Directors
Stephen Mills, Artistic Director (Bios)
Cookie Ruiz, C.F.R.E., Executive Director (Bios)
Michelle Martin, Associate Artistic Director (Bios)
William Piner, Director of Schools (Bios)
Lynne Short, Academy Principal (Bios)
Vicki Parsons, Managing Director of Schools (Bios)
Eric Caruthers, Registrar (Bios)
Vlada Sheber, Pilates Program Director
Toni Bravo, Leaps & No Bounds Program Director
Joan Wolfe, Creative Movement Director
Faculty
Hayley Blackman
Margot Brown
Pei-San Brown
Cheryl Chaddick
Greg Easley
Meghan Gill
Brittany Harpole
Jennifer Hart
Danny Herman
Arletta Howard-Logan
Libby James
Kristin Jones
Zakiyyah Kareem
Vivian Kaw
Rachel Kingsbury
Ashley Lynn
Allisyn Paino Martin
Lisa del Rosario
Boo Ruiz
L. Jerry Schwender
Christopher Swaim
Suzanne Taylor
Michelle Thompson
Rocker Verastique
Kathryn Waggoner
Jaime Lynn Witts
Carla Wright
Terri Lynn Wright
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
William Piner, Director of Schools
Mr. Piner graduated from Butler University's prestigious dance program in 1982 and had a wide and varied professional performing career with companies such as Ballet Austin, the Hartford Ballet and Dance Kaleidoscope, Indiana's only professional modern company. A member of Actor's Equity Association, Mr. Piner also enjoyed a career in musical theatre before retiring to direct Ballet Austin Academy. He has been teaching extensively since 1982, including seven years on faculty at Butler University's Jordan College Academy of Dance in Indianapolis. In 1992, Mr. Piner was appointed Director of Ballet Austin Academy. Under his direction the Academy has grown to become one of the largest classical ballet schools in the country.
In 2007 the Butler Community School was established to provide expanded dance, fitness and community education opportunities to a wider audience. Because of his diverse background, Mr. Piner was asked to direct this school alongside the Academy. This merging of schools allows each to compliment the other and provides for continuity of programming. Since that time the BCS has grown from a few hundred students to over 2000, far exceeding expectations. Mr. Piner feels very fortunate to be a part of Ballet Austin at such a vibrant time in its history and looks forward to many years of growth and innovation.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Lynne Short, Principal
Lynne Short is the Principal of the Ballet Austin Academy. In this role, she is responsible for the Ballet Austin Academy's syllabus and working with the faculty to implement an integrated curriculum. Ms. Short joined the Ballet Austin Academy in 2002.
Before moving to Texas, Ms. Short was a faculty member at Pacific Northwest Ballet from 1984-2000. During this time and under the guidance of Francia Russell, director of Pacific Northwest Ballet School (PNBS), the ideas of dedicated colleagues with various backgrounds were formed into a unified, cohesive syllabus. Ms. Short was instrumental in developing the syllabus into a written format and overseeing any revisions that were made. Much of the success of the training at PNBS is attributed to the syllabus and the collaborative efforts of its teachers. She was closely involved in the Dance Chance Program, which brings ballet training and opportunity to talented, underprivileged children in the Seattle School District.
Ms. Short's experiences while dancing with the Memphis Ballet, Hartford Ballet, First Chamber Dance Company and Pacific Northwest Ballet gave her deep appreciation of and interest in the art of teaching. She had her own school for several years after retiring from performing where she developed a mode of teaching that she continues to enrich.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Vicki Parsons, Managing Director of Schools
Vicki Parsons is the Managing Director of Ballet Austin Academy and the Butler Community School. Her primary role is to manage the operations of both schools and to implement and manage dance and fitness programming in the Butler Community School.
She joined the staff of Ballet Austin in 1999 after working as a volunteer for two years. Ms. Parsons has over 25 years experience working in the field of Long Term Care, specifically in direct care as a Recreation Therapist, using therapeutic recreation as a treatment intervention to improve overall wellness. She practiced in clinical, residential, and community settings, focusing on physical fitness. Ms. Parsons taught a Therapeutic Recreation certification course at Austin Community College for 13 years, and has been involved in student mentoring programs. She holds a current certification as a Senior Fitness Instructor, a Group Exercise Instructor and is a certified Fitness Business Manager.
