Local Dancers, Choreographers & Artists

Karen Barbee Adkisson

Karen Barbee Adkisson is the owner of Karavan Studio and the principal choreographer for the Karavan Dance Company.  Karen’s dance training includes ballet, jazz, and Hawaiian dance.  She has been a lifelong student of Middle Eastern dance and culture.  Her studies have taken her to Cairo, Egypt to work with Mahmoud Reda, choreographer of the Reda Folkloric Dance Troup, and to Beirut, Lebanon to study with the internationally acclaimed dancer, Amani.  Karen, the teacher, has taught Middle Eastern dance seminars throughout the United States.  Karen, the student, is an avid student of Middle Eastern dance and Middle Eastern politics.

Robin Getter has taught African and Afro-Jazz Dance for 20 years, most recently through her school Robin Getter School of Rhythms and Dance. Her studies include three trips to West Africa, two summers at the Katherine Dunham Technique Seminar, Alvin Ailey American School of Dance, Perry Mansfield, plus numerous workshops, classes and camps all over the US. In operation since 1993, the Robin Getter School of Rhythms and Dance offers year-round classes, performances, education programs and workshops in African Dance and Culture. Some examples of groups she has worked with are elementary schools studying Africa, Girl Scouts, Pre-schools, summer camps, & high school physical education classes. The school also promotes guest artists, exposing the community to authentic African dance and music.

Robin's teaching experience includes Colorado Mt. College in Steamboat Springs since 1983 and guest artist residencies in Jackson Hole, WY; Spokane, WA; Bozeman, MT; Red Lodge, MT; and all over Colorado including Fort Collins, Aspen, Glenwood Springs & other Western Slope locations. She is also a certified Feldenkrais® practitioner, a somatic modality including classes called Awareness Through Movement® and individual lessons which strive to improve flexibility, posture and movement efficiency. Additionally, she is a certified Professional Ski Instructors of America, has taught skiing at the Steamboat Ski Resort since 1981 and was nominated for Ski Instructor of the Year by Ski Magazine in 2001. She is the most energetic aerobics instructor, specializing in Cardio Kickboxing and currently instructing at Spectrum Athletic Clubs.

Promoting dance is a passion of hers evidenced by the fact that she has been a board member for The Steamboat Dance Theatre since 1985 and President from 1987-1992 and 1998-2000. After that she took on the role of Concert Producer for their annual concert, organizing 60-70 dancers and choreographers, tech, house & marketing all included. She has choreographed at least one piece every year for this show and dances both African and Modern styles.

The Jones Korean Dance Group originated in Korea on or about 1972,  the principal time that Mrs.Hang Cha Jones began to formulate the idea of introducing Korean Traditional Dance to a majority Western/American audience. She danced alone doing the fan and drum dances from 1972 until 1989. Settling in San Antonio in 1989, Mrs. Jones started with two additional members and focused upon two dances,  the fan and drum dances. Since then she has focused on expanding the number of group members and the number of dances members can perform. Although adult members make up the core membership children were introduced into the group around 1996. Dances are performed in local schools (elementary and universities), military bases (Fort Sam, Randolph, and Lackland), SA Museum of Art, local nursing homes, and many other cultural events.
Mrs. Jones continues to concentrate upon the traditional aspect of Korean art and culture. At the heart of current presentations, she features the fan, flower crown, and different variations of the drum dance.

Jayne King

Jayne King, formerly of the San Francisco Bay Area, was Artistic Director of Janlyn Dance Co. From 2000-2004 she created more than 20 original choreographic works for the professional contemporary dance ensemble, as well as 3 full evening programs of dance and theater. Ms King has performed throughout the SF area as well as in NYC, including The Palace of the Legion of Honor, S. F. City College, Cabrillo College, The Marsh Theater, Berekeley's 8th St Studios, California St. Univ., Carmel Performing Arts Festival, Dancin Downtown San Jose, Rawspace studios in Soho and the Monterey Bay Aquarium. Most recently Ms King directed 2 large-scale community dance performance projects for families living in urban neighborhoods near S.F., Migrations: A Choreography of Homecoming, a multi-generational and multi-cultural performance featured in National Dance Week, and Points of Departure, an outdoor “interactive dance journey” inspired by the sights and sounds of the S. F. International Airport. Both projects were sponsored by grants from the Peninsula Community Foundation.

