Michael Manswell – Artistic Director
Michael Manswell is an award-winning Dancer, Singer, Choreographer, and Teaching Artist. Michael began his creative journey as a storyteller at arts festivals and later studied music with Lindy-Anne Bodden-Ritch and at Brooklyn College with Tom Cultice. As a singer he has toured Europe, the UK, and the Caribbean and has performed as a soloist in productions of opera and oratorio including Dido & Aeneas, Le Nozze di Figaro, Die Fledermaus, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, Messiah, Missa Criolla, and Missa Luba. He studied dance at the Trinidad Dance Theater (TDT) with Eugene Joseph training in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, Ballroom, and Folkloric styles. Michael worked with Geoffrey Holder on “Dougla II” and “La Valse des Bakas” for TDT and toured with the company in North America and the Caribbean. A prolific choreographer, he has created numerous works currently in the repertoire of Something Positive as well as “Once Upon This Island” (Packer Collegiate Institute), and “Belle” (Brooklyn College). An orisha devotee in the Yoruba religion (Trinidad and Tobago) Michael presents lectures in dance, music, and the traditional religious practice and has worked closely with the Interfaith Center and the Caribbean Cultural Center in their programs. He currently teaches for Something Positive Inc., the Jamaica Center for Arts & Learning (JCAL), the Brooklyn Arts Council, the Caribbean Cultural Center and is on faculty at Lehman College (the City University of New York).
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Shaun Rasmussen – Deputy Director
Shaun Rasmussen joined Something Positive in 1997 and has since served as a principal dancer, Associate Director and most recently, Deputy Director. Over nearly three decades, he has performed with the company both nationally and internationally, led fundraising initiatives, developed performance programming, and curated Something Positive’s acclaimed traveling exhibition Iconography: Celebrating the Female Spirit – Cheryl Byron, which has shown at venues including the Brooklyn Public Library and Medgar Evers College (CUNY).
Beyond Something Positive, Shaun has held multiple roles spanning the arts, education, and workforce development-- advancing access and opportunities for young adults across New York City. He holds a BA in International Criminal Justice from John Jay College of Criminal Justice (CUNY) and an MS in Organizational Leadership from Mercy University.
Cynthia Salandy – Deputy Director
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Cynthia “Cinti” Salandy is a dancer, designer, and visual teaching artist who began her artistic journey in Trinidad & Tobago. Trained in Modern, Ballet, Jazz, and Folkloric styles, she has appeared in productions such as Miss World Trinidad & Tobago, Carnival presentations, theatrical works, and television performances—building a foundation that deeply informs her work in costume design.
With more than thirty years of experience in theatrical and Carnival production, Cinti’s costumes have won pageants and have been praised for their “exceptional design and expert craftsmanship.” For nearly three decades, she has served Something Positive as Costume Designer, Teaching Artist, Performer, and now, Deputy Director.
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Cinti also maintains a commitment to community service through the Neighborhood Assistance Corporation of America (NACA), supporting individuals navigating the mortgage crisis and pursuing homeownership. She has traveled across North America through this work, helping revitalize neighborhoods and change lives.
Cheryl Byron was born in Trinidad and Tobago where from early in her life, she was an active social and cultural advocate for her community. This exceptionally gifted storyteller, dancer, choreographer, writer, director, poet, singer, composer and actor positively touched the hearts and minds of many.
After working for several years as an artist in Trinidad and Tobago, her work took her to New York where she earned her B.A and M.A in English from City College and an ABD PhD in Performance /Museum Studies at New York University. Cheryl studied dance with Dr. Pearl Primus and was a member of the Primus-Borde Earth Theater. She also trained with Lavinia Williams, Pearl Reynolds and Jesse Oliver.
The first to perform her own original brand of poetry in a calypso tent in Trinidad and Tobago, Cheryl was a pioneer of the performing genres Rapso and Dub Poetry. She took her original blend of poetry, storytelling, music, theater and dance to Nigeria, Kenya, Jamaica, Barbados, Guyana, and throughout the United States. Her television credits include “Homecoming.” She was a contributing editor to the anthology “Womanrise” and can be heard on the albums “Womantalk” and “Freedom Soon Come.”
Cheryl was a professor at Medgar Evers College, the College of New Rochelle, New York City Technical College and Long Island University.
An ordained reverend mother in the Spiritual Baptist Faith, Cheryl would end her performances by giving thanks and praises always to God, and honoring the Ancestors, Orisha, Deities, Angels and Saints that protect and uphold us.
Cheryl Byron departed this earthly life on June 17, 2003.