Tuesday

5:00 - 6:00 | Movement Foundations
6:00 - 8:00 | Contemporary Floorwork

Friday

5:00 - 6:00 | Movement Foundations
6:00 - 7:30 | Contemporary Floorwork

Edward Salas began dancing at the age of 19 while earning his AA in Theater Arts at Mt. San Antonio College. Once he transferred to California State University, Fullerton (B.A. Dance 2018), Edward let go of his musical theatre journey to embrace concert dance fully. He trained in classical ballet and classical modern techniques such as Horton, Graham, and Limón under Muriel Joyce, Alvin Rangel-Alvarado, Lisa D. Long, and Debra Noble. While at university, he worked with guest artists such as Mike Esperanza, Bryn Cohn, Daniel Jaber, and Colin Connor as a member of CSUF’s Dance Repertory Company. He also performed down Main Street USA in various Disneyland Parades. Since graduating, Edward has worked as a company member with Re:borN Dance Interactive and FUSE Dance Company in Orange County. He holds a black belt in Tae Kwon Do which has greatly influenced his physical development and movement style. Edward joined Kanopy Dance Company in 2022. In conjunction with his responsibilities as a company member, Edward also plays a principal role in Kanopy's educational outreach program in which he shares Limón technique and creative projects with the youth in the community. He is also a proud faculty member of Kanopy Dance Academy.

Monday

5:00 - 6:00 | Ballroom
6:00 - 7:30 | Ballroom

Benjamin Rose began his training in Houston at Vitacca Ballet school and The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. After 3 Summers at Houston Ballet School, he joined the full-time day program and began studying under the direction of Andrew Murphy. After graduating he began his professional career as a Trainee with Ballet West in Salt Lake City Utah and was able to perform roles such as The Lead male in George Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht and as “The Bear” in Willem Cristianstens the Nutcracker. While he lived in Utah, he was fortunate enough to also work as a guest artist and performed not only with the University of Utah but also around the country with companies such as NorthStar Ballet in Alaska, Nevada Ballet Theater in Las Vegas, AVA Ballet in Reno, and Queen City Ballet in Helena, Montana.  From there he moved to Denver where he joined the studio company at Colorado Ballet and performed with Feel the Movement, a contemporary dance project based out of Denver led by Director Edgar Page. He then moved to Iowa and began dancing at Ballet Des Moines directed by Serkan Usta. After living in Iowa, Ben moved to San Antonio to dance for Ballet San Antonio under the direction of Sofiane Sylve. He was promoted to soloist his first season with company and danced in roles such as Basillio in Don Quixote, The Nutcracker Prince in The Nutcracker, and Bottom in Midsummer Night's Dream. On top of his career as a ballet dancer Ben is also a professional ballroom dancer competing in International Latin. 

Tuesday

5:00 - 6:00 | Choreography
6:00 - 7:30 | Repertory

Miye Bishop started dance in Sendai, Japan when she was eight years old. She moved to the states when she was a preteen and trained with Northwest Ballet Theatre in Bellingham, WA. She has worked with various companies as a freelancer including Ballet Bellevue, Northwest Ballet Theatre, Seattle Opera, Skagit Opera, Bellingham Repertory Dance, and Madison Contemporary. She is now dancing as a company member with Kanopy Dance Company in Madison, WI where she has performed the role of the bride in Martha Graham’s ‘Appalachian Spring’, soloist in Lloyd Knight’s world premiere of ‘Commune’, the Moonlight pas de deux in Pascal Rioult’s ‘Views of the Fleeting World’ and soloist in Colin Conner’s ‘Weather in the Room’.

Monday

5:30 - 6:30 | Pilates
6:30 - 7:30 | Pilates

Vanessa's journey into Pilates began in 2009, igniting her passion for its core principles:

centering, concentration, control, flow, rhythm, and breath. A former dancer who faced an

injury in her teens, she discovered Pilates as a unique way to engage her body physically

while fostering her strength and resilience. Over time, her enthusiasm for the practice

deepened, inspiring her to help others on their paths to health and happiness.

With over 2,000 hours of instruction and comprehensive training, Vanessa earned her

first 500-hour certification from the Movement Center in Pewaukee, WI. She further

honed her skills in Romana’s Pilates Teacher Training, studying with esteemed mentors

across multiple locations in Illinois and Wisconsin. In 2022, she proudly achieved her

Level 5 certification. Committed to lifelong learning, Vanessa regularly participates in

workshops and seminars to enhance her expertise, believing in the transformative power

of Pilates for individuals of all ages and fitness levels.