Ms. Parsons’ love for developing programs and people is an enjoyable part of her role at Ballet Austin.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Eric Caruthers, Registrar
As Registrar for Ballet Austin Academy and the Butler Community School, Eric Caruthers is responsible for registration and management of student records. Eric is originally from Charleston, West Virginia and began his professional career as a Computer/Network Administrator in the United States Army. Upon exiting the Military, Eric decided to call Austin his home. He has ten years experience in Customer Service and Management. His passion and dedication to non-profits as well as his love and enthusiasm for customer service led him to Ballet Austin in 2008 where he has become a valued member of our schools team.
back to the top
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Toni Bravo, Leaps & No Bounds Program Director
Maria Antonieta (Toni) Bravo is the Leaps and No Bounds Program Director. Ms. Bravo is originally from Mexico City and holds a Master's Degree in Theatre History and Criticism, with a minor in Dance Pedagogy (University of Texas, 1987). Since 1975, she has taught and performed as a professional dance artist in Mexico, England, Israel, Costa Rica, Germany, Spain and throughout the United States. Ms. Bravo began teaching for the Ballet Austin Academy in 1990 and, since 1991, the City of Austin has funded her performance and educational projects. In 1991, 1992 and 1998, she received awards from the Texas Commission on the Arts for her workshop projects with the Travis County Juvenile Court and Austin Housing Authority Education Department. Ms. Bravo spearheaded Ballet Austin's in-school movement programs, which are currently conducted in a number of school districts throughout the Greater Austin area. She continues to develop curriculum as well as train and monitor Academy faculty.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Vlada Sheber, Pilates Program Director & Certified Core Connections® Pilates Instructor
Originally from the Ukraine, Ms. Sheber received her training in classical ballet from the State Classical Ballet College of Russia (Voronezh). Vlada performed as a soloist in the Donetsk Ballet Theatre before immigrating to the United States. She was a member of Ballet Austin from 1992-2003 and danced a variety of classical and contemporary roles, including the original Lady Capulet in Stephen Mills' Romeo and Juliet.
In 2002, Vlada received her diploma as a Certified Core Connections® Pilates Instructor from the Core Connections® Comprehensive Teacher Training Program at the Pilates Center of Austin. There she studied under Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle. In 2002 Vlada worked in a physical therapy clinic with Allison Bennett (Women’s Health specialist) and joined the Ballet Austin Pilates Studio as an instructor. In 2005 she was acknowledged as a "Pre-eminent Purveyor of Pilates" by Austin Monthly Magazine. In 2007 Vlada was appointed Director of the Butler Community School’s Pilates Program. She also designed the layout of the Pilates studio. In 2009, Ballet Austin’s Pilates studio was chosen as “Best Pilates Studio in Austin” by Rare Magazine.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Joan Wolfe, Creative Movement Director
Joan Wolfe is the director of the Creative Movement Division at Ballet Austin Academy. In this role she guides children ages three through five in her thematically based Creative Movement classes, as well as oversees and trains Ballet Austin Academy instructors in her creative movement curriculum. In partnership with Ballet Austin Academy and the University of Texas, Ms. Wolfe also advises Dance majors in a six week Creative Movement pedagogy practicum.
Ms. Wolfe's teaching methods center around the needs and sensitivities of the young child, an insight gained through her extensive experience as an early childhood educator. In the summers, Ms. Wolfe and her husband, composer Billy Wolfe, write and direct original musicals for their program, KIDSTAR Performing Arts Camp, held at Ballet Austin Academy.
