2021 FESTIVAL MOSAIC FACULTY - The Ballet Alliance

2021 FESTIVAL MOSAIC FACULTY

SIBYLLE ACATOS-DADEY, ballet in person
Ms. Acatos-Dadey began her formal ballet training in her native Switzerland. She furthered her
studies at the Academie de Danse Rosella Hightower in Cannes, France and the John Cranko
Schule in Stuttgart, Germany. Ms. Acatos was a prize winner of the prestigious competition, the Prix
de Lausanne, and enjoyed a career that spanned over 22 years. Chosen by George Balanchine,
she began her professional career at the Grand Theatre de Genéve under the Artistic Direction of
George Balanchine, with Director, Patricia Neary. With that company and later the Zurich Ballet, Ms.
Acatos worked directly with Mr. Balanchine and as a soloist she danced roles in over 20 ballets by
him. She also danced in the works of Jerome Robbins, Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, Hans van
Manen, Robert North and in classical ballets such as Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Le Coq
D‘or and Cinderella. Ms. Acatos later joined Ballet Arizona as a principal dancer. Since her
retirement from the stage, Ms. Acatos has dedicated her time to the teaching and training of
future dancers. As a faculty member of the Arizona Ballet School under the direction of Kee-Juan
Han she trained levels from Beginner 1 through Advanced. In 2003, she opened a school with her
husband, now Scottsdale School of Ballet. Ms. Acatos is proud that some of her students are now
dancing professionally.

DEBRA AUSTIN, ballet via zoom
Debra Austin received a scholarship to the School of American Ballet when she was 12 years old.
Four years later, she was the first African-American female dancer to join the New York City Ballet.
Ms. Austin danced many principal roles with New York City Ballet in works choreographed by
Balanchine, including Symphony in C, Divertimento #15, and Ballo della Regina, in which Balanchine
created a solo for her. She also danced lead roles for Jerome Robbins in The Four Seasons, Interplay,
and Chansons Madécasses, which he created on her. She later joined the Zurich Ballet in
Switzerland, where she danced principal roles (many with Rudolf Nureyev) in works by all of the
major choreographers, including Myrtha in Heinz Spoerli’s Giselle. While there, she toured
throughout Europe. In 1982 she returned to the US and was promoted to the rank of principal dancer
at Pennsylvania Ballet, making her the first African-American female principal dancer of a major
American ballet company. She currently serves as the ballet mistress for the Carolina Ballet.

JENNIFER BACKHAUS, modern/contemporary via zoom
Jennifer Backhaus, Founder and Artistic Director of Backhausdance, was featured in “OC Metro’s” 40
Under 40 and recently honored by Chapman University with the 2017 Distinguished Alumni Award
as well as Alumni of the Year (2007) for her artistic leadership of Backhausdance. Jennifer’s works
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have been commissioned and produced by Los Angeles Ballet, McCallum Theatre, Segerstrom
Center for the Arts, and TDC of the Bay Area, among a long list of others. Many of Jennifer’s works
have been honored with awards, and her piece Disintegration was presented at the Kennedy Center
in Washington, D.C. Currently a full-time dance faculty member at Chapman University, Jennifer is
also a teaching artist for the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Education Programs. She holds a BFA in
Communications and Dance from Chapman University, and an MFA in Choreography from Hollins
University.

MARIN BOIERU, mens’ class via zoom
Marin Boieru serves as Ballet Master at Carolina Ballet. He studied ballet in his native Romania and
then later at the Kirov Ballet in Russia. He won the gold medal at the International Ballet
Competition-Varna and the silver at the International Ballet Competition-Moscow. Praised by The
New York Times for his “heart-stopping ability,” he performed as a principal dancer in the United
States at Miami City Ballet and Pennsylvania Ballet and in Europe at Maurice Béjart’s Ballet of the
20th Century (Switzerland), Roland Petit’s Ballet National de Marseille (France), and Opera of
Bucharest (Romania). He has toured nationally and internationally with Stars of American
Ballet partnering Susan Jaffe, Alexandra Ferri, and Leslie Brown. His television appearances include
starring roles in La Sylphide on PBS, in The Magic Flute on French television and in Giselle on TVR in
Romania.

