| Brenda Tally 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 with Debbe Busby and continued there as 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 in their production of West Side Story. Returning to Victoria Ballet Theatre, she served as resident choreographer and dance faculty at Busby Dancenter for five years teaching jazz and modern dance. During that time she was also a special education teacher in the Victoria Independent School District where she worked with fellow educators in co-coordinating VBT's outreach program, Dance Education and Movement Initiative, as well as developing a dance class for special needs students. She has recently been on faculty as a modern dance teacher at the Joffrey Workshop TX. Brenda has twice received the Monticello Foundation Scholarship award for choreography from Regional Dance America. 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 in Iowa and Nebraska, Kayle+Co at the Minneapolis Fringe Festival and Charlotte Adams & Dancers at the Joyce SOHO in New York City where she presently resides. |
