summer ballet intensive
Our ballet intensive features master teachers from companies both local and abroad, and is curated to enrich the training of experienced ballet students age 7 through advanced levels.*
*We also offer the RAD Ballet intensive for ages 5 and up and beginners - please visit our RAD Intensive Page if interested*
2025 FACULTY
Amy Leonards
Elizabeth Troxler
Elizabeth Troxler
Amy Leonards is Director of TADA's Ballet Program and holds a BA in the Performing Arts. Originally from Louisiana, Amy is classically trained in ballet, tap, and jazz, with a specialization in teaching Vaganova, Cecchetti, and RAD ballet methods. Miss Amy developed and implemented ballet curriculum as ballet director over several ye
Amy Leonards is Director of TADA's Ballet Program and holds a BA in the Performing Arts. Originally from Louisiana, Amy is classically trained in ballet, tap, and jazz, with a specialization in teaching Vaganova, Cecchetti, and RAD ballet methods. Miss Amy developed and implemented ballet curriculum as ballet director over several years for two performing arts schools in Los Angeles and San Franciso before joining us at TADA, while also pursuing a professional career in theater. She is a proud member of the Actors' Equity Association, and some of her favorite roles include Hope in Anything Goes, Rose in Enchanted April (World Premiere), Marian in The Music Man, Maggie in A Chorus Line, and Jellylorum in Cats, to name a few. Amy also has international, national, and regional commercial and print credits, including Ford, Legal Zoom, LeapFrog, and Salesforce. We are honored and proud to acquire her as Ballet Director in 2021!
View more about Miss Amy on her website at https://www.amyfranklinleonards.com/
You may email her at ballet@dancetada.com
Elizabeth Troxler
Elizabeth Troxler
Elizabeth Troxler
Elizabeth Troxler is a NYC based director & choreographer with a passion to create stories full of emotion and heart. She has performed principal roles in ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Les Sylphide & Don Quioxte with the Nacional Ballet de Panama and other classical companies. Elizabeth has performed in national tours and
Elizabeth Troxler is a NYC based director & choreographer with a passion to create stories full of emotion and heart. She has performed principal roles in ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Les Sylphide & Don Quioxte with the Nacional Ballet de Panama and other classical companies. Elizabeth has performed in national tours and regional theater productions of Brigadoon, Sweet Charity, Beauty & the Beast, Mame and many more. Elizabeth has directed and choreographed new works (Daughter of Society, The Emily Dickinson Project - On This Wondrous Sea), many musicals (Cabaret, Bright Star, Matilda), various ballets (The Snow Queen, The Nutcracker, The Goose That Laid The Golden Egg), and a recent (COVID safely filmed) dance production entitled (Dancing Through…) in conjunction with The Tank & many NYC, regional & Broadway choreographers & performers. She is a certified teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance and guest teaches and coaches students around the world. As a master teacher, she seeks to empower dancers of all levels to create a multifaceted versatility and strength of character that spans not only various dance styles, but also seeps into life.
Elise Elliott
Elizabeth Troxler
Elise Elliott
Originally from Sacramento, California, Elise Elliott danced with the Houston Ballet for ten seasons, retiring as a Soloist in 2017. She enjoyed being featured in works by many choreographers, including Stanton Welch, Antony Tudor, Ben Stevenson, Jiri Kylian, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Christopher Bruce, Sir Kenneth Macmillan, J
Originally from Sacramento, California, Elise Elliott danced with the Houston Ballet for ten seasons, retiring as a Soloist in 2017. She enjoyed being featured in works by many choreographers, including Stanton Welch, Antony Tudor, Ben Stevenson, Jiri Kylian, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Christopher Bruce, Sir Kenneth Macmillan, Jorma Elo, Wayne MacGregor, and John Cranko. She was also fortunate enough to tour with the company to many countries, including Australia, China, Canada, Germany, and Spain. In 2017, Elise became Texas Academy of Dance Arts’ Ballet Director in The Woodlands, TX, as well as the Founding Artistic Director of TADA’s Youth Ballet Company. In 2021, Elise joined Texas Ballet Theater as the School Business Manager, as well as a Professional Training Division (PTD) and Advanced Instructor and choreographer in the esteemed school. In November 2022, Elise became one of the Rehearsal Directors for The Sacramento Ballet. . She is also a certified Pure Barre Instructor, as well as mother of 3!
