Apprentice Program

The ZviDance Apprentice Program provides professional dancers an opportunity to work intimately with Zvi Gotheiner and the company. Participants attend company rehearsals and receive free access to Zvi's daily class at City Center Studios. Participation in the Apprentice Program is by invitation of the Artistic Director.

Current Apprentices

Ruth Anselm
Alison Cook Beatty
Jesse C. Beck
Meredith Clinton
Anna Hillengas
Luke Murphy
Paula Rivera
Gary Schaufeld
Anna Schon
Leah Schrager
Megan Thornburg

Apprentice Bios

RUTH ANSELM (Apprentice) began her training at The School of The Arts in her hometown of Rochester, NY under the mentorship of MaryLee Miller. She graduated with a BFA from The Ohio State University in 2005, where she had the opportunity to study with and perform works by Bebe Miller, Doug Varone, Susan Hadley, BalletMet, David Dorfman, and Robert Battle. Since moving to NY she has been teaching gymnastics to children and collaborating with friends. Ruth has performed with HMK dance, aMp: Dance, Danscores, as well as doing a music video for Huff This! She loves working with everyone who’s a part of ZviDance and feels very lucky to be understudying. Gratitude and thanks go out to family, friends and the Company.

ALISON COOK BEATTY (Apprentice) was born in Milford, CT. She recieved her BFA in dance from The Boston Conservatory. Upon graduating Alison moved to New York and has danced with Taylor 2, The Paul Taylor Dance Company, David Dorfman Dance, Sean Curran Company, among others. She also loves teaching dance to people of all ages and abilities. Alison is excited to be working with ZviDance.

JESSE C. BECK (Apprentice) attained his BFA in Dance from Tisch School of the Arts at New York University, as well as completing a double major in Politics. He is the recipient of the Edward Weisik Scholarship as well as the Bill Crosby Memorial Scholarship. He has performed in works by Gus Solomons Jr., Sean Green, Tiffany Billings and Brook Notery. He has debuted his choreography in New York and California and currently dances with James Martin Dance, Ballet Mink Colbert, and is a member of Lane & Co Dance and understudy with ZviDance.

MEREDITH CLINTON (Apprentice), a Canadian native, began her professional career performing with The Alberta Ballet Co as a pre professional. She has studied and worked with respected names such as Murray Kilgore, Nancy Kilgore, Frank Augustin, Karen Kain, Annette Av Paul, Brian Scott and Jean Grand-Maitre. Ms. Clinton moved to New York to study and perform under renowned choreographer, Merce Cunningham. She has also worked with other New York based choreographers such as Leah Kreutzer Barber, Esther Nederpelt, Dylan Crossman, Noamie LaFrance and Tricia Brouk. Ms. Clinton, is currently a member of KDNY Dance co. This is Meredith’s second season understudying for ZviDance.

ANNA HILLENGAS (Apprentice) was born in Kingston, Jamaica and raised in the Philadelphia area where she began her training with Gwendolyn Bye. After dancing at Barnard College and earning a BA in Urban Studies, Anna worked with various companies/ choreographers in New York City, including Nicholas Andre Dance, Redshift Dance, Lori Belilove & Co., Mary Seidman and Dancers, and Kathryn Ashby. Anna is also a Certified Pilates Instructor, and recently made her choreographic debut. She is very excited to be an apprentice with ZviDance. Many thanks to her family for their enduring love and support.

LUKE MURPHY (Apprentice) is originally from Cork City in Ireland, and graduated in 2009 with a BFA in Dance and English from Point Park University. As a student he performed works by Martha Graham, Bill T Jones, Agnes De Mille, Robert Battle, Edgar Zendejas and Lauri Stallings. He has worked with The Pillow Project, Erick Hawkins Dance, Sean Curran Company, Daniel Gwirtzman Dance Company, Kazuko Hirabayashi Dance Theatre and Heidi Latsky Dance. Luke is currently performing with the British physical theatre troupe, Punchdrunk Theatre in their production of ‘Sleep No More’ and is delighted to continue his studies as an Apprentice under Zvi Gotheiner and Bill T Jones.

PAULA RIVERA (Apprentice) joined MOMIX Dance Company under the direction of Moses Pendleton, in June 2007. She has since been touring internationally with two of their featured shows, Lunar Sea and The Best of MOMIX. Prior to joining MOMIX she performed with the Milwaukee Ballet, the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. She has also been a guest artist with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet since 2001. In 2003 Paula could be seen performing aboard the M/S Celebration in several of Carnival Cruise line’s production shows. On April 20th, 2008, under the direction of Danny Ezralow, Paula was delighted to perform for the final papal visit to Yankee Stadium. Paula received her early training in her hometown of Albuquerque , New Mexico . She went on to continue her training at the Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts, Ballet West Conservatory, and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. In 2004 she became a certified personal trainer.

GARY SCHAUFELD (Apprentice) is a 21-year-old New York native who began his physical education training by jumping around his bedroom to the tunes of Long Island's #1 Pop music radio station. At age 12, Gary performed as a dancer for New York Knick's Entertainment, where he jazz/funked at every halftime in Madison Square Garden for two years. At 13 he performed as a back-up dancer for pop music superstar Aaron Carter on his single ‘Aaron's Party’ (Come get it!). In High School, he was invited to represent the United States at the Beijing International Multicultural Arts Festival held in China to perform Fosse movement. Gary holds a BFA in Dance from NYU’s Tisch School of the Arts. While a student he performed original works by Ronald K. Brown, Sean Curran, Renee Redding Jones, James Martin, Brook Notary, Laura Peterson, and Gus Solomons Jr. Gary has apprenticed for Gina Gibney/Gibney Dance Company. Gary has performed for James Martin Music/Dance, Johannes Wieland, Patricia Noworol Dance, and understudied for Laura Peterson Choreography. Gary is currently performing with the Sean Curran Company, Sydney Skybetter/skybetter & associates, and Keigwin + Company.

ANNA SCHON (Apprentice) is a native New Yorker who recently received her BA from Barnard College in European History and Dance. Anna trained in modern techniques with Colleen Thomas (Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company), Mary Cochran (Paul Taylor), and Katie Glasner (Twyla Tharp) at Barnard. In addition to understudying with ZviDance, Anna is also working with the Reggie Wilson/Fist & Heel Performance Group, Larry Keigwin, Lonne Morreton, and VIA Dance Collaborative. Anna has also danced with Gabri Christa, Ori Flomin, Marco Pelle and Daniel Gwirtzman and will be attending the Northwest Professional Project Launch program this summer. She would also like to thank and acknowledge her family, friends, mentors, teachers, and Kehila back home in the Bronx who have always supported her.

MEGAN THORNBURG is a New Jersey native who graduated with a BFA in Dance from Florida State University in April 2011. During her time at FSU she performed works of prestigious choreographers including Jose Limon, Petipa, Alan Danielson, Jawole Zollar, Gerri Houlihan, Lynda Davis, Rick McCullough, Tim Glenn, and Anthony Morgan. She was also a member of Dance Repertory Theatre under the direction of Lynda Davis from 2008-2010. She has performed in festivals including The Dance Gallery and D.U.M.B.O. White Wave Festival in New York City, and Ringling International Arts Festival in Sarasota, Florida. Megan interned as a dance administrator with ZviDance in the Fall of 2010 working closely with David Persky and Artistic Director Zvi Gotheiner. She is Pilates Mat I Certified and resides in New York City.