Prior to moving to Austin, Ms. Wolfe resided in San Francisco and the Bay Area teaching in private preschools and dance studios, as well as performing with independent choreographers. Ms. Wolfe received her BFA in Dance from the University of Colorado at Boulder and continued her studies in Dance Therapy at JFK University in Orinda, California. Ms. Wolfe joined Ballet Austin Academy in 1997.
back to the top
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Hayley Blackman, Ballet Instructor
Hayley Blackman has been dancing since the age of 3. In 2001 she began training at the Studio, School of Classical Ballet in Soquel, California where she danced for 6 years under the instruction of Diane Cypher and Robert Kelley. She was also a member of Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, the pre-professional ballet company associated with the Studio. Throughout her six years with Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre Ms. Blackman performed lead roles in such works as Giselle, The Nutcracker, and Paquita, as well as Robert Kelley’s Chain Link Fence, Linear Context and Shiosai. Upon graduating, she went on to dance with Pennsylvania Ballet II for the 2007/08 season. This is her second season as a Professional Division Trainee with Ballet Austin, and she is excited to be teaching her first season of ballet for Ballet Austin Academy.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Margot Brown,
Ballet Instructor
A native of Austin, Margot Brown began her training with Stanley Hall at the Austin Ballet Theater. She later studied at the schools of the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Hungarian State Ballet. As a member of Ballet Austin, Ms. Brown has danced a variety of roles by such choreographers as George Balanchine, David Parsons, Septime Webre, Peter Pucci, Ulysses Dove, Dwight Rhoden, and Stephen Mills. Her favorites include principal roles in Mills' Hamlet and A Midsummer Night's Dream , George Balanchine's Concerto Barocco , Giselle , and Dwight Rhoden's Ave Maria. Additionally, she has performed twice in the New York Showcase Ballet Builders and at the Sixth Rencontres Chorégraphiques Internationales in Paris.
Ms. Brown retired from the stage in 2006 and has since enjoyed her new role as a mother and regular faculty member.
back to the top
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Pei-San Brown,
Hula Instructor
Pei-San Ka'ua Brown hails from the island of Oahu, where she first studied hula at the age of 5 years. She has also studied ballet, jazz, tap, modern, and other Polynesian dance styles. She began teaching and choreographing in ballet and jazz at age 17, and won several national solo titles as a member of her high school dance team. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of California at Irvine in 1994, as well as a Masters degree in Education at UT Austin in 1999. She is a published author and is currently Director of Community Education at Ballet Austin. She is also the Artistic Director of the Island Rhythms Hula Company, Austin's premiere professional hula company.
In addition to the Island Rhythms Hula Company, Pei-San has been a member of several dance companies, including the Kinard Ballet Company (Houston, TX), Disney Entertainment Arts (Los Angeles, CA), the Raul Cruz Dance Company (Orange County, CA), Third Coast Jazz (Austin, TX), and Austin Musical Theatre. She debuted on the silver screen as Miss Alaska, a principal dancer and top ten finalist in the movie Miss Congeniality.
Ms. Brown holds the rank of po'opua'a (lead dancer) in Kumu Hula (hula master) Frank Keli'i Chang's Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i. She has also studied with Kumu Hula Ellen Gay Delarosa (Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, HI), Kumu Hula Keith Awai (Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, HI), Kumu Hula Lorraine Daniels (Magic Hula Studio, Honolulu, HI) , Kumu Hula Paul Ho'omanawanuiikana'auao Apo (Honolulu, HI), and Joyce Flaugher (San Antonio, TX) . In April 2006, she was honored to compete with Kumu Chang and Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i in the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, the world's most prestigious hula competition.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Cheryl Chaddick, Modern Instructor
Cheryl Chaddick taught modern dance in San Francisco from 1983 until moving to Austin
in 2007. Starting in 1985, she also had her own modern dance company, Company Chaddick. In 1991 Alonzo King invited her to teach at his studio and she was on faculty there until she and her husband moved to Austin, in her home state of Texas.
Ms. Chaddick has been trained in all styles of dance with emphasis on modern and ballet, which are reflected in her movement and choreography. In the Bay Area she was on the faculties of the University of California, Berkeley; San Francisco School of Theater and Arts; Alonzo King's Pre-Professional Summer Program; and Summer Lee Rhatigan's San Francisco Conservatory of Dance.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Jennifer Hart ,
Ballet Instructor
Jennifer Hart came to Ballet Austin from Minnesota Dance Theatre
in 2007. Ms. Hart trained with Minnesota Dance Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Maggie Black and Toni Pierce of Alvin Ailey. She danced professionally with Minnesota Dance Theatre, Ballet of the Dolls, L.A. Chamber Ballet and numerous independent choreographers. She has been commissioned for choreography by: Minnesota Dance Theatre, the Walker Art Center for its Momentum Series, James Sewell Ballet as part of the Jerome Foundation Grant, Ballet Arts Minnesota's Springboard program, and Metropolitan Ballet in Minneapolis/St. Paul. She has also been selected twice by New Choreographers on Point in New York to present work as part of their Ballet Builders series. In the spring of 2007, she choreographed a full-length production of A Midsummer Night's Dream for Metropolitan Ballet.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Greg Easley,
Ballet & Ballet Fit Instructor
Mr. Easley began his ballet training with Eugene
Slavin & Alexandra Nadal at Austin Civic Ballet. After
performing there for two seasons, he continued his
training with Austin Ballet Theatre under the direction
of Stanley Hall. He co-directed Texas National Dance
Theater before joining the Atlanta Ballet where he
studied under Robert Barnett and Tom Pazik.
