Abdur Rahim-Jackson

Abdur Rahim-Jackson received his BFA from The Julliard School.  During his studies he received scholarships from the Freedom Theatre, Philadanco, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Boston Ballet, and The Ailey School.  Mr. Jackon received a Marion D. Cuyjet Award and in 2003, was featured in the PBS “American Masters” documentary on Julliard.  He danced with Ailey II in 2000 and since 2001, joined the prestigious Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.  He was also chosen in 2005 to choreograph a piece Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre.  His choreography has been seen internationally, at Fordham University, and other schools.  American Dance Academy is thrilled to have him as our guest choreographer & master teacher. www.alvinailey.org

Miss Bowman graduated from LaGuardia High School, otherwise known as “The Fame School.” She attended North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship & attended the Ailey School as a Fellowship student.  Miss Bowman was a member of Donald Byrd/The Group, and Complexions before joining Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre in 2001.  American Dance Academy is honored to have her as a guest faculty member. www.alvinailey.org

Miss Christina Hedrick received her BFA in dance from University of the Arts.  From there, she has performed at Tokyo Disneyland and was featured as Snow White, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and danced as a monkey in Tarzan.  Christina has also been featured as a Radio City Rockette, and most recently, went on tour with “Seven Brides for Seven Brothers,” playing one of the lead sisters. She has also danced on the 76er All Star Dance Team.  American Dance Academy welcomes Miss Hedrick into our guest faculty. www.christmas.radiocity.com

Mr. Ricardo Pena began dancing competitively as a child, winning scholarships to Broadway Dance Center, Gus Giordano’s and the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago.  In 1999, Mr. Pena was asked to dance and assist in the Siegfried and Roy show at the Mirage Hotel and Casino in Las Vegas.  While in Vegas, he performed in the 2000 MGM Grand Hotel New Year’s Eve Show.  He has also performed at Tokyo Disneyland, “Beauty and The Beast” at MGM Studios and “Tarzan Rocks” at Disney’s Animal Kingdom.  During that time, Mr. Pena also worked with Pam Bolling’s company Hardrive Productions on numerous industrials and as an adult dance instructor. Concurrently, he choreographed for celebrity Cruise Lines.  In 2005 and 2006 he was featured in two seasons with the “Radio City Christmas Spectacular” and another contract with Tokyo Disneyland.

Miss Lex has been a professional performer/choreographer/ instructor for over 9 years.  She has trained extensively with hip-hop masters like Boogaloo Sam, Don Campbell, Mr. Wiggles, Crazy Leggs, Buddah Stretch, Link & Rennie Harris and others. Besides hip hop, she has also been trained in jazz, tap, lyrical and some salsa.  Lex was a touring company member with the acclaimed Rennie Harris Puremovement and original cast member of the world-renowned "Rome & Jewels" Hip-Hop theater production.  She was also a core performer in the internationally touring production "Cool Heat Urban Beat," where she toured Australia, New Zealand, Finland, Denmark, Portugal, etc.  Lex has worked with companies and recording artists such as Will Smith, Pink, Sean Paul, Pink, Neil Young, Snoop Dogg, Hinder, Commerce, HBO, etc.  She was a member of the NBA Philadelphia 76ers Dance Team and has co-choreographer of the 76ers first Junior Hip-Hop Dance Team 2001-2005 and Fox Television’s Good Day Philadelphia Hip-Hop Dance Team.  Besides teaching and choreographing, she is also co-Owner/Director of FloMotion Dance Company and FloMotion Too Jr. Hip Hop Dance Company who have performed for NBC, Bally’s Total Fitness, ILLADELPH Legends, 76’ers, and most recently were invited to perform in Tokyo, Japan.  She currently lives and teaches in L.A. and loves incorporating the history of Hip Hop culture with technique and the newest moves.  Whenever she is in town she offers a Master Hip Hop class to students of American Dance Academy.

Anthony Lo Cascio has been associated, for over 7 years with the Broadway show Tap Dogs.   As recent as Nov. 2004, he was on tour with the new version of Tap Dogs nicely named, Tap Dogs: ReBooted. He has played two different roles and performed the show over 1000 times.  He started at the Union Square Theatre in New York City, and performed there for over 4 months. Anthony has also performed in Monte Carlo at the Sporting Club and opened shows for people such as Natalie Cole, Earth Wind and Fire, and Stevie Wonder. His TV credits include MTV LIVE, Live with Regis and Kathy Lee, and MACY'S Fourth of July Spectacular plus local news programs all across the nation. Currently, Anthony is on the faculty of PDTA, Hoctor's Dance Caravan, and is a Guest teacher at many studios, Conventions and Festivals all across North America. In Feb. 2005, Anthony was featured in a "Dance Teacher Magazine" article as well as having his own work published in the April, 2005 edition of "On Tap International.”

Bethany Hooks has made her mark throughout the United States and worked with such conventions as DEA, DMA, NY Dance Alliance, Dance Olympus and Thunder-struck. In 1995, Bethany was re-located to California on a full Dance scholarship to Tremaine Dance Center where she trained directly under many well-known choreographers.  In 1997, Bethany was accepted to North Carolina School of the Arts on a Dance invitation where she studied and completed her education in Dance and Drama.  Bethany attended Broadway Theatre Project and studied with Anne Reinking, Gregory Hines, Dave Clemmons, Jonathean Bernstein, Ron Perettie, Rob Fisher, Mary Lou Henner and Pat Birch.  She was on faculty at Broadway Dance Center with Frank Hatchett where she taught Jazz/Hip Hop classes for beginner/Intermediate and advanced students.  Bethany has studied in NY and LA with Savion Glover, Glenn & Brian, Jermaine Brown,Darrin Henson, Wade Robson, Sheila Barker, Billy Angel, Peter Shabel ,Eddie Garcia, Barry Youngblood, Greg Russell and FrankHatchett. She has also studied in NYacting/drama at The Actors Studio, Lee Stasburg Institute and TVI.  In December of 2001,Bethany finished the National Tour of "My Fair Lady". Bethany has been aboard the Holland America-MS Statendam, where she was one of the lead dancers of the production.