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Staff

The Director

TAMMIE REINSCH

Tammie Reinsch is a Texas native and has been dancing since the age of three. Her training was received at Lewisville Dance Academy where Lisa Slagle began teaching in Tammie’s high school years. 

TAMMIE REINSCH

TAMMIE REINSCH is a Texas native and has been dancing since the age of three. Her training was received at Lewisville Dance Academy where Lisa Slagle began teaching in Tammie’s high school years. She is a classically trained dancer in all forms of dance and gravitated towards jazz, tap, modern and contemporary. Tammie was unable to pursue a professional career due to a knee injury but recognizes this was not the path chosen for her.

When she joined Ballet Academy of Texas in 1999, she worked closely with Lisa Slagle to shape the jazz, tap, modern and contemporary program to reflect what the students were learning in their ballet level. She sets a positive atmosphere for all her classes. You will frequently hear her say “Just keep swimming!” and “Smile and move your feet!” As the dancers mature, she loves to teach the skill of improvisation as it cultivates artistry. She feels that each student has something to learn and something to offer.

Tammie has been a resident choreographer for the Ballet Ensemble of Texas since its formation in 2001. Her choreography includes ‘The Race’, ‘No Pressure’, and ‘Jumpin Jack’ which was reviewed as “smart and snappy.” Her work ‘Anzzziety’ was chosen to be performed at the Regional Dance America and her "Generation #’ was performed across the metroplex and received the Outstanding Choreography Award from Youth America Grand Prix in 2018. ‘Unity’, which she created for BET's 2019 Celebration of Dance review read “Tammie is known for her exceptionally creative choreography. Ms. Reinsch showcases the dancers, unity as a group and everything it represents: overall camaraderie, respect, trust, and what it means to be an artist.” Since 2003, The Dance Council of North Texas has awarded many scholarships to our Ballet Academy students based on her solo contemporary work. Her students have also received many awards and recognition with her choreography and coaching.

She is honored to have been part of the training of students who have decided to pursue dance professionally as well as those who will forever have dance as part of their lives. She cherishes the continued relationships with her students upon graduation from the school. It’s truly a beautiful bonus gift to be a part of their lives.

Read More About Tammie

TEACHING STAFF

THOM CLOWER

THOM CLOWER

Known as one of the most energetic and inspiring teachers across the country, Thom Clower's "evangelistic" approach to teaching has touched the lives and careers of dancers around the world for 40 years. With extensive training in the Vaganova, Balanchine, Cecchetti, and Bournonville styles, Mr. Clower combines the qualities of each one to present a technique that is true and versatile.

Making his stage debut at the age of six, Mr. Clower began his professional training with George Skibine and Marjorie Tallchief at the Dallas Civic Ballet in 1968. He received a Ford Foundation Scholarship to the School of American Ballet in New York for two consecutive years, and also studied in Paris, Amsterdam, and London. He joined Dallas Ballet in 1978 where he spent eleven seasons performing with the company under Mr. Skibine and Flemming Flindt and served as assistant Ballet Master for Dallas Ballet's 1980 South American tour.

As Ballet Master, Mr. Clower assisted Flindt in staging his full-length NUTCRACKER, THE THREE MUSKETEERS, and PHAEDRA, and personally administrated the staging of Alvin Ailey's THE RIVER, John Cranko's JEU DE CARTES, Jeri Kylian's ENGULFED CATHERDRAL, Fokine's PRINCE IGOR and LES SYLPHIDES, and many others.

Mr. Clower served as Founding Artistic Director of the restructured Ballet Dallas and the affiliate school, the Dallas Conservatory of Ballet. Under his direction, Ballet Dallas was the resident professional ballet company for the Dallas area for eight years, carrying on the traditions of the former company. Mr. Clower served as Ballet Master for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, working closely with founding Artistic Director Lou Conte. In this capacity, he was primary teacher for the company and rehearsal director for works by Twyla Tharp, Nacho Duato, Daniel Ezerlow, and Kevin O'Day. Mr. Clower then served four seasons as Artistic Director of Yuma Ballet Theatre (AZ), and Ballet Master of the affiliate school, Dancers Workshop. He was a regular guest teacher at Allegro Ballet of Houston from 2009-2018.

