Darion Smith (Artistic Director)

Darion Smith is founding artistic director of Janusphere Dance Company (JDC). Smith’s choreography has been presented throughout the United States, Spain and Mexico. Darion’s contemporary dance works explore human relationships, identity, and the natural world. His works are often made in collaboration with other award winning artists and include interactive set designs, life size props, and projections. He continues to expand his vision for JDC, since its founding in 2007, as a platform for creation and collaborative exploration, providing opportunities for professional dancers, and community engagement through performances, workshops and masterclasses.
In 2018, Smith was the Artist in Residence at the Pacific Lutheran University. He is a recipient of the Mark Ryder Original Choreography Award. In 2024, Smith was a I AM Creativity Grant recipient for Dance by the Howard County Arts Council. During that same year Smith worked with Howard County public high school dance students as their All County Dance Ensemble guest artist choreographer.

Smith is an associate professor of dance at the Howard Community College, teaching theory and technique to dance majors, non-dance majors, and community member students. He is also the director of the Howard County Community Dance Festival, which offers masterclasses and performance opportunities to the Dance Communities of Howard County and surrounding area. He creates choreographic works for the HCC Dance Concert Season with students and professional artists. Smith served as coordinator for the Estelle Dennis Program for Boys at the Peabody Preparatory of Johns Hopkins University. He has been a guest faculty at the Washington School of Ballet and has taught at the American College Dance Association (ACDA), Northwest and Mid-Atlantic North Regional Conferences, MDEA, Cecchetti East Coast.

Smith is a graduate of the Folkwang University of the Arts in Essen, Germany. He studied ballet at the Bolshoi Academy in Moscow. Smith began his professional career with the Dance Theatre of Harlem’s, Dancing Through Barriers Ensemble. He has been performed with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet at Lincoln Center, Buglisi Dance Theatre, New York Theater Ballet, and other professional dance companies. During his time at the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Smith taught for their education and community outreach programs. After twelve years in the professional field, Darion returned to academia as a graduate teaching fellow to earn a Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the University of Oregon.

6212_1214266918747_6167739_n.jpg

Dancers

Misei Daimaru  started her classical ballet training under the direction with Tomotake Nakamura in Tokyo,  Japan. She graduated from TOHO GAKUEN College of Drama and Music. After moving to New York City i n 2005 she continued her studi

Misei Daimaru started her classical ballet training under the direction with Tomotake Nakamura in Tokyo, Japan. She graduated from TOHO GAKUEN College of Drama and Music. After moving to New York City in 2005 she continued her studies at the Alvin Ailey School. As a professional dancer Miss Daimaru hasperformed in New York City and on tour with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Sunhwa Chang / Ko-Ryo Dance, Janusphere Dance Company, Saeko Ichinohe Dance Company and Callince Dance. In addition, Misei teaches ballet and contemporary dance at the Silva Dance Academy and Yumiko Ballet in New York City and Long Island, NY.
Jenelle Figgins is a process-driven, knowledgeable, dedicated dance artist. She has numerous professional achievements in her 15+ career in Ballet as a dancer and choreographer. In 2014 she received the Princess Grace Award; was named Dance Magazi

Jenelle Figgins is a process-driven, knowledgeable, dedicated dance artist. She has numerous professional achievements in her 15+ career in Ballet as a dancer and choreographer. In 2014 she received the Princess Grace Award; was named Dance Magazine’s Top 25 to Watch in 2015 and has had over 20 commissions created on her by prominent choreographers. She is noted as possessing electrifying musicality, captivating theatrical presence, and strong adaptable classical and contemporary technique. Figgins is a teacher and choreographer in the ballet and contemporary ballet disciplines.
Kai Mortellaro began dancing at the Frederick School of Classical Ballet in Frederick, MD before studying at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB). Under the mentorship of Theresa Crawford, Kai became a teaching assistant while learning how to

Kai Mortellaro began dancing at the Frederick School of Classical Ballet in Frederick, MD before studying at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB). Under the mentorship of Theresa Crawford, Kai became a teaching assistant while learning how to apply the CPYB national curriculum to elementary and pre-professional students. They studied with Davit Karapetyan, Vanessa Zahorian, and Theresa Crawford at the Pennsylvania Ballet Academy. Later they attended Houston Ballet Academy’s summer intensive on full tuition and housing scholarship. Additionally, they trained at the San Francisco Ballet School under the instruction of Tina LeBlanc. Kai has been teaching ballet technique and pointe for over four years while developing experience in choreography and coaching, as well as leading the Honors ballet program at Vibe Performing Arts in Gettysburg, PA. Kai began training in modern dance at Montgomery College (MC) and joined MC’s Dance Company before transferring to Towson University where they received a Dance Talent Scholarship from the Department of Dance. Kai attended the American Dance Festival in Durham, NC on a merit scholarship. They have performed decisions, decisions at Capitol Fringe Dance Festival (Washington, D.C.) by Kyoko Fujimoto, Dancing Ophelia at Blackrock Center for the Arts (Germantown, MD) by Alice Howes, and in other notable works including La Sylphide, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, San Francisco Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Four Seasons by Runqiao Du and Alison Seidenstricker. This will be their third season with Janusphere Dance Company.
Tom Resseguier studied ballet at the Ballettschule des Hamburg Ballett, where he took his first steps into the neoclassical repertoire through John Neumeier’s style, before joining the Junior Ballet at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musiq

