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ABOUT THE DIRECTORS

Director & Founder:


ALEXANDER N. DRAPINSKI

      is an accomplished dancer and choreographer who currently performs at Universal Studios Orlando, in Orlando FL. Before moving to Florida, Alexander danced with multiple dance companies in Boston MA, some including: Impact Dance Company, a contemporary dance company directed by Megan McCaffery, Lostwax Multimedia Dance, a modern dance company directed by Jamie Jewett. Mr. Drapinski had to opportunity to travel with this company, performing in Boston MA, Pittsburgh PA, Tulsa OK, Sarasota FL, and Providence RI. Mr. Drapinski has also performed with LCTC-Lorraine Chapman-The Company, Inc. performing at the Alvin Ailey Theatre in New York City, as well as Prometheus Dance under the direction of Diane Arvanites & Tommy Neblett.

          One of Alexander’s greatest joys was directing Perceptions-The Concert Dance Experience. He established the program to provide high school dancers  an opportunity to experience concert dance while being exposed to all aspects of a professional dance company. The company performed annually at Dean College in Franklin MA.

          Mr. Drapinski earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from the Dean College Palladino School of Dance. During his college career, he danced with Dean College’s Dance Company. He demonstrated his diverse talents by performing hip hop, modern dance, tap, jazz, contemporary dance, and ballet. Alongside Dance Company, he had the opportunity to perform and choreographed for student run variety shows along with his fellow classmates.

          Alexander has had the pleasure of spreading his love for the art of dance by teaching students in contemporary, tap, and hip hop dance techniques, for nine years, in the states of MA and FL. At the moment, Mr. Drapinski teaches at Orlando International School of Dance, where his contemporary choreography has won multiple choreography awards at their regional and national competitions.

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Assistant Director:

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CAILA GOWLAND

 

graduated  from Louisiana State University with Honors in 2014 with a B.A. in Physical Theatre and minors in Religious Studies and Psychology. As part of her program, she studied dance, acting, aerial silks, stage combat and costuming. She was a teaching assistant for the aerial silks classes.  At LSU she performed in dance concerts, showcases, and operas; acted and danced in student directed productions; choreographed dance and stage combat routines, and even costume designed multiple productions. Caila had the amazing opportunity to study abroad in Edinburgh, Scotland and performed at the International Fringe Festival.

While at LSU she was extremely active in the student community. She was co-president of the Music and Dramatic Arts Student Council. She represented the department in executive board meetings for the University, advocating for the arts whenever possible. She was secretary for the Physical Theatre Club, where she and other key members organized the first ever Physical Theatre Showcase to raise money for the  department. Her efforts helped the LSU department of Physical Theatre grow into one of the top theatre departments in the country and the Physical Theatre Showcase has now grown into a twice yearly tradition there. She was also treasurer of the Legacy Dancers Hip-Hop team. They performed at events across campus and were known for their culturally educational choreography and inclusivity. She was involved in the LSU dance ensemble and tap ensemble of which she became president her senior year of both organizations. To top it off, she was also a member of the phi sigma theta honor society.

While earning her degree she choreographed for Rhonda Edmsunson School of Dance and St. Xavier middle school dance team in New Orleans, LA. Her routines have won many choreography awards and high achievements from Dance Masters of America, VIP dance, Celebration Dance, Dance Teachers United, and others. Her students have gone on to become beautiful and talented dancers whom she is so proud of and all their accomplishments.

After graduating college, Caila moved to Orlando to pursue a career In entertainment. She was a performer with the Disney College Program. After completing her program she went on to perform with Odd-O-Tee’s entertainment at SeaWorld and became a contracted dancer at Universal Studios. You can continue to see Caila perform with the Secret Life of Pets in the Superstar Parade and in various roles in the Holiday Parade at Universal Orlando. She is a dance captain and team leader with hopes to further her career in the company. She is super excited to be Assistant directing for Drapinski Dance Company and is excited to help realize this company’s exciting and powerful vision.

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