KINEMATIC DANCE THEATER

KINEMATIK nurtures and expands the art of dance by providing visually stimulating choreography that pushes the boundaries of traditional representations of urban and contemporary dance. KINEMATIK’s approach to dance theater is considering dance and choreography not only as a performing art but also as a visual art form. KINEMATIK fuses elements of urban vernacular dance such as House, Breaking and Vogue with contemporary modern dance. Through a synthesis of artistic elements such as movement, technology, visual imagery and the unusual use of props, KINEMATIK tries to reconstruct the conventional and address common social stereotypes to engage its audience to rethink existing notions about urban and contemporary dance and culture.

KINEMATIK Dance Theater has been developing since 2009 when artistic director Svea Schneider started creating works and showing them in different festivals and venues throughout New York City. In 2010, Svea Schneider partnered up with dance educator/dancer Kristina Martinez and founded KINEMATIK Dance Theater. In a short time the company evolved from a project based performance group to a funded, non-profit urban-contemporary dance company. Each year KINEMATIK creates new work for the concert stage and has performed at the Tribeca Film Festival, Hollywood Fringe Festival, Fringe NYC, DUMBO Dance Festival, Carnival Choreographers Ball, Wave Rising Series, BB Kings, Alvin Ailey Citigroup Theatre, WestFest Dance Festival, New York Jazz Choreography Project, Jerry Leibovitz Theater for the Performing Arts, Danspace at the St. Marks Church, Performance Project @ University Settlement, Flushing Townhall, Highline Ballroom and the Ladies of Hip Hop Festival. In 2010 KINEMATIK’s choreography “System Malfunction” was selected as a TOP 10 Finalist in the international choreography contest “Global Dance Contest” by the renowned Sadlers Well’s Theater in London. In 2011, KINEMATIK appeared in a German documentary series called “Grosse Staedte, Grosse Traeume” and was featured in Ms. Rey’s music video “Wonder Woman”. In 2012 KINEMATIK was awarded a 1- year artist residency at the Performance Project @ University Settlement in the Lower East Side in Manhattan.

Svea Schneider was born and raised in Landau, Germany. She has been dancing and moving all her Life! After attending the Iwanson School for contemporary dance, she moved to NYC in 2003 to pursue her dancing career. In 2006 she received her Extraordinary Artist Visa for the U.S. and since then has been working as a dancer, choreographer and dance teacher. Svea has been trained in Jazz and Modern Dance but found her passion in the street dance styles such as House, Hip Hop, Breakdance and Hustle. Recently she has immersed herself into Aerial dance (Silk) and Acrobatics as well as Acro Yoga. Svea has taught and performed throughout Germany, the UK, the US, Canada, Dubai, India and Peru. She has danced for Vissi Dance Theater, Hydroflo Movement and extensively toured the US and the UK with the all female hip hop company Decadancetheatre, in which she danced and co-choreographed from 2006 until 2008. From 2008 to 2010, Svea successfully co-created, co- choreographed and co-produced the Off-off Broadway show “Crazy Sexy Disco”. In 2010 she founded KINEMATIK Dance Theater of which she is the artistic director and head choreographer. As a dancer, Svea has performed at such renowned stages as the South Bank Center in London, Liverpool Playhouse, B Supreme Festival, Bumbershoot and Jacobs Pillow. She has danced in the Off-Broadway Shows Carnival Girls and Prince Williamsburg and was subject of a documentary series released in Germany in 2011. Svea has worked for film, TV and commercials, working with companies and artists such as Getty Images, Hasbro, Mitchum, Chris Cornell, Timbaland, Lil’ John, MTV TRL, BET, ABC Networks “The View”, Eska Music Video Awards, MTV India and Pilobolus Creative Services, Svea holds a Bachelor degree in Individualized Study with a concentration in “Dance as a Manifestation of the Self” from the NYU Gallatin School. Svea also currently teaches Hip Hop for children at the Peridance Capezio Center as well as PS 158.

