CONGRATS 2019 COMPETITIVE DANCERS!
PULSE & VIBE CREW ANNOUNCEMENTS & FALL DETAILS
CONGRATS TO YOU!
Congrats dancers and parents! You are now a part of the 2019 - 2020 competitive dance program with KJ Dance. We want to welcome back to all of our returning competitive dancers and give a big hug five to all of our new competitive dancers! We are proud of each one of you and ready to get this new season underway! We are looking forward to an amazing year of training, abundant opportunities, and next level growth!
Our new competitive season launches this upcoming Monday, Aug 5th, at our PREMIER INTENSIVE. During the PREMIER INTENSIVE our 2019 - 2020 PULSE and VIBE CREW dancers are scheduled to begin new choreography with guest master teachers from around the country as well as with our incredible KJ faculty. Special classes and rehearsals will also take place during the PREMIER INTENSIVE.
We have included everything you need to know about the PREMIER INTENSIVE, PULSE COMPANY and VIBE CREW placements, fall class schedules, monthly tuition, future scheduled fees, important upcoming events, and competition choreography cast lists below!
Next week we will be sending out your PULSE & VIBE NEW SEASON CONTRACTS. Your contract will need to be signed and returned at the mandatory first meeting for dancers and parents on August 21st. The contract outlines the expectations and responsibilities of dancers and families for the 2019 - 2020 season. We have made some revisions to the contracts for this season, so please take the time to read through the content together as a family.
It's time to have fun and get busy dancers! We have a lot to share with you, so please read and review over everything included below! We look forward to seeing you in the studio at the PREMIER INTENSIVE! Let's get this party started!
AUGUST PREMIER INTENSIVE & FALL TUITON RATES
Tuition for the 2019 fall season for competitive dancers begins Aug 2. Tuition will be billed each month, on the second of the month through May 2, 2020.
What will my tuition rate be this fall?
PULSE PETITE - $320
PULSE MINI - $385
PULSE JUNIOR - $435
PULSE TEEN - $435
PULSE SENIOR - $465
PULSE PRE PRO - $465
VIBE GROOVE & BOUNCE CREWS - $280
What does my August tuition cover?
August tuition includes all premier intensive classes & rehearsals with in house faculty, choreography with in house faculty, and normal weekly fall classes for each company beginning August 26 for PULSE and August 19 for VIBE.
What is not covered in my August tuition?
Choreography set by guest master teachers during the PREMIER INTENSIVE is not covered in your August tuition. Additional choreography fees will be billed to the accounts of dancers in the cast for any guest/master teacher choreography. You can view the fees associated with guest choreographers in the COMPETITION CHOREOGRAPHY CASTS CHEAT SHEET document attached below. Fees will be posted to the appropriate dancer accounts and processed 24 - 48 hours prior to the scheduled date of guest choreographers. You can always view payment details and upcoming fees posted to your account through your online portal.
VIBE CREW GOOGLE CALENDAR
Click the calendar image to view and sync the live VIBE CREW Google event calendar to your computer or smart phone!
STAY UP TO DATE WITH ALL KJ COMPETITIVE PROGRAM SCHEDULES & EVENTS WITH OUR LIVE GOOGLE CALENDARS!
PULSE GOOGLE CALENDAR
Click the calendar image to view and sync the live PULSE COMPANY Google event calendar to your computer or smart phone!
PULSE MANDATORY & OPTIONAL WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULE
In an effort to continue helping our dancers and faculty with overall health and wellness we are enhancing the PULSE program in a few ways this year. We have outlined all of the training opportunities this fall designed for our PULSE company dancers. All classes listed below are included in your monthly tuition.
MANDATORY WEEKLY CLASSES: The first enhancement is to our weekly class scheduling for PULSE companies. PULSE MinI, Junior, Teen, Senior, and Pre Pro dancers will have mandatory classes three days a week. PULSE Petite dancers will have mandatory classes two days a week.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT REHEARSALS: As we launch into the competitive season, Wednesday night rehearsals will be sprinkled in throughout the year on an as needed basis prior to an event or competition. We have reserved 1.5 hours of studio space every Wednesday to utilize as rehearsal time for dances that need a little more attention. We are hoping this helps to minimize long mandatory rehearsal days on Saturdays.
