Sara Burke: Director/Owner of The City Studio Dance Center.  Dancer, Teacher, Choreographer, Arts Consultant and photographer. Board member of Dance St. Louis, MADCO, Kevin Kline Board (PTAC) and the Board of DanceBrazil, New York and International Board of Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, and Commissioner on The Regional Arts Commission (RAC).

Resident choreographer for "That Uppity Theatre Company" The DisAbility Project under the direction of Joan Lipkin.

Extensive Background in Ethnic, Jazz and Dunham Technique.  Studied with Miss Katherine Dunham in East St. Louis with the Dunham Company.  Teaches Jazz Fusion class with latin, (Samba) and Dunham Technique emphasis.  Includes choreography with live percussion (conga drummers).

Leslie Arbogast: Dancer/Teacher. B.A. in Public and Community Relations from Ohio Dominican College. Extensive training in Dunham Technique from Theo Jamieson , Keith Tyronne Williams and April Barry. Candidate for Certification in Katherine Dunham Technique. Has studied West African Dance in Ghana and Guinea.

Lauren Wilmore: Teacher/Performer. Recent graduate of Washington University in St. Louis where she was also the President and Treasurer of the Washington University Ballroom Dance Club. Years of experience in Ballroom Dance. Worked as a choreographer and instructor for Stardance, Inc. and St. Louis Wedding Dance Company. Lauren teaches Salsa on Tuesday evening. On Sabbatical for Spring Session.

Ashi Smythe: Performer/Teacher/ Choreographer. Ashi began performing at the age of five at the Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts in East St. Louis. He has performed with Missour State Ballet, Senegelese and Guinea Ballet and MC Hammer. He was a principal with Chuck Davis (African American Dance Ensemble). He also was an original Broadway cast member of The Lion King.

Jane Fitzgerald: Yoga Teacher. Jane has been teaching Yoga since 1998, and traveled to India in 2000 and 2007 to study the Iyengar method of instruction. The Iyengar methodology emphasizes correct alignment and the use of props to modify the postures so that even the most rigid body can benefit from yoga.

Offers day and evening Iyengar-style Yoga classes.

Ruthe Ponturo:
Dancer/Teacher/Choreographer. Vice President of The City Studio. Board Member of Dance St. Louis, Cultural Festivals, and Animal House. Has a Masters Degree in Theater from the University of Arizona. Has an extensive background in dance. Ruthe is the choreographer for all musicals at Parkway Central High School.

Theodore H. Jamison (Theo): Dancer/Performer/Teacher/Choreographer.  Program Director for SIUE East St. Louis Center for the Performing Arts, formerly known as the Katherine Dunham Center for the Performing Arts.  Theo received a B.S. in Theater and Fine Arts/Dance from SIU Edwardsville. 

Theo is certified by Katherine Dunham to teach the Dunham Technique.   On Sabbatical for Spring Session.

Keith Tyrone Williams:
Director/Choreographer/Dancer. MFA Degree from Lindenwood Univ.  Keith has performed, directed, and choreographed thoughout the United States and extensively in Europe.  His work has been seen locally at Powell Symphony Hall, and in more than 15 productions at the Muny Opera and St. Louis Black Rep.

Choreography for:  "Bubbling Brown Sugar" and "Raisin"  which  received the Woodie King award for "Best Productions."  Keith has appeared both On and Off Broadway. Last seen in "The Full Monty" at Stages St. Louis.  Keith is very proud to be among the few people certified by Katherine Dunham to teach the world renowned Dunham Technique and he is the proud recipient of the Katherine Dunham Dance Award. 

Cecil Slaughter: Artist in Residence, was a Principal dancer and Assistant Rehearsal Coach with the internationally acclaimed Dayton Contemporary Dance Company (DCDC) under the Artistic Direction of Jearldyn Blunden.  During his fourteen year tenure with the Company he worked with such notable choreographers as Ulysses Dove, Talley Beatty, Alvin Ailey, Doug Varone and Dopnald McKayle.  His choreographic accomplishments include a collaboration with the Dayton Contemporary Dance Company and the Grammy Award winning singing group:  Sweet Honey in the Rock.  Artistic Director for Washington University Dance theatre.  Founder and artistic director for The Slaughter Project. 

Monduel Banessia: Master Drummer - African, Jazz, Latin Percussionist. Teacher and Performer. Accompanist for Jazz and Dunham Technique Classes and teaches percussion.

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