As a representative of the George Skibine Trust, Mr. Clower helps maintain the integrity of Mr. Skibine's ballets, staging them across the country.

He served on selection panels for the City of Dallas, Tarrant County, and both the Texas and Arizona Commission on the Arts Peer Review Panels. He was awarded the prestigious Legacy Award for Achievement in the Arts by the Dallas Dance Council in 2000 and placed in the Yuma Ballet Theatre's Hall of Fame in 2005. In 2017 he was asked to serve on the Board of Directors of the Dance Council of North Texas.

Believing very strongly in Regional Dance America, Mr. Clower has served as the Director of Ballet at numerous RDA Craft of Choreography Conferences (NCI). He has been a guest teacher for Regional Festivals since 1992 and was a guest teacher at the RDA National Festivals in 1997, 2007, and 2017. Mr. Clower has proudly served in the capacity of Adjudicator for RDA/NE (00), RDA/Mid States (03, 22), SERBA (13,19), and RDA/SW (17 National Festival in Phoenix, AZ). He was Ballet Faculty at The Glenda Brown Choreography Project many times since its inception.

Mr. Clower has staged and created ballets for companies all over the United States. He has also worked with many opera companies, including the Santa Fe Opera, the Dallas Opera, and the Lyric Opera of Dallas. Companies have performed his choreography all over the world,

Since 2001 Thom Clower has worked around the world as a freelance master teacher and choreographer. His work has included regional companies and schools, and he has been a guest teacher at professional companies such as Oklahoma City Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Atlanta Ballet. He has been a guest teacher at Broadway Dance Center, Associate Ballet Master for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and has served annually as Ballet Master for Young! Tanzsommer – Stars of Tomorrow International since 2002

Bio

LINDSEY YOES DANIEL

LINDSEY YOES DANIEL

LINDSEY YOES DANIEL is the Ballet Ensemble of Texas’ Ballet Master, since 2014. She received her training at the Ballet Academy of Texas and was a leading dancer with the Ballet Ensemble of Texas from 2001 to 2006. One of her favorite childhood memories was performing with the Moscow Ballet from ages 8 through 12 in their yearly production of the Nutcracker. Following graduation from Coppell High School, she danced professionally with The Dallas Opera, Texas Dance Theatre, Larwell Productions and Dallas Black Dance Theater II; where she was also the Assistant Director to Nycole Ray.  Lindsey has worked with many renown choreographers, including Fernando Bujones and Gordon Pierce Schmidt. You can find Lindsey pictured in the book “The Nutcracker Backstage, The Story and the Magic” by Angela Whitehill and William Noble and Foreword by Wendy Whelan, Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet. She received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and Psychology with an emphasis in Family Studies from University of North Texas. She also attended University of Oklahoma on scholarship for collegiate dance training. Lindsey is an American Ballet Theatre® certified Teacher, in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. As well as certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. She is very excited to be on the staff of Ballet Academy of Texas, for she has been teaching since 2010. Lindsey’s passion is spreading the joy and love she has in ballet to every student she comes across. Lindsey is an advocate of performance quality and clean technique. She loves to see each child’s personality shine as they blossom into the artist whom they are meant to be. Dancing from the soul is a virtue she instills in the children she teaches. It has always been a goal of hers to know every students‘ name in the studio and make sure they always feel welcome and loved. 

Bio

JENNY JOHNSTON

JENNY JOHNSTON

JENNY JOHNSTON, a native Texan, began dancing at age three and her passion for dance was born. She loved and took many forms of dance, but ballet was her focus. She was a founding member of Longview Ballet Theater at age 13 while her summer study included the School of American Ballet (the official training academy of New York City Ballet) and the school for American Ballet Theatre.

Jenny received The Fine Arts Guild Scholarship at Texas Christian University where she obtained her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet while dancing with The Fort Worth Ballet where she became a soloist. She moved to Dallas in 1982 and studied with Nancy Schaffenburg and danced with her company where she and Lisa Slagle met and danced together.

