DANCERS
PHOTO ABOVE AND HEADSHOTS BY KENT BARKER
ALEX BROWN
Alex Brown is originally from Snellville, Georgia. In 2020, he received a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Belhaven University, performed works by many notable choreographers, and was presented with the Refiners Award for Outstanding Improvement in 2019. Outside of Bruce Wood Dance, Brown teaches ballet at The Dance Movement and is a personal trainer with Bravo Physio and Wellness. Brown joined Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in 2020 and has performed in works by Bruce Wood, Lar Lubovitch, Joy Bollinger, Yin Yue, Kimi Nikaidoh, Omar Román de Jesús, and Gregory Dolbashian.
KEVYN BUTLER
Kevyn Butler, born in Oakland, California, is an alumnus of Oakland School for the Arts where he studied ballet, modern, and contemporary dance under the direction of Reginald Ray–Savage. He holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona. Butler has taught dance around the world, and most recently was on faculty at Booker T. Washington HSPVA. He has appeared with Ad Deum Dance Company, Störling Dance Theater, and at the José Limón Festival, among others, and has worked with numerous master choreographers. He is a former member of Ronald K. Brown/EVIDENCE, A Dance Company; Oakland Ballet; and Zion Dance Project. He is very excited to enter his first year as a member of Bruce Wood Dance Dallas.
SOFIA DOWNING ORTEGA
Sofia Downing Ortega was born in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. She grew up in Mandeville, Louisiana where she trained at Ballet Apetrei and was part of its studio company. Downing received her BFA in Dance and a certificate in Dance Medicine and Science from the University of South Florida. During her time at USF, she performed at the Beijing International Creative Dance Seminar. Downing has worked with Tampa City Ballet, Trainor Dance, and iKADA Contemporary Dance, and has performed work by Yin Yue, Stephanie Martinez, Joy Bollinger, and Bruce Wood, among others. In addition to performing with Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, she helps make dance accessible by teaching classes in the company’s outreach programs. Downing joined the company in 2021.
STEPHANIE GODSAVE
Stephanie Godsave is from Allen, Texas where she began training at PDT Dance Arts. She has studied with ABT, Hubbard Street, and at Jacob’s Pillow. Godsave received a National YoungArts Foundation award in Modern/Contemporary Dance in 2017. In 2021, she received her BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase and studied abroad at the Hong Kong Academy of Performing Arts. Godsave has performed work by Lar Lubovitch, Yin Yue, Stephanie Martinez, and Joy Bollinger, among others. She is a dedicated arts advocate and teaches dance locally. She has dual citizenship in the United States and the UK. When time allows, she loves to travel to see her family overseas. Godsave joined Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in 2021.
LAUREN HIBBARD
Lauren Hibbard was born and raised in Atlanta, Georgia. She began her training with Atlanta Ballet Center for Dance Education. Hibbard then attended Texas Ballet Theater School's Professional Division in 2014 and was promoted to trainee with the company the following year. In 2016, she joined Avant Chamber Ballet. Since joining Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in 2018, she has performed works by Bruce Wood, Joy Bollinger, Lar Lubovitch, and Katarzyna Skarpetowska, among others. She currently teaches ballet and tap at Texas Ballet Theater School. Outside of her dancing, Hibbard is attending University of Arizona Online’s dietetics program with hopes of becoming an oncology dietitian.
ALI MARSHALL
Ali Marshall is a Tuscaloosa, Alabama native. She graduated summa cum laude from Texas Christian University with a BFA in Ballet, BA in Spanish, and Pilates Teacher Training Certificate. At TCU, Marshall received the Nordan Fine Arts Scholarship and the Edward A. Bell Scholarship, and performed works by resident faculty and guest artists, including Joy Bollinger. She has studied with The Dance Centre, ABT, the Bolshoi Ballet, and the Alabama Ballet where she performed with the professional company. She enjoys teaching Pilates and helping her clients at Equinox Highland Park get stronger and healthier. This is Marshall’s first season as a company member with Bruce Wood Dance Dallas.
WEAVER RHODES
Weaver Rhodes was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He is an alumnus of Booker T. Washington HSPVA and, in 2012, earned a BFA in Dance from SUNY Purchase. Before joining Bruce Wood Dance, Rhodes danced with companies both nationally and internationally, including Dance Heginbotham, The Mark Morris Dance Group, and Northwest Dance Project, among others. He has performed works by choreographers Joy Bollinger, Lar Lubovitch, and Katarzyna Skarpetowska, among others. Rhodes was featured in Isaac Mizrahi’s The Magic Flute. He admires martial arts, seeks to expand his imagination, and tends to be unconventional in his approach to choreography and teaching. He joined Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in 2019.
MIA ROSIN
Mia Rosin is originally from Phoenix, Arizona where she received training from Master Ballet Academy. Rosin has studied with Hubbard Street, Perry Mansfield, and Alonzo King LINES Ballet, where she received a Homer Avila Scholarship. She was a company member of Phoenix Ballet and performed internationally at the Lodz Ballet Festival in Poland. Rosin graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Dance where she received the Outstanding Senior Award, and a BFA in Illustration and Design. She joined Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in 2022.
