Venus Hall - Ballet Director
Specializations
Ballet
Modern
Floor Barre
Pointe
Venus Hall began training at Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theatre. She was an all-city winner of dance in the NAACP ACT-SO Competition. She received a B.F.A. from Barat College and graduated as a member of The National Honor Key Society. She joined the prestigious Alvin Ailey Company in 1995, performing with them nationally and internationally for ten years. She worked with choreographers such as Judith Jamison, George Faison, Dwight Rhoden, Alonzo King, Ron Brown, and many others. Miss Hall is very excited to be at New World Dance.
Terry Bixler - Creative Director
Specializations
Hip Hop
Street Dance
Popping, Locking, Breaking
Team Choreography
Terry is the former dancer/choreographer for Janet Jackson and founder of L.A. City Rockers. He travels nationally to teach master classes and share his unique choreography, known for fusing aspects of old school hip hop dance with today's modern styles . His work has won several National Choreographer-of-the-Year Awards and nine Grand National Championships in Las Vegas.
Brandy Thilesen
Specializations
Ballet
Contemporary
Modern
Tumbling
Jazz
Team Choreography
Brandy began choreographing at a young age of eleven. She later became a member of the Tremaine Teen Company, under the direction of Marguerite Derricks. Brandy has studied with artists such as Rei Aoo, Red Savage, Terry Bixler, Jayson Wright, Joanne Bruchez, and many others. She has performed at the Moro Landis Studios Gala, the Sunset House of Blues, Arnold Scwarzenegger's Firm on Fitness physical education program. She has choreographed many works that have been performed at numerous competitions nationwide and has also choreographed for Hart High School's Dance Team and Canyon High School Dance Team, winning championship titles. Brandy was awarded Teacher of the Year in 2008, 2010, 2011, 2018 and Choreographer of the Year also in 2008, 2009, 2012, 2013, & 2018 at Kids Artistic Review National Finals in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her choreography has also been featured at The Carnival: Choreographer's Ball at the Key Club in Hollywood.
Chris Dupre'
Specializations
Jazz Technique
Turns & Jumps
Street Jazz
Contemporary
With a keen eye for detail and the insight of a visionary, Chris Payne Dupre' has created works on stage and screen that have captivated audiences the world over. As Supervising Choreographer on the NBC television show "America's Got Talent" and Youtube's "Best Cover Ever" with Ryan Seacrest and Ludacris, Chris worked to polish and transform a variety of weekly contestants, into world-class entertainers. His work has been seen on the FOX television show “Take Me Out,” with host George Lopez, the Soul Train Awards and the HBO series "Arli$$". He has done movement coaching for actors Seth Green and Christina Applegate and choreographed performances for renowned musical artists such as Prince, Sean "Diddy" Combs, Paulina Rubio, Ludacris and rock icons Jane's Addiction. Chris has worked with Diana Ross, Janet Jackson, Paula Abdul, Brian McKnight, Kylie Minogue, Enrique Iglesias, Ludacris, Katy Perry, the Backstreet Boys, Demi Lovato, Jason Derulo, and the legendary Mel Torme. He has performed on the 68th Academy Awards, Superbowl XXX & XXXII, the made-for-TV movie "Cinderella," Disney’s feature film "Newsies" and the Tony & Grammy award winning Original Broadway Cast of Elton John and Tim Rice's "Aida." Chris has had the privilege of working in film, television and stage with such notable directors as Rob Reiner (Rumor Has It), Robert Zemeckis (A Christmas Carol), Tom Hanks (That Thing You Do), Chris Columbus (Rent), John Landis (Pepsi) and Garry Marshall (LA Opera).