Ryesha Higgs Ryesha Higgs Summer Dance Intensive
Ryesha Higgs Ryesha Higgs Summer Dance Intensive
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I was born in the United States , but grew up in the Turks & Caicos Islands , the place I truly call home . At an early age I showed a keen interest in the performing arts , naturally my mother enrolled me into Ballet classes on island and it was there that I truly developed a passion for performance . As I grew , I expanded my interest to take classes in Dance , Voice and , Classical Piano .
Though I lived on a small island , my training in dance was very thorough and I was introduced to a wide variety of techniques including Ballet , Pointe , Release- Technique Modern and West African . In the TCI I attended the Aretuza ' s School of Dance , the Bowen Dance Academy and Rock it Hot Dance studio , where I trained regularly whilst balancing my academics ; my training was further reinforced by my travels abroad to study at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet Summer Intensive , the Vail Valley / Saratoga Springs Summer Dance Intensive and , the Ailey School Professional Division at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre .
After I completed High School with an International Distinction from the Cambridge International Examination Board , I took a leap of faith and ventured off from my 37 square metre island to the Big Apple , New York City . Here , I trained as a Professional Division Independent Study Program student at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre . I trained in many different styles such as , Ballet , Horton , Grahambased Modern , Dunham , Tap , Hip Hop and Jazz , and I also had the opportunity to work alongside well known choreographers - Jennifer Archibald , Christopher Rudd , Nathan Trice and Judine Summerville , in performing choreographic works in theatre . I transitioned on to attend the Dance Theatre of Harlem , where I refined my Ballet and Pointe technique and performed choreography by Ballet pioneers , Agustus Van Heerden and Robert Garland . At the same time , I began to pursue my academic passions in science as a Bachelor ' s of Science in Biology undergraduate . My passion for dance has allowed me to perform on many stages , as a student , professional trainee and past company member with Genesis Contemporary Ballet . I continue to pursue professional dance at the Mark Morris Dance Group Open School .
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