Ballet summer intensive

Jess Hendricks graduated from the University of Colorado with a BFA in Dance. Her training includes Perry Mansfield School of the Performing Arts, American Dance Festival, Harvard Dance Festival, EDGE Scholarship, Gus Giordano and Hubbard Dance Street. Her credits include commercials and industrials for Godiva, L'Oreal, Reebok, Toys R Us, Universal Studios, Volkswagen and Warner Brothers. Jess worked on the tour of HAIR as Dance Captain for years, performed for the opening premiers of Moulin Rouge and The Great Gatsby and can be seen in such movies as Living Out Loud and Between The Sheets. She has danced in or been the assistant choreographer to the Elan Awards, Bob Fosse Awards, Ms. America Pageant, Carnival, Dance Break and Broadway Bares. Jess has choreographed the New York musicals "The Shaggs", "The Book Of The Dun Cow" and "Dead City" as well as the movie musical "Free Fall". She has choreographed the music video "Just A Dress" for the Berlin Film Festival, "Mia Agapi Fotia" for European artist Sofia Strati's Eurovision and has been a finalist for the ACE Awards. Jess has taught at Universities and Festivals throughout Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway and the United States. Jess has danced with "The Wes Veldink Movement" and co-created her own company "Two Peas & A Pod". She has created live work for "A Great Big World" at Brooklyn Academy of Music, set work for Carnegie Hall and assisted with choreography for the Alicia Keys tour. Jess recently debuted work on Houston METdance, Marymount Manhattan College, Point Park University and Wanderlust. She is currently an adjunct professor at Pace University in New York City, on faculty with 24 Seven Dance Convention and a Co-Founder of Dancers Give Back Dallas.

 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, 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 in the esteemed school. Elise also choreographed for the Professional Training Division Ensemble in the Dallas School. In November of 2022, Elise became the Rehearsal Director for The Sacramento Ballet. Elise is married to former Houston Ballet Demi Soloist, Rhodes Elliott, and they have three children.  

 Alex Wong was born in Canada. In 2000 Alex won two Junior World Titles in Tap and Showdance. Alex won the Audience Choice Award and was a Bronze Medallist in the 2003 Genee International Ballet Competition. In 2004, he became the first Canadian to win the Prix de Lausanne competition in Switzerland. He danced with American Ballet Theatre and was a Principal Soloist with the Miami City Ballet. Alex was a finalist on Season 7 of the FOX hit series "So You Think You Can Dance" competing for the title of America's favorite dancer but was sidelined by an injury halfway through the season. Later that year, both pieces Alex danced on So You Think You Can Dance choreographed by Mia Michaels and Tabatha & Napolean both won Emmy Awards. Alex has returned as an All Star for many seasons on SYTYCD and several of his pieces he danced in received Emmy nominations or wins. Alex was also a Semi Finalist on American Idol Season 11 and in 2011, Alex had his Broadway debut, playing the role of "Sniper" in the Original Broadway Cast of the Disney musical "Newsies" which won two Tony Awards and received six other Tony nominations. Alex also won the ACCA Award for Outstanding Original Chorus for the Broadway 2011-2012 season and the album was nominated for a Grammy Award. Alex's recent notable credits include Dancing with the Stars, Taylor Swift, Jonas Brothers, Ariana Grande, Dolly Partons’ “Christmas on the Square, Mariah Carey’s Christmas Special, Rebel Wilson’s “Isn’t It Romantic”, Starz TV series drama "Flesh & Bone" playing the role of "Kim", NBC's Peter Pan and Annie Live, Ted 2, Glee, The King & I on Broadway, CW's "Crazy Ex Girlfriend", Drunk History, The Voice, SNL, The Daily Show, James Corden, Fosse/Verdon, the Billboard Awards with Paula Abdul, The Oscars, Little Mermaid Live, Disney’s Hip Hop Nutcracker, Schmigadoon, In The Heights Movie and he has been the cover star of Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit and many others. Alex was a part of the hit movie musical "The Greatest Showman" starring Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Zendaya and Michelle Williams playing the role of "Oriental Oddity" and was a lead actor in the Christmas movie “Who is Christmas Eve?”. Alex also continues to travel around the world headlining dance conventions and continues create content on his social media pages IG and TikTok amassing over 4 million followers. @alexdwong

Born in Brooklyn, NY and raised in Chattanooga, TN, Mr. Davis began his training as a TIP full scholarship recipient with Ballet Tennessee.

Mr. Davis was accepted by Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble to have the privilege to work with Arthur Mitchell and then was promoted Company member under direction of Virginia Johnson dancing numerous such as the "Pas de Deux" from George Balanchine' s Agon, the "Pas de Deux" from Alvin Aliey's Lark Ascending, "The Male Duet" from Ulysses Dove's Dancing on the Front Porch of Heaven, the "Pas de Deux" from Darrell Grand Montre's Vessels, Christopher Huggins "Pas de Trios" In The Mirror of Mind, "Four Men's Variation" from Freddie Franklin's Pas de Dix of Raymonda and Donald Byrd's Contested Space.

