Lauren Athey - Voice & Piano
Lauren Eleanor Athey, soprano, sang with a Toscan opera festival in Florence, Italy this past summer. She has lived in Florence, Italy for the past 3 summers, studying the Italian language and singing with festivals. Lauren sang Delmonte in Verdi’s Un Giorno di Regno with Amici Opera Company of Philadelphia and portrayed Une Pastourelle in Ravel’s L’enfant et les sortileges with Westminster Opera Theater, under the direction of Daniel Beckwith and Marc Verzatt. She has also sung with the New York Opera Studio at Vassar College, coaching with Nico Castel, and with the Rising Star Singers in Cincinnati, Ohio. Lauren has placed in Boston and NJ NATS vocal competitions. Lauren performed her graduate voice recital in April, 2008, which included the music of American song and opera composers. In May 2008, Lauren graduated with Master of Music degrees in Voice Performance and Voice Pedagogy from Westminster Choir College, where she was granted a graduate assistantship and won a graduate music scholarship. She is currently a student of Margaret Cusack.. Lauren has coached with Dalton Baldwin, Dr. J.J. Penna, Marco Balderi, José Melendez, Daniel Beckwith and Dr. Akiko Hosaki. Lauren sang in Handel’s Messiah in 2005 under Richard Hickox with the NY Philharmonic.Lauren received a Bachelor of Music degree in voice performance from Boston University’s College of Fine Arts, where she was granted a full scholarship. While in Boston, she studied voice with Penelope Bitzas and coached with Dr. Michelle Alexander. Lauren was an active soloist with the choirs at Boston University. She also had the opportunity to sing under Dr. Ann Howard Jones in great choral works, such as Brahms’ Requiem, Verdi’s Requiem, Beethoven’s 9th Symphony, and Britten’s War Requiem.Lauren’s musical theater roles include Cinderella (Into the Woods), Phyllia (A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum), Agnes Gooch (Mame), and Maria (The Sound of Music).Lauren has been teaching voice and piano lessons since 2004. Her students have been accepted to major music school across the U.S.A., including Juilliard and Westminster Choir College.
Terry Bles - Acting and Theater Direction
After receiving her BFA in Acting from the Mason Gross School of the Arts at Rutgers University, Terry became a professional actress in NYC and received her Equity card. Terry has performed in numerous national and international tours, such as Cabaret, Hello, Dolly!, The Velveteen Rabbit, and My Fair Lady (for which she also served as dance captain). She has sung, danced, and acted across the United States, Canada, and South East Asia. Regionally and in summer stock, favorite roles have included Princess Puffer in The Mystery of Edwin Drood, Mickie in My One and Only, Sister Leo in Nunsense and Nunsense II, and Mazeppa in Gypsy. After meeting her husband Rick on tour, she returned to school to study with F. Murray Abraham at CUNY/Brooklyn College and received her MFA in Acting. Although still appearing in NYC showcases, Terry turned to teaching. She taught at Brooklyn College, the Preparatory Center for the Performing Arts at Brooklyn College, the USDAN Center for the Performing Arts, and at the Gateway Acting School. During the past 14 years of teaching, she has also directed numerous children’s productions including Really Rosie, Godspell, Jungle Book, Cinderella, and The Wizard of Oz. She is the proud of mother of two girls, Taryn and Abigail.
Michael Carsley - Bass & Guitar
Michael was born and raised in Philadelphia. He has been playing the bass guitar since he was twelve years old. Since then he has shared the stage with John Scofield, The Jazz Mandolin Project, Scott McGill and countless others. In High school he opened a concert at Penns Landing for Grover Washington Jr. as a Mellon PFSF jazz band member. While studying bass performance at The University of the Arts, Michael began to teach private lessons and has continued to do so since August of 2000.
Michael has earned a Bachelors degree in bass performance as well as a Masters degree in Music Education from the Philadelphia University of the Arts. He is dedicated to bringing quality music education to children and to inspiring musicianship and creativity in learners. Michael has expanded his musicianship by playing and writing music for multiple instruments and has experience playing and teaching electric bass, trumpet, clarinet, flute, piano, and guitar among others. He is currently a Piano Instructor and the Choral Director at Cardinal Dougherty High School.
