Carla Maxwell Memorial
March 8, 2026
Photo by Holger Badekow
The José Limón Dance Foundation, Inc., presents
Limón Dance Company
FOUNDERS
José Limón and Doris Humphrey
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Dante Puleio
EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR
Michelle Preston
ASSOCIATE ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Logan Frances Kruger
THE COMPANY
Natalie Clevenger • Joey Columbus
Ian Debono • Mariah Gravelin • Johnson Guo
Stephen Haley • Deepa Liegel • Ty Morrison
Olivia Mozie • Jessica Sgambelluri
Savannah Spratt • Lauren Twomley
Arnel Wilson
DIRECTOR'S NOTE
Photo by Fernando Suarez
ABOUT THE LIMÓN DANCE COMPANY
The Limón Dance Company (LDC) has been at the vanguard of dance since its inception in 1946. The first dance group to tour internationally under the auspices of the State Department, and first modern dance company to perform at Lincoln Center in New York, it has performed twice at The White House. The José Limón Dance Foundation, with Company and Institute, is the recipient of a 2008 National Medal of the Arts. José Limón has a special place in American culture for a social awareness that transcended distinct groups to address how we all search for commonality. It is with this ethos that we continue to commission works by critically acclaimed and emerging international voices 50 years after Limón’s passing. His works continue to influence the evolution of the art form with their arresting visual clarity, theatricality, and rhythmic and musical life.
A VERY SPECIAL THANKS TO...
Rehannah Baksh, Becky Brown, Diana Byer, Melanie Conlon, Piper Dye, Sabina Fritz, Madeline Aldana-Gray, Omar Guerrero and Vanessa Guerrero, José Limón Staff and Board, The Joyce Theater Staff and Crew, Danny Lewis, Bob Meister, Linda Murray and the team at New York Public Library, Nikolais Louis Foundation for Dance - Alberto del Saz and Janis Brenner, Norton Owen, Louise Schulman, Clay Taliaferro, Holly Thomas, The Limón Legacy Family, Nina Watt, and Robert Wolinsky
JOSÉ LIMÓN DANCE FOUNDATION
Board of Directors
Ivan Sacks - Chair
Robert A. Meister - Treasurer & Past Chair
Paula Carriço
Alicea Castellanos
Kurt Douglas
Tina Evans - Secretary
Sylvia Ann Hewlett
Jill Javier
Jonathan Leinbach, M.D.
Katrina Robinson
STAFF
Dante Puleio, Artistic Director
Michelle Preston, Executive Director
Logan Frances Kruger, Associate Artistic Director
Lena Lauer, Director of Limón Institute
Cristina Moya-Palacios, Institute Administrator
Deborah Corrales, Company General Manager
Jordan W. Carter, Development & Communication Manager
Elizagrace Madrone, Membership & Development Operations Manager
Bill Schaffner, Stage Manager
Corey Whittemore, Technical Manager
Olivia Zacchia, Wardrobe Manager
26/27 Management, New Works Inquiries & Booking:
Sozo Artists; +1 (917) 791-3680 | limon@sozomedia.com | www.sozoartists.com
Press Representation
Michelle Tabnick 646.765.4773 | michelle@michelletabnickpr.com
Choreography: José Limón (1956)
Music: Norman Dello Joio*
Lighting: Brandon Stirling Baker
Co-reconstructors: Kurt Douglas and Dante Puleio
Original Costume Design: Pauline Lawrence
Costume Redesign: Márion Talán de la Rosa (2020)
Dancers
The Company
*Meditations on Ecclesiastes, commissioned for José Limón by The Juilliard Music Foundation and its Festival of American Music, April 1956. This score earned the composer the Pulitzer Prize in 1957. Meditations on Ecclesiastes © 1959 by Carl Fischer, Inc.
2022 Recording of Norman Dello Joio’s score by Artis–Naples, Naples, Philharmonic; Radu Paponiu, conductor.
Welcome Remarks
Dante Puleio
Family Acknowledgement
Omar Guerrero and Vanessa Guerrero
Video: The Winged (1966)
Guest Speaker
Dr. Daniel Lewis
Video: Carla Maxwell
There is a Time (excerpt)
The Company
NATALIE CLEVENGER (Dancer, She/They), from Mooresville, IN and received her BFA in dance from the University of Arizona in 2018. Upon graduation, Natalie joined Dance Kaleidoscope in Indianapolis, IN and danced with the company for three seasons. Natalie joined Limón Dance Company in 2022.
