Ventana Ballet

AJ Garcia-Rameau
Director & Founder

AJ Garcia-Rameau is a professional dancer, director of Ventana Ballet, partner of First Street Studio, and semiconductor engineer in Austin, Texas. AJ is the founder and director of Ventana Ballet, a professional contemporary ballet dance company based in Austin, TX whose mission is to bring more performance opportunities to local artists and to provide accessible performance opportunities to the community. AJ is also a partner owner of First Street Studio, an accessible performance, rehearsal, and education venue that is home to more than 75 Austin-based performing arts companies and individual professional artists. AJ’s formal training is in classical and contemporary ballet and modern dance. AJ was born in Houston, TX where she received her training at the Houston Academy of Dance and performed with the Exclamation Dance Company. AJ earned her Bachelor of Science degree in Chemical Engineering and Minor in Dance from the University of Texas while training at the Austin School of Classical Ballet and performing as a company member of BHumn Dance Company and the Austin Classical Ballet. AJDances.com

Dorothy O’Shea Overbey
Artistic Advisor

Dorothy O’Shea Overbey is a dancer, choreographer, and producer, Artistic Advisor of Ventana Ballet. Born in Alaska and raised in Austin, Dorothy grew up training at Ballet Austin and studying classical piano with UT Professor Emeritus Amanda Vick Lethco. After earning a BFA in Dance Performance and a BA in Philosophy from Southern Methodist University, Dorothy danced for ballet and contemporary dance companies in New York, Colorado and California before returning to Austin and joining the faculty of the Department of Theatre and Dance at UT Austin. Dorothy is a partner/owner of First Street Studio, as well as the Founder and Director of Red Nightfall Productions, which creates films, live productions, and immersive experiences that seek to amplify the voices of emerging artists. Dorothy is also the co-founder of Austin Community Ballet, an organization of dancers in the Austin area that offers professional-level ballet classes in an open, collaborative, non-hierarchical environment. While in New York, Dorothy did introductory training at the Atlantic Theatre School, and appeared in commercials, indie films, and theatrical productions. dorothyoshea.com

Navaji David Nava
Resident Choreographer

Navaji David Nava is a founding member of Ventana Ballet, performing in his 6th year working with Ventana Ballet. As a multifaceted artist from the Rio Grande Valley in South Texas, Navaji's journey as an artist began in 2008 as a professional ballet dancer with the Sarasota Ballet Company, representing the USA at the Rudolph Nureyev International Ballet Competition in Budapest, Hungary. Navaji's dance career is a mosaic of diverse performances and leading roles, enriched by training under esteemed figures such as Gilbert Mayer of the Paris Opera Ballet, Margaret Barbieri of the The Royal Ballet, Dominic Walsh, and Desmond Richardson of Complexions. His repertoire spans works by renowned choreographers, and he is particularly celebrated for his leading performances in pieces such as Matthew Bourne’s ‘Boutique’ and George Balanchine’s ‘Divertimento No. 15’. Now living in Austin Navaji pursued a degree in Education and Art from the University of Texas at Austin, 2021 graduate, founded his profession as a visual artist, works as a full-time arts educator with Austin ISD, and most recently published "A Soul's Life", "a multi-media art work of reassurance and inspiration to the youngest of children and to poetry and art lovers of all generations." In 2023 Navaji became a resident choreographer with Ventana Ballet, his most recent work for the company, "KOMOREBI," was a sold out success that showcased Navaji's multifaceted talents as a producer, set-builder, costume designer, and choreographer. navaji.com.

Tikiri Shapiro
Guest Choreographer: KALEIDOSCOPE

Tikiri Shapiro hails from Knoxville, TN, and earned a BFA in dance from George Mason University. After graduating, she performed in Seattle with projects at Velocity Dance Center. Next, she headed to the East Coast to pursue her love for teaching as she opened Lighthouse Dance & Yoga, a studio in Selbyville, DE. During that time, choreography took flight and she founded Sea Legs Dance, a contemporary dance ensemble. She led the group on an international tour to Sri Lanka as well as performed closer to home in Delaware, Maryland, and NYC. She then landed in Austin, TX finding a home in the vibrant and welcoming dance community. Today, Tikiri contributes to Austin's dance scene by teaching and choreographing through Sea Legs Dance, managing the dance resource website austindancehub.com, and performing with Ventana Ballet and Red Nightfall Dance Theatre.

Ty Graynor
Guest Choreographer: KALEIDOSCOPE

Ty Graynor, originally from Huntington, New York, received his BFA in Dance Performance from The Hartt School at the University of Hartford. There, he studied under Nina Watt, Miki Orihara, Stephen Pier, and Doug Varone, and performed several classic works by historical artists such as Martha Graham, José Limón, and Doris Humphrey. After completing his studies, Ty advanced his training at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and joined Graham 2 as a Company Dancer. In 2019, he joined the Limón Dance Company as a performing and teaching artist. He took part in the creation process of three new contemporary works for the company, “Suite Donuts” by Chafin Seymour, “Only One Will Rise” by Olivier Tarpaga, and “Migrant Mother/Madre Migrante” by Raúl Tamez. Ty is currently based in Austin, Texas where he teaches regular classes in the Limón technique and contemporary dance forms. He is also a dancer with Peter Stathas Dance, Ventana Ballet, Red Nightfall Dance, and Sea Legs Dance. In May of 2023, Ty was commissioned to create three new contemporary works for Ventana Ballet's production of "KALEIDOSCOPE." He most recently brought to life a full evening length work "From Inferno to Americana," in November, 2023 under the project, TY&CO, which will continue to breathe new dance works into Austin throughout the year. tygraynor.com

Priscilla Perales
Ventana Ballet Stage Manager

Priscilla Perales, originally from Florida, got her BFA in Theatre Performance from the University of Texas Rio-Grande Valley in South Texas. After receiving her degree, Priscilla spent time performing for the most magical place on Earth, The Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, Florida. There, she performed in numerous shows and parades making magic for guests everyday. Since then, Priscilla has moved to Austin and has been extremely lucky to continue working in the arts. Priscilla has worked with multiple entertainment companies supervising concerts and ballets, working operations at major concert venues, working closely with talent in artist hospitality, and assisting in teaching kids theatre with a well known Austin theater. Priscilla is so very happy to be working with Ventana Ballet!

Justin Thurman
Ventana Ballet Food & Beverage Manager

Justin Thurman. I am one of the unicorns, it seems these days, that was actually born and raised here in Austin. I studied Sports Management/Medicine at Texas A&M and Stephen F. Austin State University. I have always been a very extroverted socialite and quickly found my perfect fit and passion in the service industry. I've been working towards my dream of starting my own mobile bartending business. I was lucky enough to have met AJ a few years ago as a hired bartender, and it didn't take long for me to fall in love with and become part of the Ventana family. Through this business, I get to constantly do some of my favorite things, including meeting new people, building relationships, putting smiles on others' faces & helping provide a fun, happy atmosphere for others to enjoy. I am beyond blessed and grateful to be able to pursue my passion with this amazing family, and so happy to see how far Ventana Ballet has come and grown. And I am even more excited about what the future holds!