The Hip Hop Nutcracker

ANN-SYLVIA CLARK (Maria-Clara) was born and raised in Norway. At an early age, she began training in gymnastics, ultimately traveling across Norway and Europe with the gymnastics team. Over time, she became interested in dance, attending the Flow Dance Academy (CPH, DK), Europe’s first hip hop and urban dance school, and began pursing it as a career. She performed with Snoop Dogg and Pharrell Williams at the 2006 MTV Europe Music Awards (EMA’s) held in Copenhagen. Since moving to New York, Ann-Sylvia’s career has flourished, with tours in the U.S. and the United Kingdom. She has performed on a variety of television shows including, “Good Day New York” on Fox 5, CBS, Telemundo and “Fake Off” on TruTV. She has also performed at the Jacobs Pillow Dance Festival, and danced in music videos for artists such as Alicia Keys, JBalvin, Styles P, Ben L’Oncle Soul, Laila Biali, and LEON. TV viewers can find her in commercials for Samsung, Smirnoff vodka, Reebok, Digicel mobile phones, Makeup Forever cosmetics and Sixt car rental.

JOSUE “BEASTMODE” FIGUEROA (The Nutcracker) was born in Puerto Rico and raised in Florida. Josue discovered his passion for breaking and the performing arts at age 15. Through his continual pursuit and love for the arts, he’s earned work in the Step Up film franchise, numerous commercials and several international breaking championship titles with his crews MIND180 and Skill Methodz. Josue is studying to create his next path as an actor.

ALLAUNÉ BLEGBO (Mom) is a French dancer, raised between Paris and Abidjanm Ivory Coast. She is part of the French hip-hop/house crews Wanted Posse and Paradoxsal. She studied in New York at the Alvin Ailey School. After a year on tour with Madonna, Allauné decided to move to the United States. As a freestyler she loves to merge her hip-hop and technical background with acrobatics to create a unique and abstract style.

KNIIN MICAH ABBREY (Dad) is an artist/choreographer and teacher with a concentration in Urban Improvisational Movement and Techniques (Freestyle/ Streetdance(s)). He specializes in movement innovation and total body integration methodologies with an emphasis in musical aural skills and meditative approaches to movement in order to heighten creativity and self-awareness. He travels extensively internationally to urban arts communities both to compete and teach his techniques. Additionally, he collaborates with various companies, including Embodiment Project, Heidi Duckler Dance Theatre and Groovaloos, to bring powerful, performative, creative and thought-provoking street dance to the dance theatre world.”

LISA “LBOOGIE” BAUFORD (Drosselmeyer) hails from St. Petersburg, Florida, where she worked on perfecting her craft as a dancer while also working as a youth development worker helping children from ages 5 to 18. Lisa’s background in dance focuses upon hip hop. She has danced with iLuminate, a dance company based on the fusion of technology and dance, which was featured on “America’s Got Talent.” She also spent more than two years performing Off Broadway in New York, where she continued to hone her craft. Lisa has also performed internationally, including Saudi Arabia, where she was one of the first women to be permitted to perform on stage. She has also travelled to New Zealand and Samoa on educational tours.

RANDI “RASCAL” FREITAS (Associate Director-Choreographer/Dance Captain/ Mouse King/Ensemble) is a professional dancer born and raised in the Bay Area and now living in Los Angeles California, working as both a choreography dancer and a specialty freestyler. She is the newest member of The Beat Freaks. Randi has toured Japan performing in a theatre show called “The Battle” and is currently the Associate Choreographer of the touring show, The Hip Hop Nutcracker. She has performed on shows such as Jimmy Kimmel, The Ellen Show, The American Music Awards, The Kids Choice Awards and The GRAMMYs, with companies such as Nike, Anthropologie, Toyota, Mountain Dew and AT&T and artists such as Travis Scott, Kaytranada and Tracee Ellis Ross. Beginning her dance life as a freestyle battler, Randi is still active in the underground scene as well. She recently made top 8 in the North America Bgirl Finals and won the all styles category for Redbull BCOne, and was runner up of All 4 House IBE in Holland and Redbull Dance Your Style US finals. She has taught in multiple cities around the US as well as abroad in countries such as France, Belgium, Thailand, Canada and Mexico. She is the co-creator of the LA open styles battle, The Dance Fight. In addition to performing and battling, Randi currently teaches her signature floorwork style at Movement Lifestyle, Debbie Reynolds, and internationally.