Nao Kusuzaki
Elizabeth Troxler
Elise Elliott
Nao Kusuzaki is born in Ehime prefecture, Japan, and began her ballet lessons at 3 years old at
Yatsuzuka Ballet school. After moving to the U.S. at age 10, she continued her training with The
Washington School of Ballet and Boston Ballet School. Nao became a member of Corps de
Ballet with Boston Ballet in 2001. In 2004 she joined Houston
Nao Kusuzaki is born in Ehime prefecture, Japan, and began her ballet lessons at 3 years old at
Yatsuzuka Ballet school. After moving to the U.S. at age 10, she continued her training with The
Washington School of Ballet and Boston Ballet School. Nao became a member of Corps de
Ballet with Boston Ballet in 2001. In 2004 she joined Houston Ballet, and was promoted to
Soloist in 2009. She has danced numerous leading roles in both classical and contemporary
repertoire.
Some of her featured roles include: The Sugarplum Fairy and The Snow Queen in
The Nutcracker, Nikiya in La Bayadere, Madame Butterfly in Madame Butterfly, Lilac Fairy in
Sleeping Beauty, Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Jiri Kylian’s Petite Mort, Sinfonietta, and
Falling Angels, William Forsythe’s In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper
Room, Christopher Wheeldon’s Rush, and Mark Morris’s Pacific. Most recently, she was invited
to stage Swan Lake and and perform Odette/Odile with Victoria Ballet Theater in March, 2019.
Nao is also active in the Houston community through producing Dance for Hope, a benefit
Concert in response to Japan Earthquake of 2011, co-creating TSURU with Asia Society Texas
Center in 2015, and directing and dancing The 45th Anniversary Ballet Performance celebrating
Houston and Chiba Sister City Relations, which premiered in July 22, 2017. In November, 2017,
she directed and danced in the revival of TSURU at the Miller Outdoor Theater, Houston, TX,
where Nao was commended by the Consulate General, Japan. Nao is Founder of Creative Minds
Collaborative Inc., a nonprofit organization which seeks to create meaning across artists,
educators, and supporters of the arts utilizing dance as the main medium
Kerry Godkins
Elissa Fonseca
Kerry Godkins
Kerry Godkins is a career classical ballet instructor with nearly 20 years of experience in educating young dancers in the greater Houston area. Ms. Godkins began her training in north Houston under the tutelage of Angela Jackson and Barbara LeGault at American Academy of Dance. There she danced as a principal dancer with the pre-profess
Kerry Godkins is a career classical ballet instructor with nearly 20 years of experience in educating young dancers in the greater Houston area. Ms. Godkins began her training in north Houston under the tutelage of Angela Jackson and Barbara LeGault at American Academy of Dance. There she danced as a principal dancer with the pre-professional company Houston Dance Theatre. She spent many summers on scholarship at some of the best schools in the country including the Joffrey Ballet School and Lines Contemporary Ballet.
Kerry has served on the distinguished faculty of Rowland’s School of Ballet and Kingwood Dance Theatre for 13 years. She was the ballet mistress for Houston Dance Theatre for eight years where she set and rehearsed many of the classics including Sleeping Beauty, Firebird and Paquita, to name a few. Ms. Godkins spent two years in College Station helping to build the infrastructure for a professional track classical ballet program. Ms. Godkins has served on the faculty for Houston Ballet Academy’s lower school summer intensives as well.
Her students have gone on to enjoy professional performing careers with Tulsa Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and others. She is devoted to educating children in her beloved art of dance and strives to pass this love down to generations to come.
Rylan Doty
Elissa Fonseca
Kerry Godkins
Rylan Doty began his training in 2013 at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. In 2020 he moved to Houston and started training on full scholarship with the Houston Ballet Academy. After a year in the academy he then received a contract for Houston Ballet’s second company. Within his two years in Houston Ballet II, he danced leading roles in
Rylan Doty began his training in 2013 at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. In 2020 he moved to Houston and started training on full scholarship with the Houston Ballet Academy. After a year in the academy he then received a contract for Houston Ballet’s second company. Within his two years in Houston Ballet II, he danced leading roles in Coppélia, Don Quixote, Time to Dance, and more. In 2023, he received an apprentice contract with Houston Ballet and has danced in various Houston Ballet productions including John Neumeier’s Midsummer Night’s Dream, Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, Stanton Welch’s Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Cinderella.
