Current and future Bruins participated in Padua Franciscan High School’s first-ever Dance Intensive in July 2025.
Under the direction of Alexa (Nickell) Tama ’11, students experienced three days of professional instruction in the areas of musical theatre, tap, choreography, ballet, modern dance, poms, jazz and kickline. There were two instructional sessions per day, one for beginner/intermediate level dancers and one for intermediate/advanced performers.
For the musical theatre, tap and choreography work, campers studied with Heather Sakai, the marketing director for the Cleveland Dance Project and Cleveland Dance Project Company. She honed her dancing and teaching skills with more than 20 years of experience in dance and gymnastics.
Along with Tama, Allison Bonvissuto ’09 helped students learn ballet, tap and modern dance routines. Bonvissuto was a three-year member of Padua’s Color Guard and has performed with the Cleveland Dance Project since 2020.
On the final day of the Dance Intensive, students were instructed in poms, jazz and kickline.
Participants received elite kickline instruction from former Radio City Rockette, Melissa (Thomas) Edington ’97.
Edington was a founding member of the Bruinettes Dance Team, and went on to mainstream success as part of the Japanese and North American tour company of 42nd Street. Also, she performed with the Rockettes on The Today Show and in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Tama was a four-year member of the Bruinettes (2008-2011), and later, the head coach (2015-2018). Tama is an instructor at the North Royalton Dance Academy and Dance Lakewood, as well as a 16-season contributor to the Cleveland Dance Project.