JACKIE “JK-47” AGUDO (Tea/Ensemble) aka Bgirl JK47 of Diamonds in the Rough Crew, can serve as a role model for multi- talented, hard-working artists everywhere. A Recognized international competitor, she recently took top prize at Red Bull’s 2018 “BC One Camp USA B-Girl Cypher” in Houston. In addition to performing on a plethora of stages with Project Soul, she also tours throughout the U.S. and the world as a workshop facilitator teaching, encouraging and inspiring people of all ages with her love and passion for the culture and art of street dance. Hailing from Vancouver, she was one of 16 Bgirls representing Canada at the first “Red Bull BC One,” held in Zurich, Switzerland.

LILY FRIAS (Toy/Ensemble) Born and raised in Mexico, Liliana (Lily) Frias has been dancing for 13 years and is currently working as a professional dancer in Los Angeles. Beginning her career as a technical dancer, Lily found her true calling when she mastered the hip hop styles and the art of freestyle specifically the styles of whaacking and popping. She has been featured in a variety of productions, including “So You Think You Can Dance” (Season 12), “America’s Best Dance Crew” (Season 7), Cirque du Soleil, dance battles, national commercials, and Red Bull BC One 2018. She is also known for teaching and performing in the U.S., Europe, Latin America, and Japan, individually and as a part of her crew known as Femme Fatale.

ANTHONY “OMEN” CABRERA (Toy/ Ensemble) was born on November 7, 1983. A vivacious child, he always loved to dance—it didn’t matter if it was a family gathering or a large party. While growing up in Boston and the Dominican Republic, he discovered hip hop and breakdancing (Bboying) through television, but it wasn’t until his high school years that he started training in Bboying. Soon after, he realized his natural ability for dancing and improved rapidly. With the body awareness to control the acrobatic elements of Bboying and the creativity to develop an original style, Omen was quickly recognized by peers and established Bboys of the dance community. Currently, Omen is part of the worldrenowned Bboy crew based out of New York City, Supreme Beings. In addition to winning numerous solo and group competitions at both the national and international level, Anthony has contributed to the dance community by sitting on judging panels and conducting workshops. As a performer, he is part of both G-Force Entertainment and Raw Miami Entertainment. When he is not on board a Carnival cruise ship as a performer, Anthony keeps busy performing for music artists, corporate parties, clubs and street shows. His other professional interests include modeling and acting.

SETH “REAKTION” HILLARD (Russian/Ensemble) grew up in Toledo, Ohio, where he fell in love with hip hop culture – especially Bboying—at an early age. He crafted his love for dance and choreography at the Toledo School for the Arts. A true chameleon of dance, Seth combined uncanny flexibility, imaginative versatility and meticulous musicality to make a name for himself as B-boy Reaktion (rē΄akSHən), winning Midwest and National Bboy competitions. While evolving his craft in dance, Seth also developed other skills in tumbling, skateboarding and martial arts, including Capoeira. In 2012, he followed his dream and moved to Los Angeles to pursue a dance career. In just a few short months, Seth landed his target agency, booked his first audition, and was working as a professional dancer. Michael Jackson’s video, “Love Never Felt So Good” and Nick Cannon’s video, “Looking For A Dream” are just some of the work Seth has on his blossoming resume. Featured in commercials for Pepsi, Men’s Warehouse, and a VH1 Super Bowl spot, the extremely humble and always smiling Seth has grown fast in the entertainment industry. He credits his advances in dance to working with top choreographers such as Chuck Maldonado, Tone & Rich, Oth’than Burnside and many more. “A dancer’s job is to turn an audible art form into a visual art form. As dancers
we translate music for people to physically see. We are all artists and our only job is to follow our dreams.”