Deontay Gray
Elissa Fonseca
Elissa Fonseca
Deontay Gray is a native of Baltimore, Maryland where he began his journey in the arts as a musician. As a vocalist he has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Meyerhof, and Strathmore with musicians Linda R. Hall, Dr. Craig Jessop and Marin Alsop.
At the age of 19 he began his dance career and later received his B.F.A in dance from the Conser
Deontay Gray is a native of Baltimore, Maryland where he began his journey in the arts as a musician. As a vocalist he has performed at Carnegie Hall, The Meyerhof, and Strathmore with musicians Linda R. Hall, Dr. Craig Jessop and Marin Alsop.
At the age of 19 he began his dance career and later received his B.F.A in dance from the Conservatory at Shenandoah University. In 2015 he was featured as a choreographer and dancer presenting his work in The Royal Theatre in Winchester, England. He was invited to teach master classes in Sydney, Australia in 2016 at the Sydney Dance Company Studios as well as University of Winchester in Winchester, England.
He was featured in works at the 2015, 2017 & 2018 New York Jazz Choreography Dance Project at the Ailey Citigroup theatre and the Salvatore Capezio Theater in NYC, the 2016 VelocityDC Dance Festival at Sidney Harman Hall in Washington, DC, and the 34th Annual Choreographers’ Showcase at the Clarice Smith Performing Arts Center in Maryland. While in Maryland he has been a guest artist with Dance n Bmore, CCBC dance company , Deep Vision, Opera in Baltimore, Ballet Embody Dance Company, CityDance, Anne Aroundel County Orchestra,and more. He has been a dancer with Christopher K. Morgan and Artists since 2016. He joined the Project C Studios dance family in 2020 where he was teacher, and choreographer. In 2022 he held the title of Artistic Director for the studio.
Deontay joins the Houston community and Uptown Dance Company in 2023.
Elissa Fonseca
Elissa Fonseca
Elissa Fonseca
Elissa Fonseca is originally from Pleasant Grove, Utah. She has danced since she was 6 years old, focusing on ballet, but also training in contemporary, jazz, tap, and Irish dancing. In high school, she trained with Utah Regional Ballet (now Utah Metropolitan Ballet) and danced with the second company for 3 years. Elissa spent two very fo
Elissa Fonseca is originally from Pleasant Grove, Utah. She has danced since she was 6 years old, focusing on ballet, but also training in contemporary, jazz, tap, and Irish dancing. In high school, she trained with Utah Regional Ballet (now Utah Metropolitan Ballet) and danced with the second company for 3 years. Elissa spent two very formative summers in college dancing at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Summer Lee Rhatigan.
Elissa graduated with her BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah in 2014, and then joined Salt Lake City based company SALT Contemporary Dance for 4 seasons. In 2018 Elissa moved to Minneapolis, Minnesota where she was a company member with Minnesota Dance Theatre for 4 seasons.
In college and throughout her professional career, Elissa has worked with renowned artists such as Summer Lee Rhatigan, Peter Chu, Val Caniparoli, Lise Houlton, Gustavo Rameriez Sansano, Bobbi Jene Smith, Banning Bouldin, Alex Ketley, Tina K. Bohnstedt, Garrett Smith, Gabrielle Lamb, Brendan Duggan, Elayna Waxse, and many more.
Elissa joined Vitacca Ballet in 2022.
