Kyle Ayers
Summer Intensive 3
Contemporary/Modern and Choreography
July 14 to July 25
Contemporary/Modern and Choreography
July 14 to July 25
Kyle Ayers is a multi-disciplinary body-based artist originally hailing from Champaign, Illinois who holds an MFA in Dance from the University of Iowa and a BA in Theatre from Illinois State University. He is currently employed as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Millikin University in Decatur, Illinois, and was previously an Instructional Assistant Professor of Dance at Illinois State University. Prior to entering higher education, Kyle served as the Director of the Dance Arts Conservatory for the Champaign Park District, a public dance program that offers training in various genres and styles. As a driven pedagogue, he pays particular attention to healthy anatomical function and longevity of the dancing body. His work and research are primarily situated within classical ontemporary techniques. He is deeply invested in the principles of Limón Technique and has taught masterclasses around the country. He has been privileged to attend the Limón Teachers Workshop which allowed him space to explore the technique with master teachers Kurt Douglas and Kristen Foote through the Limón Foundation in New York City. He also offers instruction in Cunningham technique. Additionally, Kyle is certified to teach Giordano Jazz technique at the Intermediate level and endeavors to blend the vocabularies and stylings of classical and vernacular jazz with the Africanist aesthetics that lie at the heart of the Jazz movement tradition.
Kyle was selected as one of the inaugural Emerging Choreographers for NewDANCEfest in 2017, an intensive sponsored by Eisenhower Dance Detroit where he was invited to devise and stage his original choreographic work “Tremor” on the participants. Utilizing his background in theatre performance, Kyle's choreographic style often uses character work, idiosyncratic patterns, and exaggerated pedestrianisms to devise dances that combine abstract compositional structures with emotive movement vocabularies. In October 2023, he was invited to perform his original solo “Things I Wish I Knew” at the Champaign-Urbana Dance Festival. As a performer, he has had the opportunity to work with many choreographers across the country including Sara Semonis, Darby Wilde, Gregory Merriman, Jennifer Harge, Michael Richman, Tiffanee Arnold, Brian McGinnis, BAIRA MVMNT PHLOSPHY, Jim Moore, Greg Lagola, and Carol Abohatab.
Recently, Kyle has presented research and led workshops at the 8th Annual Somatic Dance Conference and Performance Festival in Geneva, NY and the 9th and 10th Annual Somatic Dance Conferences in Port Townsend, WA, all hosted by renowned pedagogue Bill Evans. In September 2022, he was invited to New Orleans for WGIcon, the official convention of Winter Guard International. There he gave a presentation titled “Feedback as a Tool for Empowerment and Motivation” which discussed practices of self-reflexivity in teaching and considerations for providing students with corrections and critique in ways that leave them feeling ready to succeed.
Kyle’s other interests include instruction and visual design for marching band. He has worked extensively as a color guard director and designer, coaching several rural teams in central Illinois to multiple winning titles. His choreography has been seen at Unity High School, Hoopeston Area High School, St. Joseph-Ogden High School, and Illinois State University. He has participated with Drum Corps International in the Open Class division in 2011, and most recently was a cast member with the Bluecoats Indoor winter guard in 2018, who performed in the WGI World Championship Finals in Dayton, Ohio.
Kyle was selected as one of the inaugural Emerging Choreographers for NewDANCEfest in 2017, an intensive sponsored by Eisenhower Dance Detroit where he was invited to devise and stage his original choreographic work “Tremor” on the participants. Utilizing his background in theatre performance, Kyle's choreographic style often uses character work, idiosyncratic patterns, and exaggerated pedestrianisms to devise dances that combine abstract compositional structures with emotive movement vocabularies. In October 2023, he was invited to perform his original solo “Things I Wish I Knew” at the Champaign-Urbana Dance Festival. As a performer, he has had the opportunity to work with many choreographers across the country including Sara Semonis, Darby Wilde, Gregory Merriman, Jennifer Harge, Michael Richman, Tiffanee Arnold, Brian McGinnis, BAIRA MVMNT PHLOSPHY, Jim Moore, Greg Lagola, and Carol Abohatab.
Recently, Kyle has presented research and led workshops at the 8th Annual Somatic Dance Conference and Performance Festival in Geneva, NY and the 9th and 10th Annual Somatic Dance Conferences in Port Townsend, WA, all hosted by renowned pedagogue Bill Evans. In September 2022, he was invited to New Orleans for WGIcon, the official convention of Winter Guard International. There he gave a presentation titled “Feedback as a Tool for Empowerment and Motivation” which discussed practices of self-reflexivity in teaching and considerations for providing students with corrections and critique in ways that leave them feeling ready to succeed.
