Elyssa Byrnes graduated with honors from Hofstra University with a BA in Dance. While living in NYC, she was a scholarship student at the Merce Cunningham studio and a member of Anita Cheng Dance from 2002-5.  She also performed with Jeffrey Bauer, Tysan Dance, Elka Rindfleisch, Jennifer Morley's Figments Dance Ensemble, and Richard Decker.  Ms. Byrnes recently moved back to Buffalo where she is a yoga instructor at East Meets West and is studying to be a chiropractor at D'Youville College.

Jenna DelMonte has a BA in Dance from SUNY Potsdam.  While in college, she performed in three American College Dance Festivals and danced with guest artists Richard Heisma, Wally Cardona, Elizabeth Streb, and the Troika Ranch.  As a student, she was Performer of the Year twice and received the Creative Achievement Award for her choreography.  Ms. DelMonte obtained her early training in the Cecchetti Method of ballet from Lisa Taylor and has passed all four student grade examinations, professional elementary and Grade One Teachers from the Cecchetti Council of America.  In New York City she studied at the Paul Taylor and the Jose Limon studios, performing often in in-studio concerts.  She currently teaches dance at the Oracle Charter School as well as at various local studios.

Kim Knieriem is an Adjunct Professor at Niagara County Community College (NCCC) teaching classes in jazz, tap, ballet and modern along with the responsibilities of directing the college’s dance company, Tanzen. Ms. Knieriem holds a BFA in Dance and an MFA in Performance and Choreography both from SUNY College at Brockport.  Ms. Knieriem worked with dance companies, H.T. Chen and Dancers as a dance captain and with Doug Elkins Dance Company through residencies at SUNY Brockport.  A recent achievement has been the organization of a one-week residency at NCCC for the Zephyr Dance group of Chicago.

Kara Mann graduated from the University of Buffalo with a BA in Dance.  She has danced and choreographed in UB's productions of Dancer's Workshop, Young Choreographer's Showcase, and Zodiaque Studio Ensemble.  She began her early studies at Performing Arts Dance Academy in Hamburg and also performed with Buffalo City Ballet in annual productions of The Nutcracker.  Ms. Mann has taken classes at Broadway Dance Center as well as Point Park University.  She is now the owner and director of Free Soul Dance.

Alisa Mittin born and raised in Buffalo, NY is a 2008 alum of the California Institute of the Arts BFA dance program.  She has lived in Los Angeles, Phoenix, and New York City, performing professionally in both New York and LA.  She is fortunate enough to be one of the founding members of the Austerland Dance Company and was with them during their debut in Hong Kong, China in 2006.  In addition to being a performer, Alisa is a freelance choreographer and highly interested in improving the accessibility of performance art to the masses.  She also moonlights as a cobbler and will make you a pair of shoes if you like.

Makenzi Rasey received her BFA from the California Institute of the Arts in 2008.  While there she participated in many student works and MFA thesis projects with an emphasis on dance theatre.  During this time she was fortunate enough to learn repertory excerpts of works by choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, Lar Lubovich, and Paul Taylor as well as to perform original choreography by Colin Connor, Jeffrey Gerodias, and Tina
Yuan-Lems.  In 2007, Makenzi was selected to study abroad at the London Contemporary Dance School.  Her professional credits include choreography by Colin Connor, Elaine Gardner, Sahar Jevedani, and Mira Kingsley. 

Elizabeth Schreier graduated in 2003 from SUNY Brockport with a BFA in Dance.  She has performed with the Kista Tucker Dance Company, Hallmark Dance Works, and Notes in Motion.  Her choreography has been seen in Buffalo, Maryland, Rochester, and New York City.  As a member of BCD, Ms. Schreier has performed in the Elan Awards in NYC in 2003 and the Dancing Rebels Gala Concert at a conference honoring the founders of the New Dance Group, sponsored by the American Dance Legacy Institute in 2005.  She is the co-director of the Nu Dance Studio in Lackawanna, NY. 

Bonnie Jean Taylor is a member of the Cecchetti Council of America.  She has completed the Professional Intermediate dance exam and the Grade IV teacher’s exam for ballet. She received her primary dance training from the Lisa Taylor Academy of Ballet in North Buffalo. She also trained with Pick of the Crop’s Seedling Company from 1999-2001 and was featured in their reunion concert, Buffalo Gals Bring Home New Works last May. A graduate of the University of Buffalo, she holds a BA in Theatre and has acted locally with the Jewish Repertory Theatre, the Kavinoky Theatre, Road Less Traveled Productions, Rare Bird Productions and for the Buffalo Infringement Festival. She currently teaches ballet at The Lisa Taylor Academy of Ballet, Step in Time Studio of Dance, The Fit Physique and The Carnegie Art Center, where she directs the program.

Molly Taylor first performed with BCD in May of 2005 and is happy to have rejoined the company.  Other local performances include Pick of the Crop's Elemental and Buffalo Gals and a recent independent performance at the Central Terminal for an event entitled Mobility Across the Ages.  Ms. Taylor completed the Professional Elementary Grade 5 Cecchetti Exam in June '03 at the Lisa Taylor Academy of Ballet.  Other training includes Cecchetti Council of America's International Summer Conference, NYSSSA, Pick of the Crop Dance's Seedling Project and Seedling Company, and two years at the University of Minnesota Dance Department.