Montclair Academy of Dance and Laboratory of Music and Drama celebrates 25 years since founding!
About
Artistic / Curriculum Director: Maya Milenovic Workman
Studio location: St. John’s Episcopal Church
55 Montclair Ave., Montclair, NJ 07042
Mailing address:
41 Watchung Plaza # 324, Montclair, NJ 07042
Inquiries: Madlommail@gmail.com (973) 626 6130
Under Artistic Direction by Maya Milenovic Workman, MADLOM grew into a multifaceted performing arts program, including dance (Modern dance, ballet, choreography), drama (Short films, playwriting, acting), and drumming (African drum, theory). We strive to bring up confident individuals that learn to critically and creatively think. We give the students the voice to lead the creative process. In the process, the students recognize the importance of everyone present.
We developed a program, which is a base for students to uncover creative ability that surpasses the intellectual illusion of what art has been in the past or might be today. Maya’s stage and writing experience invite everyone to contribute to a creative study and add new value. This developmentally appropriate and joyful process allows individuals to understand the purpose of performing arts.
During the early years of development of a young person, there is a window of opportunity for creative abilities to be cultivated and imagination unleashed. We address every child individually and use all multiple intelligences. Long-time students share the message with younger generations and teach with the support of teachers. Our classes are inclusive for students ages three through eighteen.
Ms. Maya believes that in Madlom's creative process of learning, students can say: I invented my work! And when something is invented, it can be evolved! These experiences will position an individual student to make individual decisions and make the world a better place.
“Through the vision of Maya and Reggie, I was allowed space to explore poetics of movement, choreography, and language at a very young and crucial age. This early introduction into post-modern traditions and contemporary experimental dance forms had a huge impact on me and continue to influence my trajectory as an NYC-based curator and artist. I met some of my dearest life-long friends at Madlom!”
- Seta Morton (Former Student)
Teachers
Maya Milenovic Workman
Maya MW is a Guggenheim fellow and teaches Dance (Cunningham and Graham-inspired) Choreography, Ballet, Creative Movement, Drumming, Drama, and Creative writing. Maya is an Artistic/Curriculum Director and co-founder of MADLOM. She is an international Choreographer/Director and a writer ( born in Slovenia). Her latest play “Ophelia’s Ocean” was created into play on film, Her play Dos Worlds was produced at the Trinity Chapel, NYC.
BA, MA (New School University, NYC; BA equivalent London School of Contemporary Dance, UK (Student of Jane Dudley and Nina Fonaroff) Visual Art candidate, University of Maribor, Slovenia). Guggenheim fellow, in 2020.
www.mayamwproductions.com
www.dosworlds.com
M’ten Halsey
African Drumming
M’ten has been drumming since he was five years old and has traveled around the world spreading his cultural message with his spirited drum rhythms and powerful message. He lives in West Orange and is a father of two.
(BA - Economics, Baruch College, City University, NY)
Ayana Workman
Drama, Acting, Private acting coach, Dance, Drumming.
Ayana is a Slovene-American actor, who grew up in Montclair, NYC, and Slovenia. She is currently represented by Clear Talent Group and MJ Management Company. Ayana is passionate about creating work that has a message, giving voice to those who may not have the ability to share their own, and, empowering others to feel seen through the stories she helps to tell (She portrays Eleonor Norton in the film RUSTIN)
(BFA, Rutgers University, Mason Gross School of Drama). She studied dance, tap dance, theater, and drumming at MADLOM since she was 5.
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Reggie Workman
Music, Co-founder Madlom
Legendary bassist, NEA Jazz Master, Guggenheim fellow, Full professor The New School University “COPA”. Known for his work with John Coltrane, Art Blakey, Mal Waldron, Alice Coltrane, Marilyn Crispell, Trio Three (With Oliver Lake and Andrew Cyrille) Reggie Workman Quartet, dancers, actors, and poets. Reggie lives in Harlem, NYC. He still teaches at the New School, master classes throughout the world. He still performs and records!
www.reggieworkmanmusic.com
Will Pew
African Drumming
Will was born in New York City and grew up in Montclair, NJ. He has studied djembe at Madlom since he was 6 years old with Kevin Jones, Reggie Workman, and Yahaya Kamate. He lives in Montclair, NJ
(BA - Clark University) He studied drumming with MADLOM from the time he was 6.
Grant Burroughs
African Drumming
Currently, BA, Georgetown University, Washington DC, and West Point. He studied drumming with MADLOM from the time he was 6.
Marina Shay
Drama, acting
Marina holds a BA in Theater and English with a concentration in Shakespeare from Oberlin College and an MFA in Acting from Brown/Trinity Rep. Marina has worked, trained, and collaborated with The Guthrie Theater, The Chicago Shakespeare Theater, Shakespeare and Company, The SITI Company, BADA, and Columbia University to name a few. As a coach and a teacher, Marina specializes in clarifying classical texts and making them as easily accessible as possible.
Bela Malika Shelby
Guest Drum Teacher
Bella Malika Shelby is originally From San Francisco. She has been playing congas, hand drums, and drum set. Currently, she is Reggie Workman’s BA Music student at the New School University, COPA, NYC. She enjoys teaching kids and youth.
Mike Barton
Drama, acting
Since Mike graduated, he has acted and directed as a founding member of two repertory company’s and has contributed to many productions. He lives in Montclair and is a father of two.
(BA - the University of Oklahoma – theater)
Tommy Day
Acting for Commercials
Tommy Day is an actor and has appeared in Law & Order, Law & Order: SVU, FBI, Blacklist, Blue Bloods, House of Cards, NCIS: New Orleans, and others, along with various commercials and theater projects. He is currently a personal trainer at SlowBurn Personal Training Studios in Montclair, NJ. He is a father of two.
University of Central Florida.
Leadership
Artistic-Curriculum Director, Co-founder: Maya Milenovic Workman
Board of Directors: Maya MW, Amira Williams, Alicia Lukachko, Eleni Luna, Beth McLeod,
Honorary Chair, Co-founder: Reggie Workman
Honorary Board members: Kathryn Arabia (Early Childhood Educator), Linda Brumbach (Art Producer), Andrew Cyrille (Legendary Drummer), Philip Glass (Composer), Kenneth Tharp (Dancer/Choreographer, London), Nasheet Waits (Drummer)
Friends of MADLOM: Gail Lambie, Selena Persico, Eileen Blackenbury, Kathryn Arabia, Tracy Allen, Nick Lewis, Zachary Kirsimae, Garret Burroughs, Grant Burroughs
PR/Marketing/Social Media: Zachary Kirsimae, Maya Milenovic Workman
Constant Contact: Zack Kirsamae, Maya Milenovic Workman
Web Design, 2021: Garret Burroughs
“I came to Maddlom as an eleven-year-old kid with a mild interest in drumming and the beginnings of a poem. They turned that into a passion for music and writing that has carried me throughout school, into college, and through the rest of my career. Not only did Madlom give me the performance experience normally reserved for musicians with years under their belt, but helped instill in me the mentality that music could and should be more than just a hobby, but something I pursue as a lifelong dream”
— Daryl Uberoi (Student)