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 2025-2026 season is Jonathan’s 2nd with the company.
Jonathan is generously sponsored by CH Douglas and Gray Wealth Management.
Ryan Galloway, originally from New Richmond, Indiana, began his training at Dance By Deborah in Crawfordsville. He is a 2015 graduate of Indiana University, receiving 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 danced for 9 seasons. 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 2025-2026 season is Ryan’s 2nd with the company.
Ryan is generously sponsored by Lora and David Olive.
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 2025-2026 season is Ryan’s 2nd with the company.
Ryan is generously sponsored by Oren Cooley.
Courtney Jefferies is from Gaithersburg, Maryland and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Romance Languages and Literatures. Courtney was previously a company dancer with The Big Muddy Dance Company, now Saint Louis Dance Theatre, and Ballet 314 in St. Louis, MO. During her tenure as a company member, she has performed in works of several choreographers including Joshua Blake Carter, Sean Aaron Carmon, Autumn Eckman, David Hochoy, Tsai Hsi Hung, and Janice Rosario. Courtney would like to thank her family whose loving support continually encourages her as an artist.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2025-2026 season is Courtney’s 3rd with the company.
Courtney is generously sponsored by Anne Scheele.
Gavin Kimmel was born and raised in St. Paul, Minnesota, where he trained at TU Dance under the direction of Laurel Keen and Toni Pierce-Sands. He recently graduated from the University of Arizona, receiving his BFA in Dance and a minor with honors in Human Development & Family Science. During his time there, he had the opportunity to perform works by Paul Taylor, Alvin Ailey, Bill T. Jones, and Kayla Farrish, as well as create and choreograph his own projects. Beyond dance, he has a passion for acting, singing, and videography, and works to explore the intersections between various forms of art and expression. Gavin is incredibly grateful for the opportunity to dance with Dance Kaleidoscope, and is so excited for his first season with the company!
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2025-2026 season is Gavin’s 1st with the company.
Gavin is generously sponsored by Robert and Virgil Chan.
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 2025-2026 season is Marie’s 10th with the company.
Marie is generously sponsored by George and Cathy Korinek.
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 2025-2026 season is Natalie’s 2nd with the company.
Natalie is generously sponsored by Cheryl and Jim Strain.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2025-2026 season is Briah’s 1st with the company.
Briah is generously sponsored by Stefanie and Jason Tolliver.
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 2025-2026 season is Morgan’s 2nd with the company.
Morgan is generously sponsored by James Vachon.
Nathan Rommel is originally from Kansas City. Former Soloist at the New York Theatre Ballet, Nathan is excited to begin his first full season with Dance Kaleidoscope after stepping in as a guest artist last spring. 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 2025-2026 season is Nathan’s 3rd with the company.
Nathan is generously sponsored by Patrick and Danielle Havens.
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.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2025-2026 season is Julie’s 4th with the company.
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.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2025-2026 season is Sarah’s 6th with the company.
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.
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2025-2026 season is Manuel’s 9th with the company.
Manuel is generously sponsored by Dorit Paul.
Zay’s journey in this art form began with liturgical dance in his church in Colorado Springs. At twelve, he was training at Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education–marking his official leap into concert dance training. Later, he progressed to the pre-professional division and performed pieces such as Konservatoriet and The Nutcracker. At the Cobb County Centre for Excellence in the Performing Arts, he studied Jazz, Horton, performed at the National High School Dance Festival in 2018, and he had his work accepted to the Regional High School Dance Festival in 2019.
During his senior year of high school, he studied at Terminus Modern Ballet Theatre, and in 2021, he had the pleasure of performing in Tara Lee’s film The Poet. At the USC Kaufman School of Dance, he honed his versatility, all thanks to artists such as D. Sabela Grimes, Ebony Williams, Bruce McCormick, Patrick Corbin, and Moncell Durden. Zay has danced in original works by Hope Boykin, Kyle Abraham, Saleemah E. Knight, and Amy O’Neal. Highlights include pieces by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson, In Creases by Justin Peck, and Forgotten Land by Jiří Kylián.
Zay is grateful to his family, friends, teachers, and mentors for constantly supporting his journey thus far. “Thank you mom and dad for allowing me to follow my dreams. Thank you grandma for making sure I made it to ballet after the bus ride from school.”
Dance Kaleidoscope’s 2025-2026 season is Zay’s 2nd with the company.
Zay is generously sponsored by Susan McGuire.
