Academy Faculty 2007-2008

Lisa Taylor - Director  Mrs.Taylor is the owner and director of Lisa Taylor Academy of Ballet and Dance Arts, now beginning its 14th year in North Buffalo.  She received her main training as a performer and teacher of classical ballet from Norma Ferrara Gelose of the Ferrara Studio of Ballet Arts.  She also studied modern dance technique under Marie Ziccarelli, tap, and several styles of jazz, Character Dance, and Mime Theater.  Mrs. Taylor was a performer, rehearsal director, and choreographer for the Young Dancers' Workshop, Ken-Ton Ballet, and National Theatre of Dance from 1976 - 1990 during which time she performed leading roles in Les Patinuers, Rodeo, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Coppelia, and Swan Lake; as well as children's ballets Fox Hunt, Hansel and Gretel, and Peter and the Wolf, and Mime Theater.  She is a Fellow member of the Cecchetti Council of America through which she holds Professional Advanced Teaching Certification.  She has 29 years of experience teaching dance.  She has directed liturgical dance at several area churches as well as presenting workshops in liturgical dance.  Mrs. Taylor also directs the Academy's performing troupe, which performs children's works at area schools and church and community functions, and the Towne Players' annual Christmas Show.  She has taught dance for the Arts in Education Institute of Western New York for more than 10 years, and worked with Pick of the Crop Dance as a Teaching Artist, Rehearsal Director, and Assistant Production Manager for 8 years.  Mrs. Taylor was also on faculty in the Fine Arts Department at the Buffalo Seminary for 5 years, and recently created a dance education program for Oracle Charter School in Buffalo.  Other professional affiliations include the National Dance Association and the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation, and Dance.

Romney Taylor -  Karate, Boys Dance, Partnering   Sensei Romney currently holds the rank of 2nd degree Black Belt in Isshin Ryu Karate.  His certification comes from Okinawa, Japan, through Angi Uezu.  He began his training under John Overton, one of the original founders of World Fighting Arts.  Over the 20 plus years he has been training, Sensei Romney has taught Karate under John Overton and later Tony Overton at World Fighting Arts, as well as at Kodokan under Skip Coones.  He also trains in Goju Ryu, one of the root styles of Isshin Ryu.  Students enjoy his respectful teaching style and thorough instruction.  Parents of younger students appreciate his emphasis on discipline, self-control, and character development.  In addition to his qualifications as a Karate Sensei, Mr. Taylor is also an accomplished dancer.  He studied for many years under Norma Ferrara Gelose of the Ferrara Studio of Ballet Arts during which time he performed leading roles in many ballets for the National Theatre of Dance as well performing in Mime Theater.  Roles he has performed include:  The Poet in Les Sylphides, Champion Roper in Rodeo, Green Boy in Les Patineurs, the Princes Florimund, Charming, and Sigfried in Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and Swan Lake, respectively; Duke Albrecht in Giselle; and the Cavalier in Nutcracker, among others.  His experience in classical roles and partnering is extensive and we are very happy that he has agreed to share his knowledge with us.

Jenna DelMonte - Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Jazz  Miss Jenna was a student at the Academy for many years before going off to college at SUNY Potsdam where she earned a BA in Dance and Arts Administration.  While she was dancing locally she performed in many ballets and shows with the Lisa Taylor Dancers including Peter and the Wolf, and several Towne Players' Christmas Shows.  She also performed with Pick of the Crop Dance in Hansel and Gretel, Snow Queen, and Cinderella.  After graduating from SUNY Potsdam, Jenna spent time in NYC interning with the Jose Limon Company and the Paul Taylor Company.  She holds the Professional Elementary Certificate and the Associate 1 Teachers' Certificate through the Cecchetti Council of America. 

Kerry Ann Ring -  Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Yoga   originally from Buffalo, New York, trained in the Cecchetti Method under the direction of Norma Ferrara Gelose and has studied at the Joffrey Ballet School, National Academy of the Arts, the American Dance Festival, and the Paul Taylor School.  She has been a company member with the Nevada Dance Theatre, Delta Festival Ballet, the Santa Fe Opera, the Bill Evans Dance Company, and Molissa Fenley and Dancers.  Ms. Ring received her BFA in Dance from the University of New Mexico and her MFA in Dance Performance and Choreography from Mills College in Oakland, California.  Currently, she teaches ballet and modern dance at local dance studios and colleges and at Nichols School as well as performing and creating original choreography with Buffalo Contemporary Dance and Pick of the Crop.  Ms. Ring trains in Hatha Yoga at the Himalayan Institute.  Having recenty passed her Professional Intermediate Teachers' Examination through the Lisa Taylor Academy of Ballet and Dance Arts and the Cecchetti Council of America, Ms. Ring is now certified to teach the Cecchetti Method of classical ballet  She is a licentiate member of the Cecchetti Council of America.

Bonnie Taylor -  Petit Enfant/Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, Grade I-V Cecchetti, and Comparable levels of Ballet, Theater Games  Miss Bonnie is a terrific example of the classic "triple threat".  A fine dancer in her own right, she also acts and sings.  In addition to local performances of Peter and the Wolf, Fox Hunt, and Towne Players Christmas shows with the Academy Dancers, Miss Bonnie has danced with Pick of the Crop Dance as a student performer as well as being selected to perform with POC's Seedling Company and Buffalo Contemporary Dance.  As an Actor/Singer/Dancer, Miss Bonnie has performed featured roles in Sunday in the Park with George, The Boyfriend, Annie, A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum, Godspell, and was featured as Emily Webb in Our Town, among others.  At UB Bonnie appeared in Fall of the House of Usher, The Bald Soprano, and Lysistrata.  She made her professional debut in local theater with the Jewish Repertory Theatre in their 2007 production of Brooklyn Boy and had her first professional leading role in the premiere of Buffalo Movie with Road Less Traveled Productions.  Bonnie has recently graduated with a BA in Theater after having fulfilled all the requirements for her full Creative and Performing Arts Scholarship at SUNYAB.  Her teaching experience began at age 9 as a class assistant.  Soon after, she became a Rehearsal Assistant for student roles in POC productions, teaching choreography and assisting at auditions in Western New York as well as on tour with the company.  She also teaches at Step in Time Studio of Dance and Baton, The Carnegie Art Center, and The Fit Physique.  Miss Bonnie is a member of the Cecchetti Council of America and recently passed her CCA Professional Intermediate Cecchetti Exam.  She has passed her CCA Associate IV Teachers Exam.  She has been teaching at the Academy since 2001. Academy students enjoy Miss Bonnie very much, and we are pleased to have her teaching for us.

                     Lisa Taylor Academy of Ballet & Dance Arts ~ Romney Taylor's World Fighting Arts

                                          97 North Park Ave.  ~ Buffalo, NY 14216 ~ 716.446.0447

                                                             LISATAYLORBALET@hotmail.com