SUSAN BROOKER, ballet via zoom
Susan Brooker is Director of the Preparatory Dance Program at the University of North Carolina
School of the Arts, member of the Artistic Board of Examiners and Instructors for the ABT, National
Training Curriculum, ABT Summer Program Faculty and guest teacher at the JKO School at ABT. Ms.
Brooker is a Fellow and Major Examiner of Cecchetti USA, holds the Enrico Cecchetti Diploma
specialising in ballet pedagogy and curriculum development. She has taught in schools in the USA,
Europe, Canada and Japan. Former teacher and then director of the Scuola di Danza Hamlyn di De
Vita, Lukens, Florence, Italy, Ms. Brooker was Director of the School of Dance Connecticut, and 1st
Chair of the Dance Department of the Community Division of the Hartt School. From 2008 - 2014 she
was Director of the BalletMet Dance Academy, Columbus, OH. Students of Ms. Brooker have won
prestigious international dance competitions including the Prix de Lausanne and are dancing with
companies in the Untied States, South America & Europe.

NATALIE DESCH
Natalie Desch, a BFA graduate of the Juilliard School and an MFA graduate of the University of
Washington, performed for five seasons with the Limón Dance Company and eleven seasons with
Doug Varone and Dancers in NYC. She additionally danced in various productions at the
Metropolitan Opera and other regional opera companies (Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Palm
Beach Opera, Longleaf Opera (NC), Lincoln Center Institute (NYC). Jennifer Dunning of the New York
Times wrote of her, she is “…one of those wonderful movers who can simultaneously and clearly
communicate both the wide sweep and the fine detail of a choreographed sequence.” From 2005-
2012 she taught at Hunter College (City University of New York) and has also been a visiting faculty
member at Weber State University (UT), University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the
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Beijing Dance Academy. She additionally has taught for the following summer festivals: Doug
Varone and Dancers, the Limón Dance Company, UNCSA, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, the
Bates Dance Festival, Ririe-Woodbury, and the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theater, among
others. Natalie has restaged the works of José Limón, Doug Varone, Jirí Kylián, and Daniel Charon
on performing groups around the world, and her choreography has been presented at venues
throughout the US. In 2014 Natalie relocated to Salt Lake City, UT, and began teaching at Ballet West
Academy, Westminster College, Utah Valley University, and Salt Lake Community College. Natalie
joined the University of Utah’s School of Dance as an Assistant Professor in the fall of 2019.

AUTUMN ECKMAN, modern/contemporary via zoom and in person
Autumn Eckman (MFA, University of Iowa) received her classical ballet training from Tom Pazik,
Susan Banks Bebee in Atlanta, GA and graduated from the Houston Ballet Academy. In her
performance career, Autumn had the privilege to dance with Giordano Dance Chicago where she
also served as Assistant Artistic Director, Resident Choreographer and Director Giordano II;
Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Luna Negra Dance Theatre, Lucky Plush Productions, Ron De Jesus
Dance, State Street Ballet and The Cambrians. Her choreographic commissions include original
works for State Street Ballet, DanceWorks Chicago, Kit Modus, Big Muddy Dance Co., Wylliams-
Henry Dance Company, Missouri Contemporary Ballet, Washington & Lee University, Stephens
College, Western Michigan University, Grand Valley State University, University of Wisconsin-
Stevens Point and the University of Missouri- Kansas City. Her choreography has been presented
at the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, Bates Dance Festival, Women In Dance Leadership Conference,
Performática (Mexico), Solo Duo Dance Festival, Detroit Dance City Festival, Charlotte Dance
Festival, Blackbox International Theatre & Dance Festival (Bulgaria), Houston Dance Gallery
Festival, Men In Dance Festival, the McCallum Choreography Competition and with JUNTOS
Collective (Guatemala) where she served as the outreach choreographer in the summer of 2019.
Autumn taught as Instructor of Dance at Northern Illinois University (2009-2015) and is currently an
Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Arizona. She teaches nationally for schools
including the Vitacca Vocational School for Dance (Houston), Jacqueline's School of Ballet (Utah),
State Street Ballet Summer Intensive and Gustafson Dance, Open Doors Dance Festival and the
Bates Dance Festival.

