alumni update 2017

TAYB DANCE CENTERSSouth Miami est. 1951

Little Haiti Morningside K-8 Academy est. 2000

Perrine Robert Russa Moton Elementary est. 2004

West Coconut Grove Frances Tucker Elementary School est. 2005

Miami Gardens Miami Gardens Elementary est. 2011

• Over 1,000 youth studied dance at one of five sites this year. Over half of our students were on full scholarship, receiving dance instruction, shoes, clothing and audition coaching free of charge.

• TAYB completed its second year of expanded, after-school programming, offering dance, homework assistance and reading classes at all four satellite locations. Students' reading levels were evaluated, using evidence-based tools, throughout the year. We are happy to share that 95% of participants made meaningful improve-ment. Additionally, 95% of students who began the year reading below grade level finished the year either at or above grade level.

• This summer, TAYB helped advanced students participate in Summer Dance Intensives in prestigious schools, including Dance Theatre of Harlem Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Joffrey Ballet, Martha Graham Dance Company, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and National Ballet of Cuba. Locally, students participated in daily summer camp at each of TAYB’s five loca-tions.

• Over 8,000 attended TAYB’s 2016 production of the Nutcracker, including an inclusive, sensory-friendly performance geared toward families with children that have autism spectrum disorders.

• The 2017 Spring Concert was themed around the dance styles and history of the 1900-1950 era, and featured choreography and performances by several outstanding alums.

We celebrated the 40th anniversary of the Nutcrackerit’s not too late to give to the nutcracker set campaign!

There’s still time to give to the new Nutcracker sets that were made to celebrate the 40th anniversary! By donating $500 and above you will get two “A” tickets to our performance of the Nutcracker and your name engraved on an ornament hanging from the growing Christmas Tree.

Make your contribution by visiting TAYBballet.org

a big thank you to our incredible sponsors!

Each year we proudly celebrate the accomplishments of TAYB students pastand present. The photo below was taken in 1997. Twenty years later, we leadoff this year’s “Alumni Update” with news about the boys from this photograph.

The remainder of the “Alumni Update” is organized by the year the participantgraduated from High School or College.

Back Row, Left to Right:Nate Stokes, Christopher Rudd, Randolph Ward, Dawhone Perry,

Ty Hodges, Quashone Perry, Anton Sterling

Front Row, Left to Right:Andrew Taft, Raymond Alvarez, Miguel Angel Quiñones III , Kris Carruthers, Xavier Cave,

George Manolopolus, Joshua Winzeler, Andrew List

Andrew List graduated from NWSA HighSchool, and earned a BS In engineeringfrom Florida State University. He isworking as a civil engineer for ahighway design firm.

Ty Hodges is working as an actorand film director in Los Angeles.He has written and directed fourfeature films, which have beenseen on the film festival circuit andon television. He is currentlydeveloping projects for hisproduction company, Art FarmEntertainment. He is also collaborating with fellowalum Chris Rudd on a dance project called “Witness”to debut in 2018. He directed a film about BobbiKristina, the daughter of Whitney Houston and BobbyBrown, which will debut on TV One this fall.

Dawhone Perry is ateacher andchoreographer inOviedo, Florida.Among his mostaccomplishedstudents are thosewho have gone onto the School of

American Ballet, been accepted into the JuilliardSchool, appeared on national television, beenaccepted into professional companies and havetoured in national Broadway shows.

Quashone Perry is a law clerk at theDabdoub Law Firm in Miami. He hasbeen a member of the TAYB Board ofDirectors since 2003, and was featured ina TIME Magazine profile in 2005.

Andrew Taft was promoted toPrincipal Dancer at Ballet Idaho in2015, where he has danced forseveral seasons. He has madeseveral guest appearances in andaround New York, Pittsburgh, andHawaii, among others.

Chris Rudd founded his own Company, RudduRDance, in 2015. He had aresidency at STREB Lab for ActionMechanics where he was awardedthe GO! Emerging ArtistsCommissioning Program grant lastyear. He had a six weekchoreographic residency in Francein preparation for his new work,entitled “Witness.” “Witness” willpremiere in 2018 at the HostosCenter for the Arts in the Bronx, NewYork. He is a finalist for a June Jordan Fellowship, anda Knight Arts Challenge Finalist through Dance Now!Miami. He received the Inspiration Grant from theNew World School of the Arts Foundation in 2016.

Miguel Angel Quiñones III was acompany member of David ParsonsDance for six years, and wasrecognized as outstanding alumnusof New World School of the Arts in2010. He started his own Companyin Philadelphia in 2015 with fellowParsons dancer Steven Vaughn,with whom he made guestappearances at TAYB’s Spring

Concerts in 2015 and 2017. He toured last year withSharp Dance, and taught for the Philadelphia Arts inEducation Partnership’s after school program. Heplans to continue teaching and performing in thecoming year, including as a guest artist with DavidParsons Dance.

Raymond Alvarez earned a degree from Penn StateUniversity in 2005. He works as a psychologist at FamilyCounseling Services of Greater Miami.

Kris Carruthers is a real estate agent inFlorida.

Xavier Cave was a soloist with the Boston Ballet.

George Manopolus was a dancer andentertainer with Jimmy JamzProductions and Y100 in Miami, andstudied physical and massage therapy.

Anton Sterling is a photographer and is a real estateagent in New York City.

Nate Stokes is working for Kelly’sJanitorial Services and is the ownerof “The Dream Clean Team.”

Joshua Winzeler started his ballettraining with TAYB. He thencontinued his training with MiamiCity Ballet during the falls andspring seasons and the School ofAmerican Ballet during the summer.Upon receiving his BFA from NewWorld School of the Arts in 2011, hesigned with New York's BalletHispanico, where he would spendsix years performing with the company and teachingin their School of Dance. Starting in the Fall of 2017,Joshua will take on the role of Rehearsal Director forBallet Hispanico's second company, BHdos. Hecontinues to teach and mentor outside of BalletHispanico in the hopes of connecting communitiesaround the United States to the mission of BalletHispanico.

Randolph Ward recentlyreturned to Miami afterdancing for six seasons asa member of thecontemporary balletcompany Donlon DanceCompany/SaarlandischesStaatstheater in

Saarbrucken, Germany. Retiring after fifteen yearsas a professional dancer, he plans to study massagetherapy at Educating Hands, and is engaged to bemarried this year.

Bianca Herlory graduatedfrom Coral Gables HighSchool and will beattending the VanderbiltSchool of Music.

Sophie Corugedograduated from NewWorld School of the ArtsHigh School and will beattending the University ofFlorida’s InnovationAcademy. She will majorin sustainability and thebuilt environment, andplans to pursue a “4+1year” master’s degree inlandscape architecture.

She has a Bright Futures Medallion Scholarship, andhopes to join a dance group at UF where she cancontinue exploring choreography.

Leslie Benaudisgraduated from GulliverPreparatory Academyand will be attending theUniversity of Miami.

Dahlia Despradelgraduated from New WorldSchool of the Arts and willbe attending TempleUniversity. Victoria Jackson was a

founding member of theTAYB TAP Team, andgraduated from MiamiArts Charter. She will beattending FIU to studyliterature.

Joshua Noel graduated fromNew World School of the ArtsHigh School and is a SophomoreBFA dance major at SUNYPurchase. He's taken an interestin choreography and plans toexplore that more this year. He'steaching at a new studio hopingto gain more experience in thatfield.

Anastasia Padrongraduated Summa CumLaude from Miami SeniorHigh in the top 2% of herclass. She is attendingthe University of NorthCarolina, pursuing a BFAin dance.

Aliane Douyon graduated fromNew World School of the ArtsHigh School. She was awardeda Posse Scholarship, and isattending Hamilton College inClinton, New York, majoring inpre-med/public policy.

Raina Levin graduated from CoralReef High School’s InternationalBaccalaureate program. Shereceived a full tuition scholarshipfrom Northeastern University inBoston, where she is beginningher second year studyingpsychology and biology.

Isabel Jarmel has a medicalinternship with Camillus HealthConcern, and will be attendingFlorida State University.

Seidy Ortiz graduating fromMichael Krop High School andwill be attending Miami-DadeCollege studying business.

Tarina Touret graduated fromCarrolton and will be attendingGeorgetown University.

Mya Wright graduated from RansomEverglades School and will beattending Mount Holyoke College.She is the recipient of a PosseScholarship. She was a member ofthe TAYB Tap Team since its inception.Her inspirational story of academicsuccess despite hardships was profiledin a Miami Herald article this year.Mya Wright Article.

