Danscompany of Gainesville
In Good Company
Talented dancers in The Danscompany are supported by gifted choreographers and dedicated directors and board members
Choreographers
Nina Kessler Cameron: Artistic Director and Choreographer
Nina has taught dance in Gainesville for 40 years. She opened her studio, “The Dancenter,” in September 1983 and led the formation of “The Danscompany” in November of that year. She has been an Area Director and a faculty member of Dance Masters of America, Florida Chapter, and of the State Dance Association, and has been a teaching assistant at Walt Disney World. She has served as Director of the Florida competition of Mr. and Miss Dance, as second and first Vice President of Florida Dance Masters and, in 1989 and again in 1992-1993, as an Area Director of the American Jazz Dance Council. Nina is currently Past-President and Convention Manager of Florida Dance Masters. She has participated in every session of American Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago since 1990 and in Florida Dance Masters’ Intensive Teachers’ Training Seminars in 1992 and 1993. Recently, she has studied dance in New York City and in the summer of 1997, she attended The Vaganova Ballet Technique Workshop in Hilton Head, S.C. She received the Alachua/Bradford County Woman of Distinction award in November 2006 for her contribution to arts in the community. Nina was awarded The Lifetime Achievement Award by the Gainesville/Alachua County Cultural Affairs. The mayor of Gainesville proclaimed January 23, 2007, as Nina Cameron Day. In addition the Chair of the County Commissioners of Alachua County declared January 24, 2007, as Nina Cameron Day.
Nina has taught dance in Gainesville for 40 years. She opened her studio, “The Dancenter,” in September 1983 and led the formation of “The Danscompany” in November of that year. She has been an Area Director and a faculty member of Dance Masters of America, Florida Chapter, and of the State Dance Association, and has been a teaching assistant at Walt Disney World. She has served as Director of the Florida competition of Mr. and Miss Dance, as second and first Vice President of Florida Dance Masters and, in 1989 and again in 1992-1993, as an Area Director of the American Jazz Dance Council. Nina is currently Past-President and Convention Manager of Florida Dance Masters. She has participated in every session of American Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago since 1990 and in Florida Dance Masters’ Intensive Teachers’ Training Seminars in 1992 and 1993. Recently, she has studied dance in New York City and in the summer of 1997, she attended The Vaganova Ballet Technique Workshop in Hilton Head, S.C. She received the Alachua/Bradford County Woman of Distinction award in November 2006 for her contribution to arts in the community. Nina was awarded The Lifetime Achievement Award by the Gainesville/Alachua County Cultural Affairs. The mayor of Gainesville proclaimed January 23, 2007, as Nina Cameron Day. In addition the Chair of the County Commissioners of Alachua County declared January 24, 2007, as Nina Cameron Day.
Mary Ellsworth Smith (In Memoriam): Artistic Consultant and Choreographer
Mary Smith taught dance in Gainesville for over 25 years and made many presentations about dance throughout her career. She choreographed ballets, operas, operettas, and musicals for high schools, universities and non-scholastic organizations affiliated with dance. Her works included an original production of “Cinderella” for the University of Florida and the Florida Legend Ballet, “Indian Moss,” that was performed at the Florida State Museum. She was a member of Dance Masters of America, Florida chapter. The Danscompany was privileged and fortunate to have her serve as Artistic Consultant and Choreographer for nine years.
Peggy Nolan Lamb: Dance Captain and Choreographer
Peggy returned to Gainesville in 1984 after spending ten years in New York studying dance with various teachers and schools, including Maggie Black, Dennis Wayne’s Dancer’s School, Morelli Ballet, Luigi’s Jazz Center, and Steps. She also has studied dance at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and performed with “The Sherry Jones Dancers” there. She has completed two years of Florida Dance Masters’ Intensive Teachers’ Training Seminars. Peggy currently is a faculty member at The Cameron Dancenter, and has taught dance for high school students at P.K. Yonge Laboratory School. She is a member of, and has served as Area Director and Judges Committee Chairperson for Florida Dance Masters. She participated in the first American Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago in 1990 and continues her study of dance with various teachers by attending area workshops and classes in New York.