BRANDON RON (Chocolate/Ensemble) Although Hawaiian-born, Brandon Ron has an eclectic array of talents and interests, including the combat sport of Muay Thai, producing music in the Hip-Hop and R&B element, and giving friends fresh fade haircuts, his greatest passion by far is dancing. Five years after he began dancing in earnest, he and a crewmate competed internationally in the “Kia Dubstep World Championship” in Warsaw, Poland. They won first place, bringing home a new Kia Rio Sedan. Currently residing in Los Angeles, Brandon continues to work hard pursuing his dream of being a professional dancer and music producer.

DUSTIN PAYNE (Flute/ Ensemble) has been dancing and playing music as far back as he can remember. Four years ago, to pursue his dream of a career as a dancer, he drove across country from his Columbus, Georgia hometown to Los Angeles. Every year since his arrival he has achieved and surpassed the previous years’ accomplishment. Beginning the first year as a street performer on Hollywood Boulevard, he moved on the second year to win a few freestyle and popping battles. The third year, he auditioned for “So You Think You Can Dance” (season 14), making it to the top 40 contestants, as well as winning the battle for “World of Dance (Convention)” in San Diego. This year, his fourth in LA, Dustin has twice been a battle judge for “World of Dance,” featured in the “Teen Choice Awards” after party event and featured in “So You Think You Can Dance” as one of the top 10 men (season 15). And, capping this year, he was cast in The Hip Hop Nutcracker. 

Kurtis Blow (Special Guest MC) is one of the founders and creators of recorded rap. A timeless artist and hip hop legend, Kurtis blazed the trail for early hip hop artists and continues to carry the torch for hip hop music in new arenas. Kurtis is credited with many accolades, and was the first rapper to ever be signed to a major label, release a certified gold rap album (The Breaks), tour the United States and Europe, record a national commercial (Sprite), use the drum machine, sample and sample loop, release a rap music video, and become a millionaire. In 1979, at the age of 20, Kurtis Blow became the first rapper to be signed by a major label. He released Christmas Rappin’, which sold over 400,000 copies and became an annual classic. Its gold followup, The Breaks, helped ignite an international “rap attack,” solidifying the new art form. He released 10 albums over 11 years and his early projects made him an instant success at home and across Europe. Pioneering records like Party Time introduced the fusion of rap and go-go. Hit songs like“8 Million Stories”, “AJ”, and “Basketball” were simply ahead of their time, and still get spins by DJs today. Fellow rap legend Nas debuted at #1 on the Billboard Charts with a cover of Kurtis’ “If I Ruled the World” in 1997.

Beyond his own hits, Kurtis contributed to the success of The Fat Boys and Run DMC. In fact, Run began his career billed as “The Son of Kurtis Blow.” Among countless others, Wyclef Jean, Love Bug Starski, Sweet Gee, Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, Full Force, and Russell Simmons all have been produced by or have worked with Kurtis in the past. Kurtis’ multidisciplinary skillset has taken him across the country and overseas to score, produce, and act in various films. Most notably, he played a large role in the production of the hit film Krush Groove. The New York Daily News called his cinematic works a “noteworthy, dynamic presence.” Kurtis Blow’s reach transcends that of your typical entertainer. He has completed multiple world tours since the turn of the new millennium, and continues to work on other creative endeavors. His innate ability to reach people is evident in his work as an activist, radio personality, and most recently, an ordained minister and leader of the Hip Hop Church. Artists still pay their respects to Kurtis’ trailblazing in a number of ways. His influence has been mentioned in seemingly every important Hip-Hop film in the past decade, from Get Rich or Die Tryin’ to Notorious and Straight Outta Compton.