Victoria Smith was a foundingmember of the TAYB Tap Team,and graduated from RivieraPreparatory School. She isattending the FIU Honors Collegeand is studying psychology.

Krystyn Abood-Vicente graduated from Palmer TrinityHigh School and will be attending VanderbiltUniversity.

Puma Del Monte earned his BFAin Dance from New World Schoolof the Arts College, and was amember of Garth Fagan Dancefor one season. He recentlymoved to South Africa, where hehas a contract with a largeAfrican modeling agency.

Alexandra Caffrey is a Junior atHarvard University, studying globalhealth and government, and is theHarvard Ballet Company director.She represented the HarvardModel Congress in Hong Kong thisyear, and was an intern for theHillary for America Campaign andthe Vail International DanceFestival. This summer sheshadowed doctors atMassachusetts General Hospital,and interned for a USCongressman in Boston.

Kristen Galeri is attending the University of NorthCarolina at Chapel Hill, with a double major in nutritionand public policy.

Mary Kerr is beginning her third year at the University ofSouth Florida, majoring in performing arts and socialissues, with concentrations in dance andmanagement.

Arike Babalola graduated CumLaude from Mast Academy atHomestead, and was a member ofthe National Honor Society. Shewill earn her AA in nursing this fall,and is now pursuing her BS innursing at Miami-Dade College.

Michelle Anduiza is beginning herJunior year at the University ofSouth Florida.

Monica Alvarado graduated from New World Schoolof the Arts High School and attended Miami-DadeHonors College this year.

Mia Pennekamp graduated from Coral Reef HighSchool, is attending Mount Holyoke College inMassachusetts. She is the winner of a PosseScholarship.

Ashley Newsome graduated from New World Schoolof the Arts, and is attending the University of Florida.

Maria Isabel Soñé iscurrently in her first year atHeartland CommunityCollege in Normal, ILworking towards herassociates degree in art.She made the Dean’s Listfor the Spring 2017semester at HeartlandCommunity College andplans to pursue a BFA inanimation and gamedesign alongside herdancing. In the winter of2016 she competed in theYouth America Gran Prix ballet competition and in thesummer of 2016 participated in the World Youth Daypilgrimage to Poland followed by an internship at theU.S. Bishop’s Visitors Office in Rome, Italy.

Marcel Mejia isbeginning his Junioryear at George MasonUniversity. This summerhe trained at the SanFrancisco Conservatoryof Dance. He looksforward to working withDouglas Varone atGeorge MasonUniversity this fall, wherehe will also beperforming a piece withVarone’s company,

Marielle Ogilby is attending the University of Florida.

Zoey Needham iscompleting her Junioryear at GeorgetownUniversity, where shewill be studying Justice& Peace Studies,Philosophy, and Music.She has just completeda rewarding summerinternship at BestBuddies, Internationaland will return to schoolin the fall to implementher proposal for amusic program withinthe DC Department ofCorrection. Upongraduation, she ishoping to attend law

school and specialize in civil rights and entertainmentLaw.

Marcus McCray graduated fromNew World School of the ArtsCollege in 2015. After the summerwith a contemporary dancecompany in Mexico, he entered thepre-professional training program atAlonzo King’s LINES Ballet. At theend of that training, he wasencouraged to audition forprofessional companies, which he isnow doing in New York City and Europe.

Hope Sotolongo-Miranda is a third year student at theUniversity of Florida, where she is pursuing a dualdegree in biology and zoology.

Alyssa Perez graduated Cum Laude from New WorldSchool of the Arts High School, and received a fullscholarship to attend Webster University.

At TAYB, I learned to be brave enough to go aftersomething that other people with my economicstanding do not often partake in. But the leap of faithhas paid off and I'm truly excited, grateful, andhonored to know that I have you in my corner. Yourefforts to make sure every TAYB student has whatshe/he needs to succeed after graduation isadmirable. ZOEY NEEDHAM

Julia Martorell is beginning herJunior year at Boston University,majoring in culturalanthropology. This summer sheworked with the University’sCommunity Service Center as aCoordinator for the First-YearStudent Outreach Project, asocial justice program for

incoming students. She is partipating in numeroustheater projects at school, as well as Latinx culturalorganizations as part of the leadership team.

Daniella Bernal studied at Florida InternationalUniversity Honors College, majoring in physics andmechanical engineering.

Josie Berman graduated from Palmetto High School,and attended Bates College.

Clara Auguste recentlygraduated from CUNYHunter College with a BAin dance. This past yearshe interned with the NewYork State Assemblythrough Hunter College’sPublic Scholar ServiceProgram and with theBrooklyn Arts Exchange.She is the founder ofAeternus DanceCompany, and performed

for Dance Caribbean Collective this Summer. Shenow lives in New York, working with Aeternus, teachingyoga and dance at Hebrew Educational Society, andparticipating in Public Allies New York, a 10-monthapprenticeship program that allows individuals to workwith nonprofits.

Javier Aranzales graduated inDecember 2016 from HarvardUniversity with a degree inGovernment and a minor inSwahili language. Aftergraduation, he interned inWashington D.C. withTurnaround Arts, the school-reform-through-arts-educationprogram formerly headed byMichelle Obama. Javier thenspent the summer in Nairobi,Kenya working with arts program in two of the largestslums in Africa and studying Swahili.In September 2017, Javier will be starting work atMicrosoft in Seattle as a Product Marketing Managerfor Windows Education. He is thrilled to experiencethe private sector side of the education sector.

"And this all started at the Thomas Armour YouthBallet. [My] commitment [was] sparked by thefinancial and emotional support that the ThomasArmour Youth Ballet provided me with when Iwalked in to try this thing called ballet. The followingmonths will bring about the next chapter of my lifeand I am guided by the power and magic thatTAYB brought into my life as I embark on this nextchapter. Thank you again for your support for thearts and for helping bring the arts into the lives ofstudents like me."JAVIER ARANZALES

Aminah Angrand recentlygraduated from Miami-DadeCollege, and is currently teachingtap dancing at a local dancestudio. She plans to pursue abachelor’s degree next fall.

Bianca Allanic graduated fromIndiana University with a bachelorof science in ballet. She will bejoining Ballet Theatre of Marylandas an Apprentice for the 2017-2018

Yolomar Armas graduated from NWSA High Schooland is attending the London School of Design.

Ashley Anduiza graduated withHonors from Florida StateUniversity in 2013 with a BFA indance. She danced with theNashville Ballet, and is now in hersecond season with BalletHispanico.

Melissa Anduiza is the Directorof Community Outreach forBallet Hispanico. She dancedfor five years with theCharlotte Ballet, and for oneseason with ComplexionsContemporary Ballet. Anaccomplishedchoreographer, she has alsoserved in school systems, women’s detention centers,and as an Ambassador for the US Embassy educatingchildren about the arts in Tunisia.

Victoria Bradford graduated from New York Universitywith a BA in politics. She was heavily involved in NYU'sModel United Nation's club, and was the Under-Secretary General of Operations for Media and PublicRelations for the 7th NYU's Model United NationConference (NYUMUNC).

Isaura Echeveste graduated from Coral Reef HighSchool and attended Florida International University.

Annelise Fiad is in Florida International University’s fiveyear accelerated masters program of interiorarchitecture, and is about to study abroad in Italy toreceive a certificate in cruise ship and yacht design.She is also a full time intern at the Gettys Groupinterior architecture firm in Coral Gables.

Caitlyn Elie graduatedthis year with a BFA fromthe University of SouthFlorida and is nowteaching at two studiosin the Tampa area. Sheis submittingchoreography tofestivals, residencies andTampa area dancecompanies. Her goal isto pursue an MFA in thecoming years.

Stephanie Fuentes is beginning her fourth year as afaculty member of Thomas Armour Youth Ballet,leading the Miami Gardens Outreach Center. Shehas also introduced a modern dance curriculum atother TAYB sites and launched the new TAYB ModernDance team last year. She has also founded a newproject based dance company, Fuentes StephanieDance Project.

Caroline Friedhoff graduated from Carleton Collegein the spring of 2016, having studied philosophy andcognitive science. She is currently interning for OnBeing — a podcast and radio show that exploresconcepts of meaning — and dancing when she can!

Jovahnie Funderburk graduated this year from NewWorld School of the Arts College with a BFA in dance.She joined Miami based Mosaic Dance Project inSeptember, 2015.

Emma Fonte is studying journalism and masscommunication at Miami-Dade College.