JOEY COLUMBUS (Dancer, He/Him) began his dance training in the Chicagoland area before obtaining his BFA in dance from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program. He has performed with companies such as RIOULT and Company XIV as well as at the Metropolitan Opera.
IAN DEBONO (Dancer, He/Him) from San Francisco, graduated from The Juilliard School in 2023 with a BFA in Dance. There, he has performed works by Ohad Naharin, Medhi Walerski, Norbert De La Cruz III, Spenser Theberge, and Jermaine Spivey, among others. Currently, Ian is a performing member of The Metropolitan Opera and is thrilled to be joining the Limón Company!
MARIAH GRAVELIN (Dancer, She/Her) joined the Limón Company in 2019 where she has performed and taught nationwide. She holds a BFA from Alvin Ailey/Fordham University (2018). She is on faculty for the Limón Institute and can be found with her camera in hand photographing when not dancing.
JOHNSON GUO (Dancer, He/Him) began his dance training at NYC’s Ballet Tech Program. He continued his learnings at the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase. Before graduating with a BFA degree in dance performance, Johnson joined the esteemed Limón dance company in 2021.
STEPHEN HALEY (Dancer, He/Him) Born in New Jersey, earned a BFA from the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, where he graduated with a composition concentration and received the inaugural Dance Leadership Award. Stephen is also an up-and-coming choreographer and finds fulfillment in creating. Stephen is also a recipient of the Merce Cunningham Barbara Ensley Award 2025.
DEEPA LIEGEL (Dancer, She/Her) joined Limón Dance Company in 2021. Originally from Seattle, Washington. BFA from Southern Methodist University. Professionally worked with Mark Morris Dance Group, the Metropolitan Opera, Dance Lab NY and others. Certified classical Pilates instructor since 2020. Instagram: @deepaleaps.
OLIVIA MOZIE (Dancer, she/her) born in Greenville, SC began dancing at the age of four and continued her studies at The South Carolina Governor’s School, graduating in 2020. In 2024, Olivia graduated from Boston Conservatory at Berklee with a B.F.A. in Contemporary Dance Performance. Olivia joined the Limón Company in January 2024.
TY MORRISON (Dancer, He/Him) from Boston, received his BFA from the Boston Conservatory at Berklee performing works by choreographers Darrell Moultrie, Catherine Coury, and Bradley Shelver. He then joined BODYTRAFFIC internationally performing works by choreographers Micaela Taylor, Alejandro Cerrudo, Fernando Magadan, Juel D. Lane, and more.
JESSICA SGAMBELLURI (Dancer, She/Her) is a 2014 graduate of Marymount Manhattan College. Jessica has danced for Graham 2, TED Talks Live, Caterina Rago Dance Company, The Metropolitan Opera, and Buglisi Dance Theatre. Jessica joined the company in 2019.
SAVANNAH SPRATT (Dancer, She/Her) joined the company in 2016. Hailing from Rochester, PA, she holds a BFA from UNCSA (recipient of the Sarah Graham Keenan Scholarship). Beyond Limón, she has collaborated with Madeline Hollander, Hélène Simoneau, and the Merce Cunningham Trust and enjoys knitting.
LAUREN TWOMLEY (Dancer, She/Her) from Brooklyn, NY, is a performing and teaching artist who has been with the Limón Dance Company since 2019. She is a dancer and operations manager for Peter Stathas Dance and values connection, diversity, and play in her artistic endeavors.
ARNEL WILSON (Dancer, He/They) from Brooklyn, NY, is in his first season with the Limón Dance Company. Arnel has trained under a wide spread of teachers and organizations including MOVE|NYC| co-founded by Nigel Campbell and Chanel DaSilva, French Academie of Ballet directed by Francois Perron, and recently graduated from SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance in 2024 currently directed by Darrah Carr.
