“My working definition for a teacher is...Someone who believes you can do better...*and* can show you how...”

2008 Summer Intensive Guest Faculty:

Born and raised in Cambridge, Massachusetts, ballet teacher and choreographer, Andrew Parker, recently joined the dance faculty at Southern Methodist University, Meadows School of the Arts, after teaching for six years on the full-time faculty of Canada’s National Ballet School (NBS) in Toronto. In 2000, Andrew received his teaching diploma with distinction from NBS’s Teacher Training Program for Professional Dancers. He was trained as a dancer at Cambridge School of Ballet with Carol Jordan, followed by Boston Ballet School, where he later returned to teach on the faculty and serve as Artistic Principal of Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education’s CITYDANCE Outreach Program, founded by Bruce Marks.

Andrew began his performance career with the Milwaukee Ballet, under directors Ted Kivitt and Basil Thompson. In 1987, Andrew joined Tulsa Ballet Theatre where he danced soloist and principal roles. After five seasons of touring nationally with TBT, Andrew joined Konstantin Uralsky’s Ballet Iowa as a principal dancer, where he danced many new ballets by Mr. Uralsky, as well as classics from the Bolshoi Ballet repertoire. To complement his work as a dance educator, Andrew has choreographed ballets for Canada’s National Ballet School, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pioneer Valley Ballet, Walnut Hill School, American Academy of Ballet, George Brown College Dance Ensemble and Milwaukee Ballet School. In 2004, he created choreography for Harvest Sky, a new Canadian opera by composer Douglas Rice and in 2005, Andrew was commissioned by Toronto’s International Dance Festival to create his pas de deux, 2 = 1, for soloists from The National Ballet of Canada and Toronto Dance Theatre. In 2006, Andrew collaborated as choreographer with Canadian ballerina, Veronica Tennant, on Song of Survival with Toronto’s Orianna Women’s Choir. Andrew Parker is a regular guest teacher at Texas Ballet Theater, Rochester City Ballet, Eastern Connecticut Ballet, The Rock School in Philadelphia and Canada’s National Ballet School.

Karina S. Lehoczky nee Sturdevant received her classical training at Ballet Iowa (formerly Des Moines Ballet) with Martha Faesi and Kennet Oberly, specializing in the Bournonville technique, and Milwaukee Ballet with Basil Thompson. She went on to perform corps de ballet through principal roles with Ballet Iowa, Milwaukee Ballet, Wisconsin Ballet Theatre, Lexington Ballet, Illinois Ballet and Ballet Arkansas. She has performed roles such as the Blue Bird pas de deux in Sleeping Beauty, Cygnets and Neapolitan in Swan Lake, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, and Spring Fairy in Cinderella to name a few. Karina has danced professionally with the following modern companies: Milwaukee Dance Theatre, Oure Danse Kompagni of Denmark and Rosalind Newman Dancers of New York. Other accomplishments include guest artist with the Flourentine Opera and performing theatrical ballroom exhibitions with the East Towne Ballroom in Milwaukee and Chicago Dance. Karina has been teaching dance for 13 years in Iowa, Wisconsin, Illinois, Kentucky, Vermont and throughout central Arkansas. She is currently teaching beginning through preprofessional ballet and modern dance at Shuffles and Ballet II, the official school of Ballet Arkansas.

2007 Summer Intensive Guest Faculty:

Randall Newsom is Head of the dance program in the School of Theatre and Dance at Northern Illinois University. Before coming to NIU, Newsom was a soloist and principal character dancer with the Irish National Ballet. In America, he performed with the Louisville Ballet and the Repertory Dance Company of the Southwest.

From 1979 to 1985, he returned frequently to the Irish National Ballet as a guest artist recreating many of his original roles. He was guest artist for the company's premiere season in London at the Sadler's Wells Theatre. Newsom retired from dance in the summer of 1985 after his last tour with INB at the Gallic Festival in Rennes, France.

Randall was Co-Artistic Director of Cycles Dance Company in Great Britain for two years, touring England, Scotland, Wales, Ireland and Holland. While with the company, he performed solo works at the Edinburgh International Festival in Scotland.

Other major engagements include being the principal dancer in the English premiere of Leonard Bernstein's MASS at the Royal Albert Hall in London. He has performed in television documentaries for both the BBC in London and the CBC in Toronto.

Mister Newsom is also one of the few Benesh Movement notators in America and has reconstructed both ballets and contemporary works for professional companies.

Randall's main interest lies in restaging the standard Classical and Romantic Ballet Repertoire. He has staged full length versions of Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and, most recently, Coppelia for Northern Dance Theatre. In 1998, his staging of Paquita was chosen to be performed for the 25th Anniversary Gala of the American College Dance Festival at the Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

In 2006, Mister Newsom assisted in the reconstruction and staging of the ballet Sylvia for the McAllen Ballet.

