Haiti Cultural Exchange’s programs are made possible in part through funding support from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the New York City Council and the New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Andrew M. Cuomo.
Thursday, July 1 at 6:30 pm
Plant Family Garden
Jessica St. Vil and KaNu Dance Theater present Haitian folkloric dance
Jessica St. Vil and KaNu Dance Theater present excerpts of KaNu choreographed by Jessica St. Vil; a fusion of traditional and contemporary Haitian dance. Choreography explores how we can collectively draw on our strengths to address inequity and injustice.
FREE community tickets will be available via Brooklyn Botanic Garden website 2 weeks prior to the event.
Check out the event page for more updates.
Jessica St. Vil-Ulysse
Jessica St. Vil is a first-generation Haitian American dancer, educator, and choreographer who grew up in Queens, NY. A graduate of Lehman College, Ms. St. Vil received her B.A. in Mass Communications and Dance. She continued her training on scholarship with the Alvin Ailey School’s professional division. She has worked with choreographers (Christopher Huggins, Martial Roumain, Marcea Daiter, and more); performed with several dance theater companies (Feet of Rhythm, Joan Peter’s Dance Company, and Vissi Dance Theater, and National Ballet Folkloric of Haiti). Jessica has collaborated with Unimix films to choreograph a short film (“One More Try”) and their award-winning feature film (Forever Yours). She was honored by the National Museum of Women and the Haitian Embassy in recognition of her choreographic work. Jessica is the artistic director of KaNu Dance Theater, a co-founder of Danse Xpressions ”Center for the Arts”. She is featured in Dance Portal, an ongoing exhibit providing instruction in traditional Haitian dance at the Children’s Museum of Manhattan with her work “Let’s Dance”. She recently choreographed an original dance drama, “Zatrap,” written by playwright Jean Claude Eugene. Currently, Jessica is on the faculty of the Alvin Ailey School’s Professional Division teaching Dunham-based techniques and is also a Teaching Artist with various Arts in Education programs throughout New York City. Miss St. Vil is currently enrolled as a 3rd-year certification candidate with the Institute for Dunham Technique and Certification.