Nora Gibson is a Philadelphia based dancer and choreographer, whose training spans classical ballet to post-modern improvisation. In 2008, she established Nora Gibson Performance Project, with Philadelphia as its home base. Since that time, Nora's work has consistently garnered awards, such as a 2009-10 Artist in Residence with the nEW Festival in Philadelphia, the CEC New Edge Residency for 2009-10, as well as the Ellen Forman Memorial award for 2011. She currently dances for Jeffrey Gunshol, formerly of Mark Dendy Dance, and Olive Prince Dance. Nora was recently selected to participate in a workshop with Lucinda Childs and Ty Boomershine to learn the work of Childs. In January 2010, Nora stepped into a leadership role at the nEW Festival as a Co-Director. nora@newfestival.net
Megan Mazarick received her BFA in dance from University of North Carolina at Greensboro and her MFA in dance from Temple University. She has been an active choreographer, teacher, and community member in Philadelphia since 2004. Megan has received several honors in Philadelphia including a full scholarship as a Teaching Assistant at Temple University (2004-2007), Temple’s Vernick Choreographers Award (2007), The Ellen Forman Memorial Award (2008), and was named Who’s Who Among Students in 2007.
Megan is motivated by the Philadelphia Dance Community’s cooperative model for creating opportunities in dance. Through artist collaborations, she has co-produced her work in Philadelphia Fringe Festival 2005 (Alfred Jerry Theater), 2006 (The Drake Theater), 2007 (The Arts Parlor), and is currently co-producing Post-Op, a dance series premiering at The Painted Bride Arts Center in January 2011. Megan has co-hosted, co-curated, and co-directed the Philadelphia dance-based award show, The Rocky Awards, from 2008-2010. She has created the Community Class curriculum at the nEW Festival since 2008, targeted at giving the professional dance community enriching physical experiences for affordable rates. In January 2010, Megan stepped into a leadership role at the nEW Festival as a Co-Director. megan@newfestival.net
Karl Schappell, originally from Allentown, PA. Is a graduate of Temple University's Dance Department. After graduation Schappell worked with Philadelphia choreographers Terry Beck and Melanie Stewart whilst also showing his own work as an Independent Choreographer. In 1993, Schappell relocated to London, and worked with DV8 founders Lloyd Newson and Wendy Houston and Theatre Encorp, directed by Ana Sanchez-Colberg. In 1995, Schappell joined Remote Control/Michel Laub Production (Sweden and Belgium) performing 4 works which toured at such venues as The Hebbel in Berlin, Spring Dance in Utrecht, NL and Theatre am Turm in Frankfurt to great critical acclaim. Schappell then joined Raz/Hans Tuerlings (The Netherlands) and worked with them for 6 years.
Schappell is the founder of Plucktheatre (Ireland). With Niall Rea, an Irish theatre maker, Schappell, Pluck has been seen at the Dublin Fringe, the nEW Festival in Philadelphia, PA and The Cathedral Quarter Festival in Belfast, Norther Ireland. In January 2010, Karl stepped into a leadership role at the nEW Festival as a Co-Director. karl@newfestival.net
