Miss Alexis Hopkins studied a wide array of technique and performance styles at the Chamber Ballet in Williamsburg, VA, the Richmond Ballet, and Point Park University’s Conservatory for Performing Arts in Pittsburgh. She performed in full-length classical ballets including The Secret Garden as well as many productions of The Nutcraker, plus numerous festivals and cultural events throughout her home state of Virginia. In the summer of 2006, Alexis was invited to Germany to perform as part of the touring Robitshek Dance Ensemble, where she was part of a cast of talented dancers from around the world. As a dancer at Busch Gardens Europe in Williamsburg, VA, she spooked in the magical Rockin’ Eve’s Countdown to Midnight, polka’d in This is Oktoberfest, and scared in Frightnight in the Festhaus. Alexis also completed her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology summa cum laude at the College of William and Mary. After moving to New York, Alexis delved further into international dance styles as part of Valeria Entertainment, a world dance company. Performing bellydance, Brazilian samba, bollywood, jazz, and traditional gypsy was a blast. Miss Hopkins traveled with Valeria Entertainment throughout the northeast including the five boroughs of New York, plus Long Island, New Jersey, Pennsylvania, and Connecticut. Alexis also performed in the all-original The Little Mermaid’s Maid with the Pink Pig Ballet in downtown Manhattan. Since returning to Virginia, Miss Alexis has enjoyed embarking upon her sixth year teaching. She has taught in the Williamsburg/JCC and Newport News school systems, at the Chamber Ballet, and the William and Mary tap club. She is also a licensed Zumba instructor.
Ms. Cayley Mooney started dancing when she was just 3 years old at The Chamber Ballet. While with The Chamber Ballet, which then became Virginia Regional Ballet, she trained in various forms of dance including – Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Hip-Hop, Celtic and Competitive Dance/Cheer. She has performed in several classical ballet productions and excerpts to include The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Paquita. She performed leading roles in Virginia Regional Ballet’s Nutcracker to include Dew Drop, Tirolese, Lead Russian, Mouse King, and Klara. At the age of 17, she was offered three full ride scholarships for dance – The Joffrey Ballet, Interlochen School for the Arts, and Shenandoah University. She went to New York City and attended The Joffrey Ballet. At the end of her study there, they offered her a position as a trainee within the company. Ms. Cayley’s passion for teaching dance started in high school when she helped as a teacher assistant at Virginia Regional Ballet and helped Ms. Adelle teach the SHIP program after school. She also taught at various dance schools in North Carolina to include Diana’s Dance Academy, Swansboro Dance Studio, Emerald Isle Dance Studio and Dance Theatre of Jacksonville. She has now been teaching a variety of dance classes for over 8 years. Ms. Cayley now works full time as a Registered Nurse and resides in Williamsburg with her husband and son. She loves the opportunity to be back with her VRB family where her love for dance started and hopes to pass along that passion to her students.
Mr. Cornelius Bartlett trained with Heidi Robitshek at the Chamber Ballet before attending the Kirov Academy in Washington, D.C. as a scholarship student and North Carolina School for the Arts. At the Kirov Academy he studied with Ulena Vinogradova and Rudolph Kharatian and danced with the Kirov Ballet in The Nutcracker. He began dancing with Virginia Ballet Theatre in 2003. He has since performed as the Prince, Cavalier and Russian in The Nutcracker, the Court Jester in Cinderella, and the Cobbler in Twelve Dancing Princesses. He also performed in Allegro Brilliante, Serenade, Irish Ode, Mr. Evil & the Forever Diamond, Kettentanz — Eisel und Beisel Sprung, Suite Saint-Saens and The Firebird. Other professional affiliations include Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Busch Gardens Tampa, The American Music Theatre in Lancaster, Pennsylvania and Oak Ridge Civic Ballet in Tennessee.
Ms. Jennifer is a Professor of Dance and Musical Theater at Christopher Newport University and previously at Western Carolina University. She holds a B.A. in Theater from The College of William & Mary in Virginia and an M.F.A. in Dance Performance and Choreography from Florida State University. She performed for six years with Busch Gardens Entertainment Williamsburg and Tampa Bay, Florida. Outside the university setting, Jennifer has taught dance in VA, NC, NJ, and FL. Her work, “Oklahoma City,” based on the bombing, was accepted into “Take a Chance Choreographer’s Showcase” at New Dance Group Arts in NYC. She has performed two seasons with The Lost Colony, and has performed as a vocalist/dancer for Legends in Concert. She has also worked with Gwen Verdon, Ben Vereen, and Ann Reinking with The Broadway Theater Project.
Starr began dancing at the young age of three with Chamber Ballet under Heidi Robitshek and Adelle Carpenter. She had the opportunity to travel and perform twice with the Robitshek Dance Ensemble in Heidelberg, Germany. Starr continued her training with Virginia Regional Ballet dancing in many Nutcrackers. She also studied at Point Park University’s International Summer Dance Program. Continuing her passion for dance, Starr went on to gain her B.F.A. in Dance from Marymount Manhattan College. Since starting her dance career, Starr has performed with Busch Gardens Williamsburg, Princess Cruises, The Holy Land Experience, Sea World Orlando, and The Lost Colony. She has also performed in musicals including West Side Story with Riverside Center Dinner Theatre and The Addams Family with The Show Palace Dinner Theatre. In addition to dance, she recently acted in both The Mystery Dinner of Williamsburg and OBX Mystery Dinner. Currently, Starr and her husband are back performing at Busch Gardens Williamsburg (where they actually met four years ago)! Starr is extremely thankful to be with her VRB family again, and is thrilled to be sharing her love of dance through teaching!