August 2014 Artists

August's Featured Artists

JESS ADAMS (Mixologist) is a former bartender and life-long cocktail enthusiast based in Brooklyn, NY. She is very happy to be returning once again to the salon as your mixologist! In her cocktail life, Jess is exploring infusions and hopes to one day successfully make some freaky bitters. She has been known to throw a good soiree. Jess is also a theatre artist and mask and props artisan. You can check out her theatre work at www.jessadamstheatre.com.

BRIAN ADLER (Percussion) had his first musical experience at the age of five, reciting classical Indian drum syllables and playing the corresponding finger patterns on his knees. He attended New England Conservatory, where he studied with master jazz musicians Billy Hart and Bob Moses who helped him discover his own voice, blending many traditions including jazz, Indian, South American and western classical music. Brian has travelled throughout the world and performed at such venues as Carnegie Hall, Symphony Space, Clear Water Festival (New York), Konex (Buenos Aires), the Ear Shot Jazz Festival (Seattle), and Passinger Fabrik (Munich). Most recently he played percussion on the score of “Of Many,” a film produced by Chelsea Clinton and featured at the Tribeca Film Festival. In 2002, Adler founded Circavision Productions, a record label and production company that has since released seven albums, one book and hundreds of performances. In 2013, he published A World of Percussion, a book of percussion pieces inspired by rhythms from across the globe. He currently runs a private teaching practice, coordinates a music program for children with special needs and is a member of Bash the Trash, an organization that teaches children about music and keeping the world clean by constructing instruments out of recycled materials. www.brianadler.com

ASHLEY AQUILO (Dancer) is from upstate NY and has studied all forms of dance since the age of 3. She has assisted Anthony Morigerato (NUVO/SYTYCD Choreographer) and currently assists Lauren Gaul (Pace University Asst Professor of Commercial Dance/former Radio City Rockette). She also had the opportunity to assist and intern for Turn It Up Dance Challenge. Ashley now choreographs, teaches, and works for Jo & Jax Dancewear. She is a Sophomore BFA Commercial Dance Major at Pace University. Ashley is also continuing her education by studying Barre Certification through the International Ballet Barre Fitness Association.

CATRINA (COCO) BENTLEY (Photographer) was born in London and lives in New York with her husband, Carey Ramos - an attorney and writer. "At the age of five, I lost the sight of my dominant eye. 'Not being able to do something' was not really an option - so I developed ways to compensate for limited vision. My hearing is excellent, but I rely even more on my instincts. As I have grown older I have learned to trust those instincts - to feel rather than look and to see to rather than glance... The photographer sees with one eye - through the eyepiece of the camera. It is - technically speaking - a two-dimensional world. It is the photographer's task to transform this technological 'disability' into an asset - to transform a two-dimensional image into a three-dimensional world. This is what I learned to do as a child - not through training, but through instinct, through a slow and painstaking process of trial and error. When I discovered photography, I realized that I had learned instinctively as a child to do precisely what the photographer does - to see a three-dimensional world through a single lens, to re-imagine space and capture the rich multi-dimensionality of a landscape, a face, a gesture that we otherwise take for granted. It is a process of transformation - from transitory reality to the 'persistent image... That is why I turned to photography - not by ambition or design, but because, by misfortune or fortune, I see the world through one good eye.”

Coco Bentley has worked in many fields to support herself: airport lavatory cleaner (Gatwick Airport), factory worker, mini-skirted waitress at the Hard Rock Café, professional shirt ironer/driver/aircraft cleaner and girl who would do just about anything for a free flying lesson (Biggin Hill Airport), Chicken factory worker (lasted one day), Pilot, Operations Manager, Hotel Management (Hilton International), International Events Director for The Coca Cola Company, Aid to Her Majesty Queen Noor. The only real constant has been her photography.

JEFFERY BURGE (Video- Director/Choreographer) was born in Ottawa, Canada and has been based in New
York City for the past four years. Having originally relocated to the city to study dance in Broadway
Dance Center's International Program, he is now a student in his junior year at the Fashion Institute of
Technology , pursuing a Bachelor's Degree in Creative Entrepreneurship. His dance training began
at the age of four in both classical and contemporary styles. Throughout his childhood, Jeffery also
gained extensive training and experience in theatre, studying acting at Canterbury High School for
the Arts and performing in community musical theatre productions with local, Ottawa companies. In
2006, Jeffery founded a musical theater company in Ottawa with which he produced, directed and
choreographed three full-scale musicals: Once On This Island, A Chorus Line, and The Last Five Years
(performed at The National Art Gallery of Canada). Jeffery has recently ventured into directing film
and choreographing for the screen, studying filmmaking at The School of Visual Art. He is thrilled to
be debuting his first film project, Vulnerable, at Le Salon Bklyn.