Diana Figueroa graduated lastyear from Point Park Universityin Pittsburgh with a BFA indance, and danced oneseason with Roxey Ballet. Sherecently returned to Miami as acompany member ofDimensions Dance. She plansto enter graduate school thisfall and teach dance whentime allows.Krista Flood graduated from New World School of the

Arts High School and is studying musical theater at theBoston Conservatory.

Georgette Fogle graduated fromFlorida State University with a BS inanthropology. She is now inPensacola, enrolled in a postbaccalaureate biology program,shadowing a local health clinicdentist, and preparing for dentalschool admission.

Jean Floradin graduated fromCarnegie Mellon University witha BFA in acting/music theater.He completed work on analbum of original music, and hasappeared in a mini-series and amovie. He is currentlyappearing in the Chicagocompany of “Hamilton.”

Addyson Fonte was married thisyear, is currently attending MiamiDade College, and is planning totransfer to Florida InternationalUniversity after receiving herassociate’s in art. She now works asthe Marketing Director at ThomasArmour Youth Ballet, and alsoprovides freelance graphic designand social media work for severalbusinesses.

Alexis George is attending theUniversity of Central Floridastudying journalism, and hasjoined Delta Sigma ThetaSorority, where she is thejournalist for her chapter. Sheis also the Director ofFundraising this year for the

National Panhellenic Council. She hopes to have aninternship with a magazine this year.

Harper Garcia is a theatricalperformer, workingprofessionally at varioustheaters throughout the UnitedStates. She is also the secretaryfor a new nonprofit artsorganization that brings arts tounderserved youth in high riskareas, called PenArts Inc., inPensacola, FL.

Victoria Gilbert graduated fromSouthern Methodist University inDallas, TX last year with a degreein marketing. She is working as afinance analyst in Dallas. Shecontinues to take ballet class, andhas recently taken up yoga.

Rachel Ginsberg is living in NewYork City and working forColumbia Business School as theCoordinator of Special Projectsand Operations. When she is notat work, she spends her timetraining at the Krav MagaAcademy and volunteering forBroadway Cares Equity FightsAIDS and Dancers Responding toAIDS.

Kaylee Grippando is atIndiana University JacobsSchool of Music doublemajoring in ballet and themedia school. She is therecipient of the PremierYoung Artist Scholarship aswell as the Music Facultyscholarship. This summershe was one of 18professional dancersparticipating in  the 2017Jacobs Pillow's 85thAnniversary Gala andBallet program (pictured).

Illadys Gonzalez graduated from Young Women’sPreparatory Academy and is studying at the Universityof South Florida. Mariana Izquierdo is attending Massachusetts

University, studying medicine, with the goal ofbecoming an oncologist.

Marta Hogstead earned her AA in business, and is nowstudying music.

TAYB is absolutely one of the reasons I wanted tohelp bring arts to youth that might not be exposed toit, because I saw all of the amazing opportunitiesTAYB brought to so many kids in various communities.And I appreciate all that everyone at TAYB did forme as well! - HARPER GARCIA

Rachel Galt graduated from the University of Virginia,where she majored in psychology with a minor indance. She performed in or choreographed severaldance and theater productions while at UVa, andstudied dance therapy for Parkinsons patients at theMark Morris Dance Center. She plans to attendgraduate school.

Caitlin Javech recentlygraduated from Juilliard with aBFA in dance. She was awardeda Juilliard Career Fellowshipbased on her work in danceand as a student leaderthroughout my time at school.This summer she was in AlbertaCanada for a dance residencyat The Banff Center titled "TheNoetic Project". She is lookingforward to beginning herprofessional career as a dancer and choreographerpost graduation.

Odessa Lewis is studying dance at New World Schoolof the Arts College.

Angela Martoccio is now attendingBaruch College, majoring injournalism and creative writing. Shelives in Brooklyn, where she is theassistant manager of a coffee shop.

Josh Lester lives in Macon,Georgia, where he is working as aCertified Nursing Assistant while innursing school. He also teachesballet and conditioning at a localdance studio and takes danceclasses in Atlanta.

Nicholas Losada apprenticed at San Francisco Balletfor two years before winning a Heinz-Bosi Foundationscholarship to apprentice with the Bavarian StateBallet in Munich (Bayerisches Staatballet). He is now asoloist in the first company.

Abigail Jonekheune studied at Florida State University,majoring in psychology and anthropology, with minorsin social welfare and French.

Diana Lopez recentlyreturned from a six week stayin Peru, working as a medicaland teaching volunteer withHands on Peru. She isdrafting a workbook toenable Peruvian teachers toteach English. She nowbegins her senior year at theUniversity of North Carolinaat Chapel Hill, completingher double major in Biologyand Hispanic Literature andCultures, with a minor in

Neuroscience. She is also the Co-Director of theCarolina Style Ballet Company, where she alsoperforms.

FrancescaMartocciograduated in 2016from SUNY Purchasewhere she receivedher bachelor of finearts in dance with aballetconcentration.After graduating,Francesca joinedColorado Ballet’sStudio Company fortheir 2016-17

season. She will be joining Colorado Ballet as acompany member this season.

Priscilla Martinez is working atJackson Memorial Hospital in thelaboratory while going to school tobe a medical technologist. Shefounded "Gotta Dance,” a dancecompany focused on students twoto eleven years old. She was aMiami Heat dancer, and hasperformed on film and in television,as well as on stage at eventsincluding the Flo-rida SplashConcerts in 2015 and the 2 Live Crew Reunion Tour in2015 and 2016.

Devaugn McGann completed one year in the DanceTheater of Harlem professional training program, andtwo seasons with the second company of thePennsylvania Ballet. He was invited by OperaNational de Paris to attend their recruitmentcompetition, and has returned to Miami to preparefor auditions.

Paris Olkes graduated from Coral Reef High School,and is studying at the University of Florida.

Annellyse Munroeperformed for two seasonswith Alvin Ailey II, and wasfeatured on the cover ofDance Spirit Magazine inFebruary, 2015. She iscurrently dancing with BlocTalent Agency andteaching dance. Shebegins pursuing a master ofnon-profit management atColumbia University thisyear.

Olympia Reboli graduated from Coral Gables HighSchool and is attending Miami-Dade College.

Emily Rivera graduated from Hamilton College,majoring in government and Chinese. She now worksas an Americorps Paralegal at Legal Aid Society ofHawaii in Honolulu.

Ebony Smith graduated from Young Women’sPreparatory Academy, and begins her fourth year atDartmouth this Fall with a full scholarship. She internedthis summer at a biotechnology firm in NewHampshire.

Jordan Shapiro graduated from Coral Reef HighSchool, and is studying at Penn State University.

Merina Seidel graduated fromEmerson College with a film andtelevision production major. Shehas worked on several film andtelevision projects, including thisyear’s Golden Globes and theupcoming HBO series “SharpObjects.” She has also completedseveral feature and short films as ascript supervisor.

Shade St. Juste is attending the Lines Ballet/ DominicanUniversity of California program. She is a member ofthe Black Student Union, The Environmental Club andis a Dominican University Penguinette Cheerleader.

Thryn Saxon graduated fromFlorida State University, and isdancing with the Kate WeareCompany. They toured theAmerican Dance Festival andother festivals last summer. Thissummer she headed to SantaBarbara, CA for the month ofAugust in residency with KateWeare Company and UnionTanguera tango company on anew collaborative piece betweenthe two artists. She plans to pursue her Pilatescertification in the Fall.

Gaby Rosario is studying communications andadvertising at Florida International University, andworks at Madewell.

Jacoby Pruitt graduatedfrom Tisch School of theArts at New York Universityand danced for twoseasons as a member ofAiley II. He is now workingwith the Séan CurranCompany, based in NYC.

Melanie Ramos is beginningher fourth year at SUNYPurchase, and continues to beon the Dean’s List. Shecontinues to focus onnumerous choreographycommissions and projects,attending Ballet Hispanico's firstsummer intensive "Choreo Lab"this year. She won a secondopportunity to present work at the YoungChoreographer's Festival in 2017. She also performedat the NYLA theatre with SUNY Purchase in May whereshe was showcased in Norbert De La Cruz III's work"Talsik."

Sharyn Richards graduated from Florida StateUniversity with a BFA in dance. She is working in Miami,preparing to pursue further education in the field ofphysical therapy.

Jay Reimers is beginning his fourthseason with Ballet Met in Ohio, wherehe appeared in Ballet Met’s video“Becoming Violet.”

