Scarlett Barnes
Scarlett Barnes is a native Houstonian who graduated from The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts in 2004, receiving the Most Outstanding Dance Major Award. She was classically trained at Margo Marshall School of Ballet, City Dance Studio and Houston Metropolitan Dance Center. Ms. Barnes has performed with Leanna Sparacino Dancers, Met Too Dance Company and City Dance Company. She danced in Univision Television’s Selena Vive! and at the Apollo Theater with musical guest Berthel Young. This is Ms. Barnes’ third year with Psophonia Dance Company, and she also dances with the Ensemble Theatre and Sandra Organ Dance Company.

Stephanie Beall
Stephanie Beall is appearing with Psophonia for her second season. She joined the company after receiving her BFA in Dance from Sam Houston State University. Stephanie has studied with Melissa Wynn, Dana Nicolay, Joy Kellman, George Carlos and Elijah Gibson in various forms of ballet, African and modern dance. She is excited to continue her dancing with Psophonia.

 

Rhodessa Bell
Rhodessa Bell got her start under the direction of Koni Riley on the Rhythm Elite performance team at Dance Dimensions Studio in Mineola, TX. She received her BFA at Stephen F Austin University where she was a member of the SFA Pom Squad and the SFA Repertory Dance Company. Rhodessa has also studied under the direction of Richard Hubscher, Amber Thorton, John Stronks and Dena Veil. She currently works for Marching Auxiliaries creating choreography and teaching dance to children of all ages. This is Rhodessa's first season with Psophonia and she is excited to be working with such innovative artistic directors and talented dancers.

Naphtali Beyleveld
Naphtali Beyleveld was raised in California and Idaho. She graduated in 2002 from Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi with a BA in Biblical Studies and a minor in Dance. Naphtali performed with the Belhaven Dance Ensemble, and choreographed and performed in the Belhaven Doxa Dance Concerts. After graduation, Naphtali trained in Southern California with Deborah Brockus Dance Project and performed in Coppelia with Dance West Studio. After moving to Houston in 2003, Naphtali trained and performed with Ad Deum Dance Company, and was stage manager for their tour in Malaysia and Singapore. From 2004-2006 Naphtali performed in Project Dance NY. She is also a certified Pilates instructor currently teaching for River Oaks Pilates. This is Naphtali’s second year with Psophonia Dance Company.

Arielle Aimee Garrison
Arielle is a native of southern Maine. She graduated from DeSales University in 2006 with her BA in Dance Performance and Choreography. Arielle has studied with and performed for Trinnette Singleton of Joffrey Ballet, Tim Cowart, Doug Neilson, Amy Marshall Dance Company in New York, Angeline Wolf of Jennifer Mueller Dance Company, Mark Hiam and Kieth Thompson. Arielle moved to Houston after studying and performing in Tuscany with Lynda Davis, Tamar Rogoff and Billy Siegenfeld of Jump Rhythm Jazz Company. She currently teaches at the Spanish Institute of Dance, Kennedy Dance Theatre and Danse Des Enfants. This is Arielle’s second season with Psophonia.

Lindsey Hall
Lindsey Hall is a first year company member from San Antonio, TX. She graduated from the University of North Texas with a BFA in Dance and was a member of Chi Tau Epsilon, the university’s dance honor society. Lindsey also received the Dance Recognition Award, given to only one UNT student each year. Her choreography has been presented at the American College Dance Festival and Faculty Showcases. Lindsey has danced with Ad Deum Dance Company, as well as performed in Once Upon A Mattress, The Will Rogers Follies, and Mary Kay award shows. Lindsey fills her time teaching and managing the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center.

Jonnesha Hawkins-Minter
Jonnesha Hawkins-Minter is a native of Oklahoma City. She trained in modern dance and ballet at Classen School of Advanced Studies, graduating in 2001. In high school she spent two summers studying modern dance at the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute, and in 2000, performed with the African American Dance Ensemble. In May 2005, Jonnesha graduated with a BFA in Modern Dance Performance from the University of Oklahoma where she studied with Denise Vail, Austin Hartel, Brian Brooks, Derick Minter, and Sonia Dawkins. Jonnesha also studied at the American Dance Festival where she worked with Ronald K. Brown and Nicholas Leichter. After graduation Jonnesha danced with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company in Ohio under the direction of Shonna Hickman-Matlock. Jonnesha has also performed with Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and Dancepatheatre. This is her first season with Psophonia.