WEDNESDAY NIGHT CONTEMPORARY SERIES CLASSES: New to KJ this year, for our most advanced dancers, is the Wednesday Contemporary Series Class. This class is a part of the Pre Pro and Senior mandatory weekly class schedule. This unique class 1.5 hour class will be taught by a rotating faculty including Justin Giles, Brian Stevens, Haley Tripp, and other guest master teachers.
SELECT TAP WEEKLY CLASSES: In addition to tap classes held on a weekly basis and leveled by company, two select tap class options have been added to the schedule. Dancers will be hand picked and invited by Mr. Cory to attend the weekly select tap classes. Junior SELECT TAP will be held on Monday from 7:30 - 9:00. Teen SELECT TAP will be held on Wednesday from 6:30 - 8:00. Invitations to the SELCT TAP classes will be sent out following the PREMIER INTENSIVE.
MANDATORY SATURDAY REHEARSALS: All PULSE company dancers will have mandatory Saturday rehearsals throughout the year. The Saturday rehearsal schedules will be released 3 - 4 weeks in advance and attendance is required for dancers who have been scheduled to rehearse.
OPTIONAL WEEKLY CLASSES: In addition to the mandatory weekly class schedule we have opened up a few select optional classes for each company level. These optional classes are truly optional and were made available for dancers who wish to add a 3rd or 4th day of training during the week. Optional classes available to PULSE dancers can be found below by company.
AFTERNOON BALLET CLASSES: Once again we will be offering our afternoon ballet classes with Miss Lexi and Miss Colby for students in the OCPE and homeschooling programs. These Ballet classes are offered on Mondays and Tuesdays from 1:30 - 3:00.
2019 PULSE MANDATORY & OPTIONAL WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULES
AUGUST 26, 2019 - MAY 31, 2020
Full detailed daily schedules with class times/genres/faculty for PULSE dancers located below.
PRE PRO
Mandatory: Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, Saturday Rehearsals
Optional: *Thursday 4:30 Stretch/Strength - Monday 8:00 Ballet - Monday 9:00 Modern - Saturday 9:00 Ballet
SENIOR
Mandatory: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday 9:00 Ballet, Saturday Rehearsals
Optional: *Thursday 4:30 Stretch/Strength - Thursday 5:30 Ballet - Thursday 7:00 Ballet
TEEN
Mandatory: Monday, Tuesday, Thursday, Saturday Rehearsals
Optional: *Thursday 4:30 Stretch/Strength - *Wednesday 6:30 Stretch/Strength - *Wednesday 7:30 Stretch/Strength - Wednesday 5:30 Ballet - Saturday 10:00 Ballet
JUNIOR
Mandatory: Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday, Saturday Rehearsals
Optional: *Wednesday 7:30 Stretch/Strength - *Thursday 4:30 Stretch/Strength - Saturday 10:00 Ballet
MINI
Mandatory: Monday, Tuesday, Friday, Saturday Rehearsals
Optional: *Thursday 4:30 Stretch/Strength - *Wednesday 6:30 Stretch/Strength - *Wednesday 7:30 Stretch/Strength - Saturday 10:00 Ballet
PETITE
Mandatory: Tuesday, Friday, Saturday Rehearsals
Optional: *Thursday 4:30 Stretch/Strength
VIBE MANDATORY & SELECT WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULES
We are excited to announce new weekly VIBE CREW training opportunities and weekly class schedules. VIBE CREW members will have the chance to truly go to the next level with the fall schedule outlined below. All classes listed below are included in your monthly tuition.
MANDATORY WEEKLY CLASSES: All VIBE CREW members are required to attend the weekly classes designed EXCLUSIVELY for crew members. BOUNCE & GROOVE crews will train for 4 hours a week, 2 hours during the week per crew, and 2 hours on Saturday with both crews. Attendance for all VIBE CREW members is mandatory for these 4 hours of training.
