Pilobolus Biographies & Behind-the-Scenes

WHO'S WHO IN THE COMPANY RENÉE JAWORSKI (Executive/Co-Artistic Director) has had an extensive creative career working with Pilobolus since 2000 and in 2011 was honored to have been chosen by the founding Artistic Directors to lead Pilobolus into and beyond it’s post succession evolution. She served as choreographer and creator for exciting projects and collaborations for stage, film, and video such as the 79th Annual Academy Awards, the Grammy® nominated video for OKGo’s All is Not Lost, Radiolab Live: In the Dark, World Science Festival; Time and the Creative Cosmos, and works with myriad outside artists through the International Collaborators Project, as well as overseeing the daily functioning and long term planning for the company’s creative endeavors. As a teacher, she facilitates workshops and group projects in diverse communities with dancers and nondancers alike. In 2010, her alma mater honored her with the University of the Arts Silver Star Alumni Award for her work as an artist in the field of dance. She has performed and toured the world with Momix and Carolyn Dorfman Dance Company. Renée lives in Connecticut with her husband and a menagerie of animals. MATT KENT (Artistic Director) began his career with Pilobolus as a dancer in 1996, helping create many pieces, including classics like Gnomen and Selection, a collaboration with Maurice Sendak. In 2011, Matt was chosen by the founding Artistic Directors to lead Pilobolus in its post succession evolution. He has directed for the stage and screen choreographing on horses, chinese acrobats, giant Michael Curry puppets, zombies on The Walking Dead, jugglers, break dancers, actors, LED umbrellas, and dancers. He was nominated for Best Choreography by the L.A. Drama Critics Circle for The Tempest directed by Aaron Posner and Teller. Matt loves exploring and executing the ever evolving work of Pilobolus as it reaches out to an expanding group of artists, audiences, and populations in ever unexpected ways. NATHANIEL BUCHSBAUM (Dance Captain) is a manipulator of Light and Shadow, Harnesser of Momentum, Shepherd of Saccharomyces, Student of the Ephemeral, & Walker of the Prime Material plane. He is known amongst the Planeswalkers as Tragic the Blathering and is rumored to be known in the Northeast as simply… “Nate.” When he isn't wandering the realms, delighting both young and old with his nimble, scantily-clad acts of physical storytelling, he dwells in Connecticut, brewing beer in his garage under the watchful eyes of his feline familiars. Nate was absorbed into Pilobolus in 2012. QUINCY ELLIS (Dance Captain) began training as a gymnast and figure skater in his home state of Maine before earning his BFA in Acting from Emerson College. He has performed and taught for ** Theatre Raleigh, The MoveShop, DeFunes Dance, and The Neighborhood Playhouse, among others. Quincy has also danced for a variety of NYC Drag Artists, including Juicy Liu and Miz Cracker. Outside of theater, he’s an avid traveler, evolution enthusiast, and nature lover. Quincy joined Pilobolus in 2017. He does not dye his hair gray…it grows that way. IG: quincy.m.ellis; www.quincy-ellis.com. MARLON FELIZ (Dancer) has danced with Pilobolus since 2014, touring Shadowland productions around the world, and now presenting repertory and artistic programing wherever possible. Additional credits include a Broadway debut in the new West Side Story, and other musicals, cruise ships, and NYC-based companies. She received her foundational training in ballet and modern dance at New World School of the Arts, and completed her BFA in Dance at NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. She is originally from Miami, FL.