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2008 Schedule
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Turning Pointe Academy of Performing Arts
248 S. Leggett
Abilene, TX 79605
325-672-6468
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About the Staff
The instructors at Turning Pointe are very dedicated,
trained, caring, Christian dancers. Each instructor is trained with Anna
Gillette, Artistic Director, to insure proper technique is being taught in a
manner that upholds the academy’s standards. In order to continue their
dance education and development, Turning Pointe instructors are encouraged to
attend as many seminars, workshops, and classes as possible.
Each staff member has been hand chosen by Anna Gillette for
their talent, ability, and love for dance and their students. All instructors
sign a covenant outlining the Christian beliefs of the Turning Pointe founders
and the standards to which each instructor will be held accountable for. A copy
of this covenant is available at the reception desk for anyone to review.
Each instructor has many gifts to offer their students. The academy hopes
you will give its staff the opportunity to teach and care for you and/or your
child.
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Anna Gillette
anna@turningpointe.net |
Anna has been
dancing for 32 years. For six years, she was a principal dancer with
Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet in Houston, TX. In 1986 Anna studied in
New York City, attending classes at the Broadway Dance Center and with
Joffrey Ballet. Her training is chiefly in ballet, but also includes
character, modern, and musical theater. Anna has been performing
liturgical dance in worship for 20 years, and considers this to be the
most important aspect of her dancing. In 1989, Anna was a member if the
National Lutheran Youth Ballet, which performed one of her original
pieces in front of 17,000 youth, She considers this a major highlight in
her dance and spiritual life. Anna attended Texas A&M University as a
theater arts major. This year she became a full-time student at McMurry
University pursuing a degree in Religion and a minor in Koine Greek.
She has been married to husband Trey for fourteen years and has three
sons, Eric (12), Jeffrey (10), and Peter (9). Anna was taught by her
parents to use her God-given talent for His glory. She does this by
remaining active in her church music and children’s music ministries, as
well as teaching at Turning Pointe. Anna has danced in many places, in
many wonderful productions, but the most satisfying part of her career
is teaching your children. |
Tonja Gray
tonja@turningpointe.net |
Tonja graduated
from McMurry College with a BS in Elementary Education in May of 1988.
She has taught in several public schools in the Big Country area since
graduation. She was the color guard instructor in Hawley for 8 years.
She has been married to Ian since 1987, and they have two lovely young
ladies, Charlene and Alecia.
Teaching has
been a lifelong dream for Tonja, but her love for dance came along much
later in life. She has been dancing in church since 1987, and she began
formal training at a local studio in the spring of 1992. She moved to
Christina’s Dance Expressions in 1998, and she stayed with the studio
when it became Turning Pointe a short time later. Tonja never dreamed
that her love for the Lord, teaching, and dance would all come
together. That all changed in the fall of 2001 when she became an
assistant at Turning Pointe and a teacher the following year. She has
also danced and acted with the Word of Emmanuel Dance Team, The
Mountainview Dance Team, the Crossroads Dance and Drama ministries, and
the Fountaingate Fellowship Dance ministry. She has been a member of
Ballet Élevé since the fall of 2002. Tonja loves sharing her love for
the Lord and dance with her students, and she hopes to continue to do so
for many years to come. She also loves using dance and acting as a
ministry tool and hopes to one day be able to share her faith through
the arts on the mission field in Europe. Tonja is thankful to Turning
Pointe for give her a safe place to grow and share. Isaiah 40:31. |
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Laura Logan
laura@turningpointe.net |
Although she
began dancing as an adult, Laura has developed a passion for dance and
truly loves the time she is able to spend teaching (and learning!) at
Turning Pointe. Laura studied voice and piano at Hardin-Simmons
University and is blessed to be involved in the Children and Music
Ministries at First United Methodist Church in Clyde. She has been
married to her husband, Eric, six years and is proud mother of a
daughter, Alex (5) and a son, Carter (4) who both enjoy dancing as a
part of the Turning Pointe family. This is her second year to be dance
with Ballet Élevé. Laura is a member of Sigma Alpha Iota, International
Music Fraternity for Women. |
Rafaela Ray
rafaela@turningpointe.net |
Rafaela has been
a dancer since the age of 5 and received most of her dance instruction
in Houston, Texas where she studied with the Pasadena Civic Jazz Ballet
Company and the Bay Area Performing Arts Center.
She has been
teaching jazz, ballet, lyrical, and boys hip hop at Turning Pointe and
is excited to see each of her classes growth this year. Though she is
always wife to Josh and "mommy" to Shelby and Benjamin, when she is not
teaching dance Rafaela divides her time between her church family at the
River of Life and as a counselor at the Neuropsychology Clinic here in
Abilene. Once again she has been blessed in every domain of her life and
wishes to thank all of those who offer her support and encouragement
daily. |
Lindsey
Brotsch
lindsey@turningpointe.net |
Lindsey is 20 years old and has been
dancing for 7 years. She joined the Turning Pointe family in 2004 and
Ballet Eleve in 2005. She has received instruction in ballet, pointe,
jazz, tap, and lyrical. This past May, Lindsey graduated with honors from
Cisco Junior College. She now attends McMurry University as a psychology
major and sociology minor. This will be Lindsey's first year to teach. She
loves dancing and is very excited to share the joy of dance with her
students. |
Brooke
Farmer
brooke@turningpointe.net |
Brooke is 16 years old and a sophomore
at Wylie High School. She has been dancing for 12 years. She began dancing
at Christina's Dance Expressions in 1997 and stayed with the studio when
it changed to Turning Pointe in 2000. She has been an assistant at Turning
Pointe since 2004 and has been in Ballet Eleve for 4 years. Brooke is
involved with Wylie Baptist Church's youth group and student choir. This
will be her first year to teach and she is so excited to have the
privilege of teaching your children. She is thankful to her family for the
support they have given her. |
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Hannah
Gregory
hannah@turningpointe.net |
Hannah
has been a dancer since the age of 3. She has received all of her
instruction at Turning Pointe Academy. Hannah has been a member of
Ballet Élevé since the first year it started. She has been trained in
the areas of ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, and lyrical. Her passion is
dance and she hopes to pursue a career that includes some form of dance.
Hannah loves teaching small children and has a strong desire to be a good
example for her students to follow. She is a high school student
attending Abilene High School.
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