Dancers
Robert Wesner
Artistic Director
Bobby first performed at his church choir as a boy. Before any official training in anything he would put on performances for his fathers barnyard animals singing anything they would request. They later returned the favor by winning him Grand Champion Market Hog in the Ashland County Fair! The money earned would afford him an audition tour, which would prove quite profitable career wise. During his Fair going days, he also ran into the dedicated and talented Hellie Schussler who taught him to dance and encouraged and nurtured a hidden artist to explore the craft of choreography at a very young age. This, as well as many other opportunities of leadership, led to a very fast rise in the professional world. Bobby's hog money scored him a job with Ballet Arizona, under the direction of Michael Uthoff (now Ib Anderson). During his stay in Phoenix, he had the honor of working with American Classics such as Fredrick Franklin, Daniel Ezralow, Moses Pendelton of Momix, the Artistic Directors of Pilobolus, Kevin O'Day, Jowali Willa Jo Zolar of Urban Bush Woman, and his wife Brooke Wesner. Other great masterpieces that Wesner has performed are the "Profiteer" in The Greentable by Kurt Josse; "Iago" in The Moore's Pavone by Jose Limon; "Tico" in Company B by Paul Taylor, (also in Taylor's Esplanade); two works of Anthony Tudor: Lilac Garden and Leaves are Fading; and The Jester in Earnst Uthoff's Carmina Burana. Wesner has traveled with Ballet Arizona to perform in Caracas, Venezuela; Breckonridge, Colorado; and Long Beach, California. Independently, Wesner has traveled and performed with various companies all over the northeast region of the US and in Italy. He also took the opportunity to sing in nightclubs while vacationing in Bangkok and at Club Met in Tahiti! Bobby is the father of two beautiful daughters, Genevieve and Ella. The Wesners live in Ashland, Ohio and are involved in much of the dance activity that happens in North Central Ohio including Verb Ballets, Ashland Regional Ballet, and Dancing Wheels. Bobby is also Interim Artistic Director of Ashland Regional Ballet. He has maintained a choreographic relationship with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra for over seven years and is always happy and challenged returning to the stage under the baton of Robert Moody. Wesner has choreographed on Ballet Arizona, Semaphor DanceWorks, Ashland Regional Ballet, Neos Dance Theatre, Verb Ballets, and Dancing Wheels. He is credited in the creation process of Opus Cactus, choreographed by Moses Pendelton.
Brooke Wesner
Brooke started dance at the ripe old age of three! She too found and studied under Schussler for her pre-professional training. Her presence on stage has been said to offer "lyrical melodrama" and "a most prominent...elegance"(The Arizona Republic and the Arizona Daily Star). Her natural ability to emote reinforced her performance based training, giving her an opportunity to explore leading roles from a very young age. After studying with master teachers such as Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Patricia McBride, and Basil Thompson, Brooke accepted work with the Milwaukee Ballet. During her stay, she performed Michael Smuin's the Tempest; Balanchine's Serenade, and more. Brooke then moved to Ballet Arizona to dance many principal and soloist roles. Some of the highlights of her stay in Phoenix were dancing the "Snow Queen" in Ib Anderson's the Nutcracker. Her long lines and flexibility served for a beautiful "Arabian" and "Dark Angel" in Balanchine's Serenade. Brooke performed in Paul Taylor's Company B; a Soloist in Giselle; the Greentable by Kurt Josse; "Desdemona" in Jose Limon's The Moore's Pavon; Lady Lost Found by Danny Ezralow; the original "Bird" in Moses Pendelton's Opus Cactus; HELLBLONDEGROOVE by Kevin O'Day; a "Saloon Girl" in Billy the Kid (while six months pregnant); and Apollo by Balanchine. She has guessed with Momix in an international tour where she performed for the President of Italy and shared the stage with James Taylor. Brooke has appeared many times with the Phoenix Symphony Orchestra as a guest artist and with the Arizona Opera in their Aida. Her performance quality and technical stamina has intensified now that she is a mother of two and wife to Bobby. Though her focus has changed she remains dedicated to the vision of Neos Dance Theatre and is a valuable asset to its success.
Sarah Cyders
Sarah joins Neos Dance Theatre after extensive training and schooling at Point Park University where she received her BFA in Dance. Her natural ability to embrace many styles is one of the biggest assets she brings to her dancing. She too grew up training at Opus II dance Studio under Hellie Schussler and reaped the benefits of many performance opportunities from a very young age. Her dedication to dance and her beautiful quality of movement were obvious in her young portrayal of "Clara" in Ashland Regional Ballets the Nutcracker. Other performance opportunities for Sarah came through Regional Dance America where she performed the principal role of Wesner's Four Dances for Women in Boston, Massachusetts; where it was said "Sarah...stretched my artistic imagination to its furthest" (Richard Dickinson). After high school, Sarah was welcomed into the dance department at Point Park College. While there, she danced many great things including Parson's comic Envelope. Upon graduation, Sarah returned to Ashland Regional Ballet to help head up an ambitious outreach program based on reaching and educating rural Ohio about dance and ballet. She also accepted an invitation to teach dance at Ashland University for the Musical Theatre Department, as well as return to Opus II as a staff member teaching modern, ballet, and jazz, as her versatility easily allows her to do. Sarah is newlywed to Scott Cyders and resides in Ashland, Ohio.
Kari Nikolaus
Kari is a phenomenal diversity of dance. She has performed with Neos Dance Theatre its inception. She started dancing at a very young age at Opus II to become one of their child prodigies. Kari then went to Cleveland to study with the School of Cleveland Ballet, and shortly after performed with the Cleveland/San Jose Ballet. After her early professional experience, Kari went to Kent State University to attain a BFA in Dance. Upon graduation Kari danced with Gus Giordano Dance Company and received the honor of working with Gus himself. Now Kari lives in Mifflin, Ohio with her husband Brian and there dog, frequently working with Neos Dance Theatre, Ashland Regional Ballet, and teaching at Opus II Dance Studio.
Gabrielle Smith
Gabrielle adds a rich quality of movement to Neos Dance Theatre. She has danced with the company for almost two years and has recently returned to the stage after having her first child, Elizabeth. She and her husband BJ reside in Mansfield, Ohio. Gabrielle started to dance with Hellie Schussler an early age as well and spent her formative years at Opus II Dance Studio. She also studied with Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, Mississippi at their summer intensive. One of the highlights of Gabrielle's career was a tour to Africa with a liturgical dance troupe. She performed for and with the native tribes of the area she visited, as well as going on a safari! Gabrielle has toured to Israel for the Feast of the Tabernacle. Gabrielle has much to offer in the world of dance and Neos Dance Theatre is proud to have her as one of our dancers.
Julie Jefferson
Julie is a junior at Ashland University working toward a major in English. She has danced with Ashland Regional Ballet for 5 years performing roles that include the "Flower Queen" and "Clara" in the Nutcracker; the "Serpent" in Wesner's The Fall; Gaite Parisian; and Die Fledermous. Julie has begun her Freelance dance career as well performing with Central Ohio Youth Ballet in the beautifully restored Midland Theatre in Newark, Ohio and with Neos Dance Theatre. Julie's focus is upon her studies but her natural ability to capture the essence of any movement allows her to easily maintain and add to any performance.