AUSTIN COATS (Choreographer) is a BFA Commercial Dance Major at Pace University. He has been dancing since his freshman year in high school, and has worked with choreographers and teachers such as Scott Jovovich, Chloe Arnold, Susan Misner, Cherice Barton, Paul Sutherland, and Jessica Hendricks. His most recent performance was in Pace University’s annual Dance Concert, Dance Out Loud, this spring in a piece set by Andy Blankenbuehler and an aerial piece by Joshua Dean, among others. Originally from North Carolina, he choreographed and performed for the theatre group, The Talent Company, of which he is a founding member.

JORDI COATS (Producer) Previously, Jordi has worked with Binder Casting, Tara Rubin Casting, and Telsey + Company casting. Recently she was an associate producer of the award-winning "Mother Jones and the Children's Crusade" at this years NY Musical Theatre Festival. Previously, Jordi asst. directed and associate produced "Volleygirls" at NYMF in 2013 (Best of Fest), IAMA Theatre Co's "Shiner" (asst. director), and has been collaborating on many film projects in the area. Jordi continues to work with "Volleygirls", producing cabarets and other fund-raising campaigns for organizations such as "It Gets Better" around NYC. She is a graduate of the Univeristy of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. While in NC, she founded The Talent Company, a theatre company for middle and high school students in the Uwharrie region that is currently in its 7th season. Jabali.

ELIJAH CORNELL (ParodyVideo) b. 1985, is proud to be debuting his directorial film debut of a parody he wrote with Christina Ramirez. Working on it with Jordi, Christina, and the team has been a joy and he looks forward to future endeavors of the like.

MARK CURTIS FERRANDO (Acrobat) started tumbling and theatrical work at a young age. At the University of California, Davis, he studied Dramatic Arts while a part of the Gymnastics Club. In 2011, he came to the city for An Acrobat of the Heart, a two week intensive Grotowski-based training. In 2012 he found circus and a home at Circus Warehouse. The past two years, Mark has studied intensely in Duo Acrobatics, Chinese Pole, Trampoline, Flying Trapeze, Juggling, and Handstands. You can find out more at www.markcurtisferrando.com

ASHLEY GUNSTEENS (Producer) is a Brooklyn-based actor and director with a penchant for movement and ensemble-based work. Her favorite recent projects include What Every Girl Should Know ("Best Ensemble" NY Fringe Festival 2013), Volleygirls The Musical (“Best of Fest” NYMF 2013), All My Children, Julius Caesar, and How I Learned to Drive. She is also the creator of the NYC fashion & lifestyle blog, SOUTHbySOHO.com, which you are more than welcome to read HERE and then tell all your friends about. www.ashleygunsteens.com

FLIPPE KIKEE (Actress/Singer/Drag Queen) is thrilled to be a part of her first salon. As a "gal" who loves to live over the top, an under the big top themed show is a perfect fit!! Miss Kikee Has appeared on various NYC stages including her portrayal as Helen Earth in the rock musical The Electric Highway, and has also made a foray into the YouTube parody realm as the titular character in "Slay Them Vamps: A Buffy Parody." Flippe can be found hosting the happy hour show #YouMad every Monday 6-8 pm at the West Village's Boots & Saddle.
Follow her on Instagram: @flippeout | Twitter: @flippekikee | Facebook: Miss Flippe Kikee

JULIE KRYGSMAN (Trombone) is a trombonist and aerial acrobat based out of the northern NJ/ NYC. She has over twenty years playing experience and has combined her love of music and circus arts by performing acts under the theme of 'Music in the Air'. She has performed with various brass ensembles including Gramercy Brass, Imperial Brass and with artists Warren Vache and Phil Smith. Julie is currently in the professional program at Circus Warehouse.

WES KRYGSMAN (Tuba) is a freelance tuba player and music teacher based in northern New Jersey. With a Bachelor of Music degree in performance from Montclair State University in hand, Wes began teaching elementary band in Clifton, NJ. His freelance career highlights include performances with diverse groups including orchestras such as the Chelsea Symphony, the British style Gramercy and Imperial Brass Bands, various brass quintets including Gemini Brass, Bravura Brass, and Solid Brass, and for many college ensembles including Montclair State, Kean, and Jersey City Universities.

EVAN McCULLOCH (Guitar) Since childhood Evan McCulloch has been fascinated by the artistry and focus music required. He grew up watching his parents perform and also studied guitar with his father since age seven. He felt it was important to continue his education of music after high school and graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2005 from SUNY Purchase in Jazz Guitar. Evan also writes and produces music as well as teaching students of all ages, including those with special needs. "To be able to pass the gift of music on to others has been a huge inspiration for me. I genuinely enjoy teaching and it makes me happy to do what I love," says Evan. He has secured a song placement the band RBD (who are signed to Sony/EMI) and also has a publishing deal with the Royalty Network where he pitches songs for T.V. and movie placements and to other popular artists. Evan leads his own band called Thousand Faces and has been performing the music around NY for the last year. You can check out the band website at: www.thousandfacesband.com.

