Choreographers

(subject to change)

Angelita Rozier - Director

As a dancer of twenty years and a ten year dance educator, Ms. Angelita Rozier believes every child regardless of socio economic status, age, race or gender should be given a genuine Chance to Dance! A New Jersey native, Ms. Angel has trained with influential teachers at Philadanco, The University of the Arts, Adelphi University & many others who instilled passion, technique, and respect for the artistic process. Upon receiving her Bachelors of the Arts from Delaware State University in 2008 Ms. Angel followed her feet. She moved to Houston Texas anticipating making her mark in the budding Houston Dance community. Dedicated to providing young dancers with technique, dance history, healthy lifestyles and self -confidence Ms. Angel began teaching in Houston, The Woodlands, Pearland, Clearlake & Friendswood, however the opportunity to work with Dance Houston in 2009 made the largest career impact. Currently, Ms. Angel is sharing her passion with the students of HISD’s John E. Codwell Elementary Performing Arts Magnet School, providing her students with structured creative classes, while helping her students develop a love and appreciation for the arts. Her experiences in Houston have motivated her to concentrate on giving, A Chance to Dance, to the promising and talented youth in Houston’s lower socio economic areas. Approaching every opportunity remembering the words of the inspiring Judith Jamison, “Pray, Prepare, Perform”, Ms. Angel is confident helping students prepare for successful future, their performance in life will be memorable.

Ms. Angel is eager to welcome new and returning dancers this summer! With a welcoming, understanding and creative environment she is confident every dancer will complete his/her summer session more passionate and self-confident as a dancer. Ms. Angel teaches with words of Martha Graham on her heart, “Great dancers are not great because of their technique, they are great because of their passion. ”

Keisha Robinson - Hip Hop

Keisha Robinson is a graduate of Arizona State University where she earned a Bachelor’ s of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Choreography. While at ASU she was a member of the Dance Arizona Repertory Theatre (D.A.R.T) the resident dance company. Keisha’s passion lies in teaching youth and choreography. Her teaching clients include The Boys & Girls Clubs of Metro Phoenix, The City of Carson & City of Houston, Los Angeles & Compton Unified School Districts, Spring, Houston & Klein Independent Schools Districts, The Bara- Hambright School of the Arts, and Dance Houston. Keisha is currently artistic director of Spirit & Truth Dance Theatre which is based in Spring, Tx

Janette Rawls - Ballet

Janette Rawls began her dance training at Dance Moves in Minnesota. In 2009, she graduated from Belhaven University with a B. F. A. in dance. During her college years she also trained at American Ballet Theatre and the American Dance Festival. Upon graduation, she accepted a company position with Stӧrling Dance Theater where she performed in large productions such as Underground and The Little Match Girl. She also produced her own show, Seeing in the Minnesota Fringe Festival, choreographing on and performing with eight other dancers. Janette moved to Houston where she performed with FrenetiCore, Dance Houston, and Earthen Vessels: Sandra Organ Dance Company. In addition to performing, Janette teaches dance and Pilates at the collegiate level, magnet schools, studios, and summer intensives.

Zinnijah Guadalupe - Pan-African

Zinnijah Guadalupe is Kucheza Ngoma's 28 years young artistic director. She began dancing when she was 3. She learned traditional West African and West Indian Folk dance by attending dance classes for Muntu Dance Theater of Chicago, Sundance Theater, and West Indian Folk Dance Company and their rehearsals with her mother, Ruth. At a young age, she knew she wanted to have her own dance company and help people explore the world through dance. Zinnijah says, "If they can follow directions, then they can dance!"

Shawn Rawls - Hip Hop and Contemporary

Shawn Rawls grew up in Cleveland, Ohio studying martial arts and street dance from a young age. At sixteen he attended Cleveland School of the Arts and began dancing with the Y.A.R.D (Youth At Risk Dancing) and U.D.C (Urban Dance Collective). These youth company experiences provided training with Paul Taylor, Pilobolus, and Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. After graduating as a Visual Arts and Dance major in May 2003, he became a trainee for Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre. In 2004, he moved to Chicago where he preformed with various dance companies including Chicago Dance Crash, Tygo Ballets, K-Theory, and the Chicago Lyric Opera. In 2007, he moved back to Cleveland to train with Inlet Dance Theater. Later that year, he enrolled at Belhaven University and had the chance to study with David Keary of the New York City Ballet, Ravenna Tucker of the Royal Ballet, and Steve Rooks of the Martha Graham Company. In May 2010, Shawn graduated from Belhaven University with a B. F. A. in performance and choreography. He soon moved to Houston to work with Ad Deum, Sandra Organ Dance Company, and Son Kiss’d Hip Hop Contemporary. Shawn has recently toured with the Aluminum Show and Pilobolus. He currently works with Chinese Theatre Works, DOTA Dance Theatre, Pilobolus and various guest projects. Shawn is excited to work with Roxey Ballet and experience fusing ballet with other movement forms.

Jhon Stronks - Jazz & Modern

Currently the Director of the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center’s Pre-Professional Dance Company, The Houston Met Too, jhon r. stronks began his dance training with Sue Sampson- Dalena at the Dance Studio of Fresno, Studying Jazz with Sue as well as Ballet and Hip Hop. jhon continued his dance training and education at California State University, Fresno, and California State University, Long Beach. While at CSULB jhon worked as rehearsal assistant to Bernard Johnson and studied with Michele Simmons, Keith Johnson, Susan Smith, Della Davidson, Lane Sayles, and Andrew Milhan. Jhon also holds a teaching certificate from the Teacher Training Institute in Atlanta, Ga. Founded by Several Dancers Core, Dance Educators of Georgia, The Atlanta Ballet, and Moving in the Spirit.

Kevin Ferguson - Jazz

Kevin Ferguson is a native Houstonian. Mr. Ferguson has performed with David Parson's Dance Company, Radio City, Regis and Kelly, and the Metropolitan Opera at Lincoln Center. He has taught and choreographed domestically and internationally. Kevin is excited to be working with the youth of Houston.

Chelsea Conwright - Music Theatre

Chelsea Conwright is a native Houstonian who graduated as a dance major from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She now studies dance and choreography at the California Institute of the Arts where she has performed in numerous works as well as had numerous works of her own choreography produced. She is also a Texas Commission on the Arts Scholar and a National NAACP Act-So Gold Medalist.

Tina Sabuco - Arts Alive!

Tina Sabuco, Artistic Director and Foundress of ARTS ALIVE! Inc., holds a Master of Fine Arts in Creative Drama and Children’s Theatre from The University of Texas at Austin and a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre from Northern Michigan University. She began dancing at age three in her hometown of Escanaba, Michigan and has never stopped. 2012 marks her 37^th year of teaching. Tina founded ARTS ALIVE in 1994, blending her drama and dance backgrounds to offer an expressive arts program for students of all ages and abilities. Her students include babies and their parents, children of all ages, seniors with Alzheimer’s and dementia and special needs populations. Ms. Sabuco is impassioned about teacher education - - not only for teachers that have been in the field for some time, but also for teachers of the future. She combines unique teaching methodologies with her extensive teaching experience to provide workshops in arts education for classroom teachers.

Jerrica Mark - Chinese

Jerrica, Dance of Asian America Soloist, trained at Mitsi Dancing School, Houston Ballet Academy, and Houston Dance Theatre. She is currently a Dance Major at the University of Houston. She has performed major roles in Nutcracker, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Her beautiful performances have been well received in Dance Houston Festivals, Regional Dance Festival Southwest, East Meets West and Splendid China.