MEET COMPANY DANCERS
River Hemming
River Hemming’s passion and love for dance began at Christian Dance Center in Cypress, TX. In 2017 she began work as a trainee with Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, FL where she performed lead and various corps roles in Peter Stark’s Cinderella and Philip Neal’s The Nutcracker. She was also selected for the opportunity to perform a new work by Maria Konrad: Nebula
The next season, as a member of Vitacca Ballet Pro in Houston, Ms. Hemming performed lead and corps roles in La Bayadere and Paquita and competed in ADC/IBC where she won a full scholarship to Tulsa Ballet’s summer program and a scholarship to the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Summer Program. She joined Tulsa Ballet as a trainee the following season, where she trained on merit scholarship with Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education and danced in corps and understudy roles with the company. She has enjoyed summers with Houston Ballet Academy, ABT Austin, Tulsa Ballet and the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Company Experience.
In 2021 Ms. Hemming joined Uptown Dance Company as an artist and has since received the opportunity to dance soloist roles including the lead of Gretel in Beth Gulledge-Brown’s Hansel and Gretel, as well as Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy in Beth Gulledge-Brown’s The Nutcracker.
She is also passionate about teaching dance to the next generation, and is thrilled to be a part of Uptown’s teaching faculty where she’s additionally choreographed on the pre-professional company.
Kaitlyn Blake
Kaitlyn Blake began dancing at Carol Ehler Dance School where her love for the art took root. From the age of 13 to her high school graduation she grew in technique and artistry training at Ballet Center of Houston.
While at the Ballet Center, she also performed with the pre-professional company, Houston Repertoire Ballet. As a company member she performed roles such as the Dew Drop Fairy in Victoria Vittum’s “The Nutcracker” and the Lilac Fairy in excerpts of “The Sleeping Beauty.”
Ms. Blake’s summer training included Ballet Magnificat!, Houston Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, and Tulsa Ballet. In 2018 she was placed in the preprofessional division of Ballet Magnificat’s! summer program and performed in the company’s ballet “Face to Face” staged by Jiri Sebastian Voborsky.
Ms. Blake earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Belhaven University. While studying dance, she had performance opportunities such as a Big Swan in Act II of “Swan Lake” staged by Ravenna Tucker Wagnon, in Frescoes from “The Little Humpbacked Horse” staged by Sir Henry Danton, and the soloist role, Mother Joy, in Caleb Mitchell’s “Joy.” She was the female recipient of the 2022 Artistic Achievement Award. After graduation Ms. Blake spent a year teaching dance at Ballet Center of Houston and performing as an Artist in Residence with Houston Repertoire Ballet.
In 2023 Ms. Blake joined Uptown Dance Company as an artist and teacher. During her first season she performed as a soloist in Beth Gulledge-Brown’s “Red, White and Blue,” and as the Mother in Beth Gulledge-Brown’s “Hansel and Gretel.” She is excited to enter her second season with the company and to continue her passion for teaching.
Nico Covington
Nico Covington was born in San Angelo, Texas, where she started her ballet training at the age of three. In 2012, Nico joined Ballet San Angelo, where she grew stronger in her Ballet technique. It was there where her love for the art form expanded.
While training at Ballet San Angelo, she performed many roles in classical and contemporary productions including solo roles such as Clara in the Nutcracker, the Swallow in Thumbelina, and the female lead in Arisal of the Clear.
In 2019, Nico started her training with the Houston Ballet Academy, where she discovered her artistry in classical and contemporary styles. While training at the Houston Ballet Academy, Nico attended multiple summer intensives and performed several roles in the academy’s repertoire, including a solo role as the Snow Queen in the academy’s Nutcracker Suites. Nico also performed various roles in Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker.
In 2023, Nico joined Uptown Dance Company where she performed several solo roles such as the female lead in Andre Silvia’s Indigenous, Arabian in Beth Gulledge Brown’s The Nutcracker, and the female lead in Skylar Campbell’s Domus.
Nico is very excited to continue dancing with Uptown Dance Company for the 24/25 season.
Christine Janis
Born and raised in North Texas, Christine has been dancing for 13 years. She first began studying ballet at the age of 10 with Texas Youth Ballet, where she continued to train for 9 years. Upon graduating high school, Christine joined Dallas based company, Avant Chamber Ballet as trainee.
During her 3 years there she danced in works by the director Katie Puder and performed in Paul Mejia’s The Nutcracker and George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco. Christine also had the wonderful opportunity of working with several former New York City Ballet dancers while with ACB, including Shawn Stevens, Jock Soto and Michelle Gifford.
Christine has attended summer intensives across the country including Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet in New York City, Oklahoma City Ballet and BalletMet in Columbus Ohio.
Christine joined Uptown Dance Company last year and had the opportunity of dancing Spanish in The Nutcracker and performing the role of the Evil Witch in Beth Gulledge-Brown’s Hansel and Gretel. Christine is looking forward to her second season with Uptown Dance this year.
Madison Magnuson
In 2024 Madison Magnuson graduated from Texas A&M in kinesiology and dance science. In 2020 She graduated from Uptown Dance Centre, She attended Jillana’s summer intensive, studying Balanchine technique and was fortunate to be chosen to perform several variations under Jillana’s direction. During her time with Jillana, Ms. Magnuson had to the opportunity to work with Jock Soto and perform his choreography.
Madison was a member of Uptown Dance Company II for seven years and performed premier works by Andre Silva, Chet Walker, Beth Gulledge-Brown, Nao Kusuzaki, and Barry Kerollis, as well as performing in Austria for their Tanzsommer festival.
Ms. Magnuson was a guest artist as Snow Queen in the Ballet Brazos Nutcracker in 2021.
Ms. Magnuson is excited to return to Uptown Dance Company as a company member for the 24/25 anniversary season.
Dunia Baruani
Mr. Baruani was born in Burundi, Central Africa and began his dance training at the age of 9 at the Bujumbura Cultural Dance Centre. In 2016, he relocated to Houston, TX and started dancing at the Marshall Middle School Academy of Fine Arts. He received additional training from City Dance and the Institute of Contemporary Dance.
Mr. Baruani was a member of the prestigious pre professional company, HC2. During his time with HC2, he had the opportunity to work with Marlana Doyle, Genene Wallis-McGrath, Jade Devault ,Terrill Mitchell and Dwain Travis among others.
Mr. Baruani has also performed at the Austin Dance Festival, Miller Outdoor Theater and the Hobby Center with Urban Souls Dance Company.
Mr. Baruani is currently a student at the University of Houston majoring in business and healthcare administrations. Mr. Baruani is excited to be a member of Uptown Dance Company 24/25 Season.
(Photo by Fluid Frames Dance Photography)
UDC Photos by Doug Berry