Ms King's two youth outreach performances for Janlyn Dance have toured with Young Audience, a national network of presenters that specializes in bringing artists to public schools with performances and residencies. With Janlyn Dance Co, Ms King has been resident artist in a number of California schools and also served as artist consultant to the Franklin McKinley School District in San Jose where she designed a professional development program in dance and choreography for K-6 classroom teachers.

Ms King received her MA in dance from Mills College in 1997. After graduating she moved to NY to dance with electronic body arts, inc. In 2000 she returned to CA to direct Janlyn Dance Co, and in 2002 joined the dance faculty at Cabrillo Community College . At Cabrillo she has choreographed and directed the annual Spring Dance Concert and taught advanced level modern dance technique, ballet, yoga, and dance appreciation. Ms King's approach to teaching and choreography reflects her training with master teachers such as Joe Goode, Sara Shelton Mann, Kathleen Hermesdorf, Doug Elkins, Irene Dowd, David Dorfman, Tere O'Connor, Jeremy Nelson, Frey Faust, Nita Little, and KTNelson. Her background also includes extensive studies in a variety of alternative approaches to movement, including Body Mind Centering, Authentic Movement, Barteneiff Fundamentals, Pilates and Continuum, as well as advanced studies at the Iyengar Yoga Institute in S.F. A Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner, Ms King maintains a small private practice in neuro-muscular retraining for performing artists. The Feldenkrais Method was the subject of Ms King's address to physicians, dancers and therapists at the International Assn of Dance Medicine and Science conferences in 1999 and 2000. Ms King also served as Research Assistant at the Harkness Center for Dance Medicine in NYC. In August Ms. King joined the full-time faculty in the Kinesiology and Dance Department at Northwest Vista College. She is looking forward to expanding opportunities in dance for the students and developing new classes in mind-body practices. Since moving to SA, she has enjoyed making dances with members of the new Co-Lab performing group, including a site-specific performance for the opening of the Radius, and several pieces that have appeared at Jumpstart with the WIP.

Jack Mack

Jack Mack is the owner of Dancing the Rainbow. He's been teaching for twenty years and got his start in theater and speech, before converting to dance as a full time occupation about 15 years ago.  He loves to work with students taking their first steps as much as he enjoys choreographing for performers.  Additionally, he has worked as a dance teacher trainer for four different studios, has written teacher training manuals for two of them and is currently looking for highly motivated dancers interested in his apprenticeship program.  He has been seen on “Great Day SA," on KSAT's nightly news, in the San Antonio Express-News, the Current, Shout, the Edge and Study Breaks. Additionally, he has written a monthly column--"Dancing The Rainbow"-- in the "Dancer's Guide" and has published a book about dance called KEEP BREATHING: Zen and the Art of Social Dance.  Jack has also directed, produced and/or choreographed a number of community, high school, college and elementary school theater groups.  His work includes West Side Story, The Wizard Of Oz, Jesus Christ Superstar, Quilters, South Pacific, Fiddler on the Roof, and a bunch of others. He would LOVE to get involved in theater in San Antonio and hopes to create a cross-discipline dance company/performance group.

Ronda Runnels McClure

Ronda Runnels McClure began her dance training in San Antonio and pursued a dance degree from UT Austin.  In Austin, she danced with Third Coast Jazz Company and choreographed for numerous dance ensembles.  She studied dance in California and New York with the best teachers in the industry.  Returning to San Antonio, Ronda was the first artist to implement an outreach dance program to inner city schools.  In 1994 she created Visions Dance Troupe, a semi-professional youth company and in 1995 she opened the Turning Point Dance Center.  Over the last 10 years, Ronda has produced and choreographed original works that have received national awards in the jazz field.   Her unique blend of jazz and modern dance makes her style of choreography original works that have received national awards in the jazz field.  Her unique blend of jazz and modern dance makes her style of choreography unique and powerful.  She is currently on the faculty of Ballet San Antonio Academy, where she directs the jazz program, Insight Dance Ensemble, and is the artistic director of San Antonio Jazz Ensemble (SAJE).

