Meet the jury

  • Brandon Coleman (he/him) is a NYC based choreographer, performer, and teacher from Katy, TX. Formerly a member of Visceral Dance Chicago, Coleman has worked with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago as a guest artist for their 2017 Summer Series. Since moving to NYC in 2017, Brandon has danced with KEIGWIN + COMPANY, the Metropolitan Opera ballet, VIM VIGOR Dance Company, Belinda McGuire Dance Projects, and spent the last six years as a performer and Rehearsal Director for Punchdrunk's SLEEP NO MORE. 

    Brandon is a graduate of the University of Arizona, where he received his BFA in Dance and BA in Communication with a minor in Arts Administration. He attended Springboard Danse Montréal in 2016 and 2017 and received additional training from River North Dance Chicago and KEIGWIN + COMPANY

  • Theresa Stone is a professional choreographer and creative director with 10+ years of experience in the industry. After dancing professionally with names such as Lady Gaga, Jennifer Lopez, Ciara, and more, she stepped into the choreography scene to continue her career.

    Her choreography has been seen on So You Think You Can Dance, FX, HBO, Bravo, and many others. She has worked with artists including Alicia Keys, The Good News Girls, Todrick Hall, Cautious Clay, A Great Big World, Gwen Stefani, and more. Her brand experience also includes Monat, Maybelline, Nike, Tory Burch & Target among others, and her live work includes New York Fashion Week, Six Flags Great Adventure, and Jalesh Cruises.

  • Maya Taylor is a highly sought-after choreographer and movement director whose work spans film, television, live performance, and global campaigns.

    Maya’s film credits include People We Meet on Vacation, The Iron Claw, The Dirt, If You Were the Last, and Tall Girl 2. Her television credits include I’m A Virgo, The Changeling, Looking for Alaska, and CLAWS. In music, Maya has shaped iconic performances for Kelly Rowland, Rosalía, Solange Knowles, St. Vincent, and Arcade Fire, including Rosalía’s electrifying 2022 Latin Grammys showcase and Kelly Rowland’s standout 2023 Sydney World Pride performance.

    Her expertise extends to major commercial campaigns for Apple, Adidas, Burberry, Calvin Klein, and MAC Cosmetics among many others, seamlessly blending movement and storytelling. Maya’s accolades include a 2019 MTV VMA nomination for Best Choreography for Solange’s ALMEDA and recognition as one of Dance Magazine’s "25 to Watch" in 2020.

    With a career defined by versatility and innovation, Maya continues to redefine choreography and movement direction, leaving a lasting impact on every project.

  • Slawomir Woźniak was born on 2 November 1967. In 1977-1986, he attended the Poznań ballet school. He gained his first stage experience partnering artists of Teatr Wielki in Poznań in performances of Cinderella. Slawomir Woźniak’s professional debut took place in 1986 at the Wroclaw Opera where he danced the Prince in Cinderella choreographed by Teresa Kujawa. Wroclaw Opera House Director recognized his talent and invited him to work at that theatre right after school. He was employed there in 1986-1988.

    It was in Wroclaw that he met his future wife, also a soloist of ballet company of Wroclaw Opera. Their performance in Swan Lake left an unforgettable impression on all those who had a chance to see it. In 1988 he became a soloist and in 1989 the principal dancer of Teatr Wielki in Łódź. His first premiere there was also Cinderella. Irine Fokine, who prepared the spectacle, invited him to the USA where he appeared in The Nutcracker. On the stage in Łódź, he performed leading parts in classical and modern ballets. Among others, he danced John in Lorca Massine’s, Zorba the Greek, the role which gained him the admiration of the audience in Łódź and Warsaw. It also brought him the nomination of the French magazine Danse for “Revelation of the Year 1992”.

    In 1991 he joined the ballet of the National Opera in Warsaw as a first soloist. From 2000-2011 he was a principal dancer with the company. In Warsaw he performed all leading male parts and also gave guest performances at many theaters in Poland and abroad. He was a Guest Artist with Bulgarian National Ballet, Greek National Ballet, Arena Di Verona Ballet and many others. In 2000 Slawomir Woźniak graduated from the Ballet Pedagogy at the Frederic Chopin Academy of Music in Warsaw. For many years he had conducted dance courses for young Americans during Summer Intensive programs.

    Together with his American partner Kathleen Arcierci, he won a bronze medal at the Third International Ballet Competition in New York in 1990. In 1993 Mr. Woźniak won a bronze medal at the First International Ballet Competition in Nagoya, Japan. Slawomir Woźniak was also a Jury Member for Polish International Ballet Competition in Gdansk, Poland.

  • Naomi Funaki is a tap dance artist from Tokyo, Japan, currently living in New York City working with New York based companies. She has worked for Ayodele Casel, Caleb Teicher & Company, Music From The Sole and Dorrance Dance. She is also an alumni of The School at Jacob’s Pillow for their tap program of 2017. Other favorite performance credits include Tap Family Reunion, Fall For Dance (New York City Center), Vail Dance Festival, Dance Against Cancer (Lincoln Center), and Ayodele Casel and Arturo O’Farrill (Joyce Theater), The MET Gala, YouTube Brandcast Event (Radio City Music Hall), Works & Process (Guggenheim) , “Infinity” in Tokyo. And “Chasing Magic “ (Joyce Theatre).