Jury & VIPs
Caridad Martinez, a former principal dancer with the National Ballet of Cuba, has performed in many of the world's greatest theaters, including Scala de Milano, the Champs Elysses Theatre in Paris, the Metropolitan Opera House in New York, the Beaux Arts Theater in Mexico City, and the Bolshoi, Kirov Theater in Saint Petersburg. A graduate of Cuba’s National Ballet School, she also studied at the Superior Institute of Art in Cuba. While Ms. Martinez lived in Mexico, she spearheaded a 9-year campaign to bring Cuban-based training to Mexican youth. She succeeded in this by founding and serving as Artistic Director of the Cuban School of Ballet- Veracruz for 13 years. She continues to be an advisor for the School. Ms. Martinez has also served as the Artistic Director and choreographer of The Havana Ballet Theater Company, as guest teacher and choreographer for the Beau Art Schools in Mexico, and as Conservatory Director and teacher at Brooklyn Ballet. She has choreographed for movies, television, ballet and modern dance companies, and is currently working with the Escuela Cubana de Ballet in Veracruz, Danza Activa in Panama, the 92nd Street Y, Alberta Ballet School in Calgary, and the Bessie Awards. Ms. Martinez is happy to bring the Cuban methodology to the Ballet Hispánico School of Dance.
Baca is a US Marine who served in Iraq in 2007 as a machine gunner and fire team leader. While looking for insurgents and intelligence, Baca also became immersed in humanitarian work, bringing water and school supplies to those in need. Home from Iraq in 2007, he found himself having a tough time transitioning to civilian life. "I remember a couple of instances where I was mean and angry and depressed," says Baca. "My wife sat me down and said, 'You are not the same guy I knew before.' " She suggested Baca return to his roots in dance. Baca had trained at The Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory in Connecticut and spent a few years as a freelance dancer before feeling compelled, like his grandfather had, to serve his country. "I walked into the recruiter's office and said, 'I want to help people who can't help themselves.' Ten years later, Baca is a Fulbright Fellow in London, working to educate audiences about the realities of war through dance. Mr. Baca will speak at the BBB MT diplomacy conference, and to veterans and individuals at risk or identified and suffering from PTSD.
Ms. Genn is currently on the ballet faculty of the Juilliard School. In addition, she instructs professional ballet company classes in New York City at Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, The Metropolitan Opera, Les Ballets Trockaderos de Monte Carlo, Ballet Hispanico, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. She coaches professional ballet dancers, which include dancers from the San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theater, The Norwegian Ballet, The Washington Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet, and Dance Theater of Harlem. Ms. Genn is also a Dance Rehabilitation Specialist who works one on one with professional ballet dancers recovering from injuries and surgery. Ms. Genn has appeared as a guest teacher at Vaganova School in St. Petersburg, Russia, The Washington Ballet, The Alberta Ballet, Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal, LA Dance Project, Body Traffic, South African Ballet Theatre, Cape Town City Ballet, Batsheva Dance Company, The Hong Kong Ballet Academy, The Japan Ballet Society, Jacob’s Pillow, Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre, and Royal Academy of Dancing Summer Schools.
Astrid Sherman is the International Representative for the ISTD in the America’s. She ran a large ISTD-based professional training school in Vancouver Canada for 16 years before relocating to LA. Astrid has her ISTD ICB Fellowship, a BSc Kinesiology & Gerontology and an MA in Dance Pedagogy from Middlesex University. She is on the International Association for Dance Medicine & Science (IADMS) Dance Educators’ Committee where she is very much involved in organizing Regional and Outreach Dance Science events. Astrid has presented dance research at many IADMS & Healthy Dancer Canada conferences. She also acts as the Dancer Wellness Advisor for Ballet Beyond Borders (BBB).
With an illustrious stage career that spanned over 20 years as Principal Dancer with the National Ballet of Canada, Ms. Goh is one of the most prolific and gifted artists of her generation. Her delicate lyricism and emotional depth personify the essence of numerous lead roles in the classical repertoire. She also had multiple ballets created for her by renowned choreographers of the 21st century. In 2010, Ms. Goh accepted the invitation to become the Director of Goh Ballet, to further her passion to mentor the dancers of tomorrow and to implement her values in providing students with opportunities to train with the world’s most sought-after teachers. Extending her reach and always advocating for the arts, Ms. Goh serves as a jury member for several international dance competitions. She guest instructs and sets choreography for some of the most recognized companies in the world. She is the Executive Producer of Goh Ballet’s critically acclaimed, annual presentation of The Nutcracker, which emphasizes the collaboration of multiple artistic disciplines and encourages a sense of tradition for families during the holiday season. Ms. Goh is a founding member of Vancouver’s Arts and Culture Policy Council, which assists in giving the city a voice for the creative community. Her accomplishments, with irrepressible devotion to the enhancement of the cultural life of Canada, have garnered several prestigious awards including the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal, the YWCA Women of Distinction Award and the New Pioneers Arts Award. In 2019, Ms Goh was appointed the Order of Canada for her excellence in ballet as a principal dancer, artistic director and cultural ambassador. www.chanhongoh.com
Domsa Radu is the co-founder of Jump In Dance Company from Transilvania, Romania, where he is developing educational programs, organizing cultural events, touring dance productions, teaching Masterclasses, and inspiring dancers around the world.Radu specializes in Breaking and Contemporary Dance Style and is responsible for educating the new generation of dancers around the world using techniques that help him to develop his creative dance style. Radu is a powerful force and uses his positive attitude and tireless energy to encourage others to be creative, original, work hard and succeed. After he graduated from Choreography and Drama Art School, he starts touring internationally in China and Germany with the musical production of Andrew Loyd Webber. Radu also danced in the company of Gigi Caciuleanu, one of the most important personalities in the world of contemporary dance. He was the finalist in the Romanian Tv Dance Competition “Romania is dancing”. His work has brought him nominations and awards for his dance choreographies and abilities from dance competitions around the world. He is the 4th time in a row champion of BBB competition and received awards for Most Innovative & Original Choreography and for Outstanding Performance. As a professional dancer, his experience is the biggest value he owns. He learned and grew through dance and life experiences. He became wiser and stronger with each challenge that he faced. Dance taught him that nothing comes for granted and you have to work every day for what you wish for.