Anabelen Riverograduated from the dancehonors program atColombia College in 2015.She is now dancing as anapprentice with DeeplyRooted Dance Theater inChicago, and teachingPilates at a studio nearCubs Stadium. She creditsPilates with helping hercome back to dancingafter injuries, so she plansto expand her Pilates

training to help others become aware of their bodiesand overcome injuries and discomfort.She currently works at One Hundred, a fitnesscompany, and teaches dance at Recycled Bar inMiami.

Keiko Shivers is attending Miami Dade College,studying to become a physical therapist.

Lina Stepick graduated from Dartmouth College in2010 with high honors in sociology and anthropology,modified with women and gender studies. Shecompleted her MA in sociology in 2014, and is now aPhD student at UCLA.

Smita Sen graduated Magna CumLaude from Columbia Universitywith a BA in the visual arts. Aftercompleting two design internships,she was accepted into theprestigious NYU ITP Camp,providing the opportunity toexplore digital technologies. In herart career, she created newsculpture, video, and performancepieces, and worked on six short

films, this year. Moreover, her poetry was published bythe Academy of American Poets.

As I continue to learn and grow, I am grateful for thecontinued support of the TAYB community. With theguidance, interest, and support of the Thomas ArmourYouth Ballet community, I have developed key skillsthat guide me in every professional endeavor. TheThomas Armour Youth Ballet gave me discipline,organizational skills, responsibility, a passion for the arts,and a desire to give back. With institutions like TAYB,young artists and dancers receive the kind of supportthat guides us for a lifetime. I hope in the future I amable to offer similar levels of guidance and mentorshipto young artists and dancers like myself and mypeers.” - SMITA SEN

Imranda Ward attendedNew World School of the Artsand graduated in 2014. Sheattended and graduatedfrom Miami Dade CollegeKendall Campus in 2016,where she obtained herassociates in arts degree inphysical therapy. Beginningin Fall 2017, she will attendFlorida State University to

Chiara Tejidor completed hersenior year of high school in thepre-professional program at MiamiCity Ballet. She is now a senior atUniversity of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music as a balletmajor. She looks forward tograduating and auditioning thisyear.

Kristina Zaidner is currently amodern dance teacher in theProfessional Division of The AileySchool Summer Intensive. She wasmost recently performing as amember of the ballet company ofthe Metropolitan Opera, as well asproject based companies RudduRDance under the direction of fellowalum Christopher Rudd and ArchDance under the direction ofJennifer Archibald among others. She will be travelingto Florence, Italy this year to perform with Opus Ballet.

Jasmine Ward graduatedlast year with a BFA indance performance with aminor in strategiccommunication from ButlerUniversity. She recentlycompleted her first seasonwith the New York TheatreBallet, and is enjoyingtaking advantage of all thedance opportunities New York City has to offer.

Hanna Williams graduated from BarnardCollege/Colombia University after majoring in Englishliterature, concentrating on creative writing. She hashad internships with the New York Observer, the BritishConsulate General and Wine & Spirits Magazine, andis working as a sommelier.

Jessica Torres majored in radiology at the Universityof Miami, and teaches at Miami Shores CommunityChurch School.

Dara Tannenbaum graduatedfrom the Florida InternationalUniversity School of Architecturewith a Bachelors in Interior Design.Since 2013 she has worked asProject Designer for an Italianfurniture company in the MiamiDesign District where shespecializes in high-end kitchenand closet design. She currently resides in CoconutGrove.”

Chelsey Alvarez graduated from Florida InternationalUniversity, with a bachelor’s degree in hospitalitymanagement. She continues to dance, andcurrently teaches several dance forms at PrestigeDance Academy, where she also leads thecompetition/performing team.

Darryl D’John Abraham graduated from New WorldSchool of the Arts High School, and attended Miami-Dade College.

Tyquan Barnard graduated from Florida StateUniversity with a dual major in accounting andfinance. He currently works in the Human ResourcesDepartment at Target Corporation.

Debra Bazile Elonne graduated from NWSA College in2008, and danced for four years in Texas with DallasBlack Dance Theatre 2. She was an elementaryschool teacher for four years, and is now enrolled inFlorida International University pursuing a master’sdegree in reading.

Caroline Betancourt graduatedfrom the University ofCincinnati's CollegeConservatory of Music in 2010,and danced with the LouisvilleBallet for three seasons. Shedanced two seasons as ademi-soloist with Ballet duCapitole in Toulouse, France.She joined the Royal DanishBallet in Copenhagen in August of 2015, and hasreturned to TAYB as a guest star Sugar Plum Fairy inthe Nutcracker.

Shelby Buxton attended Florida International Universityand the University of Kentucky studying biology. Shenow lives in Georgia.

Jamal Campbell graduated from the AmericanMusical Dramatic Academy in 2010, and hasappeared in numerous touring Broadway shows,Disney productions and commercials. He wasrecently featured in DisneyWorld’s commercial for thenew Harambe Theater’s “Festival of the Lion King”show in Animal Kingdom. He now lives in New YorkCity.

Masha Ciampittiellograduated from FSU with a BAin art history in 2012. Shegraduated from University ofMiami School of Law, and isnow working as an Associatewith an Orlando law firm,specializing in representingdoctors and hospitals inmalpractice claims She was an

extern for Florida Supreme Court Justice PeggyQuince.

Rivkins Christopher, a memberof the TAYB family since 2004,earned his BFA from New WorldSchool of the Arts College in2014. He has performed withseveral Miami companies, andfor two seasons with Gaspardand Dancers in New York. He isnow dancing with Syren ModernDance in New York City. He wasfeatured in Taji MagazineVolume 10, and he recentlywalked in Rainbow FashionWeek for 4Leaders clothing brand.

Lauren Delgado Hardegreegraduated from thePhiladelphia College ofOsteopathic Medicine lastyear, and is now a ResidentDoctor in radiology inMemphis. She and herhusband recently celebratedtheir one year anniversary bytaking a honeymoon trip toItaly. Lauren’s mother,Jacquelyn Calderin, recentlyjoined the Board of Directors ofTAYB.

Brittany Oliver Arquart received herDoctor of Physical Therapy degreefrom University of Miami, and isworking as a Physical Therapist forNicklaus Children’s Hospital inMiami. She and her husbandwelcomed their first child in January2017.

Caroline Ho Warner graduated from University ofFlorida with a degree in finance, and is now a SeniorAuditor with Raymond James financial firm inClearwater, Florida.

Hassan Ingraham graduated from NWSA High School,and achieved his BFA in dance from the JuilliardSchool of the Arts in 2012. He danced last year withTU Dance in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and nowteaches and choreographs at DelMonico Dance in St.Paul.

Julia Headly graduated fromthe Juilliard School. She hasrecently begun her fifth seasondancing with Ballet NationalTheater Mannheim. She alsolaunched her own line ofaccessories called SebagaCreations.

Gentry George graduated fromfrom the Juilliard School in 2012.He was a member of Ailey II, andfounded Zest CollectiveContemporary Performance Art.He currently teaches Ballet andComposition at USDAN SummerCamp for the Arts, and atBrooklyn’s Spoke The Hub. Lastyear he taught at NorthernManhattan’s Dance Project ofWashington Heights, and createda new work this summer thatincluded both members of ZESTCollective and students from theDance Project. IN 2017 ZEST hadappearances in South Florida,Ulster Ballet’s Festival of Dance,Dixon Place,the Higher GroundFestival, and Artists For WorldPeace Dance Concert. To learnmore visit: www.zestcollective.orgDance Photo by ROBERT CHURCH

Liony Garcia graduated fromNWSA College in 2008, and hassince been an active fixture inthe local and national dancecommunity. As a dancer, heappeared last year with BrigidBaker & WholeProject in “BigBeautiful.” He presented a soloat The Miami InternationalPerformance Festival ’17, andled a choreographic workshopat Ignite Summer Intensive inToronto this summer. He’s

excited to be working in Miami, and is looking forwardto fun new projects in the Fall and Winter.

Benicka Grant isbeginning her third seasonwith Dance Now! Miami,and is the ResidentChoreographer forTheater South in PompanoBeach. She studieddance at SouthernMethodist University. Shehas performed withiLuminate, from

“America’s Got Talent,” and Six Flags Over Texas.

Nadege Greenis a journalistwho coverssocial justiceissues for WLRN,South Florida’sNPR affiliate. Forher, journalism isabout seekingout the voiceswe don't hear from and telling those stories. In 2016she was recognized by the National Association ofBlack Journalists with three first place awards forinvestigative reporting, long form and short form radioreporting on policing in Miami-Dade’s blackcommunities. The Florida AP Broadcaster Awardsand the National Edward R. Murrow Awards have alsohonored Green’s work. Green was one of 16 peopleselected for the Miami Foundation’s Miami FellowshipClass IX.  The fellowship identifies Miami’s future leadersand trains them to identify the issues facing Miamithrough community level engagement. She lives inMiami with her two magical sons (and possible futuredancers) Noah and Jacob.

