Sher'ron Underwood, Co-Director
Sher’ron Underwood began her classical ballet training at Tulsa School of Ballet with Moscelyne Larkin (Co Founder of Tulsa Ballet). She went on to study with and received artistic scholarships from the Universal Ballet/Kirov Academy, David Howard, Rebecca Harkness, School of American Ballet (NYC), and American Ballet Theater (NYC). She received a Bachelors of Fine Art from the University of Oklahoma under the Direction of Mary Margaret Holt.
Sher’ron was honored to represent the United States in International Ballet Competition. A former member of Tulsa Ballet, she has also danced and toured with the Kirov Ballet under the direction of Oleg Vinogradov. Sher’ron has performed throughout the U.S., Canada, the United Kingdom, and France. She is the Ballet Mistress for Osage Ballet and also assists with the annual productions of South Tulsa Children’s Ballet, The Nutcracker and Sleeping Beauty. Sher’ron’s teaching style is deeply rooted in the Ballet Russe, Vagonova, and Balachine styles while infusing an emphasis on kinesiology and understanding of biomechanics. Currently, she enjoys teaching group and private lessons, choreographing, and expanding her modern and contemporary dance repertoire. |
Ronnie Underwood, Co-Director
Ronnie Underwood returns to Oklahoma as world renown Oklahoma City Ballet’s Ballet Master and Principal Dancer, having danced most recently with Ballet West in Salt Lake City and as a featured dancer on the hit CW television series Breaking Pointe. Originally from California, Ronnie grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and received his training from Tulsa School of Ballet, Ballet Hispanico NYC, and American Ballet Theater NYC. He began his professional career as an apprentice with Tulsa Ballet before joining Texas Ballet Theater at the age of 19 and danced principal roles under the direction of Ben Stevenson, OBE. He later danced as a principal dancer with Oregon Ballet Theater under the direction of Christopher Stowell. Ronnie has performed the leading male role in much of classical and neo-classical ballet’s standard repertoire including Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake, and Apollo. His contemporary repertoire includes works by Trey McIntyre, Nicolo Fonte, James Kudelka, Robert Mills, Val Caniparoli and Jiri Kylian among others. He has enjoyed numerous opportunities as a guest artist, most notably with the critically acclaimed South African Ballet Theater. Ronnie’s teaching style is very motivational and encourages young dancers to stretch themselves to realize their full potential as an individual and an artist.
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Kayla Mangeris
Kayla began her training at a young age at Flint River Dance Arts in Georgia, training under various accomplished teachers, including private lessons under a former principal of Princeton Ballet (American Repertory Ballet). Kayla has performed in numerous productions and recitals including The Nutcracker, Alice in Wonderland and Coppelia. Highlights of Kayla's experience include taking master classes under Suzanne Farrell, Peter Sabasino and Nadia Thompson, Peter Sklar's Beginnings Workshop, AMTC's Shine Conference and being accepted into Florida State University's summer intensive. In 2013, Kayla moved to Tulsa and continued her training at Tulsa Ballet Center of Dance Education and trained privately under June Runyon School of Ballet's director. Kayla is very grateful to her teachers for instilling the beautiful core values of dance in her and is very appreciative of this opportunity to pass those values on to the next generation at Tulsa Dance Company!
Brenna Coffman
Brenna Coffman
Brenna Coffman grew up in New Orleans, Louisiana where she began her formal dance training with Mr. Reginald Denney. She continued her dance education in Tulsa, Oklahoma where she studied many different dance genres. Some of her notable instruction came from Michael Lopez, Barbara Coffman, Kristin Mcquaid, and Leslie Rutledge. Her competitive dance career segued into touring and assistant teaching on the competitive dance circuit. |
Megan MckownMegan Mckown received her training from School of American Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, Ballet West, Tulsa Ballet and was a graduate of Virginia School of the Arts. She joined Tulsa Ballet in 1988 under the direction of Roman Jasinski and Moscelyn Larkin and had a successful 20 year dance career.
Megan has had the pleasure of working with many famed choreographers: Nacho Duato, Val Caniparoli, Robert North, Nicolo Fonte and Edward Liang. Many of these choreographers created roles especially for her. She has been the resident choreographer for Tulsa's Memorial High School, Tulsa's Youth Opera, and an ArtCore teacher through Living Arts. As the founder and director of Soluna Performing Arts Group she has produced a number of full length original works. Ancient Dreams Orchestra's "Earthover" was performed at Tulsa's Summerstage and Soluna's "Song of the Swimming Sun" which was performed at the Liddy Doenges Theatre. She continues to collaborate with numerous artists regionally. Her collaborative film with Geoffrey Hicks entitled "Vision Field" was an Oklahoma Dance Film Festival winner. Currently she has been studying ceremonial artistry with the intention of creating an alliance of sacred artists. Megan has been weaving dance, art, and healing practices with the goal of empowering the human heart towards a more purposeful existence 
Michael Light Harrison
Michael Light Harrison started dancing at a very young age and has been performing for 19 years. He has become a successful choreographer and instructor of various forms of dance and gymnastics. Michael is the Hip Hop instructor at Aim High Academy in Tulsa, OK. He has also taught Ballet and Jazz for the City of Tulsa at Reed Park. Michael is a co-founder of Nameless Label Studios, whose mission is to offer a drug and alcohol free environment for lower income teenagers and young adults, to enjoy music, dance, and art lessons. Michael loves instilling diligence and self-confidence in his students and is very excited to bring his experience to Tulsa Dance Company!
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Joy Chen
Joy graduated from Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education after nine years of training and performing. She began dancing in the corps de ballet at age 12 and continued to guest in Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Ballet II performances throughout her career. She also studied at The Royal Ballet School where she won the John McAslan Family Trust Prize for high achievements. Other training includes American Ballet Theater JKO, The Harid Conservatory, and The Juilliard School. Joy won First Place regionally and Top 12 internationally at Youth American Grand Prix in 2010.
Joy graduated from Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education after nine years of training and performing. She began dancing in the corps de ballet at age 12 and continued to guest in Tulsa Ballet and Tulsa Ballet II performances throughout her career. She also studied at The Royal Ballet School where she won the John McAslan Family Trust Prize for high achievements. Other training includes American Ballet Theater JKO, The Harid Conservatory, and The Juilliard School. Joy won First Place regionally and Top 12 internationally at Youth American Grand Prix in 2010.
