LUCIANA REZENDEOwner and Artistic Director
Ballet Instructor |
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Instructors
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Guest Instructors
Ashley Thopiah
Professional Dancer with Oakland Ballet CA and Choreographer
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Corbin Phillips
Professional Dancer with Ballet Quad Cities, Director of C-U Dance Festival and Choreographer
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Taylor King Crocker,
Dance Educator - ABT certified and Choreographer
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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), Plainfield Dance Academy Plainfield, IL) and Central Illinois Ballet (Peoria, IL).
Ms. Rezende has privately coached students to successfully medal at international ballet competitions and accepted at Summer Intensives at Internationally renewed ballet schools as Bolshoi Summer Intensive (NY), Paris Opera (France). She has also coached students who now are pre-professional students and professional dancers at national schools and/or companies such as Colorado Ballet Academy (CO), Ballet Hispanico (NY) and international schools such as Ecole Superieure de Ballet du Quebec. Her students have received full scholarships to dance departments of universities such as Butler University (IN) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL).
Ms. Rezende is in charge of the ballet program at the Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana.
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), Plainfield Dance Academy Plainfield, IL) and Central Illinois Ballet (Peoria, IL).
Ms. Rezende has privately coached students to successfully medal at international ballet competitions and accepted at Summer Intensives at Internationally renewed ballet schools as Bolshoi Summer Intensive (NY), Paris Opera (France). She has also coached students who now are pre-professional students and professional dancers at national schools and/or companies such as Colorado Ballet Academy (CO), Ballet Hispanico (NY) and international schools such as Ecole Superieure de Ballet du Quebec. Her students have received full scholarships to dance departments of universities such as Butler University (IN) and University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign (IL).
Ms. Rezende is in charge of the ballet program at the Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana.
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.
Ralitza Iordanova
Ballet, Pointe and Private Coaching
Ms. Ralitza Iordanova – Rali, is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher, with training in Vaganova, RAD, and Cecchetti ballet techniques. Rali studied ballet and contemporary theatre in Sofia, Bulgaria, at the Vaganova ballet school “Krassimira Koldamova,” under the instruction and directorship of prima ballerina Academician Krassimira Koldamova. Rali furthered her dance education in Auckland, New Zealand; there she trained with “L’Academie de Dance,” under the RAD ballet system and “Black Grace” – a NZ contemporary dance company. Rali’s early career as a performer and a young choreographer includes ballet and contemporary productions, dance tours, TV productions, musical theatre, movies, and music videos.
Rali received her teacher training and certification at American Ballet Theater in New York, USA, through the “ABT National Training Curriculum” program, under the instruction of Raymond Lukens and Franco De Vita. Her career in the performing arts continued as a teacher, choreographer and performance producer at Faubourg Theatre in Chicago, USA. As an instructor and choreographer, Rali trained and coached dance students and future dance professionals for international ballet competitions, including YAGP, Prix De Lausanne, WBAC, WBC, and IDO Championships. As a performance producer, she directed theatre staging, casting, choreography, lights and sound design.
Rali’s focus is on developing young dance artists with impeccable technique, musicality, mental agility, and love of life and creativity.
Rali received her teacher training and certification at American Ballet Theater in New York, USA, through the “ABT National Training Curriculum” program, under the instruction of Raymond Lukens and Franco De Vita. Her career in the performing arts continued as a teacher, choreographer and performance producer at Faubourg Theatre in Chicago, USA. As an instructor and choreographer, Rali trained and coached dance students and future dance professionals for international ballet competitions, including YAGP, Prix De Lausanne, WBAC, WBC, and IDO Championships. As a performance producer, she directed theatre staging, casting, choreography, lights and sound design.
Rali’s focus is on developing young dance artists with impeccable technique, musicality, mental agility, and love of life and creativity.
Alexis Miller
Ballet 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.
Elana Tiberi
Tap
Elana began dancing at the age of 2 at Dancation in Old Bridge, New Jersey, where she trained extensively in commercial styles including ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and musical theater. She went on to earn her BFA in Dance from Temple University in Philadelphia, where she expanded her training to include modern dance techniques such as Graham, Cunningham, and Limón. During her time at Temple, Elana studied under renowned artists including Kun-Yang Lin (KYLD), Megan Bridge (Fidget), and Dr. Kariamu Welsh, founder of the Umfundalai Pan-African dance technique.
Elana has performed professionally throughout Philadelphia and New York City, with highlights including a featured role as the Evil Queen in the original dance production Bedtime Stories, as well as serving as a backup dancer for a Miss Gay America contestant.
In addition to her dance career, Elana holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and specializes in pediatric care, with a focus on musculoskeletal conditions and neurodevelopmental dysfunction. She is passionate about integrating her knowledge of the human body into her teaching, encouraging safe, expressive movement for dancers of all levels.
Elana is thrilled to be joining the Urbana Fine Arts family and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of performers!
Elana has performed professionally throughout Philadelphia and New York City, with highlights including a featured role as the Evil Queen in the original dance production Bedtime Stories, as well as serving as a backup dancer for a Miss Gay America contestant.
In addition to her dance career, Elana holds a Doctorate of Physical Therapy and specializes in pediatric care, with a focus on musculoskeletal conditions and neurodevelopmental dysfunction. She is passionate about integrating her knowledge of the human body into her teaching, encouraging safe, expressive movement for dancers of all levels.
