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SUMMER

INTENSIVE

JULY 1 - 12

AGES 5 – 11

JULY 15 - 27

AGES 12+

SUMMER

INTENSIVE

JULY 1 - 12

AGES 5 – 11

JULY 15 - 27

AGES 12+

RAISE THE BAR SUMMER INTENSIVE 2024

Collage will offer two programs:

RAISE THE BAR JUNIOR, being offered July 1 – 12, 2024 is best for dancers ages 5 – 11.

RAISE THE BAR SENIOR, being offered July 15 – 27, 2024 is best for dancers ages 12 and up.

Ages 5 – 11

Classes for the RTB Junior Summer Intensive include: Ballet, Jazz, Intro to Spanish Dance, Tap, Nutrition and Broadway.

Each class is designed to nurture budding dancers and will both stimulate and challenge them to explore their creativity, while developing a solid technical foundation. The program is excellent for beginners, as well as intermediate and advanced dancers seeking continued summer training.

Schedule & Dates

July 1 – July 12

Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 2:00 p.m. or 9:00 a.m. to 3:00 p.m. depending on level

Tuition

$525. Students must register and balances must be paid in full no later than May 3, 2024.

Ages 12+

Classes for RTB Senior Summer Intensive include: Ballet, Jazz, Horton, Variations, Pointe, Choreography Lab and Men’s Technique.

Raise The Bar Senior is an intensive exploration of key codified techniques to help dancers strengthen their kinesthetic sense, movement quality, alignment and artistry.

Schedule & Dates

July 15 – 27

Monday through Friday 9:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m and Saturdays 9:00 a.m. to 1:00 p.m.

Tuition

$600. Students must register and balances must be paid in full no later than May 3, 2024.

Faculty

Housing

Chaperoned room and board is available to students ages 12 and up through the University of Memphis, our housing partner.  Occupancy is based on double rooms in a pod/suite with at least 1 – 2 assigned chaperones residing on each floor.  Rooms include high-speed internet/Wi-Fi, free premium cable service, 24/7 laundry, multiple safety and security features and collaboration spaces.

Daily transportation by chartered bus to and from the Collage Dance Center is included, along with breakfast, lunch and dinner Monday – Friday.  Off campus activities on the weekend will also be offered for additional fees.  

Cost: $1,150 / $150 deposit.

Collage Dance accepts eligible students of all races and national or ethnic backgrounds.

Collage Dance accepts eligible students of all races and national or ethnic backgrounds.

Scholarships

Applications for scholarships are now closed. Recipients will be notified March 29th, 2024.

Refund Policy

There will be no refunds for voluntary withdrawal either before or after the Intensive begins. In the event serious illness or injury prevents a student from participating, a refund of up to 75% of the tuition amount paid will be considered.

Contact

For more information regarding the program or curriculum, please contact Collage Dance at (901) 800-1873 or via email at [email protected].

Lenore Pavlakos Morales

Collage Dance Rehearsal Director

Lenore Pavlakos Morales is a native of Brooklyn, NY and graduate of The Juilliard School where she received her BFA Degree in dance. Her professional career includes Eglevsky Ballet, Maryland Ballet & Eugene Ballet before joining Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) under the direction of Arthur Mitchell.  She quickly rose through the ranks and was promoted to Soloist and later Principal dancer. In her 11-year tenure with DTH she worked with master’s such as Fredrick Franklin, John Taras, Suzanne Farrell, Jacques D’Ambroise, Geoffrey Holder.  Featured roles include: Waltz Girl in Balanchine’s Serenade, Medea in Michael Smuin’s Medea, Desdemona in Jose Limon’s Moors Pavane, Princess of Unreal Beauty in John Taras’s Firebird and Myrta in Fredrick Franklin’s staging of Creole Giselle. In addition to performing, she served as assistant rehearsal director to the company and Master Teacher for their “Dancing through Barriers”, outreach program both in the US and abroad. Lenore performed as guest artist to various companies in the US. Ms. Morales was a featured model for Capezio ads and has been seen in Oprah, Mademoiselle, Pointe, and Dance Magazine as well as Italy’s Io Donna.  

