LUCIANA REZENDEOwner and Artistic Director
Ballet Instructor |
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Instructors
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Luciana Rezende
Owner/Program Director and Ballet Instructor
A former professional ballet dancer, Luciana Rezende started taking ballet classes at the Lucia Toller Academy, Brasilia DF, Brazil. Later she studied under the tutelage of internationally respected teachers, as Sulamith Messerer, Elena Kunikova, Martin Putke, Eugenia Feodorova and Giselle Santoro. After finishing her degree at the University of Brasilia (Brazil), Ms. Rezende came to the US on a full scholarship granted by the Joffrey Ballet School (NY).
As a dancer, she has performed principal roles for several professional ballet companies in Brazil and in the US, including Ballet of Brasilia, Brazil; Garden State Ballet, NJ; Mid-Illinois Ballet, IL and Chicago Festival Ballet, IL.
Ms. Rezende has been teaching classical ballet for over twenty years in the Champaign-Urbana area, and guesting with dance schools in the Midwest. She has worked as a guest teacher for many dance schools in the state of Illinois, including the Faubourg Ballet Theatre (Chicago, IL) and Central Illinois Ballet (Peoria, IL). Ms. Rezende is in charge of the ballet program at the Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana.
Ms. Rezende has privately coached students to successfully medal at international ballet competitions.
As a ballet director, she has staged full-length ballets and conducted ballet classes for students age 2 to adult, levels beginner to professional.
Luciana Rezende is the Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Illinois.
As a dancer, she has performed principal roles for several professional ballet companies in Brazil and in the US, including Ballet of Brasilia, Brazil; Garden State Ballet, NJ; Mid-Illinois Ballet, IL and Chicago Festival Ballet, IL.
Ms. Rezende has been teaching classical ballet for over twenty years in the Champaign-Urbana area, and guesting with dance schools in the Midwest. She has worked as a guest teacher for many dance schools in the state of Illinois, including the Faubourg Ballet Theatre (Chicago, IL) and Central Illinois Ballet (Peoria, IL). Ms. Rezende is in charge of the ballet program at the Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana.
Ms. Rezende has privately coached students to successfully medal at international ballet competitions.
As a ballet director, she has staged full-length ballets and conducted ballet classes for students age 2 to adult, levels beginner to professional.
Luciana Rezende is the Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Illinois.
Tanya Picard
Tap Program Director
Tanya Picard is a master teacher and choreographer from the Chicago area. She began dancing at the age of five, and has studied at Gus Giordano Dance in Chicago; modern at the Martha Graham Dance Center in New York; tap with Bob Audy and Charles “Cookie” Cook in New York, as well as Lane Alexander and Chicago Human Rhythm Project in Chicago; and jazz with dance legend Luigi. She currently teaches workshops in Luigi Technique both locally and elsewhere in the U.S. Tanya did her graduate work in directing at the University of Minnesota and served as the Artistic Director of Pasticcio Dance Ensemble and Danza, both contemporary companies. While in Minneapolis, she also worked as a choreographer for the Renaissance Faires in Chicago and Boston, creating the original “Gypsy Dancers.” Her academic area is dance history, with a particular interest in early 20th century dance. She was delighted to discover Jennifer Sprowl’s classes in Isadora Duncan technique at the Joffrey Ballet, and has been studying with Jennifer ever since and is active in Duncan Dance Chicago. Beginning in 2011, Tanya has created unique pieces that fuse text, tap, modern, jazz dance, and music that have been presented at the Spurlock Museum at the University of Illinois. She is an active participant in Chicago Human Rhythm Project and studies and works with renowned tap dancer Jimmy Payne, Jr., who has created several pieces for Impulse Tap Ensemble. Her favorite quote is, “To dance, put your hand over your heart and listen to the sound of your soul.”
Alexis Miller
Ballet, Jazz and Private Coaching
Alexis Miller, a native of central Illinois, has been dancing since the age of 4. Her training includes the Joffrey Ballet School, Columbia College Chicago, and the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign where she received her BFA in Dance. There she trained in all styles of dance offered and worked with choreographers, such as Kendra Portier, Charlie Maybee, and Endalyn Taylor. She also trained with Giordano Dance Chicago, Broadway Dance Center, and the Radio City Rockettes. She earned her MA in Liberal Studies from Rutgers University, where she pursued creative writing and combining her passion for the arts and education. As a dance educator, she became a Teacher’s Assistant at UIUC, was the Assistant Choreographer to Rebecca Nettl-Fiol for Champaign Urbana Theatre Comapany’s production of “Annie” and has taught with Urbana Fine Arts Center, coaching students for YAGP in the classical, contemporary, and ensemble categories.