Sarah Marie Farber-Hamilton: Choreographer
Sarah Marie graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Elementary Education, and is a first grade teacher. She is currently studying dance at the Frank Rey Studio. Marie is also a Choreographer for The Danscompany. She studied Ballet, Tap, and Jazz under Nina Kessler Cameron for 18 years. She also taught at the Dancenter for six years before moving to Tampa. She has received instruction from renowned dancers including Lea Darwin, Luigi, Gus Giordano, Matt Mattox, Tremaine, and Neshia Pfolkes of the Alvin Ailey Dancers. She participated in the first American Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago in 1990.
Linda Thomas: Choreographer, Artistic Director Chrysalis
Linda started dancing at the age of 6 in Manchester, New Hampshire. She studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Acrobatics under the instruction of Joel Conrad at Allegro Academy of Dance. She has studied at Charlene’s School of Dance in Spring Hill, Florida, where she was an Assistant Teacher for 3 years. Linda became a certified member of Dance Masters of America in Ballet, Tap, and Acrobatics in 1983. Linda is a member of and a contributing Choreographer for the Danscompany of Gainesville. She has been a member of the faculty at the Dancenter since 1990.
Erin Murphy: Choreographer, Rehearsal Coach, Acting Director
Erin has studied at the Dancenter for more than 20 years. She has trained in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. Erin completed the Dancenter Teachers Assistant program and has served as a faculty member for 9 years. She is a contributing Choreographer and a Senior Performing Member of the Danscompany and has performed many principle roles, including The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella and Dorothy in The Wiz.
Melissa Lemond: Artistic Director, Dancenter Dancers
Melissa has danced since age 6 and holds a B.F.A. in Theater and Dance from the University of Florida. After graduation, she taught dance in Jacksonville for two years and her choreography won awards at various competitions. She has served as an adjunct teacher for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Florida and is currently an instructor for the Santa Fe Community College Community Education Department. Melissa has attended classes with Mia Michaels, Joey Dowling, Joe Lanteri, and Bill Hasting as well as with instructors from Alvin Ailey, Pilobolus, and Paul Taylor. Melissa is a performing member of The Danscompany, serves as the Artistic Director of the Dancenter Dancers, and as a rehearsal coach. Melissa has been a faculty member at the Dancenter for twelve years.
Jamie Hamilton: Choreographer
Jamie was a student at The Dancenter for over 20 years. She was a teacher for 5 years. Jamie has studied with numerous master teachers through Florida Dance Masters and The Charleston Ballet. Jamie was a performing member of the Danscompany and has performed many principal roles. She performed the role of Fairy Godmother and Cinderellain our annual production of Cinderella and Dorothyin The Wiz. Jamie was on scholarship and a member of the performing ensemble at Steps in New York City.
Meredith Holloway Farnum: Rehearsal Coach
Meredith has danced for 32 years and holds a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Florida with training in Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Musical Theater. She is now on faculty at the School of Theatre and Dance at UF. She served as president of Floridance in 1992/93 and has toured, choreographed and performed in various places including Holland. Meredith has trained under and attended many workshops from Master Instructors including Alvin Ailey, David Parsons, Pilobolus, Wash Ashore Dance Ensemble, and Atlanta Ballet. She has studied at the Cameron Dancenter for 13 years and is a performing member of the Danscompany of Gainesville.