Stephen Hanna
Angela Palladini
Derek Sakakura
Stephen started dancing at Shade Sisters Dance Studio, a neighborhood dance studio at the age of 3 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went on to The Center for Theatre Arts where he enjoyed taking classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theatre. He then went on to study ballet under Roberto Munoz at The Point Park College Conservatory. Whi
Stephen started dancing at Shade Sisters Dance Studio, a neighborhood dance studio at the age of 3 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He went on to The Center for Theatre Arts where he enjoyed taking classes in Tap, Jazz, Ballet, and Musical Theatre. He then went on to study ballet under Roberto Munoz at The Point Park College Conservatory. While studying with Munoz he
refined his ballet technique and was accepted into The School of American Ballet in New York City. At The School of American Ballet Mr. Hanna trained with Stanley Williams, Andre Kramerevsky, and Richard Rapp. He performed in various ballets in the school's annual Workshop performances. A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Four Temperaments, Rubies, Valse
Fantasie, Divertimento No.15, and Symphony in Three Movements by Balanchine. Pas de Six from Napoli choreographed by Bournonville staged by Stanley Williams and Christopher Wheeldon's Danse Bohemien. In 1997 he received the Mae. L. Wein award for outstanding
promise and became a member of New York City Ballet. While at New York City Ballet he was promoted to the rank of soloist in 2004 and in 2005 was promoted to the rank of principal dancer. He danced principal roles in Balanchine's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Agon, Brahms Schoenberg Quartet, Chaconne, Concerto Barocco,
Cortège Hongrois, Diamonds, Divertimento No. 15, Emeralds, The Four Temperaments, La
Valse, Liebeslieder Walzer, The Nutcracker(Cavalier), Robert Schumann's Davidsbundlertanze,Serenade, Stars and Stripes, Symphony in C(2nd movement), Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux,
Tchaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2,Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3(Elegie), and Western Symphony. In Robbin's 2 and 3 Part Inventions, Dances at a Gathering, Fanfare, The Four Seasons, Glass Pieces, The Goldberg Variations, I'm Old Fashioned, Interplay, Les Noces, and Piano Pieces. In
Martin's Fearful Symmetries, Les Gentilshommes ,Octet, Swan Lake(Prince Siegfried, Benno), and The Sleeping Beauty(Gold, Blue Bird, Wolf). Richard Tanner's Ancient Airs and Dances and Soirée. In Albert Evans's Haiku and in Boris Eifman's Musagete. Mr. Hanna also appeared in the
film Centerstage during his time with City Ballet.
In 2008 he made his Broadway Debut in Billy Elliot The Musical as Older Billy/Scottish Dancer.
The 10 time Tony winning production was directed by Stephen Daldry and choreographed by
Peter Darling. In 2009 he returned to New York City Ballet where he was a guest artist for the 2009/10 winter season. In the spring of 2010 Stephen returned to Billy Elliot The Musical and stayed with the show until it closed in Jan of 2012. The following week Mr. Hanna joined the national tour cast of Twyla Tharp's Come Fly Away in the role of Sid. After eight months he
returned to New York and joined the cast of Silence! The Musical where he played the role of Dream Lecter. Playing Dream Curly in Oklahoma! was next at The Chicago Lyric Opera. He had
the opportunity to learn the original Agnes De Mille choreography from Gemze DeLappe who
worked closely with DeMille and was a member of the first national tour of the show. He then went to perform in Spoleto, Italy where he partnered Alessandra Ferri in her return to the stage
in The Piano Upstairs.
Back in New York he went on to dance with Ballet Next and Intermezzo. With these companies Mr. Hanna danced ballets by Brian Reeder, Mauro Bigonzetti, and Claudia Schreier. In
December of 2013 he took part in a Dance Lab for the show On The Town choreographed by Josh Bergasse. The summer of 2014 he reprised the roles he played on Broadway in Billy Elliot The Musical at Ogunquit Playhouse in Maine. In the fall of 2014, Mr. Hanna landed back on Broadway in the revival of On The Town directed by John Rando. Stephen had the pleasure of
performing in The Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and The Tony Awards with the cast of the show. When On The Town closed he joined the Broadway cast of An American In Paris until it
closed in Oct of 2016. In 2017 l appeared again on Broadway in Hello, Dolly! Starring Bette
Midler. After finishing his run at Hello, Dolly! he was lucky enough to work with Susan Stroman on a lab of The Beast in the Jungle written by Scott Thompson with music by John Kander. This past spring Hanna made his Carnegie Hall debut in Candide directed by Gary Griffin and
choreographed by Josh Bergasse. This past year Mr. Hanna taught and choreographed at the College of Charleston He also
appeared in I Married An Angel at City Center Encores, as the Monotony Soloist in Jerome Robbins’ Broadway, Dream Jud in Oklahoma at Sacramento Music Circus, and The Lover in
The Other by Agnes Demille at The Lake Tahoe Dance Festival. In July he taught and
choreographed at The Joffrey Ballet School Musical Theatre summer program, The Lake Tahoe Dance Festival, and at Saratoga Summer Dance Intensive in Vail, Colorado.