ADRIELLE MUNGER (Painter), like so many others, is a recent transplant to New York City. Armed with a degree in English Literature from Arizona State, she came here to pursue publishing (because, seriously, what do you do with a BA in English?). However, after providing hours upon hours of free labor and dry cappuccinos for the managing staff, Adrielle abandoned the stifling publishing industry in favor of activist organizing and seeing/doing art in her spare time. She currently works for the feminist thinktank Redstockings and organizes with National Women's Liberation, and the Intern Worker Alliance. She reads and writes mostly creative (feminist) nonfiction, and paints whatever she wants. She is very glad that she decided not to go to graduate school right now, and is enjoying freedom outside of the academy very much.

JOHN MURRELL (Music Video) A musician and music specialist at Harlem Children’s zone, John is a multi-
instrumentalist with soulful tenor vocals. He provides the musical foundation for the band Robbing Johnny with his background in classical and world music, and easily swaps various instruments (including the piano, guitar, mandolin and percussion) on stage.

MICHAEL PULLANO (Director- Music Video) is a director of a varied technical background. Operating as a Post Supervisor and Editor in New York, he has worked on two feature films, Weinstein-released Bully and the Showtime documentary Brooklyn Boheme. He's done commercial projects for MSNBC, The New York Times and the Huffington Post. Now’s he’s getting real.

PATRICK ROBINSON (Music Video) is both a playwright and songwriter. He spits sharp, spontaneous and poetic lyrics with the ability to freestyle any given beat or chord he’s dealt. Pat contributes his vocal talent to Robbing Johnny just as much as his rapping, and exchanges roles with John at different points. He is also the rapper in Analog Rascals and likes to read books and drink coffee. Combined, Robbing Johnny intertwines rock n’ roll, rap, folk and soul to unite music tastes and bring people together.

CHRISTINA RAMIREZ (Parody Video) is an Equity actress living in New York City. She has a BFA from Webster Conservatory of Theatre Arts in Musical Theatre. Recently, Christina has been performingaround the city at cabaret venues including Birdland Jazz Club, The Duplex, and The Melrose Ballroom. She is thrilled that The Dora Project has finally come to life with the help of some seriously talented artists and can't wait to share it! To learn more about her check out www.christina-ramirez.com.

ANGEL REY (Vocalist/Lyricist) grew up making mixtapes of his favorite songs off the radio. He studied Classical and Jazz voice at Binghamton University while also performing in various theater productions and in the 80's a cappella group The Rhythm Method. At the 2010 Harmony Sweepstakes competition, he was awarded Best Male Vocalist. He's sung backup for major Latin recording artists Lusi Fonsi, David Bisbal, Laura Pausini and Alejandro Sanz. Currently, you can find him performing at countless private events. He's finishing up his first album that he's set to release soon!

HEATHER RHEAM (Trumpet) received her Bachelor of Music degree in Trumpet Performance at Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University and then went on to complete her Master of Music degree at Michigan State University for Trumpet Performance. Since graduating, she has been freelancing around central New Jersey, and taught private trumpet lessons at the Westminster Conservatory for seven years. She also played Flugelhorn with the National Brass Band Association 2013 Championship winners, the Princeton Brass Band for seven years. Heather has been taking flying trapeze classes for several years and studying at the Circus Warehouse for the past year and a half.

JERI SILVERMAN (Singer-Songwriter) is originally from South Africa. A world traveler, her songs are a powerful blend of poetry and folk, celebrating the rawness of melody and the nuances of intimacy. Her debut album
Leaflike was released this year on iTunes, and she can be found playing live in New York Venues. She is also an actress and has worked internationally in film, theatre, commercials and VO. Training includes the Atlantic Theater (NY), RADA (London), Delfos Danza Contemporanea (Mexico) and University of Cape Town (South Africa).

CASSIDY STONER (Dancer) is in her third year of the BFA Musical Theatre Program at Pace University where she was last seen in Jacob Brent's production of Lysistrata Jones and Rhonda Miller's Dance Out Loud. Cassidy was also a member of the 2013 Resident Company at the Forestburgh Playhouse.

SARAH WOODS (Dancer) started dancing at the age of 3. In her hometown of Knoxville, Tennessee, she trained at Angela Floyd Schools where she was in the Angela Floyd Dance Company from age eight until she graduated high school. She also attended conventions and intensives such as JUMP and the Rockette Summer Intensive, as well as the Broadway Dance Center Summer Professional Semester in 2013. Her first year of college she attended University of North Carolina at Greensboro as a dance major and the following year, she transferred to Pace University to be a part of their BFA Commercial Dance program.