LAUREN EDSON, contemporary in person
Originally from Boise, Idaho, Edson received her training at Idaho Dance Theatre, The University of
North Carolina School of the Arts and The Juilliard School, under the direction of the late Benjamin
Harkarvy. She danced with the acclaimed Trey McIntyre Project for several years and was featured
in many of his works. Throughout her career she's had the honor of performing the creations of Pina
Bausch, Maguy Marin, Angelin Preljocaj, Robert Battle, Johannes Wieland, and Alex Ketley, among
others. In 2015, she founded LED--an award-winning arts organization that weaves signature
contemporary choreography, original musical compositions, and elements of film into thought-
provoking narratives and inspiring stories that are redefining the boundaries of performing arts.
They were named by Dance Magazine as “25 to watch” for 2020 and described as “a feat of
pyrotechnics.” As a choreographer, she has received many fellowships and awards for her
creations. She was recently awarded the prestigious 2019 Washington Award for excellence in
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choreography and is the recipient of the ICA Performing Arts Fellowship. Described by the Seattle
Times as a “choreographer of the first rank,” she is the winner of Northwest Dance Project’s The Pretty
Creative’s International Choreography Competition and the recipient of the Grand Prize at the
Dance Under the Stars Choreography Competition. Her choreography has appeared on some of
the most notable stages in the country including: Jacob's Pillow, Winspear Opera House and the
Kennedy Center. Her past choreographic commissions include: Whim W’Him, Northwest Dance
Project and Houston MET Dance, to name a few. She’s married to Andrew Stensaas and is the mother
to two beautiful boys, Finn and Liam.

SHAY GALLOWAY, ballet in person
Shay Galloway trained at Laguna Ballet and other prestigious schools including Pittsburgh Ballet
Theatre School, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Alonso King’s LINES Ballet. As a
freshman in High School, Shay was accepted into the University of Arizona’s dance program and
later attended, where she danced notable roles like Russian Principle in George
Balanchine’s Serenade and was part of a small group of selected students who traveled to and
performed in Italy. After graduating with a BFA in dance, Shay joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in Las
Vegas where she performed many soloist roles in ballets such as The Nutracker, Napoli, Val
Caniparoli’s Lambarena, George Balanchine’s Who Cares? and Allegro Brilliante to name a few. In
the summer of 2006, Shay was one of five company members chosen to perform at the Vail
International Dance Festival with Peter Anastos’ Yes Virginia. Shay later became company
member with Nova Ballet in Tempe AZ, and Collette Harding Contemporary Dance Company in
San Diego. Shay has been teaching ballet for over 20 years at many reputable schools including
Laguna Dance Theatre and San Elijo Dance and Music Academy. Shay was a teacher and the
registrar of the Los Angeles Ballet School, official school of the Los Angeles Ballet. Shay is now the
proud Co-Owner and Artistic Director of 4S Dance Academy in San Diego California. She is
meticulous and precise in her training, and she believes in creating a nurturing and safe
environment for all her students. She is thrilled to be the teaching the students of The Ballet
Alliance and Ballet Yuma, and can’t wait to share her love of ballet and dance!