Camila Gil holds a master’sdegree of globalgovernance and publicaffairs from FloridaInternational University, anda bachelor’s degree ininternational studies andpolitical science from theUniversity of Miami. She iscurrently the Director of Arts

Education and Outreach at Thomas Armour YouthBallet, and was married in 2016.

Bruno Jacques-Louis is a Company Member/Actor atArea Stage Company, and is an OperationsManagement Assistant at True-Blue Hospitality inMiami.

Erin Jester graduated from theUniversity of Florida inDecember 2012 with ajournalism degree and a minorin dance. After spending threeyears working as a newspaperreporter, she joined the staff ofthe Hippodrome State Theatreas a costume shopapprentice. In August 2017,she will begin an MFA programin costume design andtechnology at the University ofSouthern Mississippi. She hasalso been performing with the Mischievous MadamsBurlesque Troupe since 2013.Mindy Joo graduated from Duke

University in 2009, and is living inNYC. She works in mutual fundsales at Prudential Investments.She has been a volunteer withthe New York City Ballet since2010.

Giselle Lopez is currently the school social worker forthe Georgia School for the Deaf. She obtained herbachelor’s degree in social work from Barry Universityand her master’s of social work at Gallaudet Universityin Washington, DC. She is also a soccer coach,cheerleading coach and dance instructor for the stepteam.

Rony Lenis is currentlyworking with NimbusDance Works, acontemporary dancecompany in New YorkCity, while alsoauditioning for otherprojects. He spentthree years in theJoffrey Ballet TraineeProgram in New YorkCity, two seasons withthe Colorado Ballet Studio Company in Denver, andtwo seasons with City Ballet of San Diego.

Alexandria Love graduatedwith a BFA in dance, with aminor in theology, fromFordham University in 2008.She is an entertainer, host,model and professionaldancer. She has been theemcee and host of theBrooklyn Nets Basketballgames, and is the founder of

SpreadsomLove.com, a non-profit organization thatacts as a financial aggregator for fundraisinginitiatives. She is represented by Wilhelmina ModelingAgency for Fashion and Fitness, and has appeared innumerous ad campaigns. She is a Certified HealthCoach from the Institute of Integrative Nutrition. Youare invited to enjoy her blog at aLovesquad.com, andto visit AllyLove.com and SpreadsomLove.com.

Andrea Murillograduated from NewWorld School of theArts College in 2009,and immediatelyjoined the MarthaGraham DanceCompany, where shedanced as acompany member forseveral years. Sheperformed in “SleepNo More” in New YorkCity, performed in theatrical and dancecollaborations around the world, and creatednumerous theatrical events. She has been a MasterTeacher with Young Arts, is studying towards herGyrotonic Expansion System Teacher Training, andworks with an event designer to expand herknowledge of production design. She is currently inpost-production for her dance film “Conduit for aDream,” and in pre-production of her latest filmproject, “Waves.”

Charity Metzger graduated from Howard University in2008, and danced for three seasons with the GarthFagan Dance Company. She is currently a danceteacher in the District of Colombia Public Schools.

Rashad Ingraham was featured on the Starz Networkseries “Magic City.” He danced with MiamiContemporary Dance and is the dance master atArmano Danz Studio. He is also a dance coach withthe Girl Power after school program.

Catalina Rey completed herPhD in behavior analysis atFlorida Institute of Technologylast year. She was in Baltimorefor a post doctorate fellowshipat Kennedy Krieger Institute,performing research andworking with children withsevere behavioral problems.She is currently at theUniversity of Vermont, working to increase the use ofcontraception to decrease pregnancy in opiod-maintained women.

Dayme Sanchez graduatedfrom Harvard Law School in2015, and is practicing atHolland and Knight, Miami inlitigation and internationalarbitration. She was also a lawclerk for a United Stated DistrictCourt Judge for the SouthernDistrict of Florida last year.

Kiera O’Rourke graduated from Stanford Universitywith a degree in comparative literature. She iscurrently working as an editor for a publishingcompany.

Vee Rene attended St. ThomasUniversity, and joined the UnitedStates Army in 2017. Shecompleted training and earnedher wings as an aviationoperation specialist in June ofthis year.

Florencia Pradere-Guerrier earned a BFA in dancefrom Marygrove College, and a master’s ofeducation in educational leadership from ConcordiaUniversity. She is the Dance Department Chair for theLongleaf Performing Arts School in Raleigh, NC.

Inger Rivas graduated fromNWSA High School and Miami-Dade College. She now worksfor Fannie May, managingproperties and HOAS across thecountry.

Gary Rawls graduated from NWSA High School, andwas a member of Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemblefor several years. He is now a Personal Trainer atEquinox Gyms.

Jessica Quintana graduated with a BFA in dancefrom New World School of the Arts in 2011, and iscurrently dancing with Peter London Global Dance.She works for Happy Holidays Travel, where shechoreographs Quince celebrations, and at BaptistHospital.

Nathaly Prietostudied dance atNew World School ofthe Arts College andwith the Joffrey Ballettrainee program,both on fullscholarship. Shebegins her sixthseason with theDayton Ballet thisyear. She was aguest artist at the2016 TAYB SpringConcert.

Behroz Nowrojee-Redheadgraduated with honors andawards from the University ofFlorida with a master’s in specialeducation, bachelor’s inelementary education, and aminor in dance. She is currentlyon leave from her teaching job asshe and her husband recentlywelcomed a baby boy to theirfamily.

Justin O’Ferall graduated from NWSA College with hisBFA in dance and has performed with Dance Now!Miami.

Colleen O'Malley graduated with a BS from GeorgeWashington University School of Nursing. She is nowworking as a pediatric nurse at Children’s NationalMedical Center in Washington D.C.

Michelle Russell graduated from Florida StateUniversity with an honors degree in dance and minorin business. She is currently an Apprentice Trainer atAKT Motion in New York City.

Lourdes Rodriguez performed five years as a memberof the Dance Theatre of Harlem, and then was amember of Armitage Gone! Dance and theConnecticut Ballet. She is pursuing a career inPhysical Therapy at Hunter College.

Shadae Ringo Smithgraduated from FordhamUniversity with a BFA intheater in 2008. Heearned his MFA in filmdirecting from UCLA.After directing Kristen Wiigand Jimmy Kimmel in thefilm "Miss Famous" in 2014,he began working as acontent director for

will.i.am and his company i.am+. In 2017 he shotwill.i.am's video "fiyah,” his first music video for a majorartist at a major label. He is currently writing twofeature films and developing my music video andcommercial content.

Leslie St. Jour graduated fromNew York University with adouble major in dance andAfrican studies. She works atBedford Stuyvesant RestorationCorporation, and was aTeaching Artist at Arts For All inNew York City. She recentlycompleted her MA in appliedphysiology at Teachers CollegeColumbia University. Shecontinues to teach dance andfitness in New York City.

Ayla Weisz studied atthe Boston Conservatory,Carolina Ballet, HubbardStreet Dance Chicago,the Nederlands DanceTheater in Holland andthe Peridance CapezioCenter in New York City.She is a member of theNYC circus communityand most recentlyperformed with ABCirque and Only Child AerialTheatre. She has also worked as producer for creativeagency Visual Country for the last two years,managing the creative team and creating videocampaigns for brands around the world. PhotoCredit: Different Trains, created by ABCirque. AndrewT. Foster Photography

Melissa Wong graduated from New York University,where she studied economics, marketing andpsychology. She now works in marketing andadvertising for Alexander Wang in New York City.

Yara Travieso is a CreativeCapital Fellow, a PS122RAMP Artist and a recipientof The National Associationof Latino Arts and CulturesAward via the FordFoundation. At the cross-section of cinema, danceand theater, Travieso’s worktakes the form of films, musicvideos, fashion shorts, andlive performances. Her 2017live feature film, “La Medea”was performed and

broadcast for thousands of viewers. It later screenedwith Film Society of Lincoln Center and SXSW. She hascreated numerous short films and is internationallyrecognized for her direction of opera productionsand hybrid film projects. She currently resides inBrooklyn NY and is an artist in Resident with HERE Artswhere she is developing a new script for a musicalfeature film. You are invited to visitwww.yaratravieso.com

Cedric Walker worked forseveral years in public relationswith St. John Knits in New YorkCity. He got married in 2016,and completed an internshipwith Details magazine. His goalis to secure a position in marketediting.