He has performed with Dance Theatre of Harlem company on National and International tours, and was also a U.S. Ambassador for Dance Theatre of Harlem in Kingston, Jamaica, St.Thomas, and Honduras. Performed at the Apollo Theatre in Harlem, has been a guest artist for Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Donald McKayle honors performance in Irvine, CA, The Kennedy Center and Honors in DC, The Paramount Theatre in Seattle, WA, danced the "Pas de Deux" with Emiko Flanagan from George Balanchine's ballet Agon for Wendy Whelan's documentary private presentation of "The Restless Creature" and has performed for Arthur Mitchell's DTH Vision Gala with Ashley Murphy (Washington Ballet) alongside with Misty Copeland (ABT) and Matthew Prescott (International Freelance Artist).

Mr. Davis was a Guest Principal dancer with Ballet Tuscon casted in roles as The Sugarplum Fairy Cavalier in the "The Nutcracker" Don Quixote 3rd Act Grand Pas Deux, Balcony Pas de Deux in "Romeo and Juliet" and Solor in Kingdom of Shades from "La Bayadere."

Fredrick has been a Guest artist with Dance Theatre of Harlem, San Jose Dance Theatre Company, New Jersey Ballet Company, Connecticut Ballet, Guest Choreographer for Neville Dance Theatre and Guest Artist and Choreographer for American Midwest Ballet Company. 

Fredrick has a documentary by WTCI-PBS production from Chattanooga, TN based on his life being homeless child on the street to transcend to be a world class ballet dancer. "From the streets to the stage the Journey of Fredrick Davis" that also won an Emmy last January at the 31st Midsouth Regional Awards in Nashville, TN.

Rhys is currently a member of Ballet Austin, and this summer will be moving to Canada to join Alberta Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member for the 2023-24 Season in Calgary.  Originally from Houston, Texas. He trained at Vitacca Dance Project before attending Boston Ballet School for 3 seasons, and then joined BalletMet’s second company for 2 seasons. At Boston Ballet he performed in Nissinen’s The Nutcracker, Ashton’s Cinderella, Balanchine’s Coppélia, Petipa’s Giselle, and Boston Ballet School’s Next Generation performances. At BalletMet Rhys performed in BalletMet’s Unlocked, Gerard Charles’s The Nutcracker, Liang’s Cinderella, Giselle, and Seasons. Over the summers Rhys has trained at Finnish National Ballet School, Orsalina 28, The Royal Ballet School, European School of Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and many more.  

Angela Palladini is a dancer, performer, and educator.  Her credits are numerous, and include:  THE MARVELOUS MRS. MAISEL- Seasons 1-5 (Principal BG Dancer, Stand-In, Photo Double), DIVORCE- Season 3/Series Finale (Dancer), 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), PIRATES OF PENZANCE- Opera North (Ballet Soloist, Daughter, Dance Captain), Dance Gallery Festival 2014 (Finalist), Polaris Dance Theatre, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Her Teaching Credits Include: Broadway Kids Auditions (NYC), Athletic Dance Institute (NJ), Choreography/Class Assistant at Broadway Dance Center and STEPS on Broadway (NYC), 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)., 

In addition to performing, Angela teaches audition prep, musical  theatre workshops, & private coaching (ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre). She's also a certified GYROTONIC®, GYROTONIC® For Dancers (Level 1 & Level 2), GYROTONER® (Specialized Equipment), and 200-hr Yoga Alliance Certified Instructor. 

Angela is a proud member of SAG-AFTRA, AEA, AGMA, & AGVA. 

IG: @angelapalladini

www.angelapalladini.com

Oliver Halkowich is a first-soloist with the Houston Ballet.  He grew up in South Florida and performed in Miami City Ballet's first Nutcracker at the age of seven, fell in love with both Tchaikovsky and ballet and migrated west to train at the San Francisco Ballet School. In 2001, he began his professional dance career back on the east coast with the Boston Ballet. A year later, he settled on middle ground in Texas. He joined Houston Ballet as a Corps de Ballet  member in 2002 and rose through the ranks to First Soloist dancing 19 seasons with the

company. He has danced a variety of classical, contemporary and character roles: the socially awkward Alain in Sir Frederick Ashton's La Fille mal Gardee, the misunderstood stepsister in Stanton Welch's Cinderella, the jazzy couple in red in George Balanchine's Rubies and the bulldog sailor in Jerome Robbin's Fancy Free. He has also performed in work by Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Nacho D uato,Hans Van Manen, Christopher Bruce, Mark Morris, Ben Stevenson OBE, Justin Peck, Aszure Barton and Jerome Robbins, among others. Oliver has choreographed for Houston Ballet, Dance Alive National Ballet, Houston Contemporary Dance company, Mercury Ensemble, the

Texas Contemporary Art Fair, the Blaffer Museum, Houston Cinema Arts Society and the Museum of Fine Arts Houston. Alongside his good friends and fellow dancers, Melody Mennite and Connor Walsh, he co-produces REACH, a platform for Houston dancers and choreographers to create new work while raising money for arts education. He co-choregraphed What we keep with Melody Mennite and Connor Walsh for Houston Ballet's performances at the George R. Brown Convention Center in 2018.He debuted his first solo commission Following for Houston Ballet’s 50th Anniversary season in 2019.

