
AARON
TOLSON
TAP
TAP
A native of Manchester, New Hampshire, Aaron Tolson continues to make his mark by championing the movement of the art form of Tap in several arenas. Mr. Tolson is a national spokesperson for dance wear company SoDanca, a consultant and writer for Dance Spirit Magazine, a Professor of Dance at Plymouth State University and the Boston Conservatory, as well as the assistant choreographer, co-creator and assistant producer of the acclaimed stage production Imagine Tap! Aaron started dancing at the age of ten in Lawrence, Massachusetts. Four years into his dance career he was performing in the Great Tap Reunion at the Apollo Theatre. He attended St. John's University obtaining a Bachelor of Science degree in Communications all the while honing his tap technique in Manhattan. His senior year of college landed him in the New York Shakespeare Festival tap program, also known as Funk U! Soon Aaron became a company member of Manhattan Tap and worked with the show Tap Dogs. Jumping feet first into choreography, he landed a job with Absolut with a tour called Absolut Tap! In 2005, Aaron completed a six-year run with Riverdance, the internationally acclaimed show with performances on Broadway and Radio City Music Hall where he was a featured soloist and dance captain. Since then, Aaron has performed and taught at numerous tap festivals, in addition to performing with Brookline Chorus’ Duke Ellington Sacred Concert, The Late Late Show with Liam O’Conner in Ireland and on Globo TV representing the Brazil International Tap Festival. Most recently, Aaron was featured on Dance.com and has choreographed, produced and directed Something to Tap About and Tapped and Tapped In - featuring New England Tap Ensemble. Aaron formed New England Tap Ensemble in May of 2007 to promote the art of tap in the community while fostering a sense of individuality in a professional artist.
BALLET/CONTEMPORARY
Adam Jones was born and raised in western Massachusetts where he began studying and competing in all styles of dance at the age of 7. Upon graduating from high school he went on to study Classical Ballet and Modern performance at the Purchase College Conservatory of Dance in NY. It was here that he was able to train and work with
established choreographers such as tony award winner Bill T. Jones and two-time Bessie winner Doug Varone. He also had the privilege to be under the direct mentorship of former American Ballet Theater principal Ted Kivitt. During his collegiate years, he spent his summers dancing at Busch Gardens Europe in Virginia, where he was a featured dancer and dance captain in 4 of their shows in addition to being a featured soloist with NYC based contemporary company BEings Dance under the direction of Emily Bufferd. After college he was signed by Stiletto Entertainment in Los Angeles and had the opportunity to travel to over 75 countries on various Holland America Line cruise ships as a featured dancer and dance captain. Following a move to Los Angeles, he signed with Jim Keith and the Movement Talent Agency. While in LA, he premiered and a been a featured dancer in new works from Carey Ysais, Paulette Azizian, and Kristen Shapiro. In addition he has danced back up for musical artists Taylor Swift and Aaron Carter while also being featured in numerous Buzzfeed online skits as an actor. He currently is the Company Director at Let’s Dance in Mauldin And Fountain Inn, South Carolina.
BALLROOM
CONTEMPORARY/BALLET/ JAZZ/MUSICAL THEATER
Amelia Lowe is most famously known for her time on So You Think You Can Dance Season 9 as a member of their top 20. In addition to this she made it into the top 12, allowing her the opportunity to perform across the country with the So You Think You Can Dance tour. Since her time on the show, Amelia has appeared as a principal dancer in episodes of Boardwalk Empire and Marvelous Mrs. Maisel. She's also been featured in multiple commercials including a nationwide commercial for Wendy's, Target, the New York Stock Exchange, General Electric and American Express. Amelia got the chance to be a featured dancer at the premiere for The Great Gatsby. She has performed for emerging choreographer, Lindsay Nelko at the Capezio Ace Awards and Warren Carlysle at the Fred and Adele Astaire Awards. She is currently living in New York and dancing for fellow So You Think You Can Dance alum, Ellenore Scott in Ellenore's up and coming company, ELSCO.