Lilli Tai was awarded first prize in ContemporaryDance at the Seoul International Dance Competitionin 2008. She received a BFA with honors fromAiley/Fordham University in 2009. She danced for fouryears with Evidence Dance Company, and hastoured with the National Company of “The Lion King.”

Julie Travers graduated from New World School of theArts High School and earned her bachelor's degreefrom Emerson College in Boston. She works as anAccount Manager for Red Cap in Miami, and is also avolunteer blogger for the Arts & Business Council ofMiami, producing articles for the Miami Dancesinitiative.

Taylor Barker received a degree in theater fromFlorida State University, and graduated from NWSACollege with a BFA in dance in 2011. She lives with herhusband and daughter in Portsmouth, VA, where he isstationed with the U.S. Navy. She performs with theVirginia Opera, and choreographs seasonally in NewYork City and Miami for special performances andmusical theater showcases.

Diego Blanco and partner AnaPadron each graduated fromNWSA High School and College,and are well known Tangoperformers and instructors inNew York City. They foundedthe tango outreach for theblind program at Miami’sShimmy Club. Their Company,Tango For All, recentlylaunched an initiative toprovide Tango instruction, creation and performancesfor broader audiences and artists in New York. TangoFor All also offers community outreach componentsfor children and seniors. Please visitwww.tangoforall.com .

Jacqueline Bulnes dancedfor eight seasons with theMartha Graham DanceCompany, and is now livingin London working as adirector, choreographer,dancer and filmmaker. TheCompany she founded'TwisTinkers,' performed inScotland last year. Sheworked on several dancetheatre and film projects

pieces in Italy, where she has also directed andchoreographed commercials, films and music videos.She was a choreographer for two seasons with RobertCohan’s “Cohan Collective” in London. She is thrilledto join the Jose Limon Dance Company in September2017. Visit www.jacquelinebulnes.com, where youcan find trailers, music videos and special videoprojects.

Rachel Carroll continues toperform as a member ofJenny Larsson's newlyfounded Wild BeastCollective. Last year theyperformed in the Evergladesas part of the AIRIEresidency, in the FIU naturepreserve as part of the sitespecific GRASS STAINS, andtwice in FAT Village artsdistrict. She also continues to perform with theinteractive performance troupe Circx, as well asmodel for fine art photographer Raquel Glottman.

Ina Charles This past year hasbrought a lot of new changesfor Ina.  After living in New Yorkfor the past 10 years, shemoved back home to Miami tobe closer to family. InSeptember she began workingas a Program Administrator forthe Thomas Armour YouthBallet.  She has been workingvery closely with the staff andstudents at all four outreach

locations.  She is thrilled to be able to give back to thesame organization that provided her with such astrong foundation.

Colleen Rydland Amaya earned a bachelor’s of musicin vocal performance in 2002. She taught voice at theUniversity of Miami’s Theater Department, as well as ather private voice studio. She has enjoyed a prolificcareer in South Florida’s musical theater community,and is married with one daughter.

Gina Tiffany Alemán lives inOrlando. She completed hermaster's degree program ininstructional design and diversityeducation at Nova SoutheasternUniversity in 2010, and has starteda statewide event planningbusiness, Array Event Design. Sheand her husband have a fouryear-old son, and a newbornbaby girl. www.arrayeventdesign.com

Stacey Clark is the founder of afashion company named Lili Inc.,which launched a new onlinecomponent last year called Stacey'sStyling. You are invited to visit:http://staceysstyling.com/and Lifestyle Blog:http://lilyincstyled.blogspot.com. Sherecently moved to Redding, CAwhere she continues to teach, dance andchoreograph on the side.

Alexis Graber transitioned fromtoe shoes to tassels, currentlyperforming/producing shows asTrixie Minx, New Orleans’ ownburlesque Queen.She has been at the forefront ofthe New Orleans BurlesqueRevival as a leader in the

preservation & innovation of the art of tease. She isthe producer of four New Orleans burlesque shows, inaddition to providing custom designed entertainmentfor events and parties through her company Trixie MinxProductions. Beyond producing & performingthroughout the world, she also works as an advocatefor affordable performer healthcare with the NewOrleans Musicians Clinic.

Chevon Haswell Rariy is aHarvard trained, boardcertified Internal Medicine andEndocrinology physician,researcher, educator, andhealthcare advocate with over10 years medical experience.She is the founder andpresident of SpecialtyTelemedicine Physicians, PLLC which focuses onutilizing endocrine telemedicine to provide access toquality sub-speciality healthcare to those living inunder-served areas, often associated with ruralcommunities or urban ethnic and racial populationsnationally and internationally. She currently lives inMelbourne, Australia with her husband and their twoboys.

Ebony Haswell Frazier danced for several years withthe Dance Theater of Harlem, Alvin Ailey AmericanDance Theater and Complexions. She also taughtat the Debbie Allen Dance Academy, and is themother of a little boy.

Zach Law Ingram danced four seasons with Alvin AileyAmerican Dance Theatre, two years with Dallas BlackDance Theatre, and in the Las Vegas production of“The Lion King.”

Paunika RhoShawn Jones isa former Principal Dancerwith Dance Theatre ofHarlem and ComplexionsDance Company. She isnow the Director of PaunikaJones Dance Company,performs as a freelanceartist and ballerina, and is anapprentice Gyrokinesis instructor. She lives in NewYork City. In this photo, Paunika poses with TAYBstudents in New York for this summer’s danceintensives.

Kassandra Crook studied dance at both NWSA andFlorida State University. She currently lives inMemphis, Tennessee where she is a Rental SalesManager for a truck leasing company.

Jessica Dandridge Davis received abachelors degree from Florida A & MUniversity with a double major inSpanish and education. She lives inTallahassee with her three children,and is very excited to be opening herown dance studio, the TallahasseeAcademy of the Dancing Arts, orT.A.D.A., this year.

Ronald Duncan graduated from DePaul University in2002. He danced with Hubbard Street Dance inChicago, and was in the Las Vegas cast of “MammaMia!.” He was in the national touring company of“Dreamgirls,” and appeared on television in “Smash.”

Eduard Forehand has danced as acompany member with theRichmond Ballet, August Ballet andDayton Ballet. He danced for eightseasons with the Louisville Ballet inKentucky. He will be attending theUniversity of Iowa on full scholarshipand with a fellowship pursing amaster’s in fine art this year. Upongraduation he hopes to find aprofessorship with a University.

Selina Terpischore Hall iscurrently a Dean ofInstruction for Yes Prep PublicSchools in Houston, whereshe coaches and evaluatesteachers, and providesprofessional development.Additionally, she is a courseleader, writing Englishcurriculum for the entiredistrict. She is in her eighth

season with Houston City Dance, and spent this pastsummer teaching ballet, African, and modern at theHouston City Dance intensive.

“I remember the summers when we would travel toNew York on scholarship and we would write youthank you letters for helping to give us thatopportunity. I'm still appreciative of those opportunitieseven at the age of 33.” - SELINA HALL

Mariya Dashkina-Madduxis working at Wake ForestArts and the Town of WakeForest to create the firstoutdoor free and open tothe public Wake ForestDance Festival. Shedanced with the MarthaGraham Company for nineyear, and now lives inGreensboro, North Carolina. She participated in theNYC Dance Project in 2015, and her photograph wasselected for the cover of the photography bookresulting from that project. She has been a frequentguest star at TAYB’s annual spring concert.

Riolama Lorenzo became amember of New York CityBallet in 1995, dancing incountless works in thatcompany’s repertoire. Ms.Lorenzo joined thePennsylvania Ballet in 2002,becoming a Principal Dancerwith that company in 2005.She returned three times todance the role of Sugar PlumFairy for TAYB’s production of“The Nutcracker.” Since retiring from the stage shehas concentrated on the role of mother and teacher,and is currently an adjunct professor at the Universityof Houston. In addition, she will also start teaching atthe High School for the Performing and Visual Arts(HSPVA) this year.

Sarah Lozoff is currentlycompleting her fifth season as achoreographer and movementdirector with the OregonShakespeare Festival. Shedanced professionally with BalletRosario Suarez, while teaching forThomas Armour Youth Ballet, until2005. Since then, Sarah hastaught ballet in Miami, LosAngeles and Ashland, OR for

private dance schools, public schools, and outreachprograms. She is currently teaching in Ashland,Oregon, as well as teaching as a guest artist forcontemporary companies around the nation.

