Staff

dancers | staff

Kitty Seale, Director

Kitty Seale founded the Alabama Dance Theatre in 1986. Under her teaching and guidance the Alabama Dance Theatre continues to grow and is recognized throughout the region as a positive training ground for dancers. Kitty has been actively involved in dance as teacher, choreographer and director for the past 30 years. Her early study of ballet was with Lucie Stone, Audrey Gryder, Duane Dishion and George Verdak. More recently, she completed the fourth year of the Russian syllabus under Jurgen Schneider and Janina Cunova.

Mrs. Seale has choreographed numerous works for her own and other companies in the state and region. She was selected to attend the 1980 National Craft of Choreography Conference under Ron Cunningham and the 1988 conference under Leslie Jane Pessemier. Her students have received national recognition and scholarship and have gone on to perform with nationally recognized professional groups. Kitty is a life member of The National Registry of Who’s Who. A Montgomery native and graduate of Lanier High School and Sweet Briar College, Kitty was elected to the Lanier Hall of Fame in 1997.

Foye DuBose, Ballet Master

Foye is an alumni of ADT and began his dance training here in Montgomery. Further study included a Ford Foundation scholarship to the Pacific N.W. Ballet School dancing leading roles in Symphony in C, Western Symphony, Violin Concerto, and Mozartiana. Upon graduation, he received the Perry Brunson Memorial Award for dedication and excellence. Mr. DuBose has danced professionally with Dayton Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Ohio Ballet, Southern Danceworks, and the Alabama Ballet. An acclaimed choreographer, DuBose has created works for Alabama Ballet, Southern Danceworks, and the Alabama Dance Theatre. Cited as a “Dramatic dancer of the first order” by the Dayton Daily News, Mr. DuBose has danced leading roles in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Romeo & Juliet. Mr. DuBose is a recipient of the 2007-08 Arts Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Brenda Robertson Dennis, Director of Development

Brenda has been with ADT since April 2002. With a background in writing and promotions, Mrs. Dennis has worked in the field of public relations and development for 20 years; an evolution that has taken her from cultural events planning for an independent bookstore to freelance promotional work for Condé Nast Publishers in New York City. She has served on the board of the Arts Council of Montgomery, served as Editor of the Junior League of Montgomery’s League Logs, and is a Contributing Writer for Montgomery Living Magazine.

Casey Vaughan, Public Relations

Casey is a former ADT company member from 1995-2002, Ms. Vaughan returns after an apprenticeship with Alabama Ballet in 2002 and 4 years of training under the world renowned teacher, Magaly Suarez, in Pompano Beach, FL. Ms. Vaughan has danced leading roles in full length ballets such as Swan Lake, Giselle, La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Coppelia, Pas De Quatre, La Vivandiere and Paquita, while working with many acclaimed choreographers. She has also performed the Balanchine classics La Source and Stars and Stripes. Ms. Vaughan was a finalist in the regional Youth American Grand Prix in 2004 and had the honor in 2006 of dancing with The Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami. Most recently, she represented the United States in the Senior Division of the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi coached by Magaly Suarez.

Suzanne Sheppard, Registrar and Wardrobe Mistress

Suzanne has been instrumental behind the scenes serving as wardrobe mistress for ADT since 1986 and registrar since 1985. During that time her costumes have been seen in numerous ADT productions. The Alabama Dance Theatre school continues to flourish with her understanding of dance education, commitment and dedication. While a student at Huntingdon College, she served as costumer and stage manager for many productions. She also worked in those same areas for Montgomery Children’s Theatre and Jasmine Hill Arts Council.

Sara Sanford, Resident Choreographer

Began her training under Don Steffy. In 1998 she joined the Alabama Dance Theatre as a company member. In 2001 she received a Dance Magazine full scholarship to attend the Craft of Choreography Conference as a dancer. She has been accepted to such summer programs as Atlanta Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Western Carolina Ballet and received a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet and Alabama Ballet. Through several summer seminars with the Alabama Dance Theatre she began her choreogaphy training under Leslie Jane Pessemier. Numerous works have appeared at the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association Festival over the years as well as at the National Festival in Pittsburgh. This piece was also runner up for the National Commissioning Project. As a choreographer she has attended the Craft of Choreography Conference in Seattle and the Glenda Brown Choreography Project in Kansas City, MO. Additionally, she is a Fellowship recipient of the Alabama State Council on the Arts. Other works include Left and Leaving, JPRG, and Listen and full length ballets include Peter Pan, A Christmas Carol, Cinderella, and Dracula. Sara is a junior at Auburn Montgomery majoring in theatre with an English minor.

Jenny Plunkett Letner, Resident Choreographer

Jenny is currently the head of the Dance Department at Trinity Presbyterian High School and the Modern Dance Instructor with the Alabama Dance Theatre. Jenny has been with ADT as a dancer, choreographer and teacher since 1989. She is a 3-time recipient overall winner with the Panoply Choreography Competition and a 3-time recipient of the RDA Monticello Award for her award winning choreography. Jenny is a 1992 NFFA Award winner in Modern Dance and a 1999 recipient of an Artist Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts.

Janie Allen Alford, Resident Choreographer

Janie is a recognized jazz instructor and choreographer, Mrs. Alford has been with ADT as a dancer, choreographer and teacher since 1986. She has choreographed numerous works for ADT and is a 2003 recipient of an Artist Fellowship from the Alabama State Council on the Arts. She has received Regional Dance America’s 2001 Choreography Connection Award and the 2002 Best Overall Choreography Award at the Panoply Arts Festival. She is a graduate of CCPAC and graduated summa cum laude from AUM with a BA in Fine Arts. Janie most recently served as the Public Relations Officer for ADT from 1996 until 2006.

Sarah McQueen, Assistant Wardrobe Mistress

Joined ADT in the summer of 2008. Sarah is active in the Montgomery Chorale and is a free-lance medical illustrator. She is currently working at Regions Bank. Sarah is married to Bob McQueen and is the proud mother of Amanda and Ashley.