the ballet intensive | may 30-june 3, 2026
Come train with the industry's elite master teachers this summer at Dance Industry. Learn more about our prestigious faculty below. This intensive is open to all artists ages 8-18. We will be accepting submissions for the intensive soon!
2026 BALLET INTENSIVE FACULTY
KIM CRAVEN
Kim just returned from Copenhagen where she worked with The Royal Danish Ballet setting Twyla Tharp's COME FLY AWAY. She served as the Resident Choreographer of CATS on Broadway choreographed by Andy Blankenbuehler, and Associate Choreographer for the 1st National Tour. She was the Associate Choreographer to Christopher Wheeldon on BRIGADOON at City Center Encores! and the the Associate Choreographer for HONEYMOON IN VEGAS on Broadway and Paper Mill Playhouse. She served as the Resident Director for Twyla Tharp’s COME FLY AWAY on Broadway, the Associate Director/Choreographer for the 1st National Tour, and was the Dance Supervisor for Tharp’s SINATRA DANCE WITH ME at The Wynn Theater in Las Vegas. Other Tharp works include: Dance Supervisor for the 1st National Tour of MOVIN’ OUT, Associate Director/Choreographer for MOVIN’ OUT in London, and Resident Director for TIMES THEY ARE A-CHANGIN’ on Broadway. Other credits include: Dance Captain for the 1st National Tour and Las Vegas production of MAMMA MIA, the Dance Supervisor for the 1st, 2nd and 3rd National Tours of SWING, and the Dance Captain for ON THE TOWN on Broadway. She began her training at Westside Ballet in Los Angeles, and spent summers at the San Francisco Ballet School and The School of American Ballet. She moved to NYC to study full time at SAB in her senior year of high school and began her professional career dancing with The Pennsylvania Ballet Company. She moved to LA to pursue commercial dance and eventually returned to NY when she earned her first Broadway show. Teaching credits include: New York City Dance Alliance, Marymount Manhattan College, L.A. Chamber Ballet, Westside Ballet, Orange County High School of the Arts, Crossroads School.
CHARLIE HODGES
Charlie Neshyba Hodges is a celebrated American dancer, designer, and educator whose multidisciplinary career bridges the worlds of movement, innovation, and impact. Known for his technical virtuosity, emotional range, and unmistakable stage presence, Hodges spent two decades performing internationally with some of the most revered names in dance. He was a longtime principal with Twyla Tharp Dance and LA Dance Project under Benjamin Millepied, and originated the role of Marty in the Broadway musical Come Fly Away—a performance that earned him the Fred Astaire Award for Best Male Dancer on Broadway in 2010.
When not teaching, Charlie stages choreographic works for Justin Peck on companies across the United States. Most recently, he spent two months working with principals at the Royal Ballet where he staged Peck’s Everywhere We go for his choreographic debut in the UK
Hodges is widely recognized for redefining traditional standards in classical dance. Praised for his ability to infuse intelligence, humor, and authenticity into every performance, he was named Best Male Dancer of the Year by the European Critic’s Choice Awards and honored as Person of the Year by LA Weekly in 2014 for his contributions to both performance and dance education.
After retiring from the stage, Hodges shifted his focus toward design, education, and cross-disciplinary problem-solving. He currently serves on faculty at The Colburn School in Los Angeles, where he trains and mentors emerging artists in ballet, contemporary dance, and movement mechanics. His work has also extended to the scientific realm through a collaboration with NASA’s Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), where he led the creation of large-scale art installations designed to communicate the sophisticated climate science and technological breakthroughs behind NISAR, a $1.5 billion Earth-observing satellite that launched in July 2025.
WHITNEY POPP
WHITNEY POPP began training with Mid Columbia Ballet in
Washington, and later trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet. She then spent 5
years as a principal dancer with Sacramento Ballet performing many lead
roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, leads in numerous Balanchine
ballets, and the Cowgirl in Agnes de Milles Rodeo, just to name a few.