VIBE SELECT CLASS: This year we will have an hour on Saturdays reserved for VIBE SELECT, which is a group of dancers chosen to compete an additional small group competition dance. We will start with one select group with one select dance and the possibility of additional select opportunities in January of 2020. VIBE SELECT dancers for the first small group competition dance were hand selected during the HIP HOP INTENSIVE by KJ faculty and guest master teachers. There is no additional fee for this additional class/rehearsal hour on Saturdays, There will be additional fees for the select choreography and costumes for dancers chosen to be in the cast of a SELECT dance. The first VIBE SELECT small group cast is listed here: COMPETITION CHOREOGRAPHY CASTS CHEAT SHEET
WEDNESDAY NIGHT REHEARSALS: As we launch into the competitive season, Wednesday night rehearsals will be sprinkled in throughout the year on an as needed basis prior to an event or competition. We have reserved 1.5 hours of studio space every Wednesday to utilize as rehearsal time for dances that need a little more attention. We are hoping this helps to minimize long mandatory rehearsal days on Saturdays.
MANDATORY SATURDAY REHEARSALS: VIBE CREW members will more than likely have a few mandatory Saturday rehearsals throughout the year, these rehearsals will be in addition to their weekly Saturday class from 1:00 - 3:00. The Saturday rehearsal schedules will be released 3 - 4 weeks in advance and attendance is required for dancers who have been scheduled to rehearse. These rehearsals will only be held for all crew members when additional time is needed to prepare choreography for an upcoming event. As we dive into choreography at the PREMIER INTENSIVE we will have a better idea of additional rehearsal time that may be needed.
OPTIONAL WEEKLY CLASSES: Your VIBE tuition includes the 4 mandatory hours of VIBE CREW class as well as ONE ADDITIONAL Hip Hop class of your choice from our fall schedule. Please look over the studio class schedule and find a Hip Hop class that works for you! We will be in touch to help you get registered for the additional Hip Hop class of your choice. KJ will need to manually enroll you in your choice class to ensure that your account reflects the proper tuition of $280. Adding this additional class from your online account profile will result in additional charge. KJ will override that fee when we manually enroll you! We will reach out in the next two weeks about your additional class choice decision!
CLICK HERE TO VIEW OUR FALL SCHEDULE & FIND AN ADDITIONAL CHOICE HIP HOP CLASS!
2019 VIBE MANDATORY WEEKLY CLASS SCHEDULES
AUGUST 19, 2019 - MAY 31, 2020
Full detailed daily schedules with class times/genres/faculty for PULSE dancers located below.
GROOVE CREW
Mandatory: Monday 7:00 - 9:00 & Saturday 1:00 - 3:00
BOUNCE CREW
Mandatory: Friday 4:30 - 6:30 & Saturday 1:00 - 3:00
VIBE SELECT
Mandatory: Saturday 3:00 - 4:00
INTENSIVE & UPCOMING GUEST FACULTY!
KATHERINE IHEKE
Katherine Iheke is a 28-year-old Dallas native who discovered her passion for dance in the early summer of 2010. Her growing desire to learn more about her new found movement led her to Plano, TX where she began to train in her expertise style, hip hop, under Fenton Fulgham. Although she has only been dancing for 8 years, her work ethic and focus has helped her level up faster than most starting dancers. She soon became an instructor at Fenton’s Dance Factory, which then opened up the opportunity for her to help co-direct the F-Troop competition teams. Katherine has been apart of Renegades Dance Company since its establishment in 2013 and had the opportunity to direct the team in 2016 and 2017. She was nominated and casted in the 2017 Monsters of Hip Hop Show “Unleashed” in Los Angeles. Her attendance to many workshops and conventions has given her opportunities to learn from and train under choreographers such as Rhapsody James, Jamal Sims, Nick DeMoura, Tony Tzar, Laura Edwards, and many others. As of now, Katherine teaches various open classes, workshops, and intensives around the area while teaching on tour with the dance convention, Dance Revolution and touring with Monsters of Hip Hop. Even though she loves to challenge and excite others with the diversity of her choreography, her main focus is to help others live and dance with passion & purpose.
RYAN WARREN
Passion. Style. Knowledge.
These three elements form the foundation for the hip-hop dance career of Ryan Warren. Falling in love with the art at the age of five while learning the choreography to Michael Jackson’s hit song “Beat It”, Ryan’s desire to be a student first and grow in his craft has paved the way for a hobby to become a lifestyle.
