West End Academy of Dance has been Richmond’s most beloved neighborhood dance studio for almost 50 years. We offer a warm, welcoming environment where kids, teens, and adults can freely express themselves, make great friends, and learn the joy of dance from nurturing, professional teachers. Our state of the art facility on Ridgefield Parkway offers three dance studios equipped with Harlequin flooring and a top notch sound system, a spacious lobby for families to gather before and after class, study rooms for middle and high schoolers, plus dressing room space for all dancers to prepare for class.
We are thrilled to partner with Conflux Dance Theater, to provide a whole new community of artists a space to create and explore. Their free weekly classes are open to the RVA community and beyond. Here you’ll find high quality instruction in a warm and welcoming environment, which aligns perfectly with WEAD’s mission. Angelica and Miguel are dedicated to creating an inclusive company where dancers of all backgrounds, nationalities, race, religion, and gender can come together to create something truly inspiring. We are also looking forward to the opportunities this now affords our academy’s pre-professional dancers to work alongside and collaborate with working professionals in the field. It’s truly an honor to have Conflux Dance Theater based here at WEAD, and we are excited for what’s to come!
Miguel Perez started dancing at the University of Arizona where he was fortunate enough to receive a 4-year scholarship for dance. He then went on to dance for both River North Dance Company, and Hubbard Street 2 in Chicago. After making a change from concert to commercial dance Miguel moved to Las Vegas to dance for Celine Dion “ A New Day “ at Caesars Palace. Once the Celine show closed in Vegas Miguel was fortunate enough to go on Celine Dion’s world tour “Taking Chances,” where he was also dance captain. After being on tour Miguel made LA his new home. He’s appeared on Americas Got Talent, SYTYCD, and has danced with Leona Lewis on Dancing with the Stars. Miguel was also a featured dancer in the show “Viva Elvis” for Cirque Du Soleil. He has performed on the Miss USA Pageant and Miss Universe. He also performed for Paulina Rubio in Mexico City. Miguel has performed in two movies “Behind the Candelabra” where he worked with Marguerite Derricks and “Ted 2 ” choreographed by Rob Ashford. Other accomplishments include BODYTRAFFIC Dance Company, Shania Twain’s show at Cesar’s Palace Casino in Las Vegas, The Oscars, performed with Taylor Swift on the AMA’s, and The Kennedy Honors awards tribute to Rita Moreno. His most recent performing credits include “Steve Wynn’s Showstoppers” at the Wynn casino and dance Captain for The Donny/Marie Osmond show. Miguel is currently teaching at West End Academy of Dance, Premiere Dance Studio, and Valley Dance Theater. He has also been an adjunct teacher at University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University, and guests teaches at George Mason University, University of Arizona and Cary Ballet. He has had the privilege to work with some of the most influential names in concert dance and commercial world like Jamie King, Vincent Paterson, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman Tabitha and Napoleon, Mandy Moore, Stacey Tookey, Bonnie Story, Tyce Diorio, Hofesh Shechter, Kyle Abraham, Victor Quijada, Richard Siegel, and Sidra Bell. So many great artists have influenced Miguel’s career and his goal is to share his knowledge and inspire a new generation of dancers.
Angelica Burgos is of Dominican-Armenian heritage. She has received her MFA in Choreography from Jacksonville University in Florida. She has a Bachelor of Arts degree from LEAP Program with Saint Mary’s College of California and is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed all of ABT Teachers National Training Curriculum. She started her ballet training at the Armenian Conservatory of Ballet in Yerevan, she later on continued her training with the Joffrey Ballet School of New York. She went on and joined Joffrey II and then joined the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago. Over the 16 years of her performing career, she has danced with the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago under Gerald Arpino, Sacramento Ballet under artistic directors Ron Cunningham and Carinne Binda, Ballet Hispanico under founder Tina Ramirez and in the revival of West Side Story on Broadway. She was also a cast member for the Mambo Kings workshop with Sergio Trujillio. She has worked with artists such as Pedro Ruiz, Margo Sappington, Ramon Oller, John Clifford, Annabelle Ochoa Lopes, Val Caniparoli, Trey McIntyre, Septime Webre, Dwight Rhoden, Graciela Daniel, Sergio Trujillo and Ron Cunningham, Yanis Pikieris, Zane Wilson, Ted Thomas, John Cliford, Peter Pucci, Ron De Jesús, William Whitener and Ann Reinking.
Additionally, she has taught for Western Kentucky University for three years, University of Richmond, Virginia Commonwealth University and has taught master classes at Boston Conservatory. Angelica’s choreography has been commissioned by the Western Kentucky University spring performance, Virginia Commonwealth University Freshman Repertory course show, for University of Richmond, and for Fullerton University. Her choreography has competed at the 2020 and 2021 and 2022 Youth America Grand Prix where it placed Top 12 in the Contemporary category and Universal Ballet Competition.
Burgos’s television credits include PBS’s Setting the Stage 2007, ABC’s Good Morning America, NBC’s ‘20th Hispanic Heritage Awards, PBS’s documentary “Pedro Ruiz Coming Home” 2011. She is also fluent in Spanish, Russian, Armenian and English languages.