Wednesday

5:00 - 6:45 | Ballet Technique | Int A/B
6:45 - 7:45 | Pointe

Heather Keckeisen danced professionally for the Milwaukee Ballet Company from 1995-2005.  She received her training at the Classical Ballet Conservatory of Southern California. After studying three summers on scholarship with the Milwaukee Ballet School, Heather went on to win the prestigious Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Competition her senior year in high school.  

She then moved to Wisconsin and worked under Milwaukee Ballet artistic directors Basil Thompson, Simon Dow, and Michael Pink.  Heather performed a wide range of repertoire including classics from Petipa to Bournonville, Balanchine to Tudor, and favored works by Jean Paul Comelin, Bruce Wells, Marc Godden, Paul Taylor, & David Parsons.  During her time at Milwaukee Ballet she served as the company union representative for the American Guild of Musical Artists for 3 years.

Heather enjoys the world of musical theater, having choreographed for children's Musical Camp at Elmbrook Church from 2002-2014, and working with the high school drama department at Heritage Christian Schools since 2015. Heather is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).  She previously taught ballet to the upper levels of Steps of Grace Ballet School for 10 years and played a vital role in all Steps of Grace productions, both onstage and off. She recently served as Artistic Director for the Acts Dance production of "Christmas Legacy", and has directed and taught ballet for Acts Dance since 2018.

Heather is married to Beau and they live in Milwaukee with their two children.

Tuesday

5:00 - 6:00 | Strength Training & Warming up
6:00 - 7:00 | Injury Prevention & Conditioning

Elizabeth obtainer her Bachelor of Science Degree in Human Biology from Marquette University in 2001, she continued to study at Marquette University and also obtained her Master of Physical Therapy degree in 2003. Since graduating she has worked in Outpatient Orthopedics first in Alpena, Michigan (2 years) and in Chicago, Illinois (15 years), before moving to Madison in 2019. She joined Pro Physical Therapy in 2020. Elizabeth completed an 18 month Residency with Evidence in Motion in 2008/2009 and is also certified in Graston Technique and trained in Dry Needling. She has been a certified clinical instructor for students since 2006.
Elizabeth has focused on the treatment of orthopedics and sports medicine conditions. She enjoys treating patients of all ages (children to seniors). She has taken many courses throughout her career focusing on concussion management and vestibular disorders, as well as many other orthopedic conditions. Treating the recreational weekend warrior through professional level athletes. During her time in Chicago, she was active in working with the performing arts community with dance/theater; covering Wicked while it toured in Chicago, along with other shows/companies. Being a mom of two Elizabeth understands the need for greater focus and care with regards to women’s health and has been active in being an advocate for this patient population and helping woman during and after the birth of their children.

Wednesday

5:00 - 6:45 | Ballet Technique | Int C
6:45 - 7:45 | Pre-Pointe | Int A/B

Maelee began dancing at the age of 11 at a small dance school in Georgia. From there, she joined Praise in Motion dance company where she developed her understanding of combining worship and dance technique. Maelee then joined Atlanta Academy of Ballet and Dance where she performed in multiple classical ballets like “Swan Lake”, “Nutcracker”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Alice in Wonderland”, and “Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”. During her time at the Academy, she was able to train in various styles of dance including modern, contemporary, pointe, jazz, musical theater, and partnering. 

While still in high school, Maelee explored her love of choreography through Atlanta Academy’s Student Choreographer Program and sent many of her original works to competitions like UBC, NYCDA, and Kennesaw State University's Emerging Choreographers workshop. To grow her experience as a choreographer, she also attended Ballet 5:8’s Choreographers Summer Intensive in 2016.  

After high school graduation. Maelee joined Magnum Opus Ballet in Madison, WI as a trainee for their 2021/2022 season. She was then promoted to Company Apprentice for the 2022/2023 season where she began to learn the ins and outs of professional dance on a contracted level and the challenges of embracing dance as a profession. Her two seasons with Magnum Opus solidified her love for Worship Dance, brought new reward as a disciple of Christ, and taught her how dance truly is a tool for ministry not only to the audience but to the dancers involved. Maelee has a passion to pour into the next generation of dancers, committed to preparing them for whatever level of dance they feel called to. She is excited to join the Acts Staff for the 2023/2024 season!