Alexei Charov - Ballet
Born in Yoshkar-Ola, Russia, Alexei began his ballet training at age nine and graduated from the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg – home of the famed ballet traditions developed by Agrippina Vaganova and Marius Petipa. His studies there included classical ballet, history of theater, history of music, acting, stage make-up, history of European and American ballet, character dance and pas de deux.
Mr. Charov started his professional career at the age of seventeen at the Donetsk Opera and Ballet House in Ukraine. He began touring nationally and abroad and enjoyed great success, quickly building a rich classical repertoire. In 1991 he moved to the United States and continued his performing career with the Indianapolis Ballet and the Pennsylvania Ballet, adding a wide collection of Balanchine works to his range.
Alexei has also performed in original works by many internationally acclaimed choreographers in a constellation of traditional and classical parts, which he has interpreted in new and exciting ways. His partners have included such ballet luminaries as Oscar-nominee Leslie Brown, Jodie Gates and Tatiana Pali, and his dancing has been highlighted and reviewed by the press in Europe and Asia, as well as in the United States.
As Director of Ballet Programs for the Koresh School of Dance in Philadelphia, Mr. Charov draws on his extensive teaching experience at numerous schools and conferences around the country. He is also currently a guest Master Teacher at the City Ballet of Houston, Texas, and teaches regularly at Dance Theatre of Pennsylvania.
Alexa Hibbert -
Minis, Dance Basics, Theater, Beginner Ballet & Adult Tap
Alexa Hibbert has been teaching dance and acting for the last ten years in the South Jersey region, as well as directed several children’s productions. Alexa has served as choreographer for Eastern Regional High School’s spring musicals for the last five years. There she also served as Vocal Director and Costume Designer for one production each. Alexa received a BFA in Musical Theatre from Syracuse University, and also studied abroad in London. She is a member of Actor’s Equity Association, and has performed throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region. Some appearances include the Arden Theatre, Media Theatre, opening for the Philly Pops, and singing onstage with Clay Aiken. Alexa is most proud, however, of her role as “Mom”, to her daughter, Anna, who has now seemed to have caught the acting bug!
Darlene Kelsey - Voice and Piano
DARLENE KELSEY, soprano, has appeared with Concert Operetta Theater, Center City Opera Theater, Florentine Opera Company, Opera for the Young, Musicam Sacram, La Musica Lirica, Delaware Valley Opera Company, Chicago Symphony Chorus, Vox Ama Deus, and West Jersey Chamber Music Society. Recent performances include Suor Genovieffa in Suor Angelica with Delaware Valley Opera Company, Micaëla in Carmen with Center City Opera Theater, Lauretta in Gianni Schicchi with La Musica Lirica in Italy, Poppea in scenes from L’incoronazione di Poppea at the Chicago Cultural Center, and Despina in the Three Little Pigs with the Florentine Opera Company. Other roles include Countess Ceprano in Rigoletto with La Musica Lirica, Gretel in Hansel and Gretel, Lucy in The Threepenny Opera, Laetitia in The Old Maid and the Thief, Papagena in The Magic Flute, and Lebanu in the world premiere of Super Double Lite at Symphony Space in New York City. Upcoming roles include Princess Hélène in A Waltz Dream with Concert Operetta Theater and Clorinda (cover) in Cinderella with Delaware Valley Opera Company. In addition to opera, Ms. Kelsey has performed recitals on several concert series including the Noontime Concert Series at the University of Chicago and the Bach Birthday with Vox Ama Deus. Currently, Ms. Kelsey is an apprentice artist with Center City Opera Theater and teaches throughout the Philadelphia area. A graduate of the Peabody Conservatory, she received her Master’s degree in voice after completing a performance degree in oboe.