In 2010 Mr. Hanna started studying acting at The Barrow Group. He enjoys this new exploration of expression and has studied with Dani Super, Nick Demos, and Matt Newton. He has since
appeared on television in All My Children, Boardwalk Empire, Momsters: When Moms Go Bad, Forever, Pose, and the short film Fourth Position.
Derek Sakakura
Angela Palladini
Derek Sakakura
Derek Sakakura has been fortunate enough to be a professional performing artist for over twenty years as in ballet, musical theater, and acting. Derek danced as a professional the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Ballet Austin, and San Francisco Opera Ballet. He became a principal dancer with Ballet Met and Diablo Ballet and danced lead roles i
Derek Sakakura has been fortunate enough to be a professional performing artist for over twenty years as in ballet, musical theater, and acting. Derek danced as a professional the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, Ballet Austin, and San Francisco Opera Ballet. He became a principal dancer with Ballet Met and Diablo Ballet and danced lead roles in ballets choreographed by: George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, Dwight Rhoden, Ben Stevenson, David Parsons, Val Caniparoli, James Kudelka, Stephen Mills, Warren Adams, Jerome Robbins, Trey McIntyre, Stanton Welch, Christopher Stowell, Septime Webre, David Nixon, and many more.
Derek’s unusual versatility afforded him the opportunity to perform as a cast member in the Tony Award winning (1996 Best Revival of a Musical), Broadway national tour of, “The King & I,” choreographed by the legendary Jerome Robbins with new choreography by Lar Lubovich. Performing in the lead dance role as King Simon of Legree in his hometown area, for family, teachers, and friends in San Francisco, is still a highlight of his early career.
In the latter part of his performing career, Derek was recruited to play Bernardo in Woodminster Theater’s production of “West Side Story.” His experiences as an actor in musical theater led Derek to be scouted for Clint Eastwood’s movie, “The Hereafter,” while he was performing in Maui’s visionary show, “ ‘ulalena,” in the role of Taro. Derek continues to enjoy acting, on occasion, but he feels that his truest calling is in teaching and mentoring.
A Bay Area native, Derek Sakakura has trained with some of the area’s legendary teachers: Lareen Fender, Sally Streets, and Sandra Chinn. His formal training continued under scholarships with San Francisco Ballet School and Houston Ballet Academy, where, at age:16, he was offered one of six out-of-state scholarships to live and train in their pre-professional program.
Although Mr. Sakakura officially retired from performing in 2016, he has gone on to study salsa, argentine tango, contact improvisation, freestyling, and fusion-dance partnering. He loves dancing regularly in all styles, and he has been humbled by how a lifetime of study in dance still leaves many lifetimes of ways to experience dance. He has cultivated a daily yoga practice and has learned how lucky he is to be able to feel so strong and free in his body.
Madison Russo
Angela Palladini
Angela Palladini
Madison Russo began her training in West Palm Beach, FL at Ballet East at the age of six. Training under Marcie Russo, Doreen Cafarella, and Chelsea Nasby, she received numerous awards from 2014-2015 at the Youth American Grand Prix, American Dance Competition, and the Indianapolis International Ballet Competition. At IIBC, she received a
Madison Russo began her training in West Palm Beach, FL at Ballet East at the age of six. Training under Marcie Russo, Doreen Cafarella, and Chelsea Nasby, she received numerous awards from 2014-2015 at the Youth American Grand Prix, American Dance Competition, and the Indianapolis International Ballet Competition. At IIBC, she received a short-term scholarship to study at the Houston Ballet Academy. From there, she joined the Houston Ballet Academy’s year-round program on full scholarship in 2015. In 2017, she received a contract with Houston Ballet II, and in 2018 an apprenticeship with the Houston Ballet. Since joining the company and being promoted to Corps De Ballet in 2019, Russo has performed in many of the company’s major full length ballets including Swan Lake, Sylvia, La Sylphide, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Coppélia, Balanchine’s Jewels, Stars and Stripes, and more. During her time with Houston Ballet, Russo has been a part of the creation process in new works from choreographers such as Arthur Pita, Trey McIntyre, Justin Peck, and Anabelle Lopez Ochoa. Russo has been choreographing on the Houston Ballet Academy since 2016, with her most recent work being Spina on Houston Ballet II.
