Teacher, Choreographer, and Cultivator of Dance Excellence

Angel Fraser-Logan is an accomplished dancer and nationally renowned choreographer with a diverse background spanning all genres of dance. She is the owner and artistic director of Dance Empire of Miami, now in its 29th season, and the founder of the AFLDC dance company. Angel studied ballet under Martha Mahr and developed her modern jazz style under the guidance of Mia Michaels. In 1991, she began sharing her talents and passion with students, developing a profound love for teaching and choreography. Her dedication to the craft earned her the prestigious Dance Educators of America Choreographic Award in both 1996 and 1997, as well as the Music in Motion Award from the same organization. In 1999, Angel was selected as the Jazz Dance Representative for all Miami-Dade County Magnet Middle and High Schools. By 2000, Dancer magazine recognized Dance Empire of Miami as one of the country’s strongest dance schools, featuring them in their televised “Up Close and Personal” interviews. Angel’s choreography began to flourish, attracting interest from studios and professional contemporary companies nationwide. Despite offers from various locations, Angel remained rooted in Miami to build her legacy. In the summer of 2002, she showcased her work at the Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, where she earned the Bronze Medal. Her success led to additional offers from Euro Disney and Carnival Cruise Lines. In 2003, Angel and two of her students competed on the nationally televised talent show Star Search, hosted by Arsenio Hall. They won the finals for two consecutive seasons, showcasing Angel’s exceptional choreography and unbeatable talent. That same year, she was invited to perform at the Theater of the Performing Arts for the Black American Film Festival and at the Fisher Island Benefit in Miami. In 2003, Angel choreographed for the Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet in NYC, with her work receiving high praise from The Village Voice, which described it as “moving both figuratively and literally, exquisitely provocative.” In 2004, Angel debuted her original production Away You Go, choreographed and staged in May of that year, featuring live vocals from “Fisher the Band,” receiving rave reviews from The Miami Herald and Miami New Times. Angel’s former students are members of prestigious companies such as the Alvin Ailey Dance Company, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Ballet BC, Netherlands Dance Theater, and Alonzo Kings Lines. They have danced for top artists, including Britney Spears, Janet Jackson, Madonna, Usher, Taylor Swift, Don Omar, Ozuna, Nicky Jam, Rauw Alejandro, and have toured in Broadway productions like West Side Story, 42nd Street, Wicked, In the Heights, and Hamilton. Many of her dancers have won national titles, received invitations to professional companies, and earned scholarships to elite arts programs, including Juilliard. Her students have been selected for major professional and collegiate dance teams including the Miami Heat Dancers, FSU Golden Girls and LSU Tiger Girls. Angel remains dedicated to training and nurturing future generations of dancers, ensuring their growth as both artists and individuals, while continuing to leave an indelible mark on the dance world.

Marion-Skye Brooke Valdes was born and raised in Miami Florida. Brooke grew up predominantly learning hip hop and jazz under the direction of Angel Fraser Logan and Tawanna Hall, training at Dance Empire of Miami for her entire childhood. After graduating high school she studied at Florida State University as a dance major and was a member of the 2012-2013 FSU Golden Girl Dance Team. After returning from FSU, Brooke took an internship with the Alvin Ailey Dance Company through Brazil and Argentina. She has studied for two summers at the San Francisco Conservatory and was accepted as the resident choreographer for the summer 2014 for the San Fran Conservatory Summer Session. Later she received a full scholarship for the New World School of the Arts College Dance Program and graduated from NWSA College with her BFA in Dance. She has traveled to San Francisco, New York, and Israel on several occasions to study Gaga (Naharin), Ballet (Rhatigan) and more at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and The Batsheva Studios. Brooke has studied the repertoire of renowned choreographers including Robert Battle, Paul Taylor, and Ohad Naharin. She also had her work showcased each year as a selected choreographer. In 2018, she danced at Jacobs Pillow where she was selected for their summer intensive program. Brooke served as the assistant to Alvin Ailey dancer and choreographer Jamar Roberts, including assisting him in his first creation on the Ailey company, “Members Don’t Get Weary;” in the creation of “Ode” on the Ailey company; on his choreography on the Julliard School; and, his works with the New York City Ballet and Miami City Ballet. As a professional dancer, Brooke performed the principal role in Robert’s full length work, The House of the Most Loved. She has also performed with AFLDC and Peter London Global Dance Company where she performed with Dance Theater of Harlem and at PAMM for the United Nations. She has received recognition from Dance Magazine on her first solo with PLGDC Eomeoni 2019. Her film “Mortal Stain” premiered at the 2020-2021 Miami Screen Dance Festival. Currently the Dance Coach for the Palmetto High School Variations Team, Brooke has served as Dance Director for multiple schools including Doral Academy Preparatory School and coaching the Rubies Dance Team. In addition to serving as Co-Artistic Director, at DE she teaches from the Mommy and Me class to the Company dancers where she loves sharing her Gaga technique and passion for dance.

