Sher'ron Underwood, Co-DirectorSher’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. 
Brittney MooreGrowing up in Gering Nebraska, Brittney Moore began her dance training with Peggy Kirby at The Ballet School of West Nebraska. She was blessed with several opportunities that enhanced her dance education such as studying with the Colorado Ballet, Canyon Concert Ballet Company, and attending the nationally recognized DanceAspen Summer School. Miss Brittney was accepted at the University of Wyoming School of Fine Arts as a dance major. She had many collegiate performance experiences, including Inanna: Queen of Heaven and Earth, Carmina Burana, and numerous student productions at the American College Dance Festival. In 2002, she joined Omaha Theatre Ballet under the direction of Robin Welch. While dancing for the Omaha Theatre Ballet, she enjoyed roles in the Nutcracker, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Dracula, Tarantella, West Side Story, Paquita, The Sorcerer’s Apprentice, and Peter and the Wolf. While dancing with the company she also taught at the official School of Omaha Theatre Ballet and was the assistant director for the Student Dance Company. Miss Brittney received a bachelor’s degree at the University of Nebraska-Omaha, in Communications. Most recently, she has been focused on raising her four children. She is excited for this new dance season and hopes to share her passion for dance with students!
Sarah Crespo-StropesSarah Jane, from Houston, Texas, trained at American Academy of Dance and was a member of Regional Dance America’s Houston Dance Theatre. She trained on scholarship at various renowned summer intensives, and continued her training with Tulsa Ballet II in 2007. She joined Tulsa Ballet’s main company in 2009, and then joined Oklahoma City Ballet in 2012. Mrs. Stropes’ repertoire includes feature roles such as Myrtha in Giselle, Dark Angel in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Tall Girl in Balanchine’s Rubies, and Theme Three in Balanchine’s Four Temperaments. Bagheera in Toni Pimble’s Mowgli – The Jungle Book Ballet, and Alaskan Rag in Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Elite Syncopations. Anna-Marie Holmes’ Don Quixote, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, and Dracula.
Marcello Angelini’s The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake. Adam Hougland’s Rite of Spring, Ma Cong’s Blood Rush and Carmina Burana. Edward Liang’s Romeo and Juliet. She has also performed in Sarah Tallman’s If These Walls Could Talk, Jiří Kylián’s Petite Mort, Robert Mills’ The Means To Fly, Pushing Pennies, The Sugar Plum Fairy as well as Arabian Coffee in Robert Mills’ The Nutcracker, and Lady Capulet in his Romeo and Juliet. After practicing Pilates for 15 years, in 2017 Sarah began her studies with Balanced Body working towards her certification to teach in mat and reformer. She enjoys teaching Pilates to dancers as well as prenatal and postnatal Mothers. Mrs. Stropes retired from her professional company career in the spring of 2020 with plans to grow her family and spend more time with them. She enjoys teaching pre-professional dancers and sharing her knowledge from her experiences in the field of performing arts. Sarah Jane has blended teaching young artists along with her professional career over the past 13 years. She encourages her students to use the gifts they have been blessed with to the fullest of their ability. GUEST FACULTY
Martina Aumua
Martina is originally from Los Angeles California where she was trained by some of the top dance teachers and choreographers in the industry.
She has danced professionally in the United States, Japan and New Zealand being featured in film, stage, theater, commercials and video. In New Zealand Martina owned her own dance studio, was Master Jazz dance teacher for Auckland Ballet Dance Studio, choreographer for Ms. Hibiscus Coast and Ms. World beauty pageants and served as a board member for the Arts Council where she created an awareness for the local talent, art and dance community. With over 30 years teaching experience Martina brings her passion for dance and teaches with humor and enthusiasm motivating her students to reach their personal best. Her motto: ‘If you have a heartbeat, you can dance’ |
Ronnie Underwood, Co-Director
Originally from California, Ronnie Underwood grew up in Tulsa, Oklahoma and received his training from Tulsa School of Ballet, Ballet Hispanico NYC, and American Ballet Theatre NYC. He began his professional career as an apprentice with Tulsa Ballet. He then joined Texas Ballet Theater at the age of 19 and danced principal roles under the direction of Ben Stevenson, OBE. Ronnie went on to dance as a principal with Oregon Ballet Theatre under the direction of Christopher Stowell and with Ballet West in Salt Lake City. He was as a featured dancer in the CW hit reality series “Breaking Pointe”.
Returning to Oklahoma, Ronnie joined Oklahoma City Ballet as a principal dancer and concurrently held the position of Ballet Master. During his 18 years as a principal dancer Ronnie has performed the leading male roles in much of classical and neo-classical ballet’s standard repertoire; Giselle, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Who Cares, Divertimento 15, and Apollo. His contemporary repertoire includes works by Trey McIntyre, Nicolo Fonte, James Kudelka, Helen Pickett, Robert Mills, Val Caniparoli and Jiri Kylian among others. He has enjoyed numerous opportunities as a guest artist, both state side and overseas, most notably with the critically acclaimed South African Ballet Theatre. Ronnie has also been privileged to work with Osage Ballet as Artistic Director. Ronnie enjoys working as an instructor at Tulsa Dance Company, training the next generation of dancers, artists and athletes. Ronnie’s teaching style is very motivational and encourages dancers to stretch themselves to realize their full potential as an individual and an artist. 
Mariah AllenMariah Allen is from Tulsa, Oklahoma and began pursuing dance in 2012. She attended Oral Roberts University where she studied Business Administration and minored in Dance Performance. After graduating, she trained under the directors of the Legacy Project, Adam and Shayna Acosta in Hip Hop, Jazz and Contemporary. While at the Legacy Project, Mariah has performed in the production “I AM” and competed in World of Dance Hip Hop in Chicago. Mariah was a member of Abstract Mindz Hip Hop crew, under the direction of Chris Nored. As a member of Abstract Mindz, Mariah performed in Brian Nhira’s Christmas show. One of Mariah’s goals is to inspire others to be the best versions of themselves and she looks forward to teaching at the Tulsa Dance Company.
Erin HofenerErin began dancing at the age of three and has not been able to stop since, finding new outlets and ways to spread her passion for the arts with others. She graduated from Oklahoma State University in May 2018 with a Bachelors in Marketing and Entrepreneurship and a Minor in Human Resources. While at Oklahoma State she expanded her passion for dancing through the Oklahoma State Dance Company and the OSU Hip Hop Dance Crew. Also while at OSU, Erin started the first Tap Crew. She also participated in the new Dance program at OSU taking Tap, Jazz, Choreography, and Improvisation and has since used these experiences to share her passion with younger dancers. Erin was the Director of the Elite Dance Studio in Perry for the Spring 2018 season and was also the Dance Choreographer for the Pride of Bixby Guard from 2014-2016. Now back in her hometown, Erin is eager to impact the arts community in Tulsa by teaching and volunteering!
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 |
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