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THE PEOPLE |
The People
Costello's arts administration career spans 13 years and includes positions as Director of Audience Services and Education for San Jose Repertory Theatre in California, Director of Marketing for The Pearl Theatre Company in New York City, and Director of Development for Alaska Center for the Performing Arts in Anchorage. Costello also has over 15 years of personal dance experience. She was a company member of San Jose Dance Theatre, under the direction of Paul Curtis and Shawn Stuart, and of Santa Clara Dance and Theatre Ensemble, under the direction of Audrey King. She holds an MFA in Directing from The Actors Studio at New School University in New York City and a BA in Theatre Arts from San Jose State University. She is an associate member of the Society of Stage Directors and Choreographers and is a member of the Association of Fundraising Professionals, Alaska Chapter. . Sarah Grunwaldt, originally from Anchorage, received her initial training and performing experience from Alaska Dance Theatre. She then went on to study and perform with the Richmond Ballet. She graduated with honors from Butler University with a degree in Dance Pedagogy. Miss Grunwaldt’s professional career began with the Peoria Ballet where she also held the position of Ballet Mistress for the Peoria Ballet Academy. Following a successful period with the Peoria Ballet, Sarah joined the Prairie Wind Dancers (currently 940Dance Co.) and the Lawrence Arts Center. As a PWD company member, she was not only busy performing and touring, but acted as Ballet Mistress for the Lawrence Youth Ballet Company and participated in outreach projects across the Midwest. Sarah just completed her 4th season as a company member of California Ballet, San Diego. Her performance credits include appearances with the Kansas City Ballet, Storling Dance Theatre, and the San Diego Opera. Sarah has performed works by Balanchine, Tudor, Donald Byrd, and Jose Limon among others. Miss Grunwaldt is very thankful for all the opportunities and experiences that dance has brought to her life and excited about returning home.
BOARD OF TRUSTEES
COMPANY AND FACULTY BIOS
Walter Aaron Barillas is very appreciative of the opportunity to work with others in this small community of individuals that love being a part of the dance making process. Walter loves ballet and enjoys dancing through this city's parks, studios, aisles at Carrs, sidewalks, stages, and landscapes. This last summer Walter was awarded an assistantship with the American Dance Festival where he assisted Ruth S. Day, Ph.D with her research on learning, cognition and the retention of movement, both a teaching and research project 'Memory for Movement.' www.duke.edu/ruthday/m4m.html Walter has developed as a dancer through his studies with Mariah Maloney, Rodger Belman, Brenda Daniels, Pam Pietro, Noemia Reis, Elizabeth Corbett, Nik Haffner, Jeffrey Bullock, Richard Siegal and Anchorage's dance Maestros. Walter has been cast in dances choreographed by Laura Dean, Rodger Belman, James Morrow, KT Nelson, Erica Essner, Molly Shanahan,and others.
Irenerose first learned hip-hop from her brother Bryan Pentecostes (who is now a member of a renowned hip-hop breakdancing crew based in Los Angeles called SickStep). She further developed as a dancer in East High’s Dance Contempo, where she learned Jazz, Modern, and various multicultural dance styles. In 2002-03, she danced with UAA’s Dance Ensemble under the direction of Brian Jeffery, and from 2005-06, she was living in San Jose, California and dancing for a hiphop/jazz dance company called Booftroop under the direction of Krisuan Rosalejos. While dancing for Booftroop, Irenerose was featured as a dancer in the music video “It Ain’t” by Immij, and also had the opportunity to perform at various venues across the Bay Area. After returning from California, Irenerose was recommended by Katya Kuznetsova of Ritmovida on two occasions to teach a hip-hop style dance workshop at UAA. Irenerose is currently a choreographer/performer for Anchorage’s newly formed contemporary dance company Momentum Dance Collective, and has also danced for Alaska's professional arena football team AK Wild, and Underground Dance Company's Hardcore team. She was recently awarded her Bachelor of Science Degree in Natural Sciences (Cum Laude), Minor in Dance, from UAA, and enjoys working as both a biology lab instructor at UAA, and as a hip-hop choreographer/teacher. Her style of hip-hop dance incorporates fundamental hip-hop moves, including popping, pop-locking, freezes, floor work, and gliding. Her dances are often a challenging combination of fluid body movements and isolations, as well as high-energy, hard-hitting street dance. Overall, students are exposed to both the old-school and new-school styles of hip-hop, all while grooving original hip-hop and the latest mainstream music.
