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Jo-Ann's Biography

1983 Jo-Ann is born in Pompano Beach, Florida 

1986 Jo-Ann reveals: "When I grow up, I want to be a Prima Dona Ballerina!"

1987 She begins dance training at the Dance Academy of Deerfield Beach

1990 June Taylor, chooses Jo-Ann  to dance in "Children of the World" 

        Jo-Ann is invited to dance at Joe Robbie Stadium on July 4th

1991 Liana Navarro impressed by Jo-Ann's talent begins to coach her 

        Jo-Ann joins "Liana's selected workshop" group

1993 Jo-Ann's group invited  to perform in "Ms. Dancer Scholarship Pageant"

        Group First place in  Star Power "93 regional competition" in Miami

        Group First place in Star Power "93 Orlando national competition"

        Group First place in the "Battle of the Stars" with an overwhelming perfect score! 

        She becomes a member of the "Fort Lauderdale Ballet Classique"

        Danced the role of "Jewels"  in Vivian Tobio's Productions of "Aladdin"

1994 Performed in Vivian Tobio's Ballet School Productions of "Snow White"

1995 Performed in Vivian Tobio's Ballet School Productions of "Annie"

1996 Danced the role of "The Moon"  in Vivian Tobio's Productions of "Pocahontas"

        Auditioned for Boston Ballet School - Accepted with full scholarship

        Auditioned for Houston Ballet School - Accepted with full scholarship

        Auditioned for Nutmeg Ballet School - Accepted with partial scholarship

        Auditioned for Harid Conservatory - Accepted with partial scholarship

1997 Auditioned for Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division

        Accepted into full time program at R.W.B. Professional Division

        Danced as full time student for R.W.B.

1998 Received Scholarship for R.W.B.

1999 Danced the role of "Shepardess" in school's production of "Fairy Doll"

2000 Received Endowment Award, tuition scholarship

        Performed in R.W.B. School's production of "Grande Defile Classique"

2001 Received the "Prince Edward Award"

        Danced the role of "Beauty" in R.W.B. Production of "Beauty and the Beast"

2002 Finalist in the "Youth America Grand Prix" in New York City

        Danced the role of "Kitri" in the "Don Quixote Pas de Deux"

        Performed in "La Sylphide" staged by Eva Evdokimova, in Winnipeg

        Graduated with distinction from R.W.B. Professional Division

        Joins the "Royal Winnipeg Ballets Aspirant Program"

        Chosen along with 15 others to perform for Queen Elizabeth II at the "Queen's Golden Jubilee"

        Performed in the Royal Winnipeg Ballets version of "Nutcracker"

              Danced the roles of "Snow, Russian, and Fairytale Creature"

2003 Performed in RWB's "Swan Lake" staged by Galina Yordonova

        Chosen to perform as one of the four "Cygnets"

         Performed in RWB's Aspirant Showcase "On the Edge" dancing "BlackSwan Variation

               Kafka Fragments" a modern piece choreographed by Josee Garant and "Free Zone"

               a jazz piece choreographed by former principal dancer Jorden Morris

        Performed in RWB's "Swan Lake"

        Performed in the "3rd annual HeadStart Feet First Program"

        Began apprenticeship with RWB Company

        Performed in RWB's "Nutcracker"

2004 Invited to perform as a part of "Sequitur and Groundswell New Music Series" in New York City

        Performed in Josee Garant’s "Recitations"    

        Performed in Mauricio Wainrot’s "Carmina Burana"

        Performed in "Romeo and Juliet"

        On tour to Beijing, Shanghai, and Guangzhou in China

               Performed in Marc Godden’s "Dracula"

        Performed lead role in Jorden Morris’s "Grand Defile Classique"

               and "Aurora’s Variation" from Act. III of "The Sleeping Beauty",

               in RWB’s annual production of "Ballet in the Park"

        Promoted to RWB's "Corps de Ballet"

        On tour in the Canadian Maritimes: Performed in Marc Godden’s "The Magic Flute"

        Performed in Val Caniparoli’s "A Cinderella Story"

        Performed in RWB's "Nutcracker"

2005 On tour in Ottawa, Canada. Performed in "Carmina Burana"

        Performed in RWB’s "Raymonda" and "Rodeo"

        Performed soloist roles in the RWB’s "The Sleeping Beauty"

               including the Diamond Fairy and the Fairy of Generosity

        Acted the role of "Navigator" in "The Magic Flute Film"

