The Rock Center for Dance

Charmaine Hunter is known as an astute educator, talented choreographer, director, entertainment manager, booking executive, motivator, extraordinary dancer and producer. A native of Kingston Jamaica, West Indies, Charmaine moved to the United States with her family and settled in Hartford, Connecticut.

She began her formal dance training at the Hartford Ballet School under the direction of Enid Lynn and Michael Uthoff. After a year of intense classical training Charmaine moved to New York to study with founder Arthur Mitchell of the Dance Theatre of Harlem while continuing her formal education at the Professional Children's School in NYC at Lincoln Center.

She rose through the ranks quickly from apprentice to corp-de-ballet eventually becoming principal dancer and one of the company's ballerinas. She electrified audiences with her performances in a broad spectrum of roles. She is best known for her role as The Firebird choreographed by John Taras and Medea, choreographed by Michael Smuin. And Voluntaries choreographed by Glenn Tetley.

Among the highlights of Charmaine's career are command performances for European royalty and historic engagement at London's Royal Opera House. She also performed for luminaries such as Quincy Jones, Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela, Cicely Tyson, President and Mrs. Clinton, President and Mrs. Bush, Mr. and Mrs. Colin Powell, just to name a few.

In 1988, as principal dancer, Charmaine was invited to perform in the former Soviet Union as part of the United States Cultural Exchange Initiative. During this historic visit, Charmaine and the Dance Theatre of Harlem was inducted into the prestigious Kirov museum featuring Charmaine as one of the featured dancers representing as cultural ambassador to the United States.

In 1992, Charmaine again made history by traveling to South Africa for an unprecedented six week tour with the Dance Theatre of Harlem before the end of Apartied. Dance Theater of Harlem was the first American dance company to perform in South Africa after the 30 year cultural ban was lifted and performing to sold out, integrated audiences in several townships.

In January 2001, Ms. Hunter was invited to Canada by Mirvish Productions the Toronto based Production Company to direct the resident show Disney's The Lion King at the Princess of Wales. She held the position for 3 years until the production moved to Amsterdam Holland

Miss Hunter relocated to Las Vegas to work with the Cirque du Soleil. She served as the organization's talent scout for dance, acrobats, character actors, and specialty acts. She also served as teacher for the artists in the productions on the Strip. She was also invited to teach the cast of A New Day at the Coliseum in Caesars Palace which features Celine Dion. She not only woks with professionals, Miss Hunter also teaches at 3 of Las Vegas' top competition schools.

Charmaine then founded the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater, a multi-cultural institution that attracts professional dancers and students from around the world. With financial assistance from various grants and foundations this non-profit organization will provide and inspire young people especially those living in poor communities to dream their dreams and reach for the stars. There will be several facets to the organization. Each component will carry a solid commitment to enrich the lives of young people and adults of the community, be it through the art of dance, music, theatre, or multi-media.

Immediately following the opening of LVCDT, Charmaine was offered the position of Senior Entertainment Manager at the opening of the Venetian Macau, the world's largest gaming and entertainment property to date. There she booked various entertainment acts, bands, models, dancers, specialty acts, etc. This was a huge undertaking for Miss Hunter. While working with Celine Dion, Miss Hunter was also booking executive with Best Agency Las Vegas, a talent and modeling agency that ran entertainment programs in all the major strip hotels. She was also Senior Manager of entertainment at Caesars Palace with Best Agency as well as Fashion Show Mall. There she ran the malls weekly fashion shows which incorporated some of Las Vegas' top models. She booked, trained, and selected the models and fashions for the weekly spectaculars.

To add to the lengthy list of accomplishments, Miss Hunter is now working as a Southern Nevada Woltrap Teaching Artist with The Smith Center. This program is early childhood education through the arts.
The Wolftrap mission is To present and create excellent and innovative performing arts programs for the enrichment, education, and enjoyment of diverse audiences and participants.

With a career steeped in the arts, Miss Hunter looks forward to continuing her path in the arts and education and to encourage young people of the opportunities that lay ahead in their future if they choose to use the art of dance as their vehicle.

Eric received his Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education from University of the Arts; double emphasizing in Modern Dance & Choreography. Immediately after completion of his undergraduate program, he was invited to join the world renowned Koresh Dance Company under the direction of Artistic Director/Choreographer/Founder Ronen Koresh. Here he received opportunities to work with and perform works by pioneers in the dance community including: Donald Byrd(Spectrum Dance Theatre, Color Purple Musical), Robert Battle (Battleworks, Alvin Aliey American Dance Theatre) and Ohad Naharin (Batshava Dance Company) to name a few.

