Metropolitan
Academy of Dance, Inc.Metropolitan
Academy of Dance, Inc.
2012~~SUMMER INTENSIVE WORKSHOP~~Monday, July 16--Friday, July 20 |
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FACULTY
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| Phyllis Allen |
Phyllis Allen has been teaching ballet throughout the United States for forty years. She studied at the Atlanta School of Ballet; and in New York, she studied at the American School of Ballet, David Howard Dance Center, and the Luigi School of Jazz. She performed with the Atlanta Ballet and danced professionally with Theatre Under the Stars. As a young performer in Regional Dance America, she was selected to work with George Balanchine in the Young Choreographer's Workshop. During that time she also studied with such greats as Robert Joffrey, Leon Danelian, George Zoritch, and Patricia McBride. At age twenty she choreographed Winnie the Pooh and Selections from Dr. Seuss which were televised on PBS. Ms. Allen taught and performed in Miami, Ft. Lauderdale, Biloxi, Gulfport, Houston, and Los Angeles, and she was the founder and co-director of the Brazosport Civic Ballet in metro Houston. In 1988 Ms. Allen opened the Lawrenceville School of Ballet. She founded the Southern Ballet Theatre of Georgia and for twenty years, she was the Artistic Director. Her former students are working professionally as performers with American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, and Carnival Cruise Ships. She also has former students who are teachers and choreographers all over the U.S. She sold her studio in 2009 and continued to teach in studios across metro Atlanta. Her family now resides in Denver, and one of her granddaughters studied at Metropolitan Academy of Dance. |
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Rachael Ashley |
Rachael Ashley has a B.F.A. in dance and a B.S. in business management from the University of Arizona. She has taught modern at the University of Arizona, jazz at the University of Nevada, and jazz and tap at Loughborough University. She was the co-artistic director of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble where she performed in the ensemble and as a soloist. She choreographed and served as the assistant rehearsal director for "Granny Dances to a Holiday Drum" at the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble. Rachael has also taught at the Denver Dance Starz and the Fabulous Feet Dance Academy. Her other works include being a back-up dancer in a music video and a soloist in "Tribute to Josephine Baker" tour with Imani Winds. |
| Kathy Drnec | Kathy
Drnec has been dancing and performing for over thirty-seven years. She has
danced professionally with the Y108 Team, the Denver Nugget Dance Team,
and the Jazzin' Dance Ensemble located in Utah. Her extensive training includes
master classes with artists such as Kim Lanham, who appeared in the movie,
A Chorus Line, Joe Tremaine, Garth Paey, Gus Giordano, and Luiji.
Attending
many Colorado Dance Festivals, Kathy studied with great tap masters Steve
Condos (The Condos Brothers), Charles "Honi" Coles, and Eddie
Brown. She also took intensives from Gregory Hines, Bunny Briggs, Henry
Le Tang, Jason Samuel-smith, and the original Tap Dogs. In
addition to her dance training, she has also trained in voice, theatre,
and modeling.
Kathy has received many dance awards including: Gold Cup Awards for seven consecutive years from the New Jersey Federation for superior dance ratings, National Royal Miss America Talent, National Miss North America Talent, National Entertainer of the Year, Miss Colorado Talent, Royale Miss Colorado Talent, and Mrs. Colorado Talent and Swimwear State winner. Her many credits on radio and television include commercials and talk show appearances. She was interviewed on "Owning a Dance Studio" and "Competition for Children" on Mile High Cable Vision's special The Competitive Edge. For over fourteen years, Kathy has been involved in instructing and choreographing for after-school programs with the Creative Expressions Organization. While owning her own studio for nineteen years, Kathy had the privilege of training hundreds of dancers. Many of these students have taken state and national honors and scholarships including Critics Choice Awards. Some of her former students are now dancing professionally with the Miami City Ballet, Carnival Cruise Lines, Dragontales Live, and The Rockettes. |
| Marisa Ann Hollingsworth | Marisa Ann Hollingsworth received her dance training at the Atlanta Ballet, Ballethnic Academy of Dance, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Spelman College Dance Theatre, and the Deeply Rooted Summer Intensive. She performed with Ballethnic Dance Company in the "Urban Nutcracker" and "Acts of Faith," among many other works. She also performed with the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble from 2004-2008. Some of her many pieces include "Rain Dance," "Escapades," "Nine Ninas," "Bolero," "Games," "Nocturne," "Church of Nations," "Know Thyself," and "Ellingtonia." She is presently performing with 7 Dancers and the Hannah Kahn Dance Company. |
| Ken Jimenez |
Ken
Jimenez is well known for his ability to develop dancers, create theatrical
productions, direct sensational dance companies, and mentor a new generation
of artists. Ken's dance career began in the schoolyards and streets of
the San Francisco Bay area where he studied the art form of hip hop. Ken
realized that exposing others to the art form of the hip hop culture would
become his way of life. After becoming well versed in the dance styles
of hip hop, jazz, and modern, Ken has worked to take the fundamental elements
of hip hop from the street to theatre in beautifully orchestrated theatrical
shows.
Ken has produced Entertainment Productions for world-renowned artists and organizations such as MC Hammer, Digital Underground, Young MC, Arrested Development, Jamie O'Neal, Otis Day, Coolio, the NBA, AND 1 Basketball, the NFL, and more. As a choreographer and instructor, Ken has trained some of the most sought after dancers in the country; some who have gone on dance for Janet Jackson, Omarion, Britney Spears, Madonna, Aaron Carter, Cirque Du Soleil and more. Bringing hip hop's top artists to the western region, Ken is the founder of the annual "Colorado Hip Hop Festival." No stranger to the competition arena, Ken joined "Fluid Dance Conventions" as a faculty member for their nine-city tour in the 2007/2008 season. Ken founded Motion Underground in 1996, and he continues to inspire students of all ages with his passion and his love of dance. |
| Patricia Renzetti | Patricia
Renzetti danced seven seasons as prima ballerina for Colorado Ballet. Born
in New York City, she was a principal dancer with London Festival Ballet
(now English National Ballet), Scapino Ballet of Holland, Dortmund Ballet
of West Germany, the Iranian National Ballet, and Tampa Ballet. She has
appeared as guest ballerina with Estonia Theater Ballet, Teatro Comunale
in Florence, Italy, and the Israel Ballet. Ms. Renzetti has danced most
of the lead roles in classical repertoire, as well as countless leads in
contemporary works. She holds a Masters in Dance-Choreography from the University
of Iowa, and she was Director of the Academy of Colorado Ballet for three
years. Ms. Renzetti has taught around the world. |