Making The News
Lone Star Magazine Online
Make A Gift
|
| |
 Circle of Excellence
Circle (noun)-“number of persons bound by a common tie or goal”. Thus are the members of the Circle of Excellence bound by their care and support for Lone Star Ballet. Founded in 2010 by Arlene Pool, Lorene Lacer, Marlies Ballengee and Kathy Price Dryden, the Circle was born with the purpose of supporting Lone Star Ballet at an additional level of monetary support; thus enabling LSB to obtain higher levels of professionalism in their dance instruction and performance productions. The founders, along with the Executive Director Craig Henderson, had a vision that the Circle of Excellence would be the buttress for supporting the new Professional Company that has long been a dream of Director of Dance Vicki McLean and Academy Director Crystal Bertrand. This support allows Lone Star Ballet to start the process of being on the national stage featuring these talented dancers and magnificent productions, with the ultimate goal of a national touring company. Circle of Excellence members as well as being the major supporters of the Professional Company, are invited to social events throughout the year, along with special recognition and numerous benefits. For more information please contact Craig Henderson at craig@lonestarballet.org. |
|
|
 Vicki McLean, Director of Dance
Vicki Mclean, Director of Dance for Lone Star Ballet/ Lone Star Dance Academy,
oversees all of the artistic endeavors of both entities and collaborates with Crystal
Bertrand, Academy Director, in designing the curriculum and class schedules. She has
a double Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Television Film Productions with a minor
in Theatre Arts and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance and Administration from Southern
Methodist University. Ms. Vicki, as the dancers call her, has extensive credentials in the
dance world, in theatre and television and film performance and productions, and in the
academic settings.(Additional Bio) |
 Jonathan Adams
Jonathan Adams, a native of Montgomery, Alabama, is thrilled to be returning to Lone Star Ballet and is ready to bring excitement to the stage. Jonathan is privileged to be a charter member of the Lone Star Ballet Circle of Excellence Professional Company. A graduate of Alabama State University, Jonathan began dancing while getting his Bachelor of Arts degree in Theatre Arts. Jonathan has choreographed productions including: THE LION KING, JESUS CHRIST SUPERSTAR, and SMOKY JOE’S CAFÉ. He has danced in TEXAS! for the 2010 and 2011 seasons. Jonathan’s Lone Star Ballet credits include DRACULA, THE NUTCRACKER, RAIN FOREST: A CHILDREN’S ODYSSEY, AND LONE STAR TRILOGY. He teaches Hip-Hop and jazz for Lone Star Dance Academy, with an avid following of young dancers. Jonathan would like to express his deepest thanks to all of his friends and family for their generous support of his dreams. |
 Julian Arrendondo
Julian Arredondo IV is ecstatic to join Lone Star Ballet’s first Circle of Excellence Professional Company. A native of the Ft. Worth area, Julian studied ballet from Julie Ballew and jazz from Dian Clough West at the Dian Clough West Studio and is a recent graduate from Texas Christian University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Acting. His BFA includes the continued studies of ballet, jazz, and tap. His professional credits include TEXAS! The Musical Drama (Dancer in 2009 and 2011), AN EVENING WITH SONDHEIM (Dance Captain and Ensemble), MUCH ADO ABOUT NOTHING (Oatcake) and HAMLET (Osric) for the Trinity Shakespeare Festival, and THE GREAT SANTA CLAUS BANK ROBBERY (Louis Davis). His favorite main stage university credits include: A CHORUS LINE (Paul), OKLAHOMA (Slim), THE CRUCIBLE (Judge Hawthorne), LITTLE WOMEN, THE MUSICAL (Mr. Lawrence), and URINETOWN (Ensemble Dancer). Along with performing for LSB, Julian will be teaching for Lone Star Dance Academy. |
 Jean Banks
Jean Banks is an Amarillo native and is honored to be dancing with Lone Star Ballet’s Circle of Excellence Professional Company. Jean has been dancing for over twenty years, seventeen years being with Lone Star Ballet. Jean has trained in many styles of dance, including ballet, pointe, jazz, and contemporary modern; however, ballet is her favorite! Jean has recently performed in Lone Star Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER, LONE STAR TRILOGY, DRACULA, CINDERELLA, Frisco Ballet’s THE NUTCRACKER, and THE ONE O’CLOCK JAZZ BAND. Jean has a Bachelor of Fine Arts from West Texas A&M University and, during that time, had the opportunity to travel to Russia to perform with the university dance company and study with master choreographers from various international companies. Jean is the Studio Director for Lone Star Dance Academy Hereford and teaches in the Amarillo Academy. She works for TEXAS! in the outreach program educating children in the Amarillo and panhandle area in the performing arts. Jean would like to thank her family and loved ones for their support and is excited about this new opportunity. |
 Joshua Bates
Josh Bates is an Amarillo native, and a graduate of West Texas A&M University earning a Bachelor of Arts in Theatre Performance. Josh performed in the New York City premier of the original musical TOP OF THE HEAP( Gallery Players). Regional credits include: TEXAS! The Musical Drama (TPHF), DRACULA- Reinfeld (LSB), NUTCRACKER (LSB), TRILOGY (LSB), CINDERELLA- Prince (ALT), OKLAHOMA- Will Parker (ALT) which he won the ALTA award for Best Supporting Actor in a Musical. BEAUTY AND THE BEAST- Lumiere (WTAMU). Josh taught acting for LSDA and coaches individual dancers in character development. He is excited to be a part of the LSB Circle of Excellence Professional Company. Josh would like to thank his family and friends for their constant love and support. |
 Derek Flowers
