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Faculty
Terrill Mitchell
Terrill Mitchell is a professional dancer, teacher, and choreographer who relocated to Houston, TX after receiving his B.A. in Dance from Point Park University’s Conservatory of the Performing Arts. He was a seven-year company member with the Houston Metropolitan Dance Company (Met Dance) and has served as a faculty member for both the professional company and pre-professional company. He has worked with companies such as Attack Theatre, Pittsburgh Opera, West Virginia Public Theatre, Playhouse Dance Company as well as performed in several industrial performances. Since joining the Houston MET he has performed works from choreographers such as: Caleb Mitchell, Jason Parsons, Spencer Gavin Hering, Jess Hendricks, Joe Celej, jhon r stronks, Kiesha Lalama, Peter Chu, Salim Gauwloos, Jason McDole, Kiki Lucas, Kate Skarpetowska, Lauren Edson and Larry Keigwin. He has performed at venues such as The Dance Gallery Festival, Bayou City Arts Festival, Artopia, Texas Contemporary Dance Festival and the APAP Conference. He has also had the pleasure of performing in the Boston Dance Festival and Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out Dance Festival in Massachusetts. Additionally, Terrill was chosen as one of Houston’s 100 creatives in 2014.
Terrill is a YPAD and CPR certified dance educator and choreographer. He has set works on MET dance, Wanderlust Dance Project, St. Johns School, Contemporary Ballet Dallas and has also traveled the coasts for competitive studios, dance teams and youth companies. He served as a choreographer for the educational outreach program for MET dance and has worked training other pre-professional dancers in Houston. Additionally, has had the opportunity to choreograph for the world-famous Kilgore Rangerette Dance Team, consult and work with the Texas Tech Pom Squad, Sam Houston State University Dance Team, the West Virginia University Dance Team and TJC Apache Belles.
He is the former Company Director for the nationally ranked competitive company at Elite Dance Academy in League City, TX for nine seasons and led them to many regional and national wins. Lastly, Terrill travels the U.S. as a faculty member with Dupree Dance Convention and is represented by GO 2 TALENT AGENCY.
Terrill is a YPAD and CPR certified dance educator and choreographer. He has set works on MET dance, Wanderlust Dance Project, St. Johns School, Contemporary Ballet Dallas and has also traveled the coasts for competitive studios, dance teams and youth companies. He served as a choreographer for the educational outreach program for MET dance and has worked training other pre-professional dancers in Houston. Additionally, has had the opportunity to choreograph for the world-famous Kilgore Rangerette Dance Team, consult and work with the Texas Tech Pom Squad, Sam Houston State University Dance Team, the West Virginia University Dance Team and TJC Apache Belles.
He is the former Company Director for the nationally ranked competitive company at Elite Dance Academy in League City, TX for nine seasons and led them to many regional and national wins. Lastly, Terrill travels the U.S. as a faculty member with Dupree Dance Convention and is represented by GO 2 TALENT AGENCY.
Meghan Way Stinson
Meghan Way Stinson grew up training in St. Louis, MO. She recently relocated to Phoenix, AZ after living in Los Angeles working as a professional dancer, international master teacher, and choreographer.
Credits include:
Industrials: (Mary Kay, Wrigleys, GE, Redken, Party Slate, Cisco and Tarbell Realty).
Live Stage & Commercials: TEDx, Carvel Ice Cream, John Robert Powers, Lopez Tonight, Disneyland’s “Snow White”, Professional Dancers Society Awards, Nokia Theater-Los Angeles, Dance Spirit Magazine, LA Fashion Week, AIDS Benefit with Jamie Lee Curtis, Carnival, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Miller Outdoor Theater, and Harrah’s.
She is a former member of Gregg Russell’s, “Tapsounds Underground” and Joelle Martinec’s, “SoleVita Dance Company”. And, she is a current member of the Dallas Dance Company, “Rhythmic Souls Tap Company”, in addition to directing their youth ensemble.
Meghan has been blessed with the opportunity to perform and teach master classes all over the world in Canada, Singapore, Costa Rica, England, Switzerland, Germany, Guatemala, and she has educated all across the United States. She also worked multiple times with the non-profit arts organization, Genesis:Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Her work has been seen on television in Guatemala for a nationally broadcast industrial for Gallo Beer, and the seasonal show, Navidad Fantastica.
Meghan additionally had the chance to tour China and work with choreographer JoAnn Jansen for the 2010 World Expo based in Shanghai. Shortly afterward, she assisted JoJo Diggs in Tokyo, Japan, training J-POP stars. She has also assisted Liz Imperio, Tyce Diorio, Doug Caldwell, Gregg Russell, and Mandy Moore, among others.
