LEADERSHIP
Brenda Serrata Tally - Executive Director
Brenda Tally is an experienced arts educator, administrator, and choreographer with a passion for engaging young artists to develop their own creative voice through the study of dance technique, craft of choreography, and dance performance. She holds an M.F.A in dance performance from the University of Iowa and a B.F.A. in modern dance from the University of Utah. She began her early training in Victoria, Texas and was a member of Victoria Ballet Theatre from 1984 to 1993. She has done summer study at the Houston Ballet Academy, Joffrey Workshop TX, and Alvin Ailey American Dancenter. In Utah, Brenda also dabbled in musical theater at Robert Redford’s Sundance Theatre. She served as faculty for the Joffrey Workshop TX for over ten years. At the University of Iowa, she was a Dean’s Graduate Fellow, danced as a member of Dancers in Company and her choreographic work “Habitual Ritual” was chosen to represent the university at the American College Dance Festival. She has performed with modern dance companies Duarte Dance Works, Kayle+Co, and Charlotte Adams & Dancers at the Joyce SOHO and Dance Theatre Workshop in New York City. Brenda is the artistic director of Victoria Ballet Theatre, an honor company with Regional Dance America. She has created over 20 original works, twice receiving the Monticello Foundation Scholarship and the Natalie Skelton awards for choreography from Regional Dance America. Brenda is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 for the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has also completed the teacher training workshop at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. In January of 2022 Ms. Tally opened the Ballet Academy of South Texas in downtown Victoria. The school aspires to be a place where an inspiring and highly qualified faculty can share their knowledge and love for the art of dance in a positive and nurturing environment.
Brenda Tally is an experienced arts educator, administrator, and choreographer with a passion for engaging young artists to develop their own creative voice through the study of dance technique, craft of choreography, and dance performance. She holds an M.F.A in dance performance from the University of Iowa and a B.F.A. in modern dance from the University of Utah. She began her early training in Victoria, Texas and was a member of Victoria Ballet Theatre from 1984 to 1993. She has done summer study at the Houston Ballet Academy, Joffrey Workshop TX, and Alvin Ailey American Dancenter. In Utah, Brenda also dabbled in musical theater at Robert Redford’s Sundance Theatre. She served as faculty for the Joffrey Workshop TX for over ten years. At the University of Iowa, she was a Dean’s Graduate Fellow, danced as a member of Dancers in Company and her choreographic work “Habitual Ritual” was chosen to represent the university at the American College Dance Festival. She has performed with modern dance companies Duarte Dance Works, Kayle+Co, and Charlotte Adams & Dancers at the Joyce SOHO and Dance Theatre Workshop in New York City. Brenda is the artistic director of Victoria Ballet Theatre, an honor company with Regional Dance America. She has created over 20 original works, twice receiving the Monticello Foundation Scholarship and the Natalie Skelton awards for choreography from Regional Dance America. Brenda is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 for the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has also completed the teacher training workshop at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. In January of 2022 Ms. Tally opened the Ballet Academy of South Texas in downtown Victoria. The school aspires to be a place where an inspiring and highly qualified faculty can share their knowledge and love for the art of dance in a positive and nurturing environment.
STAFF
Kelli Klein - Assistant Director & Company Manager
Kelli began her ballet training in Michigan under Evelyn Kreason and was a member of Michigan Ballet Theatre. Upon moving to Dallas, she furthered her dance training with Kathy Chamberlain and was a founding member of Chamberlain Ballet. She studied several summers in New York City under Melissa Hayden and was accepted in the School of American Ballet (SAB) and American Ballet Theatre. Kelli holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Oklahoma where she was on scholarship. In 1986-1988 she danced professionally with Dallas Ballet under the direction of Flemming Flint and Bryan Pitts.
Kelli has been teaching dance for over 25 years and is an experienced instructor in early childhood dance as well as beginning, intermediate and advanced ballet and pointe. She is currently and has been Victoria Ballet Theatre’s Assistant Artistic Director for 25 years and has additionally taken on the role of Company Manager within the last 5 years. Kelli has also choreographed several pieces for Victoria Ballet Theatre’s Fall productions.
