JONES-HAYWOOD DANCE SCHOOL

"A Legacy of Excellence"

Devi C. Ramey​ (Ballet Technique, Pre-Ballet I & II, and Ballet I & II) began teaching at Jones-Haywood Dance School in 1984, and has served as costume coordinator since 2006. She was trained at the Jones-Haywood Dance School and at summer dance programs at Le Centre de Dance Classique in Cannes, France and Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. Ms. Ramey performed with the Jones-Haywood School of Ballet, the Capitol Ballet Junior Company, New York City Ballet and the Howard University Dance Ensemble. In the 1980's she also directed a summer dance camp. Ms. Ramey, who has also enjoyed a career in contracting management in the public and private sectors, has a BA in Communications with a minor in dance from Howard University and a Master's Certification in Government Contracting from George Washington University.

Brandye Lee (Beginner Pointe, Contemporary and Ballet Technique) a cum laude alumna of Smith College (Economics & Afro-American Studies), received her formal dance training as a scholarship student at Jones-Haywood School of Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Ailey School. A native Washingtonian, she was a featured dancer with Ailey II and Disney's blockbuster "The Lion King" - National Gazelle Tour. While touring with The Lion King, Brandye served as the company's outreach coordinator, creating unique behind-the-scenes experiences that included the show's cast, crew and orchestra members. Brandye has been a guest performer in many of the 47 states she toured, including at Flint Institute of Music, Dance Institute of Washington, Dance Theatre of Lynchburg, Troy D. Brown's The Art of Technique, George Mason University, Fisk University, Rhodes College, Marymount University, DC CAPITAL Stars Gala Competition, and countless others. Most recently, Brandye performed and served as Rehearsal Director for Memphis, Tennessee's groundbreaking ballet company and conservatory, Collage Dance Collective. She is the recipient of The Woman of Excellence Award (Asbury United Methodist Church, Washington, DC); The Outstanding Emerging Artist Award (Federal City Alumnae Chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority, Inc, Washington, DC); the Distinguished Alumni Award (Sidwell Friends School, Washington, DC); is a New Memphis Institute Fellow and served two terms as a commissioner for the Memphis City Beautiful Commission. A certified yoga instructor, Brandye loves promoting healthy lifestyles through dance and yoga, and continues to find innovative ways to let her life speak, and serve her community.

Katherine Smith (Introduction to Lester Horton Modern Technique) has danced professionally with Dayton Contemporary Company, Forces of Nature, Gallman's Newark, New World and others, and toured nationally and internationally in George Faison's For Colored Girls Who have Considered Suicide When the Rainbow is Enuf; Debbie Allen's Soul Possessed, and Mike Malone's Black Nativity, Spirit, and Purlie Bessie's Blues. She has also performed in works by Donald McKayle, Ulysses Dove and Faye Snow, and been honored by the International Association of Blacks in Dance, of which she is a Board member. Smith formerly served as artistic co-director of the Adrian Bolton & Katherine Smith Dance Center and D.C. Explosion; artistic program manager for BodyMoves and artistic director of two Youth Ensembles and an Adult Repertory known as BodyMoves Contemporary Dance Company in Fort Washington, MD. She joined Jones-Haywood Dance School in 2010 and is also on the Howard University Dance Faculty. A graduate of Duke Ellington School of the Arts, she earned her BFA in modern dance from the Philadelphia College of Performing Arts.

Dr. Brooke (Wilson) McKie (Ballet) began her classical ballet training at age three by her mother who studied at Philadelphia Civic Ballet Company. At the age of 7, Brooke auditioned and trained with the Pennsylvania Ballet Company School in Philadelphia, PA where she studied under Susan Miller, Stephanie and Bo Spassoff, Lupe Serrano, and David Gallagher. While at Syracuse University in Syracuse, NY, Brooke choreographed and performed ballet, modern, jazz, African and Hip Hop pieces with Creations Dance Troupe, a student run multicultural performing dance ensemble. In 1996, Ms. Doris Jones offered Brooke a teaching position at Jones-Haywood School of Ballet in Washington, DC, now the Jones-Haywood Dance School. Brooke is currently teaching beginner/intermediate ballet technique classes at Jones-Haywood Dance School.

Vincent W. Williams (Jazz) is an accomplished performing artist; he sings, acts, drums, choreographs, and dances on top of teaching. He has worked with renowned artists such as Mercedes Ellington, George Faison, Marilyn Manson, Cheryl Porter, and Joyce Yuille just to name a few. Williams’ unique performance style ranges from jazz and blues to hip hop and gospel and he tours throughout Europe, especially in Italy, Spain, Croatia, and Slovenia. Tours outside of Europe include the Bahamas, Jordan, Thailand, and the Dominican Republic. Williams’ talent in choreography led to developing dance segments for MTV Europe and International Dance Bassano in Italy. In the U.S. he created signature dance segments for television shows and movies. Williams’ diverse acting career includes performances in two international Broadway shows, “Sing Mahalia Sing” and “Chorus Line”. Williams also collaborates on recording projects with Mike Sponza, Michele Bonivente, and Marco Pandolfi in Europe. Most recently, Williams performed in commercials for the DC Lottery and AARP; the latter reaching over 6.5 million views nationwide.

