Lunch Dances

ABOUT THE CREATIVE TEAM (HEADSHOTS) 

Monica Bill Barnes (creator/performer) is a dancer and choreographer. Since MBB&CO’s founding in 1997, her choreography has been seen in many places, such as New York City’s Bowling Green public fountain, on stage at Carnegie Hall, throughout the galleries of The Metropolitan Museum of Art and in Greta Gerwig’s film “Little Women.” The company has been presented in over 50 cities and internationally in venues ranging from The Kennedy Center to the Sydney Opera House in a collaboration with Ira Glass in Three Acts, Two Dancers, One Radio Host. Barnes began collaborating with Robbie Saenz de Viteri in 2013 at which point the company adopted the motto of “bringing dance where it doesn’t belong.” Recent collaborations include a two online works created during the pandemic - Keep Moving and It’s 3:07 Again, a site-specific show in a NYC mall - Days Go By, national tours of The Running Show, a sold-out extended run of Many Happy Returns at the off-Broadway theater Playwrights Horizons, and a site specific work Lunch Dances at The New York Public Library. 

Robbie Saenz de Viteri (creator/performer) writes and creates live performances with choreographer Monica Bill Barnes. Their work combines stories and movement, creating innovative theatrical events for audiences of all kinds. Their memory play, Many Happy Returns, was a NYTimes Critic’s Pick in a sold-out extended run off-Broadway at Playwrights Horizons. They also create site specific work in iconic New York City spaces such as Lunch Dances at the New York Public Library, The Museum Workout at The Metropolitan Museum of Art, and Days Go By at Brookfield Place. These public interventions blur the boundaries between pedestrians and performers, finding the stories beneath the surface of the small moments around us every day. Their work has been honored by the Bessie Awards, the Lilly Awards for supporting women in theater, as well as numerous foundations. They’ve appeared on stages around the world, from off-Broadway theaters in NYC like WP Theater to the Esplanade in Singapore. Robbie is an alum of Muhlenberg College where he studied writing with David Rosenwasser. His writing has been published in The Brooklyn Rail and online publications like Take The Handle. He is incredibly grateful to his partner Rachel Bonds and their two wonderful children. 

Amanda Gladu (costume & prop designer) is a costume designer working in theatre, dance, opera, and film. Select recent projects include La Passion de Simone (Curtis Opera Theatre), Amadeus (Steppenwolf Theatre Company), Nothing Follows (Catapult Opera), Macbeth (Boston Lyric Opera), Scales on the Wings of a Butterfly (BalletX), Ghosts of Versailles (Shepherd School of Music), and Silent Light (National Sawdust). Upcoming: A Streetcar Named Desire (Opera Theatre Saint Lousi). Amanda received an MFA in stage design from Northwestern University and dual BAs in Art History and Dance from the University of Texas at Austin. 

Flannery Gregg (rehearsal director/performer) is the rehearsal director and a performer with Monica Bill Barnes & Company. Her most recent projects include Lunch Dances at the NYPL, Many Happy Returns at Playwrights Horizons, The Running Show, and Day’s Go By. She was the associate choreographer on the feature film Little Women (dir. Greta Gerwig). She worked as the movement director for The Reality Show: NYU (created by Elizabeth Swados), staging performances at the Barclays Center and Radio City Music Hall. She was the assistant choreographer to Sam Pinkleton on Natasha Pierre & the Great Comet of 1812 on Broadway and an associate choreographer to Sonya Tayeh for Sing Street on Broadway. She is thrilled to be back dancing at the library with MBB&Co.! 

Elizabeth Furman (associate producer) is a Brooklyn based administrator, associate producer and creative who has been working with MBB&CO in a variety of roles since 2017. She has supported Happy Hour, One Night Only, The Museum Workout, and The Running Show, both in NYC and on tour. As an associate producer Elizabeth has produced, Days Go By, digital shows Keep Moving, It’s 3:07 Again, and their newer works The Running Show and Many Happy Returns. Elizabeth loves sharing the company’s work with new audiences be them near, far, or via the computer screen. Her own work has been shared in the All Over Westbeth Site Specific Festival 2018. Elizabeth holds a BA in Dance and English from Kenyon College. 

