Junction City’s premier dance & performing arts education.

premier dance & performing arts education

Recovering the truth, beauty and goodness of the performing arts

Auditioning for Company?

Company Auditions

Activated Arts

622 N Washington St, Junction City, KS 66441

August 10th, 2024 10am-2pm

READ THIS FOR more INFORMATION BEFORE AUDITIONING

(Link will open the company handbook)

The staff

Brianna Downey

Studio Owner

Brianna Downey has been performing professionally since 2012. She was a principal dancer for modern acrobat/dance company, Galumpha from 2015-2018. Galumpha is a triumphant mix of art and entertainment, offering world-class, award winning choreography (Edinburgh Festival Critics' Choice Award, Moers International Comedy Arts Prize). Brianna also spent 5 football seasons (2012 - 2016) working as a professional cheerleader for the Gotham City Cheerleaders, the only pro-cheer team to support the NY Giants. She has performed and taught dance internationally in Mumbai, India - where she performed daily on a live television show for 2.5 months; Tokyo, Japan - where she lead an NFL Pro-Cheer Workshop in conjunction with World Sports Communications; and Bolzano, Italy - where she performed with Galumpha in the European Cabaret Competition 'Niederstätter surPrize 2016'. Brianna has appeared as an extra in numerous television shows including Saturday Night Live, Last Week Tonight w/ John Oliver, The Steve Harvey Show, and more. She thanks Ann Szymaniak & the staff at The Dance Connection in Binghamton, NY for her training.

Genna Stott Simmons

Genna Stott Simmons is from Raleigh, NC. She grew up training and performing many genres of dance and theater including: ballet, jazz, contemporary, modern, tap, musical theater, and flight line. She holds a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography, and a BA in Communications from the University of North Carolina at Greensboro. Genna experienced extended training with American Dance Festival, Project Dance NYC, and other workshops. Genna is certified in BJ Sullivan’s Safety Release Technique.

Genna has danced professionally with Caitlyn Schrader’s “Liminality Project” and the Greensboro “DanSeries Collective” for two years in North Carolina. She has also performed duet improv works with Savannah Jenkins.

Genna has been teaching dance for over 5 years in North Carolina. She also served as a teaching assistant counselor in the dance department at the North Carolina Governor's School West summer program for two years. Genna is also a choreographer and continues to make collaborative work as she moves across the country, with previous works being shown in the Greensboro Dance Film Fest and other international festivals in Europe.

JULIE L. PENTZ

Julie L Pentz’ contributions to the dance field have traveled in the international dance community and her credits include guest teaching and performance appearances at the Theatro Libero in Rome, Italy, Taiwan, Chinese Cultural University, National Taiwan University of the Arts, Tsoying Performing Arts, Koahsiung Performing Arts, the Interdansa in Banyoles-Girona, Spain and the National Theatre of Ghana, the Dagra Music Center in Ghana Africa and several locations in Kuwait City, Kuwait. Julie has been teaching at Kansas State University for 18 years. Julie is a full professor of dance in the School of Music, Theatre, and Dance, teaching jazz and tap dance, the K-State Tap Dance Ensemble, dance appreciation, teaching methods, and for the K-State First program. She is active in the National Dance Educators Organization serving on the advisory board directing students from 2017 – 2020 and now serves on the Executive Committee as the organizations Recording Secretary. In 2019 Julie accepted a position as a Global Goodwill Ambassador and Human Peace Ambassador, representing the United States of America. Julie serves as a national judge for dance competitions and is a trained HealthRhythms facilitator. Prior to Julie’s return to graduate study she performed with The National Tap Ensemble out of Washington, DC and worked with master tap teachers that include Gregory Hines, Savion Glover, and Brenda Buffalino.

Full bio and more information on Julie’s non-profit work available at:

www.taptotogetherness.org

Megan Woods

Megan Woods is a Junction City native and certified speech pathologist. She began dancing at the age of 12 and instantly fell in love with it. She is a former J-Stepper for Junction City High School and danced as well as cheer at the collegiate level for Southern Baptist University. Megan is a strong advocate for special needs inclusion. Combining her professional career as a speech language pathologist and passion for dance, Megan launched Adaptive Arts, dance classes for individuals with varying degrees of special needs.

Tyler Downey

Tyler Downey was a football and rugby athlete turned theater performer in college. He finished his studies and holds a dual B.A. from Binghamton University in both Theatre Arts (Acting/Directing) and English (Creative Writing). It was in his early studies that he grew to love the connnection between breath, imagination and body as it pertains to performance. He has studied Linklater technique, Meisner technique and has performed around NY. in NYC and locally here in Junction City, KS.

Notable roles include Tartuffe in Tartuffe, Trigorin in Stupid F#&$ing Bird, Zach in A Chorus Line and Bernard in Arcadia.

He is an Army veteran who spent the last 5 years getting on stage whenever time allows as well as cultivating a film presence in Junction City. Most recently he produced the Junction City Film 48, a 48 hour film competition in the area. He is passionate about classic plays to include the works of Shakespeare and the biblical connections to the work and will be teaching acting, voice and body at Activated Arts for performance both on-stage and in front of the camera.

aaliyah nance

Aaliyah has been dancing for 14 years and competing for 8. She has a strong background in ballet, jazz, contemporary/lyrical, musical theater, and hip hop. She has competed in at least 6 different states and has always placed in the Top 10. Aaliyah is also a 3-time Title Winner! She would like to thank Suzie McGraw School of Dance and Amy's School of Dace for her previous training. Aaliyah is eager to share her passion for the art of dace at Activated, as well as begin her teaching journey. She is currently majoring in business and minoring in dance at K-State to obtain her business degree and hopes to open up her own dance studio.

What to Expect at Activated Arts