After training first in Dallas, Texas, and then later in New York and Los Angeles, Ryan began teaching at the young age of 16. His choreography didn’t remain confined to the dance studio though. With skillful musicality and a diversity of styles that set him apart, Ryan was soon teaching master classes across the United States, while also performing with popular artists including Destiny’s Child and Carrie Underwood. He was a featured dancer in the original music video for “You Are for Me” by Christian recording artist, Kari Jobe, has appeared in several popular YouTube commercials, and made cameo appearances with musical artist Britt Nicole. In addition, he has choreographed for television shows like Barney the Dinosaur, collegiate dance teams such as Kansas University and Missouri State, and multiple NFL Cheerleading organizations including the Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders and Kansas City Chiefs Cheerleaders.
Because of his passion to continually develop young artists, Ryan has served as creative director and choreographer for several National Tours. He has also been affiliated and taught for many dance conventions including The Adrenaline Dance Convention, Dance Revolution, The Drop Off, Urban Legends and Cre8tion Dance.
Ryan currently teaches hip-hop for the Dupree Dance Convention and is the staff choreographer for Gateway Church where he has choreographed large-scale musicals including, Fiddler on the Roof, Godspell, and Truthical. He also continues to travel across the country teaching Master Classes and choreography for local studios and dance teams.
Ryan’s desire and goal is to inspire each of his students to break through any limitations they have placed on themselves and help them on their journey to becoming the well-rounded dancer they were created to be! He believes there is a confidence, strength, and freedom which only dance can cultivate and loves to see his students develop movements they never thought possible.
Ryan resides in Dallas, Texas, with his wife, Amy, and two kids, Brooklyn and Hero. Ryan gives all praise and thanks for his dance career to his Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. Every movement is a gift from Him and without Jesus, Ryan is nothing.
BRIAN STEVENS
Brian Stevens grew up in the Dallas Fort Worth area where he first began his dance training. He furthered his education on scholarship at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC and The Edge Performing Arts Center in LA. Throughout his training Brian assisted for Tremaine and Dupree Dance Conventions across the country. Assisting faculty members of these nationally recognized dance conventions allowed Brian to have a hands on experience in teaching other dancers movement and technique. The assistant opportunity also helped him to further create his unique choreography style in contemporary and jazz.
Brian is a current Artist In Residence of KJ Dance’s pre-professional dance company, Pulse. Previously under his direction the company has been nationally recognized as the New York City Dance Alliance's Outstanding Studio. His choreography for large and small groups, solos, duets, and trios have won multiple high scores in the country. Under his mentorship Brian has had individual nationally recognized dancers as well. Brian tours the country with the Dupree Dance Convention faculty as a choreographer and instructor. Brian has been the Artistic Director of Wanderlust Dance Project the past 3 years which is"the first and only Non-Profit 501(c)(3) of it's kind, where pre-professionals learn and rehearse from some of the dance industry’s top choreographers, while dancing alongside working professional dancers". The show has been named as one of "Theater Jones Top Ten Dance Performances of 2016”. He is the founder and designer of the internationally recognized costume company, Artistic Dance Designs, which launched in 2013. Brian is a teacher and mentor for The Joffrey year round trainee program in Frisco, TX. He teaches at a number of dance intensives and workshops including Complexions Summer Intensive, North Texas Summer Dance Intensive, Dallas Repertoire Ballet Intensive, Dancers Give Back Dallas, Moving Forward Dallas and Dallas DanceFest. He travels teaching Master classes and setting choreography at studios, schools and professional companies across the country.
CORY SNIDE
Corey John Snide began his dance training in albany, ny at the age of 3 where he fell in love with all styles of dance. he spent his younger years traveling and competing at the national and international level where he received two gold medals for team usa in tap and show dance. recently, he graduated from the juilliard school, class of 2015 with a bfa in dance.
at the age of 13, he started his professional career portraying the role of billy elliot in billy elliot the musical at the victoria palace theatre in london. after having trained and performed the role for several months, he was brought down to australia to help open the show there. after a year and a half abroad, he came home to nyc to work appearing as evan, the lead, in jason robert brown's 13 the musical on broadway at the bernard b. jacobs theatre.
he then began an interest in transitioning from stage to film. he was honored to start this exploration by appearing in abc's one life to live as a dancer in their annual musical episodes, and other guest roles on abc, nbc and more. some of these credits include appearing as a guest star on amateur night at the apollo, a co-star in the pilot episode of cupid, and playing the role of wally in the film sweet lorraine co-starring with tatum o'neal. most recently, he appeared in the 2017 telefilm version of dirty dancing as a dancer.