Chloe London (Stage Manager) is an NYC-based choreographer, performer, and teacher. She received her MFA in Performance & Choreography from Smith College in 2023 and has since taught at UMass Amherst, Mount Holyoke College, and Smith College. Her choreography has been presented by Movement Research at the Judson Church, Dixon Place, Triskelion Arts, School of Contemporary Dance and Thought, and Battery Park Dance Festival. She was a 2022 A.P.E Gallery ARC Artist in Residence, a 2023 Bearnstow Artist in Residence, and a 2025 Art Omi Dance Artist in Residence. She has made work collaboratively with Angie Hauser and has danced for Vanessa Anspaugh, Alex Davis, Barbie Diewald, Lindsey Jones, Madelyn Sher, Tammy Sugden-Carrasco, and Gabrielle Revlock, among others. Chloe danced for Bebe Miller Company in Vespers, Reimagined at Danspace Project in March 2025. She was a Trisk Presents 2025 commissioned artist and premiered her evening-length work Unstable Sky at Triskelion Arts in Brooklyn, NY in April 2025. 

Luke Riggs (stage manager) is a theatre artist originally born and raised in rural east Texas. They are usually a director and playwright, and generally a jack of most trades. Currently they are based in NYC and can be found working in non-profit theatre organizations between production jobs. 

Maddie Maiorini (Wardrobe manager) is a freelance wig and wardrobe artist based in New York City. She is thrilled to be working on the remount of Lunch Dances after working on the original production last year.  When she isn't here at the library she works part-time at New World Stages on the Off-Broadway revival of The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee, as well as filling in as the Wardrobe Assistant for the Martha Graham Dance Company.  She got her start working in costuming at Sleep No More at the McKittrick Hotel in 2023 after taking an interest in the art Site-Specific Performance in her classes at Montclair State University.  The experiences she's had working in both dance and Site-Specific Performance has made Lunch Dances an ideal project, and the kindness and generosity of Monica Bill Barnes & Company have made it one of her favorites. 

Shaena Kate (Assistant wardrobe manager) is a wardrobe technician and dresser from North Carolina. She has worked on productions such as “Sleep No More” by Emursive and Punchdrunk, “Cocktail Magique” by Company XIV, and currently dresses on Manhattan School of Music musical theater and opera productions. They earned a BFA in Dance from Montclair State University and continue to pursue performance alongside costuming and wardrobe. She is incredibly excited to be part of the team on “Lunch Dances”! 

ABOUT THE CAST

John Bennett (performer) a.k.a. Butterscotch is a Manhattan-based Singer/Songwriter who loves to help bring new ideas to life. John sings with the wedding band The Engagements, and is recording an album with his band BEARSHEADTOOTH. He is delighted to be a part of this team on these special performances.  

Clarence Brooks (performer March 16-28) (he/they) has toured with 90+ companies and freelances with the Dance Exchange, danceTactics performance group, David Parker & The Bang Group, Pioneer Winter Collective, Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble, Megan Williams Dance Projects, and several independent choreographers. A retired associate professor of dance, they are the recipient of several fellowships, awards, and honors; are in the documentary The World of Alwin Nikolais; are published in Exposure Doesn't Pay the Bills: An Artist Guide to Building a Legacy in the 21st Century and One Teacher in 10: LGBT Educators Share Their Stories; was a featured model in Allen Edmonds centennial celebration catalog, and their performance of Talley Beatty's "Mourner's Bench" is archived in the Library of Congress. They sit on the boards of danceTactics performance group, Doris Humphrey Foundation for Dance, Florida Dance Education Organization, Miami Dance Futures, Natural Movers Foundation, Inc, and Sokolow Theatre/Dance Ensemble. Follow Clarence on Instagram: @clbdreadeddancer. 

Andy Chapman (performer) Andy goes by Andrew Chapman when operating his film festival – www.mobiledancefilmfestival.com – check it out. He is loath to write bios. He is however, always eager to thank the cast + crew of Lunch Dances, Elizabeth, Flannery, Robbie, and Monica. His headshots are old and serious. Here is a photo of Andy and his husband at another MBB & Co. show.  

