OUR STAFF

Tashielle Gooley, Director of Arts

(She/Her) Tashielle Cieara started training at Hyde Park School of Dance in Chicago, IL. She received her Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance at Illinois State University. Tashielle Cieara is a well-rounded dancer. She has trained in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, African, Tap, Flamenco and Hip Hop. She has studied with masters such as Joel Hall, Homer Bryant and Pierre Lockette. She has been a member of PPI’s RIZE Pro-Elite for three seasons and currently serves as Director of Arts for PPI’s Performing Arts Academy. She is a graduate student pursuing a degree in childhood education with an endorsement in ESL. She wishes to express the importance of dance to the next generation of future leaders, while creating a safe environment for growth.

Dominique Atwood, Development Consultant

Dominique Atwood is a professional dancer, choreographer, and director. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from Howard University with a Bachelor of Arts in Political science, Pre-law and Sociology. Her performance career has led her to tour nationally and internationally as a professional artist, while simultaneously working with several organizations as an arts administrator and fundraising consultant. Ms. Atwood is currently the Founder and CEO of Dance Connect Worldwide LLC., a community of creatives that connect people through dance, art, and culture. 

Jordyn Bush, Instructor

(She/her)Jordyn Alexis Bush started her love for dance at Mayfair Academy in Chicago at the age of three and received her Bachelor of Arts as a dance and video production major at Ball State University. She’s danced in different dance productions and competitions at Ball State, been a part of the award-winning hip hop team Outlet Hip Hop Dance Troupe, and last recently opened for R&B singer Jacquees before her time ended at Ball State. Her specialty is tap, jazz, modern, hip-hop, and ballet. She now produces films, events and teaches dance. Jordyn is excited to give back to her dance community!

Brandon Avery

Brandon Avery (He/Him/His, They/Them/Thier/Thiers)  spent 12 years of self-instruction in urban dance techniques until he joined ClearVision Dance Team in 2006. Avery took his first formal dance technique course at his alma mater, Knox College, and thereafter studied numerous dance techniques from artists such as Yanis Marshall, Caitlin Gray, Dereque Whiturs of Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and institutions such as Chicago Multicultural Dance School, Gus Giordano Dance School, and Ballethnic Academy of Dance. Avery has performed with Ballethnic Dance Company, Red Clay Dance, Joel Hall Dancers, Anthony Burrell’s Project AB, Miss Continental Pageantry System, Shalamar, and MTV2. He has choreographed works for Donavan “Korporate” Price and Drew Sidora. Avery has instructed at Rhythma Studios, Ballethnic Academy of Dance, Red Clay Dance Academy, Emory University, Dance 101, and Dyett High School for the Arts. Currently, he is a dancer for Mikey Everything and the Haus of Everything, an academy instructor for Praize Productions, Inc., and the founder/instructor of Hips & Heels by Brandon Avery™.

Terri K. Woodall, Instructor

(She/Her) Terri K Woodall, a Southside Chicago native, is a passionate performing/teaching artist and entrepreneur who has trained in dance since age 4. After graduating high school, Terri trained in New York and Los Angeles at The American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), earning her BFA in Dance Theater. Post graduation in California she began recording music and released her debut single “Orange”, available on all music platforms, as an Independent Artist in 2017, signed with Go2 Talent Agency, and has worked with 5 Star Theatricals in Thousand Oaks California, formally known as Cabrillo Music Theater. Upon moving back to Chicago Terri performed as a featured dancer in Porchlight Music Theater’s award-winning production of Duke Ellington’s Sophisticated Ladies, danced in the new FOX dance dramedy sitcom The Big Leap, worked in Arts administration as the Programs Manager of Deeply Rooted Dance Theater, and is teaching dance around the Chicagoland area, in which she has had the honor of being the first Tap teacher at The Chicago High School for the Arts (ChiArts). Terri will also be making her debut as a Choreographer with Porchlight Music Theater this upcoming Spring on the 2008 hit Broadway show Passing Strange, and has assisted with choreography on Paramount Theater’s production of Cinderella alongside Brenda Didier. In addition to her creative career, Terri continues building and growing her reach through her own e-commerce business, giving God ALL of the glory every single step of the way.

Loretta Holmes, Instructor

(She/her) Loretta Holmes is from the south side of Chicago, Illinois. Her training in dance began at the age of 5 and continued into her adulthood. She studied dance at Mayfair Academy of Fine Arts and received her Bachelors in Dance at Loyola University in Chicago. As she thrives in this profession, she continues to be a part of music videos with several recording artists along with having songwriting credits on their music projects.

Julie Matolo, Instructor

(She/Her) Julie Matolo is an accomplished dancer, acrobat, aerialist, stunt performer, actor, choreographer and teaching artist. She is based out of California and Chicago. Her artistic goals have led her to travel, tour and perform in the majority of our fifty states, in addition to Canada, Brazil, Uruguay, Argentina and throughout Europe. Julie toured with the largest touring stunt show, “MARVEL Universe Live”, where she played Agent Maria Hill and Black Cat, in addition to multiple other tracks in the show. This world traveler has also performed on Royal Caribbean as a dancer and as a featured aerialist. She considers The Joel Hall Dancers her longtime home dance company. Favorite Joel pieces Julie has performed in include “El Gato Negro” and “Y2 Day”.

