Artistic Director

Donna Scro Gentile has toured professionally as a dance artist for the past fifteen years and is renowned for mesmerizing audiences worldwide with her extraordinary stage presence and captivating choreography. Artistic
Director of Freespace Dance, Donna’s choreographic style is bold and fearless, and connects to human emotion and experience. Combining her athletic nature and her humanistic connection, the work is accessible to people of all ages and backgrounds. Donna received a 2008 Fellowship from New Jersey State Council on the Arts, for excellence in choreography. She has performed at some of the most internationally prestigious venues, including The Paris Opera House, Theatre de la Ville, the American Dance Festival (Korea and North Carolina), Spoleto Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, The Egg, and in New York City at the Joyce Theater, The New Victory Theater, Central Park SummerStage, Symphony Space, Dance Theater Workshop, Danspace Project, and Lincoln Center Out of Doors. She has been applauded by The New York Times, The Village Voice, The Star Ledger, The Houston Chronicle, Dance Insider, Backstage, and The Boston Globe for her compelling signature style.

Prior to establishing Freespace Dance, Donna was a principal dancer with the Nikolais and Murray Louis Dance Company (1991-1996) and toured extensively throughout the United States, Europe, and Asia with the company. She was also a founding member of Sean Curran Company (1997-2003) and continues her affiliation with Sean by setting his works on university dance departments. Additionally, Donna has been a member of Peter Pucci Plus Dancers (1997-1999) and a guest artist with Heidi Latsky Dance, Neta Pulvermacher, Risa Jarsalow, Michael Mao and many other
established New York choreographers.

In addition to her performing experience, Donna is currently on dance faculty at Montclair State University where she graduated Magna cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance. Donna is committed to bringing dance to local communities and has created choreography to
inspire young artists. Regionally her work has been commissioned by Montclair State University, Montclair High School, Ridgewood High School, and Steffi Nossen School of Dance in White Plains, NY. She has been a guest teacher several times for the American College Dance Festivals and
the Ashland Dance Festival in Oregon, as well as many private and public schools throughout the tri state area. Donna, the owner of Grace Yoga and Dance in Verona, NJ is an Anusara-inspired yoga teacher and registered through the Yoga Alliance. Her fascination of yoga and dance inspires her to create work with real fire and true heart.