BOARD OF DIRECTORS

 

Therese Sibon is an alchemical acupuncturist with private practices in Manhattan and New Paltz, as well as a health consultant for clients world-wide. She has three children, all of whom have danced with The Vanaver Caravan. Therese formerly worked in TV and film production, including Sesame Street and Saturday Night Live. Presently, in addition to acupuncture and coaching, Therese is a writer and blogger, as well as being an avid hiker, cyclist and rock climber. She recently accompanied The Vanaver Caravan to India and is a part of the Shakti Caravan India project.

Therese Colette

Dr. Marc Grossman, O.D. L.Ac., Natural Eye Care & Acupuncture, New Paltz, NY, is a leading holistic eye doctor and acupuncturist in the United States. He has been in practice for over 30 years, and is the author of five books on natural eye care. Dr. Grossman is a consultant to school systems and rehabilitation centers.

Dr. Marc Grossman, O.D. L.Ac

 

Phyllis Hart is a Family Nurse Practitioner, retired from NYS Department of Correctional Services. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in Therapeutic Recreation from Boston University. After teaching General Science in Jamaica, WI, Phyllis took a job with HBO in On-Air Promotion. Wanting to do more to help others, she entered Pace University Graduate School of Nursing and worked with adolescent, male and female incarcerated persons. Swing dance became a welcome and fun activity which led her to discovery of The Vanaver Caravan.

PhylLis Hart

Ted McKnight (Vice President) After graduating from Julliard, Ted joined The Vanaver Caravan, and danced with them from 1981 – 1996. He then moved to Princeton, NJ, and became a senior a Senior Managing Consultant for IBM. Ted recently returned to his dance beginnings as a member of TVC's board of directors, and has joyously rejoined a community of enthusiasts for Eastern European music and dance. Like many of those who danced in the Hudson Valley with The Vanaver Caravan, Ted was called back to this region and the community that The Vanaver Caravan creates. In 2018, he moved into a historic 1860's farm house on a hill, surrounded by orchards and vineyards and farm land. Today, Ted enjoys good food, community, training his dogs, and blazing sunrises.

Ted McKnight (Treasurer)

 

Dr. Amy Pender (President) is a financial planner and advisor who specializes in working with clients who seek environmentally and socially responsible investments. She is also a practicing artist. She sings with Kairos, a professional a capella vocal ensemble, and she holds a doctorate in voice from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music.

Amy Pender (President)

Rachel Prince started dancing with TVC at 8 years old and was a member of the first Youth Dance Company. In addition to joining the Company on stages around the world, she has assisted the Company with social media support, website development, and marketing insights over the years.

Rachel has been helping brands reach audiences on both physical and digital platforms for over a decade. After years of producing brand activations and special events in New York, she transferred to Berlin and transitioned into a more digital space. Rachel became the Editor-in-Chief of an online magazine for MINI/ BMW with KKLD, and then, back across the Atlantic, joined the team at Blast Radius in Vancouver as Senior Content Strategist, where we crafted digital campaigns, and strategic brand tools for clients like Starbucks and lululemon.

The next stop was South Africa. A place where Rachel felt she could bring her professional skills, and personal passions together to make positive change in Soweto, Johannesburg by joining the Sibahle Community Project. Sibahle is a NPO that increases food security in underprivileged areas by creating gardens at public health clinics. In addition to getting her hands dirty in the garden, she used social media to fundraise for the project, and connect the network of local food security projects with partners and press. All while consulting at King James Digital for clients including Visa, and producing the Soweto Wine Festival.

Rachel Prince

 

Emily Vanston

Since joining the Vanaver Caravan in 2008 Emily has served the company as a dancer, teacher, and board member. After graduating from the University of Texas, Emily spent a decade working in publishing and communications in New York City, where she also taught swing dance and performed with the Vanaver Caravan. Eventually Emily moved to the Hudson Valley, where she continued to dance and teach with TVC while working as a grant writer and dance instructor. Emily is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Teaching at SUNY New Paltz, and is busy raising her young son: a future Caravan Kid!

 

Emily Vanston (Secretary)

Board of Advisors

David Amram, Philip Arnoult, Gerry Bamman, Patti Beyer, Paul Ellis, Arlene Gould, Andre Gregory, Maria Guralnik, Nora Guthrie, Joan Halifax Roshi, Joseph Jones, Stephen Larsen, Ph.D., Richard E. Mennen, Ph.D., Sally S. Mennen, Ph.D., Natalie Merchant, Meredith Monk, Paul Posnak, Ethel Raim, Stephen Rathe, Sil Reynolds, Marc Stanley, Aaron Stern

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