Faculty / Staff
Natalya Vyashenko-Connor
is the director of The Turning Pointe School of Dance. Natalya was born in 1982, in the Russian Federation, the city of Irkutsk. At the age of 5 Natalya and her parents moved to the Republic of Uzbekistan, USSR. At the age of 10 Natalya was accepted into the Department of Classical Ballet Artistry at the only National Academy of Ballet and Choreography in Tashkent. With this honor Natalya began her professional dance training. She was introduced to a multitude of highly enriched classes, such as: the main ballet technique, national dances of the world, duet – classical dance, and character dance. The complex educational system of the Academy required students to pass several severe examinations every six months in order to filter out the less capable ones and give an advantage to the students with greater potential to proceed on.
Upon her successful graduation from the National Academy, Natalya began her professional performing career as a dancer with Alisher Navoi Great Academic Theatre of Opera and Ballet of Tashkent in the capital of Uzbekistan. She remained a performing company member for fours years having the opportunity to dance many classical roles. In 2002 Natalya was accepted into Tashkent University where she received her degree in Choreography, Director-Ballet-Master and Teacher of Classical Ballet. During her intense years of study at the university she was privileged to be taught by many great professors from Moscow, and she also continued to perform in The Great Theatre.
Natalya’s teaching career was launched in 2003 when her school accepted her for the position of pedagogue of classical ballet for the age group of 10 -15 years olds. Some of Natalya’s notable accomplishments include teaching stage technique for the Opera Department of The State Conservatory and composing choreography for independent dance groups. She also acquired a seven-year-long musical education, developing a passion for piano, thus creating another bond with classical music.
Natalya moved to the USA in 2005. Natalya is enjoying teaching ballet and character dance throughout Northeast Ohio. Natalya and her husband, Patrick just settled into their new home in Kent, Ohio. She is excited to share her passion for dance with students at The Turning Pointe School of Dance.
Dominic J. Moore .
At only 20 years old, the Akron resident already has danced with Edgeworks Dance Theater, Washington D.C.’s premier all-male contemporary dance company of predominantly African-American men. During that time, this talented dancer toured area theaters including The National Theatre and the John F. Kennedy Performing Arts Center.
A freshman at the University of Akron, Moore is working toward his bachelor of arts in Dance with a minor in Administration. His training includes dancing at Sharon Rae Performing Arts Center and Studio West Performing Arts Centre, both in Akron. Moore also has taken intensives with Garth Fagan in Rochester, N.Y. Fagan is the Tony-award winning choreographer of The Lion King on Broadway, and while at the intensive Moore was offered a position in the company.
As for the future, Moore plans to dance professionally in a company. Later, he plans to pursue his master’s degree in Dance, as well as a PhD in Dance. Ultimately, Moore says he would like to be the head director of a university dance program to take on older students, shed a new light on dance, and bring dancers opportunities to help them take the next step in their dance careers.
Michelle Walker
is a graduate of the University of Akron with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with the class of 1996. Some of the teachers she trained under are, Marc Ozanich, Jerry Burr, Tom Smith, Inna Stabrova and Priscilla Wagoner. Michelle’s performance background includes, The Repertory Company, Touring Ensemble, and Shakespeare & Company at Stan Hywet. Her 9 years plus of teaching experience includes such schools as, University of Akron Dance Institute, Wadsworth School of Ballet, and Michelle’s Dance & Twirl Academy.
Michelle Conley (her maiden name), began her early training with Canton Ballet where she performed in the productions of the The Nutcracker and Spring Performance of Swan Lake. Recalling her teenage years and the importance dance played in life, inspired Michelle to pursue a dance/teaching/choreography degree. Sharing her deep passion of the arts brings her enormous joy. Michelle is a very dedicated teacher with a great love for ballet and she believes ballet provides dancers with grace, beauty, discipline, and strength. She enjoys helping dancers grow more confident as they successfully develop proper body alignment and movement execution. Michelle has stated, “I am so grateful for the help I received from so many excellent teachers. They all possessed such a professional demeanor, with such style and grace, I strive to pass that along to my students.” Michelle is also a mother of two small daughters. She is married to Michael and they reside in Jackson Township, Ohio.
Mary Rothman began her ballet training as a young child at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. She is a graduate of Skidmore College with a Bachelor of Arts degree in dance. Her studies included classical ballet performance, methods and materials of teaching dance, choreography, a special workshop with Twyla Tharp. Mary has performed with the Lake George Opera Company in New York state and North Atlantic Ballet in Boston. After returning to Pennsylvania she spent several years studying and performing flamenco and Hawaiian dance. Mary is the mother of two young girls who enjoy dancing with her. In addition to teaching classes at The Turning Pointe School of Dance, Mary also heads the dance school’s Rivertree enrichment classes. She hopes to instill a love of dance in all of her students.
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Dre Borders…
Break Dance… Dre is also known as “Dre Live” started dancing in the early 1980’s. Dre is one of the only B-boys left that is still representing from Ohio’s 80’s era. As a co-founder of Illstyle Rockers, Dre came up with the name Illstyle Rockers in 1996, after the group had been searching for an identity and represented under other names for nearly two years. Dre’s theatrical credits include Virtual Reality; From 8 Track to CD (Prestigious Productions), An Evening of Tap and Hip-Hop (Cleveland Public Theater), and Hit the Breaks (FSB Productions). Video credits include Kid Rock’s Welcome to the Party.
Besides dancing, Dre has a natural talent for acting. In 1996, he landed the lead speaking role of Mitch in an independent feature film called Fishtales. He has taught classes and workshops on B-boying at Crawford Dance Academy, Canton Players Guild, Oberlin College, The Turning Pointe School of Dance and other renowned institutions. Currently, Dre continues to represent at jams, perform, teach, and host hip-hop functions.
Dre is looking forward to another great year working with the students of The Turning Pointe School of Dance. Check out Dre Live Breakdance in Akron.
Hollie Barcheck is a resident of Canal Fulton, Ohio. This has been her home town for the past eight years. She grew up in North Canton and is a graduate of Hoover High School. Dancing and gymnastic have been a part of her life since the age of three. Her love for dance began at the Susan Lloyd Vasbinder School of Dance, where she participated in ballet, jazz, tap, tumbling and baton. She attended Gymnastics of Ohio and the YMCA Gymnastics. While in college she minored in dance at the University of Akron.
Currently she is coaching part time at the YMCA Gymnastics Center. Hollie believes in preserving arts in our community is important. Inspiring children to be active and to have fun through dance are Hollie’s main goals as a teacher.
Assistants
Julie Kuhn
Kathleen Horrell
Keri Ward