Ballet Academy of South Texas hosts inspiring Summer Intensive

Published 5:15 am Wednesday, August 6, 2025

While some are enjoying the last dog days of summer, students at the Ballet Academy of South Texas are in the midst of their annual two-week Summer Intensive, refining the skills of up-and-coming dancers. Nine renowned guest artists are bringing the world to Victoria, lending their expertise to Victoria’s rising stars.

Coming from various corners all over the country, the guest artists will be teaching intermediate to advanced ballet students ballet, pointe, variations, contemporary, musical theatre, partnering, conditioning, dance history and much more. Training daily in the thick of summer from 9 a.m. to 3:30 p.m., dancers are hard at work, constantly striving to be the best versions of themselves.

This year, five of the nine guests artists are returning to their roots and gracing the familiar halls of the dance studios and stages where they grew up. They bring the world to their hometown, carrying years of knowledge and experiences in various forms of dance. For the ballet academy, these five artists’ triumphant return to Victoria is a celebration of the town’s legacy of support for the arts and the lasting impact a strong local dance education can bring.

“At Ballet Academy of South Texas, we believe in the power of dance to spark joy, ignite creativity, and build character. We are passionate about sharing this beautiful art form and dedicated to nurturing our students not only as dancers, but as people,” Brenda Tally, director of the Ballet Academy of South Texas, said. “Our work is rooted in artistry, personal growth, and a deep respect for excellence and integrity. It’s a joy to watch our dancers flourish on and off the stage.”

2025 Summer Intensive Guest Faculty
• Katelyn Perez – Victoria native, former VBT dancer, recent MFA graduate from the University of
Iowa; currently based in Dallas
• Sean Kelly – New York-based master teacher and Broadway director/choreographer; former principal dancer
and ballet master with Houston Ballet
• Nao Kusuzaki – Houston-based choreographer and teacher; former principal dancer with Houston
Ballet
• Ian Casady – Former principal dancer and current ballet master of Houston Ballet
• Emily Lofton – Former VBT dancer, BFA from Oklahoma University; current faculty member with
Ballet Austin and freelance dance artist
• Domingo Estrada, Jr. – Victoria native, former Our Lady of Sorrows Ballet Folklorico dancer; former
member of Mark Morris Dance Group; currently based in Ft. Worth and performing with Bruce Wood
Dance
• Mauro Villanueva – Co-director of the Joffrey Workshop; former dancer with Chicago-based Joffrey
Ballet
• Michael Landez – Former dancer with American Repertory Ballet; PhD candidate at Northwestern
University in performance studies; long-time guest artist with Victoria Ballet Theatre
• Dr. Golden Wright – Dean of the College of Fine Arts and Communication at Lamar University;
former VBT dancer

Rounding  out these nine guest artists is the academy’s own professional instructors who lend  their skill and passion to help create an engaging experience for each student.

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Madison O’Hara is a news reporter for the Victoria Advocate. You can reach her at madison.ohara@vicad.com.