Faculty | Premiere Dance

Elena & Vadim Serykh (Owners)

Vadim & Elena Serykh are an award-winning husband and wife acrobatic adagio dance couple. Together they have received numerous awards and honors as stars in their field in the Soviet Union and the Russian Federation. In 1997 the Couple received a Presidental Award for their outstanding contributions to the Russian Culture. Together they have performed many times for the President of Russia, including official functions at the Kremlin, and have also received an award from President Bush. Vadim's excellence in sports acrobats & tumbling earned him the distinction of Master of Sport of the Soviet Union in 1978. He was Champion of the Armed Forces of the Soviet Union and received 1st place in the Soviet Competition. Elena began performing at the age of 6 with her Professional Dance Academy School Troupe. Her training continued at the prestigious Russian Academy of Art, Theatre, and Dance. After a 25 year professional career in both teaching and performing, Elena is incredibly proud to be the owner of Premiere Dance Academy, teaching Russian technique ballet, ballroom, folk dance, contemporary and modern dance, and acrobatic Rock & Roll. Elena Serykh and her late husband, Vadim, are both professionally trained in their respective disciplines. They have performed worldwide and have received several of the highest honors available in their native country, Russia, as well as the USA. Before taking over the ownership of the studio, Elena and Vadim were the star attraction on the Branson Showboat as the acrobatic adagio dance couple for 10 years. Elena maintains a standard of excellence for the level of teaching at the studio; all of the faculty have had extensive performance and education and teaching experience and training. Elena has recently had the honor of choreographing for the Warner Brothers' Polar Express, Kenny Rogers' Toy Shoppe, and Silver Dollar City WorldFest.

Ami

Bremer

(Preschool & Combo)

Ami Bremer is the founding partner of Premiere Dance Academy, which opened in 1993. She graduated from SMSU with a BFA in Dance and danced professionally throughout the Midwest from the age of 15. Ami has been teaching dance for over 25 years in a studio setting, in National Workshops as well as at the college level. Highlights of Ami's career include professional lead roles in productions of A Chorus Line and 42nd Street as well as others. Ami enjoyed her long-running career in Branson as a Saloon Girl in Silver Dollar City and several productions on the "76 Strip". She is a Nationally Certified Clogging Instructor (C.C.I.).

Mariya

Serykh

(Contemporary)

Mariya Serykh is originally from Moscow, Russia. She made her first professional dance appearance at the young age of 4, on the Showboat Branson Belle. Since then, she has trained with world-class teachers from all over, in every style of dance possible, to eventually become a competitive dancer at Premiere Dance Academy. During her competitive career, she has won numerous National Championships, World Championship, and Choreography Awards, as well as winning the titles of Miss Dance America, Miss Nexstar, and Miss Power of Dance. She was also chosen by the Hollywood Dance Jamz Convention/Competition to become an assistant teacher with their company, traveling around the US. Her professional performances include the Silver Dollar City WorldFest, Cirque Montage, the Toy Shoppe Broadway Musical, the Showboat Branson Belle, the Texas Tenors, and most recently Hamners' Unbelievable Variety Show. Along with her long list of achievements as a dancer, she has been the featured aerialist/acrobat numerous years of her career.

Blake

Dunn

(Clogging, Hip Hop, Irish)

Blake Bartlett-Dunn is a nationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer, and instructor. She has been dancing since the age of 5 and began instructing at the age of 12. Blake's instructional and choreography abilities have catapulted her to the top of the list of America's most desired and sought after instructors. She has had the opportunity to teach in more than 25 states across the US, as well as internationally. Blake is the Director and Choreographer of the Southern Belles (2002, 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Clogging Champions of America and the 2002 & 2003, 2008, 2009, and 2010 Clogging Champions of America Team of the Year). In addition to these accomplishments, Blake was given the distinct honor of Director of the Year in 2000 by the Clogging Leaders Organization, won the Clogging Champions of America Female Soloist title in 2000, and was inducted into the National Clogging Championships Hall of Fame in 2002. In August of 2003, Blake appeared on the ABC Family television show Dance Fever. As winners of their episode, they moved on to the Grand Finals, where they placed in the top five of contestants from around the country. In the winter of 2004, Blake performed in Giddy Up, a country variety show at the Tropicana Casino & Resort in Atlantic City, New Jersey. In April 2008, Blake traveled with the Southern Belles to Oslo, Norway, to appear on an internationally televised benefit for the Norwegian Red Cross. In the summer of 2008, Blake, along with three other Southern Belles, was featured on the NBC television series America’s Got Talent, where the girls advanced to the semi-finals. In 2008, 2009 & 2010, Blake was selected by America On Stage to choreograph and instruct for their prestigious All-Around Solo program. In March of 2013, Blake was hired by Mirage Entertainment to choreograph for the Hatfield & McCoy Dinner Theater in Pigeon Forge, Tennessee. For the last 20 years, Blake, along with her sister Heather, coordinates and contracts dancers from around the country to entertain annually at Silver Dollar City in Branson, Missouri, in a show, Championship Cloggers, that features clogging and Irish Step Dance. Most recently, Herschend Family Entertainment contracted Blake as a choreographer for 2015, 2016 & 2017 Showboat Branson Belle “Celebrate America” show, which features the clogging group, Rhythm.