Timothy Johnson
Timothy Johnson began his dance training at Friendswood Ballet and has continued on at San Jacinto College South majoring in dance under the direction of Dr. Suzzann Oliver. He has dance in several companies including Dance Force Productions, Sandra Organ Dance Company, Freneticore, Dancepatheater, Exclamation Dance Company, Uptown Productions, and Houston Metropolitan Dance Company. In 2007, Tim performed with the Houston Grand Opera in Verdi’s Aida. Tim has attended the American Dance Festival consistently since 2005 and trained with Gerri Houlihan, Ursala Payne, Keith Thompson, Abby Yagger, Paul Matteson, Doug Neilson, Robert Battle and most recently Trisha Brown. He has choreographed for the San Jacinto College Dance Program, Houston Met Too Dance and Sparacino Company Dancers. Tim teaches dance throughout Houston. This is his second season with Psophonia.

Elizabeth Lucrezio
Elizabeth Lucrezio is originally from upstate New York and holds a dual BFA in Theatre and Fine Arts. She has trained and performed with At Marah Dance Company in Pennsylvania and Dancepatheatre in Houston. In New York she danced with Homemade Theatre, Max Lucado Productions, Job & the Snake Equity Showcase, and Project Dance in New York and Los Angeles. After a brief stay in Chicago, where she trained with the Joel Hall Dance Center, Elizabeth returned to Houston to resume dancing with Psophonia Dance Company and the Michele Brangwen Dance Ensemble. Elizabeth has served as an independent choreographer, production assistant and stage manager, and continues to teach Pilates and dance across Houston.

Sarah Kitterman
Originally from Pittsburgh, PA, Sarah received her early training from Ballet Baroque and Point Park College Conservatory. In 2001, she graduated with a BFA in Ballet from Belhaven College, Jackson, MS. The following year Sarah moved to Houston to join Ad Deum Dance Company. Performing and traveling with the company for four years, Sarah danced and taught in Singapore, Malaysia, New York City, and many other US locations. After leaving Ad Deum, Sarah was a guest artist as the Dew Drop Fairy in Festival Ballet's production of The Nutcracker, and joined Psophonia in spring of 2007. She has loved working with Sophia and Sonia as a part of Phantasia. When not dancing, Sarah teaches at the Houston Metropolitan, Rice University, and the Trotter Family YMCA.

Michelle Wells
Michelle Wells began dancing at Suzanne’s School of Dance in Bryan, Texas and continued through high school receiving National Championship and Best Choreography awards. As a principal dancer in Ballet Forte Dance Company, she performed in The Nutcracker, La Bayadere & Giselle under the direction of Michael Banigan. Michelle recently performed for Proctor and Gamble in Cincinnati and in the New Works Festival in Austin. Michelle is a Certified Personal Fitness Trainer, Balletone Pilate and yoga instructor, and a Senior Biology-Psychology student at Houston Baptist University. This is her second season with Psophonia Dance Company.

Tapley Whaley
Tapley Whaley is originally from Charlotte, North Carolina, where she began her dance training in ballet. She continued her pursuit of dance at Belhaven College in Jackson, MS where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in dance. In 2002 Tapley moved to Houston where she began dancing professionally with Ad Deum Dance Company under the direction of Randall Flinn. She has had the opportunity to work with Clara Cravey, Laura Morton, Caleb Mitchell of Houston Ballet, former Martha Graham dancer Steve Rooks, Hope Boykin of Alvin Ailey, Kathleen Lobue, Bill Wade and Steven Wynn. Tapley has performed with Ad Deum across the country and the world, traveling to Project Dance New York and LA, as well as to Singapore and Malaysia. In July 2006 she was invited to the Netherlands to choreograph for Youth With a Mission. Mrs. Whaley currently teaches dance in the Houston area and is also a certified Pilates instructor. This is her first season with Psophonia Dance Company.