The National Arts Education Collaborative Concert-Artist Bios

Artist Bios

Margret Plaza, Producer, Choreographer, Director, and 2014 National Artist Teacher Fellow, is Director of Dance at Dr. Sun Yat Sen Middle School 131 where she serves as a P-12 New York State Certified Dance Educator for the New York City Department of Education. She is a passionate teacher and lifelong learner whose mission is to use the power of dance to transform the lives of youth. She developed M.S. 131’s dance program from the ground up; one of ten NYC public middle schools selected as an Exemplary Site for Arts Education. She brings to her classroom extensive experience in the performing arts, dance education, and curriculum development and instruction serving underserved children of diverse cultures, ages, and abilities, with a lens on social justice advocacy. Margaret earned her MA in Dance Education from Teachers College, Columbia University, BFA in Dance from Brooklyn College Conservatory of Music studying under the direction of June Lewis and Dance June Lewis & Company, and is a graduate of Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art and Performing Arts. She is a 2014 National Artist Teacher Fellow; and National Dance Association (NDA) Literary Award recipient for her Master’s thesis abstract that outlines her philosophy and curriculum on teaching dance to the deaf entitled, “Voices of the Heart: Teaching Dance to the Deaf and the Hard of Hearing,” published in NDA's Spotlight on Dance. Margaret has presented her choreography at Columbia University, Harvard University, and in sacred and secular venues throughout New York City; and has performed the choreography of Dance June Lewis & Company, Agoci Dance Company, Dr. Mila Parrish, Alison Oakes, Michael Leon Thomas and Noibis Licea. Passionate about refining her teaching skills, research, and dance, she travels nationally and internationally to study with master teachers, including Luis Roblejo of Danza Contemporanea de Cuba in Havana, Cuba, and Gianin Loringett of OffJazz Dance Company in Nice, France. Margaret performs sacred dance as a Principal Dancer of Omega Dance Company, and began serving as a Director of Omega in 2013.

Dr. Isidore Rudnick, Producer, Composer, Conductor, and 2014 National Artist Teacher Administrator, is a nationally recognized music educator, conductor, composer and performer. He holds a Bachelors of Music Degree and a Masters of Music Degree from the University of North Texas and a Doctor of Musical Arts Degree from the University of Miami (Florida). Dr. Rudnick served as Artistic Director at the School for Creative & Performing Arts in Cincinnati from 2005-2015. Under his leadership, SCPA students garnered international awards and performed on professional stages in the U.S., Europe and Asia. He has previously served as Director of Instrumental Music at Yakima Valley Community College (Washington), Music Department Coordinator at the University of Maine at Augusta, Director of the International Summer Jazz School (Warsaw, Poland) and Visiting Lecturer in Music at the Krakow Academy of Music in Poland. He is currently the Fine Arts Curriculum Manager for Cincinnati Public Schools and was a 2014 National Artist Teacher Fellow Conference Administrator. An accomplished composer and arranger, Dr. Rudnick has written over 75 instrumental works for chamber ensemble, symphony orchestra and a variety of large and small jazz ensembles. He conducted the world premiere of his Suite for Jazz Trio and Orchestra with the Yakima Symphony Orchestra in 2007 and his String Quartet Indelible Imprints was premiered at SCPA by the Corbett String Quartet in 2008. In addition to his work with musicians, Dr. Rudnick has collaborated with both student and professional dancers, choreographers, actors, painters, sculptors, poets and authors. His production experience includes the creation and direction of two large scale original ballets, Emotions (2001) and Collages (2005). Collages, written for Dance Troupe, Chamber Orchestra, and painted murals received its premiere at the Yakima Valley Museum.

Kathleen Bawel, Composer, Conductor, and 2014 National Artist Teacher Fellow, teaches Music Theory and Keyboard at Pinellas County Center for the Arts at Gibbs High School. In addition to her instruction at PCCA, Ms. Bawel is a conductor for Ruth Eckerd Hall “Center Stage” and “Children’s Chorus”, serves as Minister of Music at Lutheran Church of the Palms in Palm Harbor, and maintains a private studio of voice, piano, and music theory students. Kathleen grew up in NY State, completing her undergraduate work in Biology and Music Theory/History at the State University of New York at Geneseo, as well her graduate work with two Masters degrees at Ithaca College, one in Music Theory and the second in Music Education. She has taught chorus, orchestra, music theory, and general music at the elementary, middle, and high school levels. Kathleen has served as Education Coordinator for The Florida Orchestra, music librarian for the Flagstaff Festival of the Arts, adjudicator for the Florida Vocal Association, conductor of numerous All-County choirs throughout the state, and clinician for grants and associations. She holds National Board Certification in teaching music and has maintained leadership roles as president of the Pinellas County Music Teachers and District Chair for the Florida Vocal Association.

Pamela Nomura, Writer and 2014 National Artist Teacher Fellow, serves as Artistic Director of CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Middle School, and CREC Ana Grace Academy of the Arts Elementary School. She has served as Chair of the Creative Writing and Media Arts Department at the Greater Hartford Academy of Arts High School; Chair of Creative Writing at the Center for Creative Youth at Wesleyan University; Director of the Poetry Center and Poetry-in-the-Schools Program at Trinity College; and Artist-in-Residence for the Bushnell Foundation. Ms. Nomura has given workshops and readings at prisons, shelters, convalescent homes, libraries, museums and universities. She has been in residence at Soul Mountain Retreat, the Blue Mountain Center, and in Cape Town, South Africa, where she partnered with U.S. and South African performing artists to work with youth-at-risk. Her poems have also been published in journals, magazines, and anthologies.