Randall is also an accomplished choreographer. His contemporary piece, In Memoriam, was chosen for the Gala Performance at the American College Dance Festival in 1987. His most recent works include a solo, Desilucion Finale, that was chosen for the Gala Performance of the American College Dance Festival held in Austin, Texas in 2002. He choreographed a contemporary ballet, Configurations, for Ballet Nouveau Colorado in 2003. In 2004, in collaboration with award winning composer John Heins, he chreographed a new ballet for BNC based on the Garcia Lorca play, The House of Bernardo Alba.

Mister Newsom trained at the Rotterdam Conservatorium Dansacademie in Holland.

In 2003, Randall was honored by the Chicago Dance and Music Alliance with the Lifetime Service to the Field Award.

Jason Hartley, of Des Moines, Iowa, is in his eighth season with The Washington Ballet after dancing with American Repertory Ballet, Ballet Austin and BalletMet Columbus. Mr. Hartley trained at North Carolina School of the Arts, where he won the Level I Award from the National Foundation for the Advancement of the Arts in 1995. He received the Princess Grace Award for Dance in 1997. In July 2002, The Washington Ballet premiered Mr. Hartley's choreography Crosswalks and Train Stations in Telluride and Aspen, Colorado. In 2003, his works Sanctified Shells and Nocturne Monologue premiered at The Kennedy Center's Millennium Stage as part of the Prelude Festival. For The Washington Ballet's production 7x7, Mr. Hartley created Underneath.

Lynn received her dance training at the Boston School of Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet School. She also danced with the Joffrey Ballet School Dancers, Georgia Dance Theatre, Felice Lesser Dance Theatre (NYC) and the Bernhardt Ballet (NYC). Lynn was resident and traveling artist educator with the Iowa Arts Council Artists in Schools and Metro Arts Alliance. She founded the New Visions Dance Program (for blind and visually impaired) for Very Special Arts Iowa for which she was honored with the Governor's Award for service to people with disabilities. Lynn has also been on the faculty or taught for the Midwest Dance Festival, Ballet Midwest, Georgia Dance Theatre and the Robert Thomas DanCenter. She's also choreographed for the Des Moines Metro Opera production of Hansel and Gretel and performed in their production of Aida.

Lynn also choreographed for the pre-professional student performing group, Ballet Iowa Too!, which presented educational performances throughout the state from 1987-1993. Original productions included Peter and the Wolf, The Four Seasons, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra and Stars and Stripes.

Many of Lynn's students (including CCDC Principal Ballet Instructor Melissa Uyehara) have gone on to professional careers in performing, teaching and/or dance degrees. Those companies include: Ballet Iowa, Boise Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Washington Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Omaha Ballet and Alvin Ailey II.

Lynn earned her Bachelor of Science in Elementary Education from Drake University and is Montessori certified from the Montessori Center International in London. She currently teaches at Montessori Children's House in West Des Moines.

   “...a little better than the last time, that's all I ask.”

Permanent CCDC Faculty:

Melissa Uyehara brings a wealth of professional, performing and teaching experience to the Capital City Dance Center. She performed principal, soloist and corps de ballet roles with Ballet Omaha and Ballet Iowa. Some of her favorite roles include: Witch in Konstantin Uralsky's Macbeth, Ensemble in George Balanchine's Allegro Brillante, Uralsky's Rachmaninov Piano Concerto #1, Michael Uthoff's Tom Dula, Robin Welch's Les Patineurs, the revival of August Bournonville's Konservatoriet and Peter Anastos' Forgotten Memories.

Missy currently serves as Ballet Mistress for Capital City Dance Theater and since its founding has been responsible for helping rehearse, teach and coach the company dancers. She served in a similar capacity for Iowa Dance Theatre, Ballet Theater Des Moines and other local dance troupes.

Missy's been teaching since she was a student assistant at her local studio in Ankeny, Iowa. She's been on the faculty or has taught at many local studios including: the School of Ballet Iowa/Des Moines Ballet School, School of Classical Ballet and Dance, Robert Thomas DanCenter, Central Iowa Dance, Vine Street Ballet School, Westside Dance, Dance Avenue and Dance Unlimited.

Missy's dance training includes stints with such noted teachers as Ballet Long Island's Konstantin and Irina Uralsky, American Ballet Theater's Lupe Serrano, Ballet Hamburg Ballet Master Charles Mudry, Larry Long of Chicago's Ruth Page Foundation School of Dance, Ballet Iowa's Kennet Oberly, Ballet Metropolitan's Gerard Charles, Des Moines Ballet's Lynn Andlauer and Milwaukee Ballet/University of Iowa's Basil Thompson. She's been on scholarship with the Des Moines Ballet School and the Milwaukee Ballet's Summer Program.

