Company

A native of Washington, D.C., Mr. Alexander comes to Dallas Black Dance Theatre after attending Towson University in Towson, Maryland. He received additional training from The Ailey School, Parsons Dance and Dallas Black Dance Theatre Summer Intensive Professional Training. Claude’s previous dance experience includes dancing with Dishibem and Dance RINK both of Baltimore, Maryland.

A Dallas native, Katricia received her B.F.A. in Dance with a minor in Business Foundations from the University of North Texas. 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. Katricia was the Founder and Director of Freedom Dance Ensemble and was a founding member of Dallas Black Dance Theatre II. She is currently the Assistant Rehearsal Director for Dallas Black Dance Theatre and a student at Dallas Theological Seminary. Mrs. Eaglin is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc.

Coming to the Dallas Black Dance Theatre from Washington, D.C., Richard began his training with D.C.Y.E. under the director of Carol Foster and the Washington Ballet. He received additional training from Duke Ellington School of the Arts as well as Virginia Commonwealth University.

Raised in Detroit, Michigan, Shelly graduated with a B.A. in Dance Performance from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She received additional dance training from Gus Giordanos as a scholarship student and Jacobs Pillow Contemporary Traditions Program. Her early professional dance experience began with Garth Fagan Dance Company in Rochester, New York and continued with Ballet Creole (Toronto, Ontario) and National Dance Theatre Company (Kingston, Jamaica).

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 Divertimento #15. Her additional dance training comes from Ballet Academy of Texas (Coppell, Texas) under the direction of Lisa Slage and Tom Nicholson. She is the recipient of the Dance Council of North Texas’ Fred Kelly Scholarship.

Ms. McSween grew up in Altadena, California, where she began her dance training. Rachel is a graduate of the Alvin Ailey/Fordham University BFA Program. She received additional dance training from Dance Theatre of Harlem, Northwest Professional Dance Project in Portland, Oregon, Ballet Hispanico and Alonzo King Lines Ballet. Her previous professional dance experience includes dancing with Complexions Contemporary Ballet as an apprentice, Ballet Hispanico, Earl Mosley’s Diversity of Dance, Nathan Trice/Rituals, and Ailey II. While in Ailey II she performed in Berlin, Germany for the opening of the U.S. Embassy and performed at the 2008 Dance Magazine Awards in honor of Sylvia Waters.

From Baltimore, MD, Amber J. Merrick began her classical training at the age of 9 in the Baltimore School For the Arts T.W.I.G.S. program. Ms. Merrick has trained at Dance Theatre of Harlem, Miami City Ballet, American Ballet Theater and Palucca Schule Dresden. While studying abroad, Merrick performed as a guest artist for Die Theater Chemnitz in Chemnitz, Germany. In 2010, she graduated with a BFA from Towson University.

Mr. Smith is a graduate of Brenau University in Gainesville, Georgia, where he received his B.F.A. in Dance. He has received dance training through Florida School of the Arts, Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive Program, Orlando Ballet School and the Atlanta Ballet. He served as a soloist with Gainesville Ballet Company and Brooks and Company. He received the Best Male Dancer of the Year Award from Nu Delta Alpha dance honor society.

A native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Sean comes to Dallas Black Dance Theatre after receiving training from The Ailey School, Toronto Dance Theatre and Ballet British Columbia. In 2007, Mr. Smith performed the “Yellow Section” of Revelations for the 50th Anniversary of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater with Matthew Rushing and Renee Robinson. His previous dance experience also includes Ballet Creole (Toronto, ON), Zata Omm Dance Projects (Toronto, ON) and Mascall Dance (Vancouver, BC).

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.

Mr. Walker comes to Dallas Black Dance Theatre from Washington, D.C. He received his dance training from The Ailey School, Gus Giordano Jazz and Duke Ellington School of the Arts. Tyrone’s professional dance experience includes dancing with Ailey II and Nashville Ballet. He received additional training from School of Nashville Ballet and Washington School of Ballet where he attended on full scholarships.

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.