2025 – 2026
| When | Who | Grade Level |
| Jan 6-12 | Brian McGinnis | Middle School |
| Jan 12-16 | Olga Wise | High School |
| Jan 26-30 | Jordan Maria Giancursio | Middle School |
| Jan 26-30 | Abbey Wood | High School |
| Feb 9-13 | Jatae Bryant | High School |
| Feb 23-27 | James Jiang | Middle School |
| Feb 23-27 | Rachel Abelenda | High School |
Guest Bios:
Coming Soon…..
Brian McGinnis
Brian MсGinnis loves being a dancer. Brian began dancing with Jo Ann
Warren in Worcester, Massachusetts, USA. He graduated from The
Juilliard School under Benjamin Harkavy’s directorship with a Bachelor
of Fine Arts in Dance. Brian immersed himself in the NYC-based
companies of Lar Lubovitch, David Parsons, Elisa Monte, Zvi Gotheiner,
and Jacqulyn Buglisi for many years. In Chicago, he toured with
Hubbard Street Dance in 1997 and, more recently, on faculty at ChiArts,
Chicago’s Public Performing Arts High School, and Visceral Dance
Center in the heart of the windy city. Brian has had the honor to
perform at Jacob’s Pillow, The Cultural Center of the Philippines, The
Bolshoi Theatre, Moscow, Palacio de Bellas Artes, Mexico City, the
American Dance Festival, Durham, NC, Lincoln Center, The Joyce
Theatre, the NYCity Center, The Kennedy Center, the Chicago Dancing
Festival at Millennium Park, The Shubert Theatre, Boston, The Spoleto
Festival, Italy and many more. During those informative years, he self-
produced workshops, masterclasses, and performance residencies,
gaining a deeper perspective on dance and its impact on him both
creatively and pedagogically—leading him to graduate school at the
University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee, where, in 2017, he earned his
Master of Fine Arts Degree in Dance. That same year, he joined the
Boston Conservatory at Berklee’s Dance Department as an associate
professor of dance, where he serves as the Artistic Director of the
Senior Performance Project /Forward, instructs Senior Modern Dance
Technique, First-Year and Third-Year Dance Composition, and the
Professional Seminar course. Brian produces concerts for his
choreography classes. He celebrates over five years of collaborating
and presenting original dance and music performances with the Music
Composition Department at Berklee College of Music. In 2020, he was
the creative director for the intro-film for the conservatory’s honorary
doctorate, Mikhail Baryshnikov. He is a faculty mentor and rehearsal
director and has received the student-nominated Best of Berklee
Award and Dance Conservatory Teacher of the Year award. He was also
awarded a Faculty Travel Grant and Faculty Development Fellowship
from Berklee College of Music to conduct pedagogical research for his
evolving McGinnis Method. Brian holds an Associate’s Degree in
Occupational Science for Massage Therapy from The Swedish Institute
in NYC and is a Massachusetts State Licensed Massage Therapist.
Olga Wise
Olga Tchoub Wise is a native of Moscow, Russia. Mrs. Wise graduated from the Bolshoi
Choreographic Institute with a Masters Degree in the Fine Arts. In 1990 she accepted an offer
to join the Moscow Classical Ballet as a soloist. She went on to work as a Principal Dancer
with internationally known dancers and companies. She is a highly sought-after Master Teacher
and Choreographer, and has frequently judged classical ballet competitions. In 1994 Olga Wise
started working with Robert Ivey in Charleston SC. They continued to work together on
projects all the way until his death in 2011. Upon his death Olga and her husband Michael
continued Robert Ivey’s legacy by preserving the Robert Ivey Ballet. Since 2011 they have
produced dancers for major ballet companies and helped nurture the love of dance in
countless individuals all over the country.
