Norvell began training in dance in 1979, at the age of 19, at School of the Richmond Ballet. Long story short, after already having graduated from High School and a series of different situations taking place, while visiting a friend, who was still in high school, he was asked by one of the members of the board of directors with the school, (who “happened” to be a teacher at the high school that Norvell was visiting and who was part of a campaign to get teenage males to participate in dance) would he be interested in taking dance classes. The simple asking of the question, and his willingness to “try”, began the discovery and love for the performing arts.
In 1981 he began to dream of the Richmond Ballet starting a professional company and hoping someday he could be a part of it. In 1982 he was accepted to begin training at the North Carolina School of the Arts, and in 1984, when the Richmond Ballet announced auditions for the start of a professional company, he saw it as an opportunity to pursue a dream. He auditioned; and was hired. He performed with the company until the year 2000.
During those years he also became a fitness instructor and personal trainer, which he practiced, for the most part, during the “off season”. In 1987, his fitness experience took him to Iceland, where he introduced “Low-Impact Aerobics” to the region. He also had the opportunity to perform and contribute choreography with some of the local theatres in musicals such as West Side Story (Theatre IV), Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dream Coat (Barksdale Theatre), and Bojangles (Barksdale Theatre). Norvell also had the pleasure of working with, teaching and choreographing for a variety of schools (preschool to High School levels) as well as other organizations and dance schools. He has had the pleasure of learning and performing with some of Richmond’s best choreographers from Richmond Dance Center, VCU School of Dance, and University of Richmond faculty members and staff. In 1997, he had the opportunity to audition and be cast as “Richie” in an Italian touring company’s production of A Chorus Line. Norvell was the only American in the cast and had the opportunity to work and learn from Baajork Lee (the original “Connie” in the Broadway cast). From 2001 to 2020 he was co-owner of the studio Pilates Dance and More…The Art of Fitness, and in 2012, he and his wife, began the performing and fine arts non-profit PDM Productions, Inc. He was married to Tristi McMaster Robinson for 28 years, before her unexpected passing.
Valerie was born in Richmond, Virginia. She presently resides in Upper Marlboro, Maryland. After attending Richmond Public Schools, she obtained a degree in Finance from Hampton University in Hampton, Virginia. After working for many years in the Health Insurance industry, she obtained a Masters in Business Administration from Strayer University. After leaving the insurance industry, she pursued her life long dream of teaching mathematics. For the past 10 years, she has been teaching middle school mathematics to a diverse population of students from many countries around the world.
Keyah Robinson’s dance journey began at Pilates, Dance and More, a studio founded and run by her parents, Tristi and Norvell Robinson. Growing up in this creative and structured environment sparked her passion for both movement and mentorship. She continued her training at the School of Richmond Ballet and later at J’adore Dance, where she was a competitive company member, earning numerous regional titles and placing at national competitions.
In 2018, Keyah graduated from the Henrico County Center for the Arts after completing its advanced dance program. During her senior year, she was invited to join the prestigious Richmond Ballet Trainee Program, gaining professional performance experience in full-length ballets including Swan Lake, Coppélia, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Toy Shop, and Giselle.
Her training also includes full scholarships to renowned summer intensives at Carolina Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and American Ballet Theatre. She later performed professionally through contracts across the globe.
Keyah’s deep love for dance education fuels her commitment to inspiring and empowering the next generation of dancers. With years of teaching and choreographing experience, she focuses on building a strong technical foundation while nurturing creativity, discipline, and confidence in every student. Holding a degree in Elementary Education from Grand Canyon University, Keyah combines her academic background with her dance expertise to create a positive and well-rounded learning environment.
