Administration
Michael Medcalf
Aseelah Shareef
Desmond L. Davis

Instructors

Lisa K. Lock

Dancers
Antwon Va’Shawn Duncan      
Cedric Hall      
Jennifer K. Sutton
Eleho Temuru      
Kathleen J. Turner      
Dezare Foster (Jr. Apprentice)

Administration

Artistic Director, Michael Medcalf is a graduate of Cleveland School of the Arts with additional training from the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Mr. Medcalf has received numerous accolades and recognition for his work as a dance educator, choreographer and performer, including the prestigious Ohio Arts Council Individual Artist Fellowship (2001) and Young Audiences of Northeast Ohio's "Sunshine Award" (2001).

Michael Medcalf's uncompromising professionalism and pursuit of excellence as a performer, choreographer and dance educator, and his commitment to the exposure of the art form to underserved communities, has guided him and his endeavors to perform, choreograph and teach dance throughout the world. In 1998 Medcalf returned home to Cleveland and founded Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre, a contemporary dance company dedicated to celebrating, teaching and promoting diversity through dance. Today, his experience, professionalism, and leadership as its executive and artistic director have established the company as one of the most relevant and respected arts organizations in Northeast Ohio.

As a professional dancer Medcalf has worked intimately with prominent choreographer such as Talley Beatty, Katherine Dunham, Donald McKayle, Ronald K. Brown, Bill T. Jones, Cleo Parker Robinson, Dianne McIntyre, Kevin (Iega) Jeff, Gary Abbott, Eleo Pomare, Dwight Rhoden and David Rousseve amongst others. Highlighting his professional performing career is his work as a soloist and principal ensemble member of the Denver based Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble.

Mr. Medcalf serves on the Board of Directors of Ohio Dance and is a member of Kaleidoscope Magazine's 40/40 Club.

Executive Director, Aseelah Shareef, began her dance training at the Palm Beach County School of the Arts, in West Palm Beach, FL. She was also a participant in the Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Program (1994). Her dance training continued throughout high school and college, including Urban Bush Women Summer Institutes in Brooklyn, New York (2004 & 2006). After college, Ms. Shareef went on to perform with Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre (02-03). She later took on the temporary position as Head Consultant for the Cleveland School of the Arts, teaching modern dance to students in grades 6 through 12. In 2005, Ms. Shareef received her Master of Arts in Arts Administration from The Florida State University, during which time she interned as a grantwriter, program developer and assistant evaluator for faith-based community organization, A Shepherd's Hand Resource Center. There, she secured over $50,000 in funding for the organization. Ms. Shareef also works with Florida-based community management consulting firm, The Community Trust, creating 501c3 program models to be used as blueprints for communities and organizations looking to fill social service needs. She rejoined CCDT in 2005.

Education & Outreach Director, Desmond L. Davis, is a proud native of Cleveland, Ohio and a graduate of Kenyon College where he received his degree in Dance and Drama in 1989 and was that year's recipient of the Dance Prize. Mr. Davis has trained under Bill Wade (Artistic Director of Footpath Dance Company), Michael Medcalf (CCDT) and Margaret Holden (Cleveland Dance Theatre). Mr. Davis has appeared in performance with Footpath Dance Company (1990), Cleveland State University's SummerDance (1991), Taylor Productions ('Seventh Example' 1992), Ohio Dance Theatre's ('Nutcracker' 2002) and SAFMOD Performance Ensemble (2004). Mr. Davis currently teaches contemporary modern dance at Cleveland Dance Theatre. This is Desmond's 8th season with the company and his role within the company has grown from performer to educator and most recently, administrator.

Instructors

Lisa K. Lock, a teacher, choreographer, and performer holds a Ballet Diploma from the Grande Ecole de Danse in Bern, Switzerland and a MFA Degree from the California Institute of the Arts.

Ms. Lock recently relocated to Cleveland from Los Angeles. Currently she teaches company ballet classes both for Verb Ballets and Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre, as well as her own class at the Masonic Center, and has been invited to guest teach and perform at Kenyon College and Ohio University for short residencies during this spring semester.

In Los Angeles, she taught ballet, modern, choreography, repertory and contemporary jazz throughout the University and private studio system. Among them, the Edge Performing Arts Center in Hollywood California, Rozann-Zimmerman Ballet Center, the Oakley Ballet Center, former home of the Channel Island Ballet Company, and the Idyllwild School of Music and the Arts.