Additional concert dance companies, Julie has performed with are Andrea Kelly Dance Theater, Aerial Dance Chicago, Dance Avondale Collective, The Willingham Project, Corpo Dance, The Kirby Reed Project, Duwane Pendarvis and Company, Dereque Withurs, Innervation Dance Cooperative.

As a Teaching Artist, Julie has taught a diverse range of students and has worked with many children in Chicago and surrounding areas, California, Tennessee and Iowa. Inspiring artistic growth, imagination, self confidence, community and discipline, are class staples. Julie enjoys being inspired by all of the youth she has instructed over the years!

A few notable companies she has worked with include Dhar Mann Studios, FELD Entertainment, On the Fly Productions, Royal Caribbean, Jockey, Sutter Health, 20th Century Fox, The Black Dance Legacy Project, The Actor’s Gymnasium, BIPOC Circus Alliance Midwest and more. Julie can be seen performing in film, television, music videos, large arenas, theaters, stages, corporate venues, festivals and beyond!

Julie looks to continue to grow everyday as an artist, a performer, a teaching artist and a mentor!!

Charish Johson, Director of Supports

Charish Johnson is a Chicago native from the Lawndale community. She holds a bachelor’s degree in business with a concentration in human resource management. She currently holds a management position with the Illinois Secretary of State, where she has worked for over fifteen years. Charish has been a coordinator for various dance ministries and has vast experience as a dancer and gymnast, in addition to being a certified Zumba instructor. Charish currently acts as the youth and adult Zumba instructor for PPI’s Performing Arts Academy. As PPI’s Director of Supports, Charish helps direct the organization’s day-to-day operations and oversees logistical tasks for the PPI Performing Arts Academy, and its Rize Pro-Elite Adult Company.

Shanna Cruzat, Instructor

(She/her) Shanna resides in Chicago and began training at The School of Homer Bryant Ballet starting at an early age. She is an Alumni graduate of the University of Michigan with a bachelor of fine arts in dance. Shanna received additional training at a ACDFA and DCDC second company. Shanna has performed with Deeply Rooted dance theater, Praize Productions, Noumenon Dance Company, and Banks Performance Project. In addition to performing, Shanna has been an instructor/coach for the Universal dance association, CMDC, premier one, and Chicago contemporary dance theater

Ashton Bauer, Instructor

Ashton Bauer (they/them) began dancing at 3 in Southern Illinois. In May of 2020, Ashton graduated with a Bachelor of Science in Dance Performance. They completed their 200 RYT Yoga Training in June of 2020. Ashton loves traveling and connecting with others through movement. They have trained across the country and world taking classes with Big Muddy Dance Company, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Chicago Movement Collective, Company | E, Ick Amerstdam, and the Spirit of Uganda. Ashton teaches yoga and dance programming in: ballet, jazz, tap, hip-hop, African, and contemporary with Wellness4Every1 and South Chicago Dance Theatre. 

Florence Walker-Harris, Instructor

F.E.E.D, Owner/Founder

Florence Walker-Harris, better known as Mz.Flo, is an entrepreneur that encourages, motivates, and inspires artists through two main organizations: FloFiyah LLC and the nonprofit organization F.E.E.D, which stands for “Fiyah. Edifying. Empowering. Developing.” A descendant of Haiti by way of Queens, New York, Mz. Flo has been taking the Chicago arts scene by storm for the last twenty-five years.  She holds a B.S. in Sociology from the State University College at Oneonta in New York and a Master’s Degree in Human Service Administration of Program Development from National Louis University. She has been a professor for nine years at Chicago State University and is an active member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Inc., the Chicago Alumnae Chapter. With her extensive training in Ballet, Horton, Jazz, traditional Haitian Folklore, Tap, and Hip Hop, Mz. Flo has worked as the Artistic Director of Studio One Dance Theatre (11 years); choreographer with Dance with Me Productions (18 years), and with the Chicago Park District (10 years). In 2015 and 2016, she taught at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp in Michigan and was a Master Class instructor for Black Dance College Exchange. She was a featured choreographer in Deeply Rooted Dance Theater’s 2013 Emerging Choreographers Showcase and has since choreographed “More Than A Miracle: The Nativity Story,”; “Magic Tree House: A Magical Night in New Orleans;” “The Scottsboro Boys;” and “Women of the Year.” Mz. Flo debuted as co-director/choreographer of the iconic “Sophisticated Ladies” during her third season at PorchLight Music Theater, and in July 2021 she choreographed “The Color Purple ” at Maine State Music Theater, in Brunswick, Maine. Through her present positions as the Hip Hop Instructor at ChiArts High School and the Dance Director for Francis W. Parker Performing Arts Department, Mz. Flo continues to work as a multi-ethnic interdisciplinary artistic change agent; promoting collaborative and transformational leadership and pushing the boundaries of art beyond the dance floor.