Staff
NATALIE ROGERS-CROPPER (Interim Executive Director/School Director /Assistant Rehearsal Director/Principal Dancer) – is a graduate of the Julliard School (B.F.A. Class of 1984) and joined Garth Fagan Dance in 1989. As a principal dancer, in 1992, she received the prestigious “Bessie” award for her performances. She is also a 1993 recipient of The President’s Award from her country of birth, Trinidad and Tobago. Natalie has dances at the 66th Annual Academy in a principal role in Great Performances production of Garth Fagan’s “Griot New York” performed live with the Wynton Marsalis Septet. Natalie was one of Mr. Fagan’s assistants for the Tony Award-winning megahit “The Lion King” on Broadway. She also assisted Mr. Fagan in setting “Ellington Elation” on the New York City Ballet, and “Jukebox for Alvin” and “From Before” on The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Ms. Rogers-Cropper has taught the Fagan technique worldwide for 32 years, becoming school director in 2004. For her leadership in business, and all her other achievements over her 33-year career with Garth Fagan Dance, Natalie became one of the recipients of the Women of Excellence Award from the Rochester Business Journal in April 2021.
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natalie@garthfagandance.org ; (585) 454-3260x01
NORWOOD "PJ" PENNEWELL (Rehearsal Director/Associate Choreographer/Principal Dancer) joined Garth Fagan Dance in 1978, and is the quintessential Garth Fagan dancer and is Fagan’s assistant and muse. Pennewell is the recipient of a 1988 New York Performance Award “Bessie” and has been seen dancing all over the world on “Great Performances,” “The Tonight Show” and in Duke Ellington’s Queenie Pie. He assisted Mr. Fagan during his work on Broadway’s The Lion King and the NYC Ballet 50th anniversary Ellington project. Over the last eleven years, Mr. Pennewell has choreographed 11 new works on Garth Fagan Dance. As a celebrated and world-class choreographer, he is able to combine the unique elements of the Fagan Technique with sophisticated concepts and movement invention.
ALEC SHIMAN (Executive Assistant) is a recent graduate of The Ailey School/Fordham University (B.F.A. Class of 2022) and joined Garth Fagan Dance in June of 2022. A native of Boston, MA, Alec has performed on stages across New England including American Repertory Theater, North Shore Music Theater, Ogunquit Playhouse, Maine State Music Theater and Central Square Theater. His passion for dance, movement theater, arts administration, and purpose-driven work grew as he took on a minor in Communications from Fordham University and internship positions at Red Is Dancing and Bodystories: Teresa Fellion Dance. In this position, Alec brings his rich background in the performing arts, coupled with his academic and professional experiences, to support the company's mission and help streamline and manage company operations, outreach, performance engagements and more.
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alec@garthfagandance.org ; (585) 454-3260x02
Gabreille Samuel
Co-Director of Student Ensemble
School Intern
Ethan Beckwith-Cohen
Co-Director of Student Ensemble
School Intern
Board of Directors
Garth Fagan Founder | President
Carvin Eison Chairman
Abbey Germano Treasurer/Secretary
Christopher E. Blank
Dr. Ian Wilson
Paula hamada Summit
Trustees Emeriti
Sibert Douglas, M.D. (1929-2019)
Marion Hawks (1918-2003)
Louise Klinke (1933-2017)
Louis Lasagna, M.D. (1923-2003)
Deborah Ronnen
Ann De Laval Schaefer (1935-2012)
Betty Strasenburgh (1931-2021)
Honorary TRUSTEES
Linda Chiavaroli
Alex Haley (1921-1991)
Rick McGrath
Edmund W. Pease
Nancy Peck, esq. (1935-2010)
Francis Price
A. Barry Rand (1944-2018)
Eugene Schneider (1953-2012)
Lillian Silver