Winter Dance Camp Instructor Bios

Melinda Phillips is a native Rochesterian who has performed and taught dance in the region, nationally, and internationally for the past 25 years. Her love of African Diasporic music, movement, and traditions has enriched her life and her love of teaching dance. 

Kathryn Rebholz is a local theater and dance educator, director, and choreographer. A graduate of the Rochester City School District, Kathryn attended Hofstra University and Emerson College before returning to Rochester. Katy specializes in acting, character and scene study, play analysis, musical theater, tap, and jazz, and is thrilled to be working with Hochstein!

Chair of Hochstein’s Department of Dance, Wynton Rice is a native Rochesterian who spent 10 years performing internationally with the Garth Fagan Dance Company. He recently joined the Rochester-based contemporary dance company BIODANCE. Wynton also taught at the Garth Fagan Dance School, including dance fundamentals classes for teens and adults, and taught dance for grades K-8 at Eugenio Maria de Hostos Charter School in Rochester. In addition to teaching and serving as an artist-in-residence for schools, he taught a jazz/ballet fusion class at the National Youth Dance Theater in New South Wales, Australia. He holds a bachelor’s degree in dance from Ursinus College in Collegeville, PA. 

From Rochester, NY, Bajan-American dancer and creative visionary Renée Sobers had an interest in dance and music composition that quickly translated to a fruitful choreographic career. Using the wealth of knowledge obtained locally, they were able to catapult their works onto a national stage. Upon expanding their reach, Renée returned to Rochester, rediscovered community, and used this opportunity to find their work’s performances throughout the Caribbean, Europe, and the Middle East.  

Jaira Youmas has been dancing since she was 3 years old at Little Red Dancing Studio, where she now helps teach the young dancers. A senior at Aquinas Institute, she has also studied dance there since the 8th grade. She has been guided through various styles such as tap, jazz, acro, and hip hop. She has participated in many dance recitals and competitions over the years. Dance has always been her safe place and a place to express herself the way that she wants.