Tina Croll + Company Bios


Tina Croll has been a part of the New York avant-garde and is a founding member of Dance Theater Workshop. Her work is described as "full of interesting and refreshing ideas" (NY Times). “Powerful and provocative,... charged with a mysterious drama, like fantastic dreams, surreal collages, a wise child's imaginings.” (Village Voice) “Tina Croll has attained a mastery in reflecting works of highly unique expression that can be desperately human or exquisite kinetic structures” (Dance Magazine) Croll studied with Merce Cunningham, Erick Hawkins and Nina Fonoroff and performed in the companies of Jose Limon, Jeff Duncan, Jack Moore, Arthur Bauman, James Cunningham, and Judith Dunn among others. She established Tina Croll + Company in New York City and performed with her company at Judson Church, Dance Theater Workshop, the Theatre of the Riverside Church, Clark Center, The Exchange Theater, The Cubiculo, and other theaters in the city. The company also toured extensively throughout the United States. After a period spent exploring the spiritual aspect of dance, a quest that took her to India and Europe, Tina Croll moved to the west coast. Here she formed a new company and created a repertory of works including Starthrowers Cafe, Lonely at the Top, and The Struggle of the Magicians. “Tina Croll herself is an exquisitely calm, controlled mover, with the courage to be simple on stage.” (L.A. Herald Examiner).
In 1993, Croll returned to her roots in New York City and has been performing her work at Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project, P.S. 122, The Kitchen, Movement Research at Judson Church, New York University, The Kaye Playhouse, Joyce Soho, The Duke on 42nd Street, and other locations in the city. Kate Mattingly of the Washington Square News describes her recent work: “Croll invents movement that stretches our idea of what is kinetically possible, and then ties this movement to music in such a sophisticated manner. . . . She keeps a viewer in suspense.” Ms. Croll joined with Wendy Perron, Douglas Dunn and Kenneth King to form an improvisation group The Gang of Four. They performed at P.S.122 and were featured in the 1995 Improvisation Festival at Judson Church. Recent productions include Balkan Dreams, a collaboration with Zlatne Uste, a twelve piece Balkan Brass Band, and Izgori and Goli Teli who play music from Macedonia. 8 modern dancers and 12 folk dancers joined with 18 musicians in this evening-length work. Croll and Jamie Cunningham continue to work together on their ongoing project, From the Horse’s Mouth, which has been produced for the past eight years around the United States in New York, Los Angeles, San Francisco, Chicago, Minneapolis, Miami, Philadelphia, Boston, as well as at Jacob’s Pillow and the American Dance Festival. Ms. Croll is the recipient of grants from the National Endowment for the Arts, the New York State Council on the Arts, The Harkness Foundation, Dance Theater Workshop, Bennington College, the Gutman Foundation and other organizations.
Dana Doggett graduated with a degree in Art History and Dance from Skidmore College where she was inspired to become a performer by Deborah Hay and Toni Smith. Since moving to New York, Dana has become a Massage Therapist and has enjoyed performing throughout the New York area. She has danced with Susan Hefner, Murray Spaulding Movement Arts, Pi Dance Theater and is a company member of Chris Ferris and Dancers. She has been dancing with Tina since 2004 and is excited to be a part of Ancient Springs.

Caitlin Grater has been dancing with Tina Croll & Co. since 2004. A Pittsburgh native, she trained with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School from the age of 5 before coming to New York in 1999. She is a graduate of NYU's Tisch School of the Arts. In addition to working with Tina, Caitlin, has recently begun her own business pursuits as founder of Grater Health (www.graterhealth.com), a holistic nutritional counseling practice. She is also currently a student at the Swedish Institute, College of Health Sciences, pursuing a license in massage therapy. In her very little spare time she enjoys playing the guitar, singing, and reading dorky nutrition books.

Marybeth Hurtt recieved her BFA degree in Dance from the University of Florida at New World School of the Arts. She has danced in Los Angeles with Lori DuPeron and also with The Katja Besanz Dance Theater. She spent a summer in London at the London Contemporary Dance School where she performed in Twyla Tharp's "The One Hundreds". In New York City she is currently a six year company member with Murray Spalding Movements Arts. She has had the pleasure of working with many wonderful independent choreographers here in the city and is very, very excited to be working with Tina Croll.

Eli McAfee, originally from Brighton, IL, received his BFA from Illinois Wesleyan University and his MA from Ohio State University. Upon moving to New York City in 1996, he joined Elizabeth Streb’s company, where he danced fro eight years and served as the Associate Artistic Director for three. He has also performed with David Gordon’s Pick Up Performance Company, Pilobolus Creative Services, Richard Move, and Chase Dance Theater. In 2004 and 2005, he was featured soloist in the Big Apple Circus’s national touring production, Picturesque. McAfee has also worked as a costume designer, most recently for the Brian Brooks Moving Company’s all pink show, Dance-o-Matic. This is his first season with Tina Croll.

Megan V. Sprenger was born in Minneapolis, MN, and grew up in the tri-state area. In 2003, she received a BFA in dance with a focus in composition from the State University of New York at Purchase College. She has had the pleasure of working with Annie Kloppenberg and Catherine Tharin; this is her fourth year with Tina Croll & Dancers. In 2005 she formed her own company mvworks which has presented work at PS 122, the 92nd Street Y, Abrons Art Center, Galapagos Arts Space, WAXworks at University Settlement, and Dance Theater Workshop's 40th Birthday Celebration. She has also presented work internationally in Burgos, Spain. When not dancing Megan is the Director of Marketing at Dance Theater Workshop. mvworks.org.