Eclectic and quirky, Vicky A Clark, PhD, (independent curator, critic, professor) has been part of the Pittsburgh art scene for over 40 years. She grew up in the Southern California of the Beach Boys but self-identifies as a child of the sixties. Seeking to reconcile those formative experiences, her life has unfolded in expected and marvelous ways. Always situated in the margins, starting with a dissertation on illustrated late medieval astrological manuscripts, she has a consuming interest in how others navigate the unknowable and the intangible. Curious in nature, she has been intrigued by the creativity and intelligence she finds in contemporary art and artists who attempt the impossible. A passionate feminist, a tenacious tennis player, an avid reader, and proud owner of an enviable and growing shoe collection, she is committed to encouraging others to see the world in new ways with eyes wide open. She met BBB in Pakistan as participants in an art festival and is looking forward to adding a visual arts component to their programs.
Jorge Barani was Born in Matanzas, Cuba and graduated from the National School of Art Ballet in Havana, Cuba before joining The Ballet de Monterrey Company in Mexico (Luis Serrano) in 2010. Barani came to the United States in August 2012 and has performed as a freelance International Guest Artist and with such companies as Ballet San Jose (Jose Manuel Carreno), Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida (Vladimir Issaev), Northwest Florida Ballet (Todd Eric Allen), Soloist with Cincinnati Ballet (Victoria Morgan) and Principal Danseur with Kentucky Ballet Theatre (Norbe Risco). Jorge was invited to the final YAGP Gala in New York City, dancing with Maria Kochetkova from San Francisco Ballet. Jorge won two Gold Medals at the World Ballet Competition USA (2013), The Silver Medal at The Korea International Ballet Competition (2015), The Gold Medal at Vienna International Ballet Competition (2016), The Silver Medal at Varna International Ballet Competition (2016) and received a professional contract to join Cincinnati Ballet at the Finals of Jackson International Ballet Competition (2018).
Farah Yasmeen Shaikh is an internationally acclaimed Kathak performer, choreographer and instructor, and Founder & Artistic Director of Noorani Dance. As a performer, Farah is known for her evocative storytelling, technical precision, delicacy and grace, with two decades of training from the late Pandit Chitresh Das. She has gone on to develop a unique artistic voice, often addressing topics of historical and social relevance, while also maintaining the classical elements of Kathak. Farah performs her own traditional and innovative works, most notably, The Forgotten Empress - based on the life of 17th Century Mughal Empress Noor Jahan, and The Partition Project — based on the 1947 India-Pakistan Partition and Nazaakat aur Taaqat - Delicate Power. A TEDx speaker, and host of her own podcast, Heartistry Talk Show, Farah has received support and recognition from the National Endowment for the Arts, Walter & Elise Haas Fund, New England Foundation for the Arts, Zellerbach Family Foundation, Alliance for California Traditional Arts, California Arts Council, Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation, San Francisco Foundation, SVCreates and Dancers’ Group.
Guy de Bock began his training in Belgium at the Ballet School Antwerp, in Belgium with Maurice Bejart and Paolo Bortoluzzi and ballet at the Centre de Danse Rossella Hightower. He trained in Cunningham and Martha Graham technique in Cannes and in Nice jazz at “Off Jazz.” Mr. de Bock was a soloist with companies in Germany, Luxembourg and Florence It. He was assistant choreographer at the Opera National de Paris and is currently an internationally known teacher for classical ballet and modern/contemporary dance.
Kathy Wildberger has been teaching, performing, and choreographing nationally and internationally for dance and theatre since the early 1970’s. In New York her choreography has been produced by Dance Theatre Workshop, DIA Foundation, The Museum Of Modern Art, The Danspace Project at St. Mark’s Church, Movement Research, Joyce Soho, White Wave, and the 92nd Street Y Harkness Dance Center. Kathy has been reconstructing the repertoire of Jeff Duncan since his death in 1989. It is through this connection Kathy developed storytelling through dance. Her professional credits include: founding and directing the PATH Dance Company in Baltimore for 12 years, touring internationally as a founding member of the Toronto Dance Theatre, and choreographing and performing with Sean Curran in NYC. She has been awarded several choreography fellowships as well as a First Light Grant from the Jerome Foundation. Kathy is a Master Teacher of the Jose Limon Technique and improvisation. Recently retired from 20 years as Senior Lecturer at Vassar College and Assistant Director of Vassar Repertory Dance Theatre, she now joyfully is a contributing choreographer and instructor for Rocky Mountain Dance Theatre.
Hina Abidi is a Pakistani American based in Los Angeles. She has been involved with Pakistan Arts Council of USC Pacific Asia Museum since 1995. Hina has a long standing interest in textile, in particular ethnic and tribal embroideries. She visits Pakistan every year, traveling to places that are off the beaten path, meeting people, collecting handicrafts, learning about their unique artistic and cultural traditions. She values the friendships she had developed through these travels and loves to share the embroideries and stories that she has collected over the years.
Emu is a highly accomplished, award-winning Pakistani musician, keyboardist, composer and music producer. He is also the brains behind Fuzon, one of Pakistan’s leading rock bands. The band’s very first album became an overnight sensation, selling more than 100,000 copies in India alone. Emu’s signature style of blending Eastern classical and folk vocals with soft rock has won the group many awards and recognition all over the world. Emu has also composed and produced music albums for many leading artists.
Ms. Bagg began her training in both RAD and Cechetti in Johannesburg, South Africa, and has transitioned from a dancer into a master teacher. She was accepted at the Royal Ballet School in London, England, and danced soloist and principal roles with the PACT Ballet Company in South Africa for 15 years. Among the roles she performed were Bluebird and Princess Aurora from The Sleeping Beauty, Odette/Odile from Swan Lake, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppélia, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Giselle in Giselle, Kitri in Nureyev’s production of Don Quixote, and the lead in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations. She has also performed works by renowned choreographers such as Jiří Kylián, John Cranko, Goh Choo San, André Prokovsky, and Sir Frederick Ashton. Ms. Bagg has a diploma in biomechanics and physiology from the University of the Witwatersrand and integrates this knowledge into her teaching. She is clearly able to assess the structure and limitations of a young dancer and work diligently educating through awareness and encouragement. Ms. Bagg has been invited as a guest teacher to various companies and schools in the US, Canada and internationally. She was Ballet Mistress of Ballet BC and Alberta Ballet and has been instrumental in staging Swan Lake, Giselle and Romeo and Juliet for South African Ballet Theatre and Washington Ballet. Miss Bagg is on faculty as teacher of Ballet BC as well as various contemporary programmes in the city of Vancouver. She runs her own drop in classes and is on faculty at Inspired Movement Ballet Conservatory in San Diego. Ms Bagg has also been appointed Canadian Tutor for Progressive Ballet Technique, a unique conditioning curriculum devised by Marie Walton Mahon in Australia. In 2019 Ms Bagg was approached by Joshua Beamish, Artistic Director of MoveTheCompany to perform the role of Bertha in his staging of Giselle and was invited to teach his company on tour in Germany as well as performing with an internationally renown choreographer Idan Cohen in Vancouver. She has been invited to guest teach Les Ballet Jazz de Montreal this summer as well. Specializing in Dance rehabilitation and with over 40 years of a passionate and very successful career as a professional dancer, teacher and coach, Ms. Bagg is able to draw on this experience and offer a rich and insightful approach to teaching and coaching. She establishes an environment of positive energy and demands excellence in a nurturing and inspiring manner.
