“There is a vitality, a life force, an energy,
a quickening that is translated through you into action, and because there is only one of you in all time, this expression is unique. If you block it, it will never exist through any other medium and will be lost.”
― Martha Graham
PHOTOGRAPHY BY ADIEL J. ESHKENAZI
Stephanie
Van Dooren-Eshkenazi
Dancer | Certified Yoga & Dance Instructor
Based in Amsterdam, The Netherlands
Dance Training
Stephanie received her pre-professional dance training at The Dutch National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam. She continued to NYC to study at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance on scholarships from the Van Den Ende Foundation, Han Lammers Fonds, and later became the first recipient of the Pearl Lang Award Scholarship. As a student, she was a member of Graham II, performing leadroles (e.g., The Bride in Appalachian Spring, and Ms. Graham herself in American Document performed at the Joyce Theater). She discovered her love for teaching and completed her Dance Teacher Certification from the school in 2010, where she was a faculty member until 2016.
Dance Career
In 2010, she joined NYC-based Buglisi Dance Theatre where she grew to lead soloist roles (i.e., in Moss, Requiem and Sand), and as a dance teacher as well.
Most prominently, Stephanie served as Assistant Rehearsal Director in staging The Table of Silence, a Ritual for Peace with 150+ dancers at Lincoln Center Plaza performed annually since 2011 on 9/11. Further, she has served as Assistant to the Director in re-staging Suspended Women at The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and has taught repertory workshops at STEPS on Broadway, Baryshnikov Arts Center, Peridance Capezio Center, and Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis High School.
Stephanie's further performance credits include: Michael Mao Dance, 360 Dance, Richard Move, Blakeley White-McGuire, Mary Anthony, ACB Dance, Nimbus Danceworks and Jesse Factor, among others. She has performed in the musical King & I at Opera North in Principal roles Eliza and Topsy, and served as Associate Choreographer and Dance Captain.
Dance Teaching
In NYC, Stephanie was a faculty member at the Ailey School where she taught and choreographed for the Professional Performing Arts High School & Professional Division (incl., BFA Fordham students), Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem School, STEPS On Broadway and Peridance Capezio Center. Further, she has served as a Guest Teacher for the NYC Department of Education Dance Blueprint & Professional Development Day.
In The Netherlands, she teaches dance classes at the Kubus (the dance studio where it all started for her) and is a substitute teacher at Amsterdam Dance Center.
Yoga
As a 200-RYT yoga instructor she has led the Yoga Department at Living Well Balanced on the Upper West Side of Manhattan, a holistic wellness center. More so, studying yoga sparked the drive to continue her academic studies in the field of psychology.
Present
Stephanie graduated with a BSc in Psychology from the University of Amsterdam (2023), with specializations in Clinical Developmental Psychology & Clinical Psychology. Currently, she works with children at an Autism Center. When she is not in the studio or on the mat, she can be found spending time with her daughter & husband, or bike riding through Amsterdam.
Future
She will continue her graduate studies in September and looks forward to further integrate and apply her knowledge of the psychological field with her artistic background.