Jolea Maffei

JoLea Maffei is a master teacher of the Lester Horton Modern Dance Technique and has been teaching Horton in New York City for over thirty years. She currently teaches Horton in the Ailey School Professional Division and Fordham BFA Program, Steps Conservatory, Steps Academy and Steps on Broadway open classes. She has been on the faculties of Hunter College, Hofstra University, Marymount Manhattan College, New York University, City College of New York, Peridance Center, Ballet Arts at City Center and multiple other studios in New York City. Ms. Maffei has taught at many summer festivals including most recently the Ailey School Summer Intensive, Steps Academy Summer Intensive, The Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, and The Joffrey Summer Program.

Ms. Maffei participated in the Beta Group and holds an Inaugural Certification from the Ailey Horton Pedagogy program which launces to the public this summer, 2025.

Ms. Maffei served as the choreographic and teaching assistant to Milton Myers from 1988-98, demonstrating the Horton Technique, teaching, and assisting in setting his work at festivals and companies throughout the U.S. and Europe.

Ms. Maffei has had an extensive performing career dancing in and directing the Maffei Dance Company and the East/West Repertory Ensemble. She performed with Milton Myers Dance Company, the Larry Richardson Dance Company, Soulskin, The New York Ballroom Company in the work of Gary Pierce and Christian Holder, East\West Repertory Dance Ensemble where she appeared in her own work and the works of Milton Myers, Lonne Moretton, Rod Rogers, William Adair, Leni Williams among many others. In 2000 Ms. Maffei premiered a solo choreographed for her by Robert Battle entitled “Infirm” for Maffei Dance Company.

As a choreographer, JoLea Maffei has premiered work at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, the Theatre of The Riverside Church, the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colorado, the Clark Studio Theater, The Tribeca Center for the Performing Arts, the Cunningham Studio, and Hofstra University and Steps on Broadway and has participated in showcases throughout NYC. In 1997 she formed Maffei Dance Company which featured her choreography and continues on a project basis.

Originally from Michigan, Ms. Maffei graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance from the University of Michigan where she received the Gertrude Heubner Award for excellence in dance.

Class Description
Come and discover why the modern dance technique of Lester Horton is a classic technique uniquely suited for training today’s dancer. Through the study of Horton, strength, flexibility and a balanced body can be attained without imprinting the dancer with a discernable style. In the beginning level class, we will be examining the fundamentals of this powerful technique and using them explore the anatomy, expand flexibility, solidify placement and to move through space. In Advanced/Beginning Level Horton, we focus on exploring studies and fortifications and incorporating them into choreographic phrases both in the center and across the floor. In the Intermediate/Advanced class we will reinforce familiar studies and explore the lesser-known and most challenging elements of the technique with a goal of blending them with other choreographic influences in order to explore how this technique can create a dialogue with a range of dance vocabulary. Musicality will also always be a primary focus as we work in tandem with a live percussionist in every class, every level. For the Beginning level class, no previous experience with the Horton technique is required. I approach every class as an opportunity to create a welcoming dance community!