Jordan Maria Giancursio
A native of Charleston, in 2012 Jordan launched her dancing career at 14 years old with Moranz Entertainment, and is happy to still be performing with them 12 years later. Jordan attended the Charleston County School of the Arts and is a graduate of the College of Charleston, double majoring in Dance and Theatre. Jordan is a company member of Annex Dance Company, and has proudly been apart of the company for 3 years. Along with this she has performed with Pauletta Washington and The Charleston Pops. Jordan’s work has engaged a form of video artistry that is a collaboration of storytelling and dance. Projects have included working with award winning artists Marcus Amaker and Ranky Tanky, Wade Davis (CNN), Gino Castillo (Cha Cha Charleston). Jordan has also created visual works such as Glory Comes, Selah, and an Apple marketing campaign. Her choreography has been seen the last year with musicals such as Daniel and the Kings Musical, Joseph and the Technicolor Dream Coat, Sound of Music and now Anastasia with the SOA vocal department. Jordan was recently able to partner with the IAAM museum for the Juneteenth festival, as well as a few other solo performances this past summer. Jordan is excited to be joining SOA Dance in another residency and cannot wait to work with your incredible students!!
Abbey Wood
Abbey is a certified TCRG and co-owner/director of Legacy Savannah and Charleston, a born Texan, she grew up in Augusta GA. She began dancing at age 6 and became one of the first four champion dancers in the region. In 1996 after qualifying at the Eastern Region Oireachtas in NY, she became the first girl from the South to qualify and compete at the World Championships in Dublin, Ireland.
After reaching her goal of the “Worlds”, Abbey then turned her focus on teaching. While most of her dancing friends continued competing or performing in shows, Abbey opened the Glor nah’Eireann (Pride of Ireland) School of Irish Dance. She became the first certified instructor (Teagascóir Choimisiúin le Rinci Gaelacha – Commission Certified Irish Dance Teacher) from the Southern Region.
Abbey has produced her own award winning material, and her dancers have performed wtih lead dancers from Lord of the Dance, Magic of the Dance, Riverdance, Cherish the Ladies, The Chieftains, Lehey, Seven Nations, Eileen Ivers, and Celtic Crossroads.
Abbey possesses an intense work ethic, professional teaching style mixed with an infectious love of Irish Culture that continually produces Champions and motivates all of her dancers to reach their personal goals!
Abbey has partnered with JL Morgan to create Morgan Legacy.
Jatae Bryant
Jatae is a passionate dance teacher with 25 years of experience in styles ranging from ballet, jazz,
hip-hop, contemporary, tap, lyrical, modern, pointe and pom. She believes that dance is a
powerful form of expression that fosters creativity, discipline, and confidence in students of all ages.
Jatae received her training from early beginnings as a competitive dancer in the Charleston area.
After graduating from high school, she went on to obtain her bachelor’s degree from Clemson
University where she was a member of The Rally Cats Dance Team. She then went on to
perform with The National Basketball Association with the Houston Rockets. Along with her
time as a team performer she has done work with reputable choreographers and companies in
various gigs bringing a wealth of performance experience.
In her teaching, Jatae strives to emphasize a strong technical foundation and versatility in
dancers.
James Jiang
James Jiang is a professional dance instructor and choreographer based in Charleston, SC.
Originally from China, he has dedicated his career to helping students experience dance as
both an art form and a joyful expression of life.
James has been invited to perform at cultural and artistic events throughout Charleston and
has taught gifted students in the Charleston County School of the Arts for many years. His
teaching emphasizes rhythm, partnership, and creativity, encouraging dancers to move with
authenticity rather than focusing on rigid perfection.
Known for his warm and supportive approach, James helps students build confidence,
artistry, and connection through dance. As a guest artist with the School of the Arts in
February 2026, he looks forward to inspiring middle school students to explore the beauty
of movement and carry its joy into their daily lives.
Rachel Abelenda
Rachel Abelenda is a Miami-based dancer, teacher, and current company member with STYX the
Company. With over 20 years of experience in contemporary, modern, hip hop, and fusion styles, she
brings a versatile and passionate approach to both performing and teaching.
She trained at A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts and the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, and has
performed around the U.S.—from Santa Fe and Los Angeles to Charleston and Miami, including a
performance with Coldplay. Rachel has taught at Miami City Ballet and Broward College, and also trained with Ballet Nacional de Cuba during a summer intensive.
Rachel’s classes are rooted in strong technical foundation and musicality, blended with expressive freedom and movement exploration. She is passionate about creating space for dancers to connect deeply with both their physicality and artistry.
SOA DANCE 