JADA WILLIS
Jada Willis, a Virginia native, started her dance training at the Academy of Classical and Contemporary in Chesapeake, VA where she participated in various regional and national competitions. While in high school, she attended The Governor’s School for the Arts in Norfolk, VA under the direction of Deborah Thorpe and Todd Rosenlieb. In 2017, Jada graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University in Richmond, VA with a B.F.A. in Dance & Choreography. During her time at VCU she performed in multiple faculty works and had the opportunity to represent VCU at the 2015 & 2016 ACDA Mid-Atlantic Conferences. Jada has spent summers at numerous dance programs, including Bates Dance Festival & The Philadanco Summer Intensive under the direction of Joan Myers Brown in Philadelphia, PA on partial/full scholarships. In 2018, Jada then moved to ATL where she had the opportunity to perform in works for the 2019 & 2020 Dance Canvas as well as their Atlanta Contemporary and Dance Canvas Summer Choreographic Residency in 2020. Jada has worked with Atlanta based artists such as Patricia “Patsy” Collins, Jessica Bertram, Danielle Swatzie, and Raianna Brown. In the summer of 2021, Jada performed for Kanye West’s DONDA show at the Mercedes Benz Stadium in Atlanta, GA. She then began her first year of becoming a faculty member at The Neighborhood Ballet during the 2021-2022 school year. Since July 2022, Jada has been a fitness coach/instructor for [solidcore] and has recently transferred to the Short Pump and Libbie Mill studios here in Richmond, VA.
Joe Garofolo
Joe Garofolo remembers putting on his first pair of tap shoes at the age of five.
The passion for rhythm first developed while studying under the finest teachers in New York State, such as Joyce Winters, David DeMarie, Germaine Salsberg, and Barbara Duffy.
Early in his career, he was given the opportunity of joining Actors Equity Association (AEA) and American Guild of Variety Artists (AGVA), which allowed him to perform professionally in NYC, Atlantic City, Tampa, and Los Angeles.
He met his future wife, Lisa, at an audition, and got married. They both said goodbye to show business and hello to four children which have produced three grandchildren, and one more on the way!
Teaching gives him much joy as he passes on his passion for tap dance and its history to the next generation!
Nakita James
Nakita studied at The Right Way Dance Studio from age 6 to 16. She attended The Dance Spot from age 16-18. She holds a BFA in Dance from VCU.
Robbie Kinter
Robbie Kinter is the music director for VCU’s Department of Dance & Choreography where he teaches contact improvisation and sound design. He taught drumming and theater for Brilliant Summer at St. Catherine’s School for 30 years. Robbie has created over 50 scores for dance including works for Amaranth Contemporary Dance, Robert Battle, ClancyWorks, and Starr Foster Dance. His sound design has earned him 3 nominations for best sound design through the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle. He has two solo releases under the name Conscious Pilot and 7 albums as drummer for Rattlemouth. He is also a choreographer and videographer.
Shannon Bramham
Originally from Virginia, Shannon graduated with her BFA in Dance Performance from East Carolina University. While in school, she had the opportunity to perform in works chosen to be part of the American College Dance Festival Association in 2006 and 2007. In 2007, her own choreography was selected to be shown at the American College Dance Festival Association Gala. She also had the chance to set her work on the South Dayton Dance Theatre in Dayton, OH. Shannon has taught at the Ann Catherine Cross School of Dance in Mechanicsville, VA, the Academy of Dance Arts in Winston-Salem, NC and currently teaches both adults and children at the Koresh School of Dance. Shannon joined Koresh Dance Company in 2008.
Micah Geyer
Raised in North Carolina, Micah started dancing at a young age with Nina's School of Dance in Durham. He later joined the North Carolina Youth Tap Ensemble under the direction of Gene Medler. During his career, he had the privilege to perform at the Kennedy Center and the Joyce Theater for Tap City, as well as tour throughout Europe and South America. He received his BFA in Dance Performance and Psychology from East Carolina University and joined Koresh Dance Company in 2007.
Tim Roberts
Tim Roberts has been teaching in the DC metro area for over 10 Years. His performance credits include national tours with 42nd Street, Cats and Jelly’s Last Jam. He also choreographed a duet which premiered on stage in the first annual Capitol Movement Project.
Yarden Raz
Yarden was born and raised in Rishon Le'-zion, Israel. She danced for the Boomer Dance Company as a teen. After serving in the Israeli Army she began to study and explore Gaga - a dance technique conceived by Ohad Naharin, the artistic director of The Batsheva Dance Company. She was very lucky to work in a couple projects with the The Batsheva Ensemble. Since Moving to New York City, she has danced with the Stefanie Nelson Dance Group, Oliver Steele, and has presented her own work at Triskelion Arts.
Kim Fox Knight
Kimberly Fox Knight is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University with a BM in Vocal Performance; Kim performed at local theater, theme parks and has various successful projects for Richmond artist. Kimberly released her first solo album in 2013 titled "Second Chances". Besides performing, Kimberly dedicates her evenings as a vocal coach at Mechanicsville Music Center.
Carol Taylor
Education & Training
• Grew up dancing at Ann Catherine Cross School of Dance
• BS in Human Development from Virginia Tech
• Dancer on nationally ranked Virginia Tech Dance Team
• Associate member of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble at Virginia Tech
• Performer in Kings Dominion's Halloween shows
• Member of the Karar Dance Company
• Performer and Choreographer for We Are Artists
• Teacher at ACCSD for 6 years
Caroline Echevarria
Education & Training
• Student at ACCSD / age 12-18
• BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Elon University
• B.S. in Exercise Science from Elon University
Allie Ramirez
Education & Training
• Studied with Matt Steffanina, Dana Alexa, Will Adams and JoJo Gomez