He has a prominent presence on Television as well, with his music appearing on shows such as Dancing With The Stars & SportsCenter. He also was an associate producer on the Netflix hit series The Get Down. Outside of music, Kurtis has long been a very spiritual man. He went back to school to become an ordained minister, and has been preaching at churches around the world. His work with The Hip-Hop Church has helped bridge the gap between the art
form and the church. Education has long been important to Kurtis. He was been a champion of higher education, and advocates for bringing Hip-Hop culture into the curriculums of our institutions. The rap pioneer has given talks at schools such as Berklee College of Music in Boston and CalArts in California and plans to continue to carry the culture into the classroom.

JAMES STEELE (Production Stage Manager) is thrilled to be back with Maximum Entertainment and Hip Hop Nutcracker for the second year. Broadway: Mrs. Warren’s Profession (Roundabout); One Man, Two Guvnors. National Tour: Cruel Intentions, Small Mouth Sounds. off-Broadway: Small Mouth Sounds (Signature), By the Water (MTC), Pageant (SAS), Natasha Pierre & The Great Comet of 1812 (Ars Nova/Kazino), My Name is Asher Lev (Westside Theatre), An Iliad (NYTW), The Tribute Artist (Primary Stages), The Divine Sister (DRTM). Thanks to Jenn, Eva, Carl, Rebecca and Josh, as always love to Mom and Gram.

BURKE WILMORE (Lighting Designer) is a member of United Scenic Artists Local 829 and an honors graduate of Wesleyan University. He has designed or adapted seven works for BODYTRAFFIC and has also lit the work of Camille A. Brown (Black Girl: Linguistic Play, Mr. Tol E. Rance, City of Rain). He was the resident designer for Battleworks (2001–2010) and to date has lit seven of Robert Battle’s works for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. For the Shakespeare Theatre of New Jersey, he lit Midsummer Night’s Dream and Red Velvet. He frequently collaborates with Broadway star André de Shields, for whom he lit the Louis Armstrong musical Ambassador Satch, and designed scenery and lighting for de Shields’ production of Ain’t Misbehavin’. Mr. Wilmore designed scenery and lighting for Apollo Club Harlem, and Ellington at Christmas, both at the Apollo Theater.

OTH’THAN BURNSIDE (Stylist) was born and raised in Seattle, Washington. She moved to California in 1992 to pursue her dream in the entertainment industry. Starting her dance career on tours for major recording artists such as Destiny’s Child, Missy Elliot, Ne-yo, Ciara, and TLC she quickly solidified herself as a working dancer in Los Angeles. Oth’than’s love for the creative aspects of dance and her ability to create long and lasting relationships led her to artist development, creative direction, choreography and wardrobe styling. One of her greatest joys is to work with others to see the collective vision of an artist come to life. Some of Oth’than’s credits include Britney Spears, Miley Cyrus, Chris Brown, Snoop Dogg, Nicki Minaj, Iggy Azalea, Usher, Ciara and Rihanna. 

REBECCA EASTON (Company Manager) is an arts manager and producer working in dance, theater, and circus around the world. As a company manager, she has toured to over thirty countries with Pilobolus (Shadowland & Shadowland 2), and to fortyeight states with Cirque Productions, G4 Productions, Inbal Pinto & Avshalom Pollak Dance Company, and the Guthrie Theater. She has company managed for the Mostly Mozart Festival at Lincoln Center and for Pilobolus’s Five Senses Festival. As a producer, she works with Loom Ensemble (Vermont, NYC, Dubai) and Band of Toughs (Denver & Boulder, Colorado). She also has a background in directing, dramaturgy, and teaching, and she graduated from Columbia University’s School of the Arts in 2008. She is thrilled to return to Maximum Entertainment for this year’s tour of The Hip Hop Nutcracker