               (aired on CBC’s Opening Night Feb. 2006)

        Performed the principal role in "Paquita", a part of RWB’s annual production of "Ballet in the Park"

        Performed in "Dracula"

        Performed in RWB's "Nutcracker"

2006 On tour in the Central U.S.A.. Performed in "The Magic Flute"      

        Performed in Mauricio Wainrot’s "The Messiah"

        Performed in RWB's "Swan Lake"

        Worked behind the scenes on “Ballet Girls”,  (aired on Bravo! December 2006)

        – Performed in Val Caniparol's “A Cinderella Story”

        – Performed as Tinkerbell in Jorden Morris's “Peter Pan”

2007 – On tour in Ottawa, Canada. Performed as a step sister in Val Caniparoli's A "Cinderella Story"

        – On tour in Eastern U.S.A. Performed in “Dracula”

        – Worked with choreographer Mark Godden, and dancer Robert Conn to stage ballets to

               be performed later in the season

        – Performed as one of the Glamazons in Mark Godden's “The Magic Flute”

        – Awarded a Gemini Award for Best Performance in a Performing Arts Program or Series

               for "The Tale of the Magic Flute"

        – On tour in Western Canada. Performed in “The Messiah” and “Dracula”

        – Performed in repertoire series Winnipeg IV dancing in “Our Waltzes”, “Angels in the Architecture”

               and “Hikarizatto”

        – On (independent) tour to Mexico City, Colima, Queretaro, Mazatlan, Morelia, and Leon in Mexico.

               Performed in “Black Swan Pas de Deux” and “Don Quixote Suite”

        – July – Promoted to Second Soloist with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet

        – October – In Winnipeg, Canada. Performed in "Carmen, the Passion" choreographed by Mauricio Wainrot

        – December  – On tour in Ottawa, Canada. Performed in "Nutcracker"

                Played roles of 'Aunt Josephine', 'Snowflakes', 'Russian pas de trois' and 'Sugar Plum Fairy'

2008 – January – On tour in Ottawa, Canada. Performed in "Carmen, the Passion"

        – February On tour in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, U.S.A. Performed the role of 'Glamazon' in "The Magic Flute"

        March  On tour in British Columbia and in Winnipeg, Canada.

                Performed in "The Sleeping Beauty", staged by Anna-Marie Holmes in the roles of

                'Fairy of Generosity', 'Aurora's Friends', 'Nymphs in the Forest', 'Diamond Fairy' and 'Blue Bird pas de deux'

        April On tour in Manitoba and Saskatchewan, Canada. Performed in "Carmen, the Passion"

        May In Winnipeg, Canada. Performed in "All Balanchine", staged by Joysanne Sidimus

                featuring three of George Balanchine's famous works:

                Performed 'Second Violin' in "Concerto Barrocco",  'Russian Girl' in "Serenade", 'Melancholic'

                and 'Flegmatic' in "Four Temperaments"

        August  Guest Teacher for the Dance Intensive Summer Program at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School.

                Taught Repertoire class to the highest level of students, staging Swan Lake Act II

        September – On tour in Calgary, Edmonton, Regina, and Saskatoon, Canada.

                Performed in "Peter Pan", as 'Tinkerbell', choreographed by Jorden Morris

        October In Winnipeg, Canada. Performed in "Carmina Burana", choreographed by Mauricio Wainrot

                and "Seventh Symphony", choreographed by Toor van Schayk

        November – On tour in Los Angeles, California, Minneapolis, Minnesota, U.S.A., and Brandon, Canada.

                Performed in George Balanchine's "Concerto Barrocco" and Mauricio Wainrot's "Carmina Burana"

        December – In Winnipeg, Canada. Performed in "Peter Pan"

2009 – January – In Ottawa, Canada. Performed in "Peter Pan"

        – February  – In Cancun, Mexico. Invited to perform as a guest artist in "Gala de Danza"

                Performed in "Diana and Acteon pas de deux" and "Corsaire Variation"

        – March  – In Winnipeg, Canada. Performed in Rudi van Dantzig's "Romeo and Juliet."

                Played the roles of 'Juliet's bridesmaid', 'young girl at the ball' and performed in the 'Mandolin Dance'

                On tour in British Columbia, Canada. Performing Jorden Morris's "Peter Pan"

        To be continued ...

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