Kristina Martinez holds a BA from UCLA in the World, Arts, and Culture program and recently received her MA in Dance Education (NYU Steinhardt School of Education). Kristina trained with the Dance Theater of Harlem, Alonzo King Contemporary Ballet, Urban Bush Women, Alvin Ailey and Rennie Harris. She has had her work displayed at major festivals such as ACDFA (American Collegiate Dance Festival Association) and NYU Master’s and Faculty concerts. Kristina received her diploma from the Los Angeles County High School for the Arts where she was Dance Department Representative and Musical Theater Assistant Choreographer. She has worked with Jaime Foxx, T-Pain and Common and choreographed for Leaf and Sky Blue of LMFAO. Besides dance, Ms. Martinez had the pleasure of working on the production of Wonderland at the Joyce Theater with Gallim Dance under the direction of Andrea Miller. She currently teaches for the Leadership Program and at MS 51 in Park Slope with Julie Klein and serves as director of education for KINEMATIK Dance Theater.

Marie Paldrup was born and raised in Denmark and started her professional training at the Stepz Academy and the Flow Dance Academy, two of Scandinavia’s most prestigious street dance academies. In Denmark she worked for television shows such as X factor, Gam3, project ‘Boernehjaelpsdagen’ and was the assistant choreographer for the Copenhagen Fashion week. In 2009 Marie moved to New York to pursue her career as a dancer. She continued her training at the Peridance Capezio Center and Broadway Dance center. Marie has danced for Warner Brother’s recording artist Susan Justice and has worked with Madonna’s choreographer Norman Shay on the launch of the clothing line ‘Material Girl’ at Macy’s. Marie has appeared on ABC Regis and Kelly and has danced for the all-female Hip Hop dance company Decadancetheatre led by Jen Weber. Marie has been competing all over the world, including France, England, Brasil, USA, Canada, Denmark, Sweden and Czech Republic. Marie won 1st place in the category house in “SDK” in London and “Cypher Battle” in Sweden. Marie is currently dancing with KINEMATIK Dance Theater under the direction of Svea Schneider. Marie believes that nothing is too big to achieve and where there is a will there is a way. Her dance continues.

Nubian Nene was born and raised in Montreal, QC. Nubian Nene started taking dance classes at the age of 6 doing classical ballet and jazz. She has been training in Breaking and House since the age of 18. Nubian Nene a.k.a Essence, has taught classes in NYC and Vienna for the Ladies of Hip Hop, in Philadelphia for the Illadelph Festival, in Los Angeles for the International Waacking/ Punking/ Posing Festival, in Madrid and in Lausanne. She currently works for a company (BluePrintForLife) that teaches Hip Hop through Social Work to the Inuit community (aboriginal) in the northern part of Canada. Nubian Nene has performed with Jody Watley and Tyrone Proctor at the Gramercy Theater, Summer Stage with the Ladies of Hip Hop, Cecilia Marta Dance Company and in the Hip Hop Kung Fu production by Emilio “Buddha Stretch” Austin Jr. She has also choreographed and performed in Vienna, Austria, at the Kosmos Theater, in Ottawa for the Governor General of Canada and has traveled with the renowned dance crew (Dance Fusion) as an assistant. Most recently, she was featured as a waacker on a news segment on FOX news “Good Day New York” celebrating the 40th Anniversary of the Soul Train TV show. Her driving force is the love of dancing!

Michela Deidda was born and raised in Italy. Michela graduated from the M.C. School of Dance in Italy in 2000. Since then she has been working as a dancer, teacher and choreographer throughout Europe. In 2010 she moved to New York City to study at the renowned Peridance Capezio Center. In NYC her career has led her to perform with choreographers such as Svea Schneider, Tweetie, Michelle Byrd McPhee, Chanan Lareche and Robert Taylor. In 2011 Michela joined the Ladies of Hip Hop Crew and since 2012 she has been a company member of KINEMATIK Dance Theater. Michela still has dreams to follow and feet to take her there.

Julie Richardson was born in New Jersey and raised in Switzerland, Julie Richardson watches and learns dance and musical theater through her mother. As a teenager, she attends the Dance Academy of Hip Hop in Geneva, where she learns and practices hip hop dance, house dance and breaking. She starts her professional dance career performing with companies such as “ADHH”, “Alliance” in theaters in Switzerland and France. At the age of 18, she contributes to the organization of the international dance competition “Juste Debout Suisse” and to a dance event “Reprezent Yourself”. In 2010, Julie moves to New York to pursue her professional dance career. She performs for the Circus of Hamptons, she features in music videos such as “Ms Rey” and “Sporto Kantes” and is an assistant-teacher with kids at the Peridance Capezio Center. From 2011 to present day, she dances for “Kinematik Dance Theater.” Julie always strives for more; where her passion drives her will.