Upon returning to Austin Mr. Easley accepted the artistic
directorship of Austin Contemporary Ballet where he
choreographed critically successful versions of
Cinderella and The Nutcracker and several
collaborative and contemporary ballets as well. He
choreographed Romeo & Juliet for Columbia City Ballet
and his Cinderella has been set on companies in
Arkansas and Indiana. Mr. Easley choreographed Five Guys
Named Moe, School House Rock Nunsense &
Das Barbecu for Zachary Scott Theater. His other
credits include choreography for Austin Lyric Opera (Don
Giovanni, The Bat) and many musicals for West Lake High
School Choir including Oklahoma, Music Man, Anything Goes
and Wizard of Oz.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Meghan Gill, Jazz, Tap & Hip Hop Instructor
Meghan Gill began her dance training in St. Petersburg, Florida, at her mother’s studio, Gloria Jean’s School of Dance. She later moved to Dallas and joined Dallas Powerhouse of Dance. While in Dallas, she was chosen to perform with radio Disney star Jer-Z and was Frenchy in a local production of Grease. She also performed at the Fringe Festival in NYC, in numerous Dallas area venues and as a lead dancer in a local television show. In 2004, she filmed the instructional DVD for cheer and hip hop called Urban Cheer and Dance. She has been part of many dance companies including The Drawbacks, Urban Dance Movement, and Collin County Community College Dance Repertoire just to name a few. Meghan currently is a member of the Ballet East Dance Company of Austin and performed in their 2009 fall show, In, Under and Through. She was a guest dancer in the BCS Musical Theatre Performance Workshop production of Holiday Road, and choreographs and teaches internationally for many private studios, dance teams, and independent performers.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Brittany Harpole, Pilates & Fitness Instructor
Brittany Harpole was introduced to Pilates though her 15 years of classical ballet training. She studied under Vlada Sheber, director of Ballet Austin's Pilates Program. She is also certified with Peak Pilates and Power Pilates; both internationally recognized companies. Brittany danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's scholarship program and The Richmond Ballet. Her passion for fitness and movement guides her clients though personalized sessions to help achieve goals and specific fitness needs.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Danny Herman,
Jazz, Theatre Dance, Broadway Fit, Tap and Triple Threat Instructor
Danny Herman is an internationally recognized director, choreographer, actor and teacher. Mr. Herman appeared in the original Broadway and Off-Broadway productions of Contact, and was Mike Costa on Broadway in A Chorus Line. He also appeared in the original Broadway production of Leader of the Pack, the original New York City Opera production of Die Soldaten and the original Off-Broadway production of Big Bad Burlesque. Mr Herman was in the first national tour of Song and Dance, toured Europe in Broadway Tonight, was featured in the Chicago company of Sophisticated Ladies and began his career as the Purple Panda on Mister Rogers' Neighborhood.
As associate choreographer for Michael Bennett's Pre-Broadway Workshops of Scandal, Mr. Herman recognized his passion for creating original works, and has since collaborated as a director and/or choreographer on numerous world premier productions in New York and nationally.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Arletta Howard-Logan,
Ballet Instructor
On faculty since 1996, Arletta Howard-Logan enjoys making ballet available to both professional and nonprofessional dancers through her instruction in the Butler Community School. Ms. Howard-Logan co-owned Austin Dance Academy (ADA) from 1986 to 1996. In 1996, ADA merged with Ballet Austin Academy and joined the Ballet Austin Academy faculty. She began her relationship with Ballet Austin as a guest dancer in 1992.