Kelli is the mother of two daughters and a son; Laura, Madeline and Matthew and the proud grandmother to Delaney Joy Brown and Peter Holland Brown.
Kelli began her ballet training in Michigan under Evelyn Kreason and was a member of Michigan Ballet Theatre. Upon moving to Dallas, she furthered her dance training with Kathy Chamberlain and was a founding member of Chamberlain Ballet. She studied several summers in New York City under Melissa Hayden and was accepted in the School of American Ballet (SAB) and American Ballet Theatre. Kelli holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Oklahoma where she was on scholarship. In 1986-1988 she danced professionally with Dallas Ballet under the direction of Flemming Flint and Bryan Pitts.
Kelli has been teaching dance for over 25 years and is an experienced instructor in early childhood dance as well as beginning, intermediate and advanced ballet and pointe. She is currently and has been Victoria Ballet Theatre’s Assistant Artistic Director for 25 years and has additionally taken on the role of Company Manager within the last 5 years. Kelli has also choreographed several pieces for Victoria Ballet Theatre’s Fall productions.
Kelli is the mother of two daughters and a son; Laura, Madeline and Matthew and the proud grandmother to Delaney Joy Brown and Peter Holland Brown.
|
Angelica Piña - Social Media Director
Angelica Piña (Victoria, TX) graduated from Texas Christian University with her B.F.A in Modern Dance from the TCU School for Classical and Contemporary Dance and a Pilates Teacher Certificate in May 2021. She began her training at Busby Dancenter under the instruction of Debbe Busby, Kelli Klein, and Brenda Tally performing in various styles including ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, modern, contemporary, and improvisation. Angelica is an alumni of the Victoria Ballet Theatre where she spent 10 seasons performing in a variety of works by LeeWei Chao, Joshua Peugh, Dominic Walsh, Willy Shives, and others as well as classical ballets including Cinderella, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Red Shoes, and the Nutcracker. Throughout her dance career she has trained with The Joffrey Ballet Las Vegas, Cirque, and Dallas Intensives with full scholarships, Texas Dance Improvisational Festival, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and BalletMet. As a Dance Scholar recipient at TCU, highlights in the SCCD include performances in works by resident faculty Susan Douglas Roberts and Suki John, and guest artists Bryn Cohn, Francisco Aviña, Elijah Gibson, Adam Barruch, and Kurt Douglas. Angelica currently works with Citizens HealthPlex as a Pilates Trainer and Group Fitness Instructor. She is excited to join the Ballet Academy of South Texas faculty in her pursuit to inspire individuals to find their love of dance and performance. |
Phoebe Schneider - Administrative Assistant
Phoebe Schneider is Victoria Ballet Theatre’s Administrative Assistant. After joining VBT at the age of 12 she participated in many shows, including “Fall for Dance,” “The Nutcracker,” and “Spring Gala” over the years. She has also attended four Regional Dance America (RDA) Southwest Festivals and one RDA National Festival. In 2018, Phoebe graduated as a homeschool student and is now attending University of Houston - Victoria, in order to get her Teacher’s Certificate in Physical Education.
Phoebe Schneider is Victoria Ballet Theatre’s Administrative Assistant. After joining VBT at the age of 12 she participated in many shows, including “Fall for Dance,” “The Nutcracker,” and “Spring Gala” over the years. She has also attended four Regional Dance America (RDA) Southwest Festivals and one RDA National Festival. In 2018, Phoebe graduated as a homeschool student and is now attending University of Houston - Victoria, in order to get her Teacher’s Certificate in Physical Education.