JENNIFER WEBER (Director & Choreographer) is a Lucille Lortel and Bessie-Award nominated choreographer based in New York City. This fall, she is making her West End debut with the premiere of & Juliet, a new musical featuring the songs of pop songwriter Max Martin. In 2020 she will make her film debut as the choreographer for Disney’s ZOMBIES 2. Off Broadway choreography credits include KPOP (Ars Nova/Lortel Nom), Teenage Dick (The Public/Ma-Yi) Cruel Intentions (LPR/US Tour), Stockholm (U.S. premiere/Hudson Stage). Weber was commissioned by New York City Center to create a new work for NYCB principal dancer Tiler Peck and hip hop legend Lil Buck for the 2018 Fall For Dance Festival. Her concert dance work has been performed at Jacob’s Pillow, The Apollo, The Kennedy Center, Lincoln Center, Southbank Center, and The Stanislavsky Music Theatre, Moscow. Commercial direction/choreography: Marc Jacobs, CK2, American Express, Uber, Ulta, L’Oreal, Reebok, Philosophy and Lifetime’s Bring It Live! Tour. Weber holds a B.A. in Communications (Cum Laude) from the University of Pennsylvania and is a member of Lincoln Center’s Directors Lab and the Stage Directors and Choreographers Society. www.jenniferwebernyc.com

MIKE FITELSON (Writer/Co-Creator) is the executive producer at the United Palace, the 88-year-old Wonder Theatre in Washington Heights, Manhattan’s 4th largest theatre. Previously as the executive director of the United Palace of Cultural Arts (UPCA), he co-created The Hip Hop Nutcracker with Jennifer Weber, adapting the story and supplying the images for the scenery, and produced its premiere. Fitelson has worked to build the Northern Manhattan arts community for 15 years. He co-founded the annual arts festival, the Uptown Arts Stroll, in 2003; served in every capacity of the Manhattan Times, the bilingual community newspaper of Washington Heights and Inwood, from 2002-2011; and helped found the nonprofit Northern Manhattan Arts Alliance in 2006. He is delighted the show is playing the Paramount Theatre in Oakland, California where he was born and raised.

New Jersey Performing Arts Center (NJPAC), located in downtown Newark, NJ, is America’s most diverse performing arts center, and the artistic, cultural, educational and civic center of New Jersey, where great performances and events enhance and transform lives every day. NJPAC brings diverse communities together, providing access to all and showcasing the state’s and the world’s best artists while acting as a leading catalyst in the revitalization of its home city. Through its extensive Arts Education programs, NJPAC is shaping the next generation of artists and arts enthusiasts. NJPAC has attracted nearly 10 million visitors (including over 1.7 million children) since opening its doors in 1997, and nurtures meaningful and lasting relationships with each of its constituents.

EVA PRICE (Executive Producer) is a three-time Tony Award-winning producer of over 18 Broadway plays, musicals, and concerts, a member of The Broadway League’s Board of Governors, and on the producing team of Killer Content and Abigail Disney’s venture Level Forward. Credits: Oklahoma! (2 Tony Awards, Best Musical Revival), Alanis Morissette’s Jagged Little Pill (A.R.T., Broadway); What the Constitution Means to Me (2 Tony Nominations); Angels in America (Tony-winning revival starring Nathan Lane and Andrew Garfield); Dear Evan Hansen (6 Tony Awards including Best Musical); On Your Feet!; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway!; Peter and the Starcatcher (5 Tony Awards); Colin Quinn Long Story Short (directed by Jerry Seinfeld); Annie  (Tony-Nominated Musical Revival); The Merchant of Venice  starring Al Pacino (Tony-nominated Play Revival); Carrie Fisher’s Wishful Drinking;  The Addams Family; Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical; Drama Desk-nominated Found;  The Lion (Drama Desk-winner, Off-West End-winner); Small Mouth Sounds.