Little Egypt (Brenda McFarlane)

Little Egypt (Brenda McFarlane) is truly one of San Antonio’s hidden treasures.  Through her sister’s encouragement, and as an alternative to running, she began studying “Beledi” under notable L.A. performers like Mesmera, Neena & Veena (the belly dance twins)and Leela.  She is now an established performer and instructor/choreographer of Oriental Dance.

Having been raised internationally, she traveled extensively working and sharing her perspective.  Her upbringing in Pu-Pyuong-Dong (a Korean village) and Ho Chi Min (Saigon), has proved an advantage.  She’s one of three siblings and grew up in an entrepreneur environment.  Little E’s stories of bridging sensibilities between generations and peers have been applauded and are intriguing.  Her deep understanding of different cultures makes her an unparalleled master instructor.  Her unique teaching skills and attentive application to rhythm encourages self expression.  She is dedicated to promoting appropriate movement, grace, and fun in a supportive environment.

Kristina Kuest Mistry is a free-lance choreographer / dancer / engineer in the San Antonio area.  Her training began here, mostly at St. Mary's Hall and with San Antonio Dance Theatre, where her primary focus was ballet.  She attended Boston University and Massachusetts Institute of Technology and continued her dance training at both B.U. and Boston Ballet School.  During the seven years that she performed with the Boston University Dance Theatre, she both choreographed and danced extensively in student and faculty concerts.  She participated in many workshops in the Boston area, especially in modern dance and contact improvisation.  She has studied with Deborah Bluth and Sean Curran and has also enjoyed retreats at Earthdance and festivals like American College Dance Festival. She serves as Vice President on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Dance Umbrella and is also WIP co-chairperson and webmaster. She is also a founding member of the Modern Dancers' Co-Laboratory. She has performed at Dance at the Sculptors' Dominion (2007), Merging Modes (2006), Young Tongues, several WIPs, and a night of improvization at Jumpstart. More on her dance can be found at http://www.kuestcorp.com/kristina/dance/dancer_girl.htm.
kmkuest@alum.mit.edu

In 1977, Belinda was the dance soloist in Fiesta Noche del Rio, a summer-long show performed at the Arneson River Theater. For twelve years (from 1977 to 1990), she was the principal dancer for Compañía de Arte Español, a former local Spanish dance company under the direction of guitarist Jose Linares and choreographer "La Chiqui". She studied Flamenco, Spanish Folk dance and Spanish Classical dance with several instructors in Madrid, Spain and choreographed several pieces which were performed in concert by the Compañía de Arte Español.

Belinda was one of the founding Advisory Board Members for the Guadalupe Dance Company when the group was initiated in 1990. She served for six years as a member and then as president on the Board of Directors of the San Antonio Dance Umbrella, a network of dance community representatives which serves as an information and service organization. She has served as a peer review panelist for the City of San Antonio Department of Arts and Cultural Affairs, the Colorado Council on the Arts and the National Endowment for the Arts Expansion Arts program.

Amber Ortega-Perez

Amber Ortega-Perez is a native of San Antonio, Texas.  She holds a BFA in Modern Dance from Ohio State University where she lived for 5 years studying and performing contemporary dance.  She has had the opportunity of dancing in an eclectic environment and therefore has accumulated a multi-lingual movement vocabulary.  She is honored to say that she has studied with such artists as Susan Hadley, formerly of the Mark Morris Dance Company, Susan Van Pelt, Karen Woods formerly of Merce Cunningham Dance Co., Ron Brown/Evidence, Jowalle Willa Jo Zollar of Urban Bush Women, Dayton Contemporary Dance Co., Irene Hultman, Demetrius Klein and many others.

While in Ohio she danced with the University Dance Company of the Ohio State University dance department and Folclor Hispano, as well as performed her own work and that of faculty and local choreographers.  Since moving to San Antonio , Texas she has choreographed and performed with Marissa Nesbit, Compania Arte de Danza Regional Mexico y Espana, Arathi Indian Dance Co., Javier De Frutos and filmmaker Isaac Julien.  Amber also has shown her own choreography at Texas Women's University and Art Salad in Dallas, DiverseWorks in Houston, San Antonio Dances, Dance for USA, W.I.P. and Young Tongues in San Antonio and also was a member and guest choreographer for Georgina Morgan & Company of San Antonio.

