Megan Bannatyne is a Florida native who has been dancing for over 20 years. She grew up in a suburb of Orlando dancing recreationally and began to delve deeper into her future in dance when she started her collegiate career at Valencia College in Orlando, Florida. Megan graduated with her A.A. in Dance Performance Degree Pathway Major in May of 2022, which led her to transfer to Jacksonville University to receive her Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance. Throughout her time in college, Megan has worked with esteemed choreographers such as Jon Lehrer, Daniel Lewis, Yoshito Sakuraba, Alberto del Saz and John Parks. In addition, she had the opportunity to dance in “A Choreographic Offering” by José Limón/José Limón Dance Company. In the summer of 2023, Megan spent three weeks in New York City where she attended the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive. There, she studied under modern dance legends of the company such as Renee Robinson and Lakey Evans-Peña. In April of 2024, she graduated Summa Cum Laude from JU. Megan is thrilled to join Jacksonville Dance Theatre as an apprentice for the 2024/25 season and dance for a company and city that she loves.

Ashley Brandt, a Jacksonville native, began ballet training at 14 and studied at The Florida Ballet Conservatory. She earned her ABT training certification and later trained and performed as a soloist with New York Dance Project. After returning home during the pandemic, she worked with Suzanne Saltmarsh, refining her teaching and touring in original works. In 2023, she trained in circus arts and coached fitness in St. Louis. Now back in Jacksonville, Ashley dances with Jacksonville Dance Theatre and teaches at local studios.

Josie Camp was born in the United Kingdom and at a young age moved to North Carolina where her love for dancing began. Later relocating to Nevada, she continued her training by graduating from Las Vegas Academy of the Arts as a dance major in 2016, while studying at summer programs through the Joffrey Ballet School and Peter Chu’s ChuThis. Josie later attained a B.F.A in Dance Performance and Choreography from the University of Nevada-Las Vegas in the fall of 2020, receiving an ‘Outstanding Choreographer’ award from the department. While in school, she performed as an apprentice with Contemporary West Dance Theatre under the direction of Bernard H Gaddis, dancing renowned works such as ‘Night Creatures’ by Alvin Ailey and Ulysses Dove’s ‘Vespers’. Internationally, she has danced with Red Desert Dance Company under Cathy Allen, performing set works throughout Greece. Josie is certified in Pilates and teaches dance at studios throughout Jacksonville. She is grateful to be a company member of Jacksonville Dance Theatre and gives all of her love to the company.

Breauna Moore was born and raised in Jacksonville, Florida and has been dancing for over 20 years. Breauna attended Florida State College at Jacksonville where she received her Associate of Arts degree and was a part of their danceWORKS performance company. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of South Florida with a concentration in Modern Dance where she trained with Andee Scott, Bliss Kohlmeyer, Andrew Carrol, John Parks and others. She has trained with Bates Dance Festival in Lewiston, Maine, and USF’s Semester Abroad program in Paris, France where she studied with Michael Foley and Wanjiru Kamuyu. During her time with Jacksonville Dance Theatre, Breauna has performed in works choreographed by Rebecca Levy, Kristen Sullivan, Hillary Libman, Breanna King, Eboné Amos, and Bliss Kohlmyer. She was a featured dancer in the short film, Belle Isle, directed by Farrell Huntley. Breauna is excited to continue to grow as an artist and performer during the company’s 12 th season.

Jessica Plonka is a native of Jacksonville, FL where she grew up dancing competitively for many years. She is a 2020 graduate from James Madison University receiving both a BA in Dance and a BS in Kinesiology. During her time in school she was a student member of the Virginia Repertory Dance Company, performing works by Kyle Abraham, DanceWorks Chicago, Rubén Graciani, Matt Pardo, and Scott Putman. After school, Jessica returned home joining Emily Cargill and Dancers as a company member for one season. She then went on to join Jacksonville Dance Theatre (JDT) as a company member in 2021, performing in works by Bliss Kohlmyer, Roberto Forleo, Eboné Amos, James Morrow and company artistic director Rebecca Levy. As well as performing for JDT, Jessica also currently works as an instructor and choreographer in and around Jacksonville, FL. She serves on faculty for both LaVilla School of the Arts and local dance studio, Debbie’s Dance Company, specializing in Modern, Contemporary, Ballet, and Jazz technique. Jessica hopes to continue furthering her love of the arts in her community by helping her students grow and express themselves fully in dance.