MARK HAIM, ballet via zoom and in person
Mark Haim has been choreographing for over 30 years. He has created and restaged works for
dance companies around the world, such as the Nederlands Dans Theater, Ballet Frankfurt, the
Limon Dance Company, the Joffrey Ballet, Rotterdamse Dansgroep, the Bat-Dor Dance Company
of Israel, Djazzex, and the Juilliard Dance Ensemble. He performed his full evening solo project, The
Goldberg Variations, around the US Europe and Asia, including the John F Kennedy Center, ADF,
and Lincoln Center. His work, This Land Is Your Land, opened the ArtDanThe Festival in Paris, and
has been seen at the Joyce Theater, ADF, and the National Performing Arts Center in Beijing. He
has choreographed for the Seattle Opera's productions of The Consul and Tales of Hoffmann.
Mark was on the faculty of the American Dance Festival from 1993- 2013 and was the Senior Artist
in Residence at the University of Washington Dance Program from 2002-2008. He has also taught
at the NC School of the Arts, University of Illinois, Ohio University, SMU, VCU, Cornell, JMU, Reed
College, Simon Fraser University, and for schools and companies in Belgium, Holland, Germany,
Italy, Portugal, Poland, Latvia, Russia, Argentina, Chile and Japan. He currently teaches at the
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International Ballet Academy as well as for the Spectrum Dance Company. He is a recipient of a
1987 NYFA, and 1988 and 1996 NEA Choreographers Fellowship, and grants from the NPN Suitcase
Fund, ArtsLink, Inc. and the Seattle Office of Arts & Cultural Affairs. Mark is a Fulbright Senior
Specialist. He holds a BFA degree from The Juilliard School and an MFA from Hollins University.

AARON JACKSON, ballet via zoom
Aaron attended the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City, where he trained year-round
and in summer. He also attended summer intensives at Joffrey Ballet School in New York,
Pennsylvania Ballet School, and San Francisco Ballet School. Jackson was a 2017/2018 National
Visiting Fellow at SAB, where he designed and taught a Level B1 ballet class for SAB’s students. He
serves on SAB's Alumni Advisory Committee on Diversity & Inclusion. In 2000, Jackson joined The
Dance Theatre of Harlem. In 2001, he joined The Washington Ballet for eight seasons, and then
Company C in San Francisco for two seasons. Jackson began teaching in The Washington School
of Ballet’s summer intensive while a company member, as well as at Jones/Haywood School of
Dance. In 2006, he joined the summer faculty at Berrend Dance Centre, where in 2010 he began
teaching year-round Levels 4, 5, PP1, and PP2. At The Washington School of Ballet, he teaches open
adult classes. In 2019, he joined the teaching faculty at The Dance Institute Of Washington, in
Washington DC. Jackson has choreographed short ballets, including “Entropy” for Berrend Dance
Center students at the 2016 YAGP competition in Boston, placing at the semi-finalist level; and
“Abstract Pieces” for The Washington School of Ballet trainees’ 2014 Spring Performances. Jackson
has established himself as a guest teacher in the U.S. and internationally. He also coaches
dancers privately, including several who are dancing professionally or who have been accepted
at prestigious ballet schools.

