Jerry Opdenaker comes from Philadelphia Pa. and is a graduate from the University of the Arts. During his 22-year dancing career, he worked as a principal company member for ballet companies such as Pennsylvania Ballet, Kansas City Ballet and Ballet Florida. During the years spent in these companies, he worked with some of the world’s greatest choreographers working in the field of dance. At Ballet Florida he was instrumental in the development, creativity and educational components of STEP Ahead, Ballet Florida’s choreographic workshop. Serving as the Director, he propelled the program into the eyes of the National Endowment for the Arts, which awarded the Access to Artistic Excellence, twice and was declared a “Jewel of the Palm Beaches” in 2004. That workshop afforded him the opportunity to express and discover his true passion, choreography. His awarding winning “Coeur de Basque” began its life there. Since then he has been commissioned for new works such as, “Idyllic Realm” and “Bliss” for Ballet Florida and “From a Distant Wind” and “Bailame” for Ballet Gamonet. Jerry had the incredible privilege to participate in the Ballet builders 2003, New York City Ballet’s 2005 Choreographic Institute and the National Choreographic Initiative 2007, in California. He has also choreographed for the McKnight Foundation in Minnesota, Seanik Arts in Miami and the Florida Grand Opera’s production of Lakme. He has also developed a new company in Palm Beach County called ODance, which will have its inaugural first performance at the Duncan Theatre in February 2010.
Spencer Gavin Hering, born in Munich, Germany, is the son of two professional ballet dancers. With a life immersed in the arts, Spencer eventually, at the age of 16, began training with his mother Cecilia Hering in Redlands, California. After two years at Pacific Northwest Ballet School, he joined Ballet Pacifica in Irvine, California where he danced for four seasons. In 2004, he joined Maximum Dance Company/Ballet Gamonet in Miami, Florida as a principal artist for three seasons.
Moving to Houston, Texas, Mr. Gavin Hering danced as a principal artist with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater. Last season, he joined State Street Ballet as a Principal in Santa Barbara, California. His repertory includes principal roles by acclaimed choreographers that are both current and iconic: David Allan, George Balanchine, Anne Marie DeAngelo, Jimmy Gamonet, Choo-San Goh, Paola Georgudis, Jamie Hampton, Molly Lynch, Rick McCullough, Lindsey McGill, Michele Merola, Stephen Mills, Jerry Opdenaker, David Palmer, Yanis Pikieris, Peter Pucci, Andrea Dawn Shelley, William Soleau, Ray Sullivan, Robert Sund, Paul Vasterling, Raymond Van Mason and Dominic Walsh.
An aficionado of the arts, Spencer's talent is not limited to merely that of his first canvas, the stage. His artistry has transcended to his second stage, the actual canvas. His artwork speaks volumes to all who experience his passion. Working with acrylics, oils and spray paint have proven to be pivotal to his development as a visual artist. As with his choreography, Spencer draws inspiration from limitless possibilities, as well as, boundaries. To bring curiosity, to cause wonderment and to provoke different thought – is his arts’ purpose.
To share his love, his voice and his interpretation of the world, is ultimately what he wishes to reveal. Through his life experiences as a dancer, Spencer has found infinite inspiration from time shared with other dancers, choreographers and directors. He has been prompted by the support of his public following, fellow dancers, directors, friends and family to form his new company. Mr. Gavin Hering is now the proud Founding Artistic Director of California's newest dance company, Infinite Movement Ever Evolving.
Andrea Dawn Shelley, born in Miami, Florida, received her classical ballet training from Magda G. Aunon. Ms. Shelley has trained at summer intensives and workshops with the Boston Ballet, Houston Ballet and Joffrey Ballet. She studied dance at the University of South Florida and later graduated from Florida International University with a BA in Dance Education. She began her professional career as a company member with Southern Ballet Theater, in Orlando, Florida.
In 1998, she joined Maximum Dance Company, in Miami, Florida as a principal artist, dancing principal and soloists roles in premieres throughout Europe and the Americas for seven seasons. She danced with Dominic Walsh Dance Theater in Houston, Texas as a principal artist for two seasons, Miami Contemporary Dance Company in Miami Beach, Florida, as a principal artist for two seasons and State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara, California. Her repertoire includes original pieces by and new works set on her by Julia Adams, Jean Christophe Blavier, Paola Georgudis, Spencer Gavin Hering, Lindsey McGill, Michele Merola, Enrico Morelli, Paolo Mohovich, KT Nelson, Jerry Opdenaker, David Palmer, Yanis Pikeris, Daniel Rossel, Ivonice Satie, Ray Sullivan and Dominic Walsh.
She is a teacher and choreographer for the intermediate-advanced ballet students at Mencia-Pikieris School of Dance and the Miami Youth Ballet in Miami, Florida, The School of International Ballet and the Redlands Festival Ballet in Redlands, California and Los Olivos Dance Gallery in Los Olivos, California. Ms. Shelley has participated as a choreographer in Ballet Florida’s choreographic workshop, Step Ahead, in West Palm Beach, Fl., the 2ND annual “Emerging Choreographers Showcase”, in Miami, Fl., Miami Contemporary Dance Company’s, New Works in Miami Beach, Fl., Dominic Walsh Dance Theater’s, E_merging, in Houston, TX. and in State Street Ballet's, Evenings in Santa Barbara, CA.
Recently, Ms. Shelley had the honor of being chosen to be a preliminary panelist for the National Foundation for the Advancement in the Arts, youngArts program in both, choreography and modern. She has received numerous awards; including being a scholarship recipient of the National Society of Arts and Letters and being named Best Female Dancer in South Florida, by the Miami SunPost. Andrea is incredibly proud and excited to be the Co-Founding Associate Artistic Director for Southern California's newest dance company, Infinite Movement Ever Evolving.
Dancers of O Dance
Shannon Smith
Will Hoppe
Paul Thrussell
Tina Martin
Cristian LaVerdé
Lily Ojea
Andrea Shelley
Spencer Gavin
Viky Smith
Maribel Modorno
Austin Goodwin
Ida Saki
Plus: 8 apprentices
Visual Artists
Sinisa Kukec
Nigel Van Wieck
Liz Atzberger
Ann Cadaret
Production Manager
Albert Mathers
Lighting Designers
Stephen Weeks
Maryann Scaduto
Lisa Gardiner
Chris Esterline
O DANCE is a 501 (c) (3) Chatirtable Organization.
Photos Copyright Janine Harris, Jerry Opdenaker. Design: III Content copyright . odance. All rights reserved.
