Breton Tyner-Bryan

Bio content provided by individual

Teacher Bio

Breton Tyner-Bryan is an American born multi award winning director, writer, actor, choreographer, editor, with Canadian roots, based in New York City. A classically trained ballet dancer and costume designer, she serves as creative director for Grammy-winning musicians. OC Movies, TV & Streaming has compared her work to Darren Aronofsky film Black Swan and Voyeurs Room 104 calling it "an impressionistic fantasy with eye-catching visuals, a fresh take on storytelling". Fi...read more

Breton Tyner-Bryan is an American born multi award winning director, writer, actor, choreographer, editor, with Canadian roots, based in New York City. A classically trained ballet dancer and costume designer, she serves as creative director for Grammy-winning musicians. OC Movies, TV & Streaming has compared her work to Darren Aronofsky film Black Swan and Voyeurs Room 104 calling it "an impressionistic fantasy with eye-catching visuals, a fresh take on storytelling". Film Threat has described her works as "a stylish and crafted presentation" that "succeeds in telling an engaging and intriguing story." Unseen films called her work "a delight for the eye and ear, a visual feast". Her highly decorated films have won over 100 awards including Best Director, Best Editor, Best Narrative Short, Best Dance film, screening at Berlin Commercial, London Fashion Film Festival, World London Film Festival, Madrid International Film Festival, Dances With Films Chinese Theater and Regal Cinemas, Micheaux Film Festival, La Femme Film Festival, Emberlight International Film Festival, La Jolla International Fashion Film Festival, Lift Off Global Network London Pinewood Studios, Paris International Short Festival, New York International Women's Festival, Bucharest Film Awards, Big Apple AGENTS AND MANAGERS Lab, ASVOFF14 Paris, French Riviera Film Festival, Stockholm Short Film Festival, Paris Short Film Festival, Bucharest Film Awards, Vegas Movie Awards, Silk Road Film Awards Cannes, New York International Film Awards, New York City International Film Festival, Barcelona Indie Awards, Cannes 7th Art Awards, Europe Music Video Awards, Grahla International Film Awards, Istanbul Film Awards, Tokyo Film Festival, Swedish International Film Festival, and Vienna International Film Awards.

She is known for The Penguin (HBO), Manifest (Netflix), Gossip Girl (HBO), Billions (Showtime), Divorce (HBO), Shackled, working alongside Sarah Jessica Parker and Molly Shannon, The Knick alongside Clive Owen, choreographing for BD Wong and Donny Most of Happy Days, Studio City (VICE), Manhattan Love Story (ABC), Shackled (in production), TEST, and Stories from the Microcosm with John Sanborn. She often plays detectives and tough seductive characters collaborating regularly with cinematographer Michael J. Burke. Her heritage is Native American, Jewish German, Spanish, Italian, Irish, French, and Indian. She is named for Cape Breton, Nova Scotia where her family created a commune. Directing credits include Shiseido Americas, Merryn John's Love Is A Blue Jay, Village Playwrights NYC, All About Love New Victory Theater, installations for New York Fashion Week, The Pierre Taj Hotel, Madonna-Washington Square Park, Don Most from Happy Days, and Sonas Denim Commercial.

Choreographic works include Divorce HBO, Saturday Night Fever Engeman Theater, Heading East starring BD Wong, Prospect Theater, Vinegar Tom, Retrofactoy Theater C, Peter Pan Dreamland Stages, Cotton Candy and Cocaine New York Theater Barn, choreographic men-tee under Sergio Trujillo for The Donna Summer Musical on Broadway, choreographic labs for Waitress (Broadway), Twelfth Night (Public Theater), Encore's God Bless You Mr. Rosewater, commissions for NYU, Marymount, AMDA, and performing alongside The Martha Graham Dance Company at its Benefit for Haiti.

She is a CUNY awardee and Dance Lab New York connect artist with Sam Pinkelton and Josh Prince. As ballet mistress for Sleep No More she has choreographed and performed for McKittrick Follies, and was ballet mistress for Ballet Hispanico. She is the executive producer and founder of Breton Follies Productions, featured at New Victory Theater 42nd Street, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, and City Center. She has taught for New York University, Fordham University, Smith College, Berklee NYC, Broadway Dance Center, Joffrey Ballet School, The Place (London), Dance Base Scotland, San Francisco State University, LINES Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. She holds a MA in Filmmaking from NYU, a BFA in Ballet Performance from the University of Utah and received her training at the School of the Hartford Ballet. Her work has been featured in The New York Times, Deadline, Curve Magazine, Broadway World, Pointe Magazine, Dance Magazine and the Huffington Post. She is currently in pre-production on her pilot to series I DREAM OF HAZEL that she wrote, will direct, and act in, and 3 feature films she will direct. You can also see her debuting on the second season of "Great Kills" on Tubi coming soon.

Read less

Class Descriptions

Ballet

Class begins with a logical and steady progression through barre, emphasizing the expansion of all mind and body systems.

In the center, dancers are encouraged to express their individuality exploring themes of power, fluidity, and definitive musical choices. Center combinations supply challenging and intricate choreography, with an overall emphasis on energy efficiency and flow.

I continue to incorporate the "why" as well as the "how" of classical ballet. It is my great pleasure to share my love of dance, welcoming dancers of all ages and varying levels. Enjoyment of movement and flight are highly encouraged.

Theater Dance

Class begins with a 20 minute warmup focusing on strengthening and stretching of the whole body to prepare for athletic expression and storytelling. Moving into vigorous choreography from the Breton Follies repertoire, we focus on fluidity and sensuality, overlaid with precise technique, footwork, and personal expression. A story telling based class with strong emotional narrative, we encourage the comedic and celebratory expression of feminine and masculine energy in everyone, while celebrating the style and sounds of the 1940-60s.