Lauri Fitz-Pegado (Pointe Technique) studied ballet at the legendary Jones-Haywood School of Ballet in Washington, DC, established by Doris Jones and Claire Haywood for children of color. She was a multi-year recipient of a Ford Foundation scholarship awarded by George Balanchine, administered through the School of American Ballet. She studied theater under the late Harry Poe at George Washington University's Workshop for Careers in the Arts, the forerunner to the Ellington School of the Arts, and performed a major role, Joan, in “Everyman” street theater in DC and New York City directed by the late Mike Malone and Peggy Cooper Cafritz. Lauri joined the Capitol Ballet company at age 13, performed with Vassar Dance Theatre, studied at the Dance Theatre of Harlem with Karl Shook and Tannequil Le Clerque, performed with Ballet Santo Domingo and taught ballet in Mexico City and at Jones- Haywood. She attributes much of her success in diplomacy, international affairs, trade negotiations, foreign country representation and investment promotion to skills acquired through the discipline of the performing arts. She returns to her passions in the creative arts space and sports after a successful career as a diplomat, public relations/affairs executive, corporate executive in the mobile satellite telephony space, international trade specialist and advocate. Lauri is a mentor, formally and informally to many young and mid-career professionals, serves on several non-profit boards focused on supporting and developing resources—human and physical—to sustain the growth of our planet. (more on (www.inthedash.live)

Adriana Ray (Beginning Tap) native of San Antonio, Texas, Adriana Ray has been performing professionally, choreographing, and teaching since 2007. In 2010, Adriana became a member of Tapestry Dance Company directed by Acia Gray performing both locally and internationally over 3 seasons. Credits include the shows Voices of Rhythm, Time, April Fools, and The Souls of Our Feet- A Celebration of American Tap Dance China Tour amongst others. She has also performed with Tri-Tone Productions, Ballet Afrique Contemporary Ballet, Third Coast Contemporary and as a soloist. Adriana has taught and choreographed for a number of studios in the San Antonio and Austin areas as well as for the Space City Tap Fest (Houston), The Beat Convention, the Tap Love Tour, and Beantown Tap Festival (Boston). She has showcased choreography at festivals around the country, including Third Coast Rhythm Project (San Antonio), Soul2Sole (Austin), Chicago Human Rhythm Project's Rhythm World, and the LA Tap Fest and continues her training at various festivals and workshops. Adriana holds a BA from the University of Texas at Austin, is a Member of Texas Association Teachers of Dancing, and has attended the Tap Program directed by Dianne Walker at the School at Jacob's Pillow. She recently completed her Masters in Arts Administration and currently lives in Washington, DC where she dances with Sundays on Tap based in Northern Virginia.

Stacie L. Williams (Ballet) is a native of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania and trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. At 17, Stacie joined the Dance Theatre of Harlem, where she danced lead roles in classical and contemporary works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Arthur Mitchell, and Dwight Rhoden. She went on to dance with Ballet Memphis, Donald Byrd's Spectrum Dance Theater, Ballet NY, and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal. In 2013 Stacie was selected by the Department of State to travel to South Asia as a member of the Dance Motion USA program, where she utilized dance to engage with over 2,000 students in Nepal, Bangladesh, and Sri Lanka. Stacie holds a Master of Science in Foreign Service Degree from Georgetown University. She previously served as an Obama Administration appointee before joining The Rothkopf Group as Vice President, where she recently produced an international conference which brought together policymakers, artists, and arts administrators. Stacie is thrilled to complete her second year at Jones Haywood, where she teaches ballet technique. Stacie also teaches at The Washington Ballet’s THEARC and is a guest instructor at Howard University.

Dionne D. Figgins (Contemporary, Dance for Actors and Broadway Jazz) began her career as a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem, under the direction of Arthur Mitchell, dancing lead roles in Serenade, Four Temperaments, Agon, all by George Balanchine.  She has also appeared as a guest artist with Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Broadway Credits include Hot Feet, Memphis, Leap of Faith and Motown The Musical.  Regional credits include Sophisticated Ladies, The Wiz, Ray Charles Live, Smokey Joe's Cafe, Trip of Love, Chicago, and A Wonderful World.  She can also be seen playing Yasmine on the Starz drama Flesh and Bone.  She is the co-founder of Broadway Serves, a non-profit organization whose mission is to connect theater professionals to community service opportunities locally, nationally, and abroad.  She is a proud member of AEA and SAG-AFTRA.

Men Ca (Modern) - The bio-Kemet-cal essence of Men Ca is in his name: meta is energy from the nucleus of the ca'nscious atam.  A practitioner of defining that which he does through that which he is (i.e., Men Ca), his absolute Art and Science is simple to be ca'nscious at all times, in all times; thus defining the life force energy of love and understanding.