EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR, COMPANY DANCER

Meghan McGrath began her dance training in New Hampshire and studied under Barbara Mullin, Dee Keri, Matt Mattox Jr. and Bryan Steele. She received her BA in Psychology and Dance from UMass, Amherst and a M.Ed in the Creative Arts and Learning from Lesley University. Meghan is a founding member of the Jean Appolon Expressions dance company and has performed with Boston-based BoSoma Dance Company and Austin Allegro Dance. She is also an early childhood educator, with over 14 years of teaching experience and a passion for bringing the arts and movement into the classroom, with a social justice lens. Meghan has her yoga certification through Yogaworks NYC and enjoys weaving this practice into her work with youth, as well as volunteering with Hands to Heart Center. She served as the Director of Operations for JAE from 2016-2020 and took over as Executive Director in 2020. Meghan has enjoyed working side by side with Jean Appolon and the company team to achieve its vision and mission.

Meghan is also the Executive Director of JAE. Read more about her role in that position here.

COMPANY DANCER, ARTISTIC MANAGER

Mcebisi (Bisi) Xotyeni, of Cape Town, South Africa, is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer. He began dancing with the outreach program Dance For All, where he trained extensively in ballet, African, contemporary, and hip hop. He was awarded a full scholarship with Dance For All and eventually began working for the professional dance company iKapa Dance Theatre. He has also worked with leading companies in South Africa such as Cape Town City Ballet, Suede Productions, and Sibonelo Dance Project. He has performed for numerous festivals and has collaborated with international artists for performances and outreach projects. He has been a lead company dancer with Jean Appolon Expressions since 2016. Bisi is also JAE's Artistic Manager and an Educator in the company's US based and international programs.

DANCE CAPTAIN & COMPANY DANCER

Lonnie Stanton is a Northern California native based in Boston. For the last decade, Lonnie has been committed to dance education with a strong somatic focus as well as a professional contemporary performance career. She graduated from the Boston Conservatory with a BFA in Dance and has completed her 200 hour yoga certification through Yogaworks. For 10 years, she worked with Prometheus Dance, performing and teaching with the company. Lonnie currently performs with Jean Appolon Expressions, Peter DiMuro/ Public Displays of Motion, Lynn Modell, and Callie Chapman. During her time dancing in NYC, she worked with Kinesis Project Dance Theatre focusing solely on site-specific performance. Stanton is passionate about sharing dance in unconventional, often outdoor spaces where a broad audience can be reached. She has produced and structured dance for film or public space for the Somerville Arts Council, Neoscape (advertisement), Tamara Al- Mashouk, Silvi Naci, Moe Pope, Linda Tegg, and Toni Lester (all visual or sound artists). In addition to Harvard Dance Center, Stanton is on faculty at Boston Ballet (ECI), The School of Classical Ballet, and Deborah Mason School of Dance. Bringing dance education into public schools through Notes in Motion, New York City Ballet, and Boston Ballet has been especially rewarding to Lonnie.

Photo by Olivia Moon Photography.

COMPANY DANCER, GRAPHIC DESIGNER

IJ Chan (陳加恩) is a dance artist and educator from Boston, MA. She has dedicated her life to training and performing intensively in multiple dance genres and under many choreographers. In her own choreographic work, IJ is interested in intersecting and exploring the Asian-American narrative. She is committed to bringing quality performing arts instruction to low-income and minority youth populations within Boston. She also works as a freelance visual artist, seamstress, and as JAE's graphic designer.

Photo by Olivia Moon Photography.

COMPANY DANCER

Velouse Joseph studied dance at the Jean Appolon Expressions' Summer Dance Institute in Port-au-Prince, Haiti from 2013-2018. She also assisted Jean in her hometown of Arcahaie at the organization Hope on a String (HOAS). Velouse joined HOAS as instructional staff, teaching dance to younger students. In 2018, Velouse moved to Massachusetts with family and joined JAE as a professional dancer. She now teaches Haitian Folkloric classes in public schools and with the JAE community.

COMPANY DANCER

Aiden Marshall is a dance artist and choreographer based in Boston, MA. Originally from North Carolina, he trained at Graceful Expressions Dance Education. He graduated in Spring 2023 from the University of North Carolina Greensboro School of Dance, studying under artists including Robin Gee, Janet Lilly, BJ Sullivan, Maurice Watson, Clarice Young, and has performed works by Maleek Washington, and Helen Simoneau. Most recently, Aiden completed his production internship at Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival in Summer 2023. His creative work extends into lighting design and videography, and is interested in studying queer and African Diasporic histories within dance.

In the colorful mosaic of Haitian folkloric dance and music, Josil Joseph Rebert and Arnaud Lauture emerge as luminaries, weaving a narrative of passion and commitment to their craft. Their odyssey commenced in 2000 with an auspicious collaboration alongside Jean Appolon, laying the foundation for a lifelong journey dedicated to the rhythmic soul of Haiti.

During the late 1990s to the mid-2000s, Josil and Arnaud graced stages worldwide as prominent members of the BFH-Ballet Folkloric D’Haiti under the esteemed direction of Nicole Lumarque. From the vibrant streets of Chile to the cultural epicenters of Cuba and the United States, their artistry transcended borders, captivating audiences with their electrifying performances.

In 2006, Josil and Arnaud embarked on a new chapter, joining forces with JAE for the Summer program in Haiti, a transformative experience that deepened their connection to their cultural heritage. Collaborating with the esteemed RAM band in Haiti, they embarked on an exhilarating journey across the United States, spreading the rich tapestry of Haitian folkloric culture with each resounding beat.

Since March 2023, Josil and Arnaud have been an indelible presence within the vibrant community at JAE in Boston, infusing their performances with authenticity and vigor. Their tenure is marked by an unwavering dedication to preserving and celebrating Haitian cultural traditions, rooted in a profound love and reverence for their ancestry.

As seasoned percussionists, Josil and Arnaud bring a wealth of experience and expertise to their art, embodying the essence of Haitian folklore with each rhythmic flourish. With boundless passion and a relentless pursuit of excellence, they stand poised to continue their artistic journeys, enriching the cultural landscape and inspiring generations to come.

MUSICAL DIRECTOR

Val Jeanty, also known as Val-Inc, is an Haitian afrofuturist, drummer, turntablist, and professor at Berklee College of Music. Jeanty is a pioneer of the electronic music subgenre called Afro- Electronica (also called "Vodou-Electro") incorporating Haitian Vodou rhythms with digital instrumentations by synergistically combining acoustics with electronics and the archaic with the postmodern. Jeanty’s Afro-Electronica performances include The Whitney Museum, The Museum of Modern Art and internationally at The Venice Biennale in Italy. She is a Van Lier fellow and was commissioned by NYSCA for Roulette’s Intermedium Residency. Jeanty has worked with a diverse array of artists including the late great Geri Allen, Anthony Braxton, Terri Lyne Carrington and Francisco Mora Catlett. Other highlights include “Fascinating Her Resilience” a Wesleyan University commissioned multimedia collaboration with professor Gina Ulysse and with Afro-Cuban bassist Yosvany Terry on his grammy nominated album “New Throned King”.

Headshot: Richard Loiussaint