after working in new york city for some time, he decided to take a break and continue his training at the juilliard school as an aspiring dancer, performer, choreographer, and teacher. while there, he has had the opportunity to perform the works of josé limon, murray louis, elliot feld, monica bill barnes, larry keigwin and more. the summer of 2014, he traveled to montreal to participate in springboard danse montreal where he had the pleasure of working with artists peter chu and madboots dance company.
corey is a recipient of the fred and adele astaire award through the new york city dance alliance foundation, as well as being a two-time recipient of the gene kelly legacy award through the dizzy feet foundation. upon graduation, he began free-lancing and performing around the country including dancing al blackstone's not for me for the fire island dance festival. corey was a member of the ensemble for the paper mill playhouse's new production of the bandstand under the direction and choreography of andy blankenbuehler. then he transitioned to the broadway stage as the dance captain of the cats revival while also playing the role of coricopat while covering the magical mister mistofelees and all 9 male tracks in the show. immediately upon leaving cats, he was offered the position of dance captain for the revival of carousel under the direction of jack o'brien and choreography by justin peck.
he has been exploring his choreographic interests since very young but has really developed his voice since being at school choreographing on his fellow classmates and friends. he is humbled to have had several of his works featured in choreographic honors at the juilliard school at the peter jay sharp theatre, festivals for dancers responding to aids, and more. he hopes to continue his choreographic explorations with the fusion of contemporary and tap dance, and eventually the broadway stage.
as a teacher, has had the pleasure of joining the incredible line of faculty at the new york city dance alliance, where he travels and teaches master classes in tap, musical theatre, and contemporary to dancers ranging from 7-19 years in age. he is also proud to be a part of the teaching faculty of emerging artists with fresh dance intensive inc. in canada, as well. most recently, he joined the faculty of the broadway dreams foundation.
corey is a passionate and determined artist who wishes to share his love for dance and the performing arts with whomever he can.
KIM CRAVEN
Kim began her career as a ballet dancer. She studied in Los Angeles at Westside Ballet, spent her summers at The San Francisco Ballet School, and then moved to NYC to study at The School of American Ballet. Kim began her performance career with the Pennsylvania Ballet Company where she danced for five years before returning to LA where she danced in film, TV and commercials. She then returned to NY for her first Broadway show and worked there since.
Kim has performed in a long list of ballets including “Swan Lake,” “Giselle,” and “La Sylphide.” “On the Town” (Dance Captain), “Swing!” (Supervisor), “Mamma Mia” (Dance Captain – 1st National Tour and Vegas), “Movin’ Out” (Supervisor – 1st National Tour; Associate Choreographer/Director - London), “Times They Are A-Changin’” (Resident Director), “Sinatra Dance with Me”(Supervisor – Vegas) and “Come Fly Away” (Resident Director).
Kim served as the associate choreographer of the London production of “Movin’ Out” (London), “Tin Pan Alley Rag” (Cleveland Playhouse), “The Full Monty” (Papermill Playhouse)and other regional productions. She is currently Associate Choreographer on “Honeymoon in Vegas”.
Kim’s teaching credits include Westside Ballet, the Orange County School of the Arts (OCSA), LA, Chamber Ballet, C&C Dance Company based in Washington, DC, and company class for Broadway’s “Movin’ Out” (Tour and London).
KATIE DRABLOS
Katie Drablos is a Texas native who graduated with a BFA in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University in 2009. At school, she performed works by Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Maurice Béjart, and Danny Buraczeski. Post college, Katie moved to NYC and performed as a Radio City Rockette.
She works extensively with and for Al Blackstone; most notably as his Associate Choreographer on productions of Oklahoma, Hairspray, Pippin, The Noteworthy Life of Howard Barnes, and as a dancer in his original works, Freddie Falls in Love and Happy We'll Be.
She is immersed in the theater dance world in NYC, but also has a love for contemporary dance. Katie has choreographed and taught workshops at SMU and Princeton University. She presented work at the Highbridge Arts Festival in NYC as an emerging choreographer. She also co-founded an organization, HEART, which brings dance workshops to studios around the country with the mission of giving back to various charities and dancing free of judgment and full of authenticity. Katie's classes are full of soulful music, storytelling, and expansive movement.