Meghan has been on faculty for the EDGE in Hollywood, LA Dance Force, Little Rock Tap Fest, Syncopate, Tap Into the Network, and also taught & adjudicated for DMA, Hall of Fame Dance Challenge, Showstoppers, Idyllwild School of Music and Arts, Starlight, VIP Dance, and Dance Olympus. Meghan is super excited to continue her journey with Dupree this season!
Credits include:
Industrials: (Mary Kay, Wrigleys, GE, Redken, Party Slate, Cisco and Tarbell Realty).
Live Stage & Commercials: TEDx, Carvel Ice Cream, John Robert Powers, Lopez Tonight, Disneyland’s “Snow White”, Professional Dancers Society Awards, Nokia Theater-Los Angeles, Dance Spirit Magazine, LA Fashion Week, AIDS Benefit with Jamie Lee Curtis, Carnival, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, Miller Outdoor Theater, and Harrah’s.
She is a former member of Gregg Russell’s, “Tapsounds Underground” and Joelle Martinec’s, “SoleVita Dance Company”. And, she is a current member of the Dallas Dance Company, “Rhythmic Souls Tap Company”, in addition to directing their youth ensemble.
Meghan has been blessed with the opportunity to perform and teach master classes all over the world in Canada, Singapore, Costa Rica, England, Switzerland, Germany, Guatemala, and she has educated all across the United States. She also worked multiple times with the non-profit arts organization, Genesis:Sarajevo in Bosnia-Herzegovina. Her work has been seen on television in Guatemala for a nationally broadcast industrial for Gallo Beer, and the seasonal show, Navidad Fantastica.
Meghan additionally had the chance to tour China and work with choreographer JoAnn Jansen for the 2010 World Expo based in Shanghai. Shortly afterward, she assisted JoJo Diggs in Tokyo, Japan, training J-POP stars. She has also assisted Liz Imperio, Tyce Diorio, Doug Caldwell, Gregg Russell, and Mandy Moore, among others.
Meghan has been on faculty for the EDGE in Hollywood, LA Dance Force, Little Rock Tap Fest, Syncopate, Tap Into the Network, and also taught & adjudicated for DMA, Hall of Fame Dance Challenge, Showstoppers, Idyllwild School of Music and Arts, Starlight, VIP Dance, and Dance Olympus. Meghan is super excited to continue her journey with Dupree this season!
Kavita Rao
Kavita Rao, Karmagraphy’sdirector/owner, produces distinctive contemporary dance styles. Internationally and regionally renowned for her choreography and teaching abilities, she conjures out of her world travels characteristics of eastern and western dance. Signed with one of LA's top dance agencies, MSA, Rao has been featured in numerous lives shows, music videos, films, commercials and television shows during her dance career. Choreographic Film/TV credits inlcude: “Got Talent Israel,” "Angie Tribeca" “Buddy System,” "David Tutera's Celebrations," "Dancing with the Stars,” “Tengo talento Mucho Talento” NBC's "I Feel Bad, Netflix's "Like Father". She is the choreographer for YouTube sensation Vidya Vox and has choreographed 4 of her most recent videos including “Tamil Born Killa,” “Diamonds,” “Minnale,” “Home,” and her 2017-2018 world tour “Kuthu Fire.” Other credits include: Loubioton and Sabyasachi’s ”Deep Sleep for Beauty” launch. Rao is also creative Director for Esther Anaya, and the DJ duo of Atmsphre
Rao is a current faculty member of The Studio School in LA and had the privilege of creating her own curriculum as being the first to teach her course – “World Cultural dance ” in her specialty of the Indian Arts. Her choreography can be seen all over the US in the dance competition circuit. Some master class credits include: Joffery Ballet, Millennium Dance Complex, International Dance Academy, Dance and Dialogue, Dance Connection, Harvard Westlake as well as public and private schools all over the US. She has judged many national Bollywood competitions, including Just Dance (India’s SYTYCD), Jhoomti Sham, Bollywood America and Nachale Deewane. She created artistic works in Guam, Israel, India, Mauritius, S. Africa, Los Angeles and across the US.
Along with teaching and choreographing, Kavita directs and owns the dance entertainment company Karmagraphy, a full service entertainment and production company based in Los Angeles and New York. As the Artistic Director of Karmagraphy clients include: IFFA (International Fashion Film Awards), International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), IFFLA (Indian Film Festival LA), Disney/Pixar, Dreamworks, Kaiser Permanente, Intuit, Gita Anjali Diamonds, GO Campaign, Pratham, INDUS, TIE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), South Asian Bar Association, Arpen Global Charities, and SDM Cancer Relief Fund, Chopra Foundation, Red Roof Inn, Morongo Casino and LA Fashion Week.