Tarasina Masi-Giulio Tonolo
Ballet and Private Coaching
Tarasina Masi- Giulio Tonolo is a native of Illinois and has spent the last ten years dancing as a principal ballerina in Europe with the Vanemuine Teater in Estonia. She has toured the US, Europe and China extensively, and has been invited as a guest ballerina to several companies and schools in the US and Italy. Her repertoire includes many classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle, Raymonda, Onegin, The Nutcracker and many others, as well as, several new works by choreographers Giorgio Madia, Petr Zuska, Michael Shannon, Par Isberg, Michelle Holmes-Bello, Dr. Ken Bello, Mai Murdmaa, Igor Barberic, Teet Kask, David Sonnenbluck, Silas Stubbs and others. Mrs. Giulio Tonolo’s teaching career began many years ago, having been a faculty member of the USA Ballet Academy in Bloomington before moving to Europe. She continued to share her knowledge with the students of the Vanemuine Ballet Academy in Estonia, and for the past few years as a ballet mistress/coach to her colleagues in the Vanemuine Teater company in Estonia. Mrs. Giulio Tonolo graduated from the USA Ballet Academy, Bloomington, and is a YAGP Gold medal recipient, as well as, a competitor/finalist in world renowned competitions, including South Africa IBC, World Ballet Competition, Moscow IBC and Varna. Besides performing, coaching and teaching, she is the proud mother of a two year old who’s already showing her talent and love for ballet.
Tarasina Masi- Giulio Tonolo is a native of Illinois and has spent the last ten years dancing as a principal ballerina in Europe with the Vanemuine Teater in Estonia. She has toured the US, Europe and China extensively, and has been invited as a guest ballerina to several companies and schools in the US and Italy. Her repertoire includes many classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle, Raymonda, Onegin, The Nutcracker and many others, as well as, several new works by choreographers Giorgio Madia, Petr Zuska, Michael Shannon, Par Isberg, Michelle Holmes-Bello, Dr. Ken Bello, Mai Murdmaa, Igor Barberic, Teet Kask, David Sonnenbluck, Silas Stubbs and others. Mrs. Giulio Tonolo’s teaching career began many years ago, having been a faculty member of the USA Ballet Academy in Bloomington before moving to Europe. She continued to share her knowledge with the students of the Vanemuine Ballet Academy in Estonia, and for the past few years as a ballet mistress/coach to her colleagues in the Vanemuine Teater company in Estonia. Mrs. Giulio Tonolo graduated from the USA Ballet Academy, Bloomington, and is a YAGP Gold medal recipient, as well as, a competitor/finalist in world renowned competitions, including South Africa IBC, World Ballet Competition, Moscow IBC and Varna. Besides performing, coaching and teaching, she is the proud mother of a two year old who’s already showing her talent and love for ballet.
Matteo Giulio Tonolo, Courtesy of USA Ballet
Ballet and Private Coaching
Matteo Giulio Tonolo was born in Moncalieri, Italy, and received his training at the Accademia Regionale Teatro Nuovo di Torino, Italy, where he studied under the tutelage of Maria Elena Fernandez, Marisa Milanese, Antonio Della Monica and others. Mr. Giulio Tonolo’s career began early when he was invited to join the Compagnia Teatro Nuovo di Torino, Italy, at just sixteen years old. He has worked with several US companies, including Ajkun Ballet, Albany Berkshire Ballet and USA Ballet, as well as continuing to be a guest artist in Europe. For the past ten years, Mr. Giulio Tonolo has worked at the Vanemuine Teater in Estonia, rising quickly through the ranks from corps de ballet to soloist, where he also began his teaching and coaching career. Mr. Giulio Tonolo’s extensive repertoire includes not only the classics such as Raymonda, Sleeping Beauty, Onegin, The Nutcracker etc., but he has had the honor of working closely with many world renowned choreographers including Giorgio Madia, Petr Zuska, Michael Shannon, Robert North, Jelena Pankova, Mai Murdmaa, Michelle Holmes-Bello, David Sonnenbluck, Igor Barberic, Cedric Lee Bradly Mare Tommingas, and many others. He has had several distinguished roles created on him. He has performed all over the world- touring throughout Europe, the US and China.