Whitney was chosen to perform in many works by outstanding
choreographers as well, such as Dwight Rhoden, Amy Siewert, and Val
Cannaparoli. After moving to New York, she was discovered by Twyla
Tharp and joined Twyla Tharp Dance. Whitney toured Europe with Twyla
Tharp Dance and went on to become one of Twyla’s leading principals for
the creation of several new works. Whitney also joined the 1 st Nat’l
Broadway tour of Movin’ Out performing multiple lead roles. She later
toured Europe once again, this time with her husband Corbin, performing
more works by Twyla Tharp. Whitney has had the privilege of teaching all
over the world and lives in Colorado with her husband and their three
children. She is a proud faculty member of Colorado Ballet Academy.
Whitney is also a co-founder of the performing company Lightwire Theater
based in New Orleans that finished in the semi finals of Americas’ Got
Talent in 2013.
ALEXANDER BRADY
Alexander Brady trained at the Boston School of Ballet and the School of American Ballet before embarking on his career in dance. He has performed with the Joffrey Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Twyla Tharp Dance. On Broadway, Mr. Brady originated roles in "Movin' Out," "The Times They Are a-Changin'," and "Come Fly Away," all under the direction and choreography of Twyla Tharp. His career extends to collaborations with the Mark Morris Dance Group, The Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Dances Patrelle, and the Houston Grand Opera. Additionally, he has appeared in the films "Across the Universe" and "Julie and Julia." Mr. Brady has staged Tharp's repertoire globally and taught technique and repertory at many institutions including Barnard College, the Laban Institute, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Marymount Manhattan College, and Indiana University. He served as Company Manager for Twyla Tharp Dance for three years and has choreographed works for University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Concord Academy, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School's Company Experience. Recently, Mr. Brady was Co-Director of the dance department at Concord Academy in Concord, MA, a faculty member at Boston Ballet School as well as at the Professional Division at Walnut Hill School for the Arts. In 2025, he served as Artistic Associate for Twyla Tharp Dance 60th Jubilee tour, as well as Company Manager for the Paris Opera Ballet’s US tour. He is currently on the faculty of Step’s on Broadway in nyc
MATTHEW DIBBLE
Matthew Dibble was born in Halifax, West Yorkshire, U.K. At the age of 11, he entered the Royal Ballet School White Lodge where he trained for five years followed by two years in the Royal Ballet Upper School. Upon graduating, he became a member of the Royal Ballet under the directorship of Anthony Dowell. In his five years in the company, Matthew rose to First Artist, dancing many roles including those created for him by choreographers such as Christopher Wheeldon, William Forsythe, Ashley Page, Twyla Tharp, William Tuckett, and Michael Clark. In 1999, Matthew decided to leave the Royal Ballet to become a founding member of K Ballet Company in Tokyo, Japan. He spent three years in Japan, working closely with director Tetsuya Kumakawa and choreographers such as Roland Petit. He danced many leading roles in the classics and modern classics including those by Sir Frederick Ashton. Matthew was then invited to the United States where he began a close collaboration with famed choreographer Twyla Tharp. He became a member of her company Twyla Tharp Dance, later joining the cast of her smash hit musical “Movin’ Out” to the music of Billy Joel. He appeared in several parts including the principal roles of Eddie and James in both the Broadway production in New York and the West End production in London. In 2007, Matthew returned to Europe
to join Matthew Bourne’s company, Adventures in Motion Pictures in London, dancing in the production of “The Car Man, Bizet’s Carmen Reimagined” around the United Kingdom. During this time, he also became a guest principal artist with the Scottish Ballet, worked with Benjamin Millepied and was a member of Christopher Wheeldon’s company Morphoses in New York City. Thereafter, Matthew came back to Broadway in 2010 to create the principal role of Chanos in Tharp’s new musical “Come Fly Away” which he then danced on tour around the world as well as at the Tony Awards. Two decades after first inviting Matthew to join her company, Tharp continues to create many featured works for him, including Yowzie and Beethoven Opus
130 featured during Twyla Tharp Dance’s 50th Anniversary Tour. Along with dancing, Matthew now has the great honor of staging both Benjamin Millepied and Twyla Tharp’s works in the United States and abroad, along with leading master classes and workshops for students and professionals alike.
