Who we are
Professional dance in and for the Hudson Valley
A-Y/dancers is a repertory dance company based in the Hudson Valley that presents professional modern and contemporary dance through performances and public educational programs.
We create dance programs that span the history of concert dance and provide audiences with experiences of classical modern dance, acclaimed contemporary dance, and groundbreaking emerging choreography.
We seek to serve, educate, and grow the dance audience in the Hudson Valley's already burgeoning artistic community.
Director
Claire Deane
Claire Deane, from New Rochelle, New York, began her dance training at Scarsdale Ballet Studio under the direction of Diana White, and was a founding member of the Taylor Teen Ensemble at the Paul Taylor School. Claire graduated from Purchase College, SUNY with a BFA in Dance Performance. While at Purchase, she had the pleasure of working with Doug Varone, Alexandra Beller, Sidra Bell, and Kevin Wynn, among others. Her senior repertory solo “Scherzo 300” choreographed by Deborah Lohse, was selected as a Director’s Choice and performed at New York Live Arts with Purchase Dance Company in 2017. She has also performed with the Merce Cunningham Trust, and was a part of Isabel Lewis’s immersive dance work “occasions and other occurrences” at Dia:Beacon. Following graduation, Claire moved to Beacon, New York to explore the rich and burgeoning arts community in the Hudson Valley. Claire has appeared as a solo dance artist in performances curated by the DUSKLIT Arts Festival in Sugar Loaf, New York, Strongroom Inc. in Newburgh, New York, and the Durang Dance Collective in Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Claire has taught at the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College, Vassar College, and is on faculty at Ballet Arts Studio in Beacon, NY.
Founders
Sienna Blaw