Founders
JOSÉ LIMÓN (Founder/Choreographer, 1908-1972) electrified the world with his dynamic masculine dancing and dramatic choreography. One of the 20th century’s most important and influential dance makers, he spent his career pioneering a new art form and fighting for its recognition. Born in Culiacán, Mexico in 1908, he moved to California in 1915, and in 1928 came to New York where he saw his first dance program. Limón enrolled in Doris Humphrey and Charles Weidman’s dance school and performed in several of their works from 1930 to 1940. In 1946, with Doris Humphrey as Artistic Director, Limón formed his own company. Over the next 25 years, he established himself and his company as a major force of 20th century dance. Limón created a total of 74 works, including The Moor’s Pavane, Concerto Grosso, and Missa Brevis.
DORIS HUMPHREY (Founder/Choreographer, 1895-1958) is recognized as a founder of American Modern Dance. She developed a distinctive movement approach based on the body’s relationship to gravity and the use of weight. The company she formed with Charles Weidman produced great dances as well as outstanding performers, José Limón among them. When physical disability ended her career as a dancer, she became the Artistic Director for José Limón and his company, creating new works for him and for The Juilliard.
Artistic Leadership
DANTE PULEIO (Artistic Director, He/Him), a widely respected former member of the Limón Dance Company for more than a decade, Puleio was appointed the sixth Artistic Director in the Company’s 80-year history, a position that originated with Doris Humphrey. After a diverse performing career with the Limón Dance Company, touring national and international musical theatre productions, television and film, he received his MFA from University of California, Irvine. His research focuses on contextualizing mid 20th century dance for the contemporary artist and audience. He is committed to implementing that research by celebrating José Limón's historical legacy and reimagining his intention and vision to reflect the rapidly shifting 21st century landscape.
LOGAN FRANCES KRUGER (Associate Artistic Director, She/Her) an Atlanta, Georgia native, received her early training from Annette Lewis and Pamala Jones-Malavé, and went on to receive a BFA from The Juilliard School. Her extensive performing career has included work with renowned artists such as Shen Wei, Jonah Bokaer and Adam H Weinert. Logan was a principal dancer with the Limón Dance Company for 9 years, and was the Company’s Rehearsal Director for 4 years before being appointed Associate Artistic Director in 2021. Logan has taught master classes and workshops across the globe, and is a reconstructor of Limón’s repertory.
Choreography: Murray Louis (1978)
Music: Ernesto Lecuona y Casado
Lighting: Corey Whittemore (2026)
Restager: Janis Brenner
Coach: Alberto del Saz
Costume Design: Frank Garcia
Dancer
Deepa Liegel
Murray Louis’ Figura was choreographed simultaneously on the Limón Dance Company and the Murray Louis Dance Company. This solo was created on Carla Maxwell, and on Janis Brenner.
The licensing and performance of this work have been granted through the exclusive rights of the Nikolais/Louis Foundation for Dance, Inc.
