The Kennedy Dancers Professional Company
performing on the J.Owen Grundy Pier
in one of More then 60 performances there over twelve Years.
The Kennedy Dancers Repertory Co. under direction of Diane Dragone, employs professional dancers and teachers allowing these artists to remain employed year-round. They are employed for their artistic skills and not based on gender, racial, ethnic, or religious bias.
The KD Repertory Co. presents performances in 2 seasons, Winter and Summer series in contemporary,neoclassical, theatrical, and ethnic cultural fusion styles. The Company performs works of internationally respected contemporary choreographers such as Sean Curran, Babtunde Alatunji, Ulysses Dove, Charles Weidman, Diane Dragone, Kathryn Reese and even Bob Fosse.
The Kennedy Dancers bring performances, lecture demonstrations and technique classes to schools, theaters, universities, parks and open spaces throughout Jersey City.
Diane Dragone.
Executive/Artistic Director
of the Kennedy Dancers Inc.
Diane Dragone is the founding director/choreographer /teacher for the Kennedy Dancers Repertory Company and the Kennedy Dancers School since 1977. The Kennedy Dancers is a non-profit corp.
Diane Dragone created the Dance curriculum for the Hudson County Schools of Technology. She taught the gifted and talented and special education dance programs at Hudson County High Tech and Hudson County prep schools as well as classes at the Hudson County Juvenile Detention center.
She was also a returning guest teacher of dance at Hudson County Community College. Ms Dragone is a certified teacher of dance in the state of New Jersey. During her career she has performed and created countless choreographies for many regional dance, theater and opera companies
The Kennedy Dancers have performed in over 400 grammar, high schools and universities and performed in theaters up and down the eastern seaboard including the White House as well as U.S.O. tours.
The Kennedy Dancers are 6 time award winners of Citations of excellence from New Jersey State Council on the Arts.
Diane is the executive producer of the 8 time award winning cable television program “Dance Vista” seen on assorted cable television systems throughout and beyond 22 states.
Abigail Dias
Abby is a graduate of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy in New York City. She has worked with choreographers such as Mimi Quillin, Joanna Mauer, Salvatore LaRussa, Jennifer Muller, and Mary Seidman. Abby is currently also dancing with Beth Soll and Company, Zco/Dance project, Katharine Pettit Creative, and Dance Visions NY. She has performed on stages such as Radio City Music Hall, the Peter Jay Sharp Theatre at Symphony Space, Jazz at Lincoln Center, BAM Fisher, University Settlement, New York Live Arts, Dixon Place, Westbeth Theatre Center, Steppingstone Waterside Theater, The Episcopal Actors Guild Hall, Triskelion Arts Center, and multiple performances at the Owen J. Grundy Pier and at the Ailey Citigroup Theater. Along with being a multidisciplinary movement artist, Abby is also a teaching artist with Mark Morris Dance Center.
Quincy Southerland
Quincy Southerland is a Graduate of Georgian Court University (2022) with a BA in Dance. Some of his past credits include Hairspray the Broadway Musical [Royal Caribbean Entertainment], Nutcracker Rocks, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and more with [Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater]. As well as A Chorus Line, Mama Mia, Newsies, Music Man, and more with [Phoenix Productions]. Quincy is excited to be a part of the Kennedy Dancers Holiday Showcase! He is very thankful for the opportunity to work with this talented cast and thankful to his family for all their support. @quincydances
Abigail Haugh
Abigail Haugh is a dancer, teacher, and personal trainer originally from the Philadelphia area. She
obtained her BFA in dance performance at Hofstra University, where she trained extensively in
modern and ballet. Additionally, she has trained in various jazz, contemporary, tap, and musical
theatre techniques. During her time at Hofstra, she performed in pieces by Max Stone, Adam
Barruch, Earl Mosley, Maxine Steinman, Rachel List, and Larry Keigwin. She continues to
perform in dance projects and companies throughout New York City. Most recently, she has been
in rehearsals with Salvatore LaRussa Dance Theatre, Chutzpah Dance, and Anna Paterson Dance
Company! In addition to performing, she works as an independent personal trainer, a dance teacher
and condition coordinator at Divine Rhythms Dance Studio, and as an Assistant Teaching Artist
with the Mark Morris Dance Group. Abigail is excited to be dancing with the Kennedy Dancers
this holiday season!
