Kinetic Expressions Dance Academy is more than just a place to dance ~~ it's a place to dream, a place to grow and a place to express yourself while becoming the best dancer YOU can be!
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MEET MISS CRYSTAL
Crystal J. Draper, Owner and Director, is originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, and began her studies in dance at the young age of two at the Anneliese Von Ottengin School of Ballet (AVO), one of t
he first European ballet schools formed in the Midwest. There she was trained intensively in the European method of ballet for over 10 years. While studying at AVO, she was accepted in the school's acclaimed performing company where she was featured as a Soloist and Principal Dancer. She later became an Associate Instructor and taught at the school for a period in college. Crystal attended high school at the School for Creative and Performing Arts (SCPA) in Cincinnati, Ohio, as a Dance and Music Theater Major. At SCPA, Crystal studied classical Ballet, Tap, Martha Graham Modern technique as well as, Broadway-style Jazz and Hip-Hop within SCPA's Music Theater Ensemble. During high school, Crystal was chosen to participate in a junior college intensive study program at The Juilliard School in New York City. There she was given the opportunity to study Ballet and Modern, as well as regular curriculum classes, with the students and faculty of The Juilliard School. Through SCPA, Crystal was also given the opportunity to dance with the Cincinnati Ballet in numerous performances as well as perform as a guest dancer in a nationally televised Cincinnati Pops Orchestra New Year's Eve Celebration concert. After graduating from the School for Creative and Performing Arts in 1999, the dance fever didn’t stop. Crystal decided to continue her dance education at the college level. With the opportunity to study at The Juilliard School, Crystal decided that her college career should not only better the quality of her dancing, but better the quality of her mind as well. In the fall of 1999, Crystal attended Shenandoah University and Conservatory in Winchester, Virginia, as a double major in Dance and Psychology. During her college career, Crystal studied Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Modern, Composition and Choreography and performed in over twenty main-stage performances. She also performed with the University’s Outreach Touring Dance Company in which she performed and taught at elementary schools all over central Virginia. Crystal was also able to hone her Hip-Hop skills as a dancer and choreographer for the Shenandoah University Dance Team. In May of 2003, Crystal graduated from Shenandoah University with a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Dance and a Minor in Psychology. Upon graduating from college, Crystal moved to Florida and began teaching here in Daytona Beach at The Dance Company at Retro Studios in August of 2003 as an Associate Instructor. In March of 2004, Crystal took over ownership of Retro Studios and it became what is now known as Kinetic Expressions Dance Academy (KEDA). It is what I live, breath and dream, and the ultimate expression of who I am. I have a passion for movement, an excitement for teaching and a dream to shape the future of young aspiring dancers. To share this passion with my students and through Kinetic Expressions Dance Academy is a gift from God."