Jeri-Lynn Minsavage: Choreographer
Jeri-Lynn graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in psychology. She trained at Cameron Dancenter in various dance genres such as ballet, jazz, tap, modern and hiphop. She has attended Pensacola Jr. College Summer Workshop, Tremaine Dance Conventions, Monsters of Hiphop, and dance classes at the University of Florida. She was a choreographer and performer for Buchholz High School’s Repertory Theatre and has been teaching and choreographing for over 6 years for Cameron Dancenter and the Danscompany of Gainesville. She has also taught at the College for Kids program at Santa Fe. She recently moved back from NYC where she taught ballet, tap, lyrical jazz and hiphop at Martha Meredith School of Dance and Theatre in Syosset and performed in the Long Island Dance Consortium’s Spring Festival. While in New York she attended classes at Steps, Broadway Dance Center, Dance New Amsterdam and Peridance. This is her 12th year as a member of the Danscompany of Gainesville. She has performed lead roles including Cinderella, Fairy Godmother and Autumn Fairy in the ballet Cinderella, as well as performances in Spring Concert, The Wiz, Cats, and Thriller. She is delighted to be part of the wonderful dance family at Cameron’s!
Mary Smith taught dance in Gainesville for over 25 years and made many presentations about dance throughout her career. She choreographed ballets, operas, operettas, and musicals for high schools, universities and non-scholastic organizations affiliated with dance. Her works included an original production of “Cinderella” for the University of Florida and the Florida Legend Ballet, “Indian Moss,” that was performed at the Florida State Museum. She was a member of Dance Masters of America, Florida chapter. The Danscompany was privileged and fortunate to have her serve as Artistic Consultant and Choreographer for nine years.
Peggy Nolan Lamb: Dance Captain and Choreographer
Peggy returned to Gainesville in 1984 after spending ten years in New York studying dance with various teachers and schools, including Maggie Black, Dennis Wayne’s Dancer’s School, Morelli Ballet, Luigi’s Jazz Center, and Steps. She also has studied dance at Converse College in Spartanburg, South Carolina, and performed with “The Sherry Jones Dancers” there. She has completed two years of Florida Dance Masters’ Intensive Teachers’ Training Seminars. Peggy currently is a faculty member at The Cameron Dancenter, and has taught dance for high school students at P.K. Yonge Laboratory School. She is a member of, and has served as Area Director and Judges Committee Chairperson for Florida Dance Masters. She participated in the first American Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago in 1990 and continues her study of dance with various teachers by attending area workshops and classes in New York.
Sarah Marie Farber-Hamilton: Choreographer
Sarah Marie graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in Elementary Education, and is a first grade teacher. She is currently studying dance at the Frank Rey Studio. Marie is also a Choreographer for The Danscompany. She studied Ballet, Tap, and Jazz under Nina Kessler Cameron for 18 years. She also taught at the Dancenter for six years before moving to Tampa. She has received instruction from renowned dancers including Lea Darwin, Luigi, Gus Giordano, Matt Mattox, Tremaine, and Neshia Pfolkes of the Alvin Ailey Dancers. She participated in the first American Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago in 1990.
Linda Thomas: Choreographer, Artistic Director Chrysalis
Linda started dancing at the age of 6 in Manchester, New Hampshire. She studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz and Acrobatics under the instruction of Joel Conrad at Allegro Academy of Dance. She has studied at Charlene’s School of Dance in Spring Hill, Florida, where she was an Assistant Teacher for 3 years. Linda became a certified member of Dance Masters of America in Ballet, Tap, and Acrobatics in 1983. Linda is a member of and a contributing Choreographer for the Danscompany of Gainesville. She has been a member of the faculty at the Dancenter since 1990.
Erin Murphy: Choreographer, Rehearsal Coach, Acting Director
Erin has studied at the Dancenter for more than 20 years. She has trained in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap. Erin completed the Dancenter Teachers Assistant program and has served as a faculty member for 9 years. She is a contributing Choreographer and a Senior Performing Member of the Danscompany and has performed many principle roles, including The Fairy Godmother in Cinderella and Dorothy in The Wiz.