SANDRA JENNINGS, ballet via zoom
Sandra Jennings was born in Boston. She began her dance training there studying with E.Virginia
Williams, the founding director of Boston Ballet . In 1971, Jennings received a Ford Foundation
Scholarship to study at School of American Ballet. At SAB Jennings studied with some of the
greatest teachers including Alexandra Danilova, Felia Dubrovska, and Stanley Williams. She
performed leading roles in ballets such as Paquita, Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake. In 1974
George Balanchine asked Jennings to join New York City Ballet. There she danced an enormous
repertoire that included roles in many Balanchine and Jerome Robbins ballets. Jennings also
danced works by John Taras, Jacques d’Amboise and Sir Fredrick Ashton. Jennings performed on
television in Dance in America, Live from Lincoln Center, Live from Studio 8H, and Canadian
Broadcast. In 1985, Jennings became a teacher and assistant director at Chautauqua Institute
where she began staging Balanchine ballets. Jennings has continued to stage a huge repertory of
Balanchine’s works for companies around the world. She recently staged a brand new production
of Balanchine’s “A Midsummer Night’s Dream” at Paris Opera Ballet as well as a new production for
The Mariinsky . She also staged “Theme and Variations”, “Diamonds”, “Four Temperaments” and
“Serenade” for Paris Opera Ballet. She staged “Emeralds”,“Rubies” and“Serenade”for The Bolshoi
Ballet, “Emeralds” for The Royal Danish Ballet and the new production of Balanchine’s “Nutcracker”
at La Scala. Jennings teaches for companies and schools around the world and was ballet
mistress for Pennsylvania Ballet and San Francisco Ballet.
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RACHEL KUCZYNSKI, jazz in person
Rachel Kuczynski grew up in Northern California and started her training as a competitive
gymnast and track athlete, earning statewide awards in both disciplines. She extensively studied
Ballet, Jazz, Modern and Tap at the Academy of Performing Arts in her hometown of Tracy, CA.
With that she has received many awards for her Jazz, Contemporary and Musical Theater pieces
in multiple competitions. She went on to continue her training at California State University of Long
Beach on a Track and Field scholarship, majoring in and acquiring a B.A. in Dance. After college,
she moved to New York to pursue her dance career. Rachel has also studied with the Long Beach
Ballet Academy, Atlanta School of Ballet and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. She has
performed works by Martha Graham, Susan Mclain, "Gruisin Suite" by Frank Chavez,” Table of
Silence” and "Requiem" with the Buglisi Dance Theatre in NYC. Her most recent works include
dancing and touring with The Modarts Dance Collective Company, based in New York, traveling
with the off-Broadway show, "Dancing Queen," by Spirit Productions and performing in the Musical
Theater piece “Love Re-routed” for the Capezio A.C.E Awards. She continues to travel in the U.S
judging dance competitions and choreographing for multiple dance studios. Rachel is excited to
be on the Castro Valley Performing Arts Faculty!

ANNA LANTZ, ballet via zoom
Born in Sweden, Anna Lantz started her ballet training at a young age at the Storan in Goteborg.
She attended The Royal Ballet School (RBS) in London, England and graduated from the RBS
Teacher Training Course. As Head Student with the highest honor, she was one of only five
instructors in the United States to possess the following ballet pedagogy qualifications: The RBS
Three-Year Teachers Diploma, Imperial Society for Teachers of Dance (ISTD) Cecchetti Associate
Teaching Diploma and the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Teaching Diploma. Upon graduating
from RBS, Lantz was immediately offered a full-time position at the John Cranko School in
Stuttgart, Germany, where she taught for five years. In 2004, Lantz became a full-time instructor at
Boston Ballet School, the largest school of its kind in North America. As the Ballet Mistress for the
School, Lantz rehearsed children’s roles for several full-length ballets including A Midsummer
Night’s Dream, La Sylphide and The Nutcracker. Following that, she was promoted to Head of
Elementary Programs where she developed the syllabus and curriculum. In 2007, Lantz was
appointed Assistant Choreographer for Disney’s number one box office hit, the movie The Game
Plan with “The Rock” featuring students from Boston Ballet School. Lantz has taught at the
University level as well; she was an Adjunct Professor at Dean College, Emerson College and has
taught at Harvard University, Cambridge, MA. Lantz has been lauded for her unique ability to
instruct students of all ages and levels. Lantz now serves as School Director for the Academy of
Nevada Ballet Theatre.

KATHRYN MORGAN, ballet via zoom and in person
Kathryn Morgan began studying ballet at age three at Mobile Ballet in Mobile,
Alabama. Kathryn attended the summer program at the School of American Ballet in 2004 and
enrolled as a full time student that fall. She joined New York City Ballet as an apprentice in June of
2006 and became a member of the corps de ballet of the Company in February of 2007. In
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October 2009, Kathryn was promoted to soloist. She left the company due to an autoimmune
illness in 2012. She has since regained her health and currently performs, teaches, and speaks
around the country, runs a highly successful YouTube channel, her podcast “The Kathryn Morgan
Show”, writes a column for Dance Spirit Magazine, is the creator of the Kathryn Morgan
Scholarship, Kathryn Morgan Collection and Kathryn Morgan Haul, and is a judge and master
teacher for the Youth America Grand Prix Ballet Competition. She joined Miami City Ballet as a
soloist for the 2019/2020 season. She is the recipient of the 2006 Mae L. Wien Award, 2006 Movado
Future Legends Award, and the 2009 Janice Levin Award.

