ERIK ABBOTT-MAIN
Director
Erik Abbott-Main is a Michigan native currently performing and choreographing in New York City. A graduate of Eastern Michigan University (BA Theatre Arts) and The Ohio State University (MFA Dance), he is an artist involved in choreography, improvisation, mixed media and instillation performances, as well as collaborations with other artists, and lots, lots more. His work has been presented in Michigan, Ohio, Los Angeles, New York City, and Montreal, through support by Movement Research at the Judson Church, Columbus Dances Fellowship, The Johnstone Fund, Sunday at Central, OSU Alumni Graduate Research Grants, and more. Erik is a current performer in Punchdrunk’s long standing Off-Broadway production, Sleep No More. Previously, he has performed with the Kristina Isabelle Dance Company, white road Dance Media, Peter Sparling Dance Company, Detroit Dance Collective, Louise Richilin LA Dancers, and Michigan Dance Project. Additionally, in 2011, Erik created Erik Abbott-Main | Boy Friday as a vehicle to pursue personal choreographic projects, diverse in measure and venue. Coupled with performing, Erik has choreographed and instructed at numerous dance institutions including The Ohio State University, Eastern Michigan University, Saginaw Valley State, American College Dance Festival, Brighton Dance Festival, and many more. His creative work generated through Boy Friday, embeds interdisciplinary inquiry within a movement praxis, while placing the human body and experience at the foreground of his work. Erik is particularly interested in investigating the ways in which theatricality and personal histories are imbedded in the weight of the human body in action, and works to bridge these connections in all aspects of his technique class. He also remains an active student in yoga, literature, animated video shorts, stilt and other off-ground arts.
LINDSAY HARWELL
Performer
Originally from Dallas, TX, Lindsay Harwell is a New York City based dancer and choreographer. A graduate of the Juilliard School, he has performed the works of William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Andrea Miller, Loni Landon and Pam Tanowitz. since graduating he has worked professionally with Brian Brooks, Gallim Dance, Norbert De La Cruz, Barkin/Selissen Projects, Isodoc Dance and Lone King Projects. Lindsay is also a co-founder of HEWMAN, a collaborative collective of artists bent on widening the potential for equality and empathy between dance audiences and performers.
MADELINE IRMEN
Artistic Associate, Performer
Madeline (Maddie) Irmen began dancing at the age of six in her hometown, Toledo, OH. In 2013, she graduated with a BFA in dance from The Ohio State University and moved to New York City, where she has had the pleasure of dancing with Erik Abbott-Main | Boy Friday, Quentin Burley Dance Group, Christina Noel & The Creature, Dante Brown Warehouse Dance, the Median Movement, Seymour Dance Collective, SHARP Dance Co, and AnA Collaborations. When she is not dancing, Maddie is also pursuing a career in physical therapy and working as a member of The Fleet — a dance video production company.
SUZIE RZECZNIK
Performer
Suzie is a New York based dancer, improviser, and choreographer. She received her BFA in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College. Suzie has performed both nationally and abroad with Bare Dance Company, Amirov Dance Theater, NOW Dance Project, Tyler Gilstrap, the Kuperman Brothers, Lirr Katz, Kelly Todd, and Elena Vazintaris. Rzecznik’s own work has been shown at Mobius Gallery (Boston), The Craft Performance and Brews, Spontaneous Combustion, HiArtist and Triskelion Arts. She was a featured artist in BOMB Magazine Issue 143 for a collaboration with Jordan Seiler, also exhibited at the Museum of Contemporary Art Detroit. Suzie was recently featured on the cover of DIY Dancer Magazine Issue 02 in a photo series by Jim Lafferty.
MEI YAMANAKA
Performer
Mei Yamanaka is a dancer and choreographer from Japan. Mei moved to New York in 2008. Mei has worked and collaborated with artists including Tiffany Mills Company, Dendy Donovan Projects, Jody Oberfelder Projects, Jennifer Archibald, Katy Pyle, Patricia Noworol, Dai Jian, Catherine Galasso, Oui Danse, among others. Mei's work has been seen at Fresh Tracks at New York Live Arts, Movement Research at Judson Church, "Split Bill" Series at Triskelion Arts, Mix Festival at HERE, and more.
LUCKY STIFF
Drag Performer
Lucky Stiff is a drag and variety performer working in Chicago and New York. Their work spans theater, burlesque, and performance art and takes inspiration from Weimar Germany, pierrot clowns, and golden age musicals. Featured performances include Steppenwolf Theater (Chicago), The Museum of Contemporary Art Chicago, School of the Art Institute of Chicago, Disco Dining Club (Los Angeles) and Bushwig Drag Festival (New York), among many others. They are a coproducer of GODDESS at Berlin Nightclub (Chicago), and a cohost of The Tea Podcast.