Biography
Dina Denis
Dina Denis is a dancer, teacher and choreographer from Queens, NY. She holds a BA in Dance from Hofstra University and an MA in Dance Education from New York University. Dina is a k-12 New York State certified dance educator, a 200 HR certified yoga teacher and a Zena Rommett Floor-Barre instructor. Dina has been an adjunct lecturer within Hunter College's School of Education and Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program. Dina also spent time as a mentor for future dance educators within Hunter College's Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program. As a dance educator Dina has taught at the Long Island High School for the Arts and has taught and created 2 successful dance programs within the Department of Education at the High School for Medical Professionals and the East Bronx Academy for the Future.
Dina Denis has also danced with Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama and Yana Schnitzler's Human Kinetics Movement Arts. Dina began her professional dance career with Robin Becker Dance and has performed with Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama, Douglas Dunn and Dancers, Joan Miller's Dance Players, Robin Becker Dance, Sheila Kaminsky, Martian Roumain, Abdel Salaam, Dr. Glory Van Scott, Joan Peters, Val Suarez and her own dance company, Dina Denis Dance / Dance Into Light, Inc.
Dance Into Light, Inc.
Dance Into Light, Inc. (DIL) is a 501 (c) 3 modern dance company based in Queens, New York. Founded in 2003 by Dina Denis. DIL's mission has been to explore dance as an avenue for personal healing for participants and observers and as a means of self-expression through multicultural and multidisciplinary collaborations and educational experiences for youth, seniors and professional artists. Dina's work aims to be inclusive of multiple cultures, physical abilities, ages, disciplines and approaches. For over fifteen years, Dina and DIL have been committed to bring quality performances and dance classes to senior populations through her collaborative program Celebrating Human Connection Through Dance.
Dina and Dance Into Light has received generous support from a consistent audience base along with the Queens Council on the Arts' re-grants program from the New York State Council on the Arts, Department of Cultural Affairs, JP Morgan Chase and Department for the Aging. Other support has been from community organizations such as Astoria Federal Bank, Topaz Arts, New York City Council Member Peter Koo and private donors.
Dina's choreography been presented in various local venues such as the LaGuardia Community College Performing Arts Center, the Langston Hughes Library, the Volker-Orth Museum and Bird Sanctuary, Green Space's “Blooms Festival” and “Take Root” series, Salvatore LaRussa Dance Theatre's Free Sunday Performing Arts, the Queensborough Dance Festival at the Secret Theatre, Long Island City's “Lot Fest” and Gantry Plaza State Park as well as in venues in Long Island, Chicago, New Jersey, Maryland, Ohio, Pennsylvania and Colorado. Dina's collaborations also currently include a twelve year artistic partnership with Fulbright Scholar multicultural visual artist Siona Benjamin. Dina and Siona most recently showed their work at the MC Hotel Montclair and the Montclair Art Museum in New Jersey.
Dina has collaborated with dancers, musicians and visual artists such as Siona Benjamin to explore her interests in human and spiritual conditions along with the portrayal of narratives through dance. In addition to its creative work, the Company has become known for its work with seniors through performances and dance classes at nursing homes and senior centers such as the Benjamin Rosenthal Prince Street Senior Center.
"Dance energizes, inspires and uplifts our spirits. It incites thought, joy and relieves stress for dancers and audiences alike. Dance awakens an innate creative force to heal and help build communities that advance and enrich our lives"
~Dina Denis
Photo credits: Aehee Kang Asano