GRACE BUCKLEY
Since graduating from Colgate University in 2007, Grace has become a sought after dancer/choreographer/teacher across the USA. Grace tours the world as Ballet Mistress & performer for Rasta Thomas' Romeo and Juliet and Rock the Ballet, choreographed by Adrienne Canterna. She is on faculty at Steps on Broadway in New York and at New York City Dance Alliance. Grace has been a guest artist with Bad Boys of Ballet in gala performances around the world and was assistant choreographer to Adrienne Canterna for the workshop of the new rock-ballet Poe. Grace currently continues to tour the world with these shows, produced by Sweetbird Productions.
ANDY PELLICK
ANDY PELLICK is originally from Pittsburgh, PA, but has been a New Yorker for well over a decade now! Having recently performed Off-Broadway in Fuerzabruta, he's also danced in the original Broadway casts of Wicked, Tarzan, La Cage Aux Folles, and Dance of the Vampires. Andy's film credits include The Polar Express, Show Business, and Winter's Tale. He's appeared on "The David Letterman Show", the "Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade", the "VH1 Vogue Fashion Awards", Broadway: The Golden Age, and "The Tony Awards". Before moving to New York, Andy's first job was the understudy for Tommy Tune in EFX at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas, where he was also a featured dancer. When not performing, Andy is busy teaching and choreographing across the country
PETER CHU
Born in the Bronx, NY, & raised in Cocoa Beach, Florida, Peter began his training as a competitive gymnast, later nurturing his artistry at Dussich Dance Studio, where his evolution into dance began. Upon graduation from The Juilliard School, he performed with BJM Danse, EZdanza, Aszure Barton & Artists, Kidd Pivot, & in Celine Dion’s Vegas spectacular, A New Day. Peter can be seen as the lead in Christina Perri’s Jar of Hearts music video.
In 2008, Peter formed a Las Vegas project based dance company, chuthis., which showcases the work of Chu & his collaborators. chuthis. also provides movement education programs which foster technical & artistic development.
Chu has been an honoured recipient of choreographic awards & commissions, including the Hector Zaraspe Prize, A.C.E. Capezio Award, & Hubbard Street Dance International Commission Project. He was also named a Blodgett Distinguished Artist by Harvard University for 2018. Additionally, Chu has served as the Rehearsal Director for Nederlands Dans Theater 2, and as a Guest Rehearsal Director for NDT1.
Chu has created works for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Charlotte Ballet II, Orlando Ballet Theatre, Hubbard Street 2, Giordano Dance Chicago, SYTYCD, Naomi Stikeman’s Çaturn, Houston MET Dance, New Dialect, SALT Contemporary Dance, Nederlands Dans Theater Summer Intensive, Springboard Danse Montreal, Harvard Univeristy, Point Park University, & The Juilliard School, among others. Most recently, he premiered a creation for Juilliard New Dances entitled Play Well with Others, and a creation for Charlotte Ballet entitled Let Be, for its program Innovative Works: Shakespeare Reinvented.
This past season, Peter premiered new creations for Staatstheater Augsburg (Germany), and HSPro (Chicago.) He is also currently developing a new creation with his own company, chuthis.
JACOB KARR
I was born in the small town of Windermere, FL (a suburb of Orlando).
I performed for the first time in a local talent show at the age of 10. A few friends and I learned the "Bye Bye Bye" choreography from the music video and decided to compete. We didn't win but we definitely thought we were stars on the rise :)
I was trained by a woman named Melissa Stokes at a studio in Clermont, FL called Shooting Start School of Performing Arts. I danced and competed there for 7 years before moving to NYC where I attended the Fordham/Ailey BFA program for one year.
Aside from dance performance, I love to choreograph and teach. I am equally excited about all aspects of dance. Stepping outside the world of dance though, I love to read and write and be a bit of a nerd at times.
The first big project I ever worked on was the 6th season of So You Think You Can Dance. I made it all the way through the season to the finale where I was announced the Runner Up. A few months after that I was invited by Adam Shankman to perform at the Academy Awards, which is something that I consider to be one of the most incredible performances I have been a part of to date.