During her career, Ms. Howard-Logan has focused on artistic direction, teaching, performing and choreographing for such establishments as Austin Ballet Theatre, Austin Conservatory of the Arts, San Angelo Civic Ballet and Northcross Mall's ice skaters. As a performer, she danced for institutions including Ballet Austin, Austin Ballet Theatre, Incarnate Word College Ballet in San Antonio, Corpus Christi Concert Ballet, Victoria Ballet Theatre and Beaumont Civic Ballet. Her professional experience as well as the education she received as an aspiring dance pupil helped to shape her distinctive approach to teaching dance. Ms. Howard-Logan trained with the Royal Academy of Dancing Majors, earning various awards and accolades for her ballet technique. She has also studied with Oklahoma City Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and several other schools and companies.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Libby James,
Ballet Instructor
Libby James graduated magna cum laude with a B.F.A. in Ballet from Texas Christian University. She danced with the Colorado Ballet for two years, performing in ballets such as Romeo and Juliet , The Sleeping Beauty , Serenade , Stars and Stripes , and Alvin Ailey's The River . Ms. James was a member of Texas Ballet Theater (formerly Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet) for three years. She performed roles such as the Spring Fairy in Cinderella , Clara in The Nutcracker , and one of the couples in Ben Stevenson's Four Last Songs.
This is Ms. James third season with Ballet Austin Academy.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Kristin Jones, Pre-Ballet & Ballet Instructor
Kristin Jones began her dance training with Corvallis Academy of Ballet and Willamette Apprentice Ballet in her hometown of Corvallis, OR. She went on to study dance at Butler University where she performed featured roles in such works as The Nutcracker, Giselle, Coppélia, Idlewild, and Paul Taylor's Cloven Kingdom. She also toured with Butler Ballet, performing a variety of contemporary works in St. Petersburg, Russia and several cities throughout Poland. After graduating Butler University cum laude with a BFA in Dance Performance and high departmental honors, she moved to Austin to participate in Ballet Austin's trainee program. This is Kristin's second season with Ballet Austin, and she is very excited and pleased to be teaching her first season of Ballet and Pre-Ballet for Ballet Austin Academy.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Zakiyyah Kareem, Yoga Instructor
Zakiyyah (RYT-200) has been a dedicated yoga practitioner since 2004 and made the transition to yoga teacher in 2008 through Castle Hill Yoga. Zakiyyah teaches Hatha and Vinyasa yoga in a manner that focuses on breath, balance, alignment and strength. As a yoga teacher, she is constantly blessed and humbled to be one of the facilitators on her students’ yogic path.
"My yoga practice has carried me through so many challenges and changes. As a teacher I hope to impart to my students the joy and benefits of a personal yoga practice."
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Vivian Kaw, Hula Instructor
Ms.
Kaw was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She began taking hula
lessons from her mother, a hula teacher. These lessons
eventually grew into a deep love of Hawaiian dance and
culture.
Ms. Kaw currently studies hula with Kumu Hula Keli'i
Chang's Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i in Houston, TX.
She has also studied with Kumu Hula Ellen Gay Delarosa
(Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, HI), Kumu Hula Keith
Awai (Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, HI), Kumu Hula
Lorraine Daniels (Honolulu, HI), Kumu Hula Paul
Ho'omanawanuiikana'auao Apo (Honolulu, HI), and Joyce
Flaugher (San Antonio, TX). She competed in the
prestigious Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in April 2006
with Kumu Chang. She is a founding member of the Island
Rhythms Hula Company in Austin, TX.