This past January, Mr. Giulio Tonolo has joined the faculty of the USA Ballet Academy, Bloomington.
This past January, Mr. Giulio Tonolo has joined the faculty of the USA Ballet Academy, Bloomington.
Corbin Philips
Adult Ballet, Contemporary and Private Coaching
Corbin Phillips is a dancer and choreographer based outside of Chicago Illinois. He received a BFA in Dance from the University of Iowa in 2020, with a focus on choreography. Growing up, he trained heavily in ballet and travelled to schools across the country including Ballet Chicago, Next Generation Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and the Dance Theater of Harlem. His choreographic work explores the contrast between his classical training and idiosyncratic movements, while aiming to create a fluidity between the two.
Jasmine O'Connor
Early Childhood Ballet and Private Coaching
Jasmine O’Connor began her dance training at Christine Rich Studio at the age of 2. She has been trained intensively in ballet, jazz, tap and hip hop by teachers with extensive knowledge and experience in the professional field of dance.
Through her 14 years of training she has developed a love for all dance styles as well as teaching.
She has been a finalist at the YAGP 2019, perfrorming in the Ensemble piece "Unafected When We Join" and she has choreographed contemporary pieces for the UFAC students.
She has previous involvement conducting and directing activities for children of all ages at the Urbana Fine Arts Center Summer Program as well as in various events held by different organizations in the Champaign-Urbana area. Lately she was in charge of the UFAC afternoon summer program, preparing and teaching Musical Theatre, Acting, and Viriety Theatre classes for children ages 6 to 12.
Jasmine O'Connor has been trained to work with pre-school old age children and she has been conducting the UFAC children's ballet classes for over 5 years.
Through her 14 years of training she has developed a love for all dance styles as well as teaching.
She has been a finalist at the YAGP 2019, perfrorming in the Ensemble piece "Unafected When We Join" and she has choreographed contemporary pieces for the UFAC students.
She has previous involvement conducting and directing activities for children of all ages at the Urbana Fine Arts Center Summer Program as well as in various events held by different organizations in the Champaign-Urbana area. Lately she was in charge of the UFAC afternoon summer program, preparing and teaching Musical Theatre, Acting, and Viriety Theatre classes for children ages 6 to 12.
Jasmine O'Connor has been trained to work with pre-school old age children and she has been conducting the UFAC children's ballet classes for over 5 years.
Katie Koprowski
Ballet
Katie Koprowski was born in Chicago into an artistic family. Her mother was a dancer/actor, and her father was a writer/producer. By the age of three, she began her formal dance training at the Ruth Page Center for the Arts. Under the tutelage of ballet masters Dolores Long, Birute Barodicaite, Patty Klekovic, and Victor Alexander, Katie learned Cecchetti/RAD/Vaganova ballet, character, and contemporary styles. Throughout high school in the Lincoln Park neighborhood of Chicago, she danced professionally with the Ruth Page Civic Ballet in their Nutcracker, Coppelia, Tarantella, and Midsummer’s Night’s Dream productions. Today, as a PhD student in Bioengineering at Illinois, Katie teaches/leads weekly advanced ballet classes & artistically directs/produces performances in theater venues across campus for Illinois Ballet Company--the newest professional-level college ballet troupe at the University of Illinois. At Urbana Fine Arts, she teaches floor barre and ballet silver.
