Instructors
Its not too late to Register for our new and exciting Fall Season – call 559-6786
About your Director :
VALARIE SIMPSON – Valarie’s dance training began in Florence, SC. She was a soloist with the Florence Civic Ballet Company and twice danced the leading role in their production of “The Nutcracker.” In Charleston, SC Valarie danced with the Robert Ivey Ballet Company. Valarie’s special training includes The Koslovs, Patricia Miller former principal with the Joffery Ballet, Gus Giordano, Roland Dupree and others. She has owned and operated her own dance studios in Nebraska and North Carolina. Since living in Richmond, she has taught classes at the Richmond Dance Center, directed a dance program for competitive gymnasts at the Virginia International Gymnastics School, Inc. and taught classes as a member of the adjunct faculty of J.S. Reynolds. Valarie has also worked as a producer and host of several radio and television programs in the Richmond area. Valarie has done special choreography projects for University of Richmond, as well as HS show choirs and musicals in VA, NC, SC and NE. She was also a regional and National judge for Showstoppers Talent Competition in the mid 80’s. School of Dance Arts is now in its 12th year. Valarie is married and the mother of three.
Instructors :
Tracey Clevenger – Tracey has studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Pointe. While at Ferrum College she performed with the Ferrum College Dance Company. Tracey holds a degree in Child Development and minor in Psychology. Tracey has worked as a kindergarten teacher, assistant Director of a Day Care, and as a Child Care provider. She is married and the mother of three girls.
Sara Hill – Sara has been dancing at School of Dance Arts for 10 years. She began her teaching as an Assistant Instructor, and in 2007 taught her first class as an Instructor at School of Dance Arts. She has attended workshops through Dance Revolution and DMI to enhance her training. She currently is attending College and working towards a degree in Psychology and a Masters in Education.
Ilana Burger graduated from James Madison University in 2009, earning degrees in Dance and Media Arts and Design with a concentration in Print Journalism. As a dance student at JMU, Ilana was a 2 year member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company and a 3 year member of the Contemporary Dance Ensemble. Ilana worked with choreographers from up and down the east coast during her time at JMU and toured to DC’s Dance Place and the Kennedy Center in 2009. Ilana’s choreography was presented in several studio theatre concerts and produced on JMU’s mainstage in 2009. In addition, she co-directed the freshman dance ensemble during her senior year. During the summer of 2009, Ilana worked as a dancer with Theatre West Virginia, the state’s outdoor performance company, under Toneta Akers-Toler and Donald Laney. Now living in Richmond, Ilana is Richmond Ballet’s Graphic Design & New Media Specialist and a teacher at School of Dance Arts. Ilana spends her spare hours rehearsing with Terra Dance Project.
Jaime`Dzandu holds a BFA in dance and choreography from VCU. Jaime` is a native of Hampton. She began her training locally at Hampton University Community Dance Program with Nina Pitts and Dr. Mary Ann Laverty at age 4. Jaime` has been studying dance since the age of 4 and has had many opportunities to advance her dance skills working with Bates Dance Festival, We Are Artists, and American Dance Festival. She has performed works by Scott, Putnam, Daniel Gwirlzman, Meredith Steel, Jawole Will Jo Zollar, Monica Billbomes, and others. Jaime` has a burning desire to gear her artistic work toward progressive change regarding social issues and empowering individuals through movement and to share the healing of arts.
Rachel Brady – comes from Denver, Colorado where she studied dance at the Academy of Colorado Ballet and the Denver School of the Arts. Since 2009 Rachel has been attending VCU majoring in both Dance and choreography. She has had the pleasure of working with artists such as Terrell Davis, Cleo Parker Robinson, Hannah Khan, works by Martha Graham, Scott Putman, Christian Von Howard, and Stefanie Batten Bland. This is her second year with SODA and she’s thrilled to be part of it!
Mary Manzari – Born in Washington DC, she has studied dance since the age of three. Mary has participated in dance competitions throughout the U.S. winning first place for the teen group in 2006 and 2007. Mary attended Spotlight Studio and Terry’s School of Dance and Gym. While at Terry’s School of Dance, she choreographed for over two years. To advance her dance skills, Mary has taken classes at NYCDA competition for scholarships and she attended classes at Broadway Dance Center. This is Mary’s 3rd year with SODA.
Sarah Wicker is from southeast Florida and danced under the direction of Penni Greenly and Elizabeth Gonzalez while competing nationally with the award winning Atlantic High School Eagle-ettes & Co. Sarah continued her dance training in College taking classes in ballet, tap & jazz. She has worked with numerous local & national artists including the CBA’s Florida Beach Dogs. She moved to Richmond, VA in ‘97 and received two Bachelors of Science in Psychology and Forensic Science from VCU. Sarah began teaching with SODA in ‘02 and recently returned after the birth of her son in 2010.
Jason Sandahl is originally from Baton Rouge, Louisiana where he received a degree in Theatre with a minor in dance from LSU. Upon graduation he worked as a dancer for Theatre West VA. He now resides in Richmond, VA where he works at The Goddard School in Mechanicsville. He is also currently a member of Terra Dance Project. We’re excited to have Jason join our School of Dance Arts family!