Meet Our Premier Faculty
Meet Our Premier Faculty
Jasmine Harper was born in Rochester, New York. She began dancing at the age of 3 at a local studio, where she studied the styles of tap, jazz, ballet, lyrical, musical theater, and contemporary. At the age of 13, she moved to Charlotte, North Carolina where she attended North Carolina Dance Theater to further her training in ballet. After graduating high school in 2011, she signed with Xcel Talent Agency. She then moved to Atlanta, GA to begin her career as a professional dancer. While training in Atlanta under some of Atlanta's most well-known choreographers, Jasmine's career took off, when she began dancing for recording artist, Ciara. Jasmine Harper was a contestant on season 10 of So You Think You Can Dance. Her genre was Contemporary. She was announced as runner-up. Since then Jasmine Harper has worked with Usher, Taylor Swift, Jennifer Lopez, Beyonce, and Ne-yo among others, and has scored brand deals with Degree Women and Lululemon. Jasmine continues to perfect her craft and expand her knowledge and skill as a dancer, while living out her dream.
Sofia Diskes has had a deep passion for dance since a very young age. Along with 16 years of dance training in all styles, she also has extensive experience in teaching and choreographing. After 7 years of assisting classes of all ages and styles, her interest in teaching grew immensely. Since deciding to begin her career in teaching dance, Sofia has taught many classes from recreational to competitive for all ages and levels. She has won many choreography awards at some of the most renowned dance competitions in the United States and has been amongst the youngest choreographer to do so! Her teams and soloists have received top overall scores, national highest scores, special awards, and additional recognition time and time again.
Hannah Ranco is a New England based dancer, choreographer, and educator. She recently earned her BFA in dance studies from Dean College, and has worked as an NBA dancer for the Boston Celtics. Her work has been featured at Starlight Theatre with the Dance Complex’s Tiny and Short series as well as at Salem Arts Festival. Hannah has also worked on multiple video sets and concerts with artists such as Sydney the Singer, Spose, Montell Jordan, and DJ Kool. Hannah not only loves dancing and choreographing, but she also has a passion for teaching, and is currently teaching at Endicott College as an adjunct professor
Hannah Ranco
Contemporary Faculty
Pat Planet is a choreographer, teacher, and dancer whose movement style is anchored in Hip-Hop, Jazz, and Martial Arts. Growing up in New York City, Pat has trained extensively at the Broadway Dance Center and the Alvin Ailey School of Dance where he learned from many of the industry’s forerunners. Most recently, Pat has choreographed and danced for the NBA and NFL through his time as an NBA Dancer for the Boston Celtics. He has been on tour, TV, commercials, and movies. Pat’s passionate about working with dancers and helping them develop and thrive holistically.
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Daniel Browning is the Creator and CEO of Dance 2 Inspire and the Unleashed Convention. He has been featured on So You Think You Can Dance and NBC Dancing with Myself and has worked with artists all over the country, dancing, choreographing, and directing. He has recently launched Augusta University’s first dance team Jag Elite and was a dance finalist for Spread The Cheer’s Cheer Choice Awards in Las Vegas. He’s worked with Leon Lee (Beyoncé, Ciara, Beth Spangler from The Voice), Stevo Jones (Lyndsey Sterling, Step Up, Lloyd), and He has been featured in many commercials and feature films such as Baywatch, Baby Driver, and Harley Davidson. His passion is to empower the younger generation, providing resources and opportunities that he never had.
Jai Mason
Ballet Faculty
Jai Mason comes from Troy, NY and has been dancing both freelance and professionally for over 15 years. He holds an International Baccalaureate in Dance and Theatre. In 2016 he joined the Albany Berkshire Ballet as has been featured in: "The Nutcracker" ('16-'22) "Rockwell Suites", "Process and Performance" (17&'18) and "Midsummer Night Dream" as “Bottom"". Outside of the ABB season, Jai freelances as a guest artist to other dance groups and festivals, and recently appeared as a special guest as "The Peruvian" in Denise Limoli's production of "Gaite Parisenne" presented by the Skidmore College Dance and Music Dept. Other show cases have included his own works at: "Choreography on the Edge" (Woodstock, NY) Albany Dance Festival, and Liberty Hall Dance Festival (Union, NJ.). Jai also has recently found himself back teaching, having guest taught for both the New England and Central New York Captures of NADAA (National Association of Dance and Affiliated Arts), teaching all levels of ballet from Beginner to Master Classes.
Devon Larcher
Contemporary Faculty
Devon Larcher has been dancing since the age of 10, training in jazz, lyrical, contemporary and modern. In his early years of becoming an artist, Devon was trained as a television and movie actor through the program A.C.T. Along with this program, Devon had the opportunity to attend the Jacqueline M Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts in Rhode Island. Devon has won several regional, national, and Worlds choreography awards. In 2015, American Dance Awards awarded Devon the title of Americas National Young Choreographer of the Year. Devon has performed in Hengshui, China for their inaugural arts festival, as a dancer and aerialist with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Part of the Oath, Bill Evans Dance, Ten31, Fusionworks Dance, and Urbanity Dance. Through these companies, Devon has had the opportunity to work with world renowned artist like Andy Noble, Doug Varone, and Camille Brown. Devon has recently moved to Philadelphia, PA to work as company dancer with the world renowned Koresh Dance Company. While in Philly, Devon has had the opportunity to choreograph and be a featured dancer in a commercial based in the city. Devon is currently teaching, choreographing, judging and dancing across the United States and abroad.
Madelyn Mickelsen, originally from Racine, Wisconsin, began studying dance at the age of six at Dance Arts Center. After twelve years of recreational and competitive training, she continued into professional dance training and graduated from the University of Wisconsin-Stevens Point obtaining two Bachelor of Arts degrees in Dance and Arts Management. In addition, she has studied under dancers from the Joffrey and Milwaukee Ballet, Giordano Dance Chicago, Hubbard Street, the Verdon Fosse Legacy, and the Radio City Rockettes.
Madelyn has been a featured dancer in Jazz Choreography Enterprises (JCE) Jazz Project Showcase and Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center’s performance labs. She has also traveled nationally and internationally as a backup dancer for up-and-coming musical artists and has been involved in numerus projects and productions across the Midwest and Tri-State area.
Her choreographical works have been showcased and produced in various performances, showcases, festivals, and for adjudication at the American College Dance Association. In addition, Madelyn also is involved in media as a video producer and web designer.
Madelyn judges for regional and national dance competitions across the nation. Additionally, she guest judges for pageants and other regional East Coast contests and also is a teacher for convention and workshop classes. Currently based in New York City, Madelyn is continuing to train and further pursue her career.
Madelyn Mickelsen
Jazz & Tap Faculty
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