Guest Speaker
Logan Kruger
Video: The Winged (2015) and Psalm (2019)
Guest Speaker
Norton Owen
MISSA BREVIS (Excerpt)
Choreography: José Limón (1958)
Music: Zoltán Kodály**, Missa Brevis In Tempore Belli
Remaster (2024): Darron L. West
Reconstruction (2024): Kathryn Alter and Kurt Douglas
Reconstruction Assistants: Eric Parra and Lauren Twomley
Original Costume Design: Ming Cho Lee
Costume Design and Construction (2024): Caitlin Taylor
Lighting Design: Thomas Skelton, rev. William Brown (2024)
Ite, Missa Est
Dancers
Soloist - The Outsider - Joey Columbus
The Company and L2*:
Aidan Acosta*, Spencer Burdett*, Kyriaki Christoforou*, Natalie Clevenger,
Ian Debono, Veronica Estrada*, Hailey Fleming*, Naya González*, Mariah Gravelin, Johnson Guo, Stephen Haley, Deepa Liegel, Ivanna Manriquez*, Nyah Malone,
Ty Morrison, Olivia Mozie, Nathan Podziewski*, Jessica Sgambelluri, Savannah Spratt, Lauren Twomley, Grace Vannucchi*, Cailee Way*, Arnel Wilson
**By arrangement with Boosey & Hawkes, Inc., publisher and copyright owner
Closing Remarks
Dante Puleio
Carla Maxwell
Figura (Excerpt)
Choreography: Carla Maxwell (1980)
Reconstructor: Logan Kruger
Music: J.S. Bach, Sonata in E Major transcribed for Viola in C Major
by Louise Schulman
Viola: Louise Schulman
Piano: Robert Wolinsky
Costumes: Caitlin Taylor
Lighting Design: Corey Whittemore (2026)
Dancers
Savannah Spratt and Lauren Twomley
Guest Speaker
Clay Taliaferro (video)
Video: Carla Maxwell & The Limón Technique
ETUDE
Choreography: Carla Maxwell (2002)
Reconstructor: Logan Kruger
Music: Franz Schubert; D. 118, Gretchen am Spinnrade
Soprano: Holly Thomas
Piano: Robert Wolinsky
Lighting: Ted Sullivan, adapted by Corey Whittemore (2026)
Costumes: Marion Williams
Dancers
Natalie Clevenger, Mariah Gravelin,
Johnson Guo, Olivia Mozie, Jessica Sgambelluri
The Limón ETUDE was commissioned and funded by The Repertory Etudes Project, founded and directed by Carolyn Adams and Julie Strandberg. The project was conceived as a tool to study the work of a master by learning an etude based on the principles of that choreographer’s work. This Limón ETUDE was derived from movements from the following dance works by José Limón: PSALM and DANCES FOR ISADORA.
First performed on February 13, 2002, Winter Olympics, Weber State University, Ogden, Utah
Guest Speaker
Robert Meister
Video: The Moor's Pavane (1949), The Exiles (1950), Limón: Moving Into The Future (2003)
Guest Speaker
Nina Watt
Sonata (Excerpt)
Carla Maxwell declared that the legacy of a great artist is not confined to their works, but lives and breathes with the generations of artists that dance with that legacy. In 2026, we are inaugurating the Carla Maxwell Legacy Fund - dedicated to the artistic and professional development of the Limón dancers.
Visit this page to learn more or make a contribution to
the Carla Maxwell Legacy Fund.
Photo by Walter Strate
Carla Maxwell joined the Limón Dance Company in 1965. She soon became a principal dancer under Limón's direction and, in 1975, Assistant Artistic Director under Ruth Currier. In 1978, Ms. Maxwell was appointed Artistic Director of the Limón Dance Company. Under her direction the Company developed into one of the finest repertory dance ensembles in the world. Ms. Maxwell staged Limón's works for many major companies and is also responsible for many of the Company's Limón reconstructions. She received the 1995 Dance Magazine Award and a 1998 New York Dance and Performance (Bessie) Award for “finding a creative present in the context of a revered past, and thereby offering choreographic opportunity to multiple generations of artists; for inspired leadership and artistic accomplishment.”
Acclaimed as a brilliant dramatic dancer, Ms. Maxwell danced many major roles with the Company, including the title role in Carlota, Jose Limón's final ballet that he choreographed for her. During the Company's New York season in April 1994, Tobi Tobias of New York magazine called Ms. Maxwell, "a magnificent veteran dancer. (The new work) capitalizes on the lushness of Maxwell's movement, and the power of her absorption and projection."
As a choreographer, Ms. Maxwell created works for regional companies throughout the U.S. She created Sonata for the Limón Company in October 1980, and Keeping Still, Mountain in 1988 to Meredith Monk's "Dolmen Music". Ms. Maxwell taught nationally as a master teacher, and internationally as both a representative of the Limón Dance Company and as a guest artist-in-residence.
“Carla meant the world to me. She believed in me long before I believed in myself, and I wouldn’t be where I am today without her. Neither would the Limón Dance Company—or modern dance as we know it... She was the first to lead a company beyond the death of its founder, paving the way for era-defining artists like Ailey, Graham, and Taylor. Carla poured her heart and soul into the Limón legacy and gave so much—if not all—of herself to the field, the Company, and everyone who passed through it. As we look towards the Company's 80th Anniversary, we look back knowing it was Carla Maxwell's passion, grit, and deep love for both the work and the people doing it that made this all possible. I carry her with me every day.”