Derek Flowers, a Dallas native, but a Lone Star Ballet veteran, is excited to be returning to LSB as a member of the Circle of Excellence Professional Company. Derek began his training at the Tuzer Studio in Dallas, spent two summers with Alonzo King Lines Ballet in San Francisco, and has studied with master international choreographers in all styles of dance. He has developed a deep love and respect for the classical arts. Derek is an instructor for LSDA and hopes to help his students develop respect, love, and strong technical qualities by stressing that each dancer is a unique artist in their own way. Derek performed for LSB in Giselle and several seasons of The Nutcracker and recently TEXAS! He is excited to be a member of the new professional company and use his skills and talents in Amarillo, to attract more artists and being recognized as a viable center of the arts |
 Andrew Gehm
Andrew was a competition clogger with the Top of Texas Cloggers during high school. When in college, Andrew performed in St. Petersburg, Russia in 2004 at the Open Look International Dance Festival and also in Cesena, Italy in 2005 at the International Grand Prix. During his collegiate career, Andrew started dancing and performing with Lone Star Ballet in productions such as: Coppelia, The Nutcracker, The PBS documentary: Dancing in Russian Air, & Timesteps. Andrew graduated with his BFA in Dance from West Texas A&M University in 2009. Andrew performed in TEXAS the outdoor musical drama in 2009 and 2010. His choreography “Raggedy Me” was showcased at the American College Dance Festival in March 2010. This is Andrew’s sixth season dancing with Lone Star Ballet, and he also holds the position of Administrative Assistant. Last season, Andrew danced in Dracula, The Nutcracker, Rainforest, and in the debut production of Trilogy, Andrew was honored to portray Colonel Charles Goodnight. Andrew is a member of the newly formed Circle of Excellence Professional Company. Over the years, Lone Star Ballet has become a home and a second family to Andrew.
|
 Berkley Henderson
Berkley Henderson is an Amarillo native, and has been dancing with Lone Star Ballet for 19 years. She has performed in multiple Lone Star Ballet productions since a very young age. Berkley performed in NUTCRACKER for 17 years in such roles as Clara, Snow Queen, Dew Drop. She has performed in TIME STEPS, CINDERELLA as Cinderella, GISELLE, FIREBIRD, DRACULA, and Lone Star Ballet’s original production of TRILOGY. Berkley has also been a dancer in TEXAS! The Musical Drama for three summers, and teaches in the outreach program about professional dance. She has participated in summer intensives including the Joffrey Ballet Intensive. Berkley has performed in New York City with Lone Star Ballet in the Youth Grand Prix of America competition. Berkley Henderson is the studio director for Lone Star Dance Academy Dumas. She loves performing and teaching ballet in the Panhandle and living her dream. Berkley is delighted to be a charter member of the Lone Star Ballet Circle of Excellence Professional Company. |
 Jonathan Perez
Jonathan Perez is happy to be a charter member of the Lone Star Ballet Circle of Excellence Professional Company. He comes to Lone Star Ballet via a two year engagement with Holland America Cruise Lines and Australia. He recently choreographed “VIVA! EL PASO!” for his hometown of El Paso, TX. and performs and choreographs regularly with the El Paso Youth Ballet and the Ballet at University of Texas at El Paso under the direction of Ingeborg Heuser. Jonathan has spent the last two summers dancing in TEXAS! A Musical Drama. Previous credits include four seasons of THE NUTCRACKER, AIDA, CATS, and SWEET CHARITY. Jonathan would like to thank his friends and family for all of their support and love through the years and looks forward to making more great memories with Lone Star Ballet. |
 Roxann Seaton
Roxann Seaton is extremely excited to be a Lone Star Ballet Circle of Excellence Company member after being part of Lone Star Ballet since the age of five. She has performed in numerous productions including fifteen years of THE NUTCRACKER, dancing roles from Angel in the early years to Sugar Plum Fairy, now. Other Lone Star Ballet performances include FIREBIRD (Firebird), CINDERELLA in 2007 choreographed by Vadim Fedotov, and LSB’s own production in 2010 (Step Mother), DRACULA (Lucy), and the original production written for Lone Star Ballet of LONE STAR TRILOGY (Molly Goodnight). She has also performed in WILL ROGERS FOLLIES, JOSEPH AND THE AMAZING TECHNICOLOR DREAMCOAT, AND HELLO, DOLLY! for Amarillo Little Theatre. Roxann is currently the Studio Director for Lone Star Dance Academy Borger, where she has been teaching for the last two years. She is also an administrative assistant for Lone Star Ballet. A possibility of being a stage mother is in her near future with her beautiful three year old daughter, Jada.
|
 Ashley Shedd (Little)
Ashley Shedd (Little) is excited to be newly married to Sam and honored to be a charter member of the Lone Star Ballet Circle of Excellence Professional Company. Some of her favorite credits with LSB include Frenchy McCormick in LONE STAR TRILOGY, Mina in DRACULA, the Fairy Godmother in CINDERELLA, and the beautiful Queen of the Wilis in GISELLE. She has also performed various roles in THE NUTCRACKER over the past ten years including Jeune, Heir Drosselmeyer’s doll assistant, last year’s premiere presentation of RAIN FOREST, A CHILDREN’S ODYSSEY, and has danced in TEXAS! The Musical Drama in 2008 and 2009. Ashley is a Lone Star Ballet certified instructor, teaching in the Amarillo Academy and the Lone Star Dance Academy Petite Feet Program for day care centers for three years. She enjoys spreading her love of dance and sharing her knowledge with her students. Ashley is delighted for Amarillo to be taken to the next level in the arts with the introduction of a professional dance company and is thrilled to be apart of this wonderful adventure.
|
|
|
