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Artistic Director: Rocky Duvall
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The Faculty
Rocky has been performing all of his life. Originally from California, he got his start at the American Conservatory Theater in San Francisco, and completed his training on full scholarship with Gus Giordano Jazz Dance in Chicago. Since then he has traveled extensively performing with Royal Caribbean Cruise lines, and has worked successfully in all facets of the South Florida professional theatre community as a member of Actors Equity Association. In recognition of Rocky’s choreography in the year 2000, he was nominated for a Carbonell Award (a South Florida Theater Critics Award). In addition to his career as a performer, Rocky has continued to teach master classes at prestigious dance studios from West Palm Beach through the Fort Lauderdale area. He has also held the position of Director of the Dance Department at the North Broward Preparatory Schools in Coconut Creek, has instructed drama and choreographed for the theatre department at Olympic Heights High School in Boca Raton and most recently, has been teaching master technique classes with the Wellington High School 2006 Dance Team.
While Dorie recalls being introduced to the joys of performing at a very young age, her formal dance education began here in South Florida at the Dance Academy of Deerfield Beach and the Dillard High School of Performing Arts. Moving to New York, she continued her dance education at STEPS, studying with Susie Taylor, Joe Lanteri and Michelle Assaf. Professionally, Dorie has instructed dance programs and performance companies at numerous studios in New York and Florida. She has performed world wide with Norwegian and Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines as a featured performer. She has also had a powerfully artistic career in the musical theatre industry, performing in countless productions as a member of Actors Equity Association. Also for the past decade, as an adjunct to her dancing, Doreen is a Florida Licensed L.M.T specializing in the ancient healing art of Traditional Thai bodywork. She enjoys blending her knowledge of anatomy and physiology into her lyrical programming, inspiring her students to a deeper understanding of their dance experience. With over 20 years experience in dance education, 10 years in professional bodywork, and as a Mommie of two beautiful children, Dorie adores teaching, and celebrates each and every one of her students precious hearts as she watches their esteem flower and grow through the wonderful world of dance!
We are thrilled to have Larry on our faculty once again as a Hip Hop Specialist!! Larry has been teaching, dancing and performing his style of hip hop for 9 years in shows throughout the states of NY, NJ, PA and FL. He has choreographed for P-FUNK dance company, Infinite DS, Like Clockwork, Sean’s Dance Factory and Next Level, and for Rutgers and Florida International University dance teams. His teaching experience is extensive having taught many dance programs and conducted master classes for many conventions including the Dance Masters of America, StreetStylz, Pick the Stars International, The Winter Dance Festival at the Florida School of the Arts, and the Broadway Bound Dance Intensive from Star Systems Dance Competition. He has also been part of the opening acts for such artist’s as Lil Mo, Fabolous, Common, and Nelly. Larry is also a husband and father of two, and it is our honor to have him aboard!
Jesse Hammel’s 20-year professional career began in 1990 under the intensive tutelage of Marie Hale and Claudia Cravey of Ballet Florida. After apprenticing, performing and touring with the Company for four seasons, he joined Tampa Bay Ballet Theatre for a year as a soloist. Seeking an eclectic diversion, Mr. Hammel joined with Demetrius Klein Dance to experience the expressive freedom of Modern Dance. Having performed and toured with Klein Dance for a season, in 1996 he was witnessed in a random class by Minneapolis based, contemporary ballet choreographer James Sewell. Jesse was invited to perform with his dynamic Company and remained for four seasons. With Mr. Sewell’s impeccable musicality and ballet technique, Jesse honed the skills necessary to become a principle dancer while frequently performing and touring throughout the United States and Bermuda. In 2000, Mr. Hammel sought to further diversify his career by joining the Denver based David Taylor Dance Theatre. While living in the Rocky Mountains, he enjoyed performing classical and contemporary ballets while touring nationally, teaching company classes, and setting two original ballets on Mr. Taylor’s Company. In 2003, Jesse relocated to Southern California to perform with Molly Lynch’s Ballet Pacifica. While dancing there, he performed in some of his favorite world-class ballets such as Anthony Tudor’s “lilac Garden”, Sugar Plum Cavalier in “Nutcracker” and Choo San Gogh’s “Unknown Territory”, as well as participating in two Dancer Chorographic Workshops. In 2004 Mr. Hammel was invited by Victor Trevino to perform with Les Ballet Grandivas. Demanding the intricate delicacies of pointe-technique, he was able to perform comedic ballerina roles as well as traditional male roles within the company. With Grandivas, he performed and toured New York, Japan and Korea. In 2005 Mr. Hammel retired from full-time company performance in order to pursue a Masters Degree in Traditional Chinese Medicine. However, while studying the ancient healing arts of Acupuncture and Herbal Medicine, he continued to teach ballet classes at Ballet Florida and perform as a guest-artist for San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet and Ballet Pacifica. Having earned his degree and licenses to practice as a Doctor of Oriental Medicine in 2007, Mr. Hammel continued with teaching and a guest freelance career. He is currently the ballet director of Downtown Dance, and has also taught master classes at both Bak and Dreyfoos Schools for the Performing Arts. Dance Arts Conservatory is absolutely honored to invite Mr. Hammel onto their faculty as their resident Ballet Director.
Sandra Goodnough received her formal dance training in South Florida under the direction of Betty d’Avray. She has danced professionally with several Ballet and Modern Dance companies in South Florida and Texas including: Freddick Bratcher & Company, Momentum Dance Company, Corpus Christi Ballet Theatre and Contemporary Dance Theatre. Sandra founded and was the Artistic Director for the Contemporary Dance Company of Boca Raton; a non-profit dance company that offered professional dancers and advanced students a venue to perform and serve the community through artistic outreach. She also owned and operated the Dance Conservatory; a school dedicated to quality dance education and instruction. Sandra is trained in many forms of dance, specializing in all levels of Classical and Contemporary Ballet and Modern Dance.
DAC
is so happy to welcome back Ms. Darlene! Darlene began dancing right here in South Florida at Stella’s Dancers’ Studio in Cooper City where she performed and competed with the Illusion Dance Company. She continued her studies at Ballet Florida and also graduated as a dance major from the Dreyfoos School of the Arts. She attended dance intensives at the Broadway Dance Center in NYC and the Pulse, studying under Masters Judy Ann Bassing for tap, Scott Benson, Frank Hatchett, Brian Friedman, Mia Michaels, Gil Duldulao for jazz and Shane Sparks and Sean Green for hip-hop. Darlene also studied acting at the University Center for the Performing Arts; Actors TV, Film & Theatre; Bob Carter's Actor's Workshop & Repertory Company and Youth Actor's Guild; where she starred in Annie, Magical Pied Piper, Wizard of Oz and Secret Garden. She spent four summers in New York at the famed Stagedoor Manor intensively studying musical theatre, where she was a lead dancer and actress in Sweet Charity, Will Roger's Follies, Pippin' Cabaret, Guys 'n Dolls and Honk. Darlene wants to inspire dancers of all ages with her passion for
dancing and musical theatre.
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Rocky Duvall -
Artistic Director
Dorie Duvall
Lawrence Albright
Sandra Goodnough
Darlene Dinges
Fran Peters