Rao is a current faculty member of The Studio School in LA and had the privilege of creating her own curriculum as being the first to teach her course – “World Cultural dance ” in her specialty of the Indian Arts. Her choreography can be seen all over the US in the dance competition circuit. Some master class credits include: Joffery Ballet, Millennium Dance Complex, International Dance Academy, Dance and Dialogue, Dance Connection, Harvard Westlake as well as public and private schools all over the US. She has judged many national Bollywood competitions, including Just Dance (India’s SYTYCD), Jhoomti Sham, Bollywood America and Nachale Deewane. She created artistic works in Guam, Israel, India, Mauritius, S. Africa, Los Angeles and across the US.
Along with teaching and choreographing, Kavita directs and owns the dance entertainment company Karmagraphy, a full service entertainment and production company based in Los Angeles and New York. As the Artistic Director of Karmagraphy clients include: IFFA (International Fashion Film Awards), International Indian Film Academy (IIFA), IFFLA (Indian Film Festival LA), Disney/Pixar, Dreamworks, Kaiser Permanente, Intuit, Gita Anjali Diamonds, GO Campaign, Pratham, INDUS, TIE (The Indus Entrepreneurs), South Asian Bar Association, Arpen Global Charities, and SDM Cancer Relief Fund, Chopra Foundation, Red Roof Inn, Morongo Casino and LA Fashion Week.
Erick Yanez
Erick Yanez started dancing at the age of sixteen. Self-taught in hip hop, he began taking dance classes at Burnet High School where he learned the principal elements of dance. From the moment he started, he fell in love with dance and entered into his 1st two dance competitions: he placed top ten overall in both of them and received performance/showmanship awards along with a scholarship to New York Dance Experience. This provided multiple opportunities as an instructor and a performer. He then booked his 1st teaching job at Studio 29. Erick has also performed as a dancer in numerous music videos, shows, and traveled to work with multiple artists like Sean Paul, K Camp, Tory Lanez & D Woods. He has also trained and taken classes from many world known choreographers like Matt Steffanina, WilldaBeast Adams, Parris Goebel and Nick DeMoura just to name few. After teaching choreography at multiple schools, camps, workshops and intensives, Erick is now an instructor at various studios throughout the Austin area and faculty member with Dupree Dance Convention and Power Dance Convention. Erick is also founder of Diversified Unity! He continues to spread his love for dance with others.
Melissa Miles
Melissa has been working in the LA commercial dance industry as a dancer and choreographer for many years now. A former Millennium Dance Complex and Debbie Reynolds instructor, She currently teaches an advanced jazz class at The EDGE in Hollywood. She was also invited to be the new international instructor at Broadway Dance Center Tokyo. Melissa performed on the AMA’S, Latin Grammy’s, Armenian Music Awards, Miss USA Pageant, and the Mtv Movie Awards. Artists she has danced for include European superstar Little Boots, Lil Mama, Kirk Franklin, TATU, Lil’ Bubba, and Gloria Gaynor. She has also danced on the hit tv shows 90210 and Carpool Karaoke. Other dance credits include Adidas, PlayStation, Paul Mitchell, Med Assets, and a USO European Tour. You can catch her dancing in a national commercial for Dish Network. Melissa has choreographed for the Clippers dance team, an industrial for Ducati, a commercial for Jacuzzi, and multiple music videos and live stage shows . Melissa is a choreographer and former performer of “All Wheel’s Extreme,” a high energy extreme sports show you may have seen on America’s Got Talent. Melissa is also one of their rehearsal directors. Melissa was dance choreographer for Aerial Ice, who was also showcased on America’s Got Talent. Melissa was lead choreographer at Knott’s Berry Farm where she choreographed The Haunt stage shows “Psycho Circus of Magic and Mayhem” part 1 and 2, “Ed Alonzo’s Funhouse”, “The Hanging” and “Bloomination.” She had the opportunity to work with Tyce Diorio preparing choreography for So You Think You Can Dance season 8 top 20 routine. Melissa is a former Streetz Dance Convention instructor where she taught jazz and lyrical for 10 years. She works frequently as guest teacher and choreographer. Her work has won multiple choreography awards. She has traveled internationally dancing, teaching, and choreographing throughout France, Italy, Spain, Japan, Korea, Mexico and Canada. Most recently, she was chosen as the first technical dance instructor and judge for World of Dance Panama (WOD).
