Executive Artistic Director, Victoria Ballet Theatre

Brenda Tally holds an MFA in dance performance from the University of Iowa and a BFA in modern dance from the University of Utah. She began her early training in Victoria, Texas and was a company member of Victoria Ballet Theatre from 1984 to 1993. She has done summer study at the Houston Ballet Academy, Joffrey Workshop TX, and Alvin Ailey American Dancenter. In Utah, Brenda also dabbled in musical theater at Robert Redford’s Sundance Theatre. She served as faculty for the Joffrey Workshop TX for over a decade. At the University of Iowa, she was a Dean’s Graduate Fellow, danced as a member of Dancers in Company and her choreographic work “Habitual Ritual” was chosen to represent the university at the American College Dance Festival. She has performed with modern dance companies Duarte Dance Works, Kayle+Co, and Charlotte Adams & Dancers at the Joyce SOHO and Dance Theatre Workshop in New York City. As artistic director of Victoria Ballet Theatre, an honor company with Regional Dance America, Brenda has created over 20 original works, twice receiving the Monticello Foundation Scholarship and the Natalie Skelton awards for choreography from Regional Dance America. Brenda is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 3 for the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She has also completed the teacher training workshop at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. In January of 2022 Ms. Tally opened the Ballet Academy of South Texas in downtown Victoria. The school aspires to be a place where an inspiring and highly qualified faculty can share their knowledge and love for the art of dance in a positive and nurturing environment. This past year Ms. Tally was thrilled to premiere here first full-length ballet, “Alice in Wonderland”, to sold out audiences. This fall she is thrilled to be joining the University of Houston-Victoria as an adjunct professor teaching a lecture course in dance appreciation.