FALL DANCE INTENSIVE
Inspiration to make it to the holidays!!
WHO IS TEACHING?
Morgan Burke
Morgan Burke was raised in Nashville, Tennessee where he trained primarily at DC Dance Factory and later at Nashville School of the Arts. By the age of twelve he had performed as both a singer and dancer on American Juniors, America’s Most Talented Kids, Showtime at the Apollo, Carnegie Hall, Good Morning America, and City Center Encore’s production of Golden Boy. After graduating and heading to Los Angeles, Morgan switched his focus to dance solely and working in dance as an assistant. He worked closely with Mia Michaels, Erica Sobol, and Ray Leeper, spending time not only offering help but taking as many notes from these prolific artists as possible. As a dancer, his credits include: Jennifer Lopez, Chaka Khan, Blood Orange, Florence and the Machine, American Idol, Cirque Du Soleil, Dancing With The Stars, Eurovision, Mobbed, as well as behind the scenes work on So You Think You Can Dance. Now based out of Nashville, Morgan travels year round to various universities and studios setting work for dance teams and competition teams all over the US.
Allysen Hooks holds a BFA from The Juilliard School and an MFA from Sarah Lawrence College where she received the Bessie Schönberg Scholarship Award and choreographic mentorship from John Jasperse and Beth Gill. Allysen's choreographic work has been presented at Barnard Movement Lab (NYC) Austin Dance Festival, Soho House (Austin), Fusebox Salon (Austin), Tangente (Montréal), Arts On Site (NYC), Indiana University, HSPVA (Houston), and solo work for graduating dancers at Barnard College, Ailey/Fordham, and The Juilliard School. She is a two-time grant recipient from The National YoungArts Alumni Organization. As a principal member of GALLIM (2012-2022) under the direction of Andrea Miller, Allysen collaborated in new creations, performed, taught, and set repertory nationally and internationally. She has had the privilege of performing with GALLIM all over the world. She was named Creative Associate to Miller and contributed to commissions at numerous companies and institutions including Tanz Luzern, Martha Graham Dance Company, Kyle Abraham A.I.M., Atlanta Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Ballet Hispánico, The Juilliard School, and Boston Conservatory. Allysen now has founded her own dance company in Austin, TX.
Sydney James
Rachelle Davis, Founder and Owner of The Umbrella Project (@umbrella__project) started her dance training at the age of 3 in South Africa, training in many versatile styles. Rachelle competed from a young age and went on to Qualify top 3 in South Africa for Showdance (Contemporary) and represented South Africa in the World Dance Championships for the IDO in Riesa Germany for 3 consecutive years, finishing in the top 15 in the world.
Rachelle also studied her Bachelors in Sport Science at the University of Pretoria and is a Sport Psychology Graduate, graduating with top honors. Rachelle kicked off her professional dance career by finishing in the top 6 of 5000 dancers, for South Africa’s own take and version of “So You Think You Can Dance” (Kyknet’s Dans dans dans) and secured bookings with top commercial choreographers. She later moved to Dubai, UAE, where she performed for 6 years as a professional dancer. Work included Opening of The Atlantis Dubai with Kylie Minogue, Atelier Music Festival alongside 50 Cent, Craig David, Nikki Minaj, New Year’s Eve performance with Snoop Dogg, Dubai World Cup alongside Jennifer Lopez, for dignitaries such as the President of the United States and Sheik’s of Dubai and Abu Dhabi at the World Education Summit, and the acclaimed “The Act” Dubai. Rachelle was also the personal dance coach and instructor for the children of the Royal Family of Dubai.
Allysen Hooks
Sydney James grew up training at the Dance Institute in Austin, Texas where she gained much experience from top teachers and choreographers such as Francisco Gella, DJ Smart, and The Bad Boys of Dance with Rasta Thomas. In her senior year, she trained with Cheryl Copeland to complete her college BFA applications and attended Pace University in New York as a commercial dance major. Sydney has since trained on scholarship at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and has just completed her second contract with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines.
