Valley Contemporary Dance Company

	Ashley Saffioti Layne began her training here in the Hudson Valley at the age of two at various dance studios. Shefound the Hudson Valley Conservatory at age 13 to continue her training and expand her performance experience. Throughout her studies she attended many summer intensives at the Paul Taylor School. She went to continue her training in NYC for 4 years at Dance New Amsterdam, BDC, Steps and Peridance Studio. There, she had the opportunity to study with teachers like Jana HIcks, Oliver Steele, Sara Neece, Max Stone, Wes Veldink, to name a few. She performed with modern and jazz companies such as Push Factor, performing at The Duke 42nd, and Jana Hicks various works at City Center and DNA. Ashley currently resides in the Hudson Valley with a strong passion for the growing artist community. She couldnt be happier to be a part of VCDC. She made her debut performance with VCDC last year as Janis Joplin in JANIS JOPLIN:PEARL.
	Dee Wright received her dance and theater training at the Hudson Valley Conservatory of Fine Arts in Walden, NY. She has performed in numerous productions across the country including, the First National Broadway tour of Disney’s Aida and VCDC’s “Janis Joplin: Pearl.” Her television credits include international commercials, Saturday Night Live, Harlem Fantasy and VH1 Diva’s Live. She has since gone on to produce, direct and choreograph productions at the New Rose Theatre in Walden, NY. Dee is currently a member of the dance faculty at the Hudson Valley Conservatory of Fine Arts, where she teaches jazz and ballet.
	Keely Wright began her training at the Hudson Valley Conservatory of Fine Arts. While continuing her training at Alvin Ailey, London Contemporary Dance School and Broadway Dance Center, Keely started teaching at the Hudson Valley Conservatory and at various other schools. She has choreographed for the R&B group ‘Elan’ for the k104 Fest and for the ‘VH1 Can You Hear the music’ project. She was also a member of Deca Dance, an all female hip hop company, which she played the title role in the Firebird, as well as ASEID Contemporary Dance Company. Most recently Keely has become a member of Valley Contemporary Dance Company, performing in their premier performance of ‘Janis Joplin: Pearl’, and as Billie Holiday in ‘Lady Day: A Tribute to Billie Holiday.’
	Zachary Kiernan received his dance training at the Hudson Valley Conservatory and his Bachelors degree at SUNY New Paltz in Theatre Design. He is currently the technical director at the New Rose Theatre/Hudsosn Valley Conservatory. He has performed in such shows as The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, and Cinderella. Zachary made his professional debut last year in Janis Joplin:Pearl and is thrilled to embark on this years production of Billie Holiday.
	Colleen Corbett received her dance training at the John Hayes O’Neil School of Dance in Rome, NY. Colleen received a BFA in Dance from SUNY Brockport, where she choreographed and performed in concerts such as STUDIO 152 and DANSCORE. She has performed in various productions at the New Rose Theatre in Walden NY including “The Nutcracker”, “Peter Pan”, and VCDC’s “Janis Joplin: Pearl.” Colleen currently holds a Masters Degree in Special Education, and is a faculty member at Orange-Ulster BOCES. She is a member of the dance faculty at the Hudson Valley Conservatory of Fine Arts, where she teaches ballet, modern, jazz, and kinder dance.
APPRENTICES Sydney Amen Claire Beebe Veronica Hebbard Rebecca Patsalos MUSICAL COORDINATOR DJ Real Wisdom VIDEO PROJECTIONS Shane Rutkowski STAGE MANAGER Danielle Amen PHOTOGRAPHY COUTRESY OF Karen Pomarico WEBSITE DESIGNER Phuong Nguyen