DeWitt Fleming Jr. (performer April 13-25) Most recently seen in the Broadway show A Wonderful World as Lincoln Perry and served as the show’s tap choreographer. Off- Bwy: MCC’s The Lonely Few (Paul u/s), Encores Wonderful Town(Speedy Valenti), The Tap Dance Kid(Daddy Bates) Regional: After Midnight, Scottsboro Boys(Ozie/Ruby), Jelly’s Last Jam (Jelly), Jesus Christ Superstar (Simon). National Tours: Riverdance(Lead Tapper, Baritone Soloist) TV/Film: Boardwalk Empire, Smash, Limitless, How to be Single. More on DeWitt please visitwww.dewittflemingjr.com

Rachel Harris (performer March 16-28) is a dancer and choreographer for stage, theater, and film based in New York City. The North Carolina native graduated from the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance under Jodie Gates where she performed the works of William Forsythe, Crystal Pite, and many more. Her credits include Metropolitan Opera, Parsons Dance, NVA and Guests, Life and Trust, and Chicago Lyric Opera. Rachel is a 2023 Bessie Award Outstanding Performer Nominee. @rachell.christie  www.rachelcharris.com

Chelsea Enjer Hecht  (performer) is a performer, choreographer and massage therapist residing in Brooklyn, with roots in Minneapolis and Mongolia. Since graduating from SUNY Purchase, she has danced on stages, in fashion shows, museum installations, and outdoors with improvised music for the past ten years. Recently, they performed with Jade Manns at New York Live Arts’ Fresh Tracks, Kim Brandt at Beach Sessions Dance Series on Rockaway, and Monica Bill Barnes at Williamstown Theatre Festival. She is thrilled to work with Monica and company at the library again. www.chelseaenjerhecht.com

Birgit Huppuch (performer) - Dance: LUNCH DANCES (Monica Bill Barnes & Co) IT’S 3:07 AGAIN (Monica Bill Barnes & Co), ANGEL REAPERS (Martha Clarke). Acting: A Map of Virtue, Men on Boats, Venus, Pollock, The Wolfe Twins, Telephone (OBIE Award). 2023 NYSCA Individual Artist Grant recipient with Clubbed Thumb. 2021 Lilly Award recipient. Birgit has relearned to walk and dance since having a stroke in 2018. She is grateful to her community and is delighted by life. She is currently developing a couple plays with dear collaborators. 

Kim Ima (performer) is a performer, writer, and community events enthusiast. Longtime member of La MaMa’s Great Jones Rep and the Trojan Women Project; La MaMa credits include Cassandra in The Trojan Women directed by Andrei Serban and composed by Elizabeth Swados; many GJR shows directed by Ellen Stewart; Sur, a play adapted from Ursula K. Le Guin's short story; Food for Thought and Travels, Tours and One Night Stands with Onni Johnson; The Interlude, a play about her father’s childhood in camp Minidoka during WWII; and most recently her one woman show, Ready For Company and Other Family Tales. Other credits include Lunch Dances with Monica Bill Barnes & Company; MixTape Volume 1 at Keen Company; The Seven Deadly Sins, directed by Anne Bogart at The New York City Opera with the SITI Company; A Midsummer Night's Dream with the National Asian American Theatre Company; and Disaster Theater at SMUSH Gallery in Jersey City. She tries her best to remember to share upcoming projects at kim-ima.com. Kim was the owner of a food truck called The Treats Truck, along with a bakery cafe, The Treats Truck Stop, and a cookbook, The Treats Truck Baking Book. Right now, she feels so very lucky and so very happy to be a part of Lunch Dances at the library with MMB & Co and everyone in this wonderful group. 

Madison Johnson (performer) a NYC based performer, studied psychology and dance at NC State University. As a student she performed for Abby Zbikowski in the American Dance Festival Footprints program. Recently, she has enjoyed serving as a production assistant for Monica Bill Barnes, Gibney Dance, and performing in the award-winning slasher-horror short film, Red Gloves. Madison is so grateful for the opportunity to perform alongside such talented artists and movers in Lunch Dances. 