MUSICAL THEATER/JAZZ/TAP
BALLET/CONTEMPORARY
MUSICAL THEATER/JAZZ
Billy Griffin is a New York City based artist who received his BFA from New York University/Tisch School Of The Arts. Billy's performing credits include the Broadway/1st National Tour productions of Mary Poppins, Young Frankenstein, and White Christmas, as well as Jeff Amsden's A Few Good Men Dancin’, The Electric Company on PBS, and the video game 'Dance on Broadway' for Nintendo Wii. As a director/choreographer Billy has created work for Waldameer Park, The Miss America Organization, The National YoungArts Foundation, Fleet Week at South Street Seaport, The Neighborhood Playhouse and NYU. Associate/assistant credits include working with Andy Blankenbuehler on Only Gold, Joshua Bergasse on episodes of NBC’s SMASH, Marlo Hunter on My Life Is A Musical at Bay Street Theater/Duke on 42nd, and Al Blackstone on Broadway Backwards, BC Beat, the new musical Crazy In Love, and most recently Freddie Falls In Love at the Pershing Square Signature Center, and the Fire Island Dance Festival. Billy also travels the country setting choreography for many dance studios and serves as an adjudicator and master class teacher for various conventions and competitions.
CONTEMPORARY
Brandon Bryant was born in Miami, Fl and has loved dance since the age of seven. He was apart of a funky young hip hop group to help kids stay active and off the streets called The Hip Hop Kidz, being apart of “Aida- The Opera” and Soul Escape company were just some highlights, but the one that was a life changing experience was being on So You Think You Can Dance Season 5. Brandon was the runner up for Season 5 and went on a 40 city tour of the US with the top 12 dancers of the show. He is now in LA for his career and has already began by being cast in FOX's hit TV show Glee!
Brandon is not only performing but has choreographed and danced with the Swedish hit artist Agnes were they performed in Cologne, Germany for the opening ceremonies of the Olympics. He has been a host idol for LGBT events, appeared on The Ellen Degeneres Show, The Wendy Williams Show, Nickelodeon, and the stand out reality hit X-Factor, where he performed with Outasight. By the age of 23, he has gone into Production as the main choreographer for an independent film, EAST SIDE STORY. He danced in Las Vegas for the Britney Spears: Piece of Me residency.
HIP-HOP
Casie "Tynee" Goshow is a hip hop choreographer and break dancer, who has been teaching both hip hop and break dancing for the past 12 years around the country. She is originally from Harleysville, PA and went to college at Penn State University. At Penn State she became President of the hip hop dance club, R.A.M. Squad. While there, she trained extensively in popping, locking, and breakin’. Casie helped elevate the annual all-styles/b-boy battle at Penn State called, “Rhythm Spotlight.” She was, also, on staff for Penn State’s continuing education program as a hip hop dance educator and brought many well-known dancers in the industry to host workshops on campus for students to gain more knowledge into the commercial dance world. Since graduating with her Bachelor’s Degree, has lived in both New York City and Los Angeles to continue her training, work in the commercial dance industry and pursue her dreams. Casie has worked side by side with various artists and organizations such as Karmin, TT The Artist, Chris Porter, Chris Brown, Lil John, PSY, French Montana, Beats Headphones, the NBA, Adidas and was a Las Vegas Season 12 Street Finalist on So You Think You Can Dance? Currently she is touring around the country teaching kids of all ages at studios, conventions and competitions. Casie has worked for Excel In Motion, Joffrey Ballet's Summer of Hip Hop Intensive NYC/LA/Las Vegas, Shake the Ground, Alvin Ailey, Legacy Dance Championships, Turn It Up, Headliners Dance Championships, In The Groove, EQUINOX and more over the years. She has started her own mentorship program in NYC, where she now resides, and she personally mentors eight young dancers in street and commercial dance. Casie owns her own clothing line, Goshow Yourself, which was created in response to the bullying occurring around the country. She wanted a clothing line that inspired people of all ages and walks of life to have the courage and confidence to be themselves (www.goshowyourself.com).