Balli Logan was born and raised in Miami Florida; She trained at Dance Empire of Miami in all genres of dance since the age of two, training predominantly in jazz and hip hop under the direction of Angel Fraser Logan and Tawanna Hall. Through the years she has had the opportunity to train with master teachers and choreographers such as Mia Michaels, Jamar Roberts, Dee Caspary, Mandy Moore and Bobby Newberry to name a few. Miss Logan graduated from Westminster Christian School in 2015 and then studied at Florida State University as a dance major. While at FSU Miss Logan was a member of the 2015-2016 FSU Golden Girl Dance Team. She graduated from Florida State University May 2019 with a major in Psychology. Upon returning from FSU Miss Logan returned to Dance Empire of Miami to give back her passion for dance to the upcoming dancers and she was the 2019-2020 Dance Teacher for Miami Palmetto Senior High School.

Throughout his youth he also trained at the Dance Empire of Miami under the direction of Angel Fraser Logan. Shortly after graduation he moved to New York to train as a fellowship student at The Ailey School. Mr. Roberts was a member of Ailey II in 2001 and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. He is currently a principal dancer with Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater since 2002. Having resided in New York for over a decade now, Jamar has had the privilege of working with some of the best choreographers in the business such as, Judith Jamison, Ohad Naharin, Kyle Abraham, Robert Battle, Geoffery Holder, Dwight Rhoden, Wayne McGregor, Mauro Bigonzetti, Alonzo King, Roland K. Brown and many others.

Along with extensive touring in the U.S. and Internationally with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Jamar has made several appearances on the hit TV show “So You Think You Can Dance”, “Dancing With The Stars”, BET 106 and Park, and “LIVE with Michael and Kelly”. He has also made guest appearances at the Vail International Dance Festival, “Stars of the 21 Century” Ballet Gala 2013, and the Youth American Grande Prix 2014 Semi-Finals Gala in Cordoba, Mexico. And In 2007 he was nominated Dance Magazine’s "Top 25 To Watch”.

With a wealth of knowledge and experienced gained from being such an accomplished dance artist, Jamar Roberts has now began to create his own choreographic works. His first work “213 And What Goes Down” earned him a spot as a semi-finalist at the Capezio A.C.E Awards Dance Competition. Since then he has created “Ole Acholi” for the PLGDT (Peter London Global Dance Theater), “Elegiac Lament” for the ADRF (Ailey Dancers Resource Fund), “Converge”, choreographed for himself and fellow dancer Alicia Graf-Mack, and now for the AFLDC his latest work titled “Veil”.

Stephanie Franco is a traveling choreographer, teacher, and movement artist based out of Miami, Florida. She is a versatile creator, with an evolving focus in contemporary and improv. Under the cohesive training of John Culbertson and Cookie Ramos, she deepened her journey at a local Dance Studio in Miami, as their contemporary instructor.

In and out of living in Los Angeles, she has worked with world-renowned choreographers such as Mia Michaels & trained under the direction of Erica Sobol, in deep process with artists such as Medhi Walerski, Tilman O’Donnell, Jermaine Spivey, and Adi Salant.

Living in Miami, developing as an artist, she pushes her awareness working with mentor Michelle Murray as a member of Jubilation Dance Ensemble. She is a catalyst for artistic expression in constant research, through spiritual resonance and abstract motion. Fostering an environment for all bodies she aims to help movers develop their own voice in embodied creativity and vulnerability.

She has also embarked on projects with Pioneer Winter, Dale Andree, Adele Myers, Hattie Mae Williams, Valeria Valleto and Urban Bush Women to name some. She was an artist in residency with Grass Stains ’22 under Pioneer Winter and Ana Sanchez & Miami DanceMakers ’22 under Adele Myers. She is currently a member of Syncopate Collective & NWD Projects under Dale Andree, along studying as a cohort of Rennie Harris University. She has also embarked on community engagement with Breakthrough Miami. Teaching dance on a deeper level is her virtue, constantly exploring through movement and beyond.

