Principal Guest Artists
+ Luis V. Santana González
Luis Víctor Santana was born in Mantua, Pinar del Río, Cuba. He started ballet studies at the age of 8 at the Art Vocational School in Pinar del Río. Later, he became part of the National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba, where he trained with Martha Iris Fernández, Ramona de Saa Bello (current director of the Escuela Nacional Fernando Alonso), among others. He graduated 2007. He became part of the Corps of Ballet of Ballet Nacional de Cuba, under the direction of the prima ballerina assoluta Alicia Alonso, where he trained with teachers such as Ana María Leyte, Svetlana Violeta Ballester and Félix Rodríguez. In three years he was promoted to the role of soloist dancing the pas de six of Swan Lake, the bullfighters of Don Quixote, the principal in Majísimo, Diálogo 4, George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, the friends of Giselle, soloist in Dionaea, Rara Avi by Alberto Méndez, and all the classical repertoire of the company. After six years in the company, he defected to the United States during a trip to Mexico. A few months later, he joined the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami where he danced the pas de deux Diana and Acteon. In that same year 2013, he joins the company of Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico as principal dancer, coached by the ballet master Victor Gilí (first dancer of the Ballet Nacional de Cuba). He danced in the company the following repertoire: Grand Pas Classique pas de deux; leading role of Franz in the full length ballet Coppélia with Adiarys Almeida; Desire pas de deux by Austin Ballet Artistic Director Stephen Mills ; the leading role of Raoul and the Phantom at Alberto Méndez’s Phantom of the Opera; Sugar Plum Cavalier and Snow pas de deux at The Nutcracker; Nous Sommes pas de deux by Jimmy Gamonet; Basilio and Espada at Don Quijote; Cos by Maria Rovira; Alí at Le Corsaire; Oberon at Jimmy Gamonet’s Midsummer’s Night Dream; principal role at Septime Webre’s Carmina Burana; principal role of Paquita. As guest artist, he has danced: Swan Lake at Ballet Etudes; The Nutcracker, Giselle, and Dracula at Brandon Ballet; La Sylphide, R&J (contemporary adaptation of Romeo and Juliet), choreography of Gina Mills, the roles of Chesire Cat, Dodo Bird and Jeser in Septime Webre’s Alice in Wonderland, and Septime Webre’s Peter Pan with CODA 21; Ali at Le Corsaire and The Nutcraker with Balleteatro Nacional, and Snow White at School of Performing Arts. In 2018 he became part of the company CODA 21 and Mauro Ballet, where he has interpreted pieces such as Tchaikovsky pas de deux, Rassemblement, Somos, Pérdida, Rockelbels Canon and Don Quijote.
Professional Guest Artists
+ Meghan Schlanger
Meghan Schlanger is originally from Jasper, Alabama where she began her training at Marilyn Sander Performing Arts Center under Margaret Hudson Galloway. Galloway then introduced her to Dame Sonia Arova under whom she studied under until 2001. She also trained at the Alabama Ballet school under Wes Chapman and Roger Van Fleteren. She attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts where she trained under Therese Laeger as well as many other esteemed artists and teachers. Meghan went on to earn her degree in dance and theatre from the University of Alabama where she performed with the Crimson Cabaret. She simultaneously competed in Miss Alabama and was awarded many prestigious titles during that time. She has performed professionally at Birmingham Ballet, under director of Cindy Free. She also performed with Birmingham Ballet Repertory Company under the direction of Alfonso Figueroa during which time she recreated one of Figueroa’s most memorable ballet’s, Duos, with Jamorris Rivers. After performing classical ballet professionally for several years, Meghan accepted a position with Walt Disney World as a performer and dancer. She has performed in numerous parades and shows in the past seven years. She now holds the title of Costume and Cosmetology Manager at Walt Disney World Entertainment In Orlando, Florida where she lives with her husband Stephen Schlanger and their two dogs.
+ Tremaine Fryerson
Tremaine Fryerson found his passion for dance at a young age before enrolling at Cleveland School of the Arts under the direction of Jessica Oliver also studying with Kay Eichman and many local artists for six years. During this time, Tremaine also danced with The Ohio Dance Theater, where he performed in his first Nutcracker with the professional company and trained for five years with Denise Gula and Nancy Brensthaul. After his freshman year of high school he moved to Alabama and began training at the Alabama School of Fine Arts under the direction of Wes Chapman. After graduation he joined the Huntsville Ballet Company under the direction of Phillip Otto. This fall, Tremaine will double major in both Ballet and Modern dance at Texas Christian University in Dallas. Since his time in Alabama, Tremaine has worked with an amazing group of talented artists and directors as well as serving as a guest artist for many local companies and performances.
+ Lisa Gibbs
Lisa Gibbs has a diverse background in administration, dance education and performance, and financial services. She holds a Doctorate in Higher Education Administration and was awarded the 2018 Doug Risner Prize for Emerging Dance Researchers for her empirical research study “Dance Education Certification in Alabama: Issues Related to Undergraduate Degree Programming.” Between 2003 and 2018, Dr. Gibbs was on faculty at Samford University and Shelton State Community College as Instructor of Dance. From 1995 to 2011, Dr. Gibbs performed in the Birmingham area with Southern Danceworks, Sanspointe, and Arova Contemporary Dance Ballet. She also spent several years in the mid 2010s as Administrative Assistant for the Alabama Dance Council. She teaches ballet at The Pointe Dance Arts in Hoover and continues to study and practice the craft of teaching dance. While contemplating a “second career,” she discovered she enjoyed financial education. Her newest passion is helping dancers and other artists learn to become financially secure through conversation and action steps regarding mindset and behavior about money.
+ Brandon Mitchell
Brandon Mitchell is from Birmingham, Al and a graduate of Alabama State University with B.S. in Biology minor in Chemistry. After countless dance classes taken as electives just to keep the body moving and graduation Brandon receive admission and a scholarship to returned as a BFA Dance Major and also graduated with a B.F.A in Dance. Brandon and dance is unique because it is very uncommon for a person of his stature being 6 foot 8 to be a dancer. Though he played numerous sports, Brandon started dancing on the mime team in his hometown church of St. Luke A.M.E Church, and dUring his tenure at ASU started his first experience dancing with a student ran dance company. The Eclectic Dance Company. Since becoming a member of Eclectic dance company, he has exceeded his expectations in dance.Brandon has travel across the U.S. with dance and has participated in events such as Monsters of Hiphop and , Anthony Burrell’s Breaking Barriers Intensive both in Atlanta, Georgia, along with, Dissonance Dance Company Summer Intensive in Washington D.C. and last but not least Cleo Parker Robinson dance Ensemble’s Summer Intensive in Denver, Colorado just to name a few. Brandon is currently dancing with Formations Dance Company in Birmingham, Alabama under the leadership of Whitney Renfroe. One motto Brandon Mitchell holds dear is, "Perfection is not attainable but if you chase perfection you can seek excellence."