Kyle’s other interests include instruction and visual design for marching band. He has worked extensively as a color guard director and designer, coaching several rural teams in central Illinois to multiple winning titles. His choreography has been seen at Unity High School, Hoopeston Area High School, St. Joseph-Ogden High School, and Illinois State University. He has participated with Drum Corps International in the Open Class division in 2011, and most recently was a cast member with the Bluecoats Indoor winter guard in 2018, who performed in the WGI World Championship Finals in Dayton, Ohio.
Eloy Barragan
Summer Intensive 3 Ballet, Pointe and Variation
June 2 to June 9
June 2 to June 9
Eloy Barragán is a globally recognized ballet instructor, choreographer, and filmmaker from México City. His expertise spans ballet technique at all levels, choreography, partnering, ballet pedagogy, pointe work, and screen dance. His innovative approach blends traditional ballet techniques with contemporary concepts, earning him numerous awards, including a Choreographer Fellowship from the National Endowment for the Arts, awards from the Boise Arts Council, a Lifetime Career Fellowship from the Idaho Commission on the Arts, and two Artist Project Grants from the Iowa Arts Council.
Barragán has had an extensive and distinguished career as a dancer and choreographer. He began dancing with Joffrey II and the Washington Ballet before becoming a soloist with Compañía Nacional de Danza in Mexico City. His career then led him to Europe, where he was a soloist with the Ballet Royal de Wallonie and Mainz Staatstheater. He returned to México to perform with Ballet de Monterrey and Compañía Nacional de Danza. He later became a soloist dancer, ballet master, and regisseur for Eugene Ballet and Ballet Idaho.
As a choreographer, Barragán’s works have been showcased at prestigious venues such as the Bolshoi Theatre, the Finnish National Opera, the Conservatoire de Paris, the American Dance Guild Festival, and the International Dance Festival in New York City. He was the only Mexican choreographer outside of México invited to participate in the Bicentennial of Méxican Independence and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution. He has been commissioned to create works for renowned companies, including the National Ballet of México, Richmond Ballet, Beijing Dance Academy, National Ballet of Puerto Rico, Utah Ballet, Ballet Real de Costa Rica, Dance Theater of Oregon, Ballet Theater of Spokane, and the American Dance Repertory Company.
Barragán is a dedicated educator who has taught Master Classes at prestigious institutions including the Beijing Dance Academy, the National Conservatory of Dance and Music in Paris, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, the José Limón Dance Company, the National Ballets of México, Panama, and Puerto Rico, the National School for Classical and Modern Dance in Mexico City, Southern Methodist University, and the University of California, Irvine. Additionally, he served as a guest ballet professor at the University of Utah’s Ballet and Modern Dance Departments, where he was a guest choreographer for Utah Ballet and earned a Screendance Certification from the university’s Graduate Screendance Program.
Expanding his artistic vision into film, Barragán has established himself as the founder and director of the International ScreenDance Festival, as well as the director of the Iowa Dance Festival. His films have been showcased at numerous prestigious international festivals throughout the United States, Stockholm, Cuba, and Mexico, further reinforcing his reputation as a global artist. As a board member and screen dance committee member of the American College Dance Association, he continues to champion innovation and collaboration within the dance community.
Barragán’s entrepreneurship led him to create the E-DANZA non-profit organization with a mission to foster inclusivity and expand access to opportunities for talented individuals across various artistic disciplines.
Through his work, Barragán remains deeply dedicated to passing on knowledge in dance, inspiring future generations of dancers and choreographers, and pushing the limits of movement across both stage and screen.
Barragán has had an extensive and distinguished career as a dancer and choreographer. He began dancing with Joffrey II and the Washington Ballet before becoming a soloist with Compañía Nacional de Danza in Mexico City. His career then led him to Europe, where he was a soloist with the Ballet Royal de Wallonie and Mainz Staatstheater. He returned to México to perform with Ballet de Monterrey and Compañía Nacional de Danza. He later became a soloist dancer, ballet master, and regisseur for Eugene Ballet and Ballet Idaho.
As a choreographer, Barragán’s works have been showcased at prestigious venues such as the Bolshoi Theatre, the Finnish National Opera, the Conservatoire de Paris, the American Dance Guild Festival, and the International Dance Festival in New York City. He was the only Mexican choreographer outside of México invited to participate in the Bicentennial of Méxican Independence and the Centennial of the Mexican Revolution. He has been commissioned to create works for renowned companies, including the National Ballet of México, Richmond Ballet, Beijing Dance Academy, National Ballet of Puerto Rico, Utah Ballet, Ballet Real de Costa Rica, Dance Theater of Oregon, Ballet Theater of Spokane, and the American Dance Repertory Company.