Born in Genoa, she trained at the dance school of Giannina Censi, a well-known dancer of Futurist dances. She continued her studies with Rossella Hightower, M. Miskovitch, Victor Rona, completing her classical training with Riccardo Nunez. She learned the Graham technique with Elsa Piperno and Joseph Fontano. She danced for the first time at the International Festival of Nervi with the London Festival Ballet in The Nutcracker. She returned to the International Festival of Nervi with the Off Jazz Dance Company, directed by Gianin Loringett and again with Louis Falco Dance Company in New York in a work produced by the International Festival of Nervi which toured all over Europe. She worked with choreographers such as Matt Mattox, Peter Goss, then in Paris with Kim Kam (Limon technique), she also collaborated on the choreography of the musical comedy "Musical" with the group of Teatro Stabile di Genova directed by Gian Maria Volonté. In 1984 she moved to Florence where she founded and directed the company Hot Jazz Dance, which later became Opus Ballet, developing a new choreographic language, the result of deep research in the field of modern and contemporary dance. She collaborated with the Police drummer, Stewart Copeland, for the creation of the ballet “Il grande amico Meaulness". She taught and directed modern dance courses at the Florence Dance Center School of Marga Nativo and Keith Ferrone in Florence. In 1999 she founded the Opus Ballet Cultural Association and she is currently the artistic director of the Opus Ballet Company.From 2000 to 2004 she co-directed the Toscana Dance/School Association, home of the Balletto di Toscana School directed by Cristina Bozzolini, then in 2004, with Daniel Tinazzi, she founded and co-directed the International Dance and Performing Arts Centre OPUS BALLET in Florence.She takes STAGE and Courses for dance teachers all over Italy and abroad and is invited as a jury member to international choreographic competitions.
Andile Ndlovu of Johannesburg, South Africa, now in his seventh season with The Washington Ballet. Mr. Ndlovu began his training in Latin American and ballroom dance at the age of ten. At fifteen, he began training in ballet under Martin Schöenberg, director of Ballet Theatre Afrikan. In 2007, Ndlovu performed with South African Ballet Theatre, performing the lead in Don Quixote and the Jester in Swan Lake, among other roles. He went on to dance with Cape Town City Ballet. Andile was featured in the title role of “ Spartacus†in 2015 in Veronica Paeper’s adaptation of the classic masterpiece and produced by the South African Dance Trust.Andile tied for the Gold medal in the contemporary category of the 2008 South African International Ballet Competition. Ndlovu choreographed Guardian of the Pool which was performed by The Washington Ballet Studio Company andnowhe is rapidly creating a unique niche in the world of young and successful choreographers. Andile won a silver medal in the Valentina Kozlova ballet competition in 2011. He was a finalist in the USAIBC in Jackson Mississippi in 2014 . In 2016 Andile won double gold for both ballet and contemporary dance categories at the premiere of VIBE USA BALLET competition and in Montana.
Claudia Zaccari is a former Prima Ballerina of the Teatro dell'Opera in Rome and Guest Prima Ballerina in famed theaters and opera houses including: Arena di Verona, Massimo di Palermo, Toulouse, Avignon, and London. She has danced alongside world-class dancers such as Maja Plisetskaia, Carla Fracci and Vladimir Vassiliev. Mrs. Zaccari has worked as a Consultant and Artistic Director of numerous dance schools, dance performances and events in Italy and abroad such as: the 'Cecilia Kerche Festival' in Belem (Brazil) and the 'Centro Teatral di Mazatlan' (Mexico). Currently, Mrs. Zaccari is the Director of Opus Ballet's Department of Classical Dance and a public relations representative for So Danca. Mrs. Zaccari's awards include the title of "Knight of the Republic" for having promoted artistic exchanges on the international level between Italy and countries worldwide
Colleen O'Callaghan danced with American Ballet Theater under the direction of Lucia Chase and Mikhail Baryshnikov. She trained on scholarship with the schools of the Louisville Ballet, the Pennsylvania Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet, and the American Ballet Theater. Before joining American Ballet Theater’s main company, she danced with ABT’s Ballet Repertory Company under the direction of Richard Englund and Gage Bush. Mrs. O’Callaghan received a Bachelor of University Studies degree from the University of Utah in the Physiology and Psychology of Dance She has been teaching ballet for over 33 years and has been a faculty member of the University of Utah, Ballet West, California State Long Beach, California Institute of the Arts, the Stanley Holden Dance Center, Westside School of Ballet, Louisville Ballet and many other nationally recognized schools. For over five years she was the classical dance director for the Orange County High School of the Arts (OCSA). For over 15 years Colleen has been a faculty member for American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive programs. She is certified through level 7 of ABT's National training curriculum. She is a certified Yoga instructor and is passionate about the powerful outcome for dancers finding strength and balance from the proper foundations from Yoga. In addition, she currently is pursuing the certification for The Zena Roomett Floor Barre series. Mrs. O’Callaghan is the founder and Artistic Director of O’Callaghan Moves, a company dedicated to providing pre- professional training to dance students in a positive and nurturing environment. She loves to travel and share her expertise with schools and company as a guest faculty member. Most recently, besides teaching for American Ballet Theatre’s 2017 intensive Orange County , Ca. She taught for The Chicago Dance Conservatory summer intensive program under the direction of Tressa Mohler.
Rebecca is an English ballet dancer who was the first openly transgender person to train at the Royal Academy of Dance’s courses for female dancers. The academy changed its policy in 2013 and no longer insists that students taking these courses must have been born female. Sophie is an articulate representative of the transgender community and can share her journey to womanhood and how dance has played an important role. She explains how dance saved her. She will speak at the Diplomacy Conference, moderate a panel discussion at the film festival and perform.
