Artistic Director
Laurel Zaleski: Laurel is a NYC based freelance contemporary/ballet dancer. She has had the opportunity to dance all across the globe studying and performing at Jacob’s Pillow, the Royal Danish Ballet, Ballet Adriatico (Italy) and in Finland at the Skiing on Skin Festival. Some of her most influential teachers include: Anna Marie Holmes, Elenor D’Antuano, Trinette Singleton, Barbara LeGault, Angela Jackson, Amy Beatty, Jeffrey Gunshol, Alice Pascal-Escher and Barbara Haley. Laurel graduated with honors from Tulane Univeristy- while attending university her choreography was presented at the American College Dance Festival (south). Since moving to New York Laurel has performed with Hee Ra Yoo and Dancers, Giada Farrone, The Kennedy Dancers, Ballet Inc., Jersey City Ballet, The Garden State Opera as well as served as co-artistic director of The Rogue Dancers. She also is a passionate teacher who has instructed dance at The Boys and Girls Club of America, St. Dominic's Academy, The Kennedy Dancers, FlorYoga and work administratively for Peridance. Her current class schedule can be found online at:www.theroguedancers.com
Co-founder
Blair Hotchner: Blair’s dance career started when she was accepted to Cardozo High School in 2002. She was a member the celebrated performance dance class for both her junior and senior year, where she was given the opportunity to dance throughout the Queens community. During that time she spent her summer at the world renowned Frenchwoods Festival of the Performing arts. In her three summers there she was in 7 full length musicals including playing Francesca in West Side Story and balloon girl in Gypsy and danced in 3 full length Ballets along with multiple short Modern works. In her time there she found a great love for theater and honed her acting skills. She continued her education at Hofstra University where she received a B.A. in dance and psychology. In addition to studying under Hofstra’s illustrious faculty she had the opportunity to dancer for Larry Keigwin, Diana Havery-Salama, Curt Hayworth and Nicole Wilcott.During her college career she became a member Overground Dance Theatre. She began as an apprentice in summer 2007 and in 2010 became a principal member of the company. Her work under the prominent choreographer/ director Antonia Katrandjieva has been one of the most influential forces on her choreographic point of view. In 2011 she step up to being the coordinating choreographer for Urban Tao Evolution and 2012 she was given the honor of assistant directing EcoCentric. In 2013 she was named the Associate Director and use her title to bring the power and knowledge of physical theater to the world.With the goal of furthering her understanding the body and mind she became a certified yoga teacher in the spring 2012. In addition to the Rogue Dancers outreach programs she teaches free-lance through the city.An accomplished stage managing, technician and administrator she has worked for Frog and Peach Theatre Company, Giada Ferrone Dance, Dance Into Light, Sydnie L. Mosley Dance, and Urban Bush Women. In the summer of 2012 she was named director of dance for Genesis Society where she curate seasonal showcases for Queens and local based dance artists.