Besides ballet and pointe, Missy is an accomplished tap dancer and instructor. She's won or placed at a number of tap competitions, including: the Bill Riley Talent Search, Dance Masters of America and the Show Biz Dance Competition.

Missy prides herself in creating a nurturing, yet challenging, environment for every student she teaches. She also strongly believes a solid foundation of impeccable technique serves as the springboard to fullfill artistic expression.

"...I could see how much you love dance and how special you made the girls feel. I think you are the teacher for us."—E-mail excerpt from prospective student's mother.

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“...your *Mom* thinks you can dance better...but, she can't show you how...”

Emery's had guest appearances with Nebraska's Ballet Midwest, San Francisco's Joe Montoya Dancers and Maria Tallchief's Chicago Ballet Workshop. He's choreographed, performed and/or taught for City Ballet Theater of Milwaukee, the Honolulu Acrobatic Troupe, Des Moines' Chamber Dancers, Iowa Dance Theatre and Ballet Theater Des Moines. He also starred in and co-choreographed the Arabian Prince role in the 2002 and 2003 C.Y.Stephen's production of The Nutcracker.

Emery's favorite roles include: George Balanchine's Pas de Dix from Raymonda, the Cavalier from Nutcracker, Prince Florimund from Sleeping Beauty, Kennet Oberley's Russian Trepak from Nutcracker, Jane Cassel's Bette Davis Eyes, Joe Montoya's Al Jarreau Suite, Paul Brown's Tarentella and his own choreography for the Arabian Slave from Nutcracker.

Emery's dance teaching career spans three decades. He began at the Honolulu City Dance Center and continued at the University of Hawaii, Duluth Ballet School, Chicago City Ballet Workshop, School of Ballet Iowa, Robert Thomas DanCenter and other Iowa schools.

Emery is also a former instructor of the martial arts: including Okinawan Judo, Black Panther and Seven Brothers Son Shi Kung-Fu. He's also a tournament winning and former volunteer assistant coach in folk-style wrestling. He was three-year varsity letterman and tri-captain of his high-school team when it won its first conference championship.

Emery's professional performing career also includes gigs as a stand-up comic and as an award-winning journalist, personality and talk-show host with WHO, KGU and KQMQ. He's been a reporter and producer for WHO-TV and hosted the Iowa Radio Network's monthly "Call Governor Vilsack" show.

"...(Emery) excelled in verbally conveying physical movement and abstract feelings. He had a wealth of performance experience and technical training to pass on to both my company dancers and my young, aspiring dancers."—Marjorie Yoshida, Milwaukee City Ballet Theater

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“...that's why I am your dance teacher...”

Capital City Dance Center is thrilled to retain Jill E. Andrews on the studio's faculty. Jill is the founder of the studio that eventually became CCDC, "Dance Unlimited, Inc". Her performing experience includes six seasons with the Bermuda Civic Ballet where she performed corps and soloist roles in La Sylphide, Les Sylphides, Giselle, La Peri, Sylvia, Symphonic Dreams and Memories. She's also performed with the University of Iowa Dance Company and Limbs Dance Ensemble.

A gifted choreographer and teacher, Jill has created many new full-length children's ballets, including: Deliver Us, Fairy Wings, The Dancing Princesses, Coppelia, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan and Rainbow Fish set to Handel’s Water Music. She's also the director/choreographer for Alleluia Ballet, a sacred dance youth company based out of CCDC.

Jill has trained at the Joffrey II Summer Workshop and with the University of Iowa's Francoise Martinet, Alicia Brown, Linda Crist and Lan Lan King. Her modern dance training includes former head of the UI Dance Department, David Berkey.

Jill is always open to expanding her teaching knowledge. She's trained in teacher workshops or forums with Ballet Magnificat and at Canada's National Ballet School in Toronto. Her teaching experience includes instructing legally blind, blind, hearing impaired, Down's Syndrome and severely learning disabled students as well as talented and gifted students.

Jill graduated with high distinction with Master's and Bachelor's degrees in Accounting and Dance from the University of Iowa.

As a teen, Jill was crowned Miss Drill/Dance Team Iowa. She represented the state in national championships at the Los Angeles Sports Coliseum. She placed 16th in the country. Her senior year, she danced as a member of the All-American Drill Team in Dallas, Texas at a Dallas Mavericks basketball game. Jill was crowned Best Girl Overall two years in a row at summer dance camps at Kansas University run by Kilgore Rangerette dancers.