 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.

 Colette R. Kerwick, from Santa Fe, New Mexico received her BA in dance from New Mexico State University, where she worked as an Adjunct Lecturer before moving to Texas, where she received her Masters of Fine Arts in Dance from Sam Houston State University and is currently an Adjunct Lecturer in the Department of Dance. In her fourth season dancing with NobleMotion Dance, she is Programming Director and is also, Artistic Director of their pre-professional company, NMD2. Previous experience includes Adjunct Lecturer with University of St. Thomas in teaching dance. She has presented choreography at the American College Dance Association, The Dance Gallery Festival (NY, TX), William Evans Somatic Dance Festival (NY) and the Keshet Dance Festival (NM). Kerwick has also had the privilege of performing works by Lux Boreal, Mike Esperanza, Gabrielle Lamb, Jennifer Mabus, Joshua Manculich, Andy and Dionne Noble, Dana Nicolay, Jennifer Pontius and Vanessa Voskuil. She has also performed and trained at festivals and intensives including: Dance Italia in Lucca, Italy, the American Dance Festival, Josè Limon and has toured with NobleMotion Dance in New York City, NY, Palm Springs, CA, Corpus Christi, TX and Phoenix, AZ. This season Kerwick looks forward to performing at the Kennedy Center with

 Meredith starred on Broadway as the lead role of Peggy Sawyer in the Tony Award Winning Revival of 42ND ST at just 25 years old. She released a memoir “Confessions Of An Actress: From Chorus Girl to Broadway Star” in 2021 celebrating the 20th Anniversary of 42nd St on Broadway. As a dancer and master class teacher she travels the country teaching performing arts education. One of her favorite teaching jobs was personally coaching Channing Tatum on how to tap dance for the Coen Bro’s Movie HAIL CAESAR. As a performer she starred in the National Tour of Crazy For You, Singin’ In The Rain and White Christmas as Judy Haynes, a role she also originated on Broadway. She has performed numerous roles on stage, but is most proud of being hand-picked by her director, Dame Julie Andrews, to play her role of Polly Browne in the musical The Boy Friend. Meredith made her TV Debut opposite Tom Selleck & Candace Bergen in a 4 episode arch on ABC’s Boston Legal.  Meredith has guest-starred on TV’s Law & Order SVU, Person Of Interest, The Good Wife, Made in Jersey, and played the recurring role of Francesca on All My Children (2009). Her film credits include: ODD Squad (2021), What If Wendy (Short), Broken Flowers, Every Little Step, Before the Devil Knows You Dead, Company Man, and The Princess Diaries II (Lady Alyssa).  Meredith is featured on cast albums White Christmas, Face The Music (City Center Encore’s), Papermill’s Follies, & Julie Taymor’s The Green Bird. She also composed and produced her own albums compositions entitled Without Words, MerieNYC, &  produced her Jazz EP Little Did I Ever Dream (ITunes). Solo show “Sweet Old Fashioned Girl” at Feinstein's & Birdland Jazz Club in NYC and The Gardenia Club in Hollywood. She is the producer and host of the podcast “Confessions Of An Actress”, available on all podcast platforms. Her proudest credit is wife to TSO vocalist & musician, Dustin Brayley, and mother to their boys Maxwell & Billy. Follow @merpatterson, @confessionsofanactress, @merieproductions on Instagram. www.meredithpatterson.com  

 Alexis began her dance training at Morgan St. Dance Company in her hometown of Lafayette, Louisiana. In 2005, Alexis graduated from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Dance. During her time there she performed works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, Sherry Zunker, Sam Watson and Susan Quinn, among others. Immediately following graduation, she accepted a contract to perform aboard the Rhapsody of the Seas for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines. She then moved to Chicago to continue her training on scholarship at the Lou Conte Dance Studio. While in Chicago she was awarded a Summer Apprenticeship with River North Dance Company. 

Alexis then moved to Philadelphia to join the Koresh Dance Company in 2007.  During her six seasons with the company she had the privilege of traveling and performing all over the world. She also worked with world renown choreographers such as Artistic Director Roni Koresh, Ohad Naharin, Itzik Galili, Paul Selwyn Norton, Donald Byrd, and Robert Battle.  While in Philadelphia she taught jazz, ballet and contemporary at the Koresh Dance Studio. She also served as rehearsal assistant to Roni Koresh at University of the Arts.

Alexis now resides in Austin, Tx with her husband and two children.  She is enjoying time with her family and teaching and choreographing all over the country.