Choreographically, Mr. Bean has been given the opportunity to create work for several companies as well as hold faculty positions in various national and international dance programs including University of the Arts and Dance Bermuda; American Ballet Theatre’s only international dance program. In 2011 he founded Jaricco.Dance: A Contemporary Dance Company (currently based in Bermuda) that focuses on providing opportunities for local and international dance artists to network and collaborate while presenting work of artistic excellence found on the international stage.

With an interest in finding a common reality or “commonality” in which the dance artists and audiences can relate, Eric Bean Jr. uses his choreography to explore the constant evolution of his artistic curiosity.

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A Chicago native, studied first with Larry Long of the Ruth Page Foundation, then accepted a scholarship to Dance Theatre of Harlem in New York City and subsequently joined the DTH company. He became a principal dancer in 1983 and ended a 27 year company career as Premier Danseur in 2004.

Known for his versatility, Mr. Williams’ repertoire encompasses ballet, jazz, African and contemporary idioms. His leading roles include Balanchine’s “Allegro Brilliante”, “Agon”, “The Four Temperaments” and “Who Cares”; Jerome Robbins’ “Fancy Free”; Glen Tetley’s “Voluntaries” and “Dialogues”; Iago in Jose Limon’s “Moors Pavane”; Baron Samedi in Geoffrey Holders “Banda”. Albrecht in “Giselle”, Siegfried in “Swan Lake”, “Le Corsaire” Pas de Deux, Dwight Rhodens’ “Ave Maria”(original cast) and “Twist”.

As a principal guest artist, Mr. Williams has performed with London’s Royal Ballet at Covent Garden, the International Ballet Festival in Cuba, partnered Cynthia Gregory in the “Gala of Stars” in Bilbao, Spain and starred in many international galas. He has worked with Complexions, Dances Patrelle and Fugate/Bahiri Ballet NY, creating critically acclaimed, original roles with them as well.

Mr. Williams made his film debut in “The Cotton Club” and starred in the Emmy nominated “A Streetcar Named Desire” which was broadcast over the PBS series Dance In America, as well as the Peabody Award winning “Firebird”, which was broadcast over PBS in the Kennedy Center Tonight Series. He was also featured in the Motown 30th Anniversary Special as well as numerous other television appearances and commercials.

In 1998 Mr. Williams made his Broadway debut in the Tony Award winning musical “Ragtime”. In 2000 he was principal guest artist in the New York City Ballet/Dance Theatre of Harlem collaboration for their Diamond Project dancing the principal roles in Robert Garland and Robert LaFosse’s “Tributary” and Balanchine’s “Agon”. He was featured in the national tour of “The Phantom of the Opera” and most recently with “Phantom: The Las Vegas Spectacular” at the Venetian Resort and Casino.

Mr. Williams’ teaching credits include; Company teacher for Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Cedar Lake Ensemble, Celine Dion: A New Day, Nevada Ballet Theater and Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater. School instructor for Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, Ballet Academy East(NYC) and The Dance Center@ Keith Kleven Institute(Las Vegas). Guest Teacher for Marymount College and Florida State University among others. He was also personal trainer for Keanu Reeves for the film, “Devil’s Advocate”.

Jarrett Rashad, A Chicago Native; Dancer, Choreographer, & Master Instructor has been making his mark in the world of live Theater. Former Soloist, Performing Associate, & International Jazz Master Instructor with Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago; Jarrett has worked with & under such names as Joel Hall Dancers, Deeply Rooted Productions, Jon Lehrer, Ray Mercer, Homer Bryant, Larry Long, Randy Duncan, Tony Powell, Ron De Jesus, Christopher Huggins, & Mia Michaels. His Credits included; Radio City's “Christmas Spectacular”; Chicago's Lyric Opera “Damnation of Faust”; Disney's “Lion King” The Broadway Musical; & Cirque Du Soleil's “Viva Elvis”. As an instructor, Jarrett has taught internationally under GJDC; an in demand teacher around the U.S; & the 2012 Artist in Residence for the University of Las Vegas, Nevada. As an emerging choreographer Jarrett has set work for Chicago Dance Crash; MGM Grand's Hotel & Casino Studio 54; & a returning guest at The Carnival Choreographers Ball Chicago. Currently, Jarrett is cast member of Cirque Du Soleil's the Beatles “LOVE” at the Mirage Hotel & Casino.