Elana is thrilled to be joining the Urbana Fine Arts family and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of performers!
Jasmine O'Connor
Early Childhood Ballet, Contemporary 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 and Floor Barre
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.
Wendy Marck
Musical Theatre and Tap
Wendy Marck performed the role of Johanna on the Broadway National Tour of Sweeney Todd, appeared as a featured dancer with Music by the Lake in Wisconsin, and held numerous roles with Ohio Light Opera. She also performed for Stiletto Entertainment aboard Holland America Cruise Line and will take the stage this year for CU Dancing with the Stars. In addition to her performance credits, Wendy taught dance at Illinois Wesleyan University for three years and has worked with dancers of all ages through the YMCA and her own dance programs. She believes in positive reinforcement and strives to build up her students, fostering both technical growth and a lifelong love of dance.
Lillian Rice
Early Childhood Ballet/Children's Program Ballet and Adult Ballet
Lillian Rice is a. She has been training in Classical Ballet since the age of 5, at Champaign Ballet Academy and Champaign Urbana Ballet. As a company member, she performed numerous significant roles in various ballet productions. She is a graduate of the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign, where she majored in Art Education.
Lilian is a dancer with Dance Theatre of Illinois and an Art Teacher. She is a former Dance Instructor for the Champaign Park District’s Dance Arts Conservatory and began teaching at the Urbana Fine Arts center this Fall.
Lilian is a dancer with Dance Theatre of Illinois and an Art Teacher. She is a former Dance Instructor for the Champaign Park District’s Dance Arts Conservatory and began teaching at the Urbana Fine Arts center this Fall.
Taea Guseman
Hip Hop
Taea Gunseman has been studying dance for the last 15 years. her training includes a wide variety of styles including hip hop, jazz, ballet, lyrical, and contemporary.
While training she was also a competitive dancer in these styles as well for eleven years.
Taea Gunseman is also an incoming student at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. She will be majoring in Biology.
While training she was also a competitive dancer in these styles as well for eleven years.
Taea Gunseman is also an incoming student at the University of Illinois at Urbana- Champaign. She will be majoring in Biology.
Linnea Wolski
Children's Ballet
Linnea Wolski is from Scottsdale, Arizona. She has been dancing and competing for many years now. She trained in the Pre-Professional Program at Master Ballet Academy for eight years working her way up to a top level. She also trained and Joffrey Ballet Academy and Phoenix Ballet. She was accepted for summer intensive programs at the Vaganova Ballet Academy, Studio 5:8, as well as Master Ballet Academy and Joffre Ballet Academy.
Her training includes contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap, character, ballroom, and floor barre.
She achieved very high scores at the Youth America Gran Prix (YAGP), competing with classical and contemporary pieces.
She has experience teaching Ballet for young students at Master Ballet Academy, AZ
She loves dance thoroughly and she feels that teaching is an amazing way to continue her passion while in school.
Her training includes contemporary, lyrical, jazz, tap, character, ballroom, and floor barre.
She achieved very high scores at the Youth America Gran Prix (YAGP), competing with classical and contemporary pieces.
She has experience teaching Ballet for young students at Master Ballet Academy, AZ
She loves dance thoroughly and she feels that teaching is an amazing way to continue her passion while in school.
Gest Instructors
Ashley Thopiah
Ashley Thopiah (they/she/he) holds a BFA in Dance Performance from Butler University. Their dance training began at the Christine Rich Dance Academy and was further honed through summer programs at State Street Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. At Butler, Ashley took on various roles including corps, soloist, and principal in productions such as Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, La Bayadere, Cinderella, and George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. As a choreographer, Ashley has created two significant works for Butler University’s dance department: Jyoti and Ekta. These pieces intertwine modern dance with Bharatanatyam, a classical Indian dance form, reflecting the dual aspects of their identity. In the summer of 2018, Ekta was performed at the National Opera House in Warsaw, Poland, and traveled to Prague, Krakow, Poznan, and Bratislava. Since joining Oakland Ballet in 2019, Ashley has made notable contributions, including creating the role of Coffee in Graham Lustig’s The Nutcracker and performing in works such as Caili Quan’s Layer Upon Layer, Alyah Baker’s 4 Parts Jazz, Graham Lustig’s Dialogues, and Seyong Kim’s Duet from Exquisite Corpse. They are also a contributing choreographer for OBC’s Angel Island Project, collaborating with distinguished artists Natasha Adorlee, Ye Feng, Elaine Kudo, Phil Chan, and Lawrence Chen.
Corbin Phillips
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.
Taylor King Crocker
Taylor King Crocker, a native of Chapel Hill, North Carolina, is a dance artist with a background in contemporary, jazz, rhythmic tap, and ballet. She has a BFA from East Carolina University, an MFA from The University of North Carolina at Greensboro, and she is certified by ABT’s National Training Curriculum. As an educator, Taylor has taught and choreographed at the University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Northfield Mount Hermon School, Laurence School, and Colgate University. Her work has been selected to perform at festivals and shows in New York City, Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and Pennsylvania. Her dance film Friday the Thirteenth was selected for London’s Lift-Off Film Festival. She is currently a lecturer in the dance department at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign.
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).