CURRICULUM VITAE |  

​

MFA  St. Mary's College of California, Ballet and Creative Practice

THESIS: Living On A Prayer:  

​

Certified Levels Pre-Ballet, 1, 2 & 3 Boldhoi Ballet Syllabus & Pedagogy

​​​

My early life education began in athletics, when I received a Presidential Honor for Fitness in grade school, placing me in the top 3% nationally.  Gymnastics was my primary focus through college.  I also competed in Track & Field, Baseball and Rowing.  I began my formal dance training during my third year in College, where I went on to receive a BFA in Modern Dance Performance. 

 

Immediately after graduation,  I moved to NYC to begin my professional career in dance.  I was given full scholarship with Urban Bush Women and performed with The Mozambique National Drum and Dance Company.  I have also been fortunate to perform with The Metropolitan Opera, Underground Dance Project, Vissi Dance Theater among others., I have also performed solo choreography for The Angel Orensanz Foundation and as a featured dance soloist for The International Flute Festival held at Baryshnikov Arts.  I have performed a featured supernumerary mime role for ABT.  In 2009 I was invited to audition for Michael Jackson's This Is It Tour. 

​

I later began serious ballet training with open adult classes with Kat Wildish. This led to being accepted into ABT's Summer Intensive in NYC, where I performed as a featured soloist. 

​​

After this Intensive I began training at Steps On Broadway, and also began a  private mentorship with Gelsey Kirkland. ​ 

 

 A few years later i found myself in an ongoing mentorship with Vladilen Semenov, an Honoured Artist of Russia. Professor Semenov is a masterful classical ballet artist with an undisputed knowledge of the Russian School. His career if formidable, and his famed partnership with wife, Irina Kolpakova is legendary.   Mr. Semenov is considered one of Russia's most respected Danseur Nobles.  He then served as Director of the Vaganova Academy and was then appointed Artistic Director of The Kirov Ballet. He later moved to New York City along with Irina to join the coaching and pedagogical staff of American Ballet Theater under the invitation from Mikhail Baryshnikov. This mentorship has given me a rare opportunity to learn in a unique and in depth manner.

​​

Concurrent with my Russian Ballet studies, I have also been engaged in study in Havana, Cuba, with respected teachers from the Cuban  National Ballet School, Ballet Nacional de Cuba, as well as undergong mentorship from Laura Alonso, and the professors at Prodanza.  I have also undergone conditioning with Miguel Capote. 

​​

In 2016, I received a full scholarship from Baryshnikov Arts and Open World Dance Foundation to study Vaganova Pedagogy with Master Professor Ludmila Safronova;  Repertoire & Variations with Irina Kolpakova; Pas de Deux with Vladilen Semenov; Dramatic Acting for Stage with Alexander Steppin, Professor of Dramatic Acting of the Vaganova Academy.   I was then asked to perform the  Vaganova Academy Acting Exam Solo at Baryshnikov Arts, along with other pieces of Classical Ballet Repertoire (La Bayadere, Raymonda and Swan Lake). 

​

In 2019 I made my Classical Ballet debut in the Corps de Ballet for Romeo & Juliet with Laura Alonso Ballet at the National Theater in Havana, Cuba.

​​​​​

From 2023 I have been engaged in syllabus certification from the Bolshoi Ballet Academy.  I am presently certified to conduct class for  Pre-Ballet and Levels 1, 2 and 3.  I also began an ongoing classowrk with Isabella Mayes McGuire of Ballet With Isabella. 

​

In 2024, I received an MFA with Honors,  focused in Creative Practice with an Independent Concentration in Russian and Cuban Ballet Pedagogy  & Performance from St. Mary's College of California.  

​​​​​​

COMPLIMENTARY STUDIES

 

Si​​​​milar to Elite Athletes, Ballet Dancers require the support of experts for preparation and recovery.  Beginning as an Adult has given me a particular awareness of the physical barriers and dangers that adult dancers face.  

​​

My education to address these concerns has been extensive, with studies in a variety of accompanying disciplines with respected coaches. My education incudes study with the following professionals: 

​​​

​​​RESISTIVE STRETCHING 

JOHN KELLY / BOB COOLEY

Meridian / Resistive Stretching

(Developed by Olympic Performance Strategist, Bob Cooley)

This work has been lauded as a miracle worker for Athetes of all ages, with Bob being the revered coach of Olympic Medalist Dara Torres for her incredible Olympic comeback at age 41 where she medaled. Dara holds the record for having an Olympic Career that spans 26 years. 

​​​

TIM LIVINGSTON

Muscle Activation Technique

Resistance Training Specialist

Crucial for injury prevention and diagnosis, Tim's work is insightful and important to understand the neurological function that underlies physical performance. 

​​

MIGUEL CAPOTE - HAVANA, CUBA

Miguel Capote and his family have a legacy of meeting the physical preparation needs of world class ballet dancers of Ballet Nacional de Cuba for decades!  Many esteemed professionals from around the world travel to Havana to work with Miguel.

​​

​PAMELA PARDI

Pilates with Pam - Classical Pilates - NYC

Certified and Mentored by Romana, Protege of Joe Pilates

An undisputed master instructor of Classical Pilates, as well as a former Ballet Dancer Pam has an in depth understanding of the needs of dancers and how Classical Pilates can be of service. 

​​

DR. SHMUEL TATZ,  NYC

You can't find better hands on physical therapy in North America. Dr. Tatz's expert hands have been trusted by some of the most illustrious classical performers in the history of ballet, classical music and athletics. 

​​

​​