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Jeanna Vance
Founder & executive Director
Jeanna Vance founded Open Sky Arts Collective in 2014 with a mission to use the arts to bring the Kingdom of God to the lost and hurting among us. She received her ballet training from The Grand Rapids Ballet, under the direction of Charthel Arthur, the Houston Ballet Academy with Clara Cravey and Steve Brule, and American Academy of Dance with Angela Jackson. She has been privileged to work with Ad Deum Dance Co., Sandra Organ’s Dance Co., Suchu Dance, Hopestone Inc., and Psophonia Dance Co. Her acting work has included commercial television as well as 5 seasons with Interactive Childrens Theatre in Houston, Tx. As part of faculty for Dance Revolution dance convention, Jeanna served for 12 years traveling the United States teaching dance, performing, and sharing her journey of faith and art with thousands of students and teachers. She and her husband reside happily in Hurst, TX with their two daughters.
Lara Ello
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – HOUSTON
Lara has a passion to see Jesus known, seen, and experienced in her city, nation, and in the world. Over the years, Lara has seen the Lord use dance as a tool to communicate the beauty and power of the gospel. Lara has traveled internationally as a dancer, teacher, and minister of the gospel with various ministries including Arrows International, Ad Deum, TrEd, YWAM and Open Sky. Most recently, the Lord has creatively used dance as a tool to release Lara into the streets of Houston as an intercessor to dance upon injustice. Lara is passionate about raising up the younger generation to become unhindered worshippers in spirit and in truth that boldly express the Lord’s heart through the arts. Lara’s passion for Jesus and love for the arts has led her to teach dance for various populations including special needs children and adults, terminally ill children, trafficking survivors and Alzheimer patients. Lara loves to create space for everyone to worship the Lord through dance no matter what their limitation. Lara started leading Open Sky Houston in the fall of 2020.
Jessie Winters
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – CONNECTICUT
Jessie’s love of classical ballet was cultivated through training in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus through the advanced level. She was honored to receive special coaching by Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo legend Hereda May, and intensive dance training at the Royal Academy headquarters in Battersea, England, The Hartford Ballet, and Walnut Hill with David Howard. Jessie received her BFA with Distinction in Ballet Pedagogy from the University of Oklahoma under the leadership of Mary Margaret Holt & Martha Graham protege Denise Vail along with many others. She has taught all levels of Classical Ballet for 20+ years, was the Artistic Director of A.R.T.S. International Dance Company, served on staff with Dance Revolution, and was a founding member of Arrows International Dance Company where she ministered in Costa Rica, Hong Kong and China. Jessie has taught Ballet I & II and Intro to Dance as an Adjunct Professor at the University of Alabama Birmingham and Samford University. She was delighted to choreograph for UAB Theatre, the Samford Dance company, and the Samford Opera department. Jessie has taught master classes for Arrows International Dance Company, Ornate Dance company, and at Ekklesia Ballet’s summer intensive. She was honored to choreograph for Ballet Hartford’s “Awakening” concert in 2021. She is so excited to serve the vision and mission of Open Sky Arts Collective in New England as the Director of Open Sky Connecticut!
Cheri Orr
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR – COLORADO SPRINGS
Cheri Orr began her dance training in Fort Worth, Texas, and at Ballet Magnificat! summer intensives. She earned her BA in Dance from Belhaven University where she danced with Ballet Magnificat! II and Belhaven Dance Ensemble and inaugurated the DOXA dance club. Cheri graduated from the Focus Leadership Institute in Colorado Springs and received Stott Pilates certification and Dance for Parkinson’s training to further integrate her love for dance and movement therapy with whole life ministry. Cheri teaches dance at the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs and the Dance for Parkinson’s outreach program of Ormao Dance Company where she is also a company performing artist. Cheri is honored to shepherd God’s Kingdom work through Open Sky Colorado where she and her artist husband Kristopher pursue abundant life with their 4 children.
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Open Sky Arts Collective is an IRS recognized 501(c)(3) organization. Contributions made to Open Sky Arts Collective are tax deductible to the full extent allowed by law.