Dance Academy Staff
BRIANA BLAIR KELLY, Director and Instructor
Briana Blair Kelly is a multidisciplinary artist and dance educator with a versatile background and rooted passion for the arts. A native of Rochester, NY, Kelly began her dance training as an Irish dancer at Drumcliffe Irish Arts under the instruction of Edward J. Murphy and Michael Galvin. Over the span of ten years she became a champion Irish dancer and traveled to Ireland in 2005 and 2006 for the Irish Dance World Championship. Kelly attended School of the Arts in Rochester where she double majored in Visual Arts and Dance, studied ballet at the Timothy M. Draper Center for Dance Education for five years and was lucky enough to have private voice lessons with Derrick Smith at the Eastman School of Music for three years.
Kelly graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Fredonia in 2012 with a BFA in Musical Theater. This degree required extensive studies in acting, music and dance. She studied voice under the instruction of Shinobu Takagi and her acting education was vigorous and diverse thanks to Thomas Loughlin, Paul Mockovak, James Ivey, Jessica Hillman-McCord, and Ted Sharon. Kelly became very involved with the dance department during her four years at Fredonia. She had the privilege of studying under Helen Myers, Sam Kenney, and Angelika Summerton, and was asked to be the Assistant Director of the Fredonia Dance Ensemble her senior year. While attending Fredonia, Kelly had many performance opportunities in dance and theater; She was in the Fredonia Dance Ensemble from 2008-2011, was the First Witch in Macbeth and was an ensemble member in A Christmas Carol, Kiss Me Kate, and The Sound of Music. She was hired to choreograph the concert version of Guys and Dolls, was awarded The Harry John Brown and Paul W. Mockovak Award in Musical Theatre and was the Co-Creator/President of SUNY Fredonia’s Student Dance Organization her senior year.
During her senior year at SUNY Fredonia Kelly was hired to be the Choreographer at Fredonia High School. She held this position for three years; her credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Bye Bye Birdie. Kelly and her students were nominated for ‘Best Dance Performance’ in the 2014 Kenny Awards for their work in Bye Bye Birdie. While acting as choreographer she assisted with directing, as well as acting and vocal coaching. While living in Fredonia she also taught Irish dance at Infinity Dance Academy and Chadwick Bay Academy of Dance. In 2013, Kelly was hired by SUNY Fredonia to be the Stage Director and Choreographer for the Commencement Eve Pops Concert.
Kelly moved back to Rochester in 2014 to pursue her MFA in Choreography and Performance at The College at Brockport. While at Brockport she studied under Cheryl Johnson, Stevie Oakes, Tammy Carrasco, James Hansen, Mariah Maloney, Karl Rogers, Vanessa VanWormer, Heather Acomb, Ashley Friend, Colleen Culley, Juanita Suarez, and Allison Bohman. She presented papers at Brockport’s Scholar’s Day in 2015 and 2016, and presented the choreographic portion of her MFA thesis in 2017. Kelly was fortunate to have multiple performance opportunities while attending Brockport: Space Walk, Tap Musings, If The Shoe Fits, The Jack Rabbit, and Edges.
While maintaining full-time status as a graduate student Kelly has continued to choreograph diverse styles in various arenas. Kelly worked closely with the first year students in the Brockport Dance Department. Her choreography appeared in the New Dancers’ Showcase for two years; both of her pieces, Beautiful Imperfections (2014) and Disconnect (2015) were Tap-Contemporary fusion. She was hired by Brockport’s Dance Department to be the Concert Coordinator for the New Dancers’ Showcase in 2016. Kelly was hired by SUNY Brockport’s Theater Department to choreograph Assassins (2016) and also by School of the Arts to choreograph Mary Poppins (2015).
Kelly’s passion for teaching has continued to grow over the past few years. She has worked at Palymra-Macedon Conservatory of Dance since 2014 where she teaches Irish, Tap, Musical Theatre and Contemporary, and Jazz. She had the opportunity to teach a Tap/Contemporary Fusion class at the American College Dance Association’s Mideast Conference at Brockport (2016). Kelly is an active substitute teacher for the Rochester City School District since 2015 and mainly substitutes for the dance teachers at School of the Arts. She became the teaching assistant to Cheryl Johnson, her Tap mentor, in the spring of 2016. Kelly had many teaching opportunities while attending Brockport: Dance Awareness Days, substitute teaching, guest instructor. She has been a member of the National Dance Educator Organization (NDEO) for three years and served as the NHSDA Officer and Secretary for NDEO’s Brockport Student Chapter.
