WHO'S WHO IN THE COMPANY? DOUG VARONE (Artistic Director), an Award-winning choreographer and director, works in dance, theater, opera, film, and fashion. His New York City-based Doug Varone and Dancers has been commissioned and presented to critical acclaim by leading international venues for over three decades. In the concert dance world, Varone has created a body of works globally. Commissions include Paul Taylor’s American Modern Dance Company, The Limón Company, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Rambert Dance Company, Martha Graham Dance Company, Batsheva Dance Company, Bern Ballet, among others. In addition, his dances have been staged on more than 100 college and university programs around the country. In opera, Doug Varone is in demand as both a director and choreographer. Among his productions at The Metropolitan Opera are Richard Strauss’ Salome, the world premiere of Tobias Picker’s An American Tragedy, Stravinsky’s Le Sacre du Printemps, designed by David Hockney, and Hector Berloiz’s Les Troyens. He has staged multiple premieres and new productions for Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Washington Opera, New York City Opera, and Boston Lyric Opera, among others. His numerous theater credits include choreography for Broadway, Off-Broadway and regional theaters across the country. Recent projects include directing and choreographing MasterVoices production of Dido and Aeneas at NY’s City Center, starring Tony Award winners Kelli O’Hara and Victoria Clark, staging Julia Wolfe’s Pulitzer Prize winning oratorio, Anthracite Fields for the Westminster Choir and the Bang on a Can All-Stars and choreographing the MasterVoices revival of Kurt Weill’s musical Lady in the Dark at City Center. Varone received his BFA from Purchase College where he was awarded the President’s Distinguished Alumni Award. Numerous honors and awards include a John Simon Guggenheim Fellowship, two individual Bessie Awards, an Obie Award, a Doris Duke Artist Award, the Jerome Robbins Fellowship at the Bogliasco Institute in Italy, and the Lifetime Achievement Award from the American Dance Guild. COURTNEY BARTH (Company Dancer) (she/they) is a New York–based dancer originally from Las Vegas, NV. She trained at the Las Vegas Academy of Performing Arts before graduating from SUNY Purchase with a BFA in Dance, where she also studied abroad at the London Contemporary Dance School. Courtney is a company member with 2nd Best Dance Company and Doug Varone and Dancers, where she also serves as Costume Manager and Workshop Coordinator. Additional performance credits include works by Crystal Pite, Shannon Gillen, Kensaku Shinohara, and Loni Landon. Courtney is currently training to be a teacher in the Alexander Technique at the Balance Arts Center. JONIECE “JOJO” BOYKINS (Company Dancer) is an African American native of Inglewood, California. She graduated with honors, Cum Laude, receiving her BFA in Dance from the Conservatory of Dance at SUNY Purchase College. During her time at Purchase, she performed the works of Doug Varone, Peter Chu, Kevin Wynn, Jonathan Reidel, Alexandra Beller, and Nejla Yatkin. Alongside her studies, she has attended professional programs such as Springboard Danse Montreal, Hubbard Street, Alvin Ailey, and Ron K. Brown/ Evidence’s summer workshop. In her professional career she has performed work by Sidra Bell, Brian Brooks, Donald McKayle, Itzik Galili, Rennie Harris, Christopher Huggins, Tommie Waheed, Lula Washington, and Tamica Washington-Miller. She has been a company member of Doug Varone and Dancers since 2021 and is also the founder of the choreographic festival, Upsurge Dance Festival. She made her Metropolitan Opera debut this winter in the production of Porgy and Bess. DAREON BLOWE (Company Dancer) is a native of Hampton Roads, VA. He is a dancer, creator, and educator. He obtained his BFA from The George Mason School of Dance on a full scholarship under the leadership of Susan Shields & Karen Reedy. Additionally, he is an alum of The School at Jacob’s Pillow, SpringBoard Danse Montreal, and in 2021 he Joined MOTUS the company led by Diana Matos. Post grad, Dareon relocated to Montréal to join RUBBERBAND, where he worked from 2023 to 2025. Most recently, he moved to NYC where he has worked with NVA & Guests, Kayla Farrish, and Tethered Residents. He began working with Doug Varone and Dancers in 2026.
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