Kelsey Bartman, originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began formal training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School (PBTS) and Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts (CAPA). Summers were spent studying at American Ballet Theatre, New York, Jacob's Pillow Jazz Program for two years and PBTS for several years. Kelsey then continued as a trainee with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (PBT). During that time she choreographed works for PBT’s School and Company. She then joined Nashville Ballet 2 in 2007 and was hired as a Nashville Ballet Apprentice. She is a co-creator of Works in Progress (WIP) Choreography Project, and has choreographed for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Nashville Ballet, Nashville Ballet 2, Arova Contemporary Ballet, Columbus Modern Dance, and Texture Contemporary Ballet. Kelsey's works, Stills From Italy and Old Skin, have been performed at White Wave DUMBO Dance Festival, and The Rose was showcased at Dance Canvas in Atlanta. She had the great pleasure of choreographing for Resonance Works’ production of Amahl and the Night Visitors. She has had the honor of dancing in Balanchine's Four Temperaments, Theme and Variations, and Serenade, Sarah Slipper's Postcards From the Boys, as well as Paul Vasterling's Adjustable Wrench and Carmina Burana, as well as multiple works by Alan Obuzor and Gabriel Gaffney Smith. Ms. Bartman has taught for the School of Nashville Ballet, Evolve Productions, Alloy School, Laurel Youth Ballet, Xtreme Tumbling and Dance and is currently teaching for Millenium Dance Complex. She has recently had the privilege of teaching a workshop for the group Yaledancers at Yale University. Kelsey is now Associate Artistic Director, Resident Choreographer, and Dancer for Texture Contemporary Ballet.
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Aaron, a Tennessee native, began his training with local studios and the School of Nashville Ballet. After graduating from high school, he continued his training at the University of the Arts, under the direction of Donna Faye Burchfield with a Promising Artist Scholarship. He received a Bachelors of Fine arts in Dance in 2016. It was there that he had to pleasure of performing original works by Tommie Waheed-Evans, Roni Koresh, Meredith Rainey, Sidra Bell, and Douglas Becker. After graduation, Aaron joined Arova Contemporary Ballet for their 2017-2018 season, performing works by Kristopher Estes-Brown, Amy Morrow, Kelsey Bartman, Meredith Cabaness, Kavin Grant, and Jamorris Rivers. Aaron joined Texture Contemporary Ballet in 2019.
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Hannah Buggy, originally from Marysville, MI began her early training in the styles of ballet, contemporary and jazz at the Dance Company Conservatory of Port Huron. She continued her classical training at the age of 12 with Denise Paavola at the Paavola School of Dance in Flint, MI. Later in her training, Hannah was accepted into the National Ballet of Canada's summer intensive program. She studied with the Graduate Program of the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre from 2016 -2018 where she performed with the company in the productions of Giselle, The Nutcracker, and Dracula. Hannah has acted as assistant artistic director of The Nutcracker at the Ballet Company of Port Huron and has led the summer intensive at the Paavola School of Dance alongside Kalle Paavola.
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Rachel Harman, originally from Leesburg, VA, recently graduated from Point Park University in April of 2017 with a B.A in Dance. While studying at Point Park, Rachel had the pleasure of performing works by Nicolas Petrov and Ernest Tolentino as well as performing Giselle choreographed by Jean Coralli and Jules Perrot. Rachel has previously trained at summer intensives such as Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, Ballet Austin, and Indiana University. She is very excited to be working with Texture Contemporary Ballet.
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Madeline Kendall was raised in Sacramento, California where she trained from the age of eight at Capitol Ballet Center under the direction of Stuart Carroll and Sharron Newton. In 2014, Madeline moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to dance with Ballet West, where she had the opportunity to perform in productions of Giselle, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Aladdin, Beauty and the Beast, George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, and John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet. Over the past two years, Madeline toured the state of Utah as a part of an educational outreach called Ballet West for Children. She also performed as a guest artist in a production of The Nutcracker in Fairbanks, Alaska. More recently, Madeline travelled to Germany where she participated in a Cultural Dance Exchange Program with The Staatliche Ballettschule Berlin.
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Katie received her early ballet training at Paavola School of Dance in Flint, MI. After graduating high school, she continued her training with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Graduate Program. In 2010, Katie joined the Sacramento Ballet, under the direction of Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda, and danced with the company for six seasons. Katie joined Texture as a guest dancer in 2012, and joined as a resident dancer in 2016. She has toured with Texture to NYC for the DUMBO Dance Festival and to Massachusetts for the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Katie was also honored to have the opportunity to dance with The Suzanne Farrell Ballet for its farewell tour in December 2017.
