From our co-executive directors and experienced teaching artists to our engaged board members and advisors, each person plays a vital role in shaping BAX’s programs and embodying our commitment to accessibility, equity, and artistic excellence for our community. Get to know them below.
People
Co-Executive Directors
Lucia Scheckner
Lucia (she/her) is a native New Yorker with over 20 years of experience across arts education…
Marlène Ramírez-Cancio
Marlène Ramírez-Cancio (she/her/ella) is a Puerto Rican cultural producer, artist, and educator…
Vanessa Adato
Vanessa (she/her) has worked in a variety of roles at BAX since 1998, including Interim Executive Director…
BAX Staff
Clarence Demesier
Clarence Demesier (he/him) is a Brooklyn-based actor and business development professional…
Ebon Gore
Ebon Gore (she/her) is one of BAX’s amazing Administrative & Facilities Assistants…
Lore Feichter
Lore Feichter (she/they) is the Administrative and Facilities Assistant for weekend mornings. Lore has a history in writing interactive stories…
melinda harrison
melinda harrison (they/them) is one of BAX’s amazing Administrative & Facilities Assistants.
Melissa Costidis
Melissa Costidis (she/her) is a Brooklyn-based arts administrator with a background in marketing, communications, and..
Ndaru Kartikaningsih
Ndaru “Roo” Kartikaningsih (she/her) is a dancer, choreographer, and nonprofit arts administrator, currently the Programs &…
Noa Rui-Piin Weiss
Noa Rui-Piin Weiss is a dancer, writer, and administrator based in Brooklyn…
Shem Phillip-Peters
Shem Phillip-Peters (he/him) is one of BAX’s amazing Administrative & Facilities Assistants.
Tyler Renfroe
Tyler Renfroe (he/him) is a dancer, techie, and certified yoga instructor…
BAX Advisors
Ashley Thaxton-Stevenson
Ashley Renee Thaxton-Stevenson (she/her/hers) is a theatre maker, educator, and facilitator…
Donna Costello
Donna Costello (she/her) is a dance artist working in the field of dance, theater, performance and education…
george emilio sánchez
george emilio sánchez (he/him) is a writer, performance artist and social justice activist…
Helen Styring Tocci
Helen Styring Tocci (she/her) is a BAX Teaching Artist & Education Advisor.
Kara Gilmour
Kara Gilmour (she/her) brings decades of experience in arts education, administration, community engagement, and fundraising…
Kelindah bee
Kelindah bee (they/them) is a nonbinary educator and drag performance artist…
BAX Faculty
Amy Mitchell
Amy Mitchell (she/her) is a captivating dancer originating from Stamford, CT…
Anna Vomaçka
Anna Vomaçka (she/her) is a dance/movement/yoga explorer/maker/performer/teacher…
Ashley Thaxton-Stevenson
Ashley Renee Thaxton-Stevenson (she/her/hers) is a theatre maker, educator, and facilitator…
Aviya Hernstadt
Aviya Hernstadt (she/her) is a multimedia performance artist, dancer, educator…
Billy Schultz
Billy Schultz (he/him) is a producer and educator with a background in clown, dance theater, and circus arts…
Crystal-Marie Alberson
Crystal-Marie (she/hers) is a theatre artist working primarily in ensemble theatre…
Diana Crum
Diana Crum (she/her) currently serves as the Dance Teacher at German School Brooklyn and a Teaching Artist with organizations…
Diane Tomasi
Diane Tomasi (she/her) is a queer cis white woman who performs on the ground and in the air, as a dancer and aerialist…
Donna Costello
Donna Costello (she/her) is a dance artist working in the field of dance, theater, performance and education…
Ella Wasserman-Smith
Ella Wasserman-Smith (she/her) is a dancer and choreographer, originally from Athens, GA…
Emily Batsford
Emily Batsford (they/them) is a theater artist with a particular love for new work…
Helen Styring Tocci
Helen Styring Tocci (she/her) is a BAX Teaching Artist & Education Advisor.
Jessica Lee
Jessica Lee (she/her) is a dance artist, educator, facilitator, and arts administrator…
Johnnie Cruise Mercer
Johnnie Cruise Mercer (he/him), a 2022 Dance Magazine Harkness Promise Award Recipient…
José Joaquín García
José Joaquín García (he/him), director, composer, actor, singer, writer, is the Artistic Director of Rubí Theater Company…
Julliette Holiday
Julliette Holliday (she/her) is a Brooklyn based Black multi-hyphenate artist—writer, director, deviser, performer, composer…
Kelindah bee
Kelindah bee (they/them) is a nonbinary educator and drag performance artist…
Lydia Funke
Lydia Funke (she/her) received her M.A. degree in Educational Theatre from New York University…
Maira Duarte
Maira Duarte (she/her) is a Mexican New York artist, educator, and organizer…
Makenna Finch
Makenna Finch (she/her/they/them) is a multimedia dance artist and educator…
Nadia Hannan
Nadia Hannan (they/them) is a dancer, choreographer, arts administrator, and educator from New York City…
Skye Montante
Skye Montante (they/them) began studying ballet at Petaluma School of Ballet at the age of 8…
Tamika Charles-Sims
Tamika Charles Sims (she/her) has instructed and coached gymnastics for over 20 years…
BAX Board of Directors
Amy Sumner
Amy Sumner (she/her) is a retired public school staff member at the Brooklyn New School…
Elisabeth Motley
Elisabeth Motley (she/her) is a Disabled, neurodivergent, and Mad choreographer, scholar…
george emilio sánchez
george emilio sánchez (he/him) is a writer, performance artist and social justice activist…
Mariana Valencia
Choreographer and performer Mariana Valencia (she/her), is an LMCC Extended Life grantee…
Nimat Lawal
Nimat Lawal is a corporate counsel in the New York office of O’Melveny & Myers LLP with a focus on mergers and acquisitions…
Oliver T. Fein
I am a primary care, general internist, who has retired from clinical practice at…
Raine Martin
Raine Martin is an experienced development, marketing, and communications professional…
Rebecca Cardwell
Rebecca Cardwell (she/her) is currently an Associate Vice President, Executive Search at…
Sara Palmer
Sara Palmer is a long-time Brooklyn resident and has been part of the BAX family…
Zohreh Ahmad
Zohreh Ahmad (she/her) is an Associate Partner and a founding member at Brandon Haw Architecture…
BAX Founder
Marya Warshaw
Marya Warshaw (she/her) is the Founding Executive/Artistic Director of BAX/Brooklyn Arts Exchange…