Following her performing career Ms. Morales served as Director to The Harkness Youth Ballet @ 92nd Street Y and later Ballet Mistress to Staten Island Ballet. Recently, she was delighted to serve as guest Rehearsal Director to Dance Theatre of Harlem, NYC during their 2021-2022 season. In 2022, Lenore joined Collage Dance Collective as Rehearsal Director during its 13th Performance Season. Additional teaching includes ballet faculty at Rutgers – Mason Gross School of the Arts,West Virginia Dance Festival, Scarsdale Ballet Studio, American Ballet Theatre JKO School, Academy of Dance Arts, Marymount Manhattan College, New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, Tremaine Dance Convention. She is a certified teacher of Zena Rommett Floor-Barre® technique.

Karen Niceley

Ballet & Jazz

Karen Niceley attended the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet and later received her BFA in Dance Education at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia. Karen’s professional credits include work with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Michael Mao Dance Company, Metropolitan Opera, Cirque Du Soleil, Keith Lee’s Dance Theatre of Lynchburg and the Broadway National Tour of The Color Purple.

Prior to relocating to Memphis in spring 2021, Karen taught dance, Vinyasa yoga and creative movement in more than 100 schools throughout the five boroughs of NYC. As a result of decades long work with The Leadership Program, Karen is recognized for her ability to utilize social emotional learning, anti-bullying best practices and restorative justice models to implement transformative youth development programs that combine academics and dance technique.

As the Community Engagement Manager for Collage Dance, Karen works to broaden the organization’s in-school dance education program, Turning Pointe, by fostering relationships with Memphis area schools. She also works to cultivate a vibrant adult dance community through program development at the new Collage Dance Center and dance exposure opportunities in Memphis and beyond.

Karen is also co-founder of Gritty Cherries, Inc., a non-profit art production company that serves as a springboard for emerging artists of all types, providing venues and producing special events for charitable organizations with a variety of artists who collaborate together under one roof and a specific theme while bringing high quality training in the arts to underprivileged youth through their arts education program Gritty Cherries Arts Education.

Noelia Garcia Carmona

Flamenco / Ballet

Noelia Garcia Carmona is a native of Barcelona, Catalonia (Spain).She is a dance educator, dancer and choreographer with more than 30 years of professional experience. She started dancing at a young age and followed her passion and dream of becoming a dance professional and traveling the world. She graduated from the Institut del Teatre I Dansa in Barcelona in 1993 specializing in Spanish dance and Flamenco. Upon graduation, she co-founded the Flamenco and contemporary dance company Increpacion Danza, where she was a performer and choreographer for 10 years, touring all over Europe, China and The Philippines. In 2002, she was selected as a dance performer by Cirque du Soleil, for their show Zummanity. Noelia moved to the USA in 2003 and has since lived in Memphis,TN. Noelia has worked as a Dance Director with New Ballet Ensemble & School between 2003-20021. She is a graduate of the class of 2017,CAELI (Community Arts Education Leadership Institute) from the National Guild for Community Arts Education. 

In her role as dancer and choreographer, she has created and performed numerous dance works with students and professional dancers that have been presented in venues across the city as The Cannon Center, Levitt Shell, Playhouse on the Square , Halloran Center and others. She has also performed in New York City ( Alvin Alley- APAP), and in Washington DC ( Kennedy Center with the National Symphony Orchestra). Some of her original choreography includes “Dos,” “Tiempos,” “El Rey de Harlem,” “Fuego” and “Voices.” She creates dance works that are relevant and inclusive of other dance genres outside of Spanish dance and Flamenco. 

