Director
Giovanni Allen
Giovanni Allen, Gio, is originally from New York City, where he received his early training at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater and American Ballet Theater. He did his undergraduate work at California Institute for the Arts in LA. After graduating, he spent two years performing with La Companyia in Spain.
Since moving to Texas in 2010 Gio has been a choreographer and teacher for some of the Dallas area’s most prestigious dance companies and studios including Joffrey School of Ballet, Beyond Belief, Prodigy Dance & Performing Arts, and others. He is also a trusted choreographer for the Highland Park Belles and Tyler Apache Belles drill teams. In 2022, Gio choreographed for the band Kaleo at Soluna Arts Festival.
He has been the owner and artistic director of Groundworks Dance Company since 2018. He is committed to growing young people dancers and artists in a supportive environment.
Co-Director
Kaili Bright
Originally from Kailua, Hawaii, Kaili is a dancer, choreographer, now educator currently based in Dallas, TX under the representation of Bloc Talent Agency. Her most recent creative and teaching credits include serving as the creative director for Joffrey Dallas. Dancing throughout her childhood all over the United States she realized she wanted to pursue a career in the entertainment industry. She was fortunate enough at an early age of 17 to kick start her career on America’s Best Dance Crew with Request Dance Crew under the directional Parris Goebel. Since then Kaili has toured the world with Justin Bieber on his Believe Tour, you may have also seen her dancing alongside many artists including, Lady Gaga, Adele, Ariana Grande, Rihanna, Pink, Kelly Clarkson, FKA Twigs, Kanye West, Jennifer Lopez, Fifth Harmony, Jason Derulo, Hailee Steinfeld. You definitely cannot miss Kaili onstage. You most likely have seen Kaili dance at the superbowl, on televised shows, live shows and award shows including The Grammys, the Billboard Awards, Radio Disney Music Awards, Coachella, to name a few. Most recently you can catch Kaili in any one of Rihanna’s Savage X Fenty Shows on Amazon. Kaili is currently the associate artistic director for the Joffrey Ballet School full time Trainee program and has worked with the Dallas Cowboy Cheerleaders in Dallas. Kaili hopes to bring her unique style combining performance, and a fusion of technique and hip hop to the new generation of talent across the globe.
Claude Alexander III
Originally from Washington, D.C., Claude attended Towson University in Baltimore, MD, where he studied Dance Performance under the mentorship of Linda-Denise Fisher-Harrell and Vincent Thomas. Additionally, he studied at The Ailey School, Parsons Dance, and Dallas Black Dance Theatre’s summer programs. Alexander previously performed with the Dallas Black Dance Theatre as a principal artist for 12 years. During his tenure with the company, he was promoted to Co-Rehearsal Director. Claude also performed as a guest artist with B. Moore Dance, Dance Iquail, Tuzer Ballet, Ballet Frontier, and most recently, Bruce Wood Dance. Notably, Claude has performed in Dallas Theater Center’s 2011 production of ‘The Wiz’ and the 2017 TITAS Command Performance and Gala. As a choreographic assistant to Bridget L. Moore, Alexander worked with Ailey II and Bruce Wood Dance in 2016. Claude’s choreography has been presented at several dance festivals, including Jacob’s Pillow, SummerStage in NYC, International Association of Blacks in Dance Conference and Festival, Battery Dance Festival, White Bird Dance Festival, and the International Festival of Arts and Ideas.
Haley Whitman
Haley began her dance training at Murphy Dance Studio in Albany, Georgia, where she was also a member of Ballet Theatre South. While training, she was able to perform several leading roles such as “Alice” in Alice in Wonderland and “Clara” in the Nutcracker. Haley spent her summers training at the Joffrey Ballet School on full scholarship, the Governor’s Honors Program, and Atlanta Ballet. Upon High School Graduation, Haley moved to Texas where she was a ballet trainee at the Joffrey Ballet School. She completed four years with Joffrey and graduated from the program, where she was able to perform many classical and contemporary works. Haley started her professional ballet career as a company member with Ballet Papillon and the National Ballet of Texas; also working as a guest artist with Ballet Theatre South as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. Haley enjoys teaching the next generation of dancers at Hathaway Academy of Ballet and Kitty Carter’s Dance Factory and is so excited to join Groundworks this season!
Aleigh Hawkins
Aleigh Hawkins was born and raised outside of Dallas, Texas. She began her training at XD2 dance studio and furthered her classical training at Booker T. Washington HSPVA. During her time at BTW she had the opportunity to perform works by Peter Chu, Jennifer Archibald, Azure Barton, and more. In 2018 she received honorable mention for YoungArts in modern dance. Aleigh continued her education at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with a concentration in Modern dance. She performed works by Jessica Lang, Nacho Duato, Amy Hall Garner, and more. As of May 2022, Aleigh is now a graduate with a BFA in Dance.
Resident Choreographer
Maleek Washington
Maleek Washington was born in the Bronx, New York, and at seven years old was introduced to dance at Broadway Dance Center and the Harlem School of the Arts. After attending Laguradia HighSchool for Performing Arts, Maleek continued his education at The Boston Conservatory while dancing for CommonWeallth Ballet. After college Maleek joined CityDance Ensemble. A company that performed works by Paul Taylor, Kate Weare, and Alex Noreal to over 8 countries. During his time with Citydance Maleek attended SpringBoard Danse in Montreal where he was able to join Jose Novas's Company Flak for a 2 seasons of European tours. Currently Maleek is in his Third season collaborating with McArthur Genius awardee Kyle Abraham, and his company Abraham in Motion. While dance at the Mckittrick in the off Broadway show "Sleep No More". With multidisciplinary, experiential performance works that investigate the people, practices, and spaces shaping Washington's black identity, he was proud to present his art in 2017 at the Boston Dance Festival, Pepatian and BAAD!, Periapsis Dance and Music Noesis, and at the legendary Movement Research at Judson Church in Spring 2018. Washington is also a 2017-18 Dancing While Black top 10 choreographic finalists. Alongside his creative work, Washington has entered his second season with Camille A. Brown and Dancers in collaboration for her work Ink that premiered at the Kennedy Center in December 2017.
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