10/05/2026
Range of Motion Dance is proud to offer a one of kind Training Program designed to give the necessary training to students wishing to pursue a professional dance career or acceptance into a college program.
Under the director on CeCe Farha, our PROFO (Professional Focus) program offers gifted students who wish to take their dance training to the highest level or hope to pursue a career in dance the opportunity to study at a professionally focused level.
In addition to their regular technique classes which meet two to four days a week, students receive an additional two-hour ballet technique class followed by various specialty classes such as Ballet Variation, Pas de Deux, Character, Flamenco, Modern, Jazz, Women’s Variations and Men’s Variations. Faculty and Guest Artists will offer expertise in each discipline.
PROFO also assists students with career planning by offering workshops and resources on resume writing and the audition/job search process, providing contacts for audition photos, and through individual counseling/conferences.
In September students were honored to take classes with Ryland Acree and Gabrielle Mengden.
About Ryland Acree
Ryland Acree III is a teacher, choreographer, and international performing artist. Originally from Floyd, Virginia, Ryland began his dance education at the age of nine, going on to train with instructors such as Peter Boal, Olivier Muñoz, Le Yin, Alexei Kremnev, Michele Plescia, and Sandra Meythaler. His early dedication and talent earned him full scholarships to attend summer intensives at prestigious institutions including Boston Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, where he graduated from the Professional Division.
Throughout his career, Ryland has performed with companies such as the Oklahoma City Ballet, Alberta Ballet, and Ballet San Antonio. His repertoire includes works by renowned choreographers such as Gerald Arpino, Septime Webre, Edwaard Liang, Jessica Lang, Jean-Christophe Maillot, Stephen Mills, Bruce Wells, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Brian Enos, Val Caniparoli, Twyla Tharp, and George Balanchine.
As a choreographer, he has created new works for professional ballet companies, digital media, museum programing, fundraising events, competition solos, and ensembles. He was invited to represent the United States in the prestigious USA International Ballet Competition XII, globally recognized as the “Olympics of ballet”.
Ryland's passion for education was ignited during his participation in the S.T.E.P.S. outreach program at Orlando Ballet under the guidance of Olivier Muñoz and Gonzalo Espinoza. While a student at Pacific Northwest Ballet, he served as a teaching assistant for the Dance Chance men's division class under Kiyon Gaines. He later went on to teach for the School of Ballet San Antonio, Oklahoma City Ballet's Yvonne Chouteau School, and to direct Chattanooga Ballet’s School.
With his extensive background in both performance and education, Ryland Acree III brings a wealth of knowledge and dedication to fostering the next generation of dancers. He is honored to share his expertise and love for dance, inspiring students to embrace the power of the arts in their lives.
About Gabrielle Mengden
Gabrielle Mengden trained at the Allegro West Academy of Dance in their hometown of Houston, Texas before training on scholarship at Houston Ballet and later at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School. In 2015, Mengden performed by invitation at the International Ballet Festival of Havana in Cuba. During this time, they won various awards in competitions including Youth America Grand Prix, New York City Danc Alliance, and Dance Masters of America – Grand National Champion – Finals.
In 2018, Mengden attended Oklahoma City Ballet’s summer intensive and was invited to join the studio company in 2018. Mengden was an apprentice for the 2019/20 season, was promoted to the corps de ballet in 2020, and was promoted to soloist in 2023.
During her time at Oklahoma City Ballet, they performed in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), August Bournonville’s La Sylphide, Cayetano Soto’s Adam, Michael Pink’s Dracula, Robert Mill’s The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, The Firebird, Pushing Pennies Pas de Deux, and The Little Mermaid.
Mengden also performed in Jonathan Batista’s Atè, Jerome Robbins’ 2 & 3 Part Inventions, Jessica Lang’s To Familiar Spaces in Dream, Nicolo Fonte’s Of Dreams and Dice, Benjamin Tucker’s Analog Form, Sarah Tallman’s Love in a Jukebox, Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye’s Playlist, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, and Giselle, Alexandra Schooling’s Automatic Rag, Alejandro González’s, The Band, Dayoung Jung’s Composition, Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, Twyla Tharp’s The Golden Section, George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, Stephanie Martinez’s Kiss, and Stephen Mills’ Hamlet.