NOELLE PRICE, contemporary via zoom and in person
Noelle Price is a contemporary creator, from Detroit, MI. Price received her Bachelor of Arts in
Dance from Western Michigan University before moving to Seattle, WA. She wrote/performed her
one woman play Death and Other Rude Things in 2016. In 2019 Seattle Dances awarded Noelle a
Dance Crush for her commitment to advocacy through dance. Noelle is the Executive Director of
PRICEarts/ Artistic Director of PRICEarts Never Ending Work dance project. She is an instructor at
Cornish College of the Arts and eXitSPACE School of Dance.

CHRISTOPHER SELLARS, ballet in person
Christopher Sellars grew up at his Parents dance school in Huntington Beach, California. In 2005,
he was offered a contract with Ballet West II and after one year he was promoted into the
company. He quickly rose through the ranks and was eventually promoted to a First Soloist with
Ballet West. During a fifteen-year career, Christopher has performed countless leading roles, been
a regular teacher with the Ballet West Academy, and was Interim Director of Ballet West II for two
years. Filled with gratitude, Mr. Sellars retired his duties as a full-time dancer with Ballet West in
December of 2019 and is now Principal Faculty and Trainee Division Coordinator with Ballet West
Academy.

FRANCOIS SERRE Y BERGA, ballet in person
Francois Serre y Berga is a French citizen born in Barcelona, Spain. He graduated with honors from
the Opera de Paris and Conservatoire Superieur de Paris. In Europe, he danced as a soloist with
several companies in France and Switzerland including the Ballet National du Rhin under Jean
Sarelli, Basel Ballet under Heinz Spoerli, Ballet de Marseille under Roland Petit and the Zurich Opera
House. Francois studied Jazz dance with Gus Giordano and Lea Darwin in Chicago at the Gus
Giordano Dance Center. He was a dancer for movies, television and music videos in France, and
danced with Tina Turner’s European Tour in 1990-91. Mr. Serre y Berga was Assistant Artistic
Director at Spectrum Dance Theater and taught at Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle. He was
Chairman of the Ballet School at the Washington Academy of Performing Arts in Redmond,
Washington. Currently he is teaching with ISCB.

CARLA STALLINGS LIPPERT, ballet in person
Ms Stallings Lippert is the Director of the Severance Conservatory of Ballet. She began her training
with Marquerite Phares in Sacramento, California at the age of seven. She was awarded the Ford
Foundation Scholarship at the age of 13 by New York City Ballet Principal, Violette Verdy through
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the Pacific Regional Festival. She attended New York City Ballet's School of American Ballet as well
the American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensives on full scholarship. Miss Stallings joined
American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in 1977. In 1982 she won the bronze Medal in the Senior
Division at the International Competition in Jackson MS. In 1984 Mikhail Baryshnikov promoted her
to the rank of soloist. In 1987, Ms. Stallings Lippert joined Boston Ballet as a principal dancer where
her repertoire included Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Giselle, the Sylph in La Sylphide, the Chosen
Woman in Roland Petit’s Sacre du Printemps among others. Over the course of her career, Carla
had the honor of working with Anthony Tudor, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Natalia Makarova, Woytek
Lowski, Bruce Marks and Anne Marie Holmes. She toured with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolph
Nureyev, and Fernando Bujones and was guest artist with many regional companies. Carla retired
from Boston Ballet in 1994 and began teaching at Severance Fresno Ballet School in 1997.
Currently, Ms. Stallings coordinates and teaches for American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive
program in Tuscaloosa Alabama. She is certified in the American Ballet Theatre Curriculum and
also teaches and sets choreography around California and the US for various ballet schools and
summer programs. She was chosen to adjudicate the 2020/21 season for the Regional Dance
America, coming full circle to where she was awarded the Ford Foundation Scholarship.

