Four UNCSA alumni named 2026-27 Kenan Arts Fellows at Limón2
Four recent graduates of the School of Dance at UNCSA have been selected as 2026-27 Kenan Arts Fellows at Limón2, continuing a partnership between the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts (Kenan Arts) at UNCSA and the José Limón Dance Foundation designed to support emerging artists as they transition from conservatory training to professional careers.
The 2026-27 fellows are Paisley Kupka (B.F.A. Dance ’26), Jiamingyue “Glo” Li (B.F.A. Dance ’26), Jackson Menard (B.F.A. Dance ’26) and Candace Vann (B.F.A. Dance ’26). They join Limón2, the second company of the internationally renowned Limón Dance Company, for its 2026-27 season in New York City.
The fellowship, developed and funded by the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, provides each artist with tuition-free participation in Limón2 for the season and a monthly stipend for nine months, reducing financial barriers while transitioning to the city and providing intensive professional training, mentorship and performance opportunities.
“This partnership perfectly aligns with our emphasis on career readiness in the School of Dance at UNCSA,” said Dean Endalyn T. Outlaw. “For dancers entering the industry, having a safe, standard-bearing environment where they can continue to hone their skills while gaining meaningful professional experience is a gift, one made possible through the generosity and shared beliefs of those who invest in opportunities like this. This experience can open an important door into company life, but what comes next ultimately depends on how each dancer shows up, contributes, and carries it forward.”
The Kenan Arts Fellowship at Limón2 is part of a broader commitment by UNCSA and Kenan Arts to create meaningful career pathways that connect emerging artists with leading professional organizations. Through these partnerships, students and recent graduates gain access to professional networks, mentorship and real-world experiences that help bridge the transition from conservatory training to sustainable careers in the arts.
Additional partnerships in the School of Dance include those with American Ballet Theatre and Dance Theatre of Harlem (another Kenan Arts partnership), both of which have unlocked professional opportunities for students and alumni. Kenan Arts also supports partnerships and pipelines across the university including a program to launch the work of recent graduates from the UNCSA School of Drama at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe, developmental residencies at LaMaMa Umbria International and more.
“At Kenan Arts, we’re intentional about developing and investing in opportunities with legacy cultural organizations like the José Limón Dance Foundation, which is a pillar of the NYC and global dance community,” said Kevin Bitterman, Executive Director. “Under the mentorship of their artistic leadership, graduates of UNCSA can expand their vision, strengthen their voice and connect to a broader creative ecosystem. We are proud to have built this connection with the prestigious Limón company and look forward to seeing our alumni thrive as part of its professional community.”
UNCSA and Limón
The Limón fellowship builds on a longstanding relationship between the UNCSA School of Dance and the Limón tradition. Students study Limón technique with faculty who have professional connections to the Limón Dance company, and Limón artists regularly contribute to their training and performance experiences. The connections give students opportunities to experience Limón’s distinctive movement vocabulary while learning directly from artists working in the field.
UNCSA alum Ashley Lindsey, education director and artistic director of Limón2, was recently appointed to his role and has particularly deep ties to both institutions. Lindsey was introduced to the work of José Limón while a student at UNCSA and joined the Limón Dance Company in 2007, performing leading roles in works by Limón and other noted choreographers. He later returned to UNCSA as a visiting professor and artistic director of the UNCSA Summer Dance Intensive, where he established programs supporting performance and choreographic development.
“Having been shaped by both UNCSA and the Limón tradition, I understand firsthand how meaningful this bridge can be for a young artist,” said Lindsey. “UNCSA has a long history of developing dancers who arrive with a strong technical foundation, curiosity and a real sense of artistic responsibility. They are prepared to work, engage and grow, and through this partnership with the Kenan Institute for the Arts, Limón2 can provide a professional environment where they begin translating that training into a sustainable artistic life.
UNCSA alumna Savannah Spratt (B.F.A. Dance ’16) is also a member of the Limón Dance Company. Spratt returned to UNCSA during the 2024-25 academic year to work with students on an excerpt from Limón’s “Psalm” for the School of Dance’s Winter Dance concert. In addition, Isa Poteat (B.F.A. Dance ’26) has also been selected for this season’s Limón2 company.
