TADA summer ballet intensive JUNE 1-12
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 (Royal Academy of Dance) Ballet intensive for ages 5 and up, beginner through advanced levels. Learn more here
2026 SUMMER BALLET INTENSIVE FACULTY
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).
Amy Leonards
Alexandra Pernice
Alexandra Pernice
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
Deontay Gray
Alexandra Pernice
Derek Sakakura
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.
Derek Sakakura
Alexandra Pernice
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.
Elise Elliott
Elizabeth Troxler
Elissa Fonseca
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 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 2022, Elise became Rehearsal Director for The Sacramento Ballet. In addition to her role as Rehearsal Director, Elise is a Certified Fitness Coach and trains the Company dancers and Second Company dancers of The Sacramento Ballet, as well as her clients at Club Studio Fitness. When not working with the dancers of Sacramento Ballet, she is also a Master Teacher and Private Ballet Coach for companies and schools around the country.
Elise is married to Second Company Director, Rhodes Elliott, and they have three children.
Elissa Fonseca
Elizabeth Troxler
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.
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.
Jacob Lill
Elizabeth Troxler
Elizabeth Troxler
Jacob Lill originally hails from Simsbury, CT where he started dancing at the age of 4. He received his BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University in NYC with concentrations in both pedagogy and choreography. He trained under incredible faculty members including: Lauren Gaul, Scott Jovovich, Jess Hendricks, Alexandra Damiani, Mandy Moo
Jacob Lill originally hails from Simsbury, CT where he started dancing at the age of 4. He received his BFA in Commercial Dance from Pace University in NYC with concentrations in both pedagogy and choreography. He trained under incredible faculty members including: Lauren Gaul, Scott Jovovich, Jess Hendricks, Alexandra Damiani, Mandy Moore. Now he is a professional New York City based performer, auditioning, training, and continuing to follow his passion for dance and musical theater. Some of his favorite performance credits include, “Irving Berlin’s: White Christmas”(Phil), “Roger’s and Hammerstein’s: State Fair” (Pat), “An American in Paris” (Surflight Theater), “On the Town” (Arizona Broadway Theater), Bernstein at 100 featuring Misty Copeland and Tony Yazbeck (Wolf Trap) and Broadway’s Christy Altomare’s music video “Freedom Inside”. Jacob also serves as an adjudicator for several dance competitions as well as teaching masterclasses around the country and sharing his passion for dance with the next generation.
Jenette Anzalone
Jenette Anzalone
Jenette Anzalone
Jenette Anzalone holds a BA in Ballet and Contemporary dance from the La Salle-SIA College of the Arts. A veteran teacher of over 20 years and the owner of Dance Circle Studios in Singapore, she has taught jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballroom, and ballet at various international schools, including La Salle-SIA and the National Universit
Jenette Anzalone holds a BA in Ballet and Contemporary dance from the La Salle-SIA College of the Arts. A veteran teacher of over 20 years and the owner of Dance Circle Studios in Singapore, she has taught jazz, contemporary, hip hop, ballroom, and ballet at various international schools, including La Salle-SIA and the National University of Singapore. She has choreographed and performed in several major productions including Broadway Our Way, Tune In and Turn Out, Sunrise, Sunset, among others, and was the lead dancer in Mercury Rising, the Musical and That’s Kit. She also starred in John Meade Dance Company’s production ofIcons. Throughout her career she received numerous accolades, including honors of distinction at the UK Royal Academy of Dance and the highest awards at The Dance Excellence International Dance Festival in Los Angeles. Jenette has an incredibly passionate and enthusiastic style of teaching all of her students, toddlers through adults! She has been teaching at TADA since 2015, and is currently TADA's Showstoppers Program Artistic Director. Email her at showstoppers@dancetada.com
Jess Hendricks
Jenette Anzalone
Jenette Anzalone
Jess Hendricks graduated from the University of Colorado with a BFA in Dance. Her training and education 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, Reebo
Jess Hendricks graduated from the University of Colorado with a BFA in Dance. Her training and education 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 European 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 World Ski Championships, 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 and Sofia Strati’s “Mia Agapi Fotia” for Eurovision.
