REBEKAH J KENNEDY (Artistic Director / Choreographer) was born and raised in New York City. She holds an MFA in Dance (Choreography) from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro and a BS in Dance and Theatre from Skidmore College. Rebekah began Urban Wash in North Carolina and started the company in New York City in 2003. As a choreography, dancer, and director, she has choreographed for and performed in various projects throughout the eastern United States. Her choreography has been invited to appear with Sidelong Dance Company, InformAll Theatre Company, Artistika’s Featured Artist Series, Open Your Eyes Foundation, and the UNC Greensboro Department of Dance. She has performed with BJ Sullivan, Sidelong Dance, John Gamble Dance Theatre, Visions Contemporary Ballet Company, Informall Theatre Company, Esse Aficionado, Mereminne Dancers, Millicent Johnnie and Dancers, and others. Kennedy has been both a guest and a featured artist throughout New York and North Carolina, including at the North Carolina School of the Arts. Her most recent focus has been collaborating with Forward Motion Theater and MadFlat Productions marrying the mediums of dance, live video, and live original scores of music. She has appeared in commercials, music videos, and short films. Rebekah is also a wine consultant in Manhattan for Martin Scott Wines.

MEREDITH SHANK (Dancer)  is originally from Indianapolis, IN. and an alum of the American Musical and Dramatic Academy. In addition to Urban Wash Dance Co., she is also a member of VISIONS Contemporary Ballet Co. Favorite roles include Swanhilda in Coppelia and Odile in Swan Lake.  She has performed at multiple venues in New York City, including Abrons Arts Center, Roy Arias Theatre, Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, and The Secret Theatre. Meredith is also an aerialist (silks and corde lisse), and former rhythmic gymnastics state champion and national finalist. When Meredith isn’t dancing, she teaches fitness classes and Pilates around the NYC. She is the Creative Director of NYSC’s Best Dance Crew. Meredith is a graduate of the Kane School of Core Integration and continues to study dance with Alvin Ailey’s Extension.

IVAN TESTINI (Dancer) is from Milan, Italy and graduated with highest honors from MAS Academy.  He has performed all over Europe including the Paris Opera, Cannes, Munich, London, Stolcholm, and Zurich.  Dancer roles include High School Musical at the International Convention of Sky / Disney TV channel with choreographer Valeriano Longoni, prime time TV show Incredibles with choreographer Bill Goodson, and mulitple TV ads.  He is also the assistant choreographer for Bill Goodson and  a member and assistant choreographer for  Rita Larghi’s company Montaggio Parallelo in Italy.  Ivan came to New York City in 2009.  He actively performs in both Italy and the United States.

MAIKO MATSUI (Dancer) is a native of Osaka, Japan and has trained at Laban Center London (‘01~’02). She came to NYC in 2004 and has been studying at Peridance,.  She specializes choreography, modern, contemporary, contact improvisation, yoga and somatic movement.. She is also a certified Gyrokinesis teacher.  She is a member of VISIONS Contemporary Dance Company and Blue Muse Dance. Maiko joined UWDC in 2009.

JULIA EDWARDS (Dancer) grew up in Virginia and North Carolina. She holds a MFA in Dance Choreography from University of North Carolina at Greensboro, a BS in Sociology from College of Charleston SC, is comprehensively certified Pilates Instructor and graduated High School from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a concentration in Modern Dance.  Julia has served as contemporary dance faculty for the North Carolina Governor’s School West Campus, City Arts Dance Project and adjunct faculty at University of North Carolina Greensboro as well as taught many master classes in choreography, contemporary and Pilates. Her choreography has been featured through out the East Coast, along with her performances with multiple companies and independent choreographers. Julia enjoys sharing and exploring all movements with all people and is deeply interested in kinesthetic sociology. She currently teaches Pilates at Equinox Fitness, Sanctuary Pilates and privately.  She is a Group Fitness instructor for Physical Equilibrium. Julia free-lances as a dancer and lighting designer while continuing to create and explore her own choreographic works. Julia joined Urban Wash in 2009.

MAX SEMENOV / DJ ACTIVEPHAZE (Musician) is from Kalinigrad, Russia.  He is one of the founding members of MadFlat Productions, which presents electronic music with video installations.  ActivePhaze’s styles range from hard to minimal, noise to beats, FXs and accapellas, techno, house, ambient, modern classical, and Jazz.  He created original and remixed scores through using turntables and computers.  Al modern works produced under DJ ActivePhaze are released on several Indi European lables such as Gargan Records, Altai Records, and A/V label Club Chroma.  Max joined UWDC in 2003.

SERGEY “SIMA” EMELYANOV (Video Artist) is from Kaliningrad Russia.  He is one of the founding members of MadFlat Productions, which presents music with video installations.  He currently performs throughout NYC night clubs, including the Sullivan Room, Bar Reis, Remote Lounge, Pasha, and in Florida at the Winter Music Conference.  Sima joined UWDC in 2005.

MICAH (Costume Designer) is  a native New Yorker.  A mysterious artist, who enjoys a fine sense of fashion, playing with dye, and taking long cat naps, he has designed costumes for Urban Wash Dance Company since its New York inception.

COLLABORATING ARTISTS include:

WETCIRCUIT (Video Artist) is Holly Daggers, New York City-based VJ and Media Artist who creates & composes visual media in real time. Features include concert VJ for Busta Rhymes, James Brown, Page McConnell, Moby, and T.I., & was voted a Top 20 VJ worldwide by DJ Magazine, UK. She has designed interactive video installations for Museum of Modern Art and Chelsea Art Museum. Holly collaborates with musicians & choreographers presenting media performances in art galleries & theatrical settings, & has opened her shooting studio to create dance on video as a hybrid performance venue.

ERIC DUNLAP (Choreographer/Dancer) has toured internationally as a principal with Alwin Nikolais / Murray Louis Dance. He has worked with Peter Pucci Plus Dancers, Rebecca Sten/Perks Dance Music Theater, Sarah Skaggs Dancer/Higher Ground Projects, Pilobolus, and Pink Inc., appeared on NBC’s Today Show & currently a member of New York City Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Eric graduated from North Carolina School of the Arts and is a Shodan in Aikido.

MIKHAIL TORICH (Video Artist) is an international music video director, cameraman, photographer and visual artist shooting in Germany, Russia, United Kingdom, and United States.

AEROSTATIC (Muscians) is Terry Golob & Michele Darling, based in Brooklyn, NY, Aerostatic utilize artifacts of sound generated by digital & analog processing in conjunction with a variety of interactive technologies, to compose & design audio environments for film, installations & music performance. Work has been featured in England, Argentina, Australia, & United States.

OLEK (Costume designer) was born Agata Oleksiak in Poland and graduated from Adam Mickiewicz Univeristy with a degree in cultural studies. In New York, she rediscovered her ability to crochet and since then she has started her crocheted journey/madness. Olek received the Ruth Mellon Award for Sculpture and is the winner of Apex Art Gallery commercial competition. She is a featured artist all overteh world including Waterways during the 49th Venice Biennale.