Melissa Lemond: Artistic Director, Dancenter Dancers
Melissa has danced since age 6 and holds a B.F.A. in Theater and Dance from the University of Florida. After graduation, she taught dance in Jacksonville for two years and her choreography won awards at various competitions. She has served as an adjunct teacher for the Department of Theatre and Dance at the University of Florida and is currently an instructor for the Santa Fe Community College Community Education Department. Melissa has attended classes with Mia Michaels, Joey Dowling, Joe Lanteri, and Bill Hasting as well as with instructors from Alvin Ailey, Pilobolus, and Paul Taylor. Melissa is a performing member of The Danscompany, serves as the Artistic Director of the Dancenter Dancers, and as a rehearsal coach. Melissa has been a faculty member at the Dancenter for twelve years.
Jamie Hamilton: Choreographer
Jamie was a student at The Dancenter for over 20 years. She was a teacher for 5 years. Jamie has studied with numerous master teachers through Florida Dance Masters and The Charleston Ballet. Jamie was a performing member of the Danscompany and has performed many principal roles. She performed the role of Fairy Godmother and Cinderellain our annual production of Cinderella and Dorothyin The Wiz. Jamie was on scholarship and a member of the performing ensemble at Steps in New York City.
Meredith Holloway Farnum: Rehearsal Coach
Meredith has danced for 32 years and holds a B.F.A. in Dance from the University of Florida with training in Ballet, Modern, Jazz and Musical Theater. She is now on faculty at the School of Theatre and Dance at UF. She served as president of Floridance in 1992/93 and has toured, choreographed and performed in various places including Holland. Meredith has trained under and attended many workshops from Master Instructors including Alvin Ailey, David Parsons, Pilobolus, Wash Ashore Dance Ensemble, and Atlanta Ballet. She has studied at the Cameron Dancenter for 13 years and is a performing member of the Danscompany of Gainesville.
Jeri-Lynn Minsavage: Choreographer
Jeri-Lynn graduated from the University of Florida with a degree in psychology. She trained at Cameron Dancenter in various dance genres such as ballet, jazz, tap, modern and hiphop. She has attended Pensacola Jr. College Summer Workshop, Tremaine Dance Conventions, Monsters of Hiphop, and dance classes at the University of Florida. She was a choreographer and performer for Buchholz High School’s Repertory Theatre and has been teaching and choreographing for over 6 years for Cameron Dancenter and the Danscompany of Gainesville. She has also taught at the College for Kids program at Santa Fe. She recently moved back from NYC where she taught ballet, tap, lyrical jazz and hiphop at Martha Meredith School of Dance and Theatre in Syosset and performed in the Long Island Dance Consortium’s Spring Festival. While in New York she attended classes at Steps, Broadway Dance Center, Dance New Amsterdam and Peridance. This is her 12th year as a member of the Danscompany of Gainesville. She has performed lead roles including Cinderella, Fairy Godmother and Autumn Fairy in the ballet Cinderella, as well as performances in Spring Concert, The Wiz, Cats, and Thriller. She is delighted to be part of the wonderful dance family at Cameron’s!
Directors and Board Members
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President
Jennifer Maris President Elect Kelley Kostamo Secretary Debbie Clark Treasurer Tina Vairo Dance Captain Peggy Nolan Lamb Parliamentarian Carl Fisher Founding President Becky Farber Immediate Past President Garrett Bell Artistic Director Nina Cameron |
Charter/Lifetime Members
Janice Bird, Becky Farber, Jim Farber, Barbara Ferris, Beth Fisher, Melissa Gerhardt, Gail Hamilton, Carletta Herring, Mark Hinnebusch, Chris Macey, Lynn Rousseau, Penny Saier, Linda Thomas Board Kimberly Balch, Jordan Benton, Dick Cameron, Michele Clay, Margarite Diaz, Nancy Evans, Gail Hamilton, Yvette Hewitt, Liz Hutchings, Jane Johnson, Donna Jones, Anne Laffey, Ginny Linder, Tamara Martin, Christie Matkozich, Sue Muggeo, Anna Pardo, Jeanne Repetto, Barbara Ross, Angie Smith, Jacquie Smith, Tina Smith-Bonahue, Maria Velazquez, Lorraine Yomano |