Sierra Rusnak

Sierra Rusnak is a versatile performer from Orlando, Florida! Her artistic training began at the age of three, when she started studying Tap, Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, Modern, Lyrical, Musical Theatre, and Hip-Hop at a local competitive dance studio. At the age of ten, she expanded her training to include vocal and acting studies, further developing her passion for the performing arts. Sierra attended the Osceola County School for the Arts (OCSA) for both middle and high school, where she majored in dance and performed in numerous dance concerts and musical theatre productions throughout her five years at the institution. 

During this time, she also continued her competitive dance training outside of school, dedicating her evenings to rehearsals and competitions with her studio. In her sophomore year of high school, Sierra attended the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, where she participated in their prestigious Jazz and Contemporary trainee program for a full academic year, an experience for which she remains deeply grateful.

Sierra is a recent BFA in Dance recipient from Jacksonville University, graduating Magna Cum Laude with two honors societies. While at JU, she founded and served as president for the highly successful Choreography Club, an organization that provides creative opportunities for students while also giving back to the community. Her choreographic representation allowed her to choreograph a PSA drug abuse awareness short film for JU that earned Second Place nationally and has been featured on IMDb. She is determined and dedicated to cultivating her artistry both on and off the stage.

Her leadership and academic excellence have also been recognized through several prestigious honors. Sierra has been acknowledged for her many accomplishments at JU by being Inducted into Green Key, representing the top 1% of student leaders with academic excellence on campus, into the Phi Kappa Phi Honor Society, and appearing on the Deans List for academic excellence. Additionally, she was a Women of the Year nominee at Jacksonville University and a two time winner of the Excellence in Outstanding Dance Leadership Award bestowed by the Dance Department. 

Beyond her collegiate endeavors, Sierra has made an impact in the greater Jacksonville area, teaching at several esteemed dance studios such as F13rce Elite Training and choreographing pieces for local schools, including Fort Caroline Middle School of the Arts. Sierra has also begun establishing her professional theatre career. 

She made her professional debut participating in eight shows a week at the Alhambra Theatre & Dining while simultaneously continuing her collegiate studies. She debuted in West Side Story as Rosalia while Understudying Anita and later appeared in Beautiful: The Carole King Musical as a swing for the Shirelles (Lil Eva, Janelle, and Shirley) which she went on as all four separate tracks. Her recent academic credits include Godspell at Jacksonville University where she performed Uzo and Nick while also serving as the resident choreographer for the production. After graduation, Sierra is moving back to New York where she plans to continue to pursue opportunities that allow her to grow as an artist in her many fields of interest while taking one day at a time and remaining true to herself! ♥