A Florida native, Emily is a Jacksonville University graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts and a minor in Kinesiology. Her early dance training focused on the ballet aesthetic, but has expanded through her training in university where she was exposed to Modern dance (Limon, Gaga, Muller techniques), commercial styles (Street Jazz, Vogue, dance on film), and collaborated with MFA candidates on their choreographic thesis projects. Her college experience allowed her to work directly with teaching artists who instilled a deep awareness of what dance means to human existence, the healing nature of the arts, and the role of dance as an integral element of human nature, which have all become pillars to her approach to dance. Following graduating from school, Emily had the pleasure of accepting a contract to work with the second company of the Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble (Cleo II) which brought her out to Denver, Colorado. While out West, Emily also worked with the Hannah Kahn Dance Company and Wonderbound, until deciding it was time for her to move back East, landing back in Jacksonville. It is a great pleasure for Emily to join the JDT company this season, and she is very excited to come back to a place that feels like home.

Tess Sturgeon began her dance training in Jacksonville, FL at Ballet Arts Centre, one of the oldest studios in Jacksonville, and the dance program at Episcopal School of Jacksonville. She continued her education at the University of the Arts, Oklahoma City University, and Florida State College at Jacksonville dance programs; each bringing attention towards her focus in musical theatre, modern, and jazz techniques. In these experiences, she worked with dance artists such as Donald Lunsford, Kim Bears-Bailey, Brian Sanders, Jo Rowan, Jessica Fay, Kelli Stevens, Bliss Kohlmyer, Susan Haines, and James Kinney. Tess returned to Jacksonville to teach and choreograph at several locations such as Ballet Arts Centre, Apex Theatre Studio, Episcopal School of Jacksonville, and Seacoast Christian Academy. She has traveled as a choreographer and workshop instructor to Dance Theatre of Jacksonville in North Carolina, and Nashville School of the Arts. Tess is a current Featured Artist and Production Manager of Three Hearts Dance, a contemporary dance company that works to create storytelling experiences through dance film and live performances. Currently she is certified in Yoga through Yoga Den and Progressing Ballet Technique. Tess began dancing professionally with Jacksonville Dance Theatre in 2016 and serves as their Social Media Manager. She is honored to represent a company of talented women and to bring the art of modern dance to the Jacksonville Community.

Kristen Sholes Sullivan, originally from Gainesville, Georgia has been dedicated to the professional art of Dance and Education as a performer, dance maker, and teacher for over 20 years. She is Adjunct Professor of Dance at Florida State College at Jacksonville where she has taught Modern, Ballet, Jazz, and Pilates since 2012 and frequently sets choreography on FSCJ’s danceWORKS company and is honored to begin teaching Adjunct at Jacksonville University Dance Department this upcoming Fall. Kristen holds her MFA in Dance from Florida State University where she held a Teaching Assistantship teaching Jazz and Modern to FSU’s non-majors. She received her BFA in Dance from University of Nevada Las Vegas and graduated Magna Cum Laude. Kristen dances professionally with Jacksonville Dance Theatre as a founding member since 2013 dancing in works by Artistic director Rebecca R. Levy, Ebone Amos, Jonah Bokaer, James Boyd, Emily Cargill, Bryn Cohn, Bliss Kohlmeyer, James Morrow, Tiffany Santiero, Talani Torres, Joanna Ursal, and Pioneer Winter and recently premiered her new work on the company, “As I Remember It,” at the historic Florida Theatre. In 2022, Kristen was selected to represent FSCJ as a presenter at ACDA held at Florida State University. From 2005-2014, Kristen danced professionally with Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre located in Daytona Beach, Florida where she performed choreography by artistic directors, Rachael Leonard and Kristin Bender-Polizzi along with guest choreographers John Beasant III, Eva Gholson, Jack Mitchell, and Ann Sorvino. Internationally, she has performed at Sadler’s Wells with SCDT, in Spain with the American Choreographers Showcase, Germany in the International Dance and Gymnastics Festival, and Scotland in the Edinburgh Fringe Festival. Kristen had the honor of performing The Human Show by Kari Margolis of Margolis Brown Theatre at the Kennedy Center for the American Theatre Finalists. Kristen’s work has been performed by Jacksonville Dance Theatre and accepted to the Pasadena Dance Festival in California, Mix Match Dance Festival in LA, New Seeds Festival of Tampa, and Harvest Chicago Contemporary Dance Festival. In 2006, Kristen held an Arts Administrative Internship with Movement Research of New York City and Judson Church through FSU in NYC program. Along with her intensive dance performance and education background, Kristen continues to deepen her physical study of movement through Pilates and GYROTONIC®. Kristen has taught Pilates for over 12 years and has been a Master Teacher Trainer for Balanced Body for over 7 years. She holds her comprehensive certification in Classical Pilates through Power Pilates and bridged over to Balanced Body as a Master Instructor. She is also certified in Balanced Body Barre, Bodhi, MOTR, Oov, and is a member of the Pilates Method Alliance and holds her certificate in Level 1 and Level 2 GYROTONIC®. She is thankful for her unending support from her husband and spends her time outside the studio as a full time adoring mother to her two children. Kristen is a proud member of Jacksonville Dance Theatre and serves as the Company’s Associate Artistic Director as well as a Resident Choreographer.