ANNA CERVENY, DIRECTOR & FOUNDER
Anna Cerveny began her dance training under Joanne Morscher at the Royal School of Ballet at the age of 7. During her childhood, she also had the pleasure of training at Bengbu Ballet, BalletMet, and Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. She received her BS in Chemistry from Carnegie Mellon University and her Doctor of Physical Therapy from Columbia University, with a focus on Performing Arts Rehabilitation. During her 7 years of school, she spent much of her time dancing, choreographing, and directing her university's respective dance organizations and taking dance classes at Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Broadway Dance Center. After graduating in 2013, Anna spent a year traveling the US, Canada, and Japan as the physical therapist for the Tony-winning Broadway play, "WarHorse", and taking dance classes around the world. Currently she works at University Hospitals as a senior physical therapist/clinical specialist and the founder of UH's dance rehabilitation program, where she works with dancers from around the greater Cleveland area, including Cleveland Ballet and the Case Western dance program. In 2017, Anna founded Cleveland Dance Project (CDP), an all-level dance community that provides training, choreography, and performance opportunities to adults from the beginner to the professional. In 2019, the dance & wellness professional company, CDP Company 501c3, organically came to be to fill a community need for health education fused with movement, and dancer injury prevention services. Anna continues to train, perform, and choreograph with both CDP and CDP Company, as well as serves as the Executive Director and physical therapist for the nonprofit organization. This summer, she is opening a space that will house CDP Company, and CDP’s dance & fitness classes, as well as provide holistic health education and services, and a gathering place for these wellness-focused communities.
JESSICA BENNETT, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Jessica Bennett studied at the Canton Ballet for 14 years and then completed a dual degree at Ohio State University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Modern Dance & Choreography and a Bachelors of Art in Psychology. While studying at OSU, Jessica trained with professors who were principal dancers of Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, and Pina Bausch. After completing her undergrad studies, she danced professionally with TUPACO Dance, Lori Belilove, High Jinx, Anna and the Annadroids, and the Backspace Performance Ensemble. In 2009, Jessica moved to NYC to continue dancing for Backspace and developed more collaborations with companies like Amy Campbell's Crooked Mouth Dance Company and Davon Chance Dance, the Kloons production company, and musicians including Yula Beeri, Basement Batman, and Fashion Week, as well as several drag artists like Thorgy Thor and Acid Betty. Jessica's dance career also led to her curiosity in Yoga, and she completed her 200 hr RYT at Yoga Vida NYC, a program grounded in Vinyasa with influences of Ashtanga. She also completed a Yoga intensive at Parmarth Niketan Ashram in Rishikesh, India to sharpen her skills and asana, meditation, chanting, and Yoga philosophy. In 2015, Jessica moved to L.A. and became the choreographer for Fugitive Kind Live Theater under the direction of Ovation award-winning director Amanda McCraven. Jessica performed in the ensemble and choreographed dances for Shine Darkly, Illyria, and also co-produced and performed in Fugitive's first full-evening dance work My Sister was the First to Fly. Since moving back to Ohio in 2017, she has become assistant director of the Cleveland Dance Project. Aside from assistant directing, she has danced and choreographed for several CDP showcases, and she continues to teach modern, contemporary, improv, and yoga classes for the organization. When she isn’t working with CDP, she is a certified yoga teacher focused on vinyasa and prenatal yoga, is a teaching artist for Artful Living & Learning, and mothers two beautiful children. Jessica's dance studies and professional experience have culminated to form her dynamic and sometimes quirky contemporary style, and she hopes to continue to foster her artistic and administrative voice within. Her creative process in choreography intends to push boundaries and engage dancers and her audience with a compelling and accessible form of movement that captures the nuances of what it is to be human.
HEATHER SAKAI, MARKETING DIRECTOR
Heather Sakai, CDP's Marketing Director, has been involved with the organization since its inception as dancer, choreographer, and instructor. Heather started dancing at the age of three, her first few years under the direction of Jeanne Ann Corrigan and the majority of her dance education under the guidance of Arlene Cassara, dancing competitively for the Rocky River Studio of Dance. Heather then studied under Janiece Kelly-Kiteley at Baldwin-Wallace College, where she was a part of the B-W Dance Collective. Heather moved on to Case Western Reserve University, where she received dual Master's Degrees in Social Work (with an emphasis in Adult Mental Health) and Contemporary/Modern Dance. At Case, Heather studied Graham technique under Gary Galbraith and Karen Potter; here, she was also selected to participate in a summer workshop at the Martha Graham Studio in NYC. Heather also had the opportunity to choreograph several pieces for Case's MaDaCol concerts. Heather has experience teaching ballet, tap, modern, contemporary, musical theatre, and gymnastics to both children and adults both nationally and internationally. When she is not dancing, she can be found working as a Social Media Engagement Coordinator for Bright Beginnings and petting her dog, Kuppy.
MEGAN GURCZE, ASSISTANT DIRECTOR
Megan grew up in a competitive style dance studio where she had the chance to study Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Hip hop, and Contemporary. She received many awards at competitions and conventions, and was given the opportunity to travel and learn from many teachers. After high school she received an internship with the Cleveland Verb Ballet, where she worked with industry leaders like Richard Dickinson, Kay Eichman, and Christopher Flemming. A few years later, she was offered a scholarship to a summer intensive in Cleveland, and then performed in Cleveland & Columbus with a small pick up company. Megan has been working with CDP since season 4 as a dancer & choreographer. She joined CDP Company, 501c3 in 2019, became their ballet master in 2020, and was promoted to Artistic Director in 2022. Megan also teaches ballet and contemporary at local studios, master classes, and has choreographed award-winning pieces for many competition classes and schools!