DANCE
I began dancing at the age of three and have never stopped! I started at a couple different local dance studios and at the age of nine began attending Encore Performers in Chantilly, Virginia, under the direction of Raynor Van der Merwe, where I joined her performance company and danced several hours a day, seven days a week. I studied ballet, jazz, tap, modern and musical theatre and at the age of 12 began training en pointe. I performed in large productions twice a year as well as attended multiple dance conventions and competitions through the age of 18.
My first professional job was at the age of 17, where I performed at The Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra in the concert, "Music That Moves."
I studied at Oklahoma City University's dance program graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Performing Arts degree in Dance Performance and a Minor in History in 2008. All four years I was part of the Ann Lacy School of American Dance Company. I was picked from the company to perform in the 2007 Rose Bowl Parade in Pasadena, California and the nationally televised Oklahoma Centennial in 2008.
A couple months after graduating, I accepted a contract with Stiletto Entertainment and Holland America Cruise Lines through 2009. At the beginning of 2010 I accepted a contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines where I performed in numerous shows until the end of 2013. In the five years of dancing on cruise ships I traveled to over 40 different countries.
At the beginning of 2014 I moved to NYC to follow my dreams of dancing in a Broadway show. In the summer of 2014, I chose to transition to teaching dance when I was offered a teaching position at my childhood studio, Encore Performers. From there I taught at several other dance studios in the northern Virginia area until moving to Charleston, SC in the summer of 2015.
In Charleston, I had the opportunity to perform in a couple local productions. I have taught at several dance studios in the Charleston area and joined the dance program at the College of Charleston teaching jazz and tap in 2016. I danced and choreographed with Dancefx's Charleston Dance Project from 2016-2018, including a performance in the Charleston Fashion Show in 2017.
In August of 2019 I moved to Fort Lauderdale, FL and have taught at several dance studios in the surrounding area. I joined Lynn Drama at Lynn University teaching jazz, ballet and tap for the 2021-2022 school year. I currently teach ballet and jazz at International Dance Academy in Sunrise, FL.
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