EDD YOUTH ENSEMBLE
ARTISTIC DIRECTION

Get to know our EDDYE directors.

DIRECTORS

  • EDDYE Artistic Director

    Judy Milner began her training and career under direction of Clifford Fears, original company member of Katherine Dunham Dance Company as well as Ms. Dunham herself. She also trained with Carol Morisseau of Detroit City Dance Company before receiving scholarship to train at the Ailey School in New York, where she began her professional career as a dancer. Ms. Milner also performed around the world with artists like: Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, The O’Jays & Lavertte, Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight, Heavy D, Aliyah, Mary J Blige and more recently, Janet Jackson’s State of The World Tour 2018 to name a few. As an Actress, Ms. Milner performed in stage plays, TV & film with artists like: Kim Fields, Charles Dutton, Debbie Morgan, Chip Fields, Glynn Turman, Denzel Washington and Vanessa Williams.

    Ms. Milner has a Bachelors in Dance Education, Masters in Curriculum & Instruction, Doctorate in Organization Management.

    Ms. Milner was Program Director, choreographer and dance teacher at Winans Academy of Performing Arts under leadership of Grammy Award winning gospel artist Marvin L. Winans, AMDA Summer Program, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, The Link School of the Arts, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Black Academy of Arts in Letters, School of Fine Arts Camp and is currently dance teacher/program manager at Silver Creek High School and Artistic Director of Ailey Arts & Education Program with UC Berkley/Cal Performances in CA.

    Ms. Milner has taught and/or Adjudicated at dance competitions like: Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), ACT-SO, NYCDA & Capezio A.C.E. Award Competition.

    Ms. Milner is a member of Dance Alliance, National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), National Liturgical Dance Network & International Association of Blacks In Dance (IABD).

    Ms. Milner has guest taught at Wayne State University, Oakland University, Washington University, University of Michigan, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Western Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University, Grand Valley State University, Eastern Michigan University, UC Berkeley, The Link School of the Arts and the Black Academy of Arts & Letters (TBAL). Ms. Milner have trained students who have attended these colleges and others who are currently professional dancers with Alvin Ailey, Ballet West, NYC Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cleo Parker Robinson, Dayton Contemporary, Paul Taylor, Evidence, Washington Ballet, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

    Ms. Milner is the mother of daughters, India, who begin her professional dance career with New York City Ballet Summer 2017 and Iman, actress, author and director, respectively.

  • Assistant Artistic Director

    Ms. Charvat graduated summa cum laude in 2018 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Western Michigan University. While attending WMU, she performed works by renowned choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Anthony Tudor, Lew Christensen, Frank Chavez and Brian Enos. She attended summer programs with New Dialect, chuthis., BODYTRAFFIC LA, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Big Muddy Dance Company and DanceWorks Chicago. In 2018, she received a scholarship to the Lou Conte Dance Studio where she attended weekly class with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago artists and presented her own choreography. In 2019, Tara joined NewDances, a collaboration between Thodos Dance Chicago and DanceWorks Chicago. For the 2019-2020 season, she apprenticed with Eisenhower Dance Detroit performing works by Stephanie Pizzo, Laurie Eisenhower and BAIRA. In Fall 2020, Tara was promoted to Company Member. Throughout her time with EDD, Ms. Charvat has worked directly with choreographers such as Micaela Taylor, Norbert de la Cruz III, Maleek Washington, James Gregg and Rauf “Rubberlegz” Yasit. She is also a teaching artist for the School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit as well as other studios in the metro Detroit area. Along with presenting choreography at Youth America Grand Prix, she serves as the Assistant Artistic Director for the Eisenhower Dance Detroit Youth Ensemble.

  • EDD Director of Operations

    Ms. Chirio-Humenay graduated with a BA in Dance from Oakland University and joined EDD as a company dancer in 2012. From 2012-2020, she had the pleasure of touring, teaching, and performing with EDD. In 2018, through EDD’s Beyond the Stage Initiative, she was promoted to Company Manager and currently serves as EDD’s Director of Operations. Wearing many hats within the organization, Ms. Chirio-Humenay teaches at The School of EDD and directs several of the projects and programming EDD has to offer including the annual intensives: NewDANCEfest, The EDD Intensive, and the Winter Intensive. She is responsible for national booking and coordination of in-studio workshops, known as The EDD Experience, as well as educational and choreographic residency programs for school systems from elementary to college level. Ms. Chirio-Humenay also manages EDD’s EducatEDD programs which provide high quality educational materials and resources from knowledgeable and experienced professionals to the public and the dance community. A few of these programs include EDD’s monthly Pro-Tips, High School Dance Table Talks, and most recently An Insider’s Guide to Contemporary Dance online course.

