Dancers
Melissa Rector, Assistant Artistic Director and Dancer
Originally from West Virginia, Melissa started dancing at a young age with Monica Folio. She graduated from the University of the Arts in 1993. Melissa has been dancing with Koresh Dance Company since its inception in 1991 and is the company’s Assistant Artistic Director. She is also an instructor at the Koresh School of Dance, where she teaches her unique style that blends modern jazz and Luigi technique. Her work has been performed locally at the Philadelphia Fringe Festival, the Annenberg Center, Drexel University, the Grier School and Brandywine Ballet. She frequently travels around the country to perform, teach master classes and set choreography on students. In 2008, Melissa helped to establish the Koresh Youth Ensemble and serves as their artistic director, setting both original choreography and company repertory on the group.
Photo by: Contigo Photos + Films
Robert Tyler, Dancer
Robert Tyler grew up in Batavia, NY and began dancing at the age of 10. He studied under the instruction of Robin Cotler at her studio, Images in Dance. In 2008 he began studying at the University of the Arts and graduated in May 2012 with a BFA in Dance Performance, majoring in ballet. In the summers of 2010 and 2011, he worked with Robin Cotler’s dance company, Images Evolution, and performed at the International Dance Festival in Poland. Robert joined Koresh Dance Company in 2012.
Photo by: Frank Bicking
Callie Hocter, Dancer
Callie trained at Jody Phillips Dance Company in Kansas City before moving on to study dance with a concentration in Jazz at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, PA. While at school, she was privileged to perform in many choreographic works including pieces by Ronen Koresh, Larry Keigwin, James Gregg, Jim Cooney, Adam Hougland, Mark Burrell, and Kiesha Lalama. Along with performances at school, Callie has danced back up for Weird Al Yankovic at the Benedum Center and at Hershey Park's Music Box Theatre where she was able to work with Broadway's own, Chip Abbott. Callie joined Koresh Dance Company in 2018.
Photo by: Contigo Photos + Films
Devon Larcher, Dancer
Devon Larcher has been dancing since the age of 10, training in all styles of dance. In his early years, Devon was trained as a television and movie actor through the program A.C.T. in Providence Rhode Island, where he grew up. Along with this program, Devon had the opportunity to attend the Jacqueline M Walsh School for the Performing and Visual Arts and continued his training at Shannon O’ Brien School of Dance. During the start of his professional career Devon traveled internationally to Hengshui, China for their Inaugural Arts Festival. Here, in the states, he has worked with Royal Caribbean Cruise Lines, Part of the Oath, Bill Evans Dance Company, Ten31, Fusionworks Dance Co., and Urbanity Dance. These early opportunities have led Devon to where he is now, which is a company member with the world-renowned Koresh Dance Company for 6 years. As a performer with Koresh, Devon has been performing to sold out audiences nationally and internationally.
Devon is currently a director and elite judge for one of the largest dance competitions in the USA, Starbound National Talent Competition. When not spending the weekend with Koresh or Starbound, Devon shares his broad knowledge and talents teaching & choreographing at studios, conventions and universities across the United States and abroad.
Photo by: Contigo Photos + Films
Paige Devitt, Dancer
Paige Devitt, originally from Detroit, Michigan recently graduated with a Bachelor in Fine Arts in Dance from Point Park University. There she performed works by Adam Hougland, Sonya Tayeh, Alexandra Damiani, Jessica Hendricks, Troy Powell, and Garfield Lemonius. In 2017, Paige had the opportunity to perform works by Paul Lightfoot & Sol León and Václav Kuneš at Nederlands Dans Theater Summer Intensive, as well as a work by Ohad Naharin at Springboard Danse Montreal. She has also trained at programs such as Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Movement Invention Project, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Paige joined Koresh Dance Company in 2018 and has now toured nationally and internationally. In addition to performing, she shares her expertise through teaching and choreographing for both young students and university settings, nurturing their growth and creativity in dance.
Photo by: Contigo Photos + Films
Sarah Shaulis, Dancer
Sarah Shaulis started dancing at a young age in Chester County, Pennsylvania. Throughout the years she has studied at numerous dance studios within the area as well as performing as a child actress and dancer at several professional theaters such as Hershey's music box Theater. In 2012, Sarah began her pre-professional training in the Koresh Youth Ensemble under the direction of Melissa Rector, Assistant Artistic Director of Koresh Dance Company. In 2017, she was offered an apprenticeship with Koresh Dance Company and continued her training with Roni Koresh, director of the company. As she continues to perform and tour, she also teaches and choreographs in and around Philadelphia area, sharing her love and passion of dance with her students. She officially joined Koresh Dance Company in 2017.
Photo by: Contigo Photos + Films
Savanna Mitchell, Dancer
Savanna was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland and began dance at the early age of three. She trained at Edna Lee Dance Studio (now Artistic Movement Academy of Dance) and studied dance in high school at George Washington Carver Center for Arts & Technology. In 2018 Savanna enrolled at Towson University where she received a BFA in Dance Performance and Choreography. While at Towson she was awarded talent scholarships and technical excellence awards by the department. Throughout her career she has been fortunate enough to attend many summer programs working with esteemed choreographers and instructors. Savanna joined Koresh Dance Company in 2022.
Photo by: Titus Touch Photography
Mia Davis, Dancer
Mia Davis grew up in Swarthmore, Pennsylvania and started ballet classes at 10 years old. She is a graduate and scholarship recipient of Point Park University with a BFA in Dance and a concentration in modern. She has had the opportunity to train at The Ailey School, BalletX, Koresh Dance Company, Philadelphia Ballet, and The University of the Arts and is now an apprentice with the Koresh Dance Company. Some choreographers she has had the pleasure to work with include LeeWei Chao, Christopher Huggins, Penny Saunders, Matthew Neenan, Levi Marsman, and Rob Priore.
Kevin Ocampo, Dancer
Kevin Ocampo is from the Chicago area where they started their dance training at the age of 14. They are a graduate of Point Park University receiving a BFA in Dance in April of 2023. Over the years, Kevin has had the opportunity to attend training programs at Whim W’him and Ballet Hispanico. They have performed works by Jae Man Joo, Twyla Tharp, Norbet De La Cruz III, LeeWei Chao, Justin Peck, and many more. Additionally, Kevin has performed several works with The Pillow Projects and in the opera production of ‘Idaspe’ with Quantum Theatre. Most recently, Kevin has joined Koresh Dance Company and is looking forward for the upcoming season!
Owen Whetstone, Apprentice
Originally from California, Owen Whetstone started training dance at the age of 14. Owen studied at the University of the Arts, where they had the opportunity to perform works by Katie Swords-Thurman, Tommie Waheed-Evans, Sidra Bell, Sara Procopio, Shayla-vie Jenkins, Jesse Zaritt, and Kyle and Dinita Clark. Alongside being a dancer, Owen is a lighting designer and stagehand. They worked as part of the production team at the American Dance Festival in 2022, and have designed lights for Mark Caserta, Mikey Morado, and close to 40 Senior Thesis works with the UArts School of Dance.
“With engaging performances and technically superb dancers, Koresh Dance Company has been hailed internationally, touring to destinations including Spain, Turkey, Israel, South Korea, Mexico, and Guatemala.”