Barragán is a dedicated educator who has taught Master Classes at prestigious institutions including the Beijing Dance Academy, the National Conservatory of Dance and Music in Paris, Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Music & Art, the José Limón Dance Company, the National Ballets of México, Panama, and Puerto Rico, the National School for Classical and Modern Dance in Mexico City, Southern Methodist University, and the University of California, Irvine. Additionally, he served as a guest ballet professor at the University of Utah’s Ballet and Modern Dance Departments, where he was a guest choreographer for Utah Ballet and earned a Screendance Certification from the university’s Graduate Screendance Program.
Expanding his artistic vision into film, Barragán has established himself as the founder and director of the International ScreenDance Festival, as well as the director of the Iowa Dance Festival. His films have been showcased at numerous prestigious international festivals throughout the United States, Stockholm, Cuba, and Mexico, further reinforcing his reputation as a global artist. As a board member and screen dance committee member of the American College Dance Association, he continues to champion innovation and collaboration within the dance community.
Barragán’s entrepreneurship led him to create the E-DANZA non-profit organization with a mission to foster inclusivity and expand access to opportunities for talented individuals across various artistic disciplines.
Through his work, Barragán remains deeply dedicated to passing on knowledge in dance, inspiring future generations of dancers and choreographers, and pushing the limits of movement across both stage and screen.
Ralitza Iordanov
Summer Intensive 3 Ballet , Pointe, Variation and Conditioning
June 9 to June 13
June 9 to June 13
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.
Valery Lantratov
Summer Intensive 3
Ballet and Pointe
Thursday, June 19
Ballet and Pointe
Thursday, June 19
Valery Lantratov has had a distinguished career as a dancer in the companies of Vladimir Vasiliev, Maya Plitsetskaya and Ekaterina Maximova and international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. Most recently he has made international headlines for his role as Czar Nicholas II in a production of the new ballet Rasputin, with Farouk Ruzimatov of the Marinsky Theater (Kirov) and for successful international tours of Don Quixote and original choreography for the annual festival for the goddess Aphrodite in Cypruss.
A graduate of the Moscow Academic Choreographic College, Lantratov was selected as a first soloist with the Moscow Stanislavski Ballet. With the theater he danced principal roles in such ballets as Don Quixote, Copellia and Romeo and Juliet.
He has received accolades in the Russian and international press for his strong technique, personality and expressiveness.
In 1993, Lantratov began working for the Kremlin Ballet. This same year, he formed the Russian National Ballet Foundation. He has toured as a solo guest artist in such countries as Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and the United States. The Russian National Ballet Foundation has toured in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and the United States.
In 1997, Russian president Boris Yeltsin named Valery Lantratov “ People’s Artist of Russia,” the Russian Federation’s highest artistic honor.
Mr. Lantratov holds a teaching certificate Russia's renowned National Academy of Theatrical Arts- GITIS.* For three years, Mr. Lantratov served as a guest instructor at the Boston Ballet. With his Russian National Ballet Foundation, Lantratov is able to realize his goal of introducing new audiences throughout the world to some of the finest classical works of Russia. “No matter what might happen between the countries in the world, dance can deliver peace, compassion and art—eternal values.”
*GITIS' ballet department was founded in 1946 under A. Gorsky, R. Zakharov and Leonid Lavaovsky of the Bolshoi Ballet with equal state funding to the Bolshoi. It is the only institute in Russia to offer a diploma in choreography and direction for ballet theatre. Its distinguished ballet masters include Vladimir Vassiliev (director of the
Bolshoi, retired), Nadja Pavlova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired) and Katirina Maximova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired).
A graduate of the Moscow Academic Choreographic College, Lantratov was selected as a first soloist with the Moscow Stanislavski Ballet. With the theater he danced principal roles in such ballets as Don Quixote, Copellia and Romeo and Juliet.
He has received accolades in the Russian and international press for his strong technique, personality and expressiveness.
In 1993, Lantratov began working for the Kremlin Ballet. This same year, he formed the Russian National Ballet Foundation. He has toured as a solo guest artist in such countries as Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and the United States. The Russian National Ballet Foundation has toured in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and the United States.
In 1997, Russian president Boris Yeltsin named Valery Lantratov “ People’s Artist of Russia,” the Russian Federation’s highest artistic honor.
Mr. Lantratov holds a teaching certificate Russia's renowned National Academy of Theatrical Arts- GITIS.* For three years, Mr. Lantratov served as a guest instructor at the Boston Ballet. With his Russian National Ballet Foundation, Lantratov is able to realize his goal of introducing new audiences throughout the world to some of the finest classical works of Russia. “No matter what might happen between the countries in the world, dance can deliver peace, compassion and art—eternal values.”
