Russian dancer buys Hollister academy

Sixteen-year-old Premiere Dance Academy in Hollister has sold to Russia native Yelena Serykh for an undisclosed amount.

Ami Bremer and Jill Heppner founded the dance studio, 1651 Business Highway 65, and Bremer will stay on as faculty, according to a news release.

Serykh and her husband, Vadim, have been 10-year dance performers on the Showboat Branson Belle.

Prior to arriving in the Ozarks, Yelena Serykh trained for 12 years at the Russian Academy of Art, Theater and Dance, and she holds degrees and certifications in ballet, classical and ballroom dance.

Among her goals as owner is to offer ethnic dance training along with instruction in the national culture of the locations in which these dances were born, the release said.

Bremer, a nationally certified clogging instructor who has a bachelor's in dance from Missouri State University, will stay on in the transition as Premiere Dance's clogging director.

Also remaining as faculty are Kathie Breeck, founder of Sonshine Performing Arts Academy in Springfield; Gareth Sever, a full-time Branson performer and co-founder of Buckets 'N Boards tap and percussion group; and Shari Miller, who specializes in hip-hop and jazz, according to www.premieredance-branson.com.[[In-content Ad]]