Trained in classical ballet at The Ballet School with Mr George Francis in Rochester, NY., and then at Mary Days’ Washington School of Ballet. She was the youngest student accepted into the first year of the National Academy of Dance/Arts (NAD/A) in Champaign Urbana, Illinois. Musical Theater Dance teacher Gemze de Lappe, took Louise as her protege at a very early age, priming and mentoring her throughout her career and life. While a principal Ballerina with The Boston Repertory Ballet, under the direction of Samuel Kurkjian, Gemze de Lappe reconstructed Isadora Duncan choreography on the company. She requested Louise move to NYC to audition for founder and executive director Lee Theodore, who was creating a company of “triple threat” artists. “THE AMERICAN DANCE MACHINE” (Alpha Company) was born and premiered on Broadway at the Century Theater, for 200 performances. This marked Louise’s transition to the world of Broadway Theater, and various work in TV/Music Videos/Commercials and Film. Broadway Debut, she (Louise Hickey) appeared as a Soloist with “THE AMERICAN DANCE MACHINE” working with an impressive list of legendary broadway performers, choreographers and directors. Appearing next in the Broadway revival of “OKLAHOMA!” (Dream Laurie) at The Palace Theater. Receiving direction directly from Agnes de Mille and Gemze de Lappe was truly an amazing privilege and honor. She appeared on Broadway as a featured performer, as The Bathing Beauty in “JEROME ROBBINS’ BROADWAY”; Power Girl in “MAIL”. Regional featured performer, as Maggie in “FLORA THE RED MENACE” Pasadena Playhouse; Louise in “CAROUSEL” Portland Opera; Kathy in “COMPANY” The New York Theater Co.; Azuri in “DESERT SONG” NY City Opera (Debut); Dream Laurie in “OKLAHOMA!”; Bonnie Jean in “BRIGADOON”; Tiger Lilly in “PETER PAN” and Cinderella in “CINDERELLA” The MUNY Theater; Louise in “CAROUSEL”; featured in “NAUGHTY MARIETTA” and “ANNIE GET YOUR GUN”, Paper Mill Playhouse; Ado Annie in “OKLAHOMA” Starlight Musicals; featured in “KENNEDY CENTER HONORS”, Agnes de Mille recipient. Michael Mao, Director of MICHAEL MAO DANCE introduced Louise to Zena Rommett, to learn and teach classes to his company, she is now a Certified Floor-Barre® Mentor. Louise is forever grateful to have received personal transmissions from Zena Rommett. Studying Mind, Body, Spirit and Holistic Medicine practices, she is a Certified Teacher of Primordial Sound Meditation, and Ayurvedic Health from The Chopra Center University; and a 200hr Certified Hatha Yoga Instructor, from Sivananda Yoga Farm. Proud to support her dear friend Charlene Carey (both Graduates of NAD/A), she wishes to acknowledge Charlene’s dedication and inspiring work with dancers and artists around the globe, and for inviting her to contribute to Ballet Beyond Borders 2019. Louise is a grateful Mother of two inspiring young men, Joseph Cadiff, a scholar of English, Religion, Spirituality, Buddhism and Yoga Studies now at LMU in Los Angeles CA; and Alexander Cadiff, a talented aspiring TV/Screen/Theater writer, working as Development Coordinator at Bungalow Media, in NYC.
Representative of the Republic of Tatarstan under The Trade Representation of The Russian Federation to The USA: conducted official meetings on intergovernmental level, as well as meetings with commercial companies on trade cooperation, joint projects, investments, cooperation in education, cultural programs, etc. Conducted analytical research of the market and prepared briefs with practical recommendations. In my free time continued scientific research of PTSD issues, wrote and published three books (Copyright Certificates of The Library of Congress). Trade Mission of Embassy of Russian Federation in USA –Washington, DC, USA November 2005- January 2015
Entrepreneurial, persevering and charismatic, Lizt Alfonso had a clear dream when she was a little girl: founding her own dance company and taking it worldwide. That dream became a reality when, at the age of 23, she founded Lizt Alfonso Dance Cuba (LADC) in 1991 resident company at the Gran Teatro de La Habana Alicia Alonso, that has become one of the most popular and prestigious in the dance and musical world for its novel style: a fusion never seen before. Multi awarded for her choreographic creations and recognized for her artistry, tenacity, simplicity and professionalism, Lizt Alfonso began in the arts world at the age of four, when she received her first ballet class. From then on, her training took place at the Cuban National Ballet School and Spanish dance academies, schools of Dance Theater, folklore and others, until she graduated in Theater and Drama at the Havana’s University of the Arts (ISA) in 1990. She has conceived, choreographed and directed all the shows staged by LADC. Under her guidance, LADC has performed in hundreds of stages around the world, participating in the most important dance festivals, regular dance series, as well as in commercial theaters. Her vision and perseverance took LADC to be the first Cuban dance company to have seasons of performances in New York City, at the New Victory Theater. She was specially invited to explain her creative process and mise-en-scéne of her work at the Work and Process series in New York's Guggenheim Museum and took LADC to the Fall for Dance Festival in the New York City Center and the Luminato Festival in Toronto, among many others. he has been granted with several recognitions worldwide: BBC’s list of the 100 inspiring and influential women from around the world in 2018; International Spotlight Award by the USA President's Committee on the Arts and the Humanities, granted at the White House, by the First Lady, Michelle Obama, in 2016; The National Culture Order of Cuba; Ambassador of the Cuban Artist Fund of New York; the Canada’s Dora Mavor Moore Award in the category of Best Choreography of a Musical for her show “Vida” in 2008; the First Choreography Prize by the Cuban Artists and Writers Association in 2006 and 2008 and the Cuban Artist Fund of New York Award in 2001, among many other.