Kelly graduated Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Fredonia in 2012 with a BFA in Musical Theater. This degree required extensive studies in acting, music and dance. She studied voice under the instruction of Shinobu Takagi and her acting education was vigorous and diverse thanks to Thomas Loughlin, Paul Mockovak, James Ivey, Jessica Hillman-McCord, and Ted Sharon. Kelly became very involved with the dance department during her four years at Fredonia. She had the privilege of studying under Helen Myers, Sam Kenney, and Angelika Summerton, and was asked to be the Assistant Director of the Fredonia Dance Ensemble her senior year. While attending Fredonia, Kelly had many performance opportunities in dance and theater; She was in the Fredonia Dance Ensemble from 2008-2011, was the First Witch in Macbeth and was an ensemble member in A Christmas Carol, Kiss Me Kate, and The Sound of Music. She was hired to choreograph the concert version of Guys and Dolls, was awarded The Harry John Brown and Paul W. Mockovak Award in Musical Theatre and was the Co-Creator/President of SUNY Fredonia’s Student Dance Organization her senior year.
During her senior year at SUNY Fredonia Kelly was hired to be the Choreographer at Fredonia High School. She held this position for three years; her credits include Fiddler on the Roof, Thoroughly Modern Millie and Bye Bye Birdie. Kelly and her students were nominated for ‘Best Dance Performance’ in the 2014 Kenny Awards for their work in Bye Bye Birdie. While acting as choreographer she assisted with directing, as well as acting and vocal coaching. While living in Fredonia she also taught Irish dance at Infinity Dance Academy and Chadwick Bay Academy of Dance. In 2013, Kelly was hired by SUNY Fredonia to be the Stage Director and Choreographer for the Commencement Eve Pops Concert.
Kelly moved back to Rochester in 2014 to pursue her MFA in Choreography and Performance at The College at Brockport. While at Brockport she studied under Cheryl Johnson, Stevie Oakes, Tammy Carrasco, James Hansen, Mariah Maloney, Karl Rogers, Vanessa VanWormer, Heather Acomb, Ashley Friend, Colleen Culley, Juanita Suarez, and Allison Bohman. She presented papers at Brockport’s Scholar’s Day in 2015 and 2016, and presented the choreographic portion of her MFA thesis in 2017. Kelly was fortunate to have multiple performance opportunities while attending Brockport: Space Walk, Tap Musings, If The Shoe Fits, The Jack Rabbit, and Edges.
While maintaining full-time status as a graduate student Kelly has continued to choreograph diverse styles in various arenas. Kelly worked closely with the first year students in the Brockport Dance Department. Her choreography appeared in the New Dancers’ Showcase for two years; both of her pieces, Beautiful Imperfections (2014) and Disconnect (2015) were Tap-Contemporary fusion. She was hired by Brockport’s Dance Department to be the Concert Coordinator for the New Dancers’ Showcase in 2016. Kelly was hired by SUNY Brockport’s Theater Department to choreograph Assassins (2016) and also by School of the Arts to choreograph Mary Poppins (2015).
Kelly’s passion for teaching has continued to grow over the past few years. She has worked at Palymra-Macedon Conservatory of Dance since 2014 where she teaches Irish, Tap, Musical Theatre and Contemporary, and Jazz. She had the opportunity to teach a Tap/Contemporary Fusion class at the American College Dance Association’s Mideast Conference at Brockport (2016). Kelly is an active substitute teacher for the Rochester City School District since 2015 and mainly substitutes for the dance teachers at School of the Arts. She became the teaching assistant to Cheryl Johnson, her Tap mentor, in the spring of 2016. Kelly had many teaching opportunities while attending Brockport: Dance Awareness Days, substitute teaching, guest instructor. She has been a member of the National Dance Educator Organization (NDEO) for three years and served as the NHSDA Officer and Secretary for NDEO’s Brockport Student Chapter.
