Dance is an art form in which we find our voice, strength and passion. Through our program we strive to create a balance of structure and creativity by building technical dancers with creative minds and spirits.

 

The Directors

Melissa Braswell Gravely

Director and Owner of the Village Dance Studios, Melissa also founded and directs the Village Performing Company and the Advanced Dancer’s Program. She began her dance career at the Governor’s Magnet School for the Arts and received her BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. She choreographed and danced with Steve’s House Dance Collective for six years and currently serves as a board member for Ground Zero Dance Company. She has been teaching dance for 15 years.

Suzanne McClung

Founder of the Children’s Creative Workshop at the Village Shopping Center, Suzanne is an instructor and a co-director of the Village Dance Studios. She received her BA in Dance from Randolph Macon Women’s College. Upon graduation she studied dance in New York and London. Suzanne later returned to Richmond and studied at the Richmond Ballet and Virginia Commonwealth University. She has been teaching dance for over 15 years.

Rob Petres

Instructor and Assistant Director of The Village Performing Company, Rob Petres holds a BA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. In 1993 he co-founded the Richmond-based Steve's House Dance Collective where he worked as a choreographer, dancer, technical director, and lighting designer. He has served as a technical coordinator for Dance Theater Workshop, and as Technical Director and Lighting Designer for Live Arts Theater Ensemble in Charlottesville, VA. He is a co-founder of Ground Zero Dance Company and is currently working with Dogtown Dance, LLC to create a new dance venue in Richmond which, in addition to housing the work of Ground Zero Dance Company, will present the work of local, national, and international dance artists. .

Instructors

Elana Aronovici

Instructor and Party Coordinator at The Village Dance Studios, Elana began her dance career at The Children’s Creative Workshop/Village Dance Studio and proceeded to graduate with her dance degree from Hollins University.  She has her Pilates certification and is currently the Pilates coordinator and instructor at The Country Club of Virginia.

Kara Brosky

Instructor at the Village Dance Studios, Kara began training at The Performing Arts Center in Van Nuys , California , at the age of 12. She studied at the American Ballet Theater NYC Summer Intensive for three years before entering their professional training school in 2004. In 2006, she accepted an apprenticeship with Richmond Ballet and joined the professional company in 2008. 

Briah Hodal

Instructor at The Village Dance Studios for 6 years, Briah began her dance career in Richmond Va. at The School of the Richmond Ballet. She studied dance and choreography at VCU and has a BFA in Theatre from VCU. She has danced for the Starr Foster Dance Project for 3 years. Briah is currently earning her certification for Bikram yoga in Acapulco, Mexico and will return to teach in December.

Rachel Susanne Hunter

Instructor and Assistant at the Village Dance Studios, Rachel is also currently working as the New Student Coordinator for VCU School of the Arts.  Rachel began dancing in Cookeville, TN at the Dance Arts Center and continued training at the Cumberland Dance Academy.  After receiving her BFA from Virginia Commonwealth University's Department of Dance and Choreography, Rachel gained experience working as a performer and stage manager for Starr Foster Dance Project, K Dance in association with "Yes, Virginia Dance," Ground Zero Dance Company, Amaranth Contemporary Dance, Dim Sum Dance and, Project Project.  She also co-founded R Squared with fellow alum Rachael Shaw with the goal of providing a supportive environment to create and view art.
www.rsquareddance.com 

Devin Weatherford

Instructor and Assistant at The Village Dance Studios, Devin began her dance career at The Richmond Ballet and then studied at The Village Dance Studio for several years.  She is currently working on her teaching and art degree at VCU.

 

 

As demand warrants, the Directors of the Village Dance Studios often provide additional instruction through the use of part-time and guest instructors from the field. The studio prides itself on the professionalism of its instruction and will only select highly qualified, well-trained, experienced instructors for this purpose.