Angela Palladini
Angela Palladini
Angela Palladini
Angela Palladini's Theatre/Dance Credits Include: CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 2nd National
Tour 2019-2020, 2021-2022 (Veruca Salt), ANNIE National Tour 2014-2015 (Orphan Swing, Asst. Dance Captain), ANYTHING GOES-Gateway/Ogunquit Playhouse (Assoc. Choreographer), CAROUSEL- Opera North (Louise), PIRATES OF PENZANCE- Opera North (Ball
Angela Palladini's Theatre/Dance Credits Include: CHARLIE AND THE CHOCOLATE FACTORY 2nd National
Tour 2019-2020, 2021-2022 (Veruca Salt), ANNIE National Tour 2014-2015 (Orphan Swing, Asst. Dance Captain), ANYTHING GOES-Gateway/Ogunquit Playhouse (Assoc. Choreographer), CAROUSEL- Opera North (Louise), PIRATES OF PENZANCE- Opera North (Ballet Soloist, Daughter, Dance Captain), Dance Gallery Festival 2014 (Finalist), Polaris Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Teaching Credits: Broadway Kids Auditions (NYC), Athletic Dance Institute (NJ), Choreography/Class Assistant at Broadway Dance Center and STEPS on Broadway (NYC), TADA (Houston, TX), Polaris Dance Theatre (Portland, OR), Orpheum Theatre Group (Memphis, TN), Colorado Springs Conservatory (CO), California State University at Dominguez Hills (CA), University of Nebraska at Lincoln (NB).
Other Credits: THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL- Seasons 1-5 (Principal BG Dancer, Stand-In, Photo Double), JOKER- FOLIE À DEUX (Stand-In), DIVORCE- Season 3/Series Finale (Dancer).
Proud Member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, AGMA, & AGVA.
Sara Webb
Alexandra Pernice
Alexandra Pernice
Sara Webb danced as a principal ballet dancer for Houston Ballet for 21 seasons. Born in Dallas and raised in Las Vegas, Sara attended the Harid Dance Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida for high school before attending the Houston Ballet Academy. She started dancing professionally with Houston Ballet in 1997 and retired in 2018. During h
Sara Webb danced as a principal ballet dancer for Houston Ballet for 21 seasons. Born in Dallas and raised in Las Vegas, Sara attended the Harid Dance Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida for high school before attending the Houston Ballet Academy. She started dancing professionally with Houston Ballet in 1997 and retired in 2018. During her career, she performed leading roles in many classical ballets, including Swan Lake, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Alice in Wonderland, and Madame Butterfly, as well as many contemporary ballets. She has danced throughout the United States and in many countries, including Japan, Australia, England, Russia, Spain, Canada, Germany, China, and Panama. She has taught ballet at the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, and the University of Houston, as well as at local ballet schools throughout Houston. Sara is married to Ryan Bardo, and they have five children.
Alexandra Pernice
Alexandra Pernice
Alexandra Pernice
Alexandra is a graduate of Point Park University, with training from Orlando City Ballet and summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre. After graduating, she performed with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines before relocating to New York City. Her performance credits include the Kennedy Center, Paramount Pictures, Orlando City Ballet, and in
Alexandra is a graduate of Point Park University, with training from Orlando City Ballet and summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre. After graduating, she performed with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines before relocating to New York City. Her performance credits include the Kennedy Center, Paramount Pictures, Orlando City Ballet, and international tours with Peridance Contemporary Dance Company. Regional Broadway credits feature West Side Story (Graziella) and The Music Man. On national tours, she performed in An American in Paris (Ensemble, Milo understudy) and Phantom of the Opera (Meg understudy, corps de ballet). On Broadway, she appeared in Anastasia at the Broadhurst Theater. Alexandra is also an accomplished dance educator, choreographer, and director, contributing to ballet programs across the United States. She is a proud member of Actors’ Equity Association (AEA).
