Heidi Latsky (Artistic Director/Choreographer/ Performer), originally from Montreal, first received recognition as a celebrated principal dancer for the Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company (1987-1993). Her experience there profoundly influenced her style and her philosophy of dance as she developed a reputation in her own right as a choreographer for stage, theater, and film.
Latsky is an advocate for disability rights and serves actively on the Disability Task Force for Dance/NYC. As a core part of its mission and work, Heidi Latsky Dance is committed to reflecting the diversity that it serves and actively follows the disability rights movement by embracing ‘nothing without us’—that is, its practice in choreography and performance and its composition of board leadership and staff has the representation and full, direct involvement of disabled people. She has sustained partnerships with Commissioner Victor Calise of the Mayor’s Office for People with Disabilities and the NY Academy of Medicine.
Alexis Kashar, President of the Jewish Deaf Research Center, is a civil rights and special education attorney. She holds a B.B.A. and a J.D. from the University of Texas and is licensed to practice in New York, D.C. and California. She is active in several local organizations. Ms. Kashar through her volunteer work with JDRC inspired the creation of the UJA-Federation of NY’s first ever Jewish Community Deaf Interpreting Fund. She is the current President of the Board of Trustees for the New York School for the Deaf in White Plains and the chairperson of the Civil Rights committee for the National Association for the Deaf. Alexis lives in Scarsdale with her husband and their three children.
Maysoon Zayid is an actress, comedian, disability advocate, and writer. She is a graduate of and a Guest Comedian in Residence at Arizona State University. Maysoon is the co-founder/co-executive producer of the New York Arab American Comedy Festival and The Muslim Funny Fest. She was a full-time on-air Contributor to Countdown with Keith Olbermann and a columnist for The Daily Beast. She has most recently appeared on Oprah Winfrey Network’s In Deep Shift, 60 Minutes, and VICE. She is currently developing a comedy series with Hazy Mills Productions.
Maysoon had the number one TED Talk of 2014 and was named 1 of 100 Women of 2015 by BBC. As a professional comedian, she has performed in top New York clubs and has toured extensively at home and abroad. She was a headliner on the “Arabs Gone Wild” comedy tour and The Muslims Are Coming! tour. Maysoon appeared alongside Adam Sandler in You Don’t Mess with the Zohan and is the founder of Maysoon’s Kids, a scholarship and wellness program for disabled refugee children. Maysoon walked in New York Fashion Week and is proud to be an ambassador for Kara Ross’s Diamonds Unleashed. More at www.Maysoon.com.
