LUCIANA REZENDEOwner and Program Director
Ballet Instructor |
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Meet the Dance Instructors
Urbana Fine Arts Center 2020
TANYA PICARAD
Intermediate & Advanced Tap |
CHLOE NAGLE
Contemporary Dance |
JADE O'CONNOR
Ballet, Jazz adn Contemporary Dance |
MEGAN DAVIS
Stretch & Tap |
JASMINE O'CONNOR
Children's Ballet & Hip Hop |
SHAILI McNEELY
Children's Ballet & Summer Camp |
ASHLEY THOPIAH
Ballet |
JAYLEN CLAY
Ballet and Jazz |
CAROLINE THIES
Children's Ballet Teacher in Training |
Luciana Rezende
Owner/Program Director and Ballet Instructor
A former professional ballet dancer, Luciana Rezende studied under the tutelage of internationally respected teachers, as Sulamith Messerer, Elena Kunikova, Martin Putke, Giselle Santoro and Eugenia Feudorova. 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 ballet companies in Brazil and in the US.
Ms. Rezende has been teaching classical ballet for over twenty years in the Champaign-Urbana area, and guesting with dance schools in the Midwest. As a ballet director, she has staged full-length ballets and conducted ballet classes for students age 2 to adult, levels beginner to professional.
Ms. Rezende has privately coached students to successfully medal at international ballet competitions.
Luciana Rezende also directs the ballet program for the Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana and is as guest teacher for the Faubourg Ballet Theatre (Chicago, IL) and Central Illinois Ballet (Peoria, IL).
As a dancer, she has performed principal roles for several ballet companies in Brazil and in the US.
Ms. Rezende has been teaching classical ballet for over twenty years in the Champaign-Urbana area, and guesting with dance schools in the Midwest. As a ballet director, she has staged full-length ballets and conducted ballet classes for students age 2 to adult, levels beginner to professional.
Ms. Rezende has privately coached students to successfully medal at international ballet competitions.
Luciana Rezende also directs the ballet program for the Montessori School of Champaign-Urbana and is as guest teacher for the Faubourg Ballet Theatre (Chicago, IL) and Central Illinois Ballet (Peoria, IL).
Tanya Picard
Intermediate and Advanced Tap
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.”
Chloe Nagel
Contemporary Dance and Yoga Dance
Chloe Nagle is a teacher, choreographer, and performer. She received her MFA in Dance at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign in 2018 and a BFA with Honors in Performance and Choreography from the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee in 2015. Nagle has performed her choreography at the Krannert Center for Performing Arts, Danceworks Milwaukee, Milwaukee Summer Series, and BATES Dance Festival Young Choreographer's Showcase. She has performed with Wildspace Dance Company as a performance intern and has worked with choreographers in academic contexts including Charli Brissey, Sara Hook, Deb Loewen, Rebecca Stenn, Keely Garfield, Luc Vanier, Elise Frost, and Ping Chong. She is currently working toward a 200 hour Yoga Teacher certification at Amara Yoga and Arts.
Jade O'Connor
Ballet, Jazz, Children's Tap, Hip Hop and Musical Theatre
Jade O'Connor has been dancing for 16 years. She began training with Luciana Rezende and Christine Rich at the Christine Rich Dance Studio. Jade has training in ballet, jazz, acrobatics as well as 8 years of tap. Through this she also developed a love for choreographing.
A piece she choreographed was featured in the Dance Chicago Festival twice in 2016. She has also choreographed several pieces for the Youth America Grand Prix competition.
Jade has won 4 national medals in competitions with NAACP ACT-SO and most recently won the gold and silver medals respectively in Ballet and Contemporary Dance at the 2019 Afro-Academic Cultural Technological Sci. Olympics.
She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance as a first year student at the University of Illinois with a focus on modern technique. She hopes to continue to teach after a professional career in dancing and choreographing.
Jade O'Connor is currently teaching ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre, as well as privately coaching advanced level students for internationals scholarship competitions.
A piece she choreographed was featured in the Dance Chicago Festival twice in 2016. She has also choreographed several pieces for the Youth America Grand Prix competition.
Jade has won 4 national medals in competitions with NAACP ACT-SO and most recently won the gold and silver medals respectively in Ballet and Contemporary Dance at the 2019 Afro-Academic Cultural Technological Sci. Olympics.
She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance as a first year student at the University of Illinois with a focus on modern technique. She hopes to continue to teach after a professional career in dancing and choreographing.
Jade O'Connor is currently teaching ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre, as well as privately coaching advanced level students for internationals scholarship competitions.