Currently Amber Ortega-Perez is a founding member of the Modern Dancers' Co-Laboratory, a cooperative of San Antonio modern dancers.  She currently teaches ballet and modern dance at Sarita's Dance Studio and she can still be found on the Texas Commission on the Arts Touring Roster. She can be reached at ortegaperez2002@yahoo.com

Barbara Phillips

Dancer, teacher, choreographer, Barbara teaches Rhythm Tap as faculty member and guest artist in both public and private dance institutions, including intensive workshops, residencies and master classes throughout the U.S. She has studied with many of the great contemporary artistsand masters including Sam Weber, Lynn Dally, Lane Alexander, Dianne Walker, Fred Strickler, Brenda Buffalino, and Acia Gray to name a few.

Barbara has appeared as a soloist in Tap Jammin in Kaplan Theater, Rhythm Extravaganza, Dance Festival S.A., Dance for U.S.A., Dallas National Tap Dance Day Celebrations, Third Coast Rhythm Project, as guest artist with Especially Tap Chicago, and at the Sole to Sole Festival in Austin. She has shared the stage with Dianne Walker, Sarah Petronio, Acia Gray, Nicholas Young, Nicole Hockenberry, , Mark Yonally, Ira Bernstein, Buster Cooper, and appeared in "JUBA" Masters of Tap and Percussive Dance with Mr. Lane Alexander, at the Chicago Human Rhythm Project. Barbara has staged numerous productions for the San Antonio Sympony's Pops Series including "Big Band" under the baton of the irrepressible Michael Krajewski, and works with numerous youth companies across the U.S. Her students and choreography have won national recognition garnishing both scholarships and numerous top awards.

Barbara is currently artistic director of the critically acclaimed R.P.M. Youth Tap Ensemble, founder and executive director of Southwest Performing Arts Network, and Artistic Producing Director of Third Coast Rhythm Project.
Email: thirdcoasttap@sbcglobal.net

Christy Walsh

Christy Walsh is from Norfolk, VA, where she danced created dances for Virginia Ballet Theater, Cordova Dance Company, Virginia Beach Ballet, Chamber Ballet of Williamsburg, and many other small companies and independent choreographers while pursuing a career as a fine art photographer. Her photographs have been shown at Zeitgeist Gallery, Pungo Gallery, and the Visual Arts Center in Hampton Roads. A commission from Southwestern Virginia Ballet was included in the SERBA festival of 2002.

While attending Rochester Institute of Technology, she studied at Garth Fagan Dance and choreographed dances for the RIT Dance Ensemble. As she completed her BFA in Film/Video at Virginia Commonwealth University, she worked with Richmond Ballet and Richmond Performing Arts Collective, for whom she choreographed several pieces and toured central Virginia.

After moving to New York, she danced for Saltare Dance Company, Metropolitan Repertory Ballet, Rockolage and several independent choreographers as well as small companies in Washington, D.C. and Upstate New York. In 1999, she participated in the Dance for Camera Workshop at the Massachusetts Museum of Modern Art in North Adams, MA. In 2002, she founded stringdance+media. stringdance has been presented by Steps On Broadway, Dancespace, Physical Arts Ceneter, Jennifer Muller/The Works, New York Performing Arts Center, and Peak Center for the Arts in New York and New Jersey. Her films and videos have been presented by Indie Soy, the Escape from New York Film Festival, the Anderson Gallery, and the Richmond Media Arts Festival.

In 2004, she created two site-specific shows: Dancing in the Window and Dancing on the Sidewalk in Roanoke, VA. While living in VA, she created dances for Southwest Virginia Ballet, as well as teaching and performing with the company.

Relocating to San Antonio in 2005, she founded Southwest Contemporary Ballet and choreographed a number of dances performed at Radius Café, Palo Alto College, Northwest Vista College, UTSA, the Central Library, and the Arneson Theatre. In addition, she has performed with SA Metropolitan Ballet and members of the Modern Dancers’ Co-laboratory. In 2006, she worked with artist Jennie Powers for the Co-Lab’s CAM event, Merging Modes. She teaches for a number of dance schools in San Antonio and is currently working toward making new film/video projects. Contact her at stringdances@hotmail.com.