Kassi Abreu
Kassi Abreu was born in Miami Beach and grew up in Delray Beach, Florida. She began her early training with Southern Dance Theatre at 8 years old where she went on to join the Dancer’s Edge Company. Upon joining the Junior Company they went on to win first place overall their very first year of competing. While at SDT she was taught by Lori Hayward, Penni Greenly, Adri Hernandez-Mote, Gary Q. Lewis, Liz Gonzalez, Love Codella, Carlos DeBarros, Ann Polajenko, and Julie Bravata.
Nutcracker was probably Kassi’s favorite time of year. She performed at the Kravis Center with Miami City Ballet every winter for 7 years. By age 13, Kassi was accepted into Chautaugua Ballet Summer intensive. There she had the opportunity to increase her technique and the incredible chance to work with Patricia McBride, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, and Violette Verdi. From then on every summer to follow she studied at Miami City Ballet, Palm Beach Ballet Center, Florida Dance Festival, ABT-Detroit, Walnut Hill School, and Juilliard.
With better knowledge of what direction to pursue Kassi trained 7 days a week for 2 years under Magaly Suarez and Magda Aunion of Ft. Lauderdale Ballet Classique. In 2002, she graduated from Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and in the same year was awarded by the National Foundation for Advancement in the arts in ballet. Upon graduating from high school she was accepted into Orlando Ballet under the direction of Fernando Bujones. While at Orlando Ballet she danced as a trainee/apprentice and performed in Don Quiote, Giselle, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Ballet Brilliante, Firebird, Coppelia, and the premiere of Spartacus, choreographed by Fernando Bujones.
By 2004, Kassi expanded her career by guest appearing as Dew Drop Fairy and Spanish pas de deux in The Nutcracker with Royal Celebration Ballet. She performed as a guest with CineDance, a jazz company out of Orlando, and performed in the Orlando Fringe Festival. She also began teaching ballet, pre-pointe, jazz and contemporary.
Kassi came across Florida Dance Theatre, a small contemporary ballet/modern company located in Lakeland, Florida, in 2005. She was accepted and quickly became a principle dancer dancing in lead roles, such as Snow Queen, and Sugar plum fairy, and “Dorothy” in the Wiz. New works were created for her by both artistic and associate directors, Carol Erkes, and Ferdinand DeJesus. Being with FDT Kassi was able to perform at Miami Beach Festival as well as APAP (Association of Performing Arts Presenters) in NYC.
Kassi’s teaching experience expanded teaching at the Academy of Florida Dance Theatre, Barbara’s Centre for Dance and at The Boys and Girls Club/The Royal Theatre in St. Petersburg. Kassi continued working with companies in New York, such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, and Lines Ballet in California. Kassi was shown on Season 7 of the hit Fox show “So You Think You Can Dance” as a Vegas week finalist. Nowadays she has been on contract abroad as a dancer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines International. She will be a dancer on the Radiance of the Seas July 2011-2012. Most recently Kassi was awarded 1st prize from the National Society of Arts ad Letters, for a competition in choreography. Upon winning Kassi was invited by Jerry Openaker to perform with his company O Dance of West Palm Beach, Florida. She is happy to be back at Southern Dance Theatre choreographing a piece, “Let go”, for the graduating class of 2011. Merde! To all the dancers and teachers at SDT.
Jennifer Drabik Pierce
Former student of Southern Dance Theatre has been touring the Globe as a featured Dancer, Dance Captain, Aerialist, Headlining act, and Aerial Choreographer since completing her education at Dreyfoos School of The Arts and Southern Dance Theatre. Jennifer has performed for Art Gallery Openings, Royal Caribbean International, Fortune 500 companies and has entertained many celebrities such as John Travolta, Carmen Elecktra, and many more.
Three years ago after settling in Orlando, Florida Jennifer decided to open an aerial school with a vision of nurturing future performers in their endeavors and showing the everyday person that aerial arts is not just for athletes. Some of Jennifer’s students have gone on to perform for Cirque Du Soleil, theme parks with featured aerial acts, cruise ships, and corporate industrials. Most recently her students and her dedication to the art of performance have inspired her to form Orlando Aerial Arts performing company, Suspended Artistry. Jennifer sends all of her love to the instructors of Southern Dance Theatre, with their love, mentoring, and excellent instruction in dance they have made her life’s dreams possible!