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Alan Obuzor was honored in 2013 by Dance Magazine by being named one of the "Top 25 to Watch". Originally from Pittsburgh, Alan began dancing at the age of nine. Two years later he attended Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School(PBTS), where in 1998 he was a recipient of the prestigious Princess Grace Foundation Dance Honorarium. Alan received a contract to join Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's(PBT's)professional company at the age of 17. During his seven years in PBT's Company, he danced a wide array of ballets ranging from classical to neoclassical to contemporary, which included principal and soloist roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Symphony in C, Carmina Burana and Divertimento 15. In that time he also worked with many world renowned figures in dance, and was selected to originate soloist roles in new works by choreographers Dwight Rhoden, Derek Dean, Matjash Mrozewski and Jiabin Pan. Alan began teaching in 2002; from 2007-2012 Alan was on the faculty of PBTS as one of the primary Pre-Professional Division teachers and choreographers. In the fall of 2012, Alan joined the teaching faculty of Pittsburgh Youth Ballet. Alan choreographed his first work in 2002 on himself and a fellow dancer. Since that time he has choreographed over 55 new works for Texture Contemporary Ballet, PBT, PBTS, Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company, New Ballet Ensemble, Harvard Ballet Company, Point Park University, Dancers' Trust, Canton Ballet, Pittsburgh High School for the Creative and Performing Arts and various independent projects. In 2011, Alan won first place in the Pittsburgh Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters Dance/Choreography competition. He is also the founder and Artistic Director of Texture Contemporary Ballet in 2011.
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Erin Patterson was born and raised in Golden, Colorado. Erin’s earlier training began at The Arvada Center for the Arts and Humanities under the direction of Christina Noel-Adcock and continued at Boulder Ballet under the direction of Ana Claire. Erin moved to Pittsburgh to attend Point Park University. There she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a concentration in Ballet. While in school, Erin had the pleasure of performing Mathew Powell’s “L’espace que Vous Voyez”, Nicholas Petrov’s “Romeo and Juliet” and Susan Stowe’s rendition of “Giselle” among other various works. Erin is so excited to be working with Texture Contemporary Ballet amongst such talented and inspiring artists!
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Nicole Rizzitano, a Pittsburgh native, received her early training at Pittsburgh Ballet House. Before graduating online from North Hills High School, Nicole continued her training with the Pacific Northwest Ballet School at seventeen and then on exchange with the Royal Danish Ballet School. In 2014, she joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet and continued dancing with the company for four seasons. While at PNB, Nicole had the pleasure of performing in works by George Balanchine, William Forsythe, Justin Peck, Crystal Pite, and Twyla Tharp. She is very to be back in Pittsburgh and dancing with Texture this season!
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Alexandra Tiso began her dance training in jazz, tap, and contemporary styles at various schools in Tampa, Florida. At twelve years old, she changed her focus to classical ballet and modern with teachers Amanda Keeney and Mitsie Kraack. She was accepted into the dance program at Blake High School of the Arts where she studied under Albena Arnaudova and Kelly Rayl. Alexandra also attended training intensives at Orlando Ballet, the ROCK School, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet and Nashville Ballet. After graduation, Alexandra joined the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Graduate program, where she danced as a trainee for two years. She is currently a company member and artistic administrator for Texture Contemporary Ballet in Pittsburgh, PA. Alexandra also holds an Associate Degree in Business from the Community College of Allegheny County.
Alexandra has performed works by George Balanchine, Robert Moses, Gabriel Ash and Annalee Traylor. She has performed on tour in New York, Chicago, Florida and at the prestigious Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival in Massachusetts. Her choreography has been set on Texture Contemporary Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School and Blake High School of the Arts. Alexandra joined the staff at Dancexplosion Arts Center in 2012 and now holds the title of Assistant Director and Youth Director. She is also on staff at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. |
Brynn Vogel, originally from Sacramento, California, began her training at Capitol Ballet Center unde the direction of Stuart Carroll and Sharon Newton. At the age of 17, Brynn moved to Pittsburgh to study dance at Point Park University. While in school, she had the opportunity to perform in works such as Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain and George Balanchine’s Valse-Fantaisie. Brynn graduated with a Bachelor of the Arts degree in Dance in 2011, and joined Texture the following year.
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Contactinfo@textureballet.org
412-552-3114 |
Mailing AddressTexture Contemporary Ballet
P.O. Box 100176 Pittsburgh, PA 15233 |
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