Company

From Baltimore, Maryland, Ms. Merrick began her formal training at the Baltimore School of the Arts. She received additional training from Dance Theatre of Harlem, Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Theater and Palucca Schule Drasden. While studying abroad in 2007, Ms. Merrick performed as a guest artist with Die Theater Chemnnitz in Chemnitz, Germany. After receiving a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance at Towson University, she went on to perform with Oakland Ballet Company, under the direction of Graham Lustig.

A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Alexander is a graduate of Towson University in Towson, Maryland. He received additional training from The Ailey School as a Fellowship student, Parsons Dance and Dallas Black Dance Theatre's Summer Intensive Professional Training on full scholarship. Mr. Alexander has also had the opportunity to set works on Dallas Black Dance Theatre, DBDT II and Dallas Black Dance Theatre's Junior Performing Ensemble.

From Atlanta, Georgia, Mr. Smith is a graduate of Brenau University with a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance. He is also a graduate of Florida School of the Arts, where he was a scholarship student completing both an Associate of Science and an Associate of Arts degree in dance performance. He has received additional dance training from The Ailey School, Orlando Ballet School, Atlanta Ballet and Dallas Black Dance Theatre II. Mr. Smith has performed as a soloist with the Gainesville Ballet and Royal Caribbean Celebrity Cruise Line.

A native of Dallas, Texas, Diana received her BFA from the University of Oklahoma. Ms. Herrera has performed Swannilda in Coppelia and the corps in Balanchine's Divertiment #5. Her additional dance training comes from Ballet Academy of Texas, under the direction of Lisa Slage and Tom Nicholson. She is the recipient of the Dance Council of North Texas' Fred Kelly Scholarship.

From Belize, Central America, Mr. Thompson is a recent graduate of Belhaven University (Jackson, Mississippi) where he received his B.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography. He received additional training from Belize National Dance Company and Dramatic Forces School of Dance. His previous dance experience includes serving as dancer, choreographer and teacher for Belize National Dance Company and dancing with Talk Dance Company of Jackson, Mississippi. His special community interests include working with organizations that work for the betterment and development of youth.

A Dallas native, Katricia received her BFA in Dance with a minor in Business Foundations from the University of North Texas and a graduate of Dallas Theological Seminary. A graduate from Booker T. Washington High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, she received additional dance training from Dallas Black Dance Academy, Dallas Ballet Center and the International Conference for Blacks in Dance. Notable performances include performing for the King of Ghana and Winnie Mandela. Mrs. Eaglin is the Assistant Rehearsal Director for DBDT, the Director of DBDT's Allegro Performing Ensemble and a teacher in Dallas Black Dance Academy.

Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Ms. Hebert graduated with a BA in Dance Performance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. Ms. Hebert has been a previous company member with Garth Fagan Dance Company, Ballet Creole and as a guest artist with the National Dance Theatre Company of Kingston, Jamaica. She is a teacher to Spyceland Dancers Summer Program in St. George, Grenada. She has previously directed DBDT's Junior Performing Ensemble and is currently the director of the DBDT's Senior Performing Ensemble.

A native of Columbus, Ohio, Michelle received her B.F.A. in Dance Education and with a minor in Physical Education from The Ohio State University. She received additional dance training from The Ailey School and Black College Dance Exchange, later teaching master classes for BCDE. Her professional career includes dancing with Philadanco's second dance company, Lula Washington Dance Theater and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble.

Omoniyi began training at Pofahl Dance Studio in Gainesville, FL. In 2002, she received a four year scholarship from Pofahl. She has received summer intensive training from South Carolina Dance Conservatory, The Ailey School, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane. At the University of South Carolina, she made history by being one of twelve dancers in the world to ever perform Martha Graham's Sketches from Chronicle in its entirety. A documentary on the project aired in May 2008. Ms. Osoba was a member of DBDT II for two years and is an alumnus of Florida International University where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Education.

A native of Washington, D.C., Richard began his training with District of Columbia Youth Ensemble and the Washington Ballet. He received additional training from Duke Ellington School of the Arts, as well as Virginia Commonwealth University. Mr. Freeman has choreographed works for the Atlanta Dance Connection, Dallas Black Dance Theatre and DBDT II. He is the former Assistant Director for DBDT's Bloom Performing Ensemble and currently a teacher in the Dallas Black Dance Academy.

A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Mr. Smith has received training from The Ailey School, Toronto Dance Theatre and Ballet British Columbia. He has performed works choreographed by Troy Powell, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharpe, Paul Taylor, George Faison, Robert Battle and Judith Jamison. Mr. Smith has previously performed with Ballet Creole and Mascall Dance and as a student with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. As a choreographer, he has presented his works as a student at The Ailey School and as a member of Dallas Black Dance Theatre. He has taught the Dance Technique of Lester Horton for The Ailey Athletic Boys Dance Program, Peridance Capezio Center in New York City and currently Dallas Black Dance Academy.

Born in Key West and raised in Miami, Florida, Mr. Rolle started his formal training with Thomas Amour Ballet, Miami City Ballet and PAVAC Northwestern Sr. High School. Mr. Rolle is a Level 1 Arts Winner, NAACP Gold Winner and recipient of the Movado Future Legends Award. Mr. Rolle has danced with Disney's The Lion King, So You Think You Can Dance (Season 7), Ailey II, Philadanco and Miami Contemporary Dance. He teaches and choreographs nationally and internationally. His recent collaborations include working with JLo, Sean Garrett, Chrisette Michele. He has performed the works of Hinton Battle, Ronald K. Brown, Jessica Lang, Rennie Harris, Doug Varone, Robert Battle and Judith Jamison.