Tom Resseguier studied ballet at the Ballettschule des Hamburg Ballett, where he took his first steps into the neoclassical repertoire through John Neumeier’s style, before joining the Junior Ballet at the Conservatoire National Supérieur de Musique et de Danse de Paris in 2016. There, he performed, among others, pieces by William Forsythe, Jean Guizerix, Yong Geol Kim, José Martinez and Douglas Becker.He then went on to dance for the Ballet de l’Opéra de Metz in 2018 and joined the Compagnie Illicite Bayonne under the direction of choreographer Fabio Lopez. In 2019, he started working at the Compagnie Par Terre on the creation of À Mon Bel Amour, a contemporary piece by choreographer Anne Nguyen. During this time, he also worked as a freelance dancer and actor on various other projects, including the French TV series L’Opéra and the Netflix short film Anima choreographed by Damien Jalet. Alongside his dance projects, Tom Resseguier has a passion for astronomy and earned a dual bachelor in mathematics and physics, as well as a master in astrophysics, both from Sorbonne Université in Paris.
Jacob Rice received his early dance training in Naugatuck with Barbara Hyland. He continued his training on full scholarship for 3 years at North Carolina School of the Arts and additional 2 years on full scholarship at the School of American Ball

Jacob Rice received his early dance training in Naugatuck with Barbara Hyland. He continued his training on full scholarship for 3 years at North Carolina School of the Arts and additional 2 years on full scholarship at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Mr. Rice’s distinguished career includes Virginia State Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Princeton Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and Dance Alloy Theatre (Pittsburgh). Mr. Rice was featured in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s movie “Nutcracker: The Motion Picture” choreographed by Kent Stowell with sets and costumes by Maurice Sendak. Mr. Rice and his wife, Kimmary Williams, created a youth choreographic workshop for Scotland’s Edinburgh International Festival and were co-artistic directors of Southold Dance Theatre in South Bend Indiana. They are the founders and co-artistic directors of Central Maryland Youth Ballet. A professional ballet school and youth company in Columbia MD.

Jazmine C. Rutherford received her training at Cincinnati Ballet and received her B.F.A. in Ballet Performance from The University of Cincinnati— College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She is a recipient of the OhioDance Most Outstanding Student Awa

Jazmine C. Rutherford received her training at Cincinnati Ballet and received her B.F.A. in Ballet Performance from The University of Cincinnati— College-Conservatory of Music (CCM). She is a recipient of the OhioDance Most Outstanding Student Award. Jazmine has danced professionally as a soloist with Ballet Pensacola and Dissonance Dance Theatre. She currently is a faculty member at Maryland Youth Ballet and the Ballet instructor for MYB's newest outreach program "MYB Extension.
JhayVince Manlangit is a dancer born in the Philippines. He began his formal dance training under Vicki Tchanque, Brandye Lee, Caroline Rocher Barnes, Kevin Veiga, and Jessica Featherson. At Towson University, he studies with Alison Seidenstricker,

JhayVince Manlangit is a dancer born in the Philippines. He began his formal dance training under Vicki Tchanque, Brandye Lee, Caroline Rocher Barnes, Kevin Veiga, and Jessica Featherson. At Towson University, he studies with Alison Seidenstricker, Caroline Rocher Barnes, Robert Kleinendorst, Runqiao Du, and Tracie Burton. A two-time American Dance Festival Merit Scholarship recipient, He joined VT Dance Company in December 2023 as an apprentice and was later promoted to VT Dance II, performing in Lookin’ Bach and Love Land Legacy, which debuted at the Jacob’s Pillow Summer Dance Festival 2025. 
Sol Addison, a native of Washington DC, began his early dance training at the Maryland Youth Ballet (MYB) where he performed in the Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Graduation Ball, and other works. Sol spent one year at the Kirov Academy of Ballet before r

Sol Addison, a native of Washington DC, began his early dance training at the Maryland Youth Ballet (MYB) where he performed in the Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Graduation Ball, and other works. Sol spent one year at the Kirov Academy of Ballet before returning to MYB to graduate from their pre-professional program. Sol continued his dance education into college at Elon University where he took part in dance department BFA productions alongside choreographing his own pieces. He was a member of the Greensboro Ballet Company’s college program under the direction of Christine Grider. Sol has worked on numerous productions with choreographers including Forrest Hershey, Jen Guy Metcalf, Ming-Lung Yang, Alyah Baker, Mary LeGere and is excited to dance with Janusphere Dance Company! 
prev / next
Back to Janusphere Dance Company Artists