Jill's teaching philosophy is to encourage dancing "from the heart". She says, "Technique is important, but dancing from the heart on top of good technique makes the movement a lot more meaningful, interesting and enjoyable for the audience...and the dancer too!."

"...I feel like Jill (Andrews) is one of those really incredible gems that only come around once in a blue moon..."

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“...I *know* you can do better *and* I will show you how...work with me here!”

Alissa Hamer gets to combine her love of children with her love of dance with every class she teaches at CCDC. She earned her dance degree with honors from the University of Iowa after training there and at the University of Northern Iowa and the University of Nevada Las Vegas. Her eclectic background in many forms of dance, as well as acting, yoga and Pilates, allow her to bring a technical focus as well as a performing emphasis to her modern dance classes.

Some of Alissa's favorite roles include Meghan Beresford's Little Gods and Maggie Rupprecht's I'm Here from the University of Iowa's Undergraduate Dance Concert series and Tracy Vacura's When You Look at Me, Do You See Me? from the Advanced Choreographic Design Concert Series. She's also choreographed or appeared in several musicals, including Fiddler on the Roof and Singin' in the Rain and participated in cheerleading, danceline and drill team competitions.

Alissa's group and solo choreography at the University of Iowa includes: Mirage, The Absurdity of the Cell Phone, Busy Daydreamer and Tenshun.

Alissa's modern dance training springs from diverse sources. She incorporates principles from various contemporary and post-contemporary dance forms, including Limon, Currier, Cunningham, Horton and Falco. She introduces and guides her students through fall and recovery, shape, suspension and to a musicality grounded in strength and flexibility.

Alissa says, "...athleticism, musicality, intellect and knowledge of the moving body are the important concepts I stress in the classroom. These concepts not only allow my dancers to be more effective movers, but also help them to dance safely while learning... the art of modern dance."

She continues, "...my class demands a dancer who is both athletic and intellectual. The very nature of dance requires the presence of both body and mind in class at all times. I expect my dancers to be able to think with their mind as well as to feel with their body."

“Corrections are compliments. If we didn't think you could do better...we wouldn't bother.”

Karen Forrester is a Member of the British Association of Teachers of Dance. Membership requires each Highland teacher to pass a comprehensive test in both knowledge of the dances and performance ability. There are currently only two active certified teachers of Highland dancing in the State of Iowa. If a dancer wishes to compete in Highland dancing, he or she must be a student of a certified teacher.

Karen started teaching as a student assistant of Maris McCullough Ryan in 1988. From 1990-1992, she taught Highland at the University of Iowa. She has been teaching in the Des Moines area for the last three years. Her students have been very successful at competitions throughout the Midwest, routinely placing in both Highland and Scottish National dances.

Karen's teaching experience has ranged from small children through adults, from students with no dance experience to those who have had years of training. Since Highland is a high impact form of exercise, she emphasizes proper technique, warm-ups and stretching to prevent injury.

“Success is exceeding expectations. ...and, you should have high expectations.”

Kourtney started her dance career almost twenty years ago with Mary Lou Holmes. She continued her tap, ballet and jazz training with Betty Hill and Amy Peel. At Drake University, Kourtney studied many different dance forms and she keeps on top of cutting edge choreography by taking workshops in Las Vegas. She's currently a member of the faculty at Amy Peel Dance Avenue where she teaches all ages and all levels of tap, jazz, ballet and hip hop/funk.

Kourtney is also currently an Ambassador/Dance Team member of the Prairie Meadows Racetrack and Casino "Giddy Up Girls". She's one of the choreographers and is featured in many of their billboards and advertisements. She's also choreographed and performed in a similar capacity with the Des Moines Menace Dance Squad, Drake University "D-Line" Dance Team and the Hoover High School Cheerleading Squad.

Kourtney says, "...I have a passion for performing! I love to be around others with that passion and help people who are not so outgoing come out of their shell!"

“Our goal is to produce...not just good dancers...but, good people!”

You'll never catch Cindy Chambers without a smile...and she ALWAYS brings it with her when she teaches at CCDC! ...As well as her sparkling personality AND a degree in education from the University of Northern Iowa. Cindy has academic teaching experience as well as dance...having taught students from pre-school to sixth grade...along with acrobatics, baton and cheerleading.

Cindy started cheering in the eighth grade, continuing through her entire high school and college years. She competed and placed in collegiate cheerleading camps and competitions and has conducted, taught and judged cheerleading clinics and try-outs from pre-school to high school.

Cindy began her dance training in Ankeny and was a member of the UNI dance company for four years.

Sorry, guys! Cindy's married to HUGE former UNI Panther football lineman Jeff Chambers. And, she says she's sensitive to the concerns of all parents because of her own three sons, Chace, Chaz and Chaden.

“A good teacher will never take their responsibility lightly.”

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