OUR MISSION
To create performances that are witty, soulful, intelligent, powerful and intriguing. To encourage the integration and inclusion of people with disabilities in dance and in society.To present new, exciting, challenging and inspiring contemporary dance performances to the widest possible audience.
Artistic Director and Founder
Zazel Chavah O'Garra
I have a new life through dance, rising above body deficits, embracing a new body and the illumination of a life force. 
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Zazel is an accomplished dancer, actor, model, and brain tumor survivor!
Zazel-Chavah O’Garra is the founder and Artistic Director of ZCO/DANCEPROJECT,a physically integrated dance company whose goal is to create performances that are witty, soulful, intelligent, powerful and intriguing. ZCODP seeks to encourage the integration and inclusion of people with disabilities in dance and in society, to present new, exciting, challenging, and inspiring contemporary dance performances to the widest possible audience.
A native New Yorker, Zazel attended the University of Michigan and Empire State College where she received a Bachelor of Arts in dance performance. A Presidential Arts Scholar, she performed with Mark Dendy Dance Company and Alvin Ailey Wksp II, as well as performing Off-Broadway and in numerous musical theatre stage productions in the U.S. and abroad. She has also served as movement coach for “As the World Turns”. As a professional model, she has appeared on two Essence Magazine covers and several other print and runway jobs. She also appeared in national, regional commercial industrials and supplied voice overs for a number of ads. In December 2003, Zazel discovered that she had meningioma, a benign brain tumor, which proceeded to paralyze her right side and resulted in a slight speech impediment and cognitive loss. After receiving extensive treatment at the Kessler Institute for Rehabilitation (East Orange, NJ) and New York University Rusk Medical Center, Zazel was able to overcome the speech impediment, cognitive loss, and paralysis. Consciously deciding to make best use of this debilitating circumstance, Zazel transitioned into teaching dance as a healing form to the disabled and non-disabled alike, continuing to share her infectiously positive and fun spirit with others. Her objective is to give those with disabilities a vehicle for self-expression, help them build a sense of self-esteem and self-reliance, and provide them with opportunities for community recognition and acclaim. She is also passionate about raising public awareness about the challenges facing and the gifts offered by those with disabilities. Zazel can be heard on numerous podcasts and webinars including the National Foundation for the Arts, Preparing Students with Disabilities for Careers in the Arts: Approaches for Arts Educators, and most recently appeared on the Dr. Oz show to share her life as a brain tumor survivor. Wanting to share her story, she performs Inside/Out (voices of the disability community), directed by Ping Chong, nationwide. Zazel is the recipient of the VSA-John F. Kennedy- National Teaching Artist fellowship and was named the inaugural member of the White House Disability Liaison 2014. |
Her recent performances include: This/Ability-Samuel Beckett Theatre, Theatre Breaking Through Barriers, Undesirable Elements-Lincoln Center, Bodystorming Access Cooper Hewitt Museum, Respectability-Positive Exposure 109, Judson Memorial Church, Secret Histories - NYPL Lincoln Center, Imagining an Accessible NYC.
Professional Affiliations: Arts and Education Committee-Board of Education, Disability Task Force, DANCE/NYC, SAG-AFTRA/PWD, Ambassador-Voices Against Brain Cancer and Divaswithdisabilities. Zazel holds an MSW from Fordham University and is a member SAG-AFTRA, EQUITY.
Professional Affiliations: Arts and Education Committee-Board of Education, Disability Task Force, DANCE/NYC, SAG-AFTRA/PWD, Ambassador-Voices Against Brain Cancer and Divaswithdisabilities. Zazel holds an MSW from Fordham University and is a member SAG-AFTRA, EQUITY.
Zazel is partnered with the following:
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MEET OUR DANCERS
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SASHA ROSS BECKERSasha Ross Becker was born and raised in the hills of Middlesex, Vermont. She is currently living in Brooklyn, NY following her career path of Graphic Design. She has also worked as a performing artist, through theatrical/dance performances to professional musicianship. |
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NANETTE DE CILLISNanette De Cillis began her professional dance career in 1978 after studies with Professor Dorothy Vislocky at Hunter College. With Contact Improvisation, Nanette discovered a movement vocabulary that resonated. She danced with notables Pooh Kaye, Robin Feld, Elise Bernhardt, Remy Charlip, and Johanna Boyce among others. Her work with mixed ability dance began in 1984, when fellow dancer Carey Erickson sustained a devastating spinal cord injury. From that tragedy, came an unexpected medical milestone when Carey walked again, and for Nanette, a life’s passion to create inclusive dance. Most recently, with her own company, No Limit Dance, Nanette has choreographed, danced and raised money for spinal cord injury research in venues from the Brooklyn Historical Society to the Winter Garden. She is thrilled to be joining Zazel and ZCO to continue the work. |
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MILLIE GONZALEZMillie Gonzalez is a proud member of ZCO Dance Project, a New York-based modern dance company producing powerful and intriguing dance works of artistic distinction performed by dancers with disabilities. She is also a founding member of Shimmy Sisters, a modern belly dance troupe out of New Jersey, and has performed with Heidi Latsky Dance Company in the human art installation, "On Display." Millie has participated in AXIS Dance Company’s Physically Integrated Dance Intensive & Teacher Training with Artistic Director Marc Brew, and completed a Summer Intensive with Full Radius Dance, learning technique, improvisation, site-specific, choreography and teacher training. In addition, Millie is on the board of directors for the Spina Bifida Resource Network and Alliance Center for Independence, and is the co-emcee for the NJ Disability Pride Parade. She also organizes the ReelAbilities: NJ Disabilities Film Festival at Kean University, which features disabled artists, performers and speakers alongside award-winning international films that promote awareness and appreciation of the lives, stories and artistic expressions of people with disabilities. She is a frequent public speaker and works full-time as a writer, editor and event planner.
