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.

 

Melissa Braswell Gravely ~ Director/Owner

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 trained dancers for over 15 years.


Suzanne McClung ~ Instructor & Assistant Director of Creative Development

Founder of the Children’s Creative Workshop at the Village Shopping Center, Suzanne is currently an Instructor and the Assistant Director of Creative Development for children programs at 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 trained dancers for over 18 years.


Rob Petres ~ Instructor & Assistant Director of Teen and Advanced Programs

Instructor and Assistant Director of Teen and Advanced Programs at The Village Dance Studios, Rob Petres holds a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. He has taught workshops and company classes for Ground Zero Dance Company and Steve’ House Dance Collective, in Budapest, Hungary, Mexico and Istanbul, Turkey. In 1992 he co-founded the Richmond-based Steve's House Dance Collective with Ray Schwartz, where he worked as a choreographer, dancer, technical director, and lighting designer. Rob currently choreographs and performs with Ground Zero Dance Company, of which he is co-founder and co-artistic director.


Briah Hodal ~ Instructor & Lead Ballet Coordinator

Instructor and Lead Ballet Coordinator at The Village Dance Studios, Briah Hodal began her dance career in Richmond Virginia at the Richmond Ballet where she studied for several years. She has a BFA in Theatre from VCU where she also studied dance for 3 years. She danced with the Richmond based dance company, Starr Foster Dance Project for 7 years and is still performing with various artists. She is also a certified Bikram yoga instructor and teaches in Richmond.


Devin Weatherford Poore ~ Administrative Assistant & Instructor

Administrative Assistant and Instructor at The Village Dance Studios, Devin Poore began her dance career in Richmond studying at the Richmond Ballet and then at The Village Dance Studios. She found her love for teaching as an assistant at The Village Dance Studios and trained for 5 years. She has also worked with kids as a youth leader for West End Assembly of God for the past 6 years and as an Administrative Assistant for 2 years.


Elana Aronovici ~ Instructor & Party Coordinator

Instructor and Party Coordinator at The Village Dance Studios, Elana Aronovici began her dance career at The Children’s Creative Workshop/Village Dance Studios. She has a BA in Dance and Arts Management from Hollins University and has studied dance in New York, London and at several dance festivals. She has her Pilates certification and is currently the Pilates coordinator and instructor at The Country Club of Virginia.


Elizabeth Williams ~ Instructor

Instructor at The Village Dance Studios, Elizabeth Williams began her dance career in North Carolina and has a Bachelor of Science in Education and a Master of Arts Degree in Learning Disabilities from East Carolina University. She has trained dancers for the past 15 years in North Carolina, South Carolina and Richmond. She is also currently teaching preschool at All Saints Episcopal Preschool in Richmond.


Kara Brosky ~ Instructor

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. 

 

 

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.