Jess has taught at Universities and Festivals throughout Canada, Costa Rica, Cyprus, France, Italy, Japan, Korea, Norway and the United States. Jess was a company member with “The Wes Veldink Movement” and Co-Created her own company “Two Peas & A Pod” in NYC. She has created work for A Great Big World and Alicia Keys Set The World On Fire Tour. Jess has debuted work at Carnegie Hall and Brooklyn Academy of Music, as well as set work at Marymount Manhattan College, Point Park University, PACE University, James Madison University, Houston METdance, Dallas Black Dance Theater Encore, DanceWorks Chicago, Wanderlust Dance Project and Dance Lab New York. Jess is currently an adjunct professor at PACE University, on faculty with 24Seven Dance Convention and a Co-Founder of Dancers Give Back Dallas.
Kerry Godkins
Jenette Anzalone
Lenorris Arnold
Kerry Godkins is currently TADA's Assistant Ballet Director. Kerry 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
Kerry Godkins is currently TADA's Assistant Ballet Director. Kerry 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. To reach Kerry for ballet at TADA inquiries, her email is balletAD@dancetada.com
Lenorris Arnold
Jenette Anzalone
Lenorris Arnold
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. Arnold moved to Houston, Texas and studied all dance disciplines at Masters, The Upper Level in Stafford, TX. His unique lyrical style of movement garnered attention from both drill teams and dance studios throughout Houston and he has become an extremely sought after teacher and choreographer in Te
Originally from Memphis, Tennessee, Mr. Arnold moved to Houston, Texas and studied all dance disciplines at Masters, The Upper Level in Stafford, TX. His unique lyrical style of movement garnered attention from both drill teams and dance studios throughout Houston and he has become an extremely sought after teacher and choreographer in Texas and Louisiana. In addition, he judges promising young talent with Move Dance Productions. Lenorris’ choreography has won numerous top awards at competitions such as Adrenaline Dance Convention, Legacy Dance Competition, Primetime Dance Productions, Hall of Fame Dance Competition, Artists Simply Human Dance Workshop, Move Dance Productions, New York City Dance Alliance, StarSystems Talent Competition, and Showstopper Competitions. Lenorris teaches at several local studios and constantly continues his dance education through seminars, conventions and travel to NYC and LA. His greatest inspiration is the progress of the dancers themselves
Nao Kusuzaki
Rhodes Elliott
Randall Flinn
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.
Randall Flinn
Rhodes Elliott
Randall Flinn
Randall Flinn is the Founder/Artistic Director of Ad Deum Dance Company based in Houston, Texas. The company, now in their twenty-fifth performance season, maintains an active touring schedule nationally and globally. The mission of the company is to artistically serve humanity at its deepest need for beauty, hope and compassion. Mr. Flin
Randall Flinn is the Founder/Artistic Director of Ad Deum Dance Company based in Houston, Texas. The company, now in their twenty-fifth performance season, maintains an active touring schedule nationally and globally. The mission of the company is to artistically serve humanity at its deepest need for beauty, hope and compassion. Mr. Flinn has also served as a modern/contemporary dance educator on the faculty and guest teaching staff of Houston Ballet, Cirque Du Soleil, Hong Kong Ballet, Guangzhou Modern Dance Company in China, City Contemporary Dance Company – Hong Kong, Houston’s Society For The Performing Arts, The American College Dance Festival, Adjunct Professor for Belhaven University, Friends University, University of Houston, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, The Alvin Ailey Educational Outreach Program, The Project Dance Foundation, The University of The Nations, Creative Arts Europe, Palm Beach Atlantic University, and Houston’s High School For The Performing And Visual Arts.
Flinn’s choreographic credits span an extensive thirty-five-year array of creating work for professional dance companies and dance festivals worldwide. His choreography has been commissioned and performed for The International Dance Salad Festival, Dance Gallery Festival New York, Texas Weekend For Contemporary Dance, Bailando Dance Festival, Dance Houston, East Meets West, Artists For Hope, The C.S. Lewis Foundation Oxbridge Conference, Project Dance Foundation in Paris, London, Sydney and NYC, The Ministry of Culture in Guadalajara,Mexico, Laois Dance Platform in Ireland, The French Consulate Of Houston and by invitation of the Princess of Malaysia.
Mr. Flinn began his early dance studies in his hometown of Houston, training in ballet, modern, jazz and tap at Houston Ballet Academy, Dance Arts Unlimited, Discovery Dance Group and later in New York at Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham School and studies with The Jose Limon Company. His modern classes emphasize the principles of Graham, Limon and Horton techniques. He is also a master Pilates Rehab Conditioning Specialist and served for twenty years as Core Conditioning and Joint Mobility Specialist at FIT Athletic Club in Houston, Texas.