MAXIMUM ENTERTAINMENT(General Manager) is a producing, developing and management company founded by Avram Freedberg, Mary Beth Dale and Eva Price; and is joined by Managing Director/General Manager Carl Flanigan. Select Broadway, Off-Broadway and Touring credits include What the Constitution Means to Me (National Tour 2020); Jitney (National Tour 2019-20); Cruel Intentions: The ’90s Musical; Small Mouth Sounds; Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons on Broadway!; The Hip Hop Nutcracker; The Lion; Verso; Black Light; Born for This (LA and Boston); 50 Shades! The Musical; Ivy + Bean The Musical; Voca People; and Colin Quinn: Long Story Short. www.maximumcompany.com

JARVIS L. BENSON (Violinist) comes from a family of musicians and covers a lot of musical ground in the artistic world. The classically-trained New York-based musician has had the opportunity to collaborate with many major artists—most notably Solange, Chris Martin, Regina Carter, Why Don’t We, and many others. He was part of the Emmy Winning production of “Jesus Christ Superstar—LIVE” featuring John Legend, and also part of the Grammy winning album GUMBOUnplugged by PJ Morton. He currently serves as principal violist/violinist and Personnel Manager for Rootstock Republic, a string production company based in New York City. For this tour, Jarvis is playing a violin on loan from Lukas Wroński Violins in New York City.

DJ BOO (DJ) is a Filipino-American artist born and bred in New York who lives and breathes music. From high school, as a drummer who marched in both the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl, to the present, his passion for music has led him to the success he enjoys in this field. Boo has shared the stage with Hip Hop luminaries like Ghostface Killah, DJ Kool Herc and Common. He has backed many wordsmiths, including Eternia, The Juggaknots and Omar Offendum. As a member of The Nomadic Wax Collective he served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. in Asia and Africa as part of the American Music Abroad Tour. For over a decade he has been the resident DJ for “WORDS: Hip Hop & Poetry Showcase & Open Mic” at Nuyorican Poets Café, a New York staple in the spoken word/poetry/music and theater scene. Additionally, Boo had the honor of being involved with “One Mic: Hip Hop Culture Worldwide,” the first international Hip Hop festival at The Kennedy Center in which he not only performed, but also created a promotional mix featuring artists who performed throughout the multi-day event. As a music producer, Boo, along with director and choreographer Jennifer Weber, helped bring holiday phenomenon The Hip Hop Nutcracker to life. And if that weren’t enough; he is also performing in the production as the show’s DJ.

DJ BOO (DJ) is a Filipino-American artist born and bred in New York who lives and breathes music. From high school, as a drummer who marched in both the Cotton Bowl and Orange Bowl, to the present, his passion for music has led him to the success he enjoys in this field. Boo has shared the stage with Hip Hop luminaries like Ghostface Killah, DJ Kool Herc and Common. He has backed many wordsmiths, including Eternia, The Juggaknots and Omar Offendum. As a member of The Nomadic Wax Collective he served as a cultural ambassador for the U.S. in Asia and Africa as part of the American Music Abroad Tour. For over a decade he has been the resident DJ for “WORDS: Hip Hop & Poetry Showcase & Open Mic” at Nuyorican Poets Café, a New York staple in the spoken word/poetry/music and theater scene. Additionally, Boo had the honor of being involved with “One Mic: Hip Hop Culture Worldwide,” the first international Hip Hop festival at The Kennedy Center in which he not only performed, but also created a promotional mix featuring artists who performed throughout the multi-day event. As a music producer, Boo, along with director and choreographer Jennifer Weber, helped bring holiday phenomenon The Hip Hop Nutcracker to life. And if that weren’t enough; he is also performing in the production as the show’s DJ.

MOE SHAHROOZ (Video Designer) is a video artist based in New York City. He specializes in animation, editing, and interactive video design. He has worked on a wide variety of projects ranging from television shows, award shows, fashion shows, music videos, and numerous theatrical productions. His work has been showcased in more than 100 theaters throughout the world. He holds a Master’s Degree from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. He is also known for performing and producing music under the moniker I. Sheik. He is proud to be working with The Hip Hop Nutcracker.