Nicole Perez was born and raised in Miami Florida where she trained in jazz, contemporary, lyrical, hip-hop and ballroom. She has worked with many choreographers such as, Mia Michaels, Jamar Roberts, Tawanna Hall, and John Crutchman. Nicole has been seen on America’s got talent, Youtube series One Shot, The X-Factor, and seen on Telemundo with artist Manu Manzo. More recently, She was the assistant for West Coast Dance Explosion, performed with Supreme Kings in San Diego and is sought out by studios all over the country to set choreography. She has also been seen on faculty for Ascend Dance Convention and Revolt Dance Intensive & Convention in Mexico. Currently, Nicole has created her own faith-based dance company, Devotion The Movement, where she choreographs and directs live performances in the San Diego area.

Sofia Lauren Dipietro was born and raised in Miami Florida. Sofia started dancing at the age of 4 years old, training in all styles of dance such as ballet, jazz, hip hop, contemporary, and acrobatics. Soon after she joined their company team and did many years of competitions. Sofia loved all styles of dance but she found a true passion for Contemporary, Jazz and Acrobatics. While in school Sofia joined her middle school dance team called the JMC Paladinas at Jorge Mas Canosa middle school. She continued to dance throughout her high school years and joined her high dancer and teacher. She has a true passion for spreading her love of dance through teaching herstudents. She believes all dancers are unique and deserve a chance to express themselves through dancing. Currently, Sofia attends Florida International University where she is obtaining her degree in rehabilitation and recreational therapy (Sports Medicine), while teaching our young dancers at Dance Empire.

A passionate dancer who started her dance studies at Dance Empire at 3 years old, Lexie Hernandez was a member of the Elite Dance company at Dance Empire before becoming an instructor at the dance studio. Lexie was also a member of Our Lady of Lourdes Academy dance team where, as captain during her senior year, led her dance team to win a national championship in hip-hop at UDA in 2026. She continues to teach and choreograph at Dance Empire and as a proud alumni, has also assisted the Lourdes Academy dance team. As an alumna of Dance Empire, Lexie is thrilled to continue being a part of the dance family and help inspire dancers.

Miranda Jimenez began her dance training at the age of two and a half. She attended Southwood Middle School Center for the Arts, where she now serves as an instructor. A Dance Empire alumna, she trained at the prestigious New World School of the Arts High School. Throughout her dance education, Miranda has trained extensively in ballet, modern, and jazz, while also exploring a variety of other dance styles. Her dedication and talent have earned her acceptance into numerous prestigious summer intensive programs, including a full scholarship to the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive. Miranda has competed in renowned dance competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and The American Dance Competition/International Ballet Competition (ADC|IBC), where she was selected to perform in the Grand Prix Gala. She has also participated in many other regional and national competitions, consistently earning top honors and awards. Miranda has trained with distinguished artists including Ramona de Sáa, Director of the National Ballet School of Cuba; Marielena Mencia; Yanis Pikieris; Ariel Serrano; Delia Ballart; Angel Fraser-Logan; Dee Caspary; faculty members from New World School of the Arts; and Julliard teacher Jamar Roberts. Miranda holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the University of South Florida.

Born and raised in Miami, Jeona attended Coral Reef Senior High School and trained extensively at Dance Empire of Miami for more than 15 years, developing a strong foundation in a wide range of dance styles. A graduate of New World School of the Arts College/University of Florida, she holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Throughout her training and professional journey, Jeona has had the opportunity to work closely with renowned choreographers and artists, including Jamar Roberts, Tawanna Hall, Tessandra Chavez, Dee Caspary, Tre Holloway, and many others. She has performed with the Peter London Global Dance Company and AFLDC, continuing to expand her artistry and performance experience. An award-winning dancer, Jeona has earned numerous scholarships and recognitions in dance. Most recently, Jeona served as Assistant Rehearsal Director for Jamar Roberts.

Cynthia Reyes is a South Florida dance artist, educator, and choreographer. As a Hip Hop Instructor, Cynthia brings high energy, artistic expression, and a strong foundation in technique to every class. As both a performer and educator, she is committed to creating a positive environment where dancers can build confidence, develop their skills, and discover their unique style. Cynthia was on the Variations Dance Team at Palmetto High School, where she also served as a pep rally choreographer. Her passion for dance education led her to teaching, where she has worked with dancers of various ages and experience levels. Cynthia is excited to share her passion for dance with the DE family and looks forward to inspiring the next generation of performers.