In 2022, she joined The Collage Dance Collective dance faculty. She teaches ballet and Spanish dance and Flamenco to children and adults. She is also a Dance Artist with Company D where she teaches dancers with Down Syndrome. Other institutions where Noelia teaches dance are Tennessee Governor School for the Arts, Hutchison’s School and GPAC. She is the co-founder and Artistic director of Flamenco Memphis. Their purpose is to bring awareness, create presence and educate about the art of Flamenco in the Memphis area and the Midsouth through dance classes, lectures, culture and performances. Noelia is also a Guest Faculty at University of Memphis where she teaches about Flamenco dance and history in World Dance class.

DeAngelo Cheatom

Jazz, Ballet & Modern

DeAngelo Cheatom a Detroit Native has been dancing since the age of 3 studying in Ballet, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop and African. Training at various places such as Detroit Windsor Dance Academy, The Detroit School of Arts, The Link School Of Arts and The University Of The Arts. DeAngelo has now performed all over the world in concert dance with Eleone Dance Theater out of Philadelphia for three seasons. He then moved on to more freelance artist performing and working with world renown choreographers. His love father art of dance and the stage has grown beyond what he ever thought it could be. Now he using all of the things he has learned and is continuing share with students and collaborators.

Danielle Pierce

Creative Movement & Tap

Danielle Jenice Pierce is an award-winning competitive dancer with more than 15 years of training in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Hip Hop and Modern.

A graduate of The University of Memphis and former Memphis RedBirds Redhots member, Danielle has been a faculty member with the Collage Dance Conservatory since 2017. She teaches Tap through our community-connected Turning Pointe program, in partnership with Memphis area schools, and on-site at the Collage Dance Center where she also teaches Creative Movement for budding dancers ages 2 – 3.

Danielle is an active member of Hot Foot Honeys, a Memphis-based professional Tap Dance company, and the Southern Association for Dance Masters. She’s also currently training with The American Tap Dance Foundation where she will be receiving a teaching certification for tap technique, repertory and performance skills in 2021.

Dorian Rhea

Jazz & Tap

DORIAN RHEA (CHOREOGRAPHER) A south side, Chicago bred artist, Dorian Rhea has been an active participant in community based arts and education for the past seven years. He has performed and choreographed pieces for recording artists like Silentò & Chance The Rapper, while using his art as a tool for activism and reformation by working alongside the Obamas on the ‘Healthier America’ initiative. His works have been featured at venues such as The Chicago Theater & The Museum of Contemporary Art.

He has held residencies at The Joffrey Ballet Chicago as well as The American Rhythm Center, and facilitated world-class workshops at Roosevelt University, Chicago State University, and Wilbur Wright College. From working with charitable arts programs in public schools across the city, to providing free performance training under the non-profit ‘Happiness Club’, Dorian continues to encourage, build, and support reputable opportunities and networks that give back to the communities who invest so much into the future.

Lauren Anderson

Teacher And Houston Ballet Education & Community Engagement Associate Director

Lauren Anderson danced with Houston Ballet from 1983 to 2006, performing leading roles in all the great classical ballets, appearing across the world to critical acclaim, and in the process, becoming one of Houston Ballet’s most beloved stars.

She trained exclusively at Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy from the age of seven.

She joined Houston Ballet in 1983 as a Corps de Ballet and in 1990 became the first African American to be promoted to principal dancer at Houston Ballet – and one of the few African American ballerinas at the head of a major ballet company anywhere in the world.

Anderson is also an honorary member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Anderson was awarded the Jefferson Award for Community Service in 2011. Most recently, Ms. Anderson received the Barbara Jordan, Breaking Barriers award from the Harris County Democratic Party.

She has been honored by numerous organizations.

In January 2007, Ms. Anderson assumed her new role in Houston Ballet’s education department where she conducts master classes, and lectures to students on dance and her historic career as one of America’s most distinguished African American ballerinas.

In the spring of 2016, the Smithsonian’s National Museum of African American History and Culture awarded her with a permanent exhibit. In fall of 2021 was inducted into the Texas Women’s Hall of Fame. Most recently, a production chronicling her life, Plumshuga: The Rise of Lauren Anderson, premiered at Stages Theater.

