Ren and Jacoby bibliography their personal pantheons of D: who and what specifically, the histories that got them where, and all the names who carried them through.

Key players: 

⁃ Robert Battle, Artistic Director of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. 

⁃ Elissa Clark, founding member of Battle’s Battleworks Dance Company. 

⁃ Gerard Ebitz, formerly the Artistic Director of Ballet Randolph (1990-93) & has since gone on to choreograph for myriad schools and theaters.

⁃ Yazzmeen Laidler, among a host of accolades, including her time at Alvin Ailey, Laidler is the founder of Time Revealed Dance Intensive in Miami, Florida. 

⁃ Yasmin Mahmoud, a teacher of Gaga, Mahmoud joined GöteborgsOperan Danskompani in 2019.

⁃ Cella Martoccio, principal at Colorado Ballet.

⁃ Laura Murphy, dancer, choreographer, performer and teacher based in Ireland. 

⁃ David Parsons, founder and choreographer of Parsons Dance in New York City.