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JENNIFER OWEN
Co-Founder, Artistic Director Jennifer Owen is the Artistic Director of Owen/Cox Dance Group, an ensemble she co-founded with composer Brad Cox in 2007. She has choreographed over fifty new works for Owen/Cox Dance Group, including two commissions by the Nelson-Atkins Museum of Art, and works commissioned by Island Moving Co. of Newport, RI, Kansas City Dance Festival, Kansas City Baroque Consortium, and Kansas City Chamber Orchestra. She has also created nine new works for Kansas City Ballet's In the Wings choreographic workshop, and a winning entry for the 2006 Columbus Choreography Project. Owen is the recipient of a 2000 Princess Grace Honorarium. Prior to founding Owen/Cox Dance Group, Owen enjoyed a 13-year international ballet career. After training with Pacific Northwest Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, she went on to dance with the Russian State Ballet, Moscow Renaissance Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Hong Kong Ballet, BalletMet, and was a guest artist with the National Ballet of Turkmenistan. She has performed principal roles in Giselle, Don Quixote, George Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and Donizetti Variations, and the central pas de deux in Todd Bolender's Arena. |
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STACY BUSCH
Operations Manager Stacy Busch is a composer and performer. Stacy is the founder and president of No Divide KC, an arts non-profit that creates events for social causes. Stacy's work has been performed nationally and throughout Kansas City. Stacy is a 2020 Charlotte Street Generative Performing Artist Fellow. She has received grants from ArtsKC, Charlotte Street Foundation, ArtSounds and the UMKC Women's Council. Stacy received her MM in composition from the University of Missouri-Kansas City and her BM in composition from Western Michigan University. |
MARCUS OATIS
Rehearsal Director
Mr. Oatis began his dance education with the summer program Ailey Camp and his music education under the tutelage of his grandfather Sylvester Heath. These experiences afforded Mr. Oatis the opportunity to study at additional programs to include Smith Sisters Dance Studio, The Center Dance, Kansas City Ballet, the Ailey School, and Paseo Academy of the Fine and Performing Arts. In 2008, Mr. Oatis joined the Kansas City Ballet as a professional ballet dancer under the direction of William Whitener. Mr. Oatis was able to perform works by esteemed choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Bruce Marks, Peter Martins, Robert Hill, Ib Anderson, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, and Yuri Possokhov. After retiring from the stage, Mr. Oatis was appointed the Johnson County Campus Manager and later the Principal of the Lower School for Kansas City Ballet School. Additionally, Mr. Oatis has taught dance classes to students of all ages at various studios as a guest and faculty member to include Omaha Academy of Ballet, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Ailey Camp, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Kansas City Ballet School. Mr. Oatis has also served as a Treasurer, Deacon, and Administrator at New City Church.In 2013, Mr. Oatis founded Providence School of Arts. As a native resident of Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Oatis is committed to contributing to the development and growth of the Metro area.
Rehearsal Director
Mr. Oatis began his dance education with the summer program Ailey Camp and his music education under the tutelage of his grandfather Sylvester Heath. These experiences afforded Mr. Oatis the opportunity to study at additional programs to include Smith Sisters Dance Studio, The Center Dance, Kansas City Ballet, the Ailey School, and Paseo Academy of the Fine and Performing Arts. In 2008, Mr. Oatis joined the Kansas City Ballet as a professional ballet dancer under the direction of William Whitener. Mr. Oatis was able to perform works by esteemed choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Bruce Marks, Peter Martins, Robert Hill, Ib Anderson, George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, and Yuri Possokhov. After retiring from the stage, Mr. Oatis was appointed the Johnson County Campus Manager and later the Principal of the Lower School for Kansas City Ballet School. Additionally, Mr. Oatis has taught dance classes to students of all ages at various studios as a guest and faculty member to include Omaha Academy of Ballet, Kansas City Friends of Alvin Ailey, Ailey Camp, University of Missouri-Kansas City, and the Kansas City Ballet School. Mr. Oatis has also served as a Treasurer, Deacon, and Administrator at New City Church.In 2013, Mr. Oatis founded Providence School of Arts. As a native resident of Kansas City, Missouri, Mr. Oatis is committed to contributing to the development and growth of the Metro area.
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CHRISTINE COLBY JAQUES
Rehearsal Director Ms. Colby Jacques comes to the Midwest from New York City where she debuted on Broadway as a principle in the original cast of Bob Fosse's Dancin'. She continued working with Mr. Fosse in the Broadway revival and First National Tour of Sweet Charity as Ursula and one of the legendary Spender Girls. Other credits: Radio City Music Hall Rockette; film - Annie, A Chorus Line; music videos; National and local TV commercials; Wolf Trap Farm Park (Dancer in Residence); Guest Artist - Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre Workshop, Kansas City Ballet (Souvenirs); Spokesperson for Danskin's The Magic of Dance hosted and narrated by Margot Fonteyne; Artist in Residence - Stephens College, K-State, College Conservatory of Music (Cincinnati); Christine continues to teach Master Classes throughout the country. |
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REBKA SAKATI
Artistic Director - Take the Stage From an early age, Rebka came to thrive in the dance studio, where beyond the study of technique, she learned some of life’s most important lessons about community, personal discipline, hard work and perseverance. She graduated cum laude from Bryn Mawr College and embarked upon a professional performing career that included Kansas City Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre, Columbia City Ballet, Ballethnic Dance Company, Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company, and Owen/Cox Dance Group. From her own personal journey, Rebka understands that engagement in the arts can be a life-changing transformative experience. With this she launched Take the Stage to offer high-quality arts education to underserved student populations. Rebka is proud to work with the outstanding artists of Owen/Cox Dance Group and the Greater Kansas City area to uplift children, and help them learn the keys to success through a dynamic and positive experience in the arts. |