Biography
Dina Denis
Dina Denis is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher 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, and a 200 HR certified yoga teacher. Dina is an adjunct professor and supervisor with Hofstra University's Dance Education program. Dina teaches chair-based dance classes for Senior Centers. She also teaches private yoga to groups and individuals upon request. For a number of years, Dina was an adjunct lecturer and mentor within Hunter College's School of Education / Arnhold Graduate Dance Education Program. As a dance educator in the public sector, Dina directed and taught at the Long Island High School for the Arts' Dance Program. Dina created and taught in two dance programs within the New York City's Department of Education: High School for Medical Professions and the East Bronx Academy for the Future.
Dina Denis enjoys choreographing solo and group works, and collaborating with musicians, videographers, photographers, visual artists, and costume designers to make work for Dance Into Light. Most recently, Dina's explorations have led her to make a series of multi-disciplinary solo works that incorporates live music, sound, and poetry.
Dina has had the pleasure of performing with Anabella Lenzu/DanceDrama, Yana Schnitzler's Human Kinetics Movement Arts, Robin Becker Dance, Douglas Dunn and Dancers, Joan Miller's Dance Players, Sheila Kaminsky, Martial Roumain, Abdel Salaam, Dr. Glory Van Scott, Joan Peters, and Val Suarez.
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 two decades, 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
Headshot credit: Michelle Ingkavet Cavanagh
Photo credits: Aehee Kang Asano