Frank Markowitz - Drums
In learning to play the drums, Frank had the opportunity to study under such instructors as Cliff Adams (percussionist for the Boston Pops) and Vic Firth (percussionist for the Boston Symphony). He has been able to pass along that knowledge while teaching the snare drum and drum set. In addition, Frank has played in various musical groups including pit orchestras (for the King and I, Music Man and Showboat), marching bands (including Syracuse University among others) and concert, stage, latin, jazz and rock bands.
Megan McGee - Jazz, Choreographic Concepts and Portfolio Dance Company Jr. Team
Megan is originally from Enola, Pennsylvania, and came to the Philadelphia area by way of La Salle University. She holds a B.A. in American Studies from La Salle University, and an M.A. in American Studies from The Pennsylvania State University. She has been dancing since the age of 7, and spent 9 years training at Wevodau Dance Center in Camp Hill, Pennsylvania, where she was also a member of the Encore Dance Company. She trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and hip-hop, and competed annually at the All-American Talent Awards. She has also been involved in theatre since 1997, using dance as a way to get more involved. She did shows with her high school, playing "Eliza Doolittle" in My Fair Lady and "Minnie Faye" in Hello Dolly!, as well as with the Pennsylvania Youth Musical Theatre in Mechanicsburg, PA. Megan is also a proud alumni of the Masque of La Salle, where her performance highlights included "Lulu" in Cabaret, "Mrs. McCarthey" in Michael Hollinger's Red Herring, "Dinah Lord" in The Philadelphia Story, and "Soupy Sue" in Urinetown. She also performed as a member of the project "Chemistry in Motion," which illustrated chemical reactions through different disciplines of dance. She spends her spare time with her friends, her cat Barney, and her fiance Jason. She is very excited to be working at Fusion, and looks forward to growing as an instructor here.
Sammy Reyes - Hip Hop, Coach of the Portfolio Dance Company
Sammy graduated from the University of the Arts in 2001. While at UArts, he received the Cushman Acting Award and the ensemble theater award for his outstanding achievements in dramatic arts. After college, Sammy continued his dance training with Ronen Koresh, Rennie Harris and Kip Martin. He was rehearsal director and dance member of Dance Theater X Project, directed by Charles O. Anderson. Sammy continues to choreograph independently for numerous events including the Philadelphia Gay Pride Event at the Kimmel Center in May 2001. He has also worked with the Walnut Street Theater Educational Dept, Prince Music Theatre, 11th Hour Theater Co., the Cat Scratch Theater Company, Luna Theater and Jeffrey Marsh La Cabaret. Recently, he was commissioned to choreograph for Zen One Dance Collective, Montazh Dance Company, Darimar Productions, the singing group BADD and Lady Ru, New Jersey Garden State Dance Festival from 2004-2007, and the Philadelphia Fringe Festival. Sammy is currently a teacher of jazz and hip-hop all over the tri-state area and has been a residential artist at Muhlenberg College since 2004.
Diva Richards - Hip Hop
Diva has been apart of the dance community in Tri-State area for many years. Currently she runs a personal training business in Cherry Hill, New Jersey .She is known for her high energy, athletic and aggressive dance style. She has BFA in dance from Temple University and was named choreographer of the year of her graduating class. Diva work has been featured in “The Bric Studio Concert Series” in New York City (2005) and “This Woman’s Work Concert Series” in New York City (2004) .She Choreographed a college tour for Independent R&B Artist Kym Branch (1999) .Diva was also the artistic director and choreographer for “Bodies In Motion” a hip hop dance company based out of Philadelphia. Diva has performed in such Musical Theater Productions as Freedom Theater’s Black Nativity(2001,’2000), Alkynzadanz (1999,2001) and Cooley High (1996).She is trained in Ballet, Jazz, Graham Technique, Horton Technique, African dance (Umfundila technique) and a wide variety of hip-hop dance styles. In the classroom Diva strives to push her students to excellence. She believes young dancers must fully learn to exploit all available resources to them; she helps them accentuate what she teaches by stressing the importance of now; because once the moment passes, one cannot gain it back. She helps her students to become artists of the craft, rather than just technicians of it. She teaches them this through her theory that technicians are a dime a dozen but artists are a diamond in the rough. Hip-hop is not just a dance ….it’s a way of life.