Universities, incl. Moorpark, Cerritos, LA Pierce, and Pomona Colleges, Ms. Lock has also frequently guest taught at Scripps College and the California Institute of the Arts of which she also managed the school’s dance division of CAP (Community Arts Partnership), Artist in Residencies inc. the Antelope Valley College and Scripps College.

Many of her former students went on to study at major university through out the nation, as well as into performing carriers, with established companies such as Momix Dance Company, Batsheva Dance Company, Pacific Northwest, Milwaukee Ballet, and the commercial dance industry in Los Angeles.   Ms. Lock also coaches gymnasts, both rhythmic and artistic, as well as ice skaters among them Beatrica Liang, currently 4th in the nation.

Since 1994, Ms. Lock has been performing her solo works internationally, and extensively in the Los Angeles area. She was honored by a Lester Horton Award for Outstanding Achievement in Choreography by the Los Angeles Dance Resource Center in 2002, and voted Best Female Dancer of the year by the Beverly Hill Outlook in 2004.

For more information, please visit www.geocities.com/lisalock

Dancers

Antwon Va'Shawn Duncan is a 2005 graduate from the dance department at the University of Akron, he has been seen in countless collegiate performances working with many of the faculty members as well as guest choreographers, Travis Gatling and Jennifer Mueller, to name a few. He was also recently seen as Plato in the Carousel's production of Cats. Mr. Duncan is returning to the stage after taking time off, where he has had the pleasure to share his gifts as a teacher at Jete Dance Centre. He dedicates this season to his late mother, and would like to thank God for another opportunity to share his love through dance. This is Mr. Duncan's second season with CCDT.

Cedric Hall started dancing as a part of CCDT's CONSORT! Youth Dance Training and Development Program. He worked his way through the ranks, and is now a full company member. Mr. Hall has been featured in a number of musicals such as, The Wiz, West Side Story and Footloose to name a few. This is Mr. Hall's fourth season with CCDT.

Jennifer K. Sutton is originally from Indianapolis, Indiana. Ms. Sutton obtained her Master of Arts in Performance from Laban, London, UK in 2005. While studying in London she performed with Transitions Dance Company and worked with choreographers such as Rafael Bonachela and Victor Quijada. Her written dissertation focused on Emotions in Dance Performance. During 2005-2006 she has performed in Indianapolis with Dance Kaleidoscope, Gregory Hancock Dance Theater, Motus and People Paint and Percussion. Ms. Sutton also founded Foreal Art Company and has choreographed and performed pieces including "Confusion", "Memoire" and "Feel Something". Ms. Sutton also enjoys teaching dance to emerging artists, creating chalk pastels that have been displayed around Indianapolis and writing poetry that has inspired many of her creative endeavors. This is Ms. Sutton's first season with CCDT.

Eleho Temuru graduated from the University of Akron's School of Dance with a Bachelor of Arts in 2005. She received classical dance training from The Dance Institute in Akron and trained at the Ailey School in New York City. She has worked with the Tulsa Ballet and with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company II. Ms. Temuru made her debut with Cleveland Contemporary Dance Company this year in Karamu's production of Dream on Monkey Mountain. This is Ms. Temuru's first season with CCDT.

Kathleen J. Turner was born and raised in Columbus, Ohio where she began her training at BalletMet. She graduated Magna Cum Laude with an Honors degree in dance performance from Ohio University where she focused her research on the semiotics in Black dance and dance training for athletes. Ms. Turner is a proud member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc. She has trained at such institutions as Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the Julliard School, and the American Dance Festival and has also worked for Ronald K. Brown, Earl Mosley, April Berry, Murray Louis, and Craig "Bopi" Patterson. She has performed at the Kennedy Center as well as in various venues around New York City. This is Ms. Turner's second season with CCDT.

Dezare Foster (Jr. Apprentice) is a native of Cleveland, Ohio. She is beginning her first year as a junior apprentice with CCDT. She has studied many forms of dance (i.e. tap, ballet, modern, jazz, gymnastics) for about 8 years. Ms. Foster has performed in many venues with CONSORT!, CCDT's youth program, Cleveland School of the Arts and other various dance schools throughout her young career. This is Ms. Foster's second season with CCDT.