Maxxas Dance Theatre

Artistic Director, Marc Wayne

 

Maxxas Dance Theatre is a contemporary dance company infusing physical theater, jazz and modern dance bringing to its audiences poignant and thought-provoking imagery, dynamic athleticism, and vibrant storytelling.  Maxxas promotes passion in excellence of life as dancers press toward growth in faith, character, artistic expression, and servant-leadership.  Known for their high-energy productions including “Genesis”, “R”, and “3DAYS”, Maxxas’ contagious spirit attracts audiences of all ages as it inspires purpose, excellence, and hope.

 

 

Tawny Gentry is originally from Los Angeles, where she trained at Santa Clarita Ballet Academy for 10 years under Corinne Glover and Carol Guidry.  While there, she obtained her full membership to the Royal Academy of Dance after taking several performance-based exams.  She was a soloist with Santa Clarita Ballet Company for 7 years.  From 2002 – 2005 she danced in Houston as a company member with Ad Deum Dance Company.  She credits director, Randall Flinn, for imparting passion and excellent training in modern dance. While with Ad Deum, she had opportunities to dance several solo roles and work with such choreographers as Randall Flinn, Steve Rooks, Laura Morton, and Loreen Faigel, as well as tour nationally and internationally.  In 2005, she moved to Kansas City to dance with Störling Dance Theater, under the direction of the amazing choreographer and storyteller, Mona Störling-Enna.  In 2006, joined Maxxas Dance Theatre and is honored to be the assistant director to the multi-talented, Marc Wayne.  Since then, she has loved the opportunity to perform many different leading roles in many diverse dance styles with both companies.  Tawny obtained her California Multiple Subject Teaching Credential in 2002 and had been teaching dance for 10 years. Currently, she enjoys teaching a wide variety of classes for The Culture House Dance School as well as it’s Artist Development Program.  She is overwhelmed with thankfulness to her Lord and Savior, her supportive family, and great friends. 

 

Jillian Daco was inspired to study dance under Andrea Bedford at Northeast Missouri Bible College.  Upon graduation from NMBC, she helped develop the dance and worship arts program at Heartland Community College.  She relocated to Kansas City in 2006 to study in the Artist Development Program at The Culture House.  She trained in ballet, modern, and jazz under the instruction of Courtney Bourman, Tawny Gentry, Marc Wayne, Mimmi Makela, and Christiane Lisabe.  Jillian has also performed with Imago Dei in which she played the lead role in “Wellspring of Life” choreographed by Mona Störling Enna.  This is Jillian’s third year with Maxxas Dance Theater.  She is an apprentice with Störling Dance Theater.

 

Rachel Hulse has been a student at The Culture House for 5 years in ballet, pointe, modern, and jazz.  She has played the roles of Lucifer in “Cinderella” and Martha in “The Secret Garden.”  She has also been a part of the productions “The Little Mermaid,” and MDT’s “3 Days.”  In addition to dance, she is a junior at Shawnee Mission Northwest and a candidate of the International Baccalaureate (IB) program.  She is very excited and blessed to be an apprentice with Maxxas this year and curious to see what the year has in store for her.  She would like to thank all of her teachers at The Culture House for they have truly blessed her with their knowledge and talent.  She is also grateful to her parents for supporting her and keeping her on the right track.

 

Jasmine Gille is in her 5th with MDT.  She has trained at Danceworks Conservatory and The Culture House, in ballet, pointe, jazz, and modern.  She started at the age of 6.  In the summer of 2007 she went on a European tour with Signature Dance Company.  Jasmine is currently attending Johnson County Community College for school but eventually hopes to attend a school where she can major in dance.  She is grateful for all the love and support from those in her company and is thankful to her parents who have helped her continue to grow in many ways.

 

Emilee Minnick has been a student a The Culture House since 2003, where she studies ballet, jazz, tap, and hip hop.  She has performed such roles as Sebastian in “The Little Mermaid,” Drizella in “Cinderella,” and the Robin in “The Secret Garden,” and has been a guest artist in 3 Störling Dance Theater productions.  She appeared as an actor/dancer for 3 seasons of “A Christmas Carol” with the Kansas City Rep, as well as numerous productions with the Lyric Opera.  She has attended the “Word in Motion Urban Dance Festival” in Los Angeles for the last 3 summers.  She is currently a member of the Artist Development Program and is thrilled for her 2nd year with Maxxas.

 

Talaessa Bice has been dancing for the past 3 years.  During these past 3 years she has been training in ballet, jazz, modern, pointe, hip hop, and breaking.  This is her first year as a trainee in The Culture House’s Artist Development Program.  Her performance experience includes The Culture House’s productions of “The Little Mermaid,” “Cinderella,” and “The Secret Garden.”  Last season, she was an apprentice in “Exusia,” the junior company to Maxxas.  She is thrilled to be a part of Maxxas!  Talaessa would like to pursue a dance career and be able to share her gifts and training with others.  She would like to thank everyone at The Culture House for their love and support; to her family and friends, all their encouragement; and to God, credit for everything that she is privileged to do.

 

Lydia Maglich is a native of Oxford, Ohio where she first started dancing at the age 9 under the instruction of former Broadway dancer, Estelle Bean. Since then, Lydia has continued her training under various people around the country and has performed both classical and contemporary works with The Hamilton Ballet Theater, Tanze Performing Arts, and currently, Dramatic Truth Ballet Theater.  She has performed as Cinderella and as a Spanish dancer in “The Nutcracker.”  In the summer of 2007, Lydia debuted her very own work entitled, “Storyographies.”  Lydia loves to take long walks, eat dark chocolate and tell stories.  She dreams of dancing all around the world.

 

Caitlin Sullivant began her formal dance training at Dramatic Truth School of the Arts, under Liz Dimmel.  Upon graduation from the program in 2004, Caitlin performed with Dramatic Truth Ballet Theatre.  Caitlin is also an original member of the Maxxas Dance Theater family.  Between both companies, she has performed in works such as, “The Book of Ruth,” “The Mystery of Christmas,” “Genesis,” “R,” “3 Days,” and has had the opportunity to perform nationwide in New York, Texas, Tennessee, and Arkansas.  Caitlin has been an instructor at The Culture House for 5 years and is also the Artistic Director of Maxxas’ junior company, Exusia.

 

Kristen Stanley has been dancing since the age of 4 and a student at The Culture House since 2006.  Her performance experience includes such roles as Swanhilda in “Coppelia,” Ursula in “The Little Mermaid,” Anastasia in “Cinderella,” and Mary in “The Secret Garden.”  Kristen has also had the opportunity to perform as a guest artist with Störling Dance Theater and in earlier Maxxas Dance Theater productions.  She has attended the “Word in Motion Urban Dance Festival” the past 3 summers.  She is currently in the Artist Development Program at The Culture House.

 

Jadalyn Fox has been dancing for over 17 years.  She has danced with Blue Springs Ballet Company for 10 years and has been teaching ballet at Blue Springs Ballet for 7 years.  Jadalyn has performed many roles in “The Nutcracker,” her favorites being The Snow Queen and The Sugarplum Fairy.  Jadalyn has also performed in “Giselle,” “Paquita,” “Don Quixote,” “Swan Lake,” and “Cinderella.”  She also dances professionally with Dramatic Truth Ballet Theater, where she is in her 2nd season.  Jade has been blessed with her husband, Justin, and 3 wonderful children.