Anthea Young
Anthea Young was born in Kingston, JA and raised in Washington, DC. At age nine she took her first dance class at the Creative Dance Center under the direction of Joyce Mosso and Shawn Cosby. They noticed how natural dance and movement came to her and recommended she expand her ballet training outside of Creative Dance Center. This brought her to the Dance Theatre of Harlem's Residency Program at the Kennedy Center. In this program she received neoclassical ballet training from the relevant members of the company. Which then lead her to the Dance Institute of Washington, DIW, founded by Fabian Barnes, a former member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem. DIW, had a youth performing company, and at age 16, Anthea began her professional career as a dancer. She was also a commercial break dancer for Teen Summit, aired on BET. In 2004 she received a B.F.A in Dance with a concentration in Ballet from Marymount Manhattan College and an offer to join Spectrum Dance Theater, under the direction of Donald Byrd.
After her time at Spectrum, she moved to Los Angeles, where her commercial dance career began. Performing on a variety of awards shows, like the Oscars, Emmy’s, MTV VMA’s, television shows, like Euphoria, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and the Masked Singer, feature films and music videos. The work she has done, has been for a diverse group of choreographers such as Kenny Ortega, Travis Payne, Fatima Robinson, Marguerite Derricks, Hi-Hat, Mandy Moore, Kathryn Burns, Keith Young, and Dominique Kelley, to name a few. She is also a current member of the Daniel Ezralow Dance Company and the Heidi Duckler Dance Company. She is grateful to work in many genres of dance, but ballet will always have her heart.
After her time at Spectrum, she moved to Los Angeles, where her commercial dance career began. Performing on a variety of awards shows, like the Oscars, Emmy’s, MTV VMA’s, television shows, like Euphoria, Crazy Ex-Girlfriend, and the Masked Singer, feature films and music videos. The work she has done, has been for a diverse group of choreographers such as Kenny Ortega, Travis Payne, Fatima Robinson, Marguerite Derricks, Hi-Hat, Mandy Moore, Kathryn Burns, Keith Young, and Dominique Kelley, to name a few. She is also a current member of the Daniel Ezralow Dance Company and the Heidi Duckler Dance Company. She is grateful to work in many genres of dance, but ballet will always have her heart.
Craig Black
Craig Black began dancing at South Bay Dance Center at the age of ten. The California native was captain of his San Jose high school’s nationally ranked dance team. In 2011 Craig received his BFA from The Juilliard School where he was awarded the 2010 Princess Grace Award in Dance. He has received additional training at summer programs such as Springboard Danse Montréal, Nederlands Dans Theater Summer Intensive, and The School at Jacob’s Pillow where he was given the 2011 Lorna Strassler Award for Student Excellence. Craig joined Hubbard Street Dance Chicago in the fall of 2017 after finishing six seasons with the Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. He has had the pleasure of dancing works by Kyle Abraham, Aszure Barton, Alejandro Cerrudo, Peter Chu, Nacho Duato, Jorma Elo, William Forsythe, Jirí Kylián, Robyn Mineko-Williams, Ohad Naharin, Crystal Pite, and Cayetano Soto Ramirez among many others. In addition to his professional dance career, Craig is a passionate teacher. He has taught and choreographed for many schools and studios throughout the United States as well as co- choreographed and rehearsal directed for Cardi B and Offset’s 2019 BET Awards performance. Furthermore, Craig is certified to teach IMAGE TECH for DancersTM introductory level through advanced level and serves as guest faculty for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago main company, Hubbard Street Professional Program, Steps on Broadway, Peridance Center, The Joffrey Academy, New York City Dance Alliance and Dupree Dance.
Kris Englestad
Born and raised in Chicago, Illinois Kris Engelstad is powerful force in the dance industry. Blending her passion for dance with her creative side, she knows no limits when creating movement. Her wide range of styles has given her the opportunity to work with artists such as Rihanna, Karmin, Rusko, Bobby Newberry, Kevin Stea, Herb Alpert, Maya Angelou and many more. But she doesn’t stop there. She has also appeared in commercials for Converse and Behr Paint, and you can catch her on Hulu dancing in Season 3 of East Los High, as well as the short film ‘Today’s The Day’ directed by Morgan Susser and Cloud Campos.
Her professionalism and positive attitude has kept her working with top choreographers such as Tina Landon, Jason Myhre, Reina Hidalgo, Asiel Hardison, Brian Friedman, Tabitha and Napoleon, Kyle Hanagami and Tamara Levinson. This has given her many amazing opportunities to assist working choreographers, such as Kevin and Marcel Wilson, Beau Fournier, Gigi Torres and Derrell Bullock, on numerous live shows and music videos.