PIERRE FRANCOIS VILANOBA, ballet in person
Pierre’s early training began at the Lille Conservatory in France, before entering the school of the
Paris Opera Ballet. His teaching style is that of the French School, and he emphasizes a properly
aligned, structurally sound foundation built with breath, ease, and the joy of dancing. Mr. Gilbert
Mayer, Premier danseur and Honorary Professor of l'Ecole de Danse et du Ballet de l'Opéra National
de Paris, remains one of Pierre’s most influential teachers. During his 15 years at the Paris Opera,
Pierre completed his education then joined the company, rising to the rank of Sujet. Desiring a
broader life experience, Pierre left for the US and joined San Francisco Ballet, where he spent 15
seasons as a principal dancer. Pierre’s vast repertory included ballet’s by Rudolph Nureyev, John
Neumeier, John Cranko, Roland Petit, Maurice Béjart, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Marius
Petipa, Serge Lifar, Vaslav Nijinsky, Leonide Massine, Serge Diaghilev, Victor Gsovsky, Helgi
Tomasson, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Jorma Elo, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe,
James Kudelka, Hans van Manen, Angelin Preljocaj, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Sir Frederick Ashton, Val
Caniparoli, Harald Lander, Anthony Tudor, Yuri Possokhov, Jacques Garnier, Mats Ek and more. He
performed in several ballet films with the Paris Opera Ballet, including Nureyev’s Romeo and Juliet,
and was featured as the Snow King in the PBS Great Performances broadcast of Tomasson’s
Nutcracker. Pierre is currently a faculty member of Marin Dance Theatre and offers private
instruction in the San Francisco Bay Area. Since retiring from the stage, Pierre earned his Bachelor
degree (summa cum laude) in performing arts, with an emphasis in psychology and his Masters
Degree in Counseling Psychology, and now practices as a Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist
combining the knowledge gained during his dancing career and his educational experiences into
what he offers both his ballet students and psychotherapy clients.

TONG WANG, ballet on zoom
After graduating with honors from the prestigious Beijing Dance Academy Ballet department in
1986, Tong Wang performed as a principal artist with companies such as Shanghai Ballet, Tulsa
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Ballet Theatre, Dayton Ballet, Colorado Ballet, and, most recently, Ballet West. While dancing
professionally, Tong completed his B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees in Ballet Teaching and Choreography
with the University of Utah Ballet Department and also worked as a guest faculty member from
2000-2005. From 2005-2007, Tong served as Assistant Professor of Dance at Wright State
University. He held the position of Dance professor at Butler University from 2007-2011. In fall 2011,
Tong joined the distinguished Dance Department of University of California, Irvine. Currently
serving as an associate professor, Tong is one of the creators and artistic directors for East Meets
West International Dance and Music Festival from 2016 to present.

JENNIFER WHALEN, ballet in person
Born in Seoul, South Korea, Jennifer Whalen began her training at the age of seven under Linda
Strangio-Hedberg in Ventura, California. Whalen has also trained on scholarship with the San
Francisco Ballet, The Kirov Academy and The Royal Ballet School. She made her professional
debut in 1999, at the age of 14, with the State Street Ballet when the role of Clara in their Hollywood
Nutcracker was created on her. Whalen competed at the Third International Ballet and Modern
Dance Competition in Nagoya, Japan in 1999. Whalen won The Los Angeles Performing Arts Center
Spotlight Award in February 2000 and the Gold Medal at the Youth America Grand Prix in May 2001.
At seventeen, Whalen joined American Ballet Theatre where she danced for fifteen years. Her
repertory includes the Spanish Dance in Swan Lake and a role in Black Tuesday, as well as roles in
all of the Company‘s full-length ballets. She created a role in Everything Doesn’t Happen at Once.

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