Artist, writer, filmmaker, Educationist and social worker was born in Quetta. He completed his masters in English literature from Balochistan University and joined NCA for a degree in Fine Arts with a major in Sculpture. Completing his 4 years’ professional studies, returned to Quetta where he set up the Department of Fine Arts in Balochistan University, chaired the department for 3 years and went on a British Council scholarship to do a masters in print making from The Slade School of Arts London. Trained in various disciplines of Visual Arts, his forte remains sculpture. He also has the distinction of being the first Graduate in sculpture from NCA. He has been a prolific artist throughout his carrier and has exhibited vastly in Pakistan and internationally. He is the recipient of many awards including Gold medal in the 5th Asian Art Biennale in Dhaka His work is part of permanent collection in Victoria and Albert Museum, London and Fukouka Museum Japan. He has done many important commissioned projects in Pakistan and abroad. Jamal Shah joined TV in 1976 as a singer and composer and has been part of the most noted Pashto Musical programming for 15 years and became one of the most revered singers. People in the Pashtoon belt of Pakistan and Afghanistan still expects music from Jamal Shah. As an actor, he has achieved the image of a serious, committed and extremely choosy actor, never compromises on content and quality. He has done many Serials, Tele films and a Soup on PTV and other Pakistani channels. Jamal Shah has also acted in International projects such as TRAFFIK a channel 4 production and the recipient of 11 international awards and a Hollywood feature film K2. As Director and script writer, He has land mar productions such as, Palay Shah, Barish Ke Baad, Kal, MDMR, Darckola, Bazeecha, Kohkan and Geet Aur Goli for television and Panja Shianja, Tamaasha, Bazeecha and Yehan Se Sheher ko Dekho. He has written produced and directed “Revenge of the Worthless” a film on violent extremism. Jamal Shah has dedicated most of his time and resources towards the promotion and propagation of Art and culture in Pakistan. He was responsible for establishing The Fine Arts Department in his home town Quetta and Studio Gandhara in Islamabad. Hunerkada College of Visual and Performing Arts is his most important contribution to Islamabad and Lahore. He has been sponsoring this not for profit Art Institution since 1992.He has been on boards of governors of many Art Institutions and cultural bodies. Besides Hunerkada he has been teaching and giving workshops and lectures in NCA and all other Art schools in Pakistan. Jamal Shah has also supported causes such as Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital Trust by organizing 3 fund raising Art auctions for it and Donating his work for meaningful causes. Jamal Shah also organized Art Aid, a big Live Art Auction in collaboration with PTV and raised funds for the victims of October 2007 Earthquake, the flood effected people in KPK and the recent earthquake effectees in Swat, Chitral and Buner. He has been a vocal supporter of human rights in the country.
Jordan dancing and acting have taken her around the world – from NYC to the Russian Embassy, to Cyprus. She has worked as a producer, dancer, actress, and choreographer for film, television, commercial, music video and concert works. Jordan has choreographed and directed personal film & live projects for many A list actors/actresses including Katherine Bigelow and Natalie Portman to name a few. Jordan recently choreographed and produced the first chapter of Shades of Red, and Virtual Reality experience about women’s rights that she created featuring Georgina Pazcoguin, soloist NYC Ballet. Jordan set a live version of the piece on dancers from the Orlando Ballet. The Hidden Tears Project, a film production company focusing on social impact issues which she co-founded, works with law enforcement, survivors, rescuers and child advocates across the nation. The company produced Unseen Dances which she co-directed and choreographed and Tanya written by House of Cards staff writer Sam Forman and directed by Monica Raymund. Jordan is currently Artistic Director of Marinov Dance and is working on an evening length dance theatre production to Verdi’s Requiem. M Dance premiered Pavement Woman in San Francisco and Los Angeles and was commissioned to create an original work for the students of Loyola Marymount University and adjudicated a dance short film festival for the University of South Florida. Jordan recently completed two dance short films with Bill Hayward entitled Beauty Is No Show and the film Asphalt, Muscle & Bone which she choreographed and performed in recently premiered at the Amsterdam Film Festival and took home some awards. She also choreographed a film called Dream of a Dance, directed by Jolie Oliver.
Leslie danced as a soloist with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago for five seasons, the Dayton Ballet for two seasons and kicked her way around the Broadway scene for more than a decade with appearances in LA CAGE AUX FOLLES, VICTOR/VICTORIA and TWELVE DREAMS at Lincoln Center. She has danced, acted and sung her way through 25 years of professional theatre and has danced as principal/soloist in 16 operas with LA Opera. She choreographs for the award-winning 3D Theatricals in Orange County, CA; productions include INTO THE WOODS, SIDE SHOW, THE FULL MONTY, HELLO DOLLY & a re-imagined and original OKLAHOMA. This season she made her choreographic debut at Walt Disney Concert Hall with the LA Philharmonic’s main stage production of NIXON IN CHINA. She has developed movement/dance for ROMEO & JULIET, MUCH ADO… and the premiere of RED BARN with the Independent Shakespeare Company – an L.A. favorite. Leslie has an ongoing relationship with several Universities in the Los Angeles area. She is a Guest Teacher of musical theatre repertoire for UCLA and UC Irvine. She is part of the Ballet Faculty and choreographer at AMDA LA and has been Guest Choreographer for CSUN. CSUN productions include CABARET, RAGTIME & SWEENEY TODD with Director, Ken Sawyer and SPRING AWAKENING with Director, Garry Lennon. For LA Opera, Leslie created dance and movement for the original production of THE PLAY OF DANIEL with Director, Eli Villanueva, performed at the Cathedral of Our Lady of the Angels (downtown LA). A special occasion was to work with younger performers, choreographing and collaborating on THE SECRET GARDEN for Beverly Hills High School with Musical Director, Joel Pressman. Also, a professional actor on stage and film, Leslie’s work is listed on www.imdb.com with clips and trailers available.
Professor of Dance Juliette T. Crump was Head of Dance and a Professor of Dance at the university of Montana from 1974 to 2002, performing, choreographing and teaching modern dance technique, Laban Movement Analysis and dance history. She holds an M.A. Degree in dance from the George Washington University and is a Certified Movement Analyst through LIMS. She has traveled and researched extensively in Asia and published articles on Japanese Butoh, Korean Dance, Manipuri Dance, Kathakali Dance, dances in Shanghai parks and Hmong dance in the US and Laos. She has seen over fifty live butoh performances since she first saw Kazuo Ohno at La Mama in 1981. Since retirement she has performed Butoh in San Francisco, Vancouver, Canada and Stockholm, Sweden. She has served as a member of the NEA Dance Panel (selecting dance companies for grant funding) for seven years.
Born in Beijing China, Ms. Yan Davis graduated from the Beijing Dance Academy and danced with the Central Ballet Theatre of Beijing for eighteen years. She came to the United States in 1986 and studied at the Martha Graham Modern Dance School. Ms. Yan Davis has taught Chinese Folk dance and in the United States since 1987 introducing Chinese culture to American students. She has been a frequent Guest Artist with Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre & toured with the Company in 2008 and 2010 to China.
Zulfia Avzalov is the president of the Alfia Avzalova Foundation and has had a long and successful vocal professional concert career. As a producer, Zulvfia has organized international festivals and collaborated with Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre in Kazan, Russia during their Ballet Beyond Borders official USA State Department Tour to Russia. Due to that successful collaboration, both organizations signed a memorandum of agreement and cooperation to continue their shared values and vision of promoting global understanding through the arts.
