Wortham Center’s resident dance company, Stewart/Owen Dance, presents its newest creation, where i end, you begin, in performances running May 9–19 in Tina McGuire Theatre.
How does one choice spark a chain reaction in the world around you? In where i end, you begin, the stories of six dancers are intertwined through grace, passion and whimsy.
The Wortham is pleased to introduce the cast and share a little about their backgrounds, courtesy of Stewart/Owen Dance.
The cast of where i end, you begin
JAMAL ABRAMS
Jamal Abrams is an interdisciplinary artist born and raised in Baltimore, MD. They received their BFA in dance from The University of the Arts. Jamal has worked with Tariq Darell + The UNUM Dance Collective, Priorie Dance, haus of bambi, Sleep No More NYC, as well as Company SBB They are currently in his first season with Company SBB. As a maker they are the recipient of the The Next Look Residency for the 2022/23 cohort supported by The Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center as well as a featured performer for the DC Dance Choreographers Festival 22’. They have recently made their NYC solo debut at Harlem Stage for the E-moves Dance Series curated by Stefanie Batten Bland. This is Jamal’s first season with Stewart/Owen Dance.
MADELINE BADGETT
Madeline Badgett, a native of Charlotte, North Carolina, graduated magna cum laude from SUNY Purchase College in 2022 with a BFA in Dance. Her Purchase performance credits included works by Maiya Redding, Annie Rigney, Hannah Gardner, and Alex Ketley. Additional performance credits include works by Hofesh Schecter, Michaela Taylor, Akram Khan, and Doug Varone. Madeline has attended summer intensives at School of American Ballet, Kirov Academy, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Contemporary Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and BODYTRAFFIC.
Since graduating, Madeline has had the pleasure of freelancing in Charlotte, NC. She has been a part of “motive forces” with Eric Mullis since 2023 and had the opportunity to perform “Technogenesis” at the 2024 breaking ground festival in Tempe, Arizona. Madeline has also performed “Yok” by Renay Aumiller at the NC Choreographers Residency Project. In addition to performing, Madeline has a passion for teaching and choreographing. This is Madeline’s first season with Stewart/Owen Dance.
MEGAN JONES MEDFORD
Megan Jones Medford received a BA in Dance Education from the University of North Carolina at Charlotte. She spent six years living in NYC as a professional dancer and teacher. Along with freelance work, Megan was a company member with Periapsis Music & Dance, LiNK! the movement, and Shauna Sorensen and Dancers. Some of her performances include SummerStage, Jazz at the Lincoln Center, American Dance Guild Festival, Symphony Space, New York Moves, Carnival, and Choreographers Canvas. Megan trained with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Martha Graham School, and American Dance Festival. She was on faculty for the Children & Teen Program at Broadway Dance Center and All-Star Studios in NYC. She has guest taught and choreographed for studios and conventions around the States. Megan moved back to her hometown of Asheville, NC to start a family and to continue to share the art of dance through teaching and performing. Megan has been dancing with Stewart/Owen Dance since 2020.
VANESSA OWEN
Vanessa Owen, originally from Amity, Pennsylvania, is Co-Director, choreographer, and company dancer with Stewart/Owen Dance. She received her B.F.A. in Dance from Wright State University and has danced professionally with Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, the Kennedy Center’s production of Children of Eden, Dark Circles Contemporary Dance and Company E.
Vanessa performed regularly at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and worked extensively through the State Department touring as a Cultural Ambassador during her time with Company E. These tours took her to Kazakhstan, Turkmenistan, Russia, Cuba, Israel, Palestine, Republic of Georgia, Azerbaijan, China, and Uruguay where she taught, performed, and choreographed contemporary dance and musical theater productions.
TAYLOR RAILTON
Taylor Railton is originally from Bermuda where she began dancing at the age of six. In 2012, Taylor attended the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she performed works by José Limón, Brenda Daniels, Juel Lane, and others. In 2014, Taylor moved to San Francisco to attend the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Summer Lee Rhatigan. She worked with and performed works by Bobbi Jene Smith, Alex Ketley, and Tom Weinberger. Taylor attended summer programs including Gallim, Bodytraffic, Gaga NYC, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Sidra Bell Summer Module, and New Dialect Summer Intensive. Taylor earned her BFA from SUNY Purchase College in the Spring of 2019. Whilst at Purchase, she worked with Ana Maria Lucaciu, Danielle Agami, Kyle Abraham, Doug Varone, Annie Rigney, and many more. As a member of Purchase Dance Company, Taylor had the opportunity to perform at New York Live Arts in 2019. After graduating, Taylor had the pleasure of dancing with Uana Dans where she performed at the New York Dance Festival and the Houston Dance Festival. In late 2019, Taylor moved to London where she freelanced before moving to Charlotte, NC in 2020. Since moving, Taylor has worked with Eric Mullis on “Motive Forces” and Paynedance. Taylor has been dancing with Stewart/Owen Dance since 2022.
GAVIN STEWART
Gavin Stewart, originally from Tulsa, OK, is Co-Director of Stewart/Owen Dance in Asheville, NC. Gavin holds a BFA from UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance. Gavin started his career dancing with Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, and Owen/Cox Dance Group, and has since danced for Richmond Ballet, Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance, Company E, and Dark Circles Contemporary Dance Company. He has worked as a guest artist with MOVE: the Company, Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and ballet companies across the southeast.
During his time with Company E, he performed regularly at the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts and worked extensively through the State Department touring as a Cultural Ambassador. These tours took him to Kazakhstan, Sweden, Turkmenistan, Russia, Cuba, Israel, Palestine, Azerbaijan, and Uruguay where he taught, performed, and choreographed contemporary dance. While at Company E, Gavin worked as the Composer in Residence originating music for three evening-length productions, and writing music for Company E’s dance films.