Ms. Kaw is active in film, television, print, and runway
in Austin, TX. She is also an avid salsa dancer.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Rachel Kingsbury, Pilates Instructor
Rachel is certified through internationally recognized Peak Pilates. She also holds a BA in Communication from the University of Texas at San Antonio. Upon moving to Austin in 2007, she began taking Pilates classes at Ballet Austin. It was here that she realized her passion for Pilates and her desire to become an instructor. Her focus is to help clients meet their fitness goals with a challenging yet compassionate approach, and to provide sessions that focus on form and technique.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Lisa del Rosario,
Pre-Ballet and Certified Feldenkrais® Instructor
Lisa del Rosario began her dance studies at the Margo Marshall School of Ballet and the Cleveland San Jose School of Ballet. She continued her training as a Heywood “Woody” McGriff Presidential Scholarship student at the University of Texas at Austin where she received her BFA in Dance. She also studied classical piano and violin for many years and in her later years Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, qigong, Droznin System, Vipassana Meditation, and the Feldenkrais Method® of movement education. She currently is a member of DA! Theatre Collective and Sheep Army/Elsewhere Dance Theatre, and also performs her own solo work, along with independent choreographers, locally, nationally, and internationally. Lisa has taught and choreographed at the Dougherty Arts School, the McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy, Tapestry, and the Texas Arts Project at St. Stephen's Episcopal School. Lisa is thrilled to be in her seventh season teaching in the Pre-Ballet Division of the Ballet Austin Academy.
back to the top
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Boo Ruiz, CPFT, Pilates,
Fitness, Jazz and Hip
Hop Instructor
Boo Ruiz has more than 20 years of dance training in a variety of mediums. She was in the pre-professional program at Ballet Austin from 1996-1999 where she was fortunate enough to study under Mr. Stephen Mills. She has trained in jazz, hip-hop, tap, lyrical, ballroom, and contemporary dance all over the country in studios such as The EDGE PAC (West Hollywood, CA), The PAC Annex (Van Nuys, CA), Broadway Dance Center (NYC, NY), and Steps (NYC,NY). Miss Ruiz was a competitive dancer from 1992-2003. In 2003 she was ranked as the number three competitive soloist in the nation (National Dance Finals in Orlando, Florida). Miss Ruiz continues to dance and audition all over the United States and Canada. Miss Ruiz began choreographing and teaching at the professional level in 2001.
As a dancer Ms. Ruiz has experienced first hand the benefits of Pilates, not only for rehabilitation purposes, but also for maintenance and fine tuning, and is a Certified Pilates Fitness instructor. She has studied under Pilates Program Director Vlada Sheber since 2000. Her understanding of the human body, the knowledge lent from her mentor Ms. Sheber, and countless hours on the equipment provide dynamic tools that Ms. Ruiz utilizes to create an independent program for each client. Her focus is on form, proper alignment of the body, and helping her clients trust their bodies so that they achieve their personal goals and reach their fullest potential. “Continuous effort - not strength or intelligence – is the key to unlocking our potential” - Winston Churchill
back to the top
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 L. Jerry Schwender,
Ballet Instructor
Jerry Schwender is a dance instructor for the Ballet Austin Academy and Butler Community School. His classes focus on intermediate and advanced ballet technique as well as partnering. He comes to the Ballet Austin Academy from his former position as ballet master and occasional guest artist of Ballet Austin.
Prior to joining Ballet Austin in 1997, Mr. Schwender taught dance and performed with the Richmond Ballet in Virginia for 16 years. Previously, he worked as a faculty member and a principal dancer with Seattle's Pacific Northwest Ballet. Recognized in the dance community for his partnering skills, he has also worked as a principal dancer for companies such as Pennsylvania Ballet, Houston Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet and Ballet International of London.
Mr. Schwender graduated from the University of St. Thomas in Houston. His passion for the art form and love of the students spurs him on in his teaching career.
back to the top
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Suzanne Taylor,
Jazz Instructor
Suzanne Taylor has danced professionally in Los Angeles after being awarded a scholarship at Dupree Dance Academy. She danced at Disneyland in both Tokyo and California, and has appeared in numerous musicals including 42 nd Street, My One and Only, Guys and Dolls, Oklahoma, Good News, How to Succeed in Business, and the critically acclaimed Los Angeles review Club Indigo, Memories in Blue. She has danced with Tommy Tune at the Hollywood Bowl, was on staff at the USC drama department, and is a member of Texas Association Teacher of Dance, Inc.
Suzanne loves working with young dancers from studio to stage and has spent the last 15 years in Austin doing just that.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Michelle Thompson, Yoga Instructor
Michelle Thompson, Vinyasa Flow and Hatha Yoga instructor, has been teaching yoga at Ballet Austin's Butler Community School since May 2008. Thompson achieved a 200 hour certification and 100 advanced hours through the Yoga Alliance. She is currently entering her seventh season with the Ballet Austin Company. She is also a teacher in the Ballet Austin Academy. Michelle is currently an ambassador for lululemon athletica for her outreach and achievements within the fitness community.