  • Alex Hlavaty graduated with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University in May, 2015. He studied in New York City with Gibney Dance and in Montréal with O Vertigo and Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal before joining Eisenhower Dance Detroit. He is currently in his ninth season dancing with EDD, where he has performed and taught master classes nationally and internationally. He has set excerpts of EDD repertory on high school and university students at summer intensives, workshops, and master classes. Mr. Hlavaty is also an avid choreographer and writer. His choreography has been performed in festivals, intensives, and competitions. He has also created two works on EDD’s professional company. His poetry has been published in the literary journal The Laureate, 14th Edition, and he has written for DancePlug online as a resource for dance students, professionals, and educators. He is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) Junior, Senior, and Advanced program, and strives to use PBT fundamentals to bring the best instruction to his students.

  • Nirvan Singh attended Western Michigan University on full academic scholarship as a Medallion Scholar. He graduated in 2021 with a BA in Dance and a minor in Business Management. At WMU, he performed in diverse works curated by WMU’s dance department faculty including an excerpt from Tchaikovsky’s Swan Lake as Prince Siegfried, An Evolutionary Story written in the East Sea, Wingless Angels, and many more. He also performed in guest works by renowned choreographers including Paul Taylor, Aszure Barton, and George Balanchine. While attending the BalletMet Company Rep Week 2019, he danced works by choreographers Edwaard Liang, Gustavo Ramirez, and Justin Peck.

    Following graduation, Mr. Singh danced as an Apprentice with Eisenhower Dance Detroit and taught at the School of EDD. Throughout EDD’s 31st season, he had the opportunity to perform in newly created works by choreographers Maleek Washington, Norbert De La Cruz III, WeWolf, Stephanie Pizzo, and Laurie Eisenhower, as well as present his choreography at the Youth America Grand Prix. After a year away, dancing in numerous freelance projects and performing as a Guest Artist for Wellspring/ Cori Terry & Dancers, Mr. Singh is delighted to return to Eisenhower Dance Detroit as a Company dancer and Teaching Artist at the School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit.

  • Katy Hall graduated from Oakland University in 2007 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. She received the MaTilDa Award for Outstanding Student Service through the Music, Theatre, and Dance program at O.U. She has also choreographed several pieces for O.U.’s dance company, Oakland Dance Theatre. Ms. Hall is a CAPA (Creative and Performing Arts) dance alum and has choreographed many pieces for the dance program at Churchill High School since her graduation in 2003. In 2014, she attended the American Ballet Theatre National Training Curriculum conference where she received her certification. She has been teaching for the School of Eisenhower Dance Detroit since 2006 and also serves as the Special Events Coordinator, Youth America Grand Prix Director, and Student Ambassador Program Director.

2022/2023 GUEST CHOREOGRAPHERS

SEYONG KIM

Seyong Kim, an Associate Professor of Dance at Western Michigan University (Kalamazoo, MI), holds an MA in Dance Education from NYU Steinhardt and an MA in Dance from Sung-Kyun-Kwan University (Seoul, South Korea). He is a CMA (Certified Movement Analyst) from Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies, a RSDE (Registered Somatic Dance Educator), and a PBT (Progressing Ballet Technique) Certified Teacher. Seyong is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 of the American Ballet Theatre’s National Training Curriculum. Furthermore, he earned the Diversity and Inclusion Certificate from Cornell University.

Seyong has taught for Rutgers University, Kent State University, The University of Georgia, Randolph College, Palm Beach Atlantic University, Peridance, Steps On Broadway, Libera University in Italy, World Dance Alliance-America (WDAA), American College Dance Association (ACDA), Cecchetti Council of America, Michigan Youth Arts Festival (MYAF), Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, National High School Dance Festival, Alabama Dance Festival, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, Dance Now! Miami, West Hawaii Dance Theatre, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Ballet 5:8, Charlottesville Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, and Ballet Preljocaj.

Seyong’s research interest is to explore Inter/Multi/Trans-cultural perspectives in dance and his research was invited to present at European Association for Laban/Bartenieff Movement Studies Conference (Loheland, Germany), Indonesia University of Education International Conference (Bandung, West Java), Hawaii University International Conference (Honolulu, Hawaii), and The Society of Korean Dance Studies International Symposium (Seoul, South Korea).