*GITIS' ballet department was founded in 1946 under A. Gorsky, R. Zakharov and Leonid Lavaovsky of the Bolshoi Ballet with equal state funding to the Bolshoi. It is the only institute in Russia to offer a diploma in choreography and direction for ballet theatre. Its distinguished ballet masters include Vladimir Vassiliev (director of the
Bolshoi, retired), Nadja Pavlova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired) and Katirina Maximova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired).
Ashley Thopiah
Summer Intensives 2 and 3
July 7 to July 11
Ballet, Pointe and Variation
July 7 to July 11
Ballet, Pointe and Variation
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
Summer Intensive 2 and 3
All summer
Ballet, Contemporary and Choreography
All summer
Ballet, Contemporary and Choreography
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.
Richard Smith
Summer Intensive 2
All Summer
Character Dance and Ballet
All Summer
Character Dance and Ballet
Richard began his training at the age of 18 in Peoria, IL. While in Peoria, he was able to
perform soloist and principal roles during and after his training was completed. Such credits
include: the Prince from Cinderella, Prince Ivan from The Firebird, and a recording of the Sugar
Plum adagio from The Nutcracker. Richard spent time training at The Rock School under Bo and
Stephanie Spashoff among others.
Richard has performed as a guest artist in Chicago, New York, and Florida; and currently
is a freelance artist in Minneapolis, MN. He most recently was a member of Minnesota Dance
Theatre where he performed in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy and performed with
Continental Ballet Company in the spring of 2023.
In addition to his dancing, Richard is an accomplished teacher, having taught for UFAC
for the past 5 years. He currently teaches at North Ballet Academy in Otsego, MN and has been
coaching their full length production of The Sleeping Beauty.
perform soloist and principal roles during and after his training was completed. Such credits
include: the Prince from Cinderella, Prince Ivan from The Firebird, and a recording of the Sugar
Plum adagio from The Nutcracker. Richard spent time training at The Rock School under Bo and
Stephanie Spashoff among others.
Richard has performed as a guest artist in Chicago, New York, and Florida; and currently
is a freelance artist in Minneapolis, MN. He most recently was a member of Minnesota Dance
Theatre where he performed in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy and performed with
Continental Ballet Company in the spring of 2023.
In addition to his dancing, Richard is an accomplished teacher, having taught for UFAC
for the past 5 years. He currently teaches at North Ballet Academy in Otsego, MN and has been
coaching their full length production of The Sleeping Beauty.
Kelsey Drew
Summer Intensive 3
Pointe and Conditioning
All Summer
Pointe and Conditioning
All Summer
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.
Kelsey Plath
Summer Intensive 2 and 3
Choreography
June 12
Choreography
June 12
Kelsey Plath holds a BFA in Dance from The Ohio State University, where she studied under Guggenheim Award recipient Abby Zbikowski, and Crystal Michelle Perkins of the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Her training includes ballet, Cunningham, Graham, jazz, krump, and West African movement. In Fall 2023, she was selected to perform a restaging of José Limón's Missa Brevis under the direction of Artistic Director Dante Puleio. During her junior year at OSU, she was one of 10 students chosen to perform and choreograph pieces in Bahia, Brazil. Prior to college, she trained for 14 years at Twin Cities School of Dance (Bloomington, IL), including 4 years as a member of the Repertory Company and 11 years with the Ballet Company. At TCSD, she had the opportunity to perform numerous lead roles, such as Snow Queen, Paquita, and Lilac Fairy.
Anna Ginsburg -Sullivan
Summer Intensive 2
Conditioning
All Summer
Conditioning
All Summer
Anna Ginsburg-Sullivan started her training at the age of 10, at the Urbana Fine Arts Center. She has had the opportunity to take classes with internationally renowned teachers such as Watmora Casey and Valorie Lantratov. She has also had the honor of taking contemporary classes with the company members of Philadanco and Mark Morris Dance Group. Anna participated in the Youth American Grand Prix in 2021 and 2022 performing classical and contemporary choreographies.
Anna has a love for acting and performing. She started performing in plays in musicals when she was six. She has participated and starred in performances at Class Act Champaign, directed by Jackie Lowenstine. Recently, she was cast in plays at Urbana High School directed by Alyssa Pavlakis and Jennifer Heaton.
Anna also prides herself on her academic abilities. She has received a lettermen’s letter for academic achievements at Urbana High School. She is currently pursuing her degree in Ballet at the Marymount Manhattan College in New York, NY.
Anna has a love for acting and performing. She started performing in plays in musicals when she was six. She has participated and starred in performances at Class Act Champaign, directed by Jackie Lowenstine. Recently, she was cast in plays at Urbana High School directed by Alyssa Pavlakis and Jennifer Heaton.
Anna also prides herself on her academic abilities. She has received a lettermen’s letter for academic achievements at Urbana High School. She is currently pursuing her degree in Ballet at the Marymount Manhattan College in New York, NY.