About The Ladies
Jenny Rocha
Jenny is the director and choreographer for "Jenny Rocha and Her Painted Ladies".
Jillian Hollis
Jillian Hollis is a graduate of Point Park University. She grew up in Syracuse NY and studied at the Center of Ballet and Dance Arts. Jillian has been working with Rocha Dance Theater since 2004. In a New York Times review Jennifer Dunning called Ms Hollis "blithely irrepressible" for her work with Jenny Rocha. Jillian has performed in numerous theater, cabaret and comedy venues in New York City and Brooklyn. Some favorites include Galapagos Art Space with Jenny Rocha and Her Painted Ladies, The Highline Ballroom with Lady Rizo and the Assettes, and The Bowery Poetry Club with The Chi Ciones. Other artist she performs with include Heidi Latsky Dance, Carrie Ahern, Incidents Physical Theater and Heather Harrington. Jillian is also a private Pilates instructor.
Jessy Smith
Jessy Smith grew up dancing in woodsy Hudson, Ohio and went on to receive a BFA in Dance from New York University’s Tisch School of the Arts. She has performed live with Larry Keigwin and Company, Cleo Mack Dance Project, Zvi Dance, Lady Rizo and the Assettes, and Bombergirl and the Mechanic and has also been featured in music videos for Gordon Voidwell, Ben Lerman and My M.O. Her colorful choreography has been presented at numerous venues including DTW, Le Poisson Rouge, Joe’s Pub, the Brooklyn Lyceum, Galapagos Art Space and the Here Arts Center. She is a teaching artist at the 3rd Street Music School Settlement and is Assistant Director of the After School Program at the Calhoun School. Smith joined Jenny Rocha and her Painted Ladies in 2006.
Molly Merkler
Molly Merkler is originally from Indiana and started her dance training at the Fort Wayne Ballet at the age of 5. In 2001, she moved to New York City to attend Tisch School of the Arts where she recieved her BFA in dance in 2004. She has performed with companies including Jessy Smith/POW!, adamscherdance, Operation CMYK and LaurenHale and Company. In 2011 she co-founded The Good To Go Girls, a comical trio of dancing good girls. Molly is also a member of the Rude Mechanical Orchestra, a political marching band providing the soundtrack to the revolution. (www.rudemechanicalorchestra.org). She works as a yoga instructor. She has had the pleasure of performing with RDT since 2007.
Amy Hessler
Amy Hessler grew up in a small town outside Richmond, VA. She then began her training at The Richmond Ballet and has been dancing and performing ever since. Amy moved to NYC after graduating from Virginia Tech in 2007 and has been loving life as an actor and dancer. Amy has been dancing with Jenny Rocha and her Painted Ladies since July 2010. www.amyhessler.com
Acknowledgments
The company has been in residence at Galapagos Art Space since 2008. A special thanks to Robert Elmes and his creative team for guiding and supporting this project. GALAPAGOS ART SPACE
Founding cast members include Christine Poland, Shevaun Smythe Hiler, Rieko Yamanaka, Jillian Hollis, Jessy Smith and Rocha.
Various songs for the project have been edited and mixed by Joseph Rivas.
Jenny Rocha & Her Painted Ladies perform vignettes that are a fusion of physical comedy, theater, burlesque and contemporary dance. Using a wide range of styles such as modern, hip-hop, jazz and tap, Rocha creates versatile, high-energy dances for a stunning cast of ladies. The Painted Ladies made their mark on the New York cabaret scene in 2006, where they quickly caught the attention of venues and audiences with a riveting collection of pieces. Created, conceived and choreographed by Rocha, the ensemble takes dancing on a cabaret stage to a new level. Sexy, bold, comedic and empowering!
Video
Jenny Rocha and Her Painted Ladies- Excerpt Reel 2010