communities, artistic genres, and choreographers.
Morgan is also an accomplished choreographer, creating numerous one-act and full-length ballets. Her most widely acclaimed works include the world premieres of King Arthur’s Camelot in 2014, The Nutcracker in 2011, and her reimagined Cinderella, which premiered in February 2016.
The penultimate moment of Morgan’s tenure at Cincinnati Ballet was the creation of a new home for the Company – the Cincinnati Ballet Margaret and Michael Valentine Center for Dance in Walnut Hills. The 62,000 square foot space boasts nine studios and state-of-the art technology and was successfully funded thanks to the arduous work of supporters, staff, board members, and the generous community. Morgan retired from her role as Artistic Director in 2022. She immediately launched a successful signature dance class, called the VM Workout, which celebrates “mature” fitness.
Prior to coming to Cincinnati Ballet, Morgan was resident choreographer for the San Francisco Opera, a principal dancer with Ballet West and San Francisco Ballet, and performed lead roles for television and film. Her choreography was featured in the PBS documentary, The Creation of O.M.O. Morgan served on the boards of Dance/USA and Dance Magazine, as well as National Endowment for the Arts evaluation panel, and adjudicated multiple international ballet competitions. She received a Women who Mean Business award from the Cincinnati Business Courier and Career Woman of Achievement from the YWCA. Morgan graduated Magna Cum Laude with an M.F.A. from University of Utah.
SANDRA PARKS
Sandra Parks is a choreographer, dance educator, and an advocate for female leadership. She is the founder and Executive Director of Women in Dance, a non-profit organization that promotes female leadership in dance and related fields. The mission of Women in Dance is to provide opportunities in accessing broader and more visible platforms, expanding the voices of artists/scholars, and strengthening the capacity and vibrancy of women in dance making and dance related fields.
Sandra has toured nationally and internationally and has choreographed more than 80 live concerts. She danced with Bosoma Dance Company, Dance Collective, and Impulse Dance Company in Boston and has presented her work at professional venues across the globe. She holds her BFA from New York University and MFA from Smith College, MA. Originally from Taipei, Taiwan, Sandra danced as a soloist with Four Seasons Ballet and Wu-I Dance Company. She is currently the Director of Arts at Choate Rosemary Hall in Connecticut.
TIM RUSSELL
Timothy M. Russell is currently the Vice President of Community Engagement and Diversity, Equity and Inclusion of Chicago-based Window to the World Communications, Inc. (WWCI), parent company of public television station WTTW and classical music station WFMT. Tim is responsible for leading WWCI’s community engagement and diversity, equity and inclusion efforts focused on shaping the organization’s vision and strategy with relevant influencers, nonprofits, foundations, and business partners ensuring that they align with the organization’s strategic plan.
Tim received his Bachelor of Arts degree in sociology and religion from Oberlin College, earned a Masters of Theological Studies with a concentration in Ethics and Society from Garrett Theological Seminary and completed a certificate program in Business Administration at Loyola University Chicago. Tim and his wife, Joi-Anissa, and their children – Mark and Ava – live in the Chicago suburb of Evanston, IL.
ISRAEL TANNENBAUM
Israel has more than 20 years of experience serving as a trusted advisor and providing value-add compliance and tax consulting services to exempt organizations of all sizes, including Public Charities, Private Foundations, Membership Associations, Arts and Cultural Organizations, and all other subsectors of the Not-for-Profit industry. He is an expert in Unrelated Business Income Tax (UBIT) and foreign filing requirements for tax-exempt entities and has experience in providing Employee Benefits Tax compliance and consulting services to a diverse group of clients including Fortune 100 companies and some of the largest pension trusts in the world. Israel is also an expert in assisting clients with the implementation of the requirements of various new legislation and regulations at both the Federal and State levels. Israel is a frequent author for Newsweek, wealthmanagement.com, New York State Society of CPAs TaxStringer, Bloomberg BNA, AICPA Journal of Accountancy, AICPA Insights and plansponsor.com. He also has presented at numerous regional and national conferences including New York Council of Nonprofits (NYCON), AICPA National Not-For-Profit and Employee Benefits Industry Conferences, New York State Society of CPA’s annual exempt organizations conference, NFT.NYC, and the New York Nonprofit Media Nonprofit OpCon.