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COLLEEN ROCHEColleen Roche was introduced to dance as exercise and a form of non-verbal expression several years ago. She joined ZCO Dance Project in 2014, and is thankful to be part of a company committed to making dance accessible to all. She also enjoys practicing Parcon, an inclusive, cooperative, site specific movement practice, and is a member of the Shimmy Sisters, a modern belly dance troupe. |
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DINA JACKSON Dina Jackson, is a 57 year old breast cancer survivor. Paralyzed from the disease and chemotherapy, Dina still has a zest for life! She enjoys dancing, sports, concerts and theatre events. Dina loves her daughters, grandchildren, and extended family and friends. Dina thanks God for life! |
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CATHERINE ENG Catherine Eng grew up in Chicago and started to practice Horton and ballet in fourth grade at her community’s dance studio Hyde Park School of Dance. There she fostered a love of moving, storytelling, and choreographing. She took this love with her to Sarah Lawrence College and ended up focusing on media studies and performance. In college she had the joy of working with lots of fantastic teachers like Peggy Gould, Jennifer Nugent, K.J. Holms, and Kota Yamazaki. She benefited from the compositional mentorship of John Jasperse, Dean Moss, David Neumann, and Beth Gill. Her work, which is interested in intermediary storytelling, has been performed around New York at various venues including Arts on Site, Triskelion arts, and more recently The Works. Since graduatng in May 2019, Catherine’s been dancing with Human Kinetics Movement Arts, Rou Rou Ye, and practicing with Sara Rudner. |
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WENDY ANN POWELL Wendy Ann Powell, an only child was born in Brooklyn, NY and is the daughter of Colombian born father Yecid Oviedo Gutierrez and America born mother Amelia Martin. Wendy attended Public Schools and studied dance at Brooklyn College. Upon leaving Brooklyn College she studied and performed with Dance June Lewis & Company. In addition, Wendy was an original member of Ayitia la Dance Company, Dance Danamaria and has performed with Alden Moves Dance Theater in an immersive version of the Nutcracker. Over the years Wendy has performed for elected officials, religious institutions, hospitals, schools, cultural institutions and senior citizen centers. As a Girl Scout co-leader she has taught dance workshops to Daises and Brownies. In the past, she has also conducted workshops for Girl Scout Cadets and mentored various Girl Scout dance projects. Moreover, in 2015, she was invited to perform by National Teaching Artist, Margaret Elaine Plaza of Omega Dance Company. Ms. Powell is also a 2016 Brooklyn Arts Council Grant recipient for the project, Beat the Drum for Haiti. Wendy is also a performing artist with Agoci Dance Company as well as a certified Zumba instructor. Additionally, she is attending City College as a Theatre major where she was awarded the Alexandria Desantis and Southern Nevada Alumni Chapter Scholarships. She is the proud mother of two daughters and one son. Her husband, formally a successful song writer is former a New York State Committeeman official. |
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Aaron MckAaron Mck is a 1983 born Millennial. He playfully calls himself “one of the oldest Millennials." He studied Broadcast Management and Music at Howard University!
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Donna RussoDonna comes from a background in dance starting at 10 years old. She is a graduate from Mercyhurst University with a B.A. in Dance. Currently, Donna has two unrelated conditions FSH Muscular Dystrophy and Turner Syndrome. It is an honor to be Dancing with Zoo Project. You can also see her Dancing in the Donna On The Go on YouTube.
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Jessica De La RosaJessica De La Rosa, raised by a disabled mother, was made aware very early in her childhood that there is no such thing as 'can't' and was always motivated and determined to get things done. She believes in living limitlessly, and is a college graduate, artist, dancer, former competitive rower, an avid sportswoman, and Ms. Wheelchair New York 2016, Jessica remains active in advocacy, mentoring others with disabilities to live life to the fullest. With ZCO, she has most recently started dancing with her partner, which has brought them closer together. She currently works for a independent living center assisting people with disabilities.
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José HernandezJosé Hernandez is a C-5 quadriplegic due to a spinal cord injury sustained when he was 15 years old. After his injury he developed a passion for mentoring others with similar disabilities, including individuals in nursing homes and in rehabilitation centers. In 2011, Jose had the opportunity to go to Washington DC as part of United Spinal’s Roll on Capitol Hill annual event. This trip ignited an interest in advocacy, and he has been back to DC frequently as well as advocating on state and city issues. He is currently the NYC Advocacy Coordinator for United Spinal Association and the President of United Spinal’s New York City chapter. In 2019, Jose was appointed by Mayor Bill DeBlasio to be a Commissioner of the NYC Civic Engagement Commission to ensure that the city includes individuals with disabilities in all aspects of civic engagement. |