Guest Artists and Faculty Presenter Bios
Save the Date
2026 OhioDance Festival
May 1, 2, and 3
Location: The Ohio State University, Dance Department, Sullivant Hall, 1813 North High St., Columbus Ohio 43210
2026 bios available in January 2026
Guest Artist 2026
Cervilio Miguel Amador
Cervi is a multifaceted artist, entrepreneur, and transformative figure in the dance world. He received his education and training at the Vocational Ballet School in Camagüey, Cuba, and the National Ballet School of Cuba. Cervi began his professional career with the National Ballet of Cuba, starting as a Corps de Ballet dancer and later advancing to the role of Corifeo (demi-soloist). In 2004, he joined Cincinnati Ballet as a Soloist, and in 2006, he was promoted to Principal Dancer, becoming one of the youngest in the company’s history. Over his 16-year tenure as Principal Dancer, Cervi performed in numerous world premieres by acclaimed choreographers, including Victoria Morgan, Adam Hougland, Travis Wall, Val Caniparoli, Jessica Lang, and Luca Veggetti. Alongside his artistic achievements, Cervi represented Cincinnati Ballet dancers as a union delegate for over a decade.
Throughout his professional dancing career, Cervi performed as a guest artist in productions and galas worldwide and taught at various schools. He has also staged works for Victoria Morgan and Jennifer Archibald and served as a judge for several prestigious international ballet competitions, including the Universal Ballet Competition (UBC), Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), and Valentina Kozlova International Ballet Competition (VKIBC).
After retiring as a Principal Dancer during the 2019-2020 season, Cervi transitioned to the role of Rehearsal Director, where he focused on coaching and mentoring dancers both inside and outside the studio. He also played an active role in the Cincinnati Ballet’s Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Accessibility Task Force, advocating for sustainable change for current and future dancers.
Cervi is deeply proud to be a part of Cincinnati’s vibrant arts community. He has collaborated with Cincinnati Opera, performed in the highly acclaimed Lumenocity events, and served as the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Moving Arts from 2018 to 2023. He was also featured in an Emmy award-winning PBS documentary that chronicled his journey of defecting from Cuba to pursue his passion for dance.
In September 2023, the Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees appointed Cervi as Interim Artistic Director. In this capacity, he actively planned the repertoire for upcoming seasons, curated and commissioned new works, and collaborated with the leadership team to shape his artistic vision for the company. Cervi has been instrumental in fostering community partnerships and broadening the reach of the art form both locally and internationally. He was a finalist for the 2024 CreativeOhio Champion Advocacy Award in the Artist Champion category. The Cincinnati Ballet Board of Trustees appointed Cervi as permanent Artistic Director in December 2024.
2025 Presenters Bios
Anthony Alterio is on the faculty at Ohio University. He works in the School of Dance and the School of Theater as an Assistant Professor of Instruction. His research explores representations of identities in the LGBTQIA+ community in pop culture as part of a larger interest in how dancers present themselves.
Khaila Carr (she/her) has been with The Greater Columbus Arts Council since 2023 and currently serves as the Grants and Community Engagement Coordinator. Khaila manages programs supporting both individual artists and nonprofit organizations; including Mural Assistance, Artist Projects, Cultural Festival Funding and Project Support: Events, Festivals, & Series. In addition to her work at GCAC, Khaila is a practicing visual artist working in illustration, animation, mural-making, and tattooing. To connect, feel free to reach out to kcarr@gcac.org or grants@gcac.org!
Padma Chebrolu holds MBA and MED degrees. Recipient of Ohio Governor’s Award for Arts Education and Ohio Arts Council’s Heritage Arts Fellow. She is the director, producer and writer of the dance movie, Passage of the River which amplifies the arts activism message for environmentalism for clean water and air. Won about 30 awards at international film festivals from 10 countries.
Trezon Dancy from Hartford, Connecticut is a Choreographer, Performing Artist, and Educator. Dancy has worked with various artists throughout the east coast and Midwest. Dancy received his BFA in Dance: Performance and Choreography from Ohio University. Upon Graduation Dancy accept- ed a First Company position with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company. Dancy is the Artistic Director of InPulse Dance Company and Operations/Program Manager for OhioDance.
Ambre Emory-Maier MA, MFA, ERYT-500, is an Assistant Professor of Dance at Kent State University and the former Associate Director of BalletMet 2. She uses Labanotation to re-stage dances and examines questions around ownership, memory, and transference. She has a deep background in sharing movement practices that support people with eating disorders and mental health challenges.
J. Shannon Filmore is the President of Tru Kingdom Mega Crew Inc., an all-styles dance crew he co-founded in 2017. TKMC received “2021 Best Dance Crew in Ohio” and the “2022 Grace Dance Award for Excellence in Hip Hop”. Shannon’s accolades include: “2021 Buckeye Choreographer and Dancer of the Year”. Shannon has received individual artist grants from the Greater Columbus Arts Council and graduated.
