Dance Faculty

Flint School of Performing Arts

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Dance Faculty

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Our talented faculty is here to help you!

To reach instructors, call (810) 238-1350, then dial the instructor's extension number.

Karen Mills Jennings, Chair

(ext. 137), Dance Division Chair, Outreach Programs Coordinator, Artistic Director for the Flint Youth Ballet and Nutcracker, and Peter and the Wolf: B.F.A. (dance, theatre), Marygrove College. Studied extensively with Gayla Zukevich and in New York with David Howard. Studied the Russian Method with Jürgen Sneider. Danced professionally with Ballet Michigan.

Talia Carter

(ext. 259), Director, Children's Performance Workshop & Adult Ballet Ensemble; Student (education), University of Michigan-Flint. Winner of scholarships to Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Joffrey Midwest Workshop, Dance Theatre of Harlem. Former member, Flint Youth Ballet, cast member of FIM's Nutcracker.

Brenda Glasschild

(ext. 274) (dance), BFA University of Michigan. Also studied at New York University (arts administration) and Baruch University (education). Studied dance on scholarship at Alvin Ailey and Dance Theater of Harlem. Performed with national tour of The Wiz, Royal Caribbean Cruise Line, Black Pearl Modern Dance Co., and off-Broadway productions. Previously taught dance at Southwestern Academy and Efficacy Dance Program.

Bohuslava Jelínková

(ext. 234) Jelinkova received her early training at the National Conservatory of Dance (Prague), where she studied classical ballet technique and other dance forms, including Eastern European folk dance. She joined the Opera Ballet of the National Theatre in Prague, where she danced and toured worldwide for ten years. She attended the Academy of Fine Arts, receiving a Master’s Degree in ballet and pedagogy. Slavka taught extensively in the Czech Republic. In 1993 she was awarded a Dutch State Arts grant to complete pedagogical studies at the Conservatory of Ballet in Rotterdam, The Hague, and Amsterdam. In 1999 Slavka moved to Ann Arbor, where she has served on the faculties of FSPA, Arts in Motion, the Russian Classical Ballet Academy, and the Brighton Ballet School. For three years she taught character dance classes and choreographed for the summer camp of American Ballet Theatre. Performed as a free-lance artist with Michigan area choreographers and has also choreographed works for her students. In 2010 Slavka danced and choreographed the world premiere of Apple Train. She is also a nationally certified massage therapist specializing in sports massage.

Vladmir Kalmsky

(no ext.), Dance Division Piano Accompanist.

Yvonne Mihailoff

(ext. 201), Dance: Trained with Southwest Ballet School. Former company member, Impact Productions and corp de ballet, Southwest Ballet Company.

Elizabeth Philippi

(ext. 219), Dance, Ballet Mistress for Flint Youth Ballet, Nutcracker, and Peter and the Wolf: Studied at Wright State University, Flint School of Performing Arts, Ruth Page Foundation. Previous member, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Dayton Ballet.

Michael Woodberry-Means

ext. 223, Director, Youth Dance Ensemble; Dance. MFA and BFA, University of Michigan, M Ed, Marygrove College. Professional dance training: School of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Martha Graham Center for Contemporary Dance, and the American Dance Festival. Performed with: Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, Dallas Black Dance Theatre, the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble, Martha Graham Dance, Peter Sparling Dance Company and Ballethnic Dance Company. Also performed: Switzerland tour of the Toggenburger Passion. Taught and choreographed at Bowling Green State University, Marygrove College, Oakland University and Eastern Michigan University. Guest artist with: Greater Lansing Ballet, and the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. Awarded the 2009-2010 Dance Teacher of the Year by the Michigan Dance Council. Founder and director of The Means Dance Group, a contemporary dance troupe.