Christina Johnson

Teacher And Dance Coach

Christina’s career began at age seventeen with Boston Ballet. She then joined Dance Theatre of Harlem where she became a principal dancer within four years and had a 13-year tenure. She was a founding member of Complexions Contemporary Ballet and was a featured guest artist with various companies worldwide, including the Royal Ballet of London, where she and Ronald Perry were the first black couple in its history to perform with the company. Christina danced in Switzerland for seven years with Le Ballet du Grand Theatre de Geneve and Ballett Basel.

After her performance career Christina has been sought after as a teacher and coach for dance schools, professional companies, and universities. She held the position of Rehearsal Director for Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, Washington Ballet, Armitage Gone! Dance, Trey McIntyre Project and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Christina is also a judge and master teacher for dance competitions, such as Universal Ballet Competition, American Dance Competition/International Ballet Competition and Revel Dance Convention. She was recently featured in the book Dance Theatre of Harlem: A History, A Movement, A Celebration, as well as Misty Copeland’s book, Black Ballerinas: My Journey to Our Legacy.

Christina holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from Hollins University in collaboration with the American Dance Festival, The Forsythe Company and Frankfurt University of Music and Performing Arts in Germany.

Kevin Thomas

Artistic Director / Ballet

Kevin Thomas began his dance training with Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec in Montreal, Canada, and has danced with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Cleveland/San Jose Ballet and the Dance Theatre of Harlem (DTH) in New York City.  He joined DTH in 1995 and was promoted to principal dancer in 1999. With DTH, Mr. Thomas’ credits include leading roles in The Prodigal Son, Dialogues, The Four Temperaments, Othello, Adrian (Angel on Earth), A Song for Dead Warriors, Troy Games, Equuis and Dougla. 
 
He has performed leading roles in numerous ballets including, The Nutcracker, Tarantella, Agon, Who Cares, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Don Quixote, Consort Lessons, and Aureole. Mr. Thomas has made guest appearances with the Royal Ballet in London, Complexions Contemporary Ballet in New York and Fleming Flindt and Peter Schaufuss in Denmark. He has also appeared on Broadway in The Phantom of the Opera. 
 
In 2006, Mr. Thomas co-founded Collage Dance Collective, a Memphis-based contemporary ballet company recently named a “Southern Cultural Treasure” by South Arts and Ford Foundation. In addition to serving as its artistic director and an integral choreographic voice, Mr. Thomas is also a highly sought-after guest choreographer creating works for Nashville Ballet, Opera Memphis, Hattiloo Repertory Theatre, Flint Institute of Music, University of Utah, and The University of Memphis to name a few. From 2017 – 2018, Mr. Thomas also served as a National Visiting Fellow at the School of American Ballet.

Brandye Lee

Ballet

Brandye Lee is a cum laude alumna of Smith College (Economics & Afro-American Studies), and received her formal dance training as a scholarship student at Jones-Haywood School of Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Ailey School. A native Washingtonian, she was a featured dancer with Ailey II and Disney’s blockbuster “The Lion King” – National Gazelle Tour. While touring with The Lion King, Brandye served as the company’s outreach coordinator, creating unique behind-the-scenes experiences that included the show’s phenomenal cast, crew and orchestra members. Throughout her travels, she has produced numerous concerts benefiting community arts and education organizations. Brandye has been a guest performer and teacher in many of the 47 states she toured, including at Flint Institute of Music, Dance Institute of Washington, Dance Theatre of Lynchburg, Troy D. Brown’s The Art of Technique, Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, George Mason University, University of Tennessee, Fisk University, Rhodes College, Marymount University, and countless others. Most recently, Brandye served as Rehearsal Director for Memphis, Tennessee’s groundbreaking ballet company and conservatory, Collage Dance Collective. In addition to receiving numerous awards, she is a New Memphis Institute Fellow and former commissioner for the Memphis City Beautiful Commission. Brandye is a current recipient of a graduate dance fellowship at University of California at Irvine, focusing on choreography and issues of equity and diversity in ballet. Through her lifelong passion for dance, she continues to find innovative ways to let her life speak, and serve her community.

