Jonathan Cubides is originally from Miami, Florida. He began his formal training at the Miami City Ballet and later at New World School of the Arts High School and Miami Dance Collective. Upon graduating high school, he attended the University of Southern California Glorya Kaufman School of Dance, in Los Angeles, where he received his BFA in Dance in 2024. During his time there he worked with Kyle Abraham, Doug Varone, Hope Boykin, Dwight Rhoden, Micaela Taylor, and many more. He also studied at various summer and winter intensive programs with BODYTRAFFIC, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, RUBBERBAND, Chuthis, A.I.M by Kyle Abraham, and Springboard Danse. In his years of training, Jonathan grew a passion for choreography and knowledge of diverse dance styles infusing his creative voice with emotional depth. He considers himself a multidisciplinary artist by embracing multiple art forms, including film, lighting, acting, singing, musical composition, and writing.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Jonathan’s 1st with the company.
Ryan Galloway, originally from New Richmond, Indiana, began his training at Dance By Deborah in Crawfordsville. He is a 2015 graduate of Indiana University, where he received a B.S. in Kinesiology with a focus in Contemporary Dance. While at IU, he won the Provost’s Award for Undergraduate Research and Creative Activity, and performed works by esteemed guest choreographers such as Paul Taylor, David Parsons, Larry Keigwin, and Ishan Rustem. Upon graduation, Ryan began dancing professionally with Giordano Dance Chicago where he just recently concluded his 9th season. With GDC, he had the privilege of touring around the country and the world, performing renowned works by Roni Koresh, Ray Leeper, Peter Chu, and Al Blackstone, and choreographing on Giordano II. Ryan would like to thank his beautiful wife, Kimberly, and his family for their love and support.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Ryan’s 1st with the company.
Ryan Jaffe is originally from West Palm Beach, Florida, where he trained at Bak Middle School of the Arts and A.W. Dreyfoos High School of the Arts. Ryan continued his studies at Southern Methodist University, graduating with a BFA in Dance Performance and a BS in Applied Physiology and Health Management in 2024. He has also attended summer and winter intensives at Jacob’s Pillow, the Martha Graham School, BalletX, and Bruce Wood Dance. Ryan has been able to perform the work of choreographers such as George Balanchine, Martha Graham, Adam Houghland, Stephanie Martinez, and Matthew Neenan. As a choreographer, Ryan has presented work at festivals and companies throughout South Florida and Texas. In addition to performing and choreographing, Ryan has volunteered and shadowed at Neurosport Physical Therapy and Westside Dance Physical Therapy, learning from leaders in performing arts and dance medicine.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Ryan’s 1st with the company.
Courtney Jefferies is originally from Montgomery County, Maryland. She was introduced to dancing at age five and has been dancing ever since. Courtney holds a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages and Literatures from Bowdoin College. Her love of language and culture has taken her around the world, including to Paris, France where she lived for two years while studying dance and French. Upon returning to the States, Courtney was a company dancer with The Big Muddy Dance Company (now Saint Louis Dance Theatre) and Ballet 314 in St. Louis, MO. Courtney would like to thank her family whose loving support encourages her as an artist.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Courtney’s 2nd with the company.
Marie Kuhns received her BFA from the University of Oklahoma in modern dance performance under the direction and guidance of Austin Hartel, while performing with Contemporary Dance Oklahoma. During her time there she received the Helen Gregory Modern Dance Award and the Buffalo Mask Award. She grew up in Silver City, NM, and trained at the Conservatory of Dance along with New Mexico School for the Arts in Santa Fe. She has had the opportunity of working with world-renowned choreographers such as Jessica Lang, Carla Maxwell, Kevin Iega Jeff, and Raimondo Rebeck. She enjoys teaching dance and spreading the love of performing arts to different communities. She is forever grateful for the constant loving support of her friends and family.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Marie’s 9th with the company.
Vivien Mickels hails from Noblesville, IN. Her training began at En Pointe Indiana Ballet, where she studied under Polyana Ribiero, Robert Moore, and Paige Robinson. She graduated from Hope College with a BA in Dance Performance/Choreography and Psychology. During her undergraduate studies, she performed in works by notable choreographers such as Matthew Farmer, Crystal Frasier, Sharon Wong, Linda Graham, and Nicole Flinn. Vivien has been a member of both H2 Dance Company and Strike Time Dance Theater. Additionally, Vivien has both performed and choreographed internationally and was the recipient of the DeLong Senior Dance Award and the Kurtze-Wickersheimer Dance Award during her tenure at Hope College. During her time at Dance Kaleidoscope, Vivien has had the pleasure of performing in works by David Hochoy, Stuart Lewis, Manuel Valdes, and Joshua Blake Carter.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Vivien’s 3rd with the company as an apprentice.
Cody Miley was born in Baton Rouge, LA, and moved to Texas when he was 13. After graduating high school, he attended McLennan Community College in Waco, TX, where he began his dance training. He transferred to Sam Houston State University and received his BFA in acting and directing. He is a founding member of Nicolay Dance Works, led by Artistic Director Dana Nicolay, and has had the opportunity to perform in several concert dance pieces as well as dance festivals, including the Houston Fringe Festival, the Bailando Dance Festival and the 2015 Dance Gallery Festival in New York City. Cody has appeared in Alamo City Dance Company’s presentation of The Nutcracker. He also enjoys acting and has been in many theater productions. Cody was a featured dancer for Blockhouse Studios’ NBA All-Star Game video installation. Cody will be making his regional theater debut as Ray in American Lives Theatre’s production of Red Speedo in May of 2025.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Cody’s 9th with the company.
