COMPANY MEMBERS
Heidi Atkinson
Heidi Atkinson took her first ballet class at the age of eight in the small town of Heber, Utah. She studied at River Meadows Ballet where she trained in ballet and jazz for many years. After graduating high school, Heidi attended Brigham Young University in Provo, Utah where she received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance. While attending BYU, Heidi performed with the BYU Ballet Showcase Company for two years as well as in various student and faculty projects. She also served on the Ballet Club Council and as Ballet Showcase president. Some of her favorite ballets she has performed in are Don Quixote, Paquita, and Swan Lake. Aside from performing, Heidi has gained a passion for teaching dance and has taught in Utah for the past four years until moving to Hawaii this past summer. She joined Pas de Deux Dance Faculty in 2013. Heidi is very excited for this opportunity to work with such great dancers and choreographers!
Alyssandra (Aly) Baniqued
Alyssandra (Aly) Baniqued started dancing at the age of three. She trained with the Pacific Ballet Academy under Lee Olsen and the continued under Pamela Taylor-Tongg at Ballet Hawaii before she began dancing with Pas De Deux. She has performed in various ballets such as, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan, and Paquita. During her summers, she attended Ballet Hawaii's Summer Intensive where she trained in ballet, jazz, character, and partnering. At the age of 11, she began competing in pageants and is currently the reigning Miss Hawaii Collegiate America 2012. Through her pageant work, Aly has won eight local and state titles and placed in the top 5 at the national level. As a former student of Pas De Deux, Aly began mentoring under Annri Opitz-Kostick and starred in leading roles such as the Sugarplum Fairy in Pas De Deux's Production of the Nutcraker. Aly graduated from the American Renaissance Academy as Salutatorian in 2011, and now attends Creighton University in Omaha, Nebraska. As a member of Hui O Hawaii, she performs hula and tahitian at the University's annual luau. Aly is a dance minor and dances with the Creighton Dance Company alongside Ballet Nebraska company members.
Chandler Louque
Chandler Louque was born in a small town of Baton Rouge, Louisiana and has just recently moved to Hawaii. Chandler started her dancing career at Jean Leigh Academy of Dance at a very young age. She spent much her time dedicated to the study of dance and quickly learned, that this was her passion in life. She studied many styles of dance such as ballet, tap, jazz, and hip hop at Jean Leigh Academy of Dance for 17 years. At the age of 16, Chandler began teaching and choreographing her own classes in jazz and hip hop. Chandler was accepted to Art schools such as Joffrey Ballet, The Rock School of Ballet, and featured in Dance Spirit Magazine's Future Star Award in 2008. She has received scholarships from conventions around the country, and became one of LA Dance Magic's company assistants in 2008. While touring with LA Dance Magic, she had the privilege of traveling the country, studying under various artists, and getting to experience dance in a whole new way. To continue her love and learning of dance, she plans to finish her Bachelor's Degree in Dance at the University of Hawaii in 2016.
Janelah Villanueva (Junior Company Member)
Janelah Villanueva started learning ballet at the age of five with Ballet Hawaii. She continued her ballet training with Pas De Deux Hawaii at the age of 11 under Annri Opitz-Kostick. Moreover, she learned other dance genres such as Jazz, Contemporary and Hip Hop. In June 2014, Janelah received the Ballet Dancer of the Year award and earned a Dance Scholarship from Pas De Deux Hawaii. She participated the Spotlight Dance Cup in 2014 and was in the Top Ten Solo Finalists. She joined Balance Forward as a junior company member in 2014 and had her premiere performance with the company in "The Godfather" June 2015.
Jeffrey Harkleroad (Guest Performer)
Jeffrey Harkleroad was born in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. As a young child Jeffrey was interested in dancing and the arts. He graduated from the Hawai'i Preparatory Academy as class of 2005 and was introduced to ballet starting
school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that fall and graduating in 2012. Jeffrey's development of this beautiful and demanding art form continued concurrently with Susan Quong of Ballet Hawaii and dominantly John Landovsky of
Hawaii State Ballet. During his time dancing under Mr. Landovsky, Jeffrey expanded his technical standing while developing artistic ability. In 2010, Jeffrey proudly performed in HSB's annual Nutcracker as the Snow King, and has
danced many roles, including Mouse King, Arabian, Spanish, and Cavalier. He is extremely humbled and honored to have the opportunity to share his passion for dance with Pas De Deux and Balance Forward Contemporary Ballet Theatre.
school at the University of Hawaii at Manoa that fall and graduating in 2012. Jeffrey's development of this beautiful and demanding art form continued concurrently with Susan Quong of Ballet Hawaii and dominantly John Landovsky of
Hawaii State Ballet. During his time dancing under Mr. Landovsky, Jeffrey expanded his technical standing while developing artistic ability. In 2010, Jeffrey proudly performed in HSB's annual Nutcracker as the Snow King, and has
danced many roles, including Mouse King, Arabian, Spanish, and Cavalier. He is extremely humbled and honored to have the opportunity to share his passion for dance with Pas De Deux and Balance Forward Contemporary Ballet Theatre.