Mr. Flinn believes that dance can inspire and transform people, communities and nations. It is with this mission and belief that he has traveled for many years as a visionary, pioneer and ambassador of dance to many nations.
Rhodes Elliott
Rhodes Elliott
Rhodes Elliott
Rhodes Elliott is originally from Florence, South Carolina. Rhodes retired in 2018 as a Demi-Soloist with Houston Ballet, after having been with the company for 11 years. He received his early dance training and pre-professional experience with UNCSA, as well as The School of Dance Arts and South Carolina Dance Theater under the tutelage
Rhodes Elliott is originally from Florence, South Carolina. Rhodes retired in 2018 as a Demi-Soloist with Houston Ballet, after having been with the company for 11 years. He received his early dance training and pre-professional experience with UNCSA, as well as The School of Dance Arts and South Carolina Dance Theater under the tutelage of the esteemed Susan Rowe. He attended several summer programs throughout his training, including North Carolina Dance Theater, Houston Ballet, and the University of North Carolina School of the Arts. While dancing with the Houston Ballet, Rhodes enjoyed performing many works, including those by Stanton Welch, Jiří Kylián, Christopher Bruce, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Sir Frederick Ashton, Ben Stevenson, Twyla Tharp, George Balanchine, and Christopher Wheeldon. After retiring from Houston Ballet, Rhodes was the Assistant Ballet Director at Texas Academy of Dance Arts in The Woodlands, Texas. In 2021, Rhodes joined Texas Ballet Theater School (TBTS) as a Studio Training Company Instructor, as well as the Professional Training Division Instructor at TBTS Dallas. In November of 2022, Rhodes became an instructor with Sacramento Ballet.
Rhys Hudson
Whylan Rucker
Rhodes Elliott
Rhys is originally from Houston, Texas, and trained at Vitacca Dance Project before joining the Boston Ballet in 2017 for three seasons under the direction of Peter Stark. He then joined BalletMet as part of their second company for two seasons under the direction of Edwaard Liang, and Ballet Austin as an apprentice for one season under
Rhys is originally from Houston, Texas, and trained at Vitacca Dance Project before joining the Boston Ballet in 2017 for three seasons under the direction of Peter Stark. He then joined BalletMet as part of their second company for two seasons under the direction of Edwaard Liang, and Ballet Austin as an apprentice for one season under the direction of Stephen Mills. Most recently, Rhys joined Alberta Ballet in Calgary, Alberta as a corps de ballet member for two seasons. Rhys performed in various company productions while at Boston Ballet, including Mikko 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 productions including BalletMet’s Unlocked, Gerard Charles’s Nutcracker, Liang’s Cinderella, Giselle, and Liang’s newest creation Seasons. During Rhys’ time with Ballet Austin, Rhys performed in Stephen Mills’ Taming of the Shrew, Nutcracker, Light / The Holocaust Humanity Project, Cinderella, and Alexander Anderson’s Desert Rose. While at Alberta Ballet, Rhys performed in Christopher Anderson’s Sleeping Beauty, Edmund Stripe’s The Nutcracker, soloist roles in Loughlan Prior’s Hansel & Gretel, Morgan Runnacre-Temple’s Der Wolf, Nicolo Fonte’s The Rite of Spring, the Alberta Ballet Winter Gala in Raymonda, Francesco Ventriglia’s La Sylphide, The Wizard of Oz, and Don Quixote. Over the summers, Rhys has trained at some of the most prestigious ballet schools including Finnish National Ballet School, The Royal Ballet School, European School of Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and many more. During the summer of 2020, Rhys' choreographic project called This Bitter Earth Project got selected to be a part of the Seattle Design Film Festival / Design in Public, which brought 20 artists from all over the globe together in support of the Artist Relief Fund during the COVID-19 Pandemic. for In the summer of 2024, Rhys performed in Moncalvo, Italy working for Marco Geocke and Crystal Pite at Orsolina28, as well as in Copenhagen, Denmark performing with The Royal Danish Ballet at The Royal Danish Playhouse.
Whylan Rucker
Whylan Rucker
Whylan Rucker
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.