Supporting the transition from student to professional artist
Launched during the 2025-26 season by the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts with the José Limón Dance Foundation, the Kenan Arts Fellows at Limón program initially supported three UNCSA School of Dance graduates: Kyriaki Christoforou, Naya Gonzalez and Cailee Harvey, all members of the Class of 2025.
As Limón2 members, the inaugural fellows participated in company classes and rehearsals, performed throughout the season and took part in community engagement activities while receiving mentorship from Limón artists and artistic leadership.
The experience is designed to give early-career dancers an environment in which they can continue developing their artistic identities while gaining a deeper understanding of the expectations and realities of professional company life.
"Getting to work with emerging choreographers was one of the highlights of my experience,” said 2025-26 UNCSA Kenan Arts Fellow Naya Gonzalez. “It allowed me to step into a different artistic world and embrace new challenges that have pushed me to grow both as a dancer and an artist. Their mentorship has taught me a great deal about rehearsal etiquette, professionalism, discipline, and the level of commitment that is required to sustain a successful career in the arts."
For the 2026-27 season, Kupka, Li, Menard and Vann are among the artists selected for Limón2, which brings together emerging dancers with the work of José Limón and contemporary choreographers. The second company is dedicated to developing young professionals for sustainable careers in dance while creating innovative programming and accessible community engagement.
The four fellows began their nine-month experience in September with undertaking technical training with the Limón Dance Company while preparing for their first performance on October 2 at LaGuardia Performing Arts Center. The program features a reconstruction of José Limón’s masterwork “A Choreographic Offering,” staged by Limón Dance Company member Savannah Spratt.
About Limón2
Created in 2021, Limón2 is the second company of the José Limón Dance Foundation and is dedicated to developing young professionals for sustainable careers and lasting contributions to the dance world. The company brings together emerging talent, the works of José Limón and contemporary choreographers while creating performance and community engagement opportunities. Limón2 members participate in technique classes, rehearsals, mentorship and performances, including opportunities alongside the Limón Dance Company.
About the School of Dance at UNCSA
The School of Dance at UNCSA is one of the world’s premier dance schools employing a distinctive conservatory approach to developing and teaching talented young performers. Hands-on training from world class resident faculty members and professional dancers offers a thorough yet nurturing approach for the next generation of performers to become technically sound, artistically sensitive and versatile professional dancers. Students concentrate in either classical ballet or contemporary dance, but train and perform in both, with numerous performance opportunities that allow them to explore a diverse repertory. Additionally, there is an affiliate Preparatory Dance Program in ballet for rising third- through ninth-graders. The school also offers summer dance intensives and dance festivals for children and adults.
Classical ballet graduates have enjoyed successful careers in dance, including becoming soloists, principal dancers, choreographers and artistic directors with the American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Joffrey Ballet, among many others. Graduates of the contemporary dance program enjoy careers as dancers and choreographers for companies such as the Paul Taylor Dance Company, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and the Martha Graham Ensemble, along with their own companies. Alumni include Camille A. Brown, Kyle Davis, Blaine Hoven, Juel D. Lane, Trey McIntyre, Gillian Murphy, Anthony Santos, Helen Simoneau, Dwana Smallwood and Will Gyves, 1st Scholarship/Top Prize winner of Prix de Lausanne 2026.
About the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts (Kenan Arts)
Artists change the way we see the world. At the Thomas S. Kenan Institute for the Arts, we make space for that change to happen. From our home at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, we support artists, spark collaboration, and connect creative communities across the Southeast and beyond. For more than three decades, Kenan Arts has backed bold ideas, nurtured partnerships, and helped the arts thrive in times of challenge and transformation. By expanding pathways to creativity for artists, students, and communities, we continue that work with a clear vision for a world where artists are valued and creativity is a driving force for change. For more information, visit www.uncsa.edu/KenanArts.
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September 25, 2026