Angie Gallis is an accomplished dance teacher as well as a 500-hour CYT with a focus on accessible yoga. Currently, you will find Angie sharing her passion for dance, yoga, and wellness through teaching classes and workshops, speaking on the benefits of yoga through her nonprofit Paisley Yoga Project, and serving as an adjudicator for the Celebration Talent Competition.
Ashley Goos is a dancer, choreographer, creative leader, educator, and somatics practitioner. She holds an MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from The Florida State University. She has presented her research on somatic integration and dance techniques across the nation. Ashley is an Assistant Teaching Professor and the Director of Dance at Miami University (OH).
Melissa Gould received her B. A in Dance at San Jose State University and enjoyed a professional dance career which included contracts in Japan, Las Vegas, and Korea. Melissa has been teaching for over 35 years. Melissa is the Artistic Director of New Vision Dance Co., Founder of the New Albany Dance Festival, and Director of the New Albany Middle School Theatre Dept.
Jessica Harris is a professor of Jazz, Tap, and Musical Theatre dance, currently on faculty at University of Cincinnati (CCM), Northern Kentucky University, and Miami University of Ohio. She has also worked with many professional NFL and NBA dance teams as a guest choreographer. Harris has performed on ESPN and GMA, and has received numerous awards for her work across the country.
Michael Holland started dancing at the age of 5 under Ann Richens and John Timm at the Richens/Timm Academy of Irish dance. After twice finishing 2nd place at the World Championships, in 2012 Michael achieved the highest honor in Irish Dance, the title of Senior Men’s World Champion. In 2008, Michael was awarded the Presidential Scholar in the Arts, and danced at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
Erin J. Hoppe, PhD Associate Teaching Professor, Arts Management & Arts Entrepreneurship, Miami University. Erin is passionate about enhancing wellbeing for the creative sector and its stakeholders. Her pedagogy bridges theory and practice with attention to equity and accessibility. She is a seasoned nonprofit arts administrator and board member for local, statewide, and international organizations. Her research has focused on embodiment, creativity, covid, and artificial intelligence in the creative sector.
Chaz O’Neil, Artist Programs/Percent for Art coordinator, Ohio Arts Council Chaz O’Neil joined the Ohio Arts Council staff in 2021. Chaz received a BA from Otterbein University, 2006 and MFA from Bowling Green State University, 2013. He is a visual artist. Recent exhibitions include Greater Columbus 2020 at the Columbus Museum of Art, Terraform at ROYGBIV Gallery in 2021 and 934 Gallery in October 2022. O’Neil was the Museum & Gallery Assistant/ Collection Registrar and taught foundations drawing courses at Otterbein University. O’Neil was Assistant Director at the Ohio State Fair Fine Arts Exhibition. He taught at Shanghai Publishing Printing College in China. His residencies include El Bruc, Spain and Greater Columbus Arts Council’s Residency Exchange Program in Dresden, Germany.
Robin Raven Prichard, MFA, is an artist/scholar straddling the worlds of contemporary concert dance and Indigenous dance. She has taught dance in universities for more than two decades in Australia and throughout the US. She served as a choreographer for the American Idol video game, and her dance film Trigger Warning was an official selection at ADF.
Marlene Robbins graduated from Ohio State with her MA in Dance Education. She was the beloved Dance Teacher at Indianola Elementary School (Columbus Public Schools) for over twenty years before her retirement. She has been folk dancing most of her life.
Gregory Robinson received his dance training at the University of Alabama in Birmingham. His career as a performer, teacher, ballet master, and choreographer, primarily with Dayton Ballet, has spanned more than thirty years. He was named a “Dayton Gem” by the Dayton Daily News. His works have garnered critical praise and funding from regional and national arts agencies. He is on the faculty of Wright State University.
Jeffrey Rockland, Associate Professor of Dance at Kent State University, Jeffrey Marc Rockland enjoys helping students expand, discover, and excel. A former soloist with Atlanta Ballet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, Rockland brings his professional experience into the classroom. He sets a professional standard by which technique and artistry are achieved. Rockland’s choreography credits include works for many regional and International companies and universities.
Trinity Stevens has an Associate of Arts and Bachelor of Arts; they have attended teacher trainings with Boston Ballet, the Center for Arts-Inspired Learning, Dark Room Ballet, and the Kennedy Center’s Destination Arts Integration Conference. Stevens has danced for Seiche Dance Collective, Lowell House Opera, Morgan Walker & Dancers, and Dancing Wheels. They aim to use dance to encourage well-being, self-expression, and community-building.