We all have superstars and legends that we will always look up to but I find that most of my inspiration comes from the people who are more commonly in my life. My friends, mentors and family. Especially in the world of dance, I feel that you see growth each and every day and it is most prevalent within those that you know and love.
My favorite quote comes from Ralph Waldo Emerson. He says "To be yourself in a world that is constantly trying to make you something else is the greatest accomplishment."
JONATHAN CAMPBELL
Jonathan Campbell holds a BFA in dance from The Juilliard School. He co-founded MADBOOTS DANCE in 2011 along with Austin Diaz and they have since toured their work nationally and internationally. The duo has been named "25 to watch" by Dance Magazine and are the recipients of several awards and honors, including the Inception to Exhibition Space Grant, Dancenow's Joe's Pub Festival Challenge winner, Creative Development Residencies at Jacob's Pillow, and Choreographers on Campus at Lafayette College.
In just six years, the duo's athletic and poignant choreography has been sought after and commissioned by various companies and schools, including Suny Purchase, Point Park University, Desales University, Booker T. Washington HSPVA, NYC Tisch School of the Arts, Boston Conservatory at Berklee, Dark Circles Contemporary Dance, and Whim W'him.
JUSTIN GILES
Justin Giles was born in Irmo, SC to a decorated, multi-sport athlete and a seasoned professional dancer/performer. His father groomed his sills on the field while his mother trained him in the dance studio. After much success as an athlete and dancer, he began touring the US as an assistant to renowned choreographers and on the convention circuit. At the age of 21 Justin was asked to travel to Seoul, Korea to instruct and perform with the highly respected POZ Dance Theatre. Justin returned home inspired, thus making the decision to start his own company.
Today SoulEscape is considered one of the most innovative and inspiring professional dance companies in the US. His work has been described as "inventive", "awe-inspiring", "raw", and "naturally beautiful" by show audiences. Justin's innate ability to story tell sets his work apart and continues to bring a new dimension to the professional company realm. Justin continues to work with dancers from all over the world, and maintains that his true calling is connecting with and inspiring the next generations of young artist. He is known for his natural approach to teaching and continues to be one of the most sought after choreographers and teachers in the industry.
MADI HICKS
Madison Hicks, originally from Dallas, TX, graduated from Booker T. Washington HSPVA in 2014 and received her BFA from The Juilliard School in May 2018. She will receive her MFA in Choreography in 2021 from California Institute of the Arts. She was a full time company member with LA Dance Project under the direction of Benjamin Millepied for the 2018/2019 season. Madison is currently a faculty member for Icon Dance Awards, California School of the Arts, and Project 21. Madison has created and is the director of Moving Forward Dallas, an innovative dance intensive and Non-Profit Organization for young artists. She was a 2013 YoungArts winner for modern dance, 2014 US Presidential Scholar in the Arts Nominee and a guest artist in the 2014 YoungArts Presidential Scholar Gala under the direction of Bill T. Jones. In January of 2017, she performed as a distinguished guest alumnus in the YoungArts annual Backyard Ball under the direction of Tony Yazbeck. She received a choreography award from YAGP in 2014 and had three choreographic works chosen to perform in The Choreographic Honors show at The Juilliard School. Madison was awarded the Gene Kelly Legacy Scholarship for her choreography and jazz technique in 2016. She has been a resident choreographer for both Booker T. Washington HSPVA Rep II Ensemble, The University of Texas at Austin, Center of Creative Arts, and Houston MET Too. She was an Avant Chamber Ballet Women’s Choreography finalist and has also had works showcased at Periapsis Music and Dance and WestFest Dance Festival in New York City. She has performed works by Nacho Duato, Jiri Kylian, Emily Molnar, Kyle Abraham, Ohad Naharin, Peter Chu, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, Aszure Barton, Gustavo Ramirez Sansano, Pam Tanowitz.
KJ DANCE
KJ provides a safe nurturing environment where dance is the vessel by which a child can gain self esteem and valuable skills including teamwork and leadership. Our program teaches honesty, integrity, loyalty and dedication through the art of dance. It is our desire to train dancers that exemplify grace, poise and selflessness.
Email: kjdance.office@gmail.com
Website: www.kjdance.com
Location: 4017 Preston Road, Plano, TX, USA
Phone: 9724734017
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/kjdancedesigns/