Jessie Feller and Julia Sabangan co-founded VaBanG! where they both choreograph and perform their own works.
Jessie Feller
Jessie was born in Manhattan and grew up in San Rafael, CA. She began dancing at the age of three where she started her training in classical ballet and contemporary at Marin Ballet. She then continued her advanced training at Marin Dance Theatre. She has performed in works by such choreographers as Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Steve Rooks, Kathy Wildberger, Paul Mosley, Miriam Mahdaviani, Kim Dooley, Abby Saxon and Martha Tobias, Cynthia Pepper, Melinda Bach, Lynn Cox, Lynn Morton, Val Caniparoli, Larry Pech, David Palmer, and Annie Rosenthal. Jessie was also an elite rhythmic gymnast with Alair Rhythmics, placing 4th in the nation at the age of twelve.
Jessie earned her BA in Urban Studies and Hispanic Studies from Vassar College where she danced and choreographed for Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre. It was there she met co-founder Julia Sabangan. Jessie recently finished her MSc (Masters) in Environment and Development Studies in the Department of Geography and Environment at the London School of Economics and Political Science.
Jessie is an avid traveler and has lived and/or studied for various periods of time in New York City, San Francisco, Bolinas (CA), San Rafael (CA), Poughkeepsie, Buenos Aires, Burgos (Spain), Santo Domingo, London, and Portland, Oregon.
Jessie is a passionate urbanist and environmentalist. While not dancing, Jessie pursues a career in sustainable international development policy and planning, specifically the intersection between clean tech, green building, and economic development.
Julia Sabangan
Julia was born and raised in New York City. She has studied at the Harkness Dance Center at the 92nd Street Y, the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Merce Cunningham Dance Studio, and Vassar College, where she earned her BA in Classics and met VaBanG! co-founder Jessie Feller. Julia has danced and choreographed for Vassar Repertory Dance Theater and has performed with companies such as Janis Brenner and Dancers, Jeanette Stoner and Dancers, and Susan Hefner and Dancers. Julia has performed in works by such choreographers as Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Randy James, Sean Curran, Maia-Claire Garrison, Elio Pomare, Jessica Nicoll, Alice Tierstein, Laura Marchese, Steve Rooks, Kathy Wildberger, Jill Echo, and Paul Mosley. Julia started VABANG! in 2007 with her longtime friend Jessie Feller. She is pleased to be choreographing, dancing, and touring throughout the country with her company.
Kristin Licata
Kristin graduated from the Fordham/ Alvin Ailey BFA program. There she had the privilege of performing works of Alvin Ailey and Joyce Trisler as well as working with choreographers William Forsythe, Robert Battle, Sean Curran, and Elise Monte to name a few. Post graduation, she danced for Dayton Contemporary Dance Company II, Vox Lumiere and can be seen in the film Jaaneman. Currently, she is working with Regina Nejman, Felice Lesser, and WongDance. Ms. Licata is very excited to be apart of Vabang’s first season.
Lauren Hope Melusky
Lauren Hope Melusky is originally from Southern New Jersey. In May 2007 she graduated with a BFA in Dance from Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University. She has performed in and choreographed for various student concerts as well as faculty including Julia Ritter, Randy James and John Evans. Lauren traveled and performed at high schools and other performance venues with Mason Gross’s recruitment touring company DanceWorks run by Randy James for two years. In February 2006, a student work with which she was a part, was selected to perform at Dance Theatre Workshop, for a showing of college level choreography, and at the 30th Anniversary Celebration of Mason Gross. Outside of college she has performed with companies such as Lauren Handleman Dance Collective and Randy James Dance Works. She works as a dance counselor for the US Performing Arts Camp held at Rutgers University in the summer and presently is a teacher at Arts High for Monmouth County. This is her debut and anticipated performance with VaBang! Dance Company.
Meghan Frederick
Originally from Maine, Meghan Frederick is a graduate of Hampshire College where she designed her own major combining dance and cross-cultural studies and performed works by Robert Battle, Doug Varone, Patty-Anne Kenney, Mark Allen Davis, and Jim Coleman and Therese Freedman. Meghan recently completed an apprenticeship with the Stephen Petronio Company and performed with Dura Mater Dance. She is currently working with the Tze Chung Dance Company, and Alexis Liston, and is showing her own choreography at venues across the city including Dixon Place. Meghan is thrilled to join VaBang!