Summer Intensive 2022

Britta Heermann-Wynne

Guest Instructor

Britta Heermann-Wynne was born and raised in Hamburg, Germany. She studied classical ballet and modern dance under the direction of Constanze Vernon at the University of Fine Arts and Music in Munich, under Rosella Hightower at The Centre de Danse Internationale in Cannes, France, under John Neumeier at The Hamburg Ballet School in Hamburg, Germany and with Ruth Currier in New York, NY. Britta danced professionally for eleven years with The Musiktheater im Revier in Gelsenkirchen, Germany, The Freiburger Tanztheater in Freiburg, Germany, and with TanzForum at the Metropolitan Opera Cologne, Germany, performing many solo roles. During these 11 years, Britta toured throughout Europe, and Southeast Asia. In 1994, Britta moved to the United States with her husband and daughter. She co-
directed, danced, and taught for At Marah Dance Theater while also performing with Jeanne Ruddy Dance in Philadelphia. Britta then accepted a position as a ballet and modern dance instructor at Belhaven University in Jackson, MS. After working at the university for seven years, she joined a four-year Feldenkrais Teacher Training Program in Houston, TX, and graduated as a
Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner CM in 2013. Apart from operating her private practice, she accompanied her husband with teaching and assisting at the Sangre de Cristo Art Center in
Pueblo, CO, Arts Immersion in Denver, CO, and Dance Arts Los Alamos in Los Alamos, NM. She currently lives in Rio Rancho, NM, working with people from all backgrounds and is engaged in
developing online courses called “Feldenkrais for Dancers”.

Betsy McMillan

Artistic Director of Vivid Ballet

Elizabeth “Betsy” began her ballet training with Alabama Dance Theater and continued with Houston Ballet Academy’s Professional Division on full merit scholarship while performing with Houston Ballet. She has studied with renowned teachers David Howard, Clara Cravey, Claudio Munoz, Steve Brule, Wes Chapman and Dame Sonia Arova. Her performance career includes roles in Cinderella, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Giselle, The Nutcracker; original works by Ben Stevenson, Trey McIntyre, Steve Rooks, Randall Flynn, Caleb Mitchell and private coaching by Nina Watt for Jose Limon’s iconic solo work “Chaconne.” She performed nationally and internationally with Ballet Magnificat.

She has served on the faculty of Houston Ballet Academy, Houston’s High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, The Hartt School, Belhaven University, as Ballet Mistress for Houston Metropolitan Dance Company, Ad Deum Dance Company and as Shoreline Principal for New Haven Ballet. She has been guest faculty for Ballet Academy East, Yale Ballet, Point Park University and Regional Dance America. Her choreography has been commissioned nationwide and has been presented at Ailey Citi Group Theater in New York, NY and The White House in Washington D.C.

McMillan is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.

She is the Founder and former Artistic Director of Ballet Hartford and School of Ballet Hartford and served on the Board of Directors for the Connecticut Dance Alliance. Currently, she is an Academy Instructor for Houston Ballet.

Shizu Yasuda

Ad Deum 2 Artistic Director

SHIZU YASUDA started her dance training at Sakiko Ichinomiya Ballet School in Japan. After she moved to New York, she performed with several choreographers and dance companies such as Slam and Sensedance Company. She joined Ad Deum Dance Company in 2004. She danced as a principal dancer with the company and performed at numerous dance events nationally and internationally. She got awarded as one of stunning performers by Dance Houston – City Wide Dance Festival 2008. In 2013, she was invited to Minsk in Belarus as a guest dancer and judge by Chelz Extreme Games. As a dance teacher, she has been teaching Modern and Ballet classes in the Houston dance community at such places as Ad Deum Dance Company, Houston Ballet Academy summer intensive (Modern only), Mitsi Dancing School, Payne Academy of Ballet, Studio of Dance, West University Dance Center and Houston Academy of Dance. Her choreographic works have been presented at “East Meets West” at Miller Outdoor Theater since 2008. In 2014, she became an artistic director of Ad Deum II.

Randall Flinn

Founder / Artistic Director

Mr. Flinn began his dance training in Houston over twenty five years ago with Glenn Hunsucker, Camille Long Hill, Dina Vail and Patsy Swayze. His most recent modern dance influences have come from studies with The José Limón Dance Company and Steve Rooks, former principal dancer with Martha Graham. He has taught and choreographed locally as a guest artist for the Houston Ballet Academy, The Episcopal High School, Houston Met Dance Company, Joan Karff Dance Company, The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts, and North Harris Performing Arts Dance Company.