En 1991 inicia sus estudios de Ballet Clásico en Fomento Artístico Cordobés, bajo la Dirección técnica- artística de Martha Saghún. En 1994 continua sus estudios en la Escuela Cubana de Ballet de Veracruz, bajo la Dirección artística de Caridad Martínez (Ex primera bailarina del Ballet Nacional de Cuba) y con asesoramiento técnico de Joaquín Banegas y Silvia Marichal (Maîtres del Ballet Nacional de Cuba). En 1999, se gradúa como bailarina Clásica y Maestra por la ECBV y el Ministerio de Cultura de la Habana, Cuba. Ha tenido como maestros en diversos cursos y talleres nacionales e internacionales a; Lea Darwin (EE.UU), Pattie Obey (EE.UU), James Kelly (EE.UU.); Franco de Vita (Director de la Escuela Jackie Onasis, del American Ballet Teathre), Raymond Lukens (EE.UU.), Juan Sánchez (Puerto Rico), entre otros. Dentro de su preparación como bailarina y docente ha tenido maestros de la talla de Fernando Alonso, Dubia Hernández, Fernando Jhones, Pedro Beiro, Esther García, Miriam Hernandez, Adria Velásquez, Gustavo Herrera, Fidel García y Alberto Terrero (ex bailarines del Ballet Nacional de Cuba) entre otros. Fue seleccionada como aspirante a la Compañía Nacional de Danza en 2004. Del mismo modo, ha sido bailarina invitada por la Compañía Veracruzana de Ballet, dirigida por Denia Hernández y Raúl Bustabad (ex bailarines del Ballet Nacional de Cuba), por la Compañía Vera danza U. V., dirigida por Jorge Ortiz, a su vez, por el Grupo Independiente MODULO Danza Contemporánea, dirigido por Alejandro Schwartz; de igual manera, bailarina huésped por la Asociación “Dance Educators of America” en San José de Costa Rica; por el Brooklyn Ballet N.Y.; la orquesta Sinfónica juvenil Daniel Ayala y por la Orquesta Sinfónica de Xalapa, entre otras compañías independientes. Ha participado en Concursos Nacionales e Internacionales, dentro de los cuales destacan; Finalista y Medalla de bronce en el Primer y Segundo Concurso Nacional de Ballet Clásico Infantil-Juvenil; Medalla de Oro en el VI Certamen Internacional de Ballet Infantil-Juvenil de países Latinoamericanos; y Medalla de Platinum en el “Ballet Seminar Competition”, New York City. Becaria en la Compañía del Joffrey Ballet Alabama. En 2013, realiza sus primeros grados de Curriculum Training of American Ballet TTheatre en la ciudad de New York, para adquirir también conocimientos de la enseñanza de la Técnica Americana de Ballet. En 2014, le es otorgado reconocimiento por la Escuela Cubana de Ballet de la Habana Cuba, dirigida por la Maestra Ramona de Saa, por su trayectoria dentro de la Enseñanza de la Escuela Cubana. Dentro de su trayectoria como docente, sus alumnas han sido finalistas en el Octavo,Noveno y Décimo Concurso Nacional de Ballet Clásico Infantil- Juvenil, y medallistas en Concursos Nacionales e internacionales organizados por diversas Asociaciones de Danza tales como, Grand Prix Danza Américas, Panama, B VIBE International Ballet Competition, Ballet Beyond Borders en Missoula, Montana, E.U.,, entre otros. Actualmente dirige la Escuela Cubana de Ballet de Veracruz, , y cada año organiza el Curso Internacional de Invierno como parte de preparación de su alumnado, en donde la ECBV, invita a maestros reconocidos del extranjero y cada dos años su alumnado hace intercambios con otras Escuelas importantes de Estados Unidos mediante el sistema de becas, otorgadas dentro de este Curso Internacional (Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Moscu, Rusia, Alvin Ailey School, NY., New York Dance Project, y Steps of Broadway, NY.), empezando a buscar oportunidades para el alumnado interesado en la Danza como una forma de vida; o simplemente abrir un arcoíris de posibilidades dentro de la misma. Daniela Ortiz también es Licenciada en Derecho por la UAV - UNAM y actualmente sigue preparándose dentro del área docente, Coreográfia y de Gestión Cultural dentro de las Artes escénicas.
Ms. Opacich holds a BS (occupational therapy) from the University of Kansas and earned both the MHPE (health professions education) and PhD (public health) from the University of Illinois-Chicago. Her very first curricular endeavor in 1978 entailed designing a physician residency training program in developmental pediatrics funded by HHS, and she is currently Assistant Dean for Undergraduate Public Health and Clinical Associate Professor of Health Policy & Administration in the School of Public Health at the University of Illinois in Chicago. Dr. Opacich was raised in a family that valued the arts. Her father was a luthier and an NEA National Heritage Fellow (2004). Throughout childhood she studied music, dance and painting. She began college as a graphic arts major/music minor, and somehow switched gears entirely. After years of training, she abandoned the piano but managed to hang onto the ballet slippers for a time until she became immersed in the world of horses, who after all, are very much like dancers.
Erica is a dance activist and researcher engaged in cross-disciplinary practice of community dance. Experienced peacebuilding practitioner and researcher. Dancer, choreographer, educator, speaker, researcher, and community facilitator. Specifc practice and research focus on the use of dance with young people in peacebuilding programs and dance and health such as the Dance for Parkinson’s programs. She is the director of Dance for Parkinson's Australia which initiated, implemented and launched the frst Dance for Parkinson’s programs across Australia in partnership withprogram founders-Dance for PD and Mark Morris Dance Group in New York. Involved in the initiation of programs and teacher training across Australia and expanding into Asia. www.danceforparkinsonsaustralia.org
Bridget McDonough has been employed in arts management since graduating from Northwestern University in 1978. In 1980 she co-founded Music Theater Works with Philip Kraus and others. She holds membership in the Illinois Arts Alliance, is past president of the Rotary Club of Evanston, and served on the boards of the Evanston Convention and Visitors’ Bureau, Evanston Chamber of Commerce, the National Alliance for Musical Theatre, Around the Coyote, as well as the School of Communication Alumni Board at Northwestern University and the tourism committee of Chicago’s North Shore Convention and Visitors’ Bureau. She is currently on the board of the North Shore International Network, and is a member and former treasurer of the Musicians Club of Women. She served as an international judge at the Second Vladimir Kurochkin International Competition of Young Artists of Operetta and Musicals in Yekaterinburg, Russia, and VIBE (Vienna International Ballet Experience) in Missoula, Montana. She was honored by the Evanston Chamber of Commerce with their 2009 Public Service/Nonprofit Person of the Year Award. Bridget retired from Music Theater Works at the end of the 2019 season.