JILLYN SHATLEY
Jillyn Shatley is a Dallas native. She graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Dance and minor in Business Management from Point Park University in 2016. She trained with prestigious programs including Complexions, Juilliard, Hubbard Street, and San Francisco Conservatory. She has performed work by Lar Lubovitch, Bryan Arias, Twyla Tharp, and Omar Román De Jesús, among others, and at venues including Jacob’s Pillow and The Joyce Theater. She teaches at the College of Southern Idaho, Moving Forward Dallas, and the Academy of Dance Arts, where she first began her dance journey. She serves as administrative assistant, dancer liaison, and teaches for the company’s outreach programs. Shatley joined Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in 2016.
MEGAN STOREY
Megan Storey is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. She began her dance journey at the age of three, mainly studying tap and jazz. She graduated with Special Academic Distinction and as Outstanding Senior with a BFA in Dance Performance from the University of Oklahoma. Storey studied with prestigious institutions, including Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and has performed at Belize Dance X Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, The Joyce Theater, in commercial work, and with several hip hop crews. She currently teaches and choreographs across the country, and locally at The Dallas Conservatory, where she is also a Youth America Grand Prix Coach. Storey joined Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in 2018.
ELLIOTT TRAHAN
Elliott Trahan is from Lafayette, Louisiana. They graduated from the University of Arizona with a BFA in Dance in 2019. Trahan also studied with River North Dance Chicago and San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and has performed at national and international dance festivals, including the Kiel International Festival for Dance in Germany and the Bolzano Dansa International Dance Festival in Italy. Trahan has performed works by Bryan Arias, Joy Bollinger, and Omar Román de Jesús, among others. They teach across the DFW area through Bruce Wood Dance’s outreach programs. Trahan’s passion for visual art keeps them invested in the arts, and inspired by creativity, innovation, and passion. This is Trahan’s fourth season with Bruce Wood Dance Dallas.
COLE VERNON
Cole Vernon is originally from Sonoma County, California. He has performed around the world with companies including DanceWorks Chicago, River North, and Ballet Hispánico. Vernon graduated summa cum laude from the University of Arizona in 2013. He has performed works by master choreographers, including Lar Lubovitch, Yin Yue, Twyla Tharp, and others. As an educator and choreographer, Vernon’s passion for developing future artists has taken him to the Boston Conservatory, The Big Muddy Dance Company, Point Park University, Ballet Memphis, Gus Giordano School, Minkov Tanzakademie, Joffrey Ballet, and Hathaway Academy of Ballet. Vernon joined Bruce Wood Dance Dallas in 2019 and serves as the coordinator for the company’s WOOD I WORKS Dance Intensives as well as the Bruce Wood Dance Excellence Awards.
SETH YORK
Seth York was born and raised in Kansas City, Missouri where he began dancing at the age of seven. He received the majority of his training at Dramatic Truth School of the Arts and completed his dance education with The American Dance Center. Currently in his sixth season with Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, York has performed works by Bruce Wood, Lar Lubovitch, Twyla Tharp, Joy Bollinger, Brian Arias, Omar Román de Jesús, and more. Before joining Bruce Wood Dance, he performed with Ad Deum Dance Company in Houston, Texas and has also worked alongside companies such as Ballet Frontier, Open Sky Arts Collective, Ballet Brazos, Störling Dance Theatre, and Lawrence Dance Theatre. Aside from performing, York teaches multiple styles of dance and has choreographed on several pre-professional and professional companies.
GUEST ARTIST
DOMINGO ESTRADA, JR.
Domingo Estrada, Jr. is originally from Victoria, Texas, and grew up practicing martial arts, playing sports, and dancing ballet folklorico with Our Lady of Sorrows. He earned his BFA in Ballet and Modern Dance from Texas Christian University. Estrada has worked with many wonderful choreographers, including Susan Douglas Roberts (wild goose chase), Christian von Howard (VON HOWARD PROJECT), and Bruce Wood. Estrada worked with Mark Morris Dance Group from 2007 to 2023. He is grateful to be welcomed as a guest with Bruce Wood Dance Dallas this season.
APPRENTICE
GABRIEL ROCHA
Gabriel Rocha is a Chicago native, and earned his BFA in Dance from the University of Arizona in 2024. He has performed works by choreographers such as Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, and Alvin Ailey. As part of the University’s touring ensemble, Rocha performed at venues including the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and The Joyce Theatre. Recognized for his proficiency in ballet, jazz, and modern, he received the “Triple Threat” award from the School of Dance. In 2023, Rocha trained with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and was selected for a fellowship in its summer Intensive. He joins Bruce Wood Dance Dallas as an apprentice for the 2024–2025 season.
APPRENTICE
TIANA WATSON
Tiana Watson is from Dallas. She began her training at Dance Industry Performing Arts Center under the direction of Christy Wolverton. She is an alumna of Booker T. Washington HSPVA, and a 2024 graduate of The Juilliard School where she earned her BFA in Dance. At The Juilliard School, she performed works by Medhi Walerski, Ohad Naharin, Jamar Roberts, Azure Barton, Tiler Peck, Hope Boykin, Rena Butler, Ayodele Casel, Omar Román De Jesús, and Kyle Abraham, among others. She has learned works by Crystal Pite, Martha Graham, Yue Yin, and George Balanchine. Watson is a certified personal trainer and nutrition coach. She is grateful to her family for their support in all of her endeavors. She joins Bruce Wood Dance Dallas as an apprentice for the 2024–2025 season.