Sarah Hutchinson
Sarah Hutchinson grew up in Washington State where she trained in ballet and contemporary for 12 years. She graduated in spring 2023 from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Modern/Contemporary. Sarah has been awarded multiple scholarships while attending UVU including John A Salisbur Endowed Scholarship and Barbara Schnebly Shaw Scholarship. While at UVU She performed on Contemporary Dance Ensemble and Synergy Dance Company. Some of the choreographers she has performed works by are Yoshito Sakuraba, Jesse Obremski, Ihsan Rustem, and Joseph Hernandez. Along with performing Sarah was chosen to choreograph for Synergy Dance Company and for the Movers + Maker workshop.
Malia McCarthy
Malia hails from Casper Wyoming and majored in Dance at the UNC Charlotte, North Carolina.
Malia has performed at Lincoln Center with Buglisi Dance Theater as well as a number of shows up and down the east coast.
Kenneth Winfrey
Kenneth is a Contemporary Modern and Ballet performer who is also a visual and digital artist. He was educated at Marymount Manhattan College as well as at the Dance Theater of Harlem. He has performed with a number of companies throughout the New York region including work with the Buglisi Dance Theater and The Michael Mao Dance Company.
Zev Haworth
Zev Haworth is a graduate of NYU Tisch School of the Arts, BFA in Dance. He has danced “Castles” with the Gallim Dance Company And Missa Brevis with Jose Simon Dance Company. And participated in a number of Dance on Film projects.
Dennzyl Green
In his second season with Emerge125, Dennzyl Green is a graduate cum laude with a BA in Dance
from California State University, Fullerton 2020. He has danced professionally with Nannette
Brodie Dance Theatre and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. He has performed works by
Darshan Bhuller, Milton Myers, Bernard Gaddis, Colin Connors, and Doug Varone to name a few.
He has attended American Dance Festival and has performed at Jacob’s Pillow. He is also a
company artist with Axelord Contemporary Ballet Theater based in Holmdel, New Jersey.
Erica Maillet
Erica is originally from Connecticut where she danced with Ballet Hartford, Dimensional Dance and Mystic Ballet before going on to become a co-founder of New England Ballet Collective in 2019. Since moving to New York in 2020, Erica has performed in productions of Ballet Bloom Project, New Rising Sun Dance Project, the Muse Brookly and American Liberty Ballet.
Omari Contaste
Born in Brooklyn, NY, to Trinidadian parents, Omari Contaste has always had an affinity for music and dance. Contaste graduated from Goucher College with a double major in Dance (Choreography) and Psychology. After college graduation, he attended the Dance Theater of Harlem Summer Intensive (July 2014), before relocating to Virginia for an apprentice contract with Charlottesville Ballet (2014-2016). Since his 2016 homecoming, Contaste has been dedicated to bringing his talents back to NYC through his passion for performing, creating and teaching. He rejoined Forces of Nature in 2016, and later joined Kofago Dance Ensemble in 2020.
Nikola Palivoda
Nikola Palivoda began dancing at a young age with his church’s traditional Serbian Folk Dance group, Dukati, where he learned, performed and eventually choreographed professional and traditional repertory for 20 years. He trained and performed with the dance programs at Middlesex County College, Montclair State University and Raritan Valley Community College. Nikola has performed with the Nikki Manx Dance Project, T.MAJ Dance, HealthQuest Fitness, Luminarium Dance Company, for Freespace Dance, at several Dance New Jersey events and at the Koresh Showcase Series. He also Produces and Directs two annual dance concerts. Nik is one of the newest members of Kennedy Dancers Repertory Company.
A Sample of Our Pro and Junior Dance Companies!
At The FEAST!
The Kennedy Dancers perform at the Our Lady of Mount Carmel Feast 2022
2022 Kennedy Dancers Holiday Showcase
Produced at the Kennedy Dancers Repertory Center
CAVEN POINT
An Original Choreography and Film ABout real Life Happenings during World War II in Jersey City. Based upon Diane Dragone’s mother’s recollections