Whylan Rucker
Alexandra Pernice
Terrill Mitchell
Whylan Rucker, a Beaumont Texas native, has studied the art of dance through various styles, including, ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and musical theater since the age of 6. She served as captain of her Drill Team, a member of her high school dance company, classically trained at The Beaumont Ballet Theatre (also know
Whylan Rucker, a Beaumont Texas native, has studied the art of dance through various styles, including, ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, modern, hip hop, and musical theater since the age of 6. She served as captain of her Drill Team, a member of her high school dance company, classically trained at The Beaumont Ballet Theatre (also known as Bonnie Cokinos School of Dance) and trained competitively at Taylor Dance Studio. She amplified her dance training through various conventions and competitions, including Dance Masters of America, JUMP, LA Dance Magic, International Dance Challenge, and West Coast Dance Explosion.
During her collegiate years, Whylan enhanced her experience as a choreographer and director by working at The Art of Dance Studio, teaching ballet, jazz and contemporary, and directing the dance team at her high school alma mater. She also gained collegiate dance experience as a 3 year member of the Lamar University Dance Team, where she continued grow in performances and choreography. As an advocate for education, Whylan continued to receive a teaching degree in English, Speech and Dance, while attending graduate school and earning additional degrees in Masters of Business Administration and Educational Leadership.
Currently, she resides in Houston, Texas, where she teaches both commercial and recreational dance classes and serves as a high school dance director. As director, Whylan has lead her team to an outstanding victory, earning consecutive Overall Grand Championship awards, High Point Apex Award, Best in Style, Judge’s Awards, Crowd Pleasers Awards, and Best in Entertainment; she’s also earned Best in Choreography and Artistic Vision.
Under TheWhy Dance & Consultant Services, LLC., Whylan shares her knowledge and passion for dance by offering a plethora of dance services to various schools and dance studios across the region. Her goal is to spread her passion and knowledge for dance and performing arts, with a focus on execution and performance quality. More importantly, she has the true desire to help dancers of all backgrounds understand WHY they love to dance.
Terrill Mitchell
Alexandra Pernice
Terrill Mitchell
Terrill Mitchell is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer, and consultant who relocated to Houston, TX after receiving his B.A. in Dance from Point Park University’s Conservatory of the Performing Arts. Terrill is the founder of HTX Connect, a platform designed to connect the local dance community by providing resources and variou
Terrill Mitchell is a professional dancer, teacher, choreographer, and consultant who relocated to Houston, TX after receiving his B.A. in Dance from Point Park University’s Conservatory of the Performing Arts. Terrill is the founder of HTX Connect, a platform designed to connect the local dance community by providing resources and various events. He was a seven-year company member with the
Houston Metropolitan Dance Company (Met Dance) and has served as a faculty member for both the professional company and pre-professional company. He has worked with companies such as Attack Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera, West Virginia Public Theatre, Playhouse Dance Company as well as performed in several industrial performances. Since joining the Houston MET he has performed works from choreographers such as: Caleb Mitchell, Jason Parsons, Spencer Gavin Hering, Jess Hendricks, Joe Celej, jhon r stronks, Kiesha Lalama, Peter Chu, Salim Gauwloos, Jason McDole, Kiki Lucas, Kate Skarpetowska, Lauren Edson and Larry Keigwin. He has performed at venues such as The Dance Gallery Festival, Bayou City Arts Festival, Artopia, Texas Contemporary Dance Festival and the APAP Conference. He has also had the pleasure of performing in the Boston Dance Festival and Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Dance Festival in Massachusetts. Additionally, Terrill was chosen as one of Houston’s 100 creatives in 2014. As a teacher and choreographer, Terrill has set works on Houston Contemporary, Houston Contemporary 2, MET dance, Wanderlust Dance Project, St. Johns School, Contemporary Ballet Dallas and has also traveled the coasts for competitive studios, dance teams and youth companies. He served as a choreographer for the educational outreach program for MET dance and has worked training other pre- professional dancers in Houston. Additionally, has had the opportunity to choreograph for the world-famous Kilgore Rangerette Dance Team and has served as a consultant for the Texas Tech Pom Squad, Sam Houston State University Dance Team, the West Virginia University Dance Team and TJC Apache Belles. Terrill has a decade of experience as a company director and educator for pre-professional organizations. His students have attended prestigious college programs such as Point Park University, PACE University, Julliard, University of Arizona, Sam Houston State University, George Mason University, Texas Christian University, Julliard, and AMDA, and more! Terrill travels the U.S. as a faculty member with Dupree Dance Convention and is represented by GO 2 TALENT AGENCY.