DANCE HEGINBOTHAM STAFF

Andrea Lodico (she/her)
Managing Director + Producer
Andrea Lodico is a New York-based arts administrator. Following a decade of experience as a leading Executive Director of single-choreographer dance companies, Andrea is broadening her impact on the performing arts field and bringing her expertise to companies and artists to bolster infrastructure, generate revenue, and guide change and strategic planning. Through her work, Andrea strives to support the dynamic and delicate work of creating a sustainable future for non-profit dance organizations.

The hallmark of Andrea's career has been shepherding the careers of artists and the organizations that support them at vital moments in their trajectory from emerging to mid-career, recently as Executive Director of Gallim, managing Andrea Miller's yearlong residency as artist in residence at the Metropolitan Museum of Art and most significantly, alongside Larry Keigwin at KEIGWIN + COMPANY for nine years. Andrea’s creative and strategic vision, along with her commitment to collaboration and innovation has distinguished her as a leader in the field.

Andrea has been featured on panels at Capacity Interactive’s Digital Bootcamp, Dance/USA’s annual conferences, Dance/NYC Town Halls, and more, discussing a myriad of topics from digital fundraising to Board development to online audience engagement to branding. She was selected to serve as a mentor through Dance/USA's Institute for Leadership Training in both 2014 and 2015 and was a member of Dance/USA’s Board of Trustees and Chair of the Managers Council of organizations with budgets $750K and below from 2013-2016. Andrea was first introduced to the world of dance administration in 2003 with an internship at the Paul Taylor Dance Company. She graduated Summa Cum Laude with a B.A. from Connecticut College in 2004, where she danced with choreographers including Dan Wagoner, David Dorfman, Jeremy Nelson, and Heidi Henderson. Prior to joining KEIGWIN + COMPANY, Andrea worked in development at New York City Center, the Paul Taylor Dance Company, and City Parks Foundation. 

Andrea is also a 500-hour registered yoga teacher, teaching at studios across NYC.

Brandon Cournay (he/him)
General Manager + Co-Producer
Brandon Cournay is a Brooklyn-based dancer, producer, choreographer, and educator. Originally from Walled Lake, MI, he received his BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School. His eclectic performance career has taken him around the globe as a dancer with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Morphoses, KEIGWIN + COMPANY (K+C), and more. Brandon has assisted on numerous creative projects in theatre, tv, film, and dance.

During his time with K+C, Brandon took on multiple roles including Rehearsal Director, Company Manager, Associate Artistic Director, and Managing Director. Additionally, he was the Company Manager for Camille A. Brown and Dancers and Co-Producer of The Current Sessions. Currently, Brandon is a dancer with the Mark Morris Dance Group and Founder and Executive Artistic Director of Dance Device Lab, a company offering innovative educational experiences for dance studios nationwide. @brandon_cournay / brandoncournay.com

Tracy Mendez (she/her)
Management Associate
Born and raised in Vancouver, Canada, Tracy received her BFA in Dance from The Juilliard School under Artistic Director Benjamin Harkarvy, and her Certificate in Arts Administration from New York University School of Professional Studies. As a modern dancer she has had the pleasure of performing with Gerald Casel, Jeremy Laverdure, Sam Kim, Neta Pulvermacher, Toshiko Oiwa, and the Stanley Love Performance Group, among others. In addition to her work with Dance Heginbotham, Tracy is the Development Manager for Alarm Will Sound and the Development + Marketing Manager for JACK Quartet.  Tracy lives in Manhattan with her son. 

Amber Star Merkens (she/her)
Rehearsal Director
Amber Star Merkens is originally from Newport, Oregon. She holds a BFA from The Juilliard School and was a member of the José Limón Dance Company before joining the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2001. For over a decade, Amber was featured in Mark's work and inherited his roles in Dido and Aeneas, Ten Suggestions, and Rondo. Amber met and performed with John Heginbotham during her time with MMDG, and their friendship and collaborations continued over the years. She is now Dance Heginbotham's Rehearsal Director. Amber is a recipient of the Princess Grace Award, has been on faculty at the Mark Morris Dance Center and the Greene Hill School, and is currently a practicing clinical herbalist and doula. She has two amazing children who inspire her every day.

DANCE HEGINBOTHAM BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Andrew Hamingson, President & Secretary
Adrienne Bryant Godwin, Treasurer
Lauren Cherubini
Karyl Nairn
Art Priromprintr
Joanne Wenig