Ollie

Barrow

(Irish)

Ollie started dancing at a young age at the Ranger School of Dance in Dorset, UK. He studied as a Junior Associate of the Royal Ballet School & the Urdang Academy in London before completing a BA(Hons) Degree in Dance & Theatre Performance at Doreen Bird College.

He has performed & toured in many Classical Ballets, Pantomimes & Musical Theatre productions including ‘Seven Brides for Seven Brothers’ (UK Productions, UK Tour), ‘Aladdin’ (Qdos Productions), ‘Dream Party’ (Tokyo Disney National Tour Japan), and ‘Spirit of the Dance’ (Spirit Productions Worldwide Tour).

Ollie moved to Branson, MO in 2013 to continue working for Dublin Worldwide Productions at the King's Castle Theatre. He also enjoys teaching & choreographing for all ages from young children through to adults.

Gwen

Bliss

(Preschool & Level 1&2)

Gwen Bliss is originally from Poteau Oklahoma but has lived in Branson for 16 years. She attended Oklahoma City University where she attained a Bachelor in Performing Arts in Dance Performance as well as a Bachelor of Science in Health and Wellness. She has traveled all over the world, including China, Japan, Australia, Europe, Singapore, and Italy, performing in major shows. She has also performed in and managed 4 different Six Flags productions. While in Branson, she has performed in countless shows and choreographed for them as well. She is currently the dance captain and co-director of the Taylor Reed Magic Show. She resides in Branson with her 3 young children. Gwen has taught and choreographed in Branson, Springfield, OKC, and Ft. Smith, Arkansas. Gwen's forte is in Ballet and pointe as well as specializes in children's dance education.

Kristen

Dasto

(Musical Theatre)

A six-year Rockette Summer Intensive alumni, originally from Southaven, Mississippi, Kristen began dancing at the young age of two years old and hasn't stopped! She moved to New York in October of 2015 to attend the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA) where she trained with industry professionals in dance, voice, and acting. After her first year, Kristen transferred to begin her training at Broadway Dance Center (BDC) in their Training Program where she graduated with a Certificate of Completion in April 2017.

Shortly after graduating from BDC, Kristen received her certification in Classical Pilates through PowerPilates.

Kristen is currently working as the Head Dance Team Coach for Branson High School’s Dance Team, The Sweethearts. Along with choreographing all routines for the team to perform at special occasions and sporting events, she is getting her team ready for competitions with the hope of qualifying for the State Championships in the spring of 2020.

When she is not performing, she continues her own training in dance, voice, and acting as she knows always more to learn and room to grow in the arts industry.

Kristen loves helping others learn the essentials that she has learned and watched them grow to become the best they can possibly be.

Reggie

Regnell

(Tap)

Reggie Regnell has worked with a various number of notable people throughout his career. Vincent Paterson (Michael Jackson's Choreographer), Bjork, Julio Iglesias, David Morse, and Taylor Dayne, just to name a few. In addition to being a supremely gifted musician, Reggie mastered every dance style from hip hop and street to jazz and modern. His choreographic credits include great stage shows such as Wallmans Copenhagen, Onstage, Cabaret Lorensberg, and several corporate events for SKF and VOLVO around Europe. He performed in London's West End with the show Out of the Blues. Reggie founded, choreographed, and produced the tap/percussion group JEERK, which toured around the world for over ten years. Reggie has also choreographed numerous variety shows, including SIX, The Hughes Music Show, and The Haygoods in Branson, MO.

Jacqui

Bell

(Jazz)

Jacqui was born and raised in Scotland where she was professionally trained at the Scottish Ballet Company from the age of 8. At 17 Jacqui decided to broaden her training at Doreen Bird College of Performing Arts in London where she gained a musical theater degree and a teaching degree in Ballet, Tap, and Jazz.

She since has been working as a professional dancer and choreographer worldwide in theater and television from London's West End to Las Vegas, China to Brazil, national tours, and many more. She also performed on cruise ships and was involved in producing shows to entertain the military troops around the world.

Performing was what brought Jacqui to Branson to work at the Branson Variety Theater in the hit show "Spirit of the Dance" and various other productions. She continues to dance at the theater and is now their resident director and choreographer.

She is also a certified Zumba instructor now which is the newest dance fitness sensation taking the world by storm!

Claudine

Huenergardt

(Tumbling)

Claudine grew up in Rock Island, Illinois where she began gymnastics at the age of 5. She advanced to competitive gymnastics at the age of 8 where she trained at Moline Turners in Moline, Illinois. including training with the Arizona Twisters in Phoenix, AZ where she learned Nadia Comaneci dismounts along with intensive training for Junior Olympics. Claudine competed in State competitions, and at the age of 13 placed 5th all-around in the Junior Olympics. She has almost 20 years of experience teaching gymnastics and tumbling as well as numerous experience with many events in the local area with her gymnasts. Her students have opened for theaters, half time shows for NAIA basketball tournaments, pre-show for Acrobats of China, and local competitions. Claudine has always loved the sport of gymnastics and always will.