True Dance & Co. Alumni
We are so proud of our True dancers! If you would like to be featured on our alumni page, please send your picture and bio to webmaster@truedancelincoln.com.
Ashley Lafferty
Ashley Lafferty graduated high school and celebrated her last year at True Dance Academy in 2009. She then attended the University of Arizona with a regents fine arts scholarship to major in Dance and was selected for the UA Dance Ensemble. She Performed in the Capezio ACE Awards in 2010 for the choreographers Kilatong and again in 2011 for choreographer Andrew Winghart. In April she performed a Chicago Medley set by Ann Reinking and Gary Chryst. She then received her Bachelors of Fine Arts in May of 2012. Shortly after graduating Ashley joined the company of The Beatles LOVE cast by Cirque du Soleil in September of 2012. Then in March 2013 she performed in Cirque du Soleil's charity show One Night for One Drop where she was selected and performed a piece by Sonya Tayeh and another piece by Mukhtar Omar. She is currently still with The Beatles LOVE show and is also doing freelance work as a teacher and choreographer.
Renee Guittar
Renee Guittar is a full-time professional dancer, choreographer, and dance educator. Renee studied with the True Dance Academy from 1995-2008 and is continually grateful for the amazing dance education that received in Lincoln, Nebraska. Renee recently received a B.A. in dance with honors from Gustavus Adolphus College in St. Peter, MN. At Gustavus, Renee choreographed for multiple main stage productions and was selected to present her work at the American College Dance Festival, where the adjudicators described her choreography as having “spot on clarity, sensitivity, nuance, and maturity.” Renee is currently performing professionally in the Minneapolis area with Collide Theatrical Dance Company, Kinetic Evolutions Dance Company, and The Magic of Jared Sherlock. Renee recently co-directed a physical comedy and dance show at the Minnesota Fringe Festival entitled "Clocked" which was reviewed as "beautifully done, fast-paced and more than they eye can take in in a single viewing." Renee teaches at local dance schools, including Zenon Dance School, and has showed choreography at Theatre in the Round, The Ritz Theater, the MN Fringe Festival, and with Zenon Dance Zone."
Kelsey Bassett
Kelsey Bassett grew up at True Dance Academy where she trained for 12 years. After high school, she went on to continue her education at Oklahoma City University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Science in American Dance Pedagogy. At OCU, Kelsey was a part of the American Spirit Dance Company where she performed in Student Choreography Shows, Home for the Holidays Christmas Shows, Spring Shows, and MFA in Dance Thesis Shows. As well as being an active performer, she
was a dance instructor and choreographer at multiple studios in the Oklahoma City area. Over the past few summers, Kelsey has worked as an intern at Oklahoma City Ballet, a performer in CATS the musical at Garland Summer Musicals in Texas, and an intern at Broadway Dance Center in New York City where her choreography was chosen to perform in the Summer Intern Program Showcase. While at BDC, Kelsey had the opportunity to perform on the premier of ABC’s Good Afternoon America with Liza Minnelli. Immediately after graduating college, Kelsey was cast as a featured dancer and swing in TEXAS the Outdoor Musical Drama in Palo Duro Canyon. In the fall, Kelsey will be working at Busch Gardens in Williamsburg, VA as a dancer in their Halloween and Christmas shows.
Elizabeth Buckley San Martin
Elizabeth graduated from Butler University with high honors in B.S. of Arts Administration and Dance Concentration. Afterwards she moved to Chicago to complete an internship with River North Chicago Dance Company. There she met Artistic Director Mike Gosney and was asked to join Elements Contemporary Ballet. At the time, Elements was operating under the umbrella of another not-for-profit. With her degree, Elizabeth helped Elements become 501 ( c ) 3 corporation status, start grant writing to secure funds, and help put together a board of directors. In addition, she was featured in many of Mike Gosney’s works. She happily danced with Elements as a principal for four years! Elizabeth obtained a Masters in Accountancy and loves to travel with her husband Luis.
Hannah Duncan
Hannah has been dancing since the age of four, studying ballet, pointe, jazz, and contemporary. She is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree at the University of Arizona School of Dance in Tucson. She was awarded an Arizona Excellence Award academic scholarship, an Arizona Leadership and iPad Scholarship, and a $7,500 Regents’ Fine Arts Scholarship based on her dance audition. In addition, this summer Hannah was awarded a New York City Dance Alliance Foundation College Scholarship in the amount of $5,000.
During Hannah’s years at True Dance Academy, she competed on the studio’s dance team and performed 9 of the past 10 years in the Lincoln Midwest Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. Her past roles include Clara, Arabian, Snow Queen, Snow Princess, Marzipan, Spain, Jester, China, Big Party Girl, Little Party Girl and Snow Angel. She also performed the parts of Autumn Fairy and understudy Cinderella in the Lincoln Midwest Ballet Company’s 2012 production of Cinderella and the part of Bluebird in LMBC’s 2010 production of Snow White. She was a soloist in True Dance & Company’s performance of Paquita and competed in Youth American Grand Prix in 2012 with Esmeralda. For the past 2 summers, Hannah has danced in Austin Ballet’s Summer Intensive. She has also spent 2 summers dancing at the New York City Dance Alliance’s Summer Intensive. At NYCDA, Hannah is a past Outstanding Dancer scholarship winner, a Senior and Teen High Scoring Soloist, and a Triple Threat Winner. Hannah has attended LMBC’s Summer Dance Camp for 8 of the past 9 summers, and has also attended Kansas City Ballet’s Summer Intensive. When Hannah is not dancing, she enjoys competing in pageants and is a former National America Miss Nebraska Pre-Teen and a National Talent Winner.