Ms. Chambers received a BS in nursing from the University of Alabama, Birmingham. While in college she began her ballet training at Ballet UAB under the direction of Stephan and Melanie Grebel. Deana danced with Ballet UAB for 5 years, performing roles in The Nutcracker and Cinderella. While working as a neonatal intensive care nurse, she met her husband and they began a 22-year journey with the Air Force. Each military move provided Deana with opportunities to broaden and strengthen her ballet training. While in Ft. Worth, Texas she received training from Fernando and Karen Schaffenburg at Schaffenburg Ballet. As a member of the company with North Dakota Ballet in Grand Forks, Deana performed in local ballet productions as well as Fire Hall Theater's productions of Annie and The King and I.
Samuel Franklin is a West High/FPCS graduate. He started his dance training with ADT at age 3, and has been dancing since. This is his fourth year as a member of the company. In addition to his studies in dance, he is also an accomplished pianist and composer, and has accompanied both classes for ADT, and pieces on stage. While he is not dancing, he is engaged in varied activities from hiking and hunting, to getting tattoos and messing around with his computers. He intends to keep dancing throughout his life, and will always call Alaska his home.
Corbin was born and raised in Alaska, and has grown up at Alaska Dance Theatre where he has received 15 years of training. He joined the company during his junior year in high school. He is currently working on a B.A. in Political Science with a Minor in Communication as well as an Associates in Paralegal. You can also see Corbin in many musical theatre productions in Anchorage throughout the year.
Melissa Jabaay is from Alabama and is happy to be finding her home in Alaska with her wonderful husband and beautiful daughter. She has been teaching dance and choreographing in various states for 12 years. She has performed for Busch Gardens and Visionland theme parks. At Busch Gardens she also worked as the Dance Supervisor of Entertainment and was responsible for auditions, casting, hiring, teaching dance classes to the more than 150 performers, choreographing shows, and teaching the twenty shows that were performed within the park. She has judged numerous dance competitions, here in Anchorage as well as in the lower 48, including Headliners National Performing Arts Competition and taught workshops for more than 500 students. She continues to work with Minnie Madden Productions and Carnival Cruise Lines as an assistant choreographer. She has danced in Australia, New Zealand, Italy and was a dancer and choreographer in numerous Miss Alabama and Miss America Homecoming Productions. Here in Anchorage she has choreographed for East, West and Bartlett high schools, Anchorage Theatre for Youth and UAA’s New Dances. She is the current University of Alaska Anchorage Gymnastics Team’s choreographer and dance coach as well as working within the dance community as a Lighting Designer.
Becky Kendall is dance artist and performer from Alaska where she first began her dance training studying ballet, modern, jazz and tap. Becky is a graduate of Colorado State University where she received a Bachelors of Science in Sports Medicine, studied modern dance under the direction of Chung-Fu Chang in the CSU School of the Arts, created and performed solo and ensemble work within the program as well as performed in the ACDFA gala in 2004. She is an artist who enjoys exploring connections through the integration of technique and personal style and is inspired by creative risk takers, performers, her students, and the language of everyday movement. She has studied dance in New York, Colorado and Washington and has danced for Interweave Dance Company of Boulder, performed at On The Boards and Velocity Dance Center in Seattle in 2004-05, working with KT Niehoff of Lingo Dance Theater and Gaelan Hanson of 33 Fainting Spells. Happy to be back in Alaska she has taught modern for Dance Spectrum Alaska, West High School, and the University of Alaska Anchorage. She is the founder and Artistic Director of Momentum Dance Collective, a new nonprofit contemporary dance company here in Anchorage that is proudly starting its second year. In Anchorage, Becky has choreographed for Momentum, Dance Spectrum Alaska, UAA’s New Dances, and recently choreographed a collaborative work commissioned by the International Gallery of Contemporary Art entitled Transactions. With Momentum she has been a guest to UAA Dance Ensemble, Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy and DSA.
