The Team

ABDUR-RAHIM JACKSON

Artist Director

Ballet 1 & Contemporary 1

Abdur-Rahim received a Bachelor Degree of Fine Arts from The Juilliard School and performed as a Principal Dancer with The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater for a decade and made his Broadway debut in "Soul Doctor". He has created ballets for Kansas City Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater (Co-Choreographer). Abdur-Rahim choreographed sections of the Beyoncé "Crazy in Love" Super Bowl XLVII Halftime performance on CBS and Co-Choreographed the Beyoncé "Halo" music video. He has directed fashion / dance shoots for PAPER Magazine and VIBE Magazine. Abdur-Rahim has also choreographed for Taylor Dayne, The Salt-N-Pepa Lane Bryant Campaign, Hair / Fashion Award Shows for JCPenney Salons, ULTA Beauty and Matrix (a division of L'Oréal) across the US and Mexico and STAUD New York Fashion Week Show.

Ballet 3 & Contemporary 3

Graduated Douglas Anderson School of the Arts, becoming a scholarship student at Indiana University, double majoring in Ballet Performance and English Studies. Lydia danced with several ballet companies including Les Grands Ballets Canadiens de Montréal.

She was also on the silver screen next to Paul Rudd where she played a Russian ballerina in “Our Idiot Brother”. She has walked for NYFW, been seen in VOGUE, opened Victoria Secret Fashion show, danced backup for Liza Minnelli acted up with Jimmy Fallon for his “Let’s Dance” opening on SNL, was a featured dancer in Justin Timberlakes “Mirrors” video, openedthe VMA’s with Taylor Swift in 2019 as well as commercials for NYU, Sony, Neiman Marcus, Dropbox, Aloft hotels and more. You may also have seen her appear twice asguest judge on the hit tv series “Dance Moms”.

Lydia Holtz

Ballet 3 & Contemporary 3

He brings a wealth of experience from the world-renowned American Ballet Theatre (ABT) school, where he honed his skills before dancing professionally with ABT for a year. Following this, he immersed himself in the vibrant dance scene of Amsterdam, spending four transformative years as a professional dancer with the Dutch National Ballet. Now, he is passionate about imparting the artistry and discipline he’s cultivated over the years to aspiring dancers, eager to inspire and educate the next generation of performers.

Gabriel Rajah

Ballet 2 & Contemporary 2

Julia Fuchs is a native of Montclair, New Jersey. She began her dance training at Sharron Miller’s Academy for the Performing Arts and went on to study in The Ailey School’s Junior Division. Julia is a recent graduate of the Ailey/Fordham BFA program, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. While in school, Julia participated in the Ailey Spirit Gala at Lincoln Center. She performed alongside the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and Ailey II in Alvin Ailey’s Memoria during the company’s 2022 and 2023 seasons at New York City Center. Julia has spent summers training at the Martha Graham School, GALLIM, The Ailey School, Alonzo King LINES Ballet and Ronald K. Brown’s EVIDENCE. Julia is excited to share her experience as a teacher and choreographer to help shape the next generation of dancers.

Julia Fuchs

Jazz & Tap all levels

Ayden Pratt is a Musical Theatre performer based in New York City. They were a trainee at The Rochester City Ballet for eight years, and then received their BFA in Musical Theatre from Montclair State University. While Ayden was still in college, they performed in two seasons at The Mac-Haydn Theatre as the Dance Captain, Associate Choreographer, and Children’s Theatre Choreographer, and did the China premiere of “A Chorus Line” (Tricia/understudy Val and Cassie). After graduating, they did the Broadway National Tour of “Hello, Dolly” (ensemble/understudy Ermengarde), performed at the 2021 Met Gala, and did the Broadway National Tour of “Moulin Rouge! The Musical” (Heel Swing). Most recently, Ayden played Anybodys in “West Side Story” at Lyric Opera of Chicago."

Ayden Pratt

Hip-Hop

With a versatile background as an entertainer beginning his career at 17 with Sesame Street Live and then Broadway for three years at the age of 21, CJ’s artistic wisdom and discipline opened the doors to work/learn/contribute alongside Madonna, Beyonce, Shania Twain, Taylor Swift, Ledisi and currently the understudy for Nigel in The Devil Wears Prada slated for Broadway 2024, a choreographer for Fox's "I Can See Your Voice Season 3", 5 seasons of the hit pop-culture phenomenon Lip Sync Battle with LL Cool J and Chrissy Tiegen airing on the Paramount Network & was a resident dancer on Saturday Night Live.

CJ TYSON

Hip-Hop

Originally from San Jose, CA, she attended the University of California Berkeley and graduated with a double major in Dance & Performance Studies and Social Welfare. Standout credits include: Theater: The Comedy of Errors (The Public Theater- Associate Choreographer), It Happened In Key West (The Fulton- Choreographer), Pirates of Penzance (Cape Rep Theatre- Choreographer), The Untitled Unauthorized Hunter S. Thompson Musical (La Jolla Playhouse - Associate Choreographer), West Side Story (Milwaukee Rep - Associate Choreographer & Dance Captain),  Jesus Christ Superstar & Aida (MUNY - Dance Captain); Film: Isn’t It Romantic, Netflix: Making Malinche: A Documentary by Nacho Cano; US AirForce Band Airmen of Note; Industrial: PHISH NYE 2020 at Madison Square Garden. Alongside creating and performing, Brianna proudly serves as faculty at Molloy University/CAP 21 Musical Theatre Conservatory, Peridance Center, and Broadway Dance Center.

Brianna Mercado

Acro

William Warren Carver a Nashville, TN native, attended the New York Conservatory for the Dramatic Arts. He’s was previously seen in the National tour of “An Officer and a Gentleman.” and has since been a member of the National touring company of “My Fair Lady.”  In addition to his musical and dancing talents, his 14+ years as a UCA/UDA Cheerville member will provide our young acro students a master level in advanced tumbling, lifts, stunts and more!

William Warren Carver