He was selected as a guest choreographer for Houston’s Dance Salad 1999, Dance Houston 2006, and Texas Weekend of Contemporary Dance 2007. Nationally, he has served as guest faculty and choreographer for Cirque Du Soleil’s-Alegria, Ballet Magnificat, Belhaven University, Friends University, Project Dance NYC, LA, and Sydney, Australia, as well as Hillsong and Dance Revolution Conventions.

Having lived throughout Europe and Asia for ten years, Mr. Flinn has also been a guest artist for Hong Kong Ballet, City Contemporary – Hong Kong, Guanzhou Modern Dance Company – China, Xaris Danz Europe, and Youth With a Mission International Schools of the Arts.

Dawn Dippel

Artistic Director of Revolve Dance Company, Former dancer with Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre

Dawn Dippel has been dancing most of her life and is co-owner of NHPA & NHPA II, co-Director and founding member of Revolve Dance Company, and a former member of the Dominic Walsh Dance Theatre. She grew up in the Houston area, graduated from Houston’s High School for the Performing & Visual Arts Dance Department, and since then continues to train in and outside of Houston. Dawn’s choreographic works for Revolve Dance Company have been showcased at many of Houston’s various local performance events including Dance Houston, Texas Weekend of Contemporary Dance, Triple Focus, Choreographers X 6, Dance of Asian America, and Revolve On Camera. In the 2008 issue of Dance Magazine she was named as one of '25 to Watch' for up and coming artists across the country and was also named one of Houston's 100 creatives by the Houston Press. In 2014, 'Revolve On Camera' premiered at the Houston Cinema Arts Festival and won the audience choice award at the Dance Camera West festival in California. Currently Dawn is teaching at NHPA II, Ad Deum II and Houston Ballet Academy. She has spent many years working beside many talented and professional artists who have been an influence and inspiration in her journey of this art!

Durell R. Comedy

Mark Morris Dance Group Company Member

Durell R. Comedy is a native of Prince George's County, MD and began dancing at the age of 6. He graduated from the Visual & Performing Arts program at Suitland High School in 2004 and from George Mason University (magna cum laude), receiving his BFA Degree in Dance Performance in 2008. Since then, he has worked and performed with artists such as The Metropolitan Opera, Troy Powell, Matthew Rushing, CorbinDances, Roger C. Jeffrey & Kyle Abraham. Mr. Comedy was a member of the Limón Dance Company from 2009-2015, where he performed soloist and principal roles. An instructor certified in teaching Limon principles, he’s taught master classes and workshops at numerous universities and schools including Vassar College, Maryland Youth Ballet, Ballet Hispanico, Belhaven University, CityDance Center at Strathmore & the Limon Institute. A former fellowship student at the Ailey School and a recent adjunct faculty member at George Mason University’s School of Dance, Mr. Comedy was awarded the 2016 Distinguished Alumni Award for the College of Visual and Performing Arts of George Mason University. Comedy began working as an apprentice with the Mark Morris Dance Group in 2015 and became a company member in 2016 and retired from his performance career in 2019. He, his wife, Hannah and 2 daughters, reside in Houston, TX and he currently serves as Worship Associate and Creative Arts Academy Director for Champion Forest Baptist Church.

