SDA's Faculty

CLASSROOM ASSISTANTS

Gabriela Bendele
Amy Burke
Emily Burke
Cailee Clarke
Chelsea Cockburn
Claire Cook

Kendra Feazel Meiki
Owner/Director of Shreveport Dance Academy

A third generation native of Shreveport, Louisiana, Mrs. Meiki began her dance training in 1982. She assumed the position of artistic director of the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet in 2001. Her formal training began under the direction of Marion Mills, former director of the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet, as well as various workshops, offered by world-renowned masters such as Jilana, David Howard, Ekatrina Maximova throughout the years. Kendra has performed with the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet since 1985 and as a principal dancer since 1994. Kendra has danced principal roles in many classical ballets, such as, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Gaite Parisienne, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Rodeo, Giselle, Pas de Quatre, Les Sylphides, Stars and Stripes, Graduation Ball, and Firebird.

Mrs. Meiki has over 13 years teaching experience in the Shreveport/Bossier area. In 1999, Kendra focused her energies towards becoming an accomplished teacher and choreographer, when she became owner/director of Shreveport Dance Academy, where she insists on quality dance instruction for all ages. In 2005, Shreveport Dance Academy broadened its horizons by forming a group of Competition/Performance Ensembles for jazz and tap. Since their beginnings, the ensembles have swept the competitions winning gold, platinum, and critic’s choice awards. Kendra served as Rehearsal Assistant for the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet from 1999-2001. In 2001 she assumed the position of Artistic Director of the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet. She is a registered Teacher with the Royal Academy of Dance of London, one of only a handful within the state. Kendra Meiki is currently a Certificate of Ballet Teaching Studies Mentor for the Royal Academy of Dance and is a Practical Teaching Supervisor for two aspiring teachers. She served as a faculty member (2003-2004) of the Kinesiology and Health Science Department at LSU- Shreveport. Kendra is pursing advanced training with the Royal Academy of Dance.

Since 2001, she has established herself as a prominent member of the Shreveport arts community, demonstrating her commitment to the future of dance thru new work and education. Kendra has been most noted in the Shreveport community for Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet’s collaboration with the Shreveport Symphony in its new works of Snow White in 2003 and Wizard of Oz in 2006.

Kendra Meiki is the adored wife Gabe Meiki, and the Mother of two beautiful children, Jordan Grace and Christian Gabriel.

KEELEY LARNED PRATT

Kelly Larned Pratt was born and raised in Plano, Texas, where she studied dance for thirteen years with Dianna Nelson and Kim Heinschield. She received a B.A. in Interdisciplinary Studies with emphasis on art, dance, and music from Centenary College in May of 2001. While at Centenary, Keeley served three years as the president of the Escaped Images Dance Company, was a member and captain of the Leading Ladies Danceline, and performed with the Centenary College Choir all four years. During her time in the choir, she represented Centenary on international trips to South Africa and England, in addition to entertaining the President of the United States at the White House. Since graduating, she has choreographed the Shreveport Opera’s production of Sussanah and Gilbert & Sullivan’s The Sorcerer. She also produced, directed, and choreographed Cope Middle School’s That Cougar Beat as part of a grant project for the Bossier Arts Council. Keeley also completed a grant for the Shreveport Regional Arts Council, where she taught dance to fifth graders in three local schools. She served as the director of the Centenary Leading Ladies Danceline for five years and is the Financial Aid Assistant at Centenary College. Keeley is completing her fifth year of dance instruction in both tap and jazz at Shreveport Dance Academy and has almost eight years of overall teaching experience. In addition, she is responsible for choreographing the studio’s tap ensemble groups. Keeley is married to Centenary alum David Pratt. They have a spirited three-year-old daughter named Addison Lynn, and an ever-changing one year old daughter named Morgan Marie.

Rebecca Bundrick

Rebecca Bundrick began her dance training at the age of 6 and has studied under Renee Cheveallier, Ginger Folmer, Adrienne Brooks, Emily Huber, Marion Mills, and Celia Mills. She received a B.A. in Dance from Centenary College of Louisiana this year. She was a five year member of Escaped Images Dance Company and served as Vice President for one year. She attended five American College Dance Festivals, receiving instruction from renowned professors of dance from all over the United States. Rebecca also attended the Royal Academy of Dance's summer intensive in Long Beach, CA. She has choreographed three pieces for Centenary College's spring concert and is extremely passionate about growing as a dance instructor and choreographer.
"The dancer's body is simply the luminous manifestation of the soul." - Isadora Duncan

Elizabeth Aillet Morales

Elizabeth Aillet Morales, a Shreveport native, began her dance training at the age of 5 and continued to graduate with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Texas. After graduation, Elizabeth moved to New York City where she spent 5 years in the Big Apple. While in New York, she worked for Carnival Cruise Lines, was a back up dancer for and up and coming recoding artist, and performed in many independent shows and venues. New York City is also where she met her wonderful husband, Mike Morales.

Elizabeth is completing her 4th year of teaching Jazz, Hip Hop, and Pilates at Shreveport Dance Academy and has over 12 years of teaching experience. She is also responsible for coaching and choreographing for the Jazz Ensembles of Shreveport Dance Academy and is also Production Director for the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet.

Elizabeth is happily married to Mike Morales and is the proud mother of their beautiful daughter, Mikayla Elizabeth.

Blair Bryson

Blair Bryson received her training from Marion Mills, Adrienne Brooks, Kendra Meiki, and Joseph Giacobbe, among others. She has completed all major RAD exams and is an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance. She has attended numerous summer workshops around the United States, and was able to observe classes at School of American Ballet in New York this spring. Blair has performed with the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet since 1988. A graduate of Centenary College and LSU School of Dentistry, she practices dentistry in Shreveport.

Emily Young

Emily Young began her dance training at the age of three with Dance Arts Studio where she studied under the direction of Frank Vega and Aaron Girlinghouse. She began studying with the Shreveport Dance Academy in 2004 where she received training under Kendra Meiki, Adrienne Brooks, Kathryn Drake, and Elizabeth Morales.

She joined the Shreveport Metropolitan Ballet in 2005 where she has danced numerous roles in such ballets as Ballet Under the Stars, Cinderella, Coppelia, Snow White, The Nutcracker, and The Wizard of Oz in which Emily danced the lead role of Dorothy in 2010. Emily will be dancing her fifth season with SMB this year. Emily has also been a member of the Shreveport Dance Academy’s competition teams for the past 5 years. She would like to thank Ms. Elizabeth for the wonderful time that she has had as a part of the ensembles and will greatly miss it.

Emily is now a sophomore at Louisiana State University in Shreveport where she is majoring in Fine Arts. Emily will be starting her third year of teaching this fall and hopes to continue her training and teaching at SDA.