She began her teaching career in 1984 and became the advanced ballet instructor at ARTS Magnet High School (now Booker T Washington High School of the Performing and Visual Arts) where she also choreographed several ballets. She met Thom Clower when he became the director of Ballet Dallas where she perfected her style of teaching and also choreographed. Jenny began working with Lisa Slagle at Ballet Academy of Texas in 1997, where she continues to teach intermediate through advanced students. Her style is technique-based but with a passion and love for ballet while being a strong advocate of taking many styles of dance to enrich and grow the artform.

Jenny has been a resident choreographer for The Ballet Ensemble of Texas since its inception in 2001 and received the 2009 Regional Dance America National Commissioning Award in Choreography for her ballet La Nuit Rose which also placed at the Youth America Grand Prix competition. She has had many dancers place in the top 3, 12 and 24 at YAGP through the years where she has loved coaching and choreographing for her students. She has been a guest choreographer at BTWHSPVA and company teacher for Dallas Black Dance Theater.

She passes on her style of grace, energy, and respect for ballet to her students whom she encourages and cheers on while she loves seeing their growth and confidence and considers it a gift to teach them. She is proud of each student as they go into the world after graduation and for those who have chosen to dance professionally, she is honored to be a part of their training as well as for those who have dance in their hearts and carry it out into life to share. Jenny is immensely grateful to teach with such a fabulous group and teaching ballet has been a blessing to her!

Bio

KENDALL COBB

KENDALL COBB

Kendall grew up in Carrollton and trained at the Ballet Academy of Texas for 12 years including four years as a Ballet Ensemble member. At 18, she attended the University of Oklahoma to further her dance education and graduated with a degree in Ballet Performance and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2019. Professionally, Kendall danced with Ballet Frontier of Texas until 2021. She then decided to pursue a teaching career in both ballet and Pilates. She is currently getting certified in mat and reformer Pilates with the Balanced Body method.

Bio

PENNY ASKEW

PENNY ASKEW

Penny Askew began her serious ballet training with Candace Jones Smalley in Clinton, and supplemented that with summer study at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, Ballet West, National Academy of Arts, and The School of Pennsylvania Ballet. She was influenced by many notable teachers during her formative years, including Robert Joffrey, Richard Englund, Lupe Serrano, David Howard, Bruce Marks, and Toni Lander.

For over 25 years, Penny was the Owner/Director of Western Oklahoma Ballet Academy in Clinton and Artistic Director of Western Oklahoma Ballet Theatre, serving as the primary artistic, administrative, and marketing force behind the organizations. She was awarded a Governor’s Arts Award in 2008 for her work in building a high-quality ballet program in rural Oklahoma, and was twice awarded the Regional Dance America/Southwest Stream Award for artistic excellence and service to that organization.

From 2015-2020, Penny was the school director of the Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School, where she led the school faculty, taught multiple levels, and supervised the professional training programs. She also directed the Oklahoma City Ballet Summer Intensive and the Oklahoma City Youth Ballet, in addition to serving as a company teacher and ballet master for the professional company. In the fall of 2020, she opened Askew Ballet Academy in Oklahoma City and also began working with Central Oklahoma Dance Company as ballet master and choreographer for their professional company productions.

Penny holds a Master of Science in Applied Psychology from Southwestern Oklahoma State University, and a Master of Fine Arts in Dance/Choreography from the University of Iowa. She is also an American Ballet Theatre® Fellowship Teacher, certified in Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has been on faculty at AileyCamp New York, the Glenda Brown Choreography Project, Regional Dance America Festivals, the RDA National Choreography Intensive, and has guest taught for many schools and pre-professional companies. Penny was named Outstanding Choreographer of the Regional Dance America Choreography Conference in both 1996 and 1998, and her works have been commissioned by several companies. Additionally, she was the RDA/Northeast adjudicator for the 2017 National Festival in Phoenix, adjudicated RDA/Southwest for its 2022 Festival in Dallas, and has been invited to adjudicate RDA/Southeast for its 2023 Festival in Montgomery, Alabama.

Penny’s students have attained professional careers in ballet, modern dance, and musical theater companies; have received scholarships to professional and university training programs; and have taught and choreographed professionally across the United States and in Europe. Her teaching is grounded in the belief that "ballet lessons are life lessons," and is focused on developing each student's full potential, both in dance and beyond.