BALLET
Charmaine Hunter began her formal dance training at the Hartford Ballet School. Charmaine moved to New York City to study with Arthur Mitchell, Artistic Director of the Dance Theatre of Harlem while continuing her formal education at the Professional Children's School. She rose through the ranks quickly eventually becoming principal dancer and one of the company's leading ballerinas. Among the highlights of Charmaine's career are command performances for European royalty and historic engagement at London's Royal Opera House. She also performed for luminaries such as Quincy Jones, Bill Cosby, Oprah Winfrey, Nelson Mandela, Cicely Tyson, President and Mrs. Clinton, President and Mrs. Bush, Mr. and Mrs. Colin Powell, just to name a few. Ms. Hunter eventually relocated to Las Vegas Nevada to work in Casting with the Cirque du Soleil. She was also invited to teach on the production of A New Day at the Coliseum in Caesars Palace, which featured Celine Dion. While in Vegas, she Co- founded the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance Theater with dancer Bernard Gaddis formerly of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. LVCDT is a multi-cultural institution that attracts professional dancers and students from around the world. Charmaine later accepted a full-time faculty position with Texas Ballet Theater. She directs the Professional Division and teaches in the Academy of Texas Ballet Theater in Fort Worth, Texas under the guidance and leadership of Ben Stevenson O.B.E. Artistic Director of Texas Ballet Theater and Director Emeritus of Houston Ballet.
CONTEMPORARY/TAP/JAZZ/HIP-HOP
Cristina McKeever is a desert native to the Coachella Valley, originally from Palm Springs, CA. Cristina graduated Summa Cum Laude from Chapman University in Orange, CA, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Dance Performance and a minor in Italian Studies. Upon the completion of her education, Cristina moved to Los Angeles and is currently signed with Go2Talent Agency. She has trained extensively in Tap, Jazz, Contemporary, Ballet, Modern, Hip Hop, Ballroom, and Irish Dance, mentored by industry professionals, Chloé and Maud Arnold, Parris and Rashida Khan-Mann, Will Johnston, Brandee Lara, Jennifer Backhaus, and Melinda Sullivan. Since moving to Los Angeles, Cristina has performed multiple times with Chloe Arnold's “Syncopated Ladies” as an official understudy for the company in performances including: L.A. Sparks @ The Staples Center, Maria Shriver’s “It’s Our Turn” Women’s Conference, Fox News, and most recently "Syncopated Ladies: Live!" in Oxnard and Escondido, CA. She has also worked with Chloé Arnold and Ava Bernstein as a Stand-In on CBS’s “The Late Late Show with James Corden” and NBC's "A Legendary Christmas". She also appeared as a soloist for Casa Romantica Cultural Center’s, “Celebrating Tap Dance Legends”, and recently performed in New York City for choreographer, Riley Roberts, in the 2018 Capezio A.C.E. Awards. She was also featured in J.ournal Poem’s music video, “9/12” choreographed by Victoria Pizzo, and in Steady Holiday’s newest music video, “Who’s Gonna Stop Us”, choreographed by Dana Wilson. Additionally, Cristina also choreographed, “The List”, the newest official music video for L.A. based and internationally touring band, Moonchild, which recently hit 1 million views on YouTube. Besides pursuing her performance and choreographic career, Cristina cares deeply about creating a formative and supportive educational environment for young dancers. She is on faculty in Los Angeles at The Gabriella Foundation's, "Everybody Dance" and has been an instructor at several studios in the Southern California region. Her passion for arts education has also allowed her to perform on behalf of Oasis Center International alongside Jason Rodgers, for their arts education program entitled, “Making Music”, bringing Tap Dance and live music to public schools.
HIP-HOP
Curtis "Trix" Pearson is a very talented performer/Dance Choreographer. His passion and love for dance goes a long way. Former Dance Member of Round 1, and goes by the name "Trix". He has 11 years of dance experience and 9 years of teaching experience. He's had the pleasure of teaching at the Boys & Girls Club of Burlington County, Gifted Students Camp at Princeton University, Musical Movents Dance Theater, Bucks County Technical High School, Artist in Motion, Arabesque Dance Studio and Modeling, Beyond Dance in Brooklyn and many other dance studios. One Of the Top Instructors At LA Fitness Instructing Hip Hop and Zumba Cardio Work Outs. He also appeared and performed on BET's 106 & Park with His Dance Group Round 1 many times. Very self-motivated to stay positive and continue to do what he loves with moving forward to bigger and better things. Also, a Las Vegas Contestant For The Television Show "So you think you can dance!! Currently a Cast Member of the Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando Florida performing in the shows and Parades Such as, Disney Channel Rocks, Star Wars Hyperspace Hoopla, Monsters University, and The Move it Shake it Celebrate it Street Party. Was Recently Placed in the Data Base for Upcoming Contracts With Disney Live And Cirque Du Soleil after a successful audition Process.
