Maxine Montilus – Flatbush

Maxine Montilus
As a choreographer, Maxine has presented work at various institutions, including The Bronx Academy of Arts and Dance, La Mama Experimental Theatre Club, and Harlem School for the Arts with Haiti Cultural Exchange for their annual Selebrasyon Festival. Maxine has also presented choreography in Dance Caribbean COLLECTIVE’s annual New Traditions Showcase from 2015-2017.  In 2014, she choreographed BallyBeg Production’s third play and Equity-approved showcase, “The Taste of It”, and was a 2015 nominee for Outstanding Choreography/Movement in The New York Innovative Theater Awards for her work in the production. In 2017, Maxine served as an Afro-Cuban/Haitian Folklore consultant for Camille Brown in her work for the Broadway musical “Once On This Island.”  Maxine was also the choreographer for Opera Orlando’s presentations of George Bizet’s “Carmen” (April 2021), “The Secret River” (December 2021), and “The Magic Flute” (October 2022). All three productions made their premieres at the Dr. Phillips Center for the Performing Arts. 

In 2019, Maxine founded MV Dance Project, a dance company that aims to be of service to others through public performances and dance education programming.  In June 2019, the company performed its first evening-length production “Strength in Spirit” at Brooklyn Studios for Dance. 

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Maxine Montilus’ movement project, “L’Espwa Pou Demen” (“Hope for Tomorrow”) came about from her collaboration with youth in the Flanbwayan Haitian Literacy Project, Brooklyn International High School and The Goddess Project. 

Maxine hosted poetry, movement, and visual arts workshops engaging young people around the questions: “What would Haitian youth like to see for the future of Haiti?” and “What do Haitian youth think Haiti needs to develop as a country?”

Maxine has also been working with the Medgar Evers College Multimedia Dance Theater Ensemble to perform choreography inspired by young people’s visions for Haiti. For the Lakou NOU culminating event, Maxine will present a choreographic work that incorporates dance, music, poetry and video that centers embodied practice as cultural preservation, a testament to resilience, and hope for a peaceful future. 

Dancers featured in the work are: Nakia Augustin, Mathanie Datilus, Wilbertson Datlius, Mike Jeanty, Rebecca Nelson, and Rose Carline Souffrant from Brooklyn International High School. Shania Jones, Alyssa Wheeler, and Dejanae Singleton from Medgar Evers College’s Multimedia Dance Ensemble. Poetry written and spoken by Maxine Montilus and Jessica Michel.