Kathryn Posin studied composition with Hanya Holm, Anna Sokolow, Merce Cunningham and Alvin Ailey. She founded the Kathryn Posin Dance Company in 1973 and has made over sixty works for it. Her work has been seen in Nederlands Dans Theater 1 and II, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ailey 2, The Eliot Feld Ballet, Balletmet, Ballet West, Repertory Dance Theatre of Utah, the Extemporary Dance Company of London, the National Ballet of Bulgaria, as well the ballet companies of Ohio, Kansas City, Cincinnati, Milwaukee, Sacramento, Louisville, Nevada, and Hartford. Her Scheherazade was presented in the National Opera house of Doha, Qatar. She was the first international choreographer to make a work for Cloudgate, the National Company of Taiwan. Shas been honored with both Fulbright and Guggenheim Fellowships and has been recognized by the National Endowment for the Arts, New York State Council on the Arts, LMCC, the Jerome Robbins Foundation, Harkness Foundation, the American Dance Festival, NYFA, LMCC, the America for Bulgaria Foundation, the Robert Rauschenberg Foundation and NYU Gallatin. For the theater, she choreographed Andre Serban’s The Cherry Orchard at Lincoln Center and the hit rock musical Salvation in New York and Los Angeles. She did the choreography for Liviu Ciulei on Mary Stuart with The Acting Company, David Chambers on Midsummer Night’s Dream at Arena Stage, Yuri Yurimen of the Moscow Art Theater at Hartford Stage and Alvin Epstein on The Boys from Syracuse at American Repertory Theater at Harvard. She worked with Bette Midler, Richard Gere, Tony Shaloub, Jennifer Jason Lee, Kathleen Turner, Carrie Fisher, Meryl Streep, and Joe Morton in these productions. Posin conceived and designed the Joffrey/New School BFA in Dance and was named founding chair. She has taught full time at UCLA, CALARTS, the University of Wisconsin/Milwaukee and, for six summers, at Harvard Summer Dance School. She is Professor of Choreography and World Dance at NYU’s Gallatin School.
Carlton Wilborn is a Globally Respected and Award-Winning Director, Producer, Actor and Life Coach with over 40 years of entertainment experience. Wilborn began his professional career as a principal career as a principal dancer with Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. He's performed live with Michael Jackson, done music videos with Janet Jackson, and toured the world with Madonna, for The Blond Ambition tour; documented in the feature film Truth or Dare, and again for The Girlie Show tour. His thespian credits include The Mentalist (GLADD Media Award Nominee), The Boarder (Best Actor Award from NYLA International Film Festival), the acclaimed gospel stage play Tell Hell I Ain't comin', Blade to the Heat - New York Shakespeare Festival, Like Jazz - Mark Taper Forum and Kiss Me Kate - The Pasadena Playhouse, Bosch, NCIS, Lincoln Heights, Bunheads, NYPD Blue, the Practice, CSI: Miami, L.A. Firefighters, the HBO movie Made Men, Oprah Winfrey Presents: Tuesdays with Morrie, and the feature film Beautiful Boy, with Steve Carell and Timothee Chalamet. Carlton is also a key subject in the compelling and inspiring documentary Strike a Pose. Most recently Carlton was an international juror and the designated U.S.A. spokesperson for Finland's 2021 UMK/Eurovision song competition. He most recently worked as a scientist, with the controversial music artist Kid Cudi for Amazon's Prime Day Show special. Mr. Wilborn was honored by Rahm Emanuel - Mayor of Chicago, with the proclamation "February 5, 2017 to be CARLTON WILBORN DAY IN CHICAGO in recognition of his extraordinary life & enduring efforts to impact culture, inform community and inspire change.”
Born in Palermo, Marcello Carini started his Ballet and Contemporary dance formation under the guidance of Francesca Adamo, Renato Vitello, Ludwig Durst and Roberto Nieddu. Lately, he is admitted to the "Scuola di Danza del Teatro dell'Opera di Roma", directed by Paola Jorio. Since 2006 he has been part of the corps de ballet of "Fondazione Teatro Massimo di Palermo", where he danced and worked with international teachers and choreographers. From 2009 to 2012 he worked, as choreographer and assistant director, with "Cooperativa Figli d'Arte" directedby Franco Zappalà, making several and famous operas and operettas choreographies. In July and August 2018 he has been in artistic residence in Tyrone Guthrie Annaghmakerring Monaghanin (Ireland). In May 2019 he was Guest Teacher (ballet and contemporary dance) and Resident Choreographer in IBT Academy of Philadelphia (USA) and nine of his creations have been represented in international contests and Gala. In September 2022, under the promotion and artistic direction of Fondazione Teatro Massimo di Palermo, he has been one of the choreographers presenting his choreography "Tango Genesis" during "Contact Tango" in Teatro di Verdura (Palermo).
Administrator of the Orincipessa Dancing School (founded by Maria Antonietta Berlusconi), he works in the marketing at Milan Football Club. After this, he dedicates himself to the non-profit world (Mediafriends Onlus). Together with his father (Giorgio), his sister (Sabrina) and his brother (Paolo), he founded the MAB – Maria Antonietta Berlusconi association (in memory of his mother), dedicated to supporting national and international projects in the world of Dance. Having become President of the association, he devoted himself to administration, supervision and communication. In 2021 he produces the book "La Vita che Danza", published by Mondadori Rizzoli, about MAB and its story
Graduated in Performing Art, with a Masters in multimedia communication and Coaching, she studies Team Management (24 Hours Business School) and in Social Media Marketing (SDA Bocconi). She is General Manager of Ass. Maria Antonietta Berlusconi, for national and international events, also in collaboration with Misty Copeland, Melanie Person, Igal Perry, Jae Man Joo, Desmond Richardson, Natalia Osipova, Susan Jaffe, Julio Bocca. She is lecturer and manager for West Finland College, Performing Arts Academy (Huittinen, Finland), for second level Masters in "Sport Psychology" at the Pontifical University of Turin,ALASU (Alabama State University \ USA, Peridance NY, TAM Teatro Arcimboldi Milan, Teatro Manzoni, Milan, etc He is educational manager for Daniel Ezralow Dance Company; Parsons Dance, Mark Morris Dance Group, etc.. She is a speaker for the international seminars of Theater Anthropology in Huraa (Maldives), She is choreographer and Stage Coach in Italy, USA, Africa, Finland, Romania. Expert in Brand Management, she is Founder and Owner of the School of Excellence and Leadership Training.
