The Company
Philip Ellis Foster was introduced to dance through Authentic Movement and then discovered Contact Improvisation and The Underscore. Philip developed an interest in performing and has taken many workshops in dance and choreography, participated in several performances, and created choreography for himself and others. Philip also paints, plays and composes music, and writes haiku poems. He is the founder and Director of Open Dance Ensemble.
Philip Ellis Foster, Director
Devyn Ciccio began studying ballet shortly after she turned three. Not long after that, she began training in many other styles, such as jazz, tap, hip hop, acro, Irish Step, and many more. Devyn attended Salem County Technical and Vocational School, where she studied dance full-time. By the age of 15, she was choreographing her own competition solos and teaching dance classes on her own. She has trained in Irish step, pom dance, capoeira, and pop action and can even dance on stilts. Devyn graduated from Marymount Manhattan College as a honors student, where she studied Business and Dance. She has choreographed two pieces for Open Dance Ensemble and now teaches dance in New York City.
Dancer and Choreographer
Dancer and Choreographer
Daniella Alexis Hernandez is Latinx-American Artist from Queens, New York. She trained at the Joe Stanford Dance Studio for 10 years in Howard Beach, NY in Jazz, Hip Hop, Lyrical, Contemporary before gaining her B.A. in Dance with a minor Sociology from CUNY Queens College School of the Arts. She has 5+ teaching experience at both Joe Stanford and Rose Academy of Ballet and coaches the recreational dance team at Rose Academy of Ballet in Forest Hills, NY. Her highlights include working with Yin Mei Critchell for Guanglei Hui, nia love during her time at Queens College. Daniella also performed with Delirious Dances/Edisa Weeks in the premiere of Action Songs Protest Dances. She was also the recipient of the Judith Paige Hoffman Award for outstanding performance and contributions from the Dance Department at Queens College. She choreographed for the 2023 Student Choreography Showcase: Aphelion and premiered her work QUERENCIA which was also nominated and performed/ presented at the Annual CUNY-Wide Undergraduate Research Celebration at Borough of Manhattan Community College. Daniella has recently performed with Open Dance Ensemble (director and founder Philip Ellis Foster) in 7Midnight Performance Research for “Immigrant Artists Matter” at Arts on Site. Daniella is currently obtaining her Masters Degree at CUNY Hunter College in the Arnhold Dance Education Program.
Melissa Jones started dancing at the age of 3 in Minnesota. While in Minnesota, she trained at Larkin Dance Studio under Michelle & Molly Larkin, attending regional and national competitions and conventions. Alongside dancing competitively, she studied at Saint Paul Conservatory for Performing Artists. In 2017, she moved to NYC and pursued a B.A in dance at Marymount Manhattan College. Blending her passion for dance and wellness and interests in dance medicine, she concentrated in body, science and motion. Currently, she trains and performs in New York City as a freelance dancer, alongside being a certified Pilates Instructor.