Kevyn Ryan Butler

Main Company Guest Artist

Born in Oakland, CA, Kevyn was introduced to the performing arts when he attended Delta Academy for the Performing Arts and Deer Valley High School. But it was in his senior year when Kevyn began formal dance training at the Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) with an emphasis in Dance. Once there, Kevyn received training in Ballet and Modern under the direction of Reginald Ray-Savage. Upon graduation from OSA he auditioned and was offered dance scholarships to schools such as Alonzo King Lines Ballet Program at Dominican University of California, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and The University of Arizona. Butler decided to attend The University of Arizona where he studied various styles of Ballet, Modern and Jazz technique. He completed four years of his Bachelors and moved to New York City in 2016. Soon after, Kevyn joined Ronald K. Brown Evidence, a Dance Company in Brooklyn, New York where he performed works such as Grace and Four Corners. It was during his time in New York where Kevyn encountered the Holy Spirit, became a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ.
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After his time in New York, Kevyn travelled to teach and perform through Missions work with the Ad Deum Dance Company in France, Switzerland, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. Kevyn’s resume consists of performances at the 2015 Jose Limon Dance Festival, Project Dance Houston and Project Dance Paris. He has guested with the Ad Deum Dance Company, Störling Dance Theater, Oakland Ballet, the Tucson Regional Ballet, Ballet North Texas, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Festival Ballet of North Texas and worked with choreographers such as Reginald Ray-Savage (Savage Jazz Dance Company), Robert Garland (Dance Theater of Harlem), Daniel Agami (Ate 9 Dance Company), Guy Shomroni and Yaniv Abraham (Batsheva Dance Company). In 2019 Kevyn moved to Dallas, TX to dance with Zion Dance Project where he is currently a company member for his second season. He is an active Dance Instructor in with Texas Ballet Theater Professional Training Program and Booker T. Washington Magnet School for the Performing and Visual Arts. in Oakland, CA, Kevyn was introduced to the performing arts when he attended Delta Academy for the Performing Arts and Deer Valley High School. But it was in his senior year when Kevyn began formal dance training at the Oakland School for the Arts (OSA) with an emphasis in Dance. Once there, Kevyn received training in Ballet and Modern under the direction of Reginald Ray-Savage. Upon graduation from OSA he auditioned and was offered dance scholarships to schools such as Alonzo King Lines Ballet Program at Dominican University of California, the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and The University of Arizona. Butler decided to attend The University of Arizona where he studied various styles of Ballet, Modern and Jazz technique. He completed four years of his Bachelors and moved to New York City in 2016. Soon after, Kevyn joined Ronald K. Brown Evidence, a Dance Company in Brooklyn, New York where he performed works such as Grace and Four Corners. It was during his time in New York where Kevyn encountered the Holy Spirit, became a believer and a follower of Jesus Christ.
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After his time in New York, Kevyn travelled to teach and perform through Missions work with the Ad Deum Dance Company in France, Switzerland, Bulgaria and the Netherlands. Kevyn’s resume consists of performances at the 2015 Jose Limon Dance Festival, Project Dance Houston and Project Dance Paris. He has guested with the Ad Deum Dance Company, Störling Dance Theater, Oakland Ballet, the Tucson Regional Ballet, Ballet North Texas, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Festival Ballet of North Texas and worked with choreographers such as Reginald Ray-Savage (Savage Jazz Dance Company), Robert Garland (Dance Theater of Harlem), Daniel Agami (Ate 9 Dance Company), Guy Shomroni and Yaniv Abraham (Batsheva Dance Company). In 2019 Kevyn moved to Dallas, TX to dance with Zion Dance Project where he is currently a company member for his second season. He is an active Dance Instructor in with Texas Ballet Theater Professional Training Program and Booker T. Washington Magnet School for the Performing and Visual Arts.

Bria Greenwood

Main Company Principal Dancer

Bria Greenwood is from Madison, MS. She received all of her dance training from the world’s first professional Christian ballet company, Ballet Magnificat, in Jackson, MS. She was in their School of the Arts, and then their professional Trainee Program. She was a part of the Events Company that traveled to dance and teach in Honduras, Guam, South Korea and China. Bria moved to Houston in the fall of 2017 to join Ad Deum II, and then was promoted to the main company in the Spring of 2019. She is a dance teacher for different studios in Houston.

Paiter Van Yperen

Guest Instructor

Paiter van Yperen of Deep River CT, initially trained at Ekklesia School of Ballet, under the direction of Elisa Schroth. It was there that Mr. van Yperen was offered his first professional contract as a company artist with Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet. He danced as a company artist until becoming assistant director during the company's 2016-2018 seasons. As assistant director he made his choreographic debut on Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet with his work "Unveiling Joy". In 2018 he began training in the professional division of the Ailey School while continuing on at Ekklesia as a principal dancer. Mr. van Yperen has performed and taught throughout the United States and internationally with Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet, Ad Deum Dance Company, Open Sky Arts Collective, Inlet Dance Theater, Freddie Moore’s Footprints, Ballet Hartford, The Ailey School, and the Alvin Ailey America Dance Theater in Alvin Ailey's work "Memoria" during their 2021 City Center season. He is deeply thankful for the years of giving from his mentors Randall Flinn, Steve Rooks, and Matthew Rushing. He has performed many works created by artists such as Elisa Schroth, Alvin Ailey, Durell Comedy, Earl Mosley, Vincent Hardy, Elizabeth McMillan, Caleb Mitchell, Freddie Moore, Hope Boykin, Leyna Doran, Randall Flinn, and Steve Rooks. Mr. van Yperen is currently in the process of completing his final year in The Ailey School's Certificate Program.

