Dance Empire of Miami

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.