As a professional dancer, Seyong has danced with the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center, Albania National Ballet Theatre, Baltimore Ballet, Traverse City Dance Project, Neglia Ballet, TAKE Dance, and Oakland Ballet Company. In addition, his choreographic works have been internationally invited at Landestheater Coburg in Germany, Florence Dance on Screen Festival in Italy, International Contemporary Dance Festival of Mexico City, Taiwan JueDai Taipei International Dance Festival, ProArteDanza in Canada, Seoul International Dance Festival in TANK, Lebanon International Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, Palm Desert Choreography Festival, American Dance Guild Festival, Cleveland Dance Festival, Richmond Dance Festival, Midwest Regional Alternative Dance Festival, Detroit Dance City Festival, Boston Contemporary Dance Festival, Orlando Contemporary Dance Choreography Festival, Oklahoma International Dance Festival, Breaking Ground Contemporary Dance Festival, Washington International Dance Festival, CrossCurrent Asian-American Dance Festival, and Movement Research at the Judson Church.

JUDY MILNER

Judy Milner began her training and career under direction of Clifford Fears, original company member of Katherine Dunham Dance Company as well as Ms. Dunham herself. She also trained with Carol Morisseau of Detroit City Dance Company before receiving scholarship to train at the Ailey School in New York, where she began her professional career as a dancer. Ms. Milner also performed around the world with artists like: Aretha Franklin, Anita Baker, Whitney Houston, The O’Jays & Lavertte, Luther Vandross, Gladys Knight, Heavy D, Aliyah, Mary J Blige and more recently, Janet Jackson’s State of The World Tour 2018 to name a few. As an Actress, Ms. Milner performed in stage plays, TV & film with artists like: Kim Fields, Charles Dutton, Debbie Morgan, Chip Fields, Glynn Turman, Denzel Washington and Vanessa Williams.

Ms. Milner has a Bachelors in Dance Education, Masters in Curriculum & Instruction, Doctorate in Organization Management.

Ms. Milner was Program Director, choreographer and dance teacher at Winans Academy of Performing Arts under leadership of Grammy Award winning gospel artist Marvin L. Winans, AMDA Summer Program, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, The Link School of the Arts, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Black Academy of Arts in Letters, School of Fine Arts Camp and is currently dance teacher/program manager at Silver Creek High School and Artistic Director of Ailey Arts & Education Program with UC Berkley/Cal Performances in CA.

Ms. Milner has taught and/or Adjudicated at dance competitions like: Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP), ACT-SO, NYCDA & Capezio A.C.E. Award Competition.

Ms. Milner is a member of Dance Alliance, National Dance Education Organization (NDEO), National Liturgical Dance Network & International Association of Blacks In Dance (IABD).

Ms. Milner has guest taught at Wayne State University, Oakland University, Washington University, University of Michigan, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Western Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State University, Grand Valley State University, Eastern Michigan University, UC Berkeley, The Link School of the Arts and the Black Academy of Arts & Letters (TBAL). Ms. Milner have trained students who have attended these colleges and others who are currently professional dancers with Alvin Ailey, Ballet West, NYC Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Cleo Parker Robinson, Dayton Contemporary, Paul Taylor, Evidence, Washington Ballet, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre.

Ms. Milner is the mother of daughters, India, who begin her professional dance career with New York City Ballet Summer 2017 and Iman, actress, author and director, respectively.

MEAGAN CUBIDES

Originally from Miami, FL, Meagan Cubides began her formal training at the Miami City Ballet School and later New World School of the Arts High School. In 2019, she graduated from the Ailey/Fordham BFA Program. Over the course of her training, she has performed works by Alvin Ailey, Francesca Harper, Jamar Roberts, Adam Barruch and Sidra Bell among others. During her time in college, she danced professionally with Ballet Hispanico Dos for their 2017/18 season. She also studied at various summer programs such as Arts Umbrella Dance, Bodytraffic, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Ballet Austin. Ms. Cubides most recently danced for four seasons with Visceral Dance Chicago. In addition, she was a guest artist with Symbiosis Arts andFreckled Sky Inc. She is thrilled to be joining Eisenhower Dance Detroit.

Past choreographers:

2022-23

Áine Dorman
Lillie Hamilton
Alex Hlavaty

2021-22

Jonathan Jackson
Kaitlin Arena **Recipient of the RDA Emerging Choreographer Award and Scholarship
Madeline Aldana
Alex Hlavaty