Sparkle Malone earned her PhD inBiology from the University ofAlabama. She had previouslyearned her master’s in forestbiometrics from the University ofFlorida in 2010. She was recentlyengaged as Professor of Ecologyat Florida International University.Her research evaluates howclimate and disturbance regimesinfluence natural ecosystems. Youare invited to learn more here.

Matthew Leddy is currently livingin Los Angeles where he works asan actor, filmmaker and mediaproducer. His company, LeddySet Go Productions, recentlyproduced a comedy pilot, a shortfilm, a podcast, a documentaryand a series of informative webvideos. You can enjoy their workat Facebook.com/LeddySetGo,

Lloyd Knight wasinducted into theMiami-Dade CollegeHall of Fame this year,and is beginning histwelfth year as amember of the MarthaGraham Company. Ahighlight of the yearwas touring in Spain,where he also taughtclasses. He taughtclasses in Iowa andNew York City, and wasrecently featured in afull page article in theMarch issue of Dance

Magazine titled "Why I Dance?".

Anya Knoblock received herBFA in dance from NWSACollege in 2007, and a aster’s ininternational administrationfrom the University of Miamiin 2008. She worked at theDemocratic NationalCommittee in Washington D.C.,followed by tenures at a publicaffairs firm, the Russian American Foundation and theHillary for America Presidential Campaign. Currently,Anya volunteers for local arts and politicalorganizations in Queens, where she resides with herhusband, a musician and teacher. Anya’s mother,Marina Ilinskaya, is the Registrar at TAYB.

Candace RJ Twiggs holds a BFA in Dance and an MSin Communication from Florida State University, andcurrently lives in Atlanta, GA. She is the Vice-President of Client Services for AppVault. Afterconcentrating on being mother to her new baby girl,she is easing back into dance training with eyetowards performing again, and becoming involvedin the Gwinnet County Board of Commissioners onArts and Development.

Karell Williams graduated from the Juilliard School,and danced for six seasons with Les Grands BalletCanadiens de Montreal.

Kevin Whitaker can be seen in numerous music videosand commercials, and is currently editing musicvideos, including those of Jennifer Lopez.

Natalie Wright is the owner andDirector of Ballet ConservatoryWest (BCW) in Los Angeles,California. With 150 studentsenrolled,and four additionalfaculty members, including TAYBAlum Yusha Marie Sorzano,students learn modern dance,tap and classical ballet utilizingthe same syllabus as the ThomasArmour Youth Ballet, continuingin it's tradition.

Yusha Sorzano has been amember of Complexionsand Ailey II, and was amember of Alvin AileyAmerican Dance Theaterfor three years. She hasperformed with Morphoses,TU Dance, and BodyTraffic.She is currently on hiatusfrom Camille A. Brown &Dancers as she recoversfrom an ankle injury. Shewas a guest artist at TAYB’sSpring Concert in 2016, andis teaching and choreographing as a free-lance artist.

Alex Stepick graduated from New World School ofthe Arts High School, and from the University ofChicago in 2006 with a degree in law, letters andsociety. He received a JD from Washington Universityin St. Louis School of Law in 2010. Alex has worked forthe U.S. Department of Justice and U.S. House ofRepresentatives Judiciary Committee, Subcommitteeon Immigration on Comprehensive ImmigrationReform. He is now lives in Brooklyn, New York.

Tarell Alvin McCraney earnedthe Academy Award for thescreenplay of “Moonlight,”based on his play “InMoonlight Black Boys LookBlue.” He graduated fromNew World School of the ArtsHigh School before receivinghis BFA in acting from theTheater School at DePaulUniversity. In 2007 hegraduated from Yale School ofDrama's play writing program,where he received the ColePorter Playwriting Award. Hereceived the MacArthur

Genius Fellowship and the Windham-Campbell Prizefor Literature in 2013 He provided historicalcommentary for the TAYB 2015 Spring Concert, andwas the advisor for Miami City Ballet’s production of“A Midsummer Night’s Dream” in 2016. The past twosummers he has directed the Youth Artist LeadershipSummer Program in Miami.

Maggie Mejia is a surgical technician at JacksonSouth Community Hospital, specializing in robotics andbariatric surgery.

Michelle Mendez-Youell received a BA in psychologyin 2005 from Florida State University. She lived inAsheville, North Carolina, where she launched thecity’s first eating disorder treatment clinic. She nowlives in Jupiter, Florida with her husband and two sons,and is a consultant for treatment centers, coach, andtrainer for the prevention of eating disorders in youthand adults.

Randall Pollard is a fitness instructor at the Exhale Spa.He has danced professionally with Dance Now! Miami. Tyrell Rolle is currently living in Las Vegas and teaching

dance full-time. He founded the Rolle Project, a non-profit dance company and arts programmingorganization. He worked for three years with CirqueDu Soleil. He was in the Las Vegas cast of “The LionKing,” and has performed with numerous dancecompanies including Deeply Rooted in Chicago, andMiami Contemporary Dance, Dance NOW! Miami andBrazz Dance in Miami. www.tyrellrolle.com.

Leo Javier Alvarez danced with Rutaruo Ballet andSouthern Ballet Theater, as well as for the DisneyCompany in Tokyo and Orlando. He has toured withseveral Broadway shows, including Damn Yankees,Man of La Mancha, Beauty and the Beast andStarlight Express among many regional andinternational theater credits.

Robert Battle is the ArtisticDirector of Alvin Ailey AmericanDance Theater. He is agraduate of the New WorldSchool of the Arts and holds aBFA in dance from The JuilliardSchool. He was a member ofthe Parsons Dance Companyfrom 1994 to 2001, where he began setting his work in1998. He founded Battleworks Dance Company in2001.

Heather Fryxell was a Principal Dancer with theOrlando Ballet for several years, and then dancedwith Ballet West. She is now on the principal facultyat Ballet West Academy, where they recentlyadopted her Adaptive Movement Mentor program.This program will reach over 100 students of specialabilities in the Salt Lake and neighboring regions inthe coming year.

Erika Johnson is afreelance dancer,actor and teacher inMiami. She teachesballet to thecompetitive iceskating team atKendall Ice Arena,andworks as a HealthyHumor "Red Nose Doc"(previously a divisionof Big Apple Circus).She was married this

year to David Solomon, the head carpenter at Miami-Dade County Auditorium, who is on the TAYBNutcracker crew every year.

Sally Ann Kennedy was a founding Companymember of Miami City Ballet, and rose to the rank ofPrincipal Dancer during her career with thatCompany. She then performed with Cirque duSoleil, Maximum Dance Company and BalletGamonet. She is currently a Ballet Mistress withMiami Youth Ballet, and is married with one son.

Jessica Shults-Figueroa was amember of the MiamiCity Ballet for 10seasons. After leavingthe company shedanced with MiamiContemporary DanceCompany in both afull time capacity andthen later as a guestartist from 2007- 2015.In 2007 Jessica joinedthe faculty at TAYB where she has continues to teachtoday. She is married, and has 3 lovely children.

Dierdre Carberry is a professor at the University ofCincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music DanceDivision. She enjoyed a long, spectacular career as aPrincipal Dancer with American Ballet Theater,appearing on television and stages worldwide withMikhail Baryshnikov. She has since been in demand asa teacher, and adjudicator of dance competitions.

Ivonne Labrada-Leichtlingdanced professionally with TheDance Theatre of Harlem andholds a BA from the University ofMiami. Following her dancecareer, she became a publicrelations executive specializing inthe entertainment, hospitality andrestaurant industry. Currently, she ismarried and a full time mother oftwo daughters.

Kristen Doddo was a part of the TAYB family from theage of six until the age of eighteen. She graduatedfrom Harvard University in 2003, and the University ofMiami Miller School of Medicine in 2007. She iscurrently an Internal Medicine/Hospitalist Physician atBaptist Hospital

Lara Murphy graduated fromNWSA High School, and holds a BAfrom New York University and anMA from the University of Miami.She is currently a professor andchoreographer at NWSA. She hasperformed with severalprofessional companies, mostrecently with Maximum DanceCompany and Miami

Contemporary Dance Company. She is the Co-Artistic Director of TAYB’s annual production of “TheNutcracker.” Her work was presented at the 2015Dance USA national conference in Miami.