Greg Begley
Born in Flint Michigan, Greg at age six started taking tap, jazz, and ballet lessons. At the age of sixteen, he was already performing in professional theatre, choreographing musicals for area high schools and teaching dance classes in private studios. Greg was awarded a four-year dance scholarship from Point Park College in Pittsburgh, PA and continued his education with a double major in business and dance. He also joined the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre under the direction of Nicholas Petrov, and became a soloist performing and touring with the company. Early in his career, Greg was fortunate to have studied and performed so many of the older ballets, and mentored by Vitale Fokine, Leonide Massine, Fredrick Franklin, Ruth Page and Edward Caton, legendary artists of the famed Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, and many other amazing teachers and choreographers. Greg received his business degree, he also worked several summers performing in over 30 professional musical theatre productions with the Pittsburgh Civic Light Opera, and he did industrial/commercial work, guest performances including short films and modeling before moving to Chicago.
Ruth Page offered Greg a contract to join her company, Chicago Ballet. His career expanded as he mastered the roles he performed, including several traditional pas de deuxs. Fredrick Franklin was still very influential in his training, as was his coach and good friend Larry Long. He performed many of Miss Page’s original ballets, frequently dancing the role of Cavalier in the city’s annual holiday show, her production of The Nutcracker. Greg’s versatility was welcomed in the dramatic contemporary ballets, and he loosened up to dance Johnny in the public television special of Ruth Page’s ballet Frankie and Johnny. Years later, Greg was commissioned to stage/direct Miss Page’s ballet on the Joffrey Ballet, and then once more on the Kansas City Ballet companies. When not under contract, he accepted travel opportunities to guest perform in festivals, and with other companies.
By invitation of Lou Conte, founder of the world renown Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Greg became an original member, a featured performer, and the company’s first ballet master. His exceptional ballet technique, along with his training and performances in musical theatre, jazz, modern and tap created a natural fit with the theatre-based dance troupe. Their first television special on PBS helped propel the company’s success, as the dancers performed throughout the United States, and introduced HSDC to audiences on stages in Europe and South America.
Greg is a prominent and distinguished teacher having worked in several countries, teaching and judicating for international events. He has been a guest teacher for many of the professional dance companies in Chicago. And he is a staff member for several professional schools, teaching and coaching annual theater productions. Greg’s focus is on the quality of time invested, sharing the art form, mentoring dancers to train hard, to express themselves through movement, and to enjoy the present moment.
Patric Palkens is an American dancer who began his training at age 4 at his Mother’s jazz studio in Lewistown, Montana. He was introduced to Ballet through a scholarship to train with the Municipal Theater Ballet School in Santiago, Chile. He graduated from high school via Skype while on tour to China in 2008 with Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre in Shanghai. He has performed many works during his 13 year career from great choreographers around the globe including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Val Caniparoli, Wayne McGregor, Frederick Ashton, William Forsythe , Septime Weber , Devon Carney , Ma Cong, Victoria Morgan, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa , and Adam Hougland while performing for the Salzburg Ballet, Washington Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Orlando Ballet , Boston Ballet for 5 years and is currently an artist with the Atlanta Ballet .
Toba Singer is the author of “First Position: A Century of Ballet Artists” (Bloomsbury, 2007), and was University Press of Florida’s featured author at the 2013 Miami International Book Fair for her book “Fernando Alonso, the Father of Cuban Ballet,” under the UPF imprint. From 2004-2010, Singer was Senior Program Director of San Francisco Public Library’s Art and Music Center. A graduate of New York’s School of Performing Arts, she holds a BA in History Cum Laude from the University of Massachusetts, and an MLS from the University of Maryland. Articles by Singer have appeared in Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Dance Teacher, La Gaceta de Cuba, DanzaHoy, Jiribilla, Dance Europe, Dance International, and on culturevulture.net and balletymas websites. Singer was a founding board member of Robert Moses’ Kin Dance Company, and served on the Advisory Council to the San Francisco Museum for Performance and Design. She was named Historian of Malpaso Dance Company in 2023, and in collaboration with Malpaso, has fulfilled two residencies at Santa Fe College. Singer studied Classical Ballet with Nina Anderson, Perry Brunson, Françoise Martinet, Richard Gibson, and Svetlana Afanasieva, and Modern Dance with Cora Cahan, Gertrude Shurr, Jane Dudley, and Donald McKayle. She is currently writing a commissioned history of Malpaso Dance Company, with the working title “A History of Malpaso Dance Company: a Portrait in Motion.”
- Founder of +PLUS EVENTS AGENCY
-Manager of performing arts -
- Organizer of DANZA PER LA VITA International on line dance competition
- Artistic Director of CHAMPION’S CAMP - ITALY The biggest dance campus of Europe
- Events producer (CHIOCCIOLA CARTESIANA/DAHOUSE)
- 2021 AGENCY AND DANCE CASTING FOR DAE (Australia) in Dubai inside Expo 2020 Choreographer Stacey Tookey
- TV host for RSE live streaming program DANCE ON AIR
- 2022 AGENCY AND DANCE CASTING FOR VOLO AGENCY (USA) FOR GALA GAMES in Malta Choreographer Barry Lather
- 2023 Organizer of SEB PREMIO DANZA - International Dance Competition
- 2023 Organizer RDE RAVENNA DANCE EVENTS Audition for dancers and Night Gala with Petrova Boryana and Emil Yordanov soloists Opera National Theater in Sofia
- 2023 Founder and artistic director of Q-DANCE COMPANY
-2023 Collaborator International Ballet2000 magazine
-2023 Production Manager GCDancEvents
Tanya Phelps is a highly regarded Ballet & Dance Instructor, Choreographer, and Coach, boasting an extensive background across various dance forms, including ballet, jazz, contemporary, and tap. Ms. Phelps joined Goh Ballet Academy as an instructor in 2003, throughout the years, she has skillfully instructed students of all age groups, from children to juniors, seniors, and adults. Her teaching expertise extends beyond the studio, encompassing successful coaching in competitions, examinations, technique refinement, and rehabilitation. In her capacity as Associate Director of Special Projects and Outreach, Ms. Phelps specializes in curating program and curriculum development in educational outreach. Her role involves coordinating external relations performances, executed through relationship management and strategic brand elevation. Throughout her illustrious career, Ms. Phelps has garnered numerous awards and accolades for her outstanding choreography. Creating extraordinary large-scale performances and dances for competitions, weddings, musicals, events and productions. Her inclination to work collaboratively has fostered partnerships with a diverse array of companies on cultural initiatives and cross-promotions, continually advocating for the realms of dance, art, and beauty.
Born in Naples and trained at the Teatro all Scala in Milan. He is currently a dancer at the Teatro Massimo.