Ephrat “Bounce” Asherie has trained extensively in ballet and modern dance but found her artistic home in breaking, hip hop and house. She began breaking in 2002 under Richard Santiago (aka Break Easy) and soon after was introduced to house music. She has been greatly influenced by the New York club scene ever since. As artistic director of Ephrat Asherie Dance (EAD), Ephrat received a Mondo Cane! commission from Dixon Place to support the creation of her first evening length work, A Single Ride. This original work earned two Bessie nominations in 2013 for Outstanding Emerging Choreographer and Outstanding Sound Design. Ephrat's work has been supported by artistic residencies through the Lower Manhattan Cultural Council, New York Live Arts and the CUNY Dance Initiative. EAD has presented work at the Apollo Theater, the Ahmanhson Theater, Dixon Place, Doris Duke Theater at Jacob’s Pillow, the River to River Festival, Summerstage, NYC and the Yard, among others. She is the recipient of a Jerome Foundation Travel and Study Grant that supported her research on the way Brazilian cultural and folkloric dances have influenced bboying/bgirling in Brazil. Ephrat is a regular guest artist with Rennie Harris Puremovement and has worked with Ann Marie DeAngelo, Dorrance Dance, Doug Elkins, Bill Irwin, Cori Olinghouse, Gus Solomons Jr, Pilobolus and Emilio Buddha Stretch, among others. Ephrat has a B.A. in Italian Language from Barnard College and is a MFA candidate at University of Wisconsin’s low-residency program, where her research focuses on the connections between vernacular jazz dance and contemporary street and club dances in New York City.

For more information please visit her website.