Rachel Nace began her study of dance in 1982. She danced for 11 years in pre-professional companies and danced professionally for one year. Rachel has studied with many companies and teachers throughout Pennsylvania and Maryland. Rachel has taught dance to persons age 3 – adult since 1991 and has taught dance at Harcum College. She served as Ballet Mistress for Greater York Youth Ballet and has guest taught and choreographed at regional ballet companies. She completed master teacher John White’s Teaching Program in July of 2003. Ms. Rachel is the Director of the Dance Program at Inspiration to Movement, Inc. She teaches Intermediate and Advanced classes and the Adult Program.
In 2006 Rachel began studying ballroom dancing. In 2009 she moved to Ohio and became an award winning ballroom dancer.
In 2015 Rachel Nace decided to embark on a journey to create a Professional Contemporary Company based in Columbus, OH. Her hope is to raise the awareness and technical proficiency of local dancers and attract dancers from all around the country to perform original Oyo Dance Company works as well as works by nationally known choreographers.
Alexander Cornejo began his career as a dancer in Salvadoran Folk Dance. He has since studied modern, popular, contemporary, and ballet dancing. During his many years as a dancer, he has performed with professional ballet companies in Mexico, Nicaragua, Cuba, and Peru, among others. He served as Artistic Director at the Academy of Dance/Hot Feet Dance Studio in El Salvador. He moved to the United States in 2016 and joined Oyo Dance Company as company member in 2019.
Alex currently teaches the children’s dance program at Inspiration To Movement and is choreographing his first big work for the company – Carmina Burana – that will premiere in the 2021 – 2022 season.
Elizabeth Knecht was a freelance artist performing leading roles and choreographer for various Regional ballet companies. She was on scholarship and apprenticed with the Joffrey Ballet NYC. Her training includes private coaching with Cheri Noble of the Pennsylvania Ballet, Dame Margot Fonteyn, and Assaf Messer of the Bolshoi. She was chosen to present her choreographic work for the Northeast Regional Ballet Association. She taught as a ballet instructor/choreographer for the Philadelphia Performing Arts Charter school for 9 years and continues to freelance as an instructor and choreographer throughout the region.
Kaitlyn Culp, from Avon, Ohio, attended Mercyhurst University on scholarship, graduating with a B.A. in Dance and Accounting in 2021. She trained in various styles including ballet, modern, jazz, tap, and ballroom, and danced competitively for seven years winning various awards and scholarships, and has attended summer intensives with Ballet West and the Cleveland Ballet. Kaitlyn made her professional debut as the Autumn Fairy in North Pointe Ballet’s Cinderella, under the direction of Janet Strukley-Dziak. During her time at Mercyhurst, she performed in Giselle, staged by Tauna Hunter, as well as in twelve contemporary works, and several musical theatre pieces staged by Mark Santillano. Additionally, she performed with SoMar Dance Works, The Mercyhurst Dancers, and the Mercyhurst Liturgical Dance Ensemble, having the opportunity to perform in original choreography by Mark and Solveig Santillano, Steve Rooks, Gina Patterson, and Tess Hoekstra and others through these organizations. This is Kaitlyn’s first season with Oyo Dance Company and she is thrilled to be joining the company!
Corey Baker, originally from Brooklyn, New York, began his formal dance training during college where he studied contemporary African Dance practice (Umfundalai) under C. Kemal Nance, principal dancer with Kariamu & Company. At the same time, he practiced Ballet, Horton, and Dunham techniques alongside the Philadelphia Dancer Company (Philadanco) during their academic year Training Program. Since then, he has trained and danced with companies in Denver (Cleo Parker Robinson Dance, Davis Contemporary Dance Company) and Boston (JAE, Bosoma, Jazz Inc Dance) and worked on dance projects with choreographers in San Francisco. He’s excited to have found a dance home at Inspiration to Movement and this is his second performance with Oyo Dance Company.
Svetlana Bakalov.