TIFFANY MORI
Tiany Mori began dancing in her hometown of Osaka, Japan. After being awarded the silver medal at the National Ballet Competition in Japan, Ms. Mori traveled to the U.S. to complete her training at the Miami City Ballet School, under the direction of Edward and Linda Villella. Ms. Mori began her professional career with Tulsa Ballet II and BalletMet Columbus, then proceeded to join the Saint Louis Ballet under the direction of Gen Horiuchi in 2009. As a leading artist of the company She has performed principal roles in full-length ballets including: Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, and Sleeping Beauty, and has also starred in works by Twyla Tharp, George Balanchine, and Christopher Wheeldon. She has originated roles in world premieres created by Amy Seiwert, Brian Enos, Monique Meunier, Emery LeCrone, Francis Patrelle and Tom Gold. Every summer, from 2011-2018, Ms. Mori was invited by Gen Horiuchi to dance in the Ballet for the Future
Gala, performing in cities all over Japan. She has also toured to New York City for a world premiere with Tom Gold Dance in 2018. While dancing, Ms. Mori obtained her degree in Chemistry and Mathematics from University of Missouri graduating magna cum laude. Pointe Magazine featured Ms. Mori in an article that depicted her ability to successfully balance her full- time career while earning her bachelors. She is delighted to be passing her dance knowledge down to students around the world. Ms. Mori has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT®
National Training Curriculum. She hopes students will gain the passion and joy of dance through their dedication and commitment in their class, and to utilize the tools they acquire to achieve and fulfill their goals.
JENNIFER LITAKER
Jennifer Chambers Litaker grew up in a ballet studio with her mother and teacher, Helen Chambers. While training and performing with the Tyler Civic Ballet, under the direction of Paula Sansom, Jennifer was privileged to work with artists such as Anne Burton Avery, David Howard, Patricia Thomlinson and Richard Hubsure. Jennifer found her love for ballet and passion for anatomy collide while earning her Fine Arts Degree at the University of North Texas under the guidance of Arleen Sugano. Working as a research assistant for Arleen, Jennifer was given the opportunity to delve deeper into the idea of a
collaborative ballet technique using science to create a stronger and healthier approach to classical tradition. Accolades achieved include acting as 2 year president of Honor’s Society, Chi Tau Epsilon, Graduating Magna Cum Laude,
choreographic acknowledgement to the College Dance Festival and receiving Student of the Year Honors for Fine Arts. After over a decade of teaching, Jennifer is honored to be a part of the DI Family and share her love for ballet with such motivated young artists. Jennifer is also blessed to have the endless support of her husband, Rob, and three children Zachary, Ava and Mabel.
About Us
Ballet Rep
Variations & Competitions
Ballet Track
Our Ballet Rep program focuses on learning repertoire from infamous ballets. Dancers learn the work then audition to be cast. The dancers perform twice a year in The White Theater showcasing their work!
Ballet Track
Variations & Competitions
Ballet Track
The Ballet Track at Dance Industry is an additional class to expand a dancer’s knowledge of classical
ballet. Dancers will take an in-depth look at technique from an anatomical perspective, study ballet
terminology and history, and learn classical repertoire.
Accelerated Ballet
Variations & Competitions
Variations & Competitions
This Track is for those who are serious about their ballet training and desire a future in the ballet industry. These dancers attend an extra 2 hour ballet technique on Friday evenings.
Variations & Competitions
Variations & Competitions
Variations & Competitions
Our Ballet program also trains dancers for varies Ballet Competitions all around the country. Attending events such as YAGP, ADCIB and others, our dancers are exposed to artists in the ballet world.