Theresa M. Rice, Conductor, is a Music Educator at the CREC Greater Hartford Academy of the Arts Middle School of the Capitol Region Education Council in Connecticut. She actively continues her horn performance career, performing in Connecticut as a member of the 5 Metal Chemistry Brass Quintet and as a freelancer in the Greater Hartford area, and performing in New York with The Chelsea Symphony, Hudson Valley Chamber Winds, and Velocity Horns. Theresa is a graduate of The Hartt School, where she earned her Bachelor of Music degree in Music Education and French Horn Performance. She is a former student of Daniel Grabois, Peter Reit, and Fergus McWilliam.

Katie Bignell, Guest Dancer, began dancing with Omega Dance Company in 2006, and assumed co-directorship in 2012. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University, not far from San Jose, CA where she grew up. Katie performed with HudsonDance and choreographer David J. Popalisky in the San Francisco Bay Area, and in musical theater. In New York, she has danced with Laurie De Vito and Dancers and choreographer Diane McCarthy, and continues to study Simonson technique. A lover of storytelling in all forms, Katie edits children's books at HarperCollins Publishers when she's not telling stories through dance.

Wendell Bullen, Choreographer, was born in Grenada, West Indies, Wendell Bullen and later moved to the United states. After graduating High school at age 17 he decided to pursue a career in dance and was introduced to Anthony Rodriguez, the dance director at The Door. After studying with Anthony at The Door for 2 years, Mr. Bullen performed in an off-Broadway play of the Emmy award winning musical, "In the Heights." It was in this period that he was introduced to Seth Stewart who offered him a dance scholarship at Broadway Dance Center. Wendell has trained with Ana "Rockafella" Garcia, Enrique Dejesus and Obediah Wright and was featured in Tanay Jackson's music video, Addicted.

Martha Chapman, Guest Dancer, has performed with and choreographed for Omega Dance Company for almost 20 years before being named a Co-director in 2012. Her history with the company includes choreographing and setting works for the National Cathedral in Washington, DC, as well as performing and setting works in multiple venues and sacred settings in the New York metropolitan area. She also directs dance ministries with her home congregation, the Church of the Village, a progressive United Methodist Community where Omega is now an Artist-in-Residence. Through this and as a member of Omega, she is a member of the Sacred Dance Guild’s local chapter and participates in their local and national activities. Martha Chapman performed with companies such as NYC Opera Ballet, NJ Ballet, Eugene Ballet in Oregon, Ontario Ballet Theater in Toronto, and Cork City Ballet in Ireland, as well as in productions such as the Edinburgh Festival and Lincoln Center Out-of-Doors. From her role as the Sugar Plum Fairy to performing “Shakers” by American modern-dance pioneer Doris Humphrey and works by Graham and Hawkins company members, Martha's career has covered both classical and modern repertory. She is a senior faculty member for the children’s program “The School at Steps” at Steps on Broadway, has conducted master classes and lecture demonstrations, and has been quoted extensively in The Pointe Book. She taught and served on the Board of Directors at Dance New Amsterdam for 17 years.

Zack Cruz, Choreographer, was born and raised in the lower east side of Manhattan, NYC. Starting off as an underground B-boy, he soon began his classical dance training at LaGuardia Performing Arts High School (the "Fame" school) and Luis Abrams Arts Center studying ballet, modern dance and jazz. By his senior year of high school, Zack was dancing professionally with the Company of Dance Arts in Redbank, NJ, as well as apprenticing with Urban Ballet Theater in New York City. For the past six years, Zack has been working as a youth specialist and teaching artist with several nonprofit organizations in New York, including with University Settlement in their Excel Program for children with autism and special needs, and Henry Street Settlement in their Arts & Training Department. He has also been employed as a dance instructor at Lower East Side Dance Academy, as well as Downtown Dance Factory, which has been named in The New York Times' “Best of New York.” In previous summers, Zack spent his time working as a teaching artist at the University of Santa Barbara, California, as well as working at a local orphanage in La Fortuna, Costa Rica.

Wendy Ann Gomez-Powell, Guest Dancer, was born in Brooklyn, NY and is the daughter of Colombian born father Yecid Oviedo Gutierrez and America born mother Amelia Martin. Wendy attended Public Schools and studied dance at Brooklyn College. Upon leaving Brooklyn College she studied and performed with Dance June Lewis & Company. In addition, Wendy was an original member of Ayitia la Dance Company. Over the years Wendy has performed for elected officials, religious institutions, hospitals, schools, cultural institutions and senior citizen centers. Currently Wendy is a certified Zumba instructor and performing artist with Agoci Dance Company and Alden Moves Dance Theater. As a cancer survivor she aspires to create a facility for artists who are afflicted with cancer and other related illnesses.

Ness Martinez, Choreographer, began dancing in the bronx at the age of 3. He began professional training at the age of 9 with choreographer, Anthony Rodriguez. For three consecutive years, Ness danced at Madison Square Garden as a Knick City Kid, then continued on to attend Talent Unlimited High School. After graduating from Talent Unlimited High School, Ness has been focusing on building his choreography and furthering his training. Ness currently dances with the Urban Dance League, founded by Anthony "Antboogie" Rue.

Rebecca Reuter, Guest Dancer, has danced with Omega Dance Company since 2006 and stepped into the role of co-director in 2012. Before relocating to the Big Apple, Rebecca performed with various modern dance choreographers and regional theaters in the San Francisco Bay Area, receiving her BA degree in Theatre Arts from Santa Clara University. A passionate arts educator and advocate for community-based learning, Rebecca serves as Assistant Director of Educational Outreach at The Juilliard School, where she oversees the Music Advancement Program and trains conservatory students as teaching artists. She also actively ministers to the New York City community as a member of the music ministry at the Church of St. Ignatius Loyola on the Upper East Side, and as a founding member of Charis NYC, a Jesuit retreat ministry by and for young adults in their 20's and 30's.