Megan Davis
Stretch and Advanced Tap
Megan Davis started dancing in Austin, TX studying with Tri-Tone (under Tasha Lawson) and Tapestry Dance Company (under Acia Gray). In 2013, she moved to Chicago to pursue her dance and STEM career, earning a M.S. in pure mathematics in 2017. While studying, she was privileged to perform with MADD Rhythms (under Bril Barrett), Tapman Productions (under Tristan Bruns), and Stone Soup Rhythms (under director Lane Alexander and artist in residence Daniel Borak). Most recently, she performed in “Rhythm ISS… Returns!”, “MADD Rhythms: A Journey of the Dance Through Music”, and at various events for Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World Tap and Percussive Arts Festival. She debuted her choreography through Audible Odyssey’s artist in resonance program in “Persist: Tap Dance Made by Women”. In 2017 she was one of 25 dancers chosen to participate in the Jacob’s Pillow summer tap program directed by Michelle Dorrance and Dormeshia Sumbry-Edwards. Her choreography has been presented at Navy Pier through the Chicago Human Rhythm Project’s Rhythm World Tap and Percussive Arts Festival and MADD Rhythms Chicago Tap Summit.
Jasmine O'Connor
Children's Ballet and Hip Hop
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 previous involvement conducting 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.
Through her 14 years of training she has developed a love for all dance styles as well as teaching.
She has previous involvement conducting 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.
Shaili McNeely
Children's Ballet
Shaili McNeely has been dancing for 14 years. She began training at Christine Rich Studio at the age of 3. She has been trained in ballet, jazz and acrobatics. Through her year of training, she has competed in many dance competitions. She has also attended numerous master classes. Through Shaili’s dance experience, she has developed a love for teaching dance and sharing her knowledge with others. She has previous experience in assisting and coaching children of all ages at the Urbana Fine Arts Center from the Summer Program.
Shaili is currently starting her senior year at Centennial High School and plans to further her studies in the field of veterinary medicine.
Shaili is currently starting her senior year at Centennial High School and plans to further her studies in the field of veterinary medicine.
Ashley Thopiah
Ballet
Ashley Thopiah began her dance training at the Christine rich Studio Dance Academy and continued on to earn her BFA in Dance Performance from Butler University. She has experience in classical ballets and contemporary works including corps roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Cinderella, and George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. She has also been selected to perform principle roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and La Bayadère. She has competed in The Youth American Grand Prix, performed at Dance Chicago, and has spent her summers training at Bolshoi Ballet Academy, State Street Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. As a choreographer, Ashley has set work on students at Butler University, which has been performed both nationally and internationally. Ashley’s choreography blends both modern and Bharatanatyam, a form of classical Indian dance, to express two distinct but intertwined aspects of her identity. Ashley is currently a professional dancer with the Oakland Ballet Company.
Jaylen Clay
Ballet and Jazz
Native of Atlanta, GA, Jaylen De’ Angelo Clay dances and also makes dance, theatre, and performance art. An award-winning fellow and creative artist, he has been invested in engaging diverse communities abroad and in the U.S. Clay enjoys collaborating with various interdisciplinary artists of color. His directing, performing, and teaching speak to the expanse of black contemporary art; utilizing techniques drawn from the African diaspora, disability and queer culture, post-modern, and conceptual social forms. Clay is a newly recipient of the Mary Jane Neer and Live Mas Scholarship, which are prestigious awards given for excellence in academic achievement and leadership.
Clay is a graduate of Alabama State University and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He trains in ballet, modern, jazz, ballroom, hip hop, West African, heels, step, and tap dance. In college, he performed works by Robert Battle, Gary Jeter, Michael Medcalf, Dinita and Kyle Clark, Endalyn Taylor, DeShona Pepper Robertson, and Sidra Bell.
Clay is a graduate of Alabama State University and received a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. He trains in ballet, modern, jazz, ballroom, hip hop, West African, heels, step, and tap dance. In college, he performed works by Robert Battle, Gary Jeter, Michael Medcalf, Dinita and Kyle Clark, Endalyn Taylor, DeShona Pepper Robertson, and Sidra Bell.
Caroline Thies
Children's Ballet Teacher in Training
Caroline Thies has been dancing at Urbana Fine Arts Center for 3 years and finds the art of dance and her time at the studio to be a life-giving experience. She is grateful for the opportunity to share this love with students. In her spare time, she enjoys hiking, crafting, and spending time with her family. She will begin her senior year at Urbana High School in the fall and then plans to study child and developmental psychology at a four-year university.”
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.
Tai Chi, 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 during the first weekend of June.
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.
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. DUE TO COVID-19 SUMMER CAMPS WILL NOT BE OFFERED THIS SUMMER
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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 Server)
(Candice Server)