Michelle has found that practicing yoga has helped her strength, flexibility, balance, focus, and breath as well as many other aspects in her life and she hopes to provide her students with the knowledge, optimism, courage, and guidance to discover how yoga can help them in their lives.
back to the top
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Rocker Verastique,
Jazz, Theatre Dance, Broadway Fit and Triple Threat Instructor
Rocker Verastique appeared in the original Broadway companies of Contact, Chicago, Victor/Victoria and Carousel. Mr. Verastique's other Broadway credits include Miss Saigon, Phantom of the Opera and Ziegfeld Follies of 1936, as well as the world premiere productions of Heart's Desire, Jekyll and Hyde, Spirit and the Broadway workshop of Fosse. Mr. Verastique's other credits include Paul in A Chorus Line, Konstantine Morrisine in On Your Toes, Sophisticated Ladies, Feld Ballet, Los Angeles Chamber Ballet, six years with American Ballet Theatre, the television pilot and four years on the television series Fame and the male lead in the award winning music video, Nasty, opposite Janet Jackson.
back to the top
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Kathryn Waggoner, Hip Hop Instructor
Beginning at the age of 5, Kathryn Waggoner has an extensive background in dance. She was captain of her high school dance team and continued her dance and musical theater education at Baylor University. With 16 years of dance experience behind her, she has had the opportunity to train at the finest dance studios under some of the best dancers and choreographers in the business including: Wade Robson, Tyce Diorio, Shane Sparks, Mia Michaels, Brian Friedman, Gil Duldualo, Cris Judd, Laurieann Gibson, and Dave Scott. In the summer of 2009, Kathryn was chosen to be an intern at the Pulse On Tour dance convention in Los Angeles, and additionally had the opportunity to participate in a summer intensive dance program at the legendary Millennium Dance Complex. Currently Kathryn is shooting her second season of NBC’s Friday Night Lights, and is excited to join Ballet Austin's Butler Community School this season.
back to the top
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Carla Wright, Creative Movement, Pre-Ballet, Ballet Fit and Ballet Instructor
Carla Wright received her ballet training at the renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary. In 2000, she joined Pacific Northwest Ballet's Professional Division program on a full scholarship where she performed in numerous PNB productions. In 2002, Carla appeared in the Dallas Summer Musicals' touring production of My Fair Lady. In addition to her previous two years on faculty with Ballet Austin Academy, Carla has taught adults and children of all ages at The Ballet Performing Arts Center in El Paso, TX.
back to the top
------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
 Terri Lynn Wright,
Ballet Instructor
Ms. Wright received her early training with Barbara Carson and Stanley Hall in Austin, Texas. She studied with Robert Joffrey, Patricia Wilde, Kristen Ralov, Kirsten Simone, and Peter Appel during summers in the U.S. and Europe. Ms. Wright began her professional dance career in Wiesbaden, Germany, followed by ten years with the North Carolina Dance Theatre where she became principal dancer as well as an assistant to director Salvatore Aiello.
She enjoyed Dance Theatre's diverse repertoire that included works by choreographers such as Salvatore Aiello, Oscar Ariaz, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Bill Evans, Lambros Lambrou, Luk de Layress, Robert Lindgren, Lar Lubovich, Susan McKee-McCullough, Elisa Monte, Vincente Nebrada, Marius Petipa, Helgi Tomasson, Mel Tomlinson, Norbert Vesak, Mauricio Wainrot and Alvin Ailey. Leading roles performed in Balanchine's Allegro Brillante, Scotch Symphony, Glinka Pas de Trois, Pas de Dix and Valse Fantasie were coached by Melissa Hayden and Marina Eglevsky.
Ms. Wright has taught master classes while touring with NCDT throughout the U.S. and Europe, for summer sessions at North Carolina School of the Arts, and was a guest teacher at the Arts Magnet School in Dallas. She continues to help care for works choreographed by the late Mr. Aiello.
As a teacher, Ms. Wright's methods evolve with Ballet Austin, the students' needs and the ever increasing demands put upon the professional dancer.
back to the top
|