Yosek Prieto

Men’s Technique

YOSEK PRIETO (CHOREOGRAPHER) began his ballet career at the age of 10 at the Escuela Vocacional de Arte in Pinar del Rio, Cuba studying the history and fundamental elements of ballet, French, dance repertoires, modern dance and gymnastics. At the age of 15, he began studying at the world-renowned Escuela Nacional de Ballet in Havana, Cuba where he continued his studies of ballet, contemporary dance, folk dance, ballroom dance, duo classic, dance methodology and the history of dance. He participated in many productions with noted instructors and choreographers such as Alicia Alonso, Ivan Tenorio, Alberto Alonso, Gustavo Herrera, Pedro Consuegra, Maria Rovira and Jorge Amarante. In 2000, he joined the Ballet Nacional de Cuba and danced with that company for 5 years, participating in numerous productions, international festivals and tours under the direction of Alicia Alonso. In 2005, Yosek joined Ballet de Monterrey in Monterrey, Mexico where he continued to expand his repertoire and international experience. In 2009, Yosek moved to Memphis, Tennessee where he now shares his knowledge and experience as a ballet instructor.

Kevin Tate

Modern

Kevin R. Tate (AGMA/AEA) is a native of Washington DC and was raised in Brooklyn, NY. He received his BFA in Dance Performance from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, also a proud alumnus of the NYC Professional Performing Arts High School.

Kevin’s first Broadway credit came at age 12 as Jackie Thibodeaux in George C. Wolfe’s Caroline or Change.  Concert dance credits include The MET Opera Ballet of NYC, Rasta Thomas’s BAD BOYS of Dance, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Kyle Abraham’s AIM & Collage Dance Collective. Kevin is an Original cast member of The Lion King Rafiki Broadway Tour (Lead Gazelle).  In 2019, Broadway World featured Kevin as one of the “Top 20 Hottest Men in Dance”. Modeling features include the brands: Charlie by MZ, Oofos, Doordash & Brooklyn Brewery. Most recently you can see Kevin on NBC’s Law & Order.  Managed by Peggy Stamps, The SquarePeg Group, Inc. 

Sherrod Tate

Teacher And Choreographer

Sherrod Tate grew up mostly in Atlanta after moving from Chicago.  Sherrod has always loved to dance and admired artists like Michael & Janet Jackson. It wasn’t until he met his dance teacher at Westlake High School that he knew he could make a lucrative career strictly from dance. Once he graduated from high school he dove head first into the commercial industry in Atlanta. At 20 years old Debbie Allen recruited him to Los Angeles & made him artist in residence where he would continue to train and work professionally. Since then he’s been making his dreams come true every year and has danced and choreographed on award shows like the Superbowl, The Grammys, Billboard Awards, The Academy Awards, MTV Awards, American Music Awards etc. He’s also danced on television shows such as, NBC’s “Annie”, “Ravens Home”, “Empire”, “First Lady”, “American Soul”, “Aretha” etc. Live shows like Jimmy Fallon, SNL, The Real, Good Morning America and has toured around the world with artists like Mariah Carey, Lil Nas X, Gwen Stefani, The Weeknd, Normani, Ciara, Janelle Monae, Lizzo, Kelly Clarkson, Shania Twain, Chloe & Halle and more.

Men Ca

Modern

The bio-[Kemet]cal essence of Men Ca is in his name: mata is energy from the nucleus of the ca’nscious atam. A practitioner of defining that which he does through that which he is, (i.e., Men Ca), his absolute Art and Science is simply to be ca’nscious at all times, in all times, thus defining the life force energy of love and understanding.