Richard Smith
Ballet and Private Coaching
Mr. Smith began studying tap in his youth. He began his ballet training at age 18 under the careful tutelage of Rebekah Von Rathonyi at Cornerstone Academy for Performing Arts. Over the years he has danced roles in many of Ms. Von Rathonyi's ballets including Jonathan Harker in Dracula, Spanish, Russian, and Italian principle in The Nutcracker, and multiple principal roles in various pieces he performed with the school and the fledgling Central Illinois Ballet. During a two year hiatus he performed as a featured dancer and actor in many Community Theater productions in the Peoria area including Older Billy in Billy Elliot and Harry Beaton in Brigadoon. He recently returned to Central Illinois Ballet, now Downstate Illinois' only professional ballet company, where he has performed many more principal roles including Prince Ivan in Ms. Von Rathonyi's The Firebird, John Darling in Peter Pan, and in three original pieces made for collaborations with the Peoria Symphony Orchestra. Mr. Smith has also danced as a guest artist with ballet schools in Chicago and Upstate New York. He is very happy to be back at CIB and working with Ms. Luciana and her wonderful school! He dedicates this performance and all future performances to his mentor, Ms. Rebekah, and her mentor Mr. B!
Kelsey Drew
Children's Program Ballet and Musical Theatre
Kelsey Drew, born and raised in central Illinois, started her dance training at the age of 15 after a decade in competitive gymnastics. Under the tutelage of Ekaterine Bezirgani and Patricia Zimmerman she performed in ballet productions such as The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Don Quixote, as well as several Cunningham inspired showcases. In 2024 Kelsey graduated from Oklahoma City University, a program ranked amongst the top ten dance schools in the country, with her Bachelor's of Science in Dance Pedagogy. There she built her teaching philosophy around inclusion, safety, and the health of dancers by learning how to properly teach all ages and skill levels. As an upperclassman Kelsey performed in OCU's American Spirit Dance Company, choreographed for the schools contemporary Spirit of Grace company, and lectured in several undergraduate research days on the importance of ballet's history and it's cultural relevance. Her repertoire includes training in styles such as: ballet, jazz, tap, theatre, modern, contemporary, lyrical, and acrobatics.
Kyla Brown
Hip Hop
Kyla grew up dancing in Utah from a young age. She studied Dance Education at Brigham Young University. During that time, she was able to perform nationally and internationally, including South Africa, Zimbabwe, and Eastern Europe, in various companies. She also spent time teaching life skills through dance to children from leprosy colonies in southern India. Kyla ran a dance program at a girls' treatment center for two years before moving to Boston. She was able to perform with multiple companies as well as teach at studios in Boston and the surrounding area. Kyla and her husband and two kids now live in Champaign and is excited to join the team at Urbana Fine Arts Center!
Siena O'Connor
Musical Theatre, Children's Contemporary Dance and Private Coaching
Siena O'Connor (She/Her) was born and raised in Athens, Georgia. She began performing at a young age through both a community theater and an aerial dance studio. She began her formal dance training at age 13. Dancing with both Center City Ballet and Movement Arts as well as Dancefx Athens, she trained classically in ballet, jazz, modern, contemporary, and hip hop. In high school, she began teaching both jazz and contemporary, as well as private lessons. Siena has attended summer programs at the Joffrey Ballet School, Cincinnati Conservatory of Music, as well as The Performing Arts Project.
She is currently a student at the University of Illinois where she is pursuing a BMA in Lyric Theater as well as a Dance minor. She is thrilled to join the faculty at Urbana Fine Arts Center and hopes to inspire students with her love of learning and dance.
She is currently a student at the University of Illinois where she is pursuing a BMA in Lyric Theater as well as a Dance minor. She is thrilled to join the faculty at Urbana Fine Arts Center and hopes to inspire students with her love of learning and dance.
Victoria Bagby
Teacher in Training
Victoria Bagby has been dancing since her early childhood years. She has taught children’s classes ages 5-10 and has assisted in children’s classes ages 3-7 at the Urbana Fine Arts Center. Victoria has been participating in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), the world’s largest ballet scholarship competition since she was 11. She has placed the top 12 for her age category 3 times in both contemporary dance and classical ballet, and top 24 once. She was a YAGP finalist in the ensemble category in 2022. She has placed top 6 and top 3 at YAGP in the ensemble category. From her performances at the YAGP, she has also received a scholarship to attended Next Generation Ballet School summer intensive program in Tampa, FL and offered a spot at Orlando Ballet’s summer intensive program Orlando, FL.
Victoria is currently a member of the UFAC Youth Ensemble, and she is a senior at Central High School, aspiring for a professional dance career.
Victoria is currently a member of the UFAC Youth Ensemble, and she is a senior at Central High School, aspiring for a professional dance career.
