While there, she performed a variety of reputable works, including Mia Michaels “Against The Current” and Frank Chavez’s (River North) “Grusin Suite.” In 2009 Ashley received a BFA in Dance, and immediately began her professional career as a world famous Radio City Rockette. Ashley has been recognized by Dance Spirit Magazine, and is the recipient of several prestigious awards including Prelude Awards Runner Up and Winner, ProjectXL Winner, along with a variety of titles and scholarships.Īshley attended the nationally acclaimed University of Arizona on a dance and academic scholarship. She was also an assistant with Tremaine Dance Competition and Conventions, and a member of their Teen Performance Company. She studied under Lynn Herrick, Artistic Director of Artists In Motion, and spent her summers training extensively with elite teachers and choreographers in Los Angeles and New York.Īshley was a student apprentice with Mark Marino’s American Dance Company, and Dance Kaleidoscope directed by David Hochoy. Originally from Indianapolis, Ashley began her dance training at the early age of two. She also holds certifications from Progressing Ballet Technique, Levels 1-3 AzDance Medicine and Principles of Movement by Balanced Body. In addition to her Pilates certification, Melissa completed training and certification from the American Ballet Theatre’s National Curriculum Training for levels Pre-Primary to Level 5. In 2016 she opened her Pilates studio Mindful Motion, now housed in Ascend Dance Academy. In 2013, Melissa became a full apparatus certified Pilates instructor through Balanced Body. Melissa danced professionally with Phoenix Contemporary Dance Company for 3 seasons as one of the founding members from 2012 until 2015. She was able to complete the full program in three years, graduating Summa Cum Laude with her BA in Dance with a concentration in Ballet and Jazz. During her time there she received training from Dana Arey (former Ballet Mistress of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre) Kiesha Lalama-White (choreographer for Houston Metropolitan Dance Theater, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Company, and River North Jazz Dance Chicago) Ron Tassone (former Juilliard graduate and choreographer on Broadway) and Pearlann Porter (Artistic Director of The Pillow Project). Melissa began furthering her Contemporary and Modern training at age fourteen with the late Paul Chambers and members of Paul Taylor’s company.Īt age twenty-one, Melissa moved to Pittsburgh, PA to pursue her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance at Point Park University. She remained at the school until age seventeen when she became an Apprentice with Kansas City Ballet’s professional company under the direction of the late Artistic Director Emeritus Todd Bolender and Artistic Director William Whitener. At age twelve she began training with the Kansas City Ballet School where she trained primarily under the direction of Karen Brown, Andrew Carr, and Sean Duus. Melissa Chowdhury is a native of the Midwest and trained traditionally in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap since age four. Kristina is excited for the future of Ascend Dance Academy. In addition, Kristina has completed Reformer 1, 2 and 3, Chair, Barrel and the Trapeze Table Courses through Balanced Body. She is also certified in Mat Pilates, Yoga and Progressing Ballet Technique. Kristina is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Kristina also completed her MBA in Financial Management from Northcentral University. She has taught ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern and numerous other genres of dance both in Canada and the US, sharing her love of dance with children and adults of all ages. Kristina trained at intensives at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Alonzo King LINES Ballet. She also toured China in the Great American Dance Tour with Artifact Dance Project and performed with the Arizona Theater Company. Some of her roles included Dewdrop and Arabian in The Nutcracker, Mustardseed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Stepsister in Cinderella. Directly after, Kristina danced professionally as a soloist and company dancer with Ballet Spartanburg in South Carolina, performing in both classical and contemporary ballets. Kristina continued her training at the University of Arizona where she obtained her BFA in Dance, graduating summa cum laude. She is trained in both Royal Academy of Dance and Cecchetti having completed the Advanced level vocational exams in both disciplines. Kristina grew up in Vancouver, Canada and got her early ballet and jazz training there.
0 Comments
Leave a Reply. |
AuthorWrite something about yourself. No need to be fancy, just an overview. ArchivesCategories |