Dante Puleio, Artistic Director
PROGRAM NOTES
Aidan Acosta (Dancer, he / him) is originally from Queens, NY, and just graduated from Adelphi University with his BFA in dance. During his Junior year, he studied abroad at the London Contemporary Dance School.Aidan has had the opportunity to perform works by Take Ueyama, Omar Román De Jesús, Larry Keigwin, Orion Duckstein, Frank Augustyn, and many others. Aidan is extremely excited to Join Limón2 for their 5th season. @aidan_Tacosta
Spencer Burdett (Dancer, he / they) is a performer and choreographer from Atlanta, Georgia. He has studied at the University of Georgia and NYU Tisch, where he trained in Horton, Graham, and Limón technique.
@spenburr
Veronica Estrada (Dancer, she / her) from Albuquerque, New Mexico trained with NDI NM and has participated in various summer programs. She continued to joined New Mexico Ballet Company for two seasons, along with UNM contemporary dance ensemble. This is her first season with L2. @vero.n.ica_es.tra.da
Hailey Fleming (Dancer, she / her) is originally from Bethlehem, Pennsylvania. She earned her BFA from The Boston Conservatory at Berklee in 2025, where she had the opportunity to work alongside renowned choreographers including Doug Varone, Lar Lubovitch, and Hope Boykin. @hailey__fleming
Naya González (Dancer, she / her), a versatile artist from Clayton, Delaware recently earned her BFA in Contemporary Dance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. Passionate about growth and exploration, Naya is excited to begin her professional journey as a member of Limón2. @Nayaa.Gonzalezz
Nyah Malone (Dancer, they / them) is a multi-disciplinary artist based in Brooklyn, NY. They received a BFA in Dance from LINES at Dominican University of California before joining Limón2. In addition to the Limón Institute, they work with the Merce Cunningham Trust, Ballez/Katy Pyle, and Jody Oberfelder Projects, among other freelance projects. @nyah marie.4
Nathan Podziewski (Dancer, they / he) This is Nathan's second year with L2. He is a New England native and New York-based dancer, choreographer, and actor. He graduated with his BFA in Acting from The Hartt School and is a Graduate of the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance in the Advanced Certificate Program with a focus in composition. @nathan.pski
Kyriaki Christoforou (Dancer, she / her) is a dancer and choreographer born and raised in Limassol, Cyprus. In 2025, she graduated from UNCSA with a BFA in Contemporary Dance. Kyriaki is eager to continue exploring her artistic voice as she joins Limón2 for her first season. @kyriakichristoforou
Limón2 Season 5
Grace Vannucchi (Dancer, she/her) is a dancer and choreographer from Onalaska, Wisconsin. She graduated summa cum laude from Texas Christian University with a BFA in Ballet. Grace has worked with choreographers Darrell Grand Moultrie, Sidra Bell, and Keith Saunders. @gracevannucchi
Cailee Way (Dancer, she / her), a Connecticut native, recently earned her BFA in Contemporary Dance from UNCSA. Passionate about choreography, teaching, and performance, she’s thrilled to join Limón2 for their fifth season and continue growing artistically. @cailee.way
Ivanna Manriquez (Dancer, she / her) Born in Hermosillo, Sonora in 2004, Ivanna began dancing at age three. Trained in RAD ballet with top distinctions, she later joined the young company Joven Ballet Héctor Hernández, touring Jalisco. Ivanna completed the Limón Training Program in 2024. @ivannapauu
The 80th Anniversary of the Limón Dance Company brings a new legacy for the José Limón Dance Foundation:
Limón2 - The Foundation’s second Company.
Limón2 is dedicated to the development of young professionals for a sustainable career and lasting contributions to the dance world. Limón2 also seeks to generate innovative programming and accessible community engagement.
This inaugural artistic venture brings together young talent, the iconic works of José Limón, along with today’s most exciting up and coming choreographers. The treasured spirit and humanistic legacy of José Limón lives on with Limón2!
