Nijawwon Matthews is a Resident teacher/choreographer for The Joffrey Ballet School based in New York City. Mr. Matthews is also a faculty teacher and dancer for TOKYOTHECCOMPANY under the direction of Kevin “Tokyo” Inouye & Alisha Lorraine Captain. Starting as a gymnast, Matthews has trained in many dance techniques including; Ballet, Jazz, Modern, and Hip-Hop. Inspired by solid training and early achievements, Nijawwon has been motivated to pursue his interest in dance further. He landed opportunities with several companies including Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, Philadanco, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, and Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company. Matthews has performed the works of Dee Caspary, Kevin “Tokyo” Inouye, Kevin “Iega” Jeff, Donald McKayle, Christopher Huggins, Milton Myers, Otis Salllid, Cecilia Marta, and many others.
As a dance educator and choreographer, Mr. Matthews has travelled nationally and internationally to instruct master classes for a host of academic schools, dance studios, and professional companies as well as; institutions in the British Virgin Islands, Germany, South Africa, China, and Taiwan. To his credit, Nijawwon Matthews orchestrated theatrical performances for Partnership For Results, a community-wide after-school youth program under the direction of Susan Muldoon. Nijawwon also assisted choreographer Christopher Huggins with the restaging of Rendezvous, which was set on the Alvin Ailey/Fordham B.F.A. students. Recently, he assisted and was a guest artist for the artistic director/choreographer Cecilia Marta Dance Company.
Nijawwon simply enjoys connecting and hopes that all of his experiences will help create opportunities for dancers to work.
Founder/Director
Nijawwon Matthews
Lea Antolini
Lea Antolini received her BMA in classical voice from the University of the Arts and her MFA in acting from Brandeis University where she also had the opportunity to teach movement for the actor under the tutelage of Susan Dibble. She has performed professionally in NYC and in various cities on the east coast. Some of her recent credits include Working, The Last Five Years, The Fantasticks! (Women’s Theater Company of NJ); Peter Pan , The Wizard of OZ, Oliver! A Christmas Carol and Christmas at Small’s Empire Music Hall (Centenary Stage Company ) A Year with Frog and Toad, Mid-Summer Night’s Dream, Junie B. Jones and Suessical (The Growing Stage Theater Company) 400 Parts Per Million, Lying (Blessed Unrest Theater Co. NYC) Lea has received various honors including “best featured actress in a musical “(Star Ledger 2006) “best comedian in a musical “(Daily Record 2007) and” Hardest Working actress in NJ” (Daily Record, 2006). Best Actress in a Play ( Daily Record 2015) and the Jete Award in 2014 for her outstanding contributions to the dance world in NJ.
Director of Operations
Past Xy Guest Artists in Residence
Ashley Mayeux
Ashley Mayeux a Houston, Texas native graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual arts. She went on to graduate cum laude from SUNY Purchase College in New York, with a Bachelors in Fine Arts. After graduating college Ashley toured with the off broadway show Aida. Mayeux joined Complexions Contemporary Ballet in 2012.
Jourdan Epstein
Jourdan Epstein has been performing with XY Dance Project since 2015. Shebegan her training at the age of 3 at the Summit Dance Shoppe in Minnesota, and supplemented her training at ABT, the Juilliard School, Kirov and Lines. She later went to train on scholarship at Walnut Hill School and earned a degree from NYU in Dance Medicine and Science. After graduation Jourdan became a member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet in NYC with whom she performed nationally and internationally for 3 years. She was a top 20 finalist on Season 11 of Fox’s “So You think You Can Dance,” is a member of Tokyo the Company and is about to set out on her 3rd European tour of Romeo and Juliet with Bad Boys of Dance. She has also performed with David Hallberg in Performa 15 and was a Guest Artist with Keigwin + Company 2015. Jourdan has been honored to perform works by Dwight Rhoden, William Forsythe, Jae Man Joo, Benoit Swan-Pouffer, Sonya Tayeh, Alonzo King and Dee Caspary. Other Credits include a 1st place medal at the Youth America Grand Prix and a silver Medal at the USA National Youth Ballet Competition. She feels so lucky to be able to travel the world performing and sharing her gift as well as teaching and choreographing around the country.
Lloyd A. Boyd III
Lloyd A. Boyd III (Cleveland, OH) began dancing at the age of 13 while training at Cleveland School of the Arts, under the direction of Terrence Greene. He has attended summer intensives at The Ailey School, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Greer Reed, and Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School and Camp. Mr. Boyd is a graduate from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and has worked with choreographers Bill T Jones, Susan Jaffe, Juel D. Lane, and Larry Keigwin. In 2014, he was part of the international tour of Rasta Thomas’ Bad Boys of Dance production of Romeo and Juliet. This is Mr. Boyd’s first season with Ailey II.