EDUCATION

Howard University                                                                                     Washington, DC

Bachelor of Fine Arts                                                                                             May 2014

 

TEACHING CERTIFICATIONS

Lester Horton Advanced Teaching Certification, Ailey School                     2019

Secondary Texas Teacher Certification                                                                  2019

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CLASSICALLY TRAINED

Ballet

Lester Horton Technique

Dunham

West African (Djolidon, Sabar, Dudunbai, etc.)

Tap/Jazz

 

TEACHING EXPERIENCE

I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM & VPA                                                      2018- Current

Founder and Director of the Terrell Dance Department

• Developed rigorous curricula that provided classical training in a variety of styles to high school students: ballet, pointe, Horton, Graham, Jazz, West African, Tap, Contemporary, Dance Composition, and Production

• Founded Fort Worth Dance Festival. First of its kind and major fundraising initiative for the department, servicing over 100 students in the Fort Worth area, and 21 Companies in the metroplex.

  • In its first year received over $23,000 of revenue

• Created course trajectory and scheduling for all grade levels

• Assigned faculty course load and responsibilities

• Developed recruitment initiatives, marketing material, and led many professional development sessions for Fort Worth ISD Dance Educators

• Scheduled and brought in over 25 renowned choreographers

• Produced and creatively designed and professional level performances

  • Learned the lighting skill set while in this role

• Created a Non-Profit to fundraise and meet budgeted financial needs for the department’s functionality: Choreographic Residencies (local/national), Costuming, Props, Travel etc. Raised $40,000 in the first 4-years despite global pandemic

• Taught Horton Technique, ballet, jazz, tap, West African, Dance Composition, Performance and Ensemble, and Senior Capstone/Production

• 100% placement of apprentices in desired programs of choice

 

Dallas Black Dance Theatre                                                                              2014-2018

Artistic Assistant (Promoted from Rehearsal Assistant)

• Taught company class for both companies in the organization

• Organized all rehearsal schedules

• Organized costumes and props for all performances

• Assisted all guest choreographers

• Assisted in organization and teaching in auditions for both companies in the organization

• Re-staged all DBDT: Encore!’s repertoire

Dallas Black Dance Theatre: Encore! Member

• Professional dance artist with the company, soloist with Dallas Opera, and rehearsal assistant

• Taught company class in preparation for all performances

 Director of Junior Performing Ensemble

• Organized guest residencies, auditions, and resident choreographers

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COLLEGE ACCEPTANCE RATE

Dance Majors, who made up 12% of our only graduating class, accounted for 46.15% of total scholarship money, averaging 6 million dollars in scholarship money. Students were accepted the following, and more:

 

Texas Christian University

Ailey/Fordham University

Marymount University

Point Park University

Southern Methodist University

University of Oklahoma

Texas State University

University of Texas in Arlington

 

CHOREOGRAPHY

Anthem, (Full Length Work) Terrell Dance Ensemble                                          2024

Genesis, (Full Length Work) Terrell Dance Ensemble                                          2022

Memoria, (Full Length Work) Terrell Dance Ensemble                                        2021

 

NOTABLE PERFORMED REPERTOIRE WORK

Carved in Stone, Joy Bollinger

Chaos, Christopher Huggins

Smoke, Bruce Wood

Hymnal Deconstructed, Sidra Bell

Opaque and Memory of a Memory Lost, Nycole Ray

Air and Lack Thereof, Shauna Davis

Truth Don’ Die, Ronald K. Brown

Let Me Tell You..., Don’t Go, and Crashing Through,  Hope Boykin


Shake it Loose...Let it Fall and Dear You, Sincerely Me, and Hamdan, Ray Mercer

Negro Speaks of Rivers, Pearl Primus, Restaged by Kim Bears-Bailey

Southern Blues, Testify, and Going Back Home, Dr. Sherill Berryman- Johnson

 

ARTS ADMINISTRATION/TECHNICAL THEATRE

Founder and Curator of Fort Worth Dance Festival                                            2023

Artistic Director of I.M. Terrell Dance                                                         2018-Current

Lighting Designer for Terrell Dance                                                           2019-Current

Grade Level Dean, Class of 2026                                                                     2022-2023

Visual & Performing Arts Department Chair, IMT Academy                 2018-2019

Founder of Terrell Dance Union, non-profit organization                                 2018

 

AWARDS

Broadway at the Bass Chair of Teaching Excellence in Dance & Theatre  2022

Teacher of the Year, I.M. Terrell Academy for STEM & VPA                     2020-2021

 

ADDITIONAL

Bruce Wood Dance, Guest Artist                                                                                  2019

Show Boat, Dallas Opera, Principal Dancer                                                             2016

Fintdaz, Iquique, Chile                                                                                           2016- 2017

Smithsonian African Art Museum Commission, Hamdan: Through

the Gate of Tears                                                                                                                  2014

This Christmas, Back up Dancer for Anthony Hamilton                                      2013

The Africa Inaugural Ball                                                                                                   2013

Memorial for Albert Freeman Jr.                                                                                    2012

Celebration of Freedom, Performed with Alfre Woodard, National

Endowment for the Humanities, Lincoln Memorial                                               2012

National Dance Educator Organization Member                        Fall 2018-Current