Archives: People

Sean Mahoney came to Princeton Ballet School at age eleven, after two years of study at Knecht’s Dance Academy. He was a member of PBS’s Professional Training Program and performed in many Nutcracker performances and school shows (including Franz to his sister Erin’s Swanhilda in Coppelia). In high school, he was an apprentice to American Repertory Ballet and upon graduation was chosen to be one of the first members of Taylor 2. Next, he danced for David Parsons Company, appeared in The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, danced with Geoffry Doig-Marx, then returned to ARB under Graham Lustig’s direction. He joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2004.

Kraig Patterson was born in Trenton, NJ. He was inspired to pursue a career in dance after performing in high school musicals. His formal dance education began with a scholarship to Princeton Ballet School. Following further training at Juilliard School for the Performing Arts, where he received his B.F.A. in 1986, he danced with the Mark Morris Dance Group from 1987 until 1999. Kraig has also performed with Ohad Naharin, Neta Pulvermacher, and the White Oak Dance Project.

Jim Vincent studied at Princeton Ballet School and became the Artistic Director of Nederlans Dans Theatr in 2009. He previously served as the Artistic Director of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago from 2000-2009, following an extensive career as a dancer, teacher, ballet master and choreographer. Vincent’s distinguished career as a professional dancer includes a 12-year tenure with Jiri Kylian’s Nederlans Dans Theatr, a guest appearance with Lar Lubovitch and two years with Nacho Duato’s Compañía Nacional de Danza in Spain. As a dancer, he worked with many choreographers including Kylian, Duato, Lubovitch, William Forsythe, Mats Ek, Hans van Manen, Christopher Bruce, and Ohad Naharin.

Dodie Pettit, at age 12, was a Charter Member of the Regional Ballet Company founded in 1962 and then became a founding member in 1978. While a member of the company, Dodie performed in The Nutcracker for approximately 20 years, including nearly 10 years in the leading role of Sugar Plum. Other leading roles included Cinderella and Coppelia. In 2004, Dodie received their prestigious Lifetime Achievement Award along with Bebe Neuwirth and Carol Estey.

Dodie was also a principal dancer with the Garden State Ballet for 3-years before moving to New York City which led to a distinguished 15-year career on Broadway as an original member of The Phantom of the Opera, as well as appearing in the Tony Awarding-winning musicals CATS and Titanic. After a 6-year run as a ballerina, she transferred to The Phantom Raoul Company U.S. National Tour as Understudy to the lead role of “Christine Daae” which she performed with her late husband Kevin Gray, Broadway’s 5th Phantom. She also did a 4-year run on Broadway in CATS and appeared in the first National Touring Company of Titanic, as well as in numerous regional productions. After being on the Dance Faculty of Rollins College in Florida and The Hartt School at the University of Hartford, Dodie currently sits on the Board of Directors of The Connecticut Dance School in Fairfield CT.

Aside from her career in dance, Dodie is a BMI songwriter and arranger whose credits include songs on the Billboard Pop and Dance charts. She underscored Shel Silverstein’s Grammy Nominated “A Light in the Attic” album and co-wrote a featured song for the film “Critters.” Over the years, Dodie has released four CDs of her original songs and co-wrote a musical with her late husband Kevin Gray entitled “Dracula, the Covenant” (Draculathecovenant.com). Dodie has been married to Aztec Two-Step’s co-founder Rex Fowler since August of 2018 and is loving singing and playing in their new 5-piece band Aztec Two Step 2.0.

Bebe Neuwirth was raised in Princeton, NJ and began her dance training at age five at Princeton Ballet School. Known for her work in both television and on stage, the actor/singer/dancer has been awarded two Emmys for her portrayal of Dr. Lilith Crane on Cheers, two Tony awards for her roles in Chicago and Sweet Charity, and the Astaire Award for Best Female Dancer for her role in Chicago. She appeared in the 2009 remake of Fame and appeared as Morticia Addams in The Addams Family musical on Broadway.