ISABELLE VAIL
Isabelle Vail joins the Advisory Council after four years of leading DDP’s research and special projects teams. Isabelle oversaw DDP’s collaboration with institutional and independent research partners, coordinating new examinations of the state of gender equity in ballet, and spearheaded strategic engagement through DDP’s social media channels and auxiliary programming. She began consulting for DDP in 2017 as a part-time research assistant and went on to play an active role in the founding of DDP as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, advising on the organization’s early research endeavors and engagement before becoming DDP’s first full-time consultant in 2019. She attended Wake Forest University as a Presidential Scholar of Dance, graduating summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa with a BA in Psychology and French in 2018. From 2018-2019, Isabelle resided in Rouen, France, working as a language assistant in two local collèges. Vail recently joined the team at Bliss Point Media as Manager of Client Strategy & Analytics.
SUSAN WEST
Susan West is an active supporter of the arts and an advocate of diversity in the workplace. She joined the Dance Data Project® in 2016 as Lead Researcher. Susan has spent her career working for and with higher education institutions. She is a Director in the Higher Education Strategy & Operations practice at Huron Consulting Group where she leads numerous efforts to support, promote, and recruit women in higher education consulting. Prior to joining Huron, Susan was Associate Director, Office of the Chief Information Officer (CIO), at Yale University. While at Yale Susan served as Co-Chair of Yale’s LGBTQ Affinity Group from 2013-2015 and co-founded the organization Women in IT (WIT) @ Yale in 2013.
Susan holds an M.A. in Higher Education and Student Affairs from The Ohio State University and a B.A. in Communication Studies from Furman University.
CHARLES WHITAKER
Charles Whitaker is Dean and professor at Northwestern University Medill School of Journalism, Media, Integrated Marketing Communications. Before joining the Medill faculty, Whitaker was a senior editor at Ebony Magazine. Whitaker has also led a prolific journalism career, working with institutions such as the Miami Herald and the Louisville (Ky.) Times, and contributing articles to the Chicago Tribune, The Chicago Sun-Times, Chicago Magazine, Jet Magazine, Essence Magazine, The Philadelphia Inquirer, The Saturday Evening Post, Chicago Parent magazine, and Folio, the magazine of the magazine industry. Among Whitaker’s many notable roles and endeavors, he authored four statistical analyses of the hiring of women and minorities in the magazine industry, co-directed Project Masthead (a program designed to encourage students of color to consider careers in the magazine industry), and has served as an adviser on diversity issues for the Magazine Publishers of America.
GREGORY YOUDAN
Gregory Youdan Jr. is a guest faculty at The Juilliard School assisting Irene Dowd as the 2022-2023 Dance Anatomy Teaching Fellow. He is an adjunct faculty at CUNY Lehman College and Hollins University. As a dancer, Greg performed with NY Baroque Dance Company, Sokolow Theatre/Dance and Heidi Latsky Dance, where he is on the board. He is a Wertheimer Fellow through Mark Morris Dance Group’s Dance for PD® program and a member of the Latinx Dance Educators Alliance and Project Breakalign.
Additionally, Greg is a movement scientist specializing in dance science, having published in academic journals and lectured at universities and conferences. He was a research scholar at Brown University and worked as the research and advocacy coordinator for Dance/NYC. Currently, Greg serves on the development committee for the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science, the research committee for the National Organization for Arts in Health and the review board for the Journal of Dance Education. Greg has served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts.
He earned his BA in Dance from Hofstra University and dual Masters from Teachers College, Columbia University in Motor Learning and Applied Statistics.
