Bios

RICCI ADAN

Director of Dance Machine International and a direct artistic descendant of Lee Theodore’s American Dance Machine. Dedicated to the preservation, education, and performance of American Theater Dance, she brings over four decades of professional experience to the field. Her work focuses on maintaining stylistic authenticity and technical excellence within the theater dance canon.

Her technical foundation includes intensive training at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance, the Nat Horne Theater, Lee Theodore’s American Dance Machine, and the Martha Graham School of Dance. This rigorous background, paired with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Humanities, informs her approach to choreography and artistic direction. As an educator and performer, Ricci continues the legacy of the American Dance Machine, bridging the gap between historical repertoire and contemporary performance.

LAURA OLSON

Performer, choreographer, and educator with extensive experience in the dance and movement fields. She holds a degree from Sarah Lawrence College with a concentration in modern dance and music, and earned certificates from the London Contemporary Dance School, the Mark Morris Summer Intensive, and the American Conservatory Theater (ACT).

Her professional credits include regional and touring productions, where she frequently served as Dance Captain. Notable roles include Bebe in A Chorus Line, Cinderella in Into the Woods, and Dream Laurie in Oklahoma!. In addition to her theater work, she spent several years dancing and choreographing for the New York-based company Return of the Sun and has been a practitioner of yoga since 2002. Laura currently assists Ricci Adan in the preservation of American theater dance, focusing on the education and development of the next generation of performers.

CArlos osorio

Founder and lead choreographer of Cumbia Spirit School of Dance. Beginning his studies in the 1980s with Estampas LatinoAmericanas, he developed a foundation in traditional folklore before expanding his expertise in New York City. His training encompasses Afro-Caribbean, African, Middle Eastern, Ballroom, and various Latin dance disciplines.

Since establishing Cumbia Spirit in 2004, Carlos has taught at such institutions as Siena College, the Omega Institute, and The National Museum of Dance. Now based in Kingston, NY, the school focuses on cultural education and community wellness. A hallmark of his work is the Dancing With Our Elders™ program, a free initiative launched in 2006 in partnership with Trinity Alliance to foster health and connection for seniors through movement. Carlos remains a prominent cultural educator, lecturing on dance history at schools and colleges throughout the Hudson Valley and Capital Region.

ANDREA SANCHEZ

A multidisciplinary designer known for adaptability and visual precision. Her professional background spans from the high-volume commercial sector with Bata Group to institutional branding for Parques Nacionales Naturales de Colombia.

Andrea combines corporate rigor with artistic intuition, creating visual systems that are both functional and evocative. Her work is informed by a deep personal passion for dance and movement, ensuring that every design possesses a dynamic, human quality.