Kennedy Velasquez - DEMI Coordinator
Kennedy Velasquez joined Victoria Ballet Theatre at the age of 9 were she has participated in productions of “Fall for Dance,” “The Nutcracker,” and “Spring Gala,”. Now, at the age of 21 she works with the company as an emerging choreographer and VBT's “Social Media Director”. She has attended four Regional Dance America (RDA) Southwest Festivals and two (RDA) national festivals in Montreal, Canada and Phoenix, Arizona. Kennedy has choreographed three pieces for VBT tilted “The Light Within,” which was performed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, “Compelling Urgency,” “Swarming Compulsions,” which was performed in Dallas, Texas and a recent piece “Clarity.” Kennedy also received a full scholarship to attend National Choreography Intensive (NCI) in Tallahassee, Florida in 2017 and in Huntsville, Texas at Sam Houston State University in 2019 where she was able to learn and work with world renowned dance teachers and choreographers. Kennedy graduated top 15 percent from Victoria East High School in 2017, and she is currently attending Victoria College to pursue a degree in graphic and web design.
Kennedy Velasquez joined Victoria Ballet Theatre at the age of 9 were she has participated in productions of “Fall for Dance,” “The Nutcracker,” and “Spring Gala,”. Now, at the age of 21 she works with the company as an emerging choreographer and VBT's “Social Media Director”. She has attended four Regional Dance America (RDA) Southwest Festivals and two (RDA) national festivals in Montreal, Canada and Phoenix, Arizona. Kennedy has choreographed three pieces for VBT tilted “The Light Within,” which was performed in Baton Rouge, Louisiana, “Compelling Urgency,” “Swarming Compulsions,” which was performed in Dallas, Texas and a recent piece “Clarity.” Kennedy also received a full scholarship to attend National Choreography Intensive (NCI) in Tallahassee, Florida in 2017 and in Huntsville, Texas at Sam Houston State University in 2019 where she was able to learn and work with world renowned dance teachers and choreographers. Kennedy graduated top 15 percent from Victoria East High School in 2017, and she is currently attending Victoria College to pursue a degree in graphic and web design.
FOUNDERS
Debbe Busby
Founding Artistic Director A native Victorian, Ms. Busby began her early training with Lillian Cain Cox. After graduation from Victoria High School with highest honors, she attended the University of Oklahoma as a dance major studying with Miguel Terekhov, Yvonne Choutou and Helen Gregory. At OU, she was a member of the Orchesis dance Group and was a soloist with the Mary Kay Price Dance Company. In 1973, she graduated magna cum laude from the University of Houston with a B.A. Degree. While in Houston, she performed as a soloist in numerous dance department productions. From 1970 to 1974, she danced as a member of Discovery Dance Group under the direction of Camille Long Hill. Mrs. Busby also attended Texas Women’s University as a graduate student in dance and related arts. From 1974 to 1979, she taught modern dance at Victoria College and then opened her dance studio in the fall of 1979. Ms. Busby has choreographed numerous musical for high schools, college and civic groups including “Fiddler on the Roof”, “Music Man”, and “The King and I”. Her civic involvements have included membership in Sandaphon Study Club, The Junior League of Victoria, and the Victoria Summer Musical Repertory Company. She was selected as one of the Outstanding Young Women of America in 1983. Other positions include dance panel member of the Texas Commission of the Arts, advisory board of Hopkins Fine Arts Magnet School and parliamentarian and membership Chairman of Regional Dance America/SW. Ms. Busby is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Primary though Level 5 for the ABT National Training Curriculum. In 1984, Ms. Busby co-founded and served as Artistic Director of Victoria Ballet Theatre. Under her leadership, the company grew in size and artistry bringing both classics and original ballets to our community in addition to providing various outreach opportunities. Ms. Busby is married to husband Jim, and they are parents to three grown children, Heather, Jared and Shannon. |
Jim Busby
Founding Technical Director Since 1984, Jim has been a constant presence behind the scenes at every Victoria Ballet Theatre production. His duties have included executing lighting plots, set design, logistics and stage crew coordination. As a charter member of the Board of Trustees for VBT, he has served in many capacities including Board Chairman and treasurer. His dedication and commitment to the growth and stability of the company has been instrumental in the ongoing quality of productions presented. |