HIP- HOP
HIP-HOP
Jona Biddle, dance choreographer extraordinaire, originally from Atlantic City, NJ, made his mark in New York conquering his big city dreams with a dance formula for success. Jona entertained audiences from his hometown in NJ, to sold out stadiums in Virginia while studying at Virginia State University, and then relocated to New York City to pursue his entertainment career in the big apple. Jona's credits include, Usher National Tours, Beyonce's TARGET in-store, Willow Smith, Pop artist Danni Ai, VH1 reality show, "Love & Hip-Hop", Ahsan Watts, Mary J. Blige's & Def Jam/Matriarch Recording artist, Katlyn Nichol. Whether Jona Biddle is dancing, working with celebrity clientele, choreographing for his dance company, conducting regional Hip-Hop Workshops, & Master classes, or mentoring for Camp Mariah, J.B. is always looking to take his career, his dancers, and prodigies to another level.
BALLET/MUSICAL THEATER/JAZZ/CONTEMPORARY
CONTEMPORARY
Katee Shean trained early on in ballet, jazz, modern, hip-hop, and tap. She attended Chapman University where she participated in the dance department and graduated with a BA in Early Childcare Development. She first got her start in the industry with award shows and stage performances before going on to compete on Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance where she was the female winner. She has performed with many artists such as Miley Cyrus, Rihanna, Jenifer Lopez, Adam Lambert, Jordan Sparks, and was also the dance captain for Taylor Swift's World Tour. Katee's credits include the VMAs, Oscars, Teen Choice, Emmys, Grammys, American Music Awards, Country Music Awards, and more. Some of her and television and film credits include Glee, Drop Dead Diva, General Hospital, Nickelodeon, Ellen, Hannah Montana, Step Up 3-D, and Leading Ladies. Currently enjoys teaching master classes and choreograph for dancers. In addition to dance, Katee can also be seen acting on shows such as New Girl, Rosewood, and Shut Eye.
HIP-HOP
Keenan Cooks began dancing at the age of 14. In 2008, Keenan moved to New York City to pursue dance professionally and has danced with artist such as Big Sean, Jennifer Lopez, Nicki Minaj, Ne-Yo, Flo-Rida, Cardi B, Kendrick Lamar, Prince Royce, iHeartMemphis, Spencer Ludwig, and Hailee Steinfeld. You may have seen him dancing on Saturday Night Live, America’s Got Talent, Today Show, Good Morning America, MTV Music Video Awards, BET Awards, The Grammy’s, and Lip Sync Battles. As a choreographer Keenan has choreographed for Cardi B, Meek Mill, David Guetta, J Balvin, Bebe Rehxa and Yo Gotti. His choreography has been seen on The MTV Music Video Awards, The Bet Awards and, A Gap Commercial. He was also the on-site choreographer for an episode of NBC’s “Blindspot”. Keenan has taught internationally and is also on faculty at New York City’s top Studio Broadway Dance Center and is on guest faculty at Movement Lifestyle and Millennium Dance Complex in Los Angeles.
MUSICAL THEATER/JAZZ/BALLET
Kelly King was a Radio City Rockette for 12 years and has performed extensively for television, stage and film. She toured nationally with Fosse and Anything Goes and performed in Gregory Hines In Concert with Gregory Hines and Busker Alley with Tommy Tune. Other credits include Alvin Ailey NY, Sinatra "His World, His Way, His Voice," The Tonight Show, MTV Music Awards, NBC's WOW Awards at Lincoln Center, the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, The Today Show and with the Pussycat Dolls at Caesar's Palace in Las Vegas. As a teacher, Ms. King held the resident faculty choreographer position at the Broadway Theatre Project for 11 years at the University of South Florida directed under Ann Reinking. She is involved in The Performing Arts Project as head of the dance department at Wake Forrest University and as a guest teacher for Broadway Dance Center in NYC. She recently finished teaching at GENDARC Dance Summer Intensive, with over 50 apprentices, held at Alvin Ailey in NYC.
MUSICAL THEATER/JAZZ
CONTEMPORARY
HIP HOP
TAP
BALLET/MUSICAL THEATER/JAZZ/TAP/CONTEMPORARY
HIP-HOP/STREET JAZZ