Modern Faculty

Justin Dominic , a native of Newark, NJ, began his formal dance training at Newark Arts High School. In addition, he was a fellowship student at the Ailey School and attended summers at the American Ballet Theater and Joffrey Ballet School. On a full scholarship, Justin received his B.F.A from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where he performed with the Limon Company and works by Mark Morris, Lar Lubovitch, Merce Cunningham, George Balanchine, Donald McKayle, and Larry Keigwin.
 
After graduating, Justin joined Lustig Dance Theater as a founding member and, later, went on to dance with LaneCoArts, Dance Iquail, Keigwin + Co, Nai-Ni Chen Dance Company, and Carolyn Dorfman Dance. He also performed with the Mark Morris Group in Hard Nut and the Met Opera Ballet in Aida, Les Troyens, and Orfeo ed Euridice. Justin has worked closely with choreographers and teachers Doug Varone, Alexei Ratmansky, Francesca Harper, Ronald K. Brown, Carolyn Adams, Didy Veldman, Sean Sullivan, and Francesca Harper. Highly devoted to educating the next generation of artists, he teaches contemporary dance, ballet, and the Dancing Classrooms ballroom curriculum in various locations around the United States and abroad.
 
As a recipient of the Advanced Opportunity Fellowship, Justin received his M.F.A in dance at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. While finishing graduate school, he directed, choreographed, and produced his first screendance and short-film “unapologetic me: BLACK | GAY | MAN.” Justin is glad to return to the Met Opera Ballet for the 2018/19 production of Marnie.

Hailed by the New York Times as “one of the world’s most luminous dancers,” Michael Trusnovec grew up dancing on Long Island, graduated from the Long Island High School for the Performing Arts, and earned a BFA in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University.

For over two decades, Michael was a Principal Dancer with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, creating over 25 roles with, and appearing in more than 70 dances choreographed by Mr. Taylor. He premiered new works by Larry Keigwin, Doug Elkins, Doug Varone, Lila York, Margie Gillis and Pam Tanowitz, and was featured in the company’s presentation of Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels. Additionally, Mr. Trusnovec was Associate Rehearsal Director, was featured in the 2004 PBS Great Performances: Acts of Ardor and the 2013 Paul Taylor in Paris, and continues to serve as the Director of Worldwide Licensing and as a repetiteur of Mr. Taylor’s dances.

Among his honors are a 2018 Dance Magazine Award, the “Positano Premia La Danza” Dancer of the Year 2016, a 2006 Bessie Award, and in 1992 he was a YoungArts awardee and Presidential Scholar in the Arts. Michael serves on the Board of Directors of Dance Films Association, is a cocurator for the 2020 Dance on Camera at Lincoln Center. He is a National Reviewer and Dance Mentor for YoungArts, and is a co-founder of the Asbury Park Dance Festival. Mr. Trusnovec recently appeared as a Guest Artist with New York City Ballet’s presentation of George Balanchine’s Episodes during their Winter 2020 Season at Lincoln Center.

A native of the Bronx, New York, Michelle Fleet began dancing at the age of four under the tutelage of Lee Aca Thompson, she continued her training at Ballet Hispánico, while attending Talent Unlimited H.S. Michelle Fleet earned her B.F.A from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College. Ms. Fleet joined Taylor 2 in 1999 and made her debut with the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2002. During her 18 year tenure with the Paul Taylor Dance Company Ms. Fleet performed in 72 works in over 90 various roles choreographed by Mr. Taylor. Recognized for her versatility, musicality, strength and sensitivity to movement, Michelle Fleet is described in the New York Times by Gia Kourlas as “Strong and musically sensitive, dances as if movement is melting off her body.” Ms. Fleet has been featured in commissioned works by Larry Keigwin, Doug Elkins, Doug Varone, Brian Arias, Margie Gillis, Pam Tanowitz and Kyle Abraham. She has also performed in works by Bill T. Jones, Merce Cunningham, Kevin Wynn and Corbin Dances. In 2019 Ms. Fleet was honored as a Bronx Dance Icon, she has been highlighted in Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit, Self, Elle, TimeOut and other notable publications. In 2006 Ms. Fleet earned her M.B.A in Business administration from NYIT. As an entrepreneur Ms. Fleet is founder and CEO of Suri & Caya Fiber Art Designs. Ms. Fleet is also a co-founder of the Asbury Park Dance Festival.

NANCY LUSHINGTON  graduated with departmental honors in dance from Adelphi University. She danced as a soloist with the May O’Donnell Concert Dance Company for over 15 years. She has performed professionally with the Joyce Trisler Danscompany, Theater Dance Collection, The Asolo Opera, and Verlezza Dance, as well as in Leonard Bernstein’s “Mass” at the Kennedy Center. She has appeared on television in May O’Donnell’s Dance Energies, Mass, and was a featured dancer in a national commercial choreographed by Lynne Taylor Corbett. She is one of the few dancers who set Ms. O’Donnell’s works both in the US and abroad. She has choreographed over 30 works for colleges, universities and regional companies. Ms. Lushington teaches internationally annually in Cyprus, Graz Austria and at Bolzano Danza in Italy. She has also taught Master Classes in Ferrara, Barcelona, London and throughout the United States. She has served on the faculty at Adelphi University, Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and The New York School for Film and Television, Stephens College and was the Artistic Director of the Dance In Education Fund, Inc for 19 years. She is currently Assistant Professor of Dance at Marymount Manhattan College, and Adjunct Professor  at Montclair State University. She also serves on the Board of Directors of the O’Donnell Green Foundation for Music and Dance.

Madelyn Eltringham graduated summa cum laude in May 2015, with a BFA degree in Dance Performance from the Conservatory of Dance at Purchase College. In her Fall 2013 semester, she was chosen to take part in the Conservatory’s international exchange program, giving her the opportunity to study abroad at London Contemporary Dance School. As a member of the Purchase Dance Company, she has performed works by Sarah Mettin, Adam Barruch, Gabrielle Lamb, Rosalind Newman, Ori Flomin, George Balanchine restaged by Bettijane Sills, and Nicolo Fonte. Ms. Eltringham, a New Jersey native, attended The Academy for Visual and Performing Arts High School (Dance Major-Theater Minor) in Denville. During that time she trained with the New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, under the direction of Nancy Turano, as well as being privately coached by Yuliya Akopyan of the Bolshoi Ballet. Since graduating, Madelyn has performed as a member of RéCo Dance at the Reverb Dance Festival and Hudson River Museum, as well as most recently appearing in a new work by Magdalyn Segale at the INKUBATE performance series.