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
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!
– 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
– 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
–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
...