ALYSSA BOURGEOIS, Instructor
Born and raised in Houston, Texas, Alyssa Bourgeois quickly fell in love with dance. Dancing in front of the television was how her dancing career began. Her parents soon entered her into Ballet classes under the direction of Darlette Johnson at St. Mary's of the Purification Montessori School in Houston, Texas. She was later introduced to Jazz and Lyrical by Sherrill Hilton at Midtown Center where she stayed for two years before taking classes at the Houston Met. Upon entering her sophomore year in high school, Alyssa decided to join Falcon Dancers at Incarnate Word College Prepatory Academy in Houston, Texas. It was there that she discovered her love for Choreography, she had choreographed solos for herself before, but never for a team. Being apart of Falcon Dancers allowed her to assume Leadership roles within the team. During this time she performed Modern/Contemporary,
Lyrical, HipHop, Pom, and Jazz for Competitions, Sporting Events, Pep Rallies and Dance shows.
Ms. Bourgeois continued her dance career into college. At the University of Southern Mississippi, she took on Ballet and Modern classes and was first introduced to Pointe. She also danced with a group called African American Student Organization while attending USM. Upon returning home to Houston, Texas she decided to attend Texas Southern University. She soon, after, joined Texas Southern University Dance Company where she was able to work on her choreography and leadership skills. After a year in the company she took over as President for two years. Alyssa has also choreographed several pageants and dance events with ballroom styles such as Salsa, Tango, and Waltz for Texas Southern University. Upon stepping down from her position as President, Alyssa soon launched her website - Melange Rhythms - to continue using her skills in choreography.
Graduating from Texas Southern University with a Bachelors’ Degree in Liberal Arts, Alyssa has continued to pursue her dream of choreographing, performing and teaching dance. It was around this time that she began teaching classes at Designed 2 Dance
studios. Ms. Bourgeois has taught Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip-Hop, and Technique as well as Strengthening and Conditioning classes in the summer. Alyssa was the Assistant Director at Designed 2 Dance and joined Suchu Dance Company and Psophonia Dance Company, where she continued to improve her skills as a dancer, in 2016. Alyssa will be getting her Master’s in choreography and Performance from the College of Brockport in the Fall of 2017
Lyrical, HipHop, Pom, and Jazz for Competitions, Sporting Events, Pep Rallies and Dance shows.
Ms. Bourgeois continued her dance career into college. At the University of Southern Mississippi, she took on Ballet and Modern classes and was first introduced to Pointe. She also danced with a group called African American Student Organization while attending USM. Upon returning home to Houston, Texas she decided to attend Texas Southern University. She soon, after, joined Texas Southern University Dance Company where she was able to work on her choreography and leadership skills. After a year in the company she took over as President for two years. Alyssa has also choreographed several pageants and dance events with ballroom styles such as Salsa, Tango, and Waltz for Texas Southern University. Upon stepping down from her position as President, Alyssa soon launched her website - Melange Rhythms - to continue using her skills in choreography.
Graduating from Texas Southern University with a Bachelors’ Degree in Liberal Arts, Alyssa has continued to pursue her dream of choreographing, performing and teaching dance. It was around this time that she began teaching classes at Designed 2 Dance
studios. Ms. Bourgeois has taught Lyrical/Contemporary, Hip-Hop, and Technique as well as Strengthening and Conditioning classes in the summer. Alyssa was the Assistant Director at Designed 2 Dance and joined Suchu Dance Company and Psophonia Dance Company, where she continued to improve her skills as a dancer, in 2016. Alyssa will be getting her Master’s in choreography and Performance from the College of Brockport in the Fall of 2017
Tatiana Amaye-Obu, Instructor
Tatiana Amaye-Obu hails from Brooklyn, NY offering a NYC outlook and attitude towards dance. Her training began at Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School for Music and Art & Performing Arts, also known as "The Fame School". There she trained for four years in classical ballet, and The Graham technique, as well as two years in the Horton Technique. She has attending numerous summer intensives at institutions such as The Ailey School, Brighton Ballet Theater, Manhattan Youth Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet School. Her ballet training has been under numerous schools including teachers from Dance Theater of Harlem, Paris Opera Ballet, Houston Ballet, New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and School of American Ballet. However, she is well versed in the commercial area of dance, including hip-hop and African dance. She looks forward to continuing her teaching experience and passing on her knowledge at Harvester 56 Dance Academy.