Harvester 56 Theater
Dance Academy Staff
BRIANA BLAIR KELLY, DIRECTOR and INSTRUCTOR
Briana Blair Kelly is a multidisciplinary artist and dance educator in Rochester, NY. She holds a BFA in Musical Theatre from SUNY Fredonia and an MFA in Choreography and Performance from SUNY Brockport. Kelly is the Director of the Harvester 56 Theater Dance Academy where she also teaches Tap, Theater dance, Irish dance, and Contemporary. She is a substitute teacher for the Rochester City School District and The Aquinas Institute, and is a Dance Adjudicator for the Rochester Broadway Theatre League’s Stars of Tomorrow. Kelly is the choreographer for Monroe Community College, Harvester 56 Theater, and Palmyra-Macedon High School. Recent choreographic credits include: Anything Goes, On Broadway 10: Saving the Best for Last, Annie, Godspell, Playing with Potential: Expanding the Irish Dance Tradition, Cabaret, On Broadway 9: 100 years of Broadway, Reverence for Éire: Expanding the Tradition, Irish Spring, Assassins. www.brianablairkelly.com
ALYSSA BOURGEOIS, Competition Director and 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
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
REbecca caryk, instructor
A Batavia native, Becky has been dancing since she was 3 years old. She competed with Images in Dance and Fusion Dance Center before attending college at Syracuse University. There, she joined multiple dance organizations on campus, as well as working with the YMCA as an assistant dance teacher. Her work as a choreographer was seen in OrangePulse Dance Troupe's annual showcases, where she also served as a Showcase Coordinator and Artistic Director. After graduating with her B.S. in Health and Exercise Science, Becky attended the training program at Broadway Dance Center in New York City. Her favorite style is contemporary and she can't wait to share all she has learned with the new students.
Tiffany Keicher, Instructor
Tiffany Keicher earned an Associates Degree from the Young American College of the Perofmring Arts in Corona, California. She then joined the Young American Company and family for three years; which offered her incredible opportunities to perform on many different stage all over America and Japan. Along the way, Tiffany has taught multiple performance outreach programs and workshops. She also has an extensive background in theater and vocal techniques. Tiffany is very excited to be teaching back in New York and can not wait to watch her students become the best performers they can be!