Seungyeon Yoo

Main Company Principal Dancer

Jasmine Seungyeon Yoo is originally from Seoul, South Korea. She grew up dancing at Soo Dance Company in Seoul and came to the US to pursue an education in Dance at Nutmeg Conservatory of the Arts, Walnut Hill Arts School. In 2017, she received her BFA in Contemporary Dance and Performance from The Boston Conservatory in Boston, MA. During her junior year of college, Seungyeon joined Pneuma Theatre Ballet Company in Korea for two years and performed nationally and internationally in Tanzania, Taiwan, the Philippines, and Jordan. After graduating, Seungyeon served in several different dance ministries, campus ministries, and churches in the Boston area. In 2018, she moved to Houston, TX to join Ad Deum Dance Company as a main company principal dancer since 2018.

Sherah Shipman

Main Company

Sherah Shipman is a Houston, TX native where she attended The High School for the Performing and Visual Arts. She continued on to graduate Magna Cum Laude from SUNY Purchase earning a BFA in Dance Performance and a minor in Arts Management. She has performed works by Doug Varone, Merce Cunningham, Martha Graham, José Limon, Dylan Crossman, Zoe Scofield, and more. Her dance films have been screened nationally and internationally, including the Dance on Camera film festival at Lincoln Center. She gives all the glory back to the Lord and praises Him through her gifts.

Dylan Allen

Main Company

Dylan Allen is from Houston, Texas and attended HSPVA as a dance major. He was also a Houston Met Too. Graduated Point Park University performing works by Ruben Graciani, Matt Pardo, Kiesha Lalama, James Gregg, Douglas Bentz, Adam Hougland, and Jason McDole. Professionally, he has worked with MetDANCE, American Neoclassical Ballet, and Ad Deum Dance, performing works by Kristy Nilsson, Erin Boon, Kate Skarpetowska, Joshua Manculich, Randall Flinn, Caleb Mitchell, Steve Rooks, and Jenifer Mabus.

Priscilla Murphy

Ad Deum Guest Artist

Originally from Singapore, Priscilla Nathan-Murphy received her classical ballet training in the Royal Academy of Dancing Syllabi and has also been trained in oriental dance mudras, modern dance and jazz. Ms. Nathan-Murphy has a certification from the British Royal Academy of Dance in teaching and has acquired a Teaching License Diploma from the British Association of Teachers of Dance. She has also recently completed a teachers seminar and course in the Cechetti method in London. Some of the teachers and masters of dance that she has worked with include Rose Eberwein, Eve Pettinger, Kitty Daniels, James Clouser, David Horchoy, Bill Evans, Doug Varone.Ms. Nathan-Murphy has taught creative movement, ballet and modern dance in the pre-professional and professional division of Houston Ballet’s Ben Stevenson Academy since 1985. She has also been a teaching artist with the Texas Institute for Arts in Education for several years and has held the position of adjunct faculty at the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts for 19 years. Ms. Nathan-Murphy has also conducted numerous master classes and workshops within the United States since 1980. Recently, Ms. Nathan-Murray completed the STOTT Pilates Mat Course.As a dancer, she has performed in Singapore and the United States with several companies. She has also choreographed extensively in the United States. A recipient of numerous scholarships and awards, she received a creative artist award from the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County for her choreographic work in 1992 and a Fellowship Choreographers Award in 1998. Ms. Nathan-Murphy is also a recipient of the American National Choreographers Competition Award held in Chicago and several teacher recognition awards given by the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts. Locally she has choreographed for Houston Ballet II, Houston Grand Opera, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and numerous other companies.

While on staff with the Houston Ballet Academy, Ms. Nathan-Murphy further developed and delineated the syllabi for the Creative Dance Program, as well as introduced the Pre-Ballet Syllabus. She was also instrumental in introducing Improvisational Composition, Cultural Dance and Musical Theater into the curriculum of Houston Ballet’s Summer Intensive Program.