Natalie Nagy was born in South Dakota and danced at Expanding Harmony Dance Studio until she moved to Dayton, Ohio in 2016. Here she danced at South Dayton School of Dance through high school. In 2024 she graduated summa cum laude from Wright State University with her BFA in dance and an Arts Management Certificate. During her time here she danced two seasons with Dayton Contemporary Dance Company II under Shonna Hickman-Matlock. She attended intensives at GroundWorks Dance Theatre, ChuThis., Sidra Bell’s MODULE, and GagaLab in TelAviv. Choreographers she has worked with include Ray Mercer, Kijaunta Lucas, Gavin & Vanessa Owens, and more. She also has a passion for choreography. Her senior work was restaged on Dayton Dance Initiative for their 2024 season performance.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Natalie’s 1st with the company.
Morgan Ranney is originally from Columbus, Ohio, where she trained with Columbus City Ballet School and Infusion Dance. She recently graduated from the University of Arizona in 2023, where she earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance, along with a minor in Nutritional Sciences. While at UofA, she had the opportunity to perform masterworks by George Balanchine and Frank Chaves. While earning her degree, Morgan performed in summer and winter residencies with “Whirlwind Dance,” an Ohio based company led by Joshua Manculich. Upon graduation, Morgan joined Central Illinois Ballet for their 2023-2024 season. Here she had the pleasure of performing lead roles “Clara” from The Nutcracker, and “Johanna” from Sweeney Todd, a CIB original. Morgan has a great passion for teaching and choreographing as well.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Morgan’s 1st with the company.
Nathan Rommel is originally from Kansas City. Former Soloist at New York Theatre Ballet, Nathan is excited to begin his first season with Dance Kaleidoscope. Career highlights include touring internationally with Jon Lehrer Dance, performing with American Ballet Theatre for Met Season 2022, and dancing at the Auditorium Theatre in Chicago with Giordano Dance Chicago. “Thank you, it has been a pleasure.”. @nathanrommel
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Nathan’s 2nd with the company.
Julie Russel whose dance journey ignited in Traverse City, Michigan, under the guidance of Betsy Carr at Dance Arts Academy. Graduating from the University of Oklahoma with a BFA in Dance Performance and BA in Environmental Sustainability, Julie’s path was illuminated by performances of iconic works by Merce Cunningham, Amy Hall Garner, and Alejandro Cerrudo. Stepping onto the professional stage with Verb Ballets, Julie channeled the creative energies of esteemed choreographers such as Stephanie Martinez, Christopher L. Huggins, and Tommie-Waheed Evans. Then venturing to Denver’s Wonderbound, Julie premiered in three new works by Garrett Ammon and Sarah Tallman. Entering her second season with Dance Kaleidoscope, Julie eagerly embraces the journey ahead!
Julie is generously sponsored by Sherrie and John Knighton.
Sarah Taylor hails from Portland, OR, where she began ballet training under the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and passed every major examination with distinction. She has performed with Ballet Concerto, Lake Erie Ballet, SoMar Dance Works and Northwest Dance Theatre. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from Mercyhurst University with a B.F.A. degree in dance where she was granted both dance and academic scholarships. She has been highlighted in the second violin in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, a principal role in Dennis Spaight’s Gloria, the Arabian soloist, Merliton, and Waltz of the Flowers soloist in The Nutcracker, and several principal roles in newly choreographed classical and contemporary works. During the summers, Sarah attended intensives at Oregon Ballet Theatre and American Ballet Theatre, and was a semi-finalist at the Genée International Ballet competition in Antwerp, Belgium. She is grateful for the love and unwavering support of her friends, family, and dance mentors and colleagues. Without them she wouldn’t be where she is today. This is Sarah’s 5th season with Dance Kaleidoscope.
Sarah is generously sponsored by Miriam and David Resnick.
Manuel Valdes began gymnastics training at the age of five in Dallas, TX, and continued as a competitive gymnast for 12 years. He began dancing at Dallas Black Dance Theater and went on to receive his BFA of Modern Dance Performance from the University of Oklahoma under the direction of Austin Hartel and Roxanne Lyst. While performing with Contemporary Dance Oklahoma, he not only had the pleasure of performing works by his professors, but also Ilya Kozadayev, Sonia Dawkins, Raimondo Rebeck, Jose Limón, and Alvin Ailey. Manuel has attended intensives with Paul Taylor American Dance Theater, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, BODYTRAFFIC and SALT. He is forever grateful for all the love and support from friends and family. This is Manuel’s 7th season with Dance Kaleidoscope.
Manuel is generously sponsored by Dorit Paul.
Zay began taking dance seriously at twelve years old once he moved to Marietta, GA and began training at Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. At Cobb County Centre for Excellence in the Performing Arts, he studied jazz (Luigi, Giordano), ballet and Horton under their respective faculty—Eileen Edwards, Denis Reeves, and Leslie Davis. He also trained at Atlanta Ballet in the Pre-Professional Division under faculty Armando Luna, Abby Tan, and Sharon Story. He spent his senior year at Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre where he received intimate instruction and mentorship from renowned principal dance artists, including John and Christine Welker, Tara Lee, Rachel Van Buskirk, Heath Gill, and Christian Clark. Zay is currently earning his BFA at the USC Kaufman School of Dance, where he has studied under artists and teachers such as William Forsythe, Dwight Rhoden, Desmond Richardson, D. Sabela Grimes, E. Moncell Durden, Jackie Kopcsak, Patrick Corbin, Ebony Williams and Bruce McCormick. He has danced in original works by Hope Boykin, Kyle Abraham, Saleemah E. Knight, and Amy O’Neal.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2024-2025 season is Zay’s 1st with the company as an apprentice.