She is also a proud member for many years of distinguished companies across LA including Essence Ladies, a female hip hop company run by Gigi Torres, and Mischief Makers under the direction of Beau Fournier. She is also the Assistant Director to Trouble Makers and AMMP, both youth teams under the Maker Empire umbrella.
Kris’s passion for the arts can be seen in many forms. When she graduated high school she immediately moved out to LA and attended Loyola Marymount University, earning her BA in Animationas well as a BFA in Dance. When she isn’t dancing she is painting, drawing, editing videos, and continuously finding new mediums to expand her art unto. Yet dance has always been her first love.
Kris started creating and choreographing at a young age. From choreographing duets with her sister at the age of 12 to choreographing her sisters competition solos amongst other group numbers, she had a knack for it. Nowadays Kris is traveling and teaching all around the world including master classes in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Beijing. She frequently travels back to her hometown of Chicago to teach master classes and choreograph for studios, but when she isn’t traveling she is teaching regularly in LA and can be found subbing at the infamous Debbie Reynolds Legacy Studio. Kris, incredibly passionate about the education of dancers and is incredibly honored and excited to being joining Dupree’s family as guest faculty for this upcoming competition season!
Her professionalism and positive attitude has kept her working with top choreographers such as Tina Landon, Jason Myhre, Reina Hidalgo, Asiel Hardison, Brian Friedman, Tabitha and Napoleon, Kyle Hanagami and Tamara Levinson. This has given her many amazing opportunities to assist working choreographers, such as Kevin and Marcel Wilson, Beau Fournier, Gigi Torres and Derrell Bullock, on numerous live shows and music videos.
She is also a proud member for many years of distinguished companies across LA including Essence Ladies, a female hip hop company run by Gigi Torres, and Mischief Makers under the direction of Beau Fournier. She is also the Assistant Director to Trouble Makers and AMMP, both youth teams under the Maker Empire umbrella.
Kris’s passion for the arts can be seen in many forms. When she graduated high school she immediately moved out to LA and attended Loyola Marymount University, earning her BA in Animationas well as a BFA in Dance. When she isn’t dancing she is painting, drawing, editing videos, and continuously finding new mediums to expand her art unto. Yet dance has always been her first love.
Kris started creating and choreographing at a young age. From choreographing duets with her sister at the age of 12 to choreographing her sisters competition solos amongst other group numbers, she had a knack for it. Nowadays Kris is traveling and teaching all around the world including master classes in Taiwan, Hong Kong and Beijing. She frequently travels back to her hometown of Chicago to teach master classes and choreograph for studios, but when she isn’t traveling she is teaching regularly in LA and can be found subbing at the infamous Debbie Reynolds Legacy Studio. Kris, incredibly passionate about the education of dancers and is incredibly honored and excited to being joining Dupree’s family as guest faculty for this upcoming competition season!
Guest Faculty
Dre Torres
Dre Torres, is an Internationally acclaimed Tap Dance Artist, Educator and Choreographer with a Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy from OCU. Dre is currently based in New York City and is the Asst. Tap Choreographer for Funny Girl on Broadway and the upcoming National Tour. Recent performances: Ayodele Casel’s Chasing Magic (Bessie Winner), AfroLatinJazz’s Worldwinds (Grammy Winner), NY City Center’s Fall for Dance and Little Island’s Music and Dance Fest. Career highlights: Comedy Central, Radio City, FOX, BBC, PBS, Harvard and 5 year’s as a Principal Dancer with Tapestry Dance Company Directed by Acia Gray. Faculty Credits: Broadway Dance Center, Pineapple Dance Studios, DansEncore International Festival to name a few. Dre co-choreographed OSCiLLATE’ on London-based tap company Old Kent Road. Dre Performed and toured venues including Sadler’s Wells (London), Edinburgh Fringe Fest (Scotland), Latitude Music Fest (Suffolk) and Shanghai’s Xintiandi Fest (Shanghai). Print: Fest Magazine, The New York & LA Times, Dance Magazine, London Theater Review, and Vida. Dre gives ultimate thanks and recognition to her Mom, Dad and Mona Bear for continued support, guidance and love. @DreTorres14
Staff
Courtney Briggs
(Assistant Event Director)
Alyssa Park
(Content Creator)
Sarah Clemmons
(Event Staff)
Alex Ware
Lauren DeSmedt
Caleb Hoernschemeyer
(Lighting Designer)