Martina Heiman originally from Germany, Martina graduated from the Gret-Palucca University of Dance with a diploma in Stage Dance in 2001. Martina trained in Ballet, Modern, Improv, Jazz, Pas de deux & Pointe but found her passion for Hip-Hop, Popping, House, Locking and Waacking. She has performed internationally at venues such as the “Semperoper” as well as the street’s of Paris. She has danced with Helmnot Theater, Jazz-Art Company, Different Roots, K Dance Company, was featured in works by John Neumeier and won the 2009 “Berlin summer Battle (Popping)” & the 2011 “Just to Get a Rep (Popping)” battle in NY. Other credits include: Wella, Audi, Bruno Banani, X- Box, Madonna “Material Girls” i.a. Martina truly loves to dance and she feels that dance is her universal language to communicate with the world and she will stop to learn and share her love for dance.

Shraddha Borawake (Multi Media Artist) was born and brought up in Pune, Maharashtra, India. She has been a photographer for 9 years, assisting commercial photographers in Pune, Mumbai, Atlanta and New York since the age of 19. She completed a certificate course in Advertising Photography at the Creative Circus Atlanta. In 2006, she completed a yearlong certificate course in Documentary Fine Art Photography at the International Center of Photography. Shraddha’s multifaceted artwork is based in photographic media. She incorporates aspects of documentation, community involvement, media literacy, fashion animation, performance and dance in her mixed media projects, which have been shown in galleries and displayed in public spaces. Her work has been exhibited at the Zimmerli Art Museum, at Rutgers University NJ, DUMBO Arts Festival in Brooklyn, Center of Fine Art Photography in Colorado, New Orleans Photo Alliance, Union Docs Brooklyn, Umbrella Arts Gallery New York, School of International Photography Gallery and Gallatin Galleries at New York University where she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Interdisciplinary Studies at the Gallatin School of Individualized Study. Additionally, Shraddha’s commercial photographic work has been published in Seventeen India, Daily News and Analysis Mumbai, and fashion blogs such as Vogue India, Don’t Shoe Me and Republic of Chic. As well, she has photographed campaigns for Tide, Perfetti Van Melle, and Lakme in Mumbai. As of 2013 Shraddha’s interest lies predominantly in public display and community based work which in India have been viewed by thousands of viewers ranging from highways to hills.

Cheng-I-Wang (Projection Artist) is originally from Taiwan is a music and video technologist who loves creative coding and the performing arts. Cheng has vast experience in custom coding projection and motion detection software. In his work he creates visually explosive imagery for stage and screen. He also designs sound as well as movement-video interaction systems for theatrical performances. He is currently a master’s candidate of Music Technology at NYU, focusing on interactive music systems and content-based audio analysis.

Katrin Blantar (Choreographer) is a dance artist, choreographer and dance teacher who has managed to explore a lot of different approaches to dance and performance. She is very interested in the connection of vernacular dance forms and contemporary, performative dance. After graduating from a contemporary dance program in Vienna, she started to work as a dancer and choreographer collaborating with different companies and choreographers, performing and choreographing at dance and theater festivals around the world. To name a few: LADIES OF HIP HOP FESTIVAL in Vienna/ Austria and in Nyc, IMPULSTANZ FESTIVAL in Vienna, TANZHERBST DRESDEN in Germany, INTERNATIONAL THEATER FESTIVAL in Uganda/Africa, UNDER THE WEATHER Production by The Dirty Feet Collective in Sydney/ Australia. Katrin obtained a scholarship of the Austrian Ministry of cultural affairs and came to New York where she studied and worked with several dance artists. This also lead to her collaboration with KINEMATIK Dance Theater. Back in Europe she recently did the choreography for the successful theater piece “Das Kind der Seehundfrau” which was premiered in Vienna in Nov 2012.

Chris Comfort is a music composer, producer, performer and sound designer (www.chriscomfortmusic.com). He has been performing and writing for over 20 years with artists including The Personality Parade, Thebe, Autumn & Comfort, Green Mountain Girl and most recently as the lead guitarist in Unisex Salon. Chris’s composition credits include the plays The Eye’s of Babylon and Dear Dad, Confessions of GoGo and the films Rainbow Rabbit Reliant and Last Chance. Additional sound design credits include 2 web series, Velvet Moon Chronicles and The Practice of Artemesia and the trailer for the new horror film, Evil Things.