Our sincere appreciation is extended to the TAYB

2016-17 Honor Roll of Donors(Reflects Donations received between January, 2016 & September, 2017)

*Indicates Donor is an Alumnus, Staff or Board Member of TAYB

$1,000,000+The Children's Trust of Miami-Dade County

$50,000+The AEM Family Foundation

The State of Florida, Culture Builds FloridaSami Mnaymneh and Hala Elhabashi Mnaymneh

$10,000+Himan Brown Foundationvia Coral Gables FoundationKathleen Kennedy Fund

of the Ethel & W. George Kennedy Family FoundationThe National Endowment for the Arts

Charles Seitz, James Deering Danielson Foundation

The Symphonettes

$5,000+Stephanie* & Norman AltmanAlberto Arias & Wood Kinnard

KiKi BochiCatarineau & Givens, P.A.Citizens Interested in Arts

Dennis Edwards* & Mark SteinbergArlene Kahn

Al & Priscilla KlomparensMiami-Dade County Auditorium

$2,500+Ann & Robert Altman

Dance PlusPolestar Pilates

Ruth Wiesen* and Michael Lozoff

$1,000+Stephanie Ansin

Ballet Boutique, Gaby MartinezBrian Beasley* & Oliver Von Gundlach*

Marcus BuckinghamMichael, Sui & Nami Chung-Vastine

Deltana Enterprises, Inc.Gerard Ebitz in memory of Robert Pike

Johanna EscobarRuss & Ruth Ewing in honor of Jereline Ewing

The Grippando FamilyGulliver Schools

The Leichtling FamilyMarvin & Isabel Leibowitz

Little Star FoundationAlexandria Love*

A gift made in honor of Ralph Lutrin & Alfred Allan LewisMica Pirie

Phillip & Masha Maddux*Marcel Mejia* & FamilyThe Miami Foundation

The Mosquera-Canto FamilyRenee Rich & Daryl Edwards

Lisa Sloat* & Hank KleinKeith & Renata Ward Fund at the Miami Foundation

Laura K. WrightMary Lynn Young*

$500+Ava and SofiTaylor Barker*

Margery BergerJill Berman

Christopher Brandon & Russell CorbettCharitable Fund at the Miami Foundation

The Burgos FamilyJacqueline Calderin*Seth & Liebe Gadinsky

Family Fund at the Miami FoundationClaudia KitchensAlfred Allan Lewis

Miroslav Mladenovic, M2E Consulting EngineeringCourtney MonahanMargaret RolandoKathleen Wiesen

Bruce Wilson*Alexa Wolman

Stephen Yaeger & Adolfo Sotil

$100,000+William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust

Miami-Dade County Dept. of Cultural Affairs

Up to $500Susan Agn

Jessica Alexandrein honor of Marcelle Dujour

Nina AllenRichard Altman

Mariana Alvarez-Brake*Lizette Alvarez & Don Van Natta

Luisa ArtzeDenise Altman

Dale Andree & Kyle SaxonPaola Arce

Estrella ArnoldMariely Badia

Carole Ann BardiaMaria BarthelmessMeredith Barton

Marie Christine BattierBerton & Elizabeth Beach

Yvonne BeckhamEstrella Berlanga*

Nancy BenitezJill Berman

Virginia BertotRamon & Sara Betancourt

Cynthia BirdsillNatalie Blacher

Blaire Boiko-MolinaJohn Brake

Jeanette BratcherThomas BrocklandJohn & Suzel Broe

Ellery BrownStar Bruto

Madeline BrutusBelaxis Buil

Mary Lisa BurnsMaria Burt

Linda CaffreyKareen & Fernando Camargo

Maria CamposanoRicky & Rebecca Cannan

Sandra CardenasRachel Carroll*

Darlene CarruthersAmy Casey

Marisela CastroLourdes Casuso

Ina Charles*Rose Charles

Camilo & Malvina ChineaErin Clancy

Sharon ClarksonAngelique Clauouie

Sara ClevelandMiriam Conejo

Karen Costello & Rosemary WilderJackie CrabillBridget DaddYette Danger

Tetyana DashkinMaria Decardenas

Adele De Los SantosLissette Del RiscoAngelica Diaz*

Kim Kolisch-VinasRadha Kotamraju

Jeffrey & Lisse Kravetz*Chloe Lamas

Krisan LambertiChandra Lane

Yolene LaplanteCarolyn Leavitt

Rony Lenis*Maite Leon*

Linda Levin in honor of the TAYB staffMelissa LesniakDaniel Lewis* &

Maureen O’RourkeMaxine Long

Jose Lopez & Laura WilcoxAli Lozoff

Rachel LozoffMary Luft

Andrea Mantell-SeidelTarell Alvin McCraney*Kathleen Mclaughlin

Olga MilitanoDebby Miller in honor of Addyson Fonte

Doreen MillerLindsey Miller

Elena Miranda & Albert SotolongoSylvano MirendiAlma Miyares

Annette MoleroDiana Moll

Raul MontalvoNorma Montenegro

Lara Murphy*Adele MyersAriel NaranjoCrystal Nelson

Jennifer NewtonShea Nicole

Alison O’KeefeDouglas OrthSylvia PadronCrystal Peattie

Caolina Pelleya-WhiteGalia Pennekamp

Jose Luis Perein honor of Dennis Edwards

Griselle Aguilera PerezRenellys Perez

in honor of Viviane DanoQuashone Perry*Cristina PertierraKaren PetersonMaura PetersonJosue Polanco

Kamal PremaratneChevon Rairy*

Franciso & Elizabeth RamosMelissa Reimars

Sharyn Richards*Eric & Ada Richey

Lynn RobersonIn memory of Randolph Parrott

2016-17 Honor Roll of Donors Continued

Evgueni DokoukineLynn DreesonJulie Erikson

Maria EstorinoSung Eum & Enkyung LeeEver After Bridal Boutique

Carmen FanegoCecilia Fanjul

Cato & Abbey Felanin memory of Gustavo Martinez

Sarah FelixJose FernandezMaristela Ferrari

Stephanie FerrariSteven Fields

Lillian Sols-Silva FigueroaCaren Flanagan

Patrick & Gabriele FiorentinoAddyson Fonte-Mermell &

Emily Mermell*Michael Foster

Yvette Pita FramptonMarcia & Jeff Frantz

Digna Fuentes*Stephanie Fuentes*Justa Frias-Zawacki

Emanuelle GagliaraySaskia GallianoKenia Garcia

Nicolas & Camila Gil*Iris Sachs GinsburgRachel Ginsburg*

Maria Elena GobettoAryln Gomez

Juan GonzalezOrlando GonzalezVivian Gonzalez

Cynthia GrayTracy Guzman

Eric Hankin & Richard MilsteinGary & Michele Hebert in memory of

Patsy WrightFrancois Henriquez

Andres & Marialina HernandezRichard & Judith Hertan

Rosa HildagoMarlon & Carla Hill

Alexia HirschtrittLois Hoffman

Nicole HommenRobert Stahr Hosmon

Gerald HoulihanMarina Illinskaya*

Nan ImbesiRachael Izquierdo

Wilson & Kate JarramiloHae Kyung Joo

Sylvia & David JosephCarol Kaminsky

Barbara KaufmanGary & Linda KellerRobin Klomparens

Nataly RobertKelly Robotham*

Mary Margaret RoenPeggy Roig

E. Christopher Rudd*Luis Ruggiero

Lyann SabatesCarmen Salgado

Diego Salteriniin honor of Dance NOW! Miami

Dayme Sanchez*Gema SantanaYazdan Sarab

Jordana SchneiderSheila Schwartz

Lisa SedelnikSylvan & Sandra Seidenman

Smita Sen*Aida ShaferRobin ShearRegla SibilaSarah Siegel

Janis Signorelli*Barbara Singer

Jodi SklarKarla Soimaud

Maria Sosa in honor of Cristina SanchezPatt Soto

Lina Stepick*David Stewart

Rosario Suarez*Carol Suchlicki

Stephanie SylvestreAlina TapanesCynthia Thiry

Colleen ThomasArnie Thomasson

Yara Travieso*Claudia TrejosGreta Trotman

Carol TrowbridgeMichael Tsiros

Luis UlmanChris VastineDiana VegaSteven Walsh

James & Susanne WiesenPatricia Wiesen & Juan Martinez

Alexis WongDebbie & Melissa Wong

Tzewan WongJanet & Rob Wright

Natalie Wright*Aleece Yim

David & Ana ZackEd Zaharewicz

Karen Zur

The Thomas Armour Youth Ballet, Inc. - Dance as a Vehicle to Success Program is funded in part by TheChildren's Trust. The Children’s Trust is a dedicated source of revenue established by voter referendumto improve the lives of children and families in Miami-Dade County.