Dance Program and Classes
The focus of our programs is the student. All classes, recitals and activities are aimed towards the technical and artistic development of each student. Professional artists are often invited to participate in our events, sharing their knowledge and talents to enhance our artistic productions and allow our students to have the experience they need to stay inspired and motivated.
Children's ProgramOur Children's Program was developed to provide classes where children get exposure to dance in a nurturing environment.
Although classes are structured, creativity is encouraged, while they improve their gross and fine motor skills. We offer classes for children age 2 and above. |
Pre Professional Ballet PogramOur Pre Professional Ballet Program is designed for students that desire more hours of practice, more performance opportunities, or want to engage themselves in international ballet competitions. Children over 10 years of age may enroll in this program, after taking a placement class.
This ballet program is based on the Vaganova Syllabus, which is the method taught at the Vaganova Academy of Russian Ballet, in St. Petersburg. This method is nowadays used worldwide by teachers and schools of ballet that commit to high quality ballet education and to the preparation of professional ballet dancers, teachers and choreographers. Since the pre professional ballet program's classes are focused on the technical and artistic development of our students, rehearsals for our performances are done in a separate time, free of charge. |
Adult ClassesOur Adult Dance Classes are open to beginners, dancers with some ballet experience and advanced level ballet dancers that seek to take classes after experiencing time off dance for any reason. Ballet technique is taught according to the general needs of the group and expectations vary on an individual basis.
Stretch, Floor Barre, Yoga Dance and Contemporary Dance are open to adult beginners. Tap and Jazz classes are also open to adults depending on previous dance experience. |
Workshops and Master Classes
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We offer workshops and master classes throughout the year, conducted by internationally renowned teachers.
Performance and Recitals
We have one recital per year, usually at the end of May.
All dance classes of our children's program and pre-professional program participate in the recital.
Student's participation is not mandatory.
Click here for recital images.
All dance classes of our children's program and pre-professional program participate in the recital.
Student's participation is not mandatory.
Click here for recital images.
We also provide other performance opportunities for students in the pre-professional program during the year, including scholarship competitions.
The UFAC YOUTH ENSEMBLE is a group of advanced ballet students, ages 13 to 21, with outstanding
achievements. This group represents our studio at outreach performances and
other events, such as international ballet competitions.
achievements. This group represents our studio at outreach performances and
other events, such as international ballet competitions.
Summer
Summer CampsFor children ages 6 to 12 we offer a summer intensive (camp) with full day and half day options. Our summer schedule is flexible to accommodate the needs of families that travel during the summer and prefer not to commit to a full summer enrollment.
Our surroundings have beautiful landscaped grounds where our students can enjoy the outside during morning snack, lunch and other outdoor activities. Indoor classes are stretch, ballet, multicultural dance, dance & art history for children, world art workshop, world music & songs and multicultural presentations. |
Summer IntensivesFor students ages 9 and older with in the pre-professional program we offer ballet summer intensives with internationally renowned teachers.
Ballet technique, pointe, variation and character dance are some of the classes included in the summer intensives. |
Evening ClassesWe enhance our summer by offering with jazz, tap and hip-hop, besides the regular evening classes that are part of our children´s program, pre-professional ballet program and adult dance program.
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Testimonials
“Educators in every sense of the word.
Nurturing, professional and high, yet realistic expectations for every child. We have been so happy with our first experience here!”
(Abby Crull)
Nurturing, professional and high, yet realistic expectations for every child. We have been so happy with our first experience here!”
(Abby Crull)
"I love the atmosphere of the studio! My daughter is shy, and all of her instructors have been great at easing her into ballet. Now, a few months later she loves ballet! Not to mention all of the great friends she’s met in her classes."
(Janna Bundy)
(Janna Bundy)
"They not only treat the little ones with care and respect but us old birds too! I feel so welcome and comfortable here. not only has UFAC been good to me but the ballet itself has started to correct areas of severe back/hip pain. I am very proud to be a student here."
(Candice Sarver)
(Candice Sarver)
"The studio has very high standards for their dancers so that they can grow and thrive, yet they are loving, genuine, compassionate, very diverse, and very accepting. Celebrating all body types and backgrounds is very important to me, and this dance studio gets it!"
(Elizabeth Sptiropoulos).
(Elizabeth Sptiropoulos).