Bryan Ketron trained at the Richmond, Boston, and Houston Ballets. Dancing in California for over 9 years, Mr. Ketron has danced with Oakland Ballet, San Jose Ballet, Robert Moses’ KIN, and was a guest artist with Smuin Ballet for their Spring 2009 shows. Bryan has been a guest artist for State Street Ballet, and Inland Pacific Ballet where he was featured as Albrecht in Romeo and Juliet and Jonathan Harker in Arturo Fernandez’ Dracula which is one of his personal favorites to perform. Mr. Ketron was recently offered a tenure contract with San Francisco Opera and graciously accepted one of the few coveted positions. Bryan has also been in movies such as The Matrix Reloaded and Illusion, starring Kirk Douglas. Other companies Bryan has worked with are Opera Colorado and San Diego Opera where he performed principal roles in Tannhauser, Aida, and The Pearl Fishers. Mr. Ketron is also on faculty at Marin Dance Theatre where his passion is inspiring the next generation of dancers in the studio and on stage.
Nicole Maple received her pre-professional training from Nina Marlow School of Ballet and Ballet Etudes in Phoenix, Arizona. She has attended both American Ballet Theatre and Milwaukee Ballet Summer Intensive, and in 2005 Ms. Maple was invited to join Milwaukee Ballet 2. In May of 2006 Ms Maple won 1st in the regional and 3rd in the national competition of The National Society of Arts and Letters Association Dance Division. Over the course of her professional career, she has worked with such notable choreographers as Michael Pink, Toni Pimble, James Sewell, Andrea Andresakis, Alice Sullivan, and Courtland Weaver. When not dancing, she loves to teach ballet and choreograph in her spare time. Ms. Maple is thrilled to be returning for her third season with Alaska Dance Theatre and is excited to see what this year will bring.
Joyce has been a part of the School of Alaska Dance Theatre since 1992; initially, as a parent, and eventually, as a student and Pilates instructor. In 2001 she joined the Company as a project dancer. Dance continues to provide for her an unparalleled opportunity for creative expression that speaks to the pleasures of physicality, mental discipline, musical voice, and visual art. It is her good fortune to be associated with a group that supports those ideals; and to have an amazing family who patiently humors her pursuits--and hardly ever complains when dinner is late.
Heather started ballet training in Anchorage under the late Steve Primis. During this time she also attended Interlochen National Music Camp as a scholarship student and later graduated from the Academy in 1989. She then spent 4 years at SUNY Purchase where she received her B.F.A. in dance. After graduating, she joined the School of ADT staff as an instructor and danced for the company before returning to New York to pursue her dance career. She danced with Connecticut Ballet for 10 years where she had the opportunity to perform works by Lila York and Lar Lubovitch among others. She also spent many years as a principal dancer with Anglo-American Ballet in New York City, and Ballet New York. She has performed the role of Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella in Cinderella, andthe Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She has also performed with Rebecca Kelly Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Staten Island Ballet, Granite State Ballet and Zig-Zag Ballet. She has been fortunate to gain insights into dance from masters such as David Howard, Paul Taylor, Gelsey Kirkland, Cynthia Gregory and the world renowned Mikhail Baryshnikov. She has been on the faculty in several prominent NY studios and has enjoyed the opportunity to share her wisdom and passion for dance with others. She is delighted to be returning to Alaska with her husband and two small boys and is excited about the coming season with Alaska Dance Theatre.
At age 19, Avi is enjoying her 5th season with the ADT Company. Over these years she has had the privilege to work with artists locally, and from around the world--a unique opportunity that only ADT brings to Anchorage. Through her work at ADT she has developed a great appreciation and capacity for many different styles of dance. Avi looks forward to many more years exploring society through dance.
Tracy Nickerson was born in Grand