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Staff & Teaching Artists
April Berry, director of education and outreach, 704.372.0101x2767 April Berry
Previously Berry was the director of education and community programs for BalletMet in Columbus, OH, implementing numerous dance education and outreach programs. She was the Founding Director of YouthMet!, a multicultural teen dance ensemble and the official student performance ensemble for BalletMet’s school and directed the BalletMet Community Outreach Scholarship Program. Berry, a former principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York, was artist-in-residence at Denison University in Ohio for seven years and was a dance instructor at numerous universities including UNC at Charlotte, The Ohio State University, Indiana State University at Bloomington and the University of Kentucky. Berry’s professional training began at the National Academy of Ballet and Theatre Arts in New York and she was a scholarship student at the Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York. She received Master Teacher certification from Katherine Dunham to teach Dunham Technique and was recognized by the International Association for Blacks in Dance for her Outstanding Achievements in the Field of Dance. Berry was a principal dancer with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for eleven years and performed all around the world with the company. She danced on two Kennedy Center Award television specials, honoring Katherine Dunham and Alvin Ailey and was a featured dancer on three Ailey Company videos and two Ailey Company season posters. Berry feels blessed to have worked with so many world-renowned artists and choreographers and to have danced in two choreographic works by legendary modern dance pioneer, Lester Horton. Berry originated roles in Talley Beatty’s jazz ballet The Stack-Up and in Alvin Ailey’s last choreographic work Opus McShann.Teaching Artists Joanna Ahlman began her ballet training in Columbus, Georgia, under the direction of Maria Hirsch at The Columbus Ballet. She continued her education in Ballet Magnificat's trainee program, later dancing with the company directed by Kathy Thibadeaux. Soon after, Joanna moved to Israel, teaching dance in Nazareth while working with a Jewish/Arab reconciliation dance ensemble. In 2002, she returned to Columbus and served as an instructor at The Columbus Ballet where she also worked as a choreographer and dancer. She performed lead roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker and Odette in Swan Lake, as well as in other original works. Her choreographic repertoire includes full-length ballets in addition to theme-specific pieces. While teaching in Columbus and guest teaching at workshops in various schools around the country, Joanna finished her BFA in Studio Arts. She currently resides in Charlotte and continues to enjoy, develop, and explore her craft and the art of dance. Joanna joined NC Dance Theatre’s Education and Outreach Department as a Teaching Artist in September 2011. Daielma Santos Decker was born in São Paulo, Brazil, and began her training in music at age 3. At the age of 7, while living in northern Brazil, she started her training in dance at Studio de Danças. She was invited to join the company, dancing principal roles, such as Les Sylphides, and The Nutcracker, as well as contemporary works. By the age of 17, she had produced, directed, and choreographed a complete performance for her own dance group called Grupo Experimental. Ms. Santos Decker graduated from The Royal Academy of Dancing of London in 1989 and went on to dance with Ballet Stagium, Ismael Guiser Company, and Grupo Passo a Passo (Cisne Negro Company Dance) and as a Principal dancer with Grupo de Dança Opera Paulista in 1988-1989. In 1989 she graduated from Instituo Metodista de Ensino Superior, São Paulo, with a major in Psychology, and later went on to earn a post-graduate degree in Child Psychology. She was invited to work with the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company and performed with this company on six continents and all across the United States and Canada. In 1993, she was invited to dance with the Portland Ballet as a principal dancer. Ms. Santos Decker danced the “Snow Queen” in The Nutcracker as her signature role. In 2007, she and her family moved to Charlotte, NC. In 2009, Ms. Santos Decker started working with Harris YMCA, developing their curriculum and teaching their advanced-level ballet classes. Since moving to Charlotte, she has been a guest teacher at local dance studios, in addition to teaching private lessons and coaching young dancers. In September 2011, Ms. Santos Decker was invited to joined NC Dance Theatre’s Education and Outreach Program as a Teaching Artist. She also continues to enjoy performing with the Fred Garbo Inflatable Theater Company. Tammy Fox was raised in New York City where she received most of her dance training. Tammy attended Dance Space Studios and Broadway Dance Center, where she studied with Frank Hatchett, Sheila Barker and Peter Schabel. Tammy also trained with jazz masters Phil Black, and Luigi and attended professional workshops at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Upon graduation from UNC Greensboro where she received her Bachelor of Science degree, Tammy returned to New York where she began performing and choreographing for Post Concert Dance Company and had her choreography produced for Works in Progress through Dance Space Studios in New York. In 2000, she relocated to Charlotte teaching for local studios, dance outreach programs and as a Teaching Artist for Blumenthal Performing Arts Center. Tammy has had her choreography produced and performed throughout the Southeast for Olympic Gold Medalist Svetlana Bogenskyia and was nominated in 2009 for Best Choreography for a musical production in Charlotte. She established Revelations Dance Theatre in 2004 and is currently the Choreographer and Artistic Director for the Company, as well as producer for the “Regional Choreographers Present” series of dance performances. Tammy joined NC Dance Theatre’s Education and Outreach Department as a Teaching Artist in July 2011. Oneaka Mack Dail currently serves as Executive/Artistic Director and Choreographer for Oneaka Dance Company. Oneaka began her dance studies in 1993 at the University of Pittsburgh. She studied West African dance under Master Teachers Kauna Majumal and Kibibi Ajanaku of Sankofa African Dance Theater in Baltimore Maryland, and Master Senagalese choreographer, Babacar Ndiaye of Les Enfants Soleil. After relocating to Charlotte, NC she studied under April Taylor of Life as Art Productions/Ife Cultural Arts Center and performed under veteran dance instructor Karen Young of Kabaka Dancers and Drummers. Oneaka teaches traditional West African dance technique from the Mandinke countries of Mali, Ivory Coast, Burkina Faso and Guinea. Oneaka joined NC Dance Theatre’s Education and Outreach Department as a Teaching Artist in August 2011.Pamela Sofras |
April Berry assumed the position of director of education and outreach for North Carolina Dance Theatre in August 2006. In this role she directs, manages and implements NC Dance Theatre’s dance education and outreach programs around the State of North Carolina and in Charlotte. Berry also serves as modern dance instructor at North Carolina Dance Theatre School of Dance.
Pamela Sofras, Professor of Dance at UNC Charlotte, is recognized on the national level as an expert in dance education. She holds a BFA from the Julliard School and a M.Ed. from Lehigh University. As one of the developers of the NC dance licensure program, she has been called upon by several states to assist in establishing their frameworks and standards in dance for the public schools. In 1978 - 1990 she maintained an affiliation with the American Dance Festival that included serving as assistant, then associate dean, and founding director of its Young Dancer’s School. In 1995, with colleagues around the country, she assisted editing the National Standards in Dance Education currently in use throughout the USA.  |
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