Kyra Jean Green
Kyra Jean Green was born in France and raised in West Palm Beach, Florida. She obtained her BFA in dance from The Juilliard School in May of 2006. Upon leaving Juilliard she has danced with Cadence, Ballet Creole, CityDance Ensemble, Culture Shock ,Cas Public, and Destins Croisés. She has set choreography on Hubbard Street II, Eisenhower Dance Ensemble, Bosma Dance, Alexander W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts, and was commissioned by the Kennedy Center to present an evening of her choreography.
Ryan Redmond
Ryan was raised in West Palm Beach Florida where he began dancing at the age of 11 at Klein Dance in Lake Worth, Florida. Starting with hip hop and tap, Ryan ventured further into the dance world when he started formal ballet and modern training at the Bak Middle School of the Arts. Once he gained interest in classical dance training, he fell into the wonderful hands of Southern Dance Theatre where he danced from 2002 to 2008. Ryan went on to attend Dreyfoos HighSchool of the Arts in West Palm Beach. During this time, he spent summers at Orlando Ballet School, Miami City Ballet, Point Park University Summer Dance, and Perry Mansfield Performing Arts Camp in Steamboat Springs, Colorado.
Upon graduating from Dreyfoos and Southern Dance Theatre, Ryan moved to New York City to continue his dance education at The Juilliard School where he is currently in his fourth year of training. Aside from his dance training, Ryan also enjoys teaching dance and choreographing.
Mileyka Mateo
Mileyka graduated from Alexander W. Dreyfoos Jr. High School for the Performing Arts in West Palm Beach, Florida. Training: Southern Dance Theatre, School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet. Credits: “Premios lo Nuestro,” “Premios Juventud.” Dancer for reggaeton artists Wisin y Yandel, Ivy Queen and bachata sensations Aventura. She was a dancer for Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines in 2007. In 2008 Mileyka made her Broadway Debut in West Side Story playing the role of Bebecita. In 2011 Mileyka joined the ballet/contemporary company of Ballet Hispanico of New York. In the fall of 2011, she will make her debut in Radio City’s Chrismas Spectacular as a featured dancer in New York City !!! Mileyka has appeared as a dancer on Dancing With The Stars, The Regis and Kelly Show, The Late show with David Letterman, Good Morning America, The Early Show and The Tony Awards.
Laura Gill
Laura Gill earned a BFA in Modern Dance at Texas Christian University in May 2011. She received her early ballet training from Julie Bravata, Anne Polajenko, and Tracy Mozingo at Southern Dance Theatre and was a member of the Dancer’s Edge Company directed by Penni Greenly. Laura had the opportunity to dance in Miami City Ballet’s Nutcracker (Soldier and Candy Cane) and performed on cruise ships and at Walt Disney World in Orlando. Laura attended Alexander W. Dreyfoos High School of the Performing Arts as a dance major where she received extensive training in modern, ballet, and jazz.
Since beginning her career at TCU, she has attended summer dance programs at Ad Deum and was selected for the pre-professional summer program at Ballet Magnificat. Laura has studied with TCU faculty and has taken master classes with Stafford Berry, Ben Stevenson, and Robert Battle. She has recently been featured in contemporary works by Mica Trojacek, Suki John, Susan Douglas Roberts, and Kanji Sewaga. Laura was a soloist in Soaring, a classical modern dance work by Doris Humphrey. She plans to perform with a contemporary dance company now that she has graduated.
Shanna Woods
Ms. Woods is a native of Delray Beach, Florida where she began her training as a singer and dancer at the Ballet Conservatory. Her dance studies continued under Ms. Penni Greenly, Ms. Julie Bravata (former ABT principal dancer),and with Ms. Kim Dobies at Southern Dance Theatre on a full scholarship. Further training came at Dreyfoos School of the Arts under Mr. Jeff Satinoff and Ms. Gina Buntz. She later became a member of the Southern Dance Senior Company, and continued to grow in dance under the mentorship of Andre Punn, Gina Buntz, Gary Abbott, and Kevin Iega Jeff. Through the CPRD company she has the pleasure of working with Donald McKayle, Ray Mercer, Roger Jeffery, Nathan Trice, Sidra Bell, Kahurangi Moari Dance Group of New Zealand etc. She can also be spotted in Suave ads in magazines.
Love conquers ALL!