Bio

RAYLEIGH VENDT

RAYLEIGH VENDT

RAYLEIGH VENDT was born in St. Louis, Missouri and raised in Dallas, Texas. Rayleigh began her pre-professional training at the Ballet Academy of Texas under Lisa Slagle. After graduating early, she spent one season as a Trainee at Cincinnati Ballet and two seasons as an Apprentice at Ballet Austin. Rayleigh then joined Oklahoma City Ballet’s Corps de Ballet and danced with the company for five seasons. Vendt is now entering her 5th season with Texas Ballet Theater. She has most enjoyed many roles throughout her career including Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Alice in Ben Stevenson's Alice in Wonderland, Flora in Stevenson’s Dracula, and the Sugar Plum Fairy in Stevenson’s Nutcracker. She has been teaching ballet, pointe, contemporary, jazz, Pilates and conditioning for 9 years in and around Texas and Oklahoma. Ms. Rayleigh is excited to continue being on the staff at Ballet Academy of Texas for her third year and is looking forward to working with all the talented students!

Bio

ABBY GRANLUND

ABBY GRANLUND

Abigail Granlund

Abigail Granlund, was born and rasied in Dallas, Texas. Abby began her training at the Ballet Academy of Texas in 2008 under the direction of Lisa Slagle. She later joined The Ballet Ensemble for 3 years where she had opportunities to perform in Regional Dance America, Canada, and toured with the Stars of Tomorrow Young! Tanzommer in Austria, and Germany.

Abby furthered her ballet training by attending American Ballet Theatre and Texas Ballet Theater’s Summer Intensives under full scholarships before she was invited to join American Ballet Theater’s Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School in New York City with a full scholarship at age 16. While studying at JKO she had opportunities to dance with the main company of ABT, toured to Russia with her class in 2015, and represented JKO on a panel discussion. In 2016, Abby, joined The Washington Ballet and danced there for 6 years before moving to Hong Kong, China, joining the Hong Kong Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member from 2022-2024.


In Abby’s professional career, she has worked with many renown choreographers like Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Vladimir Malakhov, Yuri Possokhov, Jessica Lane, Alexei Ratmansky, Septime Webre, and many others.

Some of her performance repertoire includes William Forsyth’s In The Middle and Somewhat Elevated, Septime Webre’s Carmina Burana, Romeo and Juliet, The Great Gatsby, and The Nutcracker, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Coco Chanel, Julie Kent’s Swan Lake and The Sleeping Beauty, Marius Petipa’s Giselle, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, Michel Fokine’s Les Sylphides, Fredrick Ashton’s The Dream, George Balanchine’s Serenade and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue, Alexei Ratmansky’s Bolero, Paul Taylor’s Company B, and Jessica Lang’s Beethoven Serenade.

Abby is excited to be joining the staff at Ballet Academy of Texas!

Bio

SUPPORT STAFF

HEATHER KING

OFFICE MANAGER

KONSTANTYN TRAVINSKYY

Konstantyn Travinskyy

Ukrainian pianist, Konstantyn Travinskyy has won prizes in numerous piano competitions across the globe including, 1st prize at the Sorantin Music Competition, 3rd prize at the California International Young Artist Competition, 4th prize at the Valesesia-Musica International Competition (Italy) and 1st prize at the International Wideman Piano Competition in Shreveport, Louisiana.

Konstantyn was invited to study with Vladimir Viardo, Artist-in Residence of the University of North Texas, where he completed his Master’s degree in May 2010 and is currently pursuing his Doctorate degree in piano performance. He is a recipient of Toulouse Graduate School scholarship as well as College of Music and Viardo Fellowship Foundation scholarships.

In addition to his competition accomplishments, Konstantyn made several major performances in the U.S. including his Chicago debut at the Dame Myra Hess Series which was broadcast live on the city's classical radio station, WFMT. His orchestral performances include appearances with the Domenico Cimarosa Symphony Orchestra in Italy, the National Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra of Ukraine, the University of North Texas Symphony Orchestra and the Shreveport Symphony Orchestra. After his performance with the latter The Shreveport Times stated, “He has a wonderfully precise style of fingering and approach, equally adept at capturing the drama of the work as well as its melodic content."

 

PIANIST

Cathy Vanover

PHOTOGRAPHER
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