Indah Mariana (performer) is a choreographer, performer, educator, and parent based in New York City. She is currently an Assistant Arts Professor in the Department of Dance at NYU Tisch, where she directs Tisch Dance’s Second Avenue Dance Company and the Summer High School Dance Program. As a performer, she has danced with Monica Bill Barnes & Co since 2021 and has performed internationally, collaborating with artists across contemporary dance and performance. Her work has been presented at venues and festivals including Danspace Project, The Watermill Center, Seattle Asian Art Museum, LaGuardia Performing Arts Center, and others. She holds a BFA in Dance from Purchase College and an MFA in Dance from New York University Tisch School of the Arts. 

Luis Moreno (performer) grew up about five blocks east of this building, is a performer and audiobook narrator, and is very happy you’re here with us. With Monica Bill Barnes & Co.: Lunch Dances, Days Go By and It’s 3:07 Again. Theatre work includes plays with/at LCT, Caborca, Red Bull, Bushwick Starr, Long Wharf, Berkeley Rep, La Jolla Playhouse, Nature Theater of Oklahoma, Pick Up Performance Group, Arena Stage, Two River, and more. Recent TV includes Evil, The Blacklist, Power, andmost recently, Judge Thompson on S27 of L&O: SVU. As a narrator, he has recorded over 100 titles in English by authors such as Harlan Ellison, Isabel Allende, Italo Calvino, and many more. This one is for his mom, who quit smoking early on, and for Dave. ♥️ 

Mykel Marai Nairne (performer) is a Bessie-nominated dance artist, administrator, and creative producer from New York City. Two years after receiving a BA from Dartmouth College and returning to her dance practice, Mykel joined Dance Heginbotham in 2018. Since then, her freelance performance work has brought her to venues across the US, including St. Ann’s Warehouse in the Off-Broadway revival of OKLAHOMA!, Jacob’s Pillow, REDCAT in LA, the Whitney Museum of Art, Danspace Project, and Baryshnikov Arts Center, to name a few. She began working with Monica Bill Barnes & Company in 2019 and has had the privilege of working with the company on various shows ever since! In addition to her work with MBB&Co, Mykel currently collaborates and performs with Faye Driscoll (WEATHERING), Dance Heginbotham, and Megan Williams Dance Projects. MykelMaraiNairne.com / IG: @mykelmarai 

Hsiao-Jou Tang (performer April 13-25) was born and raised in Taiwan. In 2008, she graduated summa cum laude from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance. Hsiao-Jou was a company member of Kyle Abraham/Abraham.In.Motion (2010-2012) and Doug Varone and Dancers (2012-2019). As a freelance dancer, Tang has had the great pleasure of working with Trisha Brown Dance Company, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Shen Wei Dance Arts, Annie-B Parson, John Jasperse, Donna Uchizono, Netta Yerushalmy, Joanna Kotze, Tendayi Kuumba, 2nd Best Dance Company, Stacy Spence, Nancy Bannon, Luke Murphy- Attic Projects (Ireland) and Every Body Meeting, among others. In February of 2024, Hsiao-Jou became the inaugural recipient of the Viola Farber Award given by the Foundation for Contemporary Arts. Hsiao-Jou is excited for the return of the Lunch Dances to the NYPL and is honored to be working with all of these amazing artists again. 

COMPANY FUNDING CREDITS 

LIVE from NYPL is made possible by the continuing generosity of Celeste Bartos, Mahnaz Ispahani Bartos and Adam Bartos, the Margaret and Herman Sokol Public Education Endowment Fund, and the support of Library patrons and friends.

We are grateful to dance educator and advocate Jody Gottfried Arnhold for her visionary commitment to making dance and dance education accessible to all. The remount of the widely celebrated Lunch Dances by Monica Bill Barnes & Company at the New York Public Library would not be possible without the generous support of Jody and John Arnhold and the Arnhold Foundation. 

Additional support is provided by Jody Falco and Jeffrey Steinman and Morwin Schmookler. Monica Bill Barnes & Company gratefully acknowledges the following funders and contributors: New York State Council on the Arts with the support of Governor Kathy Hochul and the New York State Legislature, Howard Gilman Foundation, SHS Foundation, Harkness Foundation for Dance, Bossak/Heilbron Charitable Foundation, public funds from the New York City Department of Cultural Affairs in partnership with the City Council, Jody and John Arnhold | Arnhold Foundation, and Barbara Rohdie.