Ashley Brown, Director, Martha Graham School

Ashley Brown was the founding HS dance teacher for the Prospect Schools Charter network, where she designed the high school dance curriculum and established the International Baccalaureate Dance Program, as well as beginning the Arts and Athletics Director (2013-2015), the 9th Grade Level Leader (2021-2022) and K-12 Dance Coordinator (2018-2022).  She has also worked with Shining Light, an organization that takes an Arts Impact workshop into jail/prison facilities and in March of 2019, she choreographed and performed, “BARS: You See Boundaries, I See Freedom” for TEDxColumbiaUniversity 2019 to process and share her experiences. In addition to being a dance educator, Ashley was the artist director of a faith based dance company, BT Dance for 8 years participated in the last cohort of Dance New Amsterdam’s, “Raw Materials” and choreographed “I AM.” She owns a production management company, Heartworks Productions that specializes in live theatrical production management and was the production stage manager for the Off Broadway run of “PRINZE: The One Man Show”.

Prior to moving to New York City, Ashley attended Florida State University and graduated with an MFA in dance performance and choreography. She performed with Dance Repertory Theatre under the direction of Lynda Davis and interned at the Dance Theater of Harlem as the Executive Assistant. Ashley attended Spelman College, where she was ballet and jazz faculty and assistant director of the Children’s Drama and Dance Performance Theater before graduating with a BA in child development. Currently, in addition to her appointment as Director of the Martha Graham school, Ashley consults with The Juilliard School in the K-12 Division as a dance curriculum specialist and supports schools in Vietnam.

Tami Alesson, Dean of Student and Government Affairs

Tami Alesson received a BFA from the University of Cincinnati’s Conservatory of Music. She was a professional ballet dancer with the Cincinnati Ballet for nearly 20 years, where she also served as the Director of Education Outreach. She was also the Companies Union Representative where she negotiated many contracts for the American Guild of Musical Artists. During her time in Cincinnati she was one of the founding members of the Cincinnati Ballet School as well as a student rehearsal coach for all Company production. From 2000-2007, Ms. Alesson headed the Outreach Department at the Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia. Many of Ms. Alesson’s former students now work in major companies throughout the world including: New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and English National Ballet in London. In 2007, Ms. Alesson was appointed Director of Education at the Martha Graham School where she provided instruction to teens and oversaw all aspects of the educational outreach programs, serving as the primary contact for teens, families, and New York public school staff.

Lone Kjær Larsen, Program Director

Lone Larsen left her native Denmark in 1986 to study at the Martha Graham School, where she was awarded a full scholarship sponsored by the Helena Rubinstein Foundation. She joined the Martha Graham Ensemble in 1986 and subsequently the Martha Graham Dance Company, where she performed until 1993. She also danced for seven years as soloist with Pearl Lang Dance Theatre and performed for many other leading modern and ballet choreographers here and abroad. While working in Denmark, she co-founded and was co-Artistic Director of BALLET PLUS, and from 2002-2005 she served as Rehearsal Director for Danish Dance Theatre. Lone has taught numerous master classes and workshops nationally and internationally. Currently serving on the faculties of Marymount Manhattan College and the Martha Graham School, she teaches technique, repertory, composition, and performance workshop. Lone also restages Martha Graham’s works for universities, as well as reconstructs and stages works by Pearl Lang. Her own choreographic works for concert dance and theatre have been presented both in New York and abroad. Lone holds a B.F.A. in Dance from Boston Conservatory and M.F.A. in Choreography from Jacksonville University.

Jonathan Windham, Ballet/Contemporary Program Manager

Jonathan Royse Windham- a Colorado native has a BFA from the State University of
New York at Purchase, concentrating in ballet. He worked with Gallim Dance touring the
continental US as well as Canada and Europe, was featured on the Fall for Dance
advertisements appearing across New York City in 2010 and was named one of Dance
Magazines “25 to Watch”. He has worked with American Repertory Ballet, The
Metropolitan Opera, Deutsche Oper Berlin, Deutsches Nationaltheater and Staatskapelle
Weimar, Santa Fe Opera, Company XIV’s Nutcracker Rouge, KAMEA Dance Company,
Tom Gold Dance, The Kevin Wynn Collective, The DASH Ensemble, and has
professionally performed works by Twyla Tharp, Roman Oller, Septime Webre, Itzik
Galli, Simone Forte, and Sidi Larbi among others. Jonathan was in Fiddler on the Roof
on Broadway as part of the original revival company, choreography by Hofesh Shechter.
TV and film credits include The Deuce (HBO), The Kitchen (New Line Cinema) and The
Beauty (FX, Ryan Murphy). His choreography has been shown throughout the USA and
Europe.
Jonathan is currently the program manager for ballet and contemporary at the Martha
Graham School in New York City. As full time faculty, he teaches contemporary, ballet,
choreography lab, improvisation and partnering. He is a regular substitute teacher at
STEPS on Broadway. Jonathan has been a senior stager of Gallim Dance repertory
through the years recently restaged Wonderland on the company for their 2024 Joyce
Theater season. Past teaching and guest teaching credits include; NYU Tisch, University
of Michigan, University of the Arts in Philadelphia, SUNY Potsdam, SUNY Oswego,
Skidmore College, Houston School for the Performing Arts, Goucher College, Peridance
Center, Deutsche Oper Berlin company class, GIBNEY Company, Tanzfabrik.

Natasha M. Diamond Walker, Graham Technique Program Manager

NATASHA DIAMOND-WALKER is a former Principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company (2012-2023). Most notably, she performed lead roles in Graham’s iconic works Lamentaion, Ekstasis, Spectre, Diversion of Angels, Embattled Garden, Appalachian Spring, Cave of the Heart and Acts of Light. She has shared her unique artistry in the creation of original roles within the works of choreographers Nacho Duato, Francesca Harper, Kyle Abraham, Pam Tanowitz, Bobbi Jene Smith, Maxine Doyle, and Sonya Tayeh, among others. As an actress-performer, Ms. Diamond-Walker is currently starring as ‘Cleopatra’ in Stefanie Batten-Bland’s new immersive theater show ‘The Last Pharaoh’. Natasha has co-starred in episodes of ‘Gotham’, ‘Friends from College,’ and Boaz Yakin’s film ‘Aviva’. Her commercial experience is extensive and includes campaigns with Pure Barre, GNC, Sephora, Athletica and Hermes. She is an ongoing guest artist with Annie-B Parson’s ‘Big Dance Theater’ and has actively worked in Movement Direction for fashion houses: Stella McCartney, Coach, Proenza Schouler, Ralph Lauren, Gabriela Hearst and Chanel. Natasha is also a Published Author, Classical Pilates instructor, and Arts & Education consultant. She holds a teaching credential from California State University East Bay and a BFA in Dance from Fordham University/ the Ailey School. As a former Senior Program Specialist Dance Department Chair at L.A. County High School for the Arts (2023-2025), she now serves as the Graham Technique Program Manager at the Martha Graham School in New York City, and teaches the Graham technique for the Alvin Ailey and the Martha Graham Schools. Furthermore, she is an official Martha Graham Dance Company regisseur- and has the honor of being entrusted to set Martha Graham’s choreographies throughout the world.

Lorenzo Pagano, Director of Graham 2

Lorenzo Pagano is an international award-winning contemporary performer whose career has spanned across Concert Dance, Theatre and Opera.

He started his career by joining the Martha Graham Dance Company in 2012, becoming a Guest Artist and Assistant Rehearsal Director in 2023. He has embodied the most iconic male roles of the repertory and originated starring roles for new works by Lucinda Childs, Sidi Larbi Cherkaoui, Nacho Duato, Andonis Foniadakis, Pontus Lidberg, Hofesh Shechter among others. In addition, Pagano is a regisseur for the Martha Graham Center and just restaged ballets for UNCSA North Carolina, Rome Opera Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet in Chicago and The Juilliard in NYC.

In 2024, Pagano was part of the original cast of the musical GATSBY choreographed by Sonya Tayeh, directed by Rachel Chavkin with music by Florence Welch and Thomas Bartlett.

He performed during the 24/25 season at the Metropolitan Opera Ballet at Lincoln Center.

He has been a Guest Artist for La Compañia Nacional de Danza de Costa Rica and he danced in “Unveiling” choreographed by Sonya Tayeh with music by Moses Sumney.

He has danced with Paris Opéra former Étoile and Artistic Director Aurélie Dupont in Martha Graham’s Lament, partnered Royal Ballet Principal Dancer Joseph Sissens in US by Christopher Wheeldon at PAAX in Mexico and danced with former Paris Opéra Étoile Eleonora Abbagnato in choreographies by Ermanno Sbezzo and Adriano Bolognino.

In 2023, he was Assistant Choreographer for the Holiday Event in collaboration with Christian Dior and Martha Graham Company at Sack’s NYC.

Mr Pagano was honored with the Italian International Dance Award as “Male Rising Star” in 2016 and the Premio Nazionale La Sfera d’Oro in 2022.

Amélie Bénard, Pre-Professional Programs Manager

A native of France, Amélie Bénard began her dance training at Centre international de danse jazz Rick Odums in Paris. In 2006, she was awarded a scholarship to study at the Martha Graham School and joined Graham II in 2007 under the direction of Virginie Mécène. In addition, she was a member of Caliince Dance and Edgar Cortes Dance Theater and performed works from choreographers such as Pearl Lang, Robert Battle, Virginie Mécène, Peggy Lyman, and Carrie Ellmore-Tallitsch. After graduating from the Professional Training Program, she enrolled in the Teacher Training Program and obtained her certificate of recognition as a Teacher of the Martha Graham Technique™ in June 2009. She has been serving on the faculty of the Martha Graham School since then, teaching the technique, repertory and creative workshop. Amélie has also been restaging Martha Graham’s Panorama since 2010 as part of the All-City Panorama project. She is also currently serving on the faculties of Ballet Hispánico as well as the Joffrey Ballet School. For the past 12 years, Amélie has enjoyed sharing her passion for the Martha Graham Technique™ with students from all ages and levels. She is honored and thrilled to continue her journey leading the Teens@Graham Program.

Tyler Quick, School Assistant

Tyler B. Quick is passionate about supporting the arts and is honored to be part of the Martha Graham School team. Beyond his work at the School, he works as a puppeteer in both live performance and film. A firm believer in the power of interdisciplinary collaboration, Tyler is excited to support the dance community while exploring new creative connections between puppetry, dance, and other art forms.