MEET OUR FACULTY

Taylor Black is a Richmond-based dancer, teacher, choreographer, and bodyworker. She received a BFA in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University in the spring of 2019, and continued her education later to become a fully licensed teacher for the State of Virginia, a certified EBAS (Elemental Body Alignment System) teacher, and certified Thai Bodywork practitioner. In recent years Taylor has performed and choreographed professionally with local companies KARAR Dance Company, RADAR, and PS Project, though her primary career focus is teaching. 

Taylor is Chair of the Dance Department at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for Arts and Technology, where she teaches ballet, modern, jazz, composition, and repertory, and serves as the ARGS Chapter Sponsor for the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. After school, she teaches at Marianne Kelley’s School of Dance, where she holds the title of Co-Director of pre-professional company Compass Contemporary.

Classes: Modern II, Modern III, Modern IV, Composition, Jazz, & Repertory 

____________________________________________________________________________________

Photos: (top) headshot by Jonathan Hsu; (bottom) image from Mass choreographed by Doug Varone, performed at Bates Dance Festival in 2019, photo by Jonathan Hsu

Glen Lewis, BFA is a dancer, choreographer, educator, and Virginia native. Mr. Lewis graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). During his studies, he received the Outstanding Choreographer Award. Glen trained at the Governor School for the Arts, Richmond Ballet, Alvin Ailey Dance Theater, and the Nederland Dans Theater (NDT). At NDT, he was in the original cast of "Night Fire," set by internationally acclaimed choreographer Marco Goeke.   Additionally, Glen performed an eight-season tenure as a company dancer and choreographer with Newport, RI's contemporary ballet company, the Island Moving Company (IMC). During his tenure with IMC, he performed at Jacobs Pillow, The Kennedy Center, and other notable stages. In addition to his performing prowess, Glen premiered many of his works both nationally and internationally. Most notably, his work "He who closed the mouths of lyins” premiered in Kazakhstan at the Worlds Energy Summit. As an educator of different dance techniques, Glen served on the faculty of Newport Academy of Ballet, Salve Regina University, and many other schools in Southern New England. Currently, Glen is an artistic leader with the Latin Ballet of Virginia and a resident artist with the Virginia Beach Ballet Academy.  Glen is honored to join the ARGS family as Ballet Specialist and is excited to work with the young and the wonderfully talented.

Classes:  Ballet I, Ballet III, Ballet IV, Basic Dance, Modern I, & MT I (Ballet)

Jessica (Lengyel) Allard earned a bachelor’s degree in Dance Performance, with dual concentrations in ballet and jazz, from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She performed professionally with Surfscape Contemporary Dance Theatre in New Smyrna Beach, Florida. Jessica founded the IB Dance program at Pedro Menendez High School in St. Augustine, Florida, and directed it for nine years. In 2018, she earned a master’s degree in educational leadership from Florida State University. Most recently, she established the dance program at Beachside High School in St. Johns County, Florida, where she served as director from 2022 to 2024. Jessica began her training at The Ann Hebard School of Ballet and The Dance Company of St. Augustine. She later attended Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida, where she was a member of the esteemed “Dance Theatre” for three years and received the “Bravo” Award for excellence in dance. She also attended summer programs at Orlando Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and the Florida Dance Festival. Jessica has had the privilege of working with choreographers including Francesca Harper, Nicholas Petrov, Peter Merz, Ronen Koresh, Ann Sorvino, and Alison Seidenstricker. She has taught and choreographed across the United States, and her choreography has been featured at the National and Regional High School Dance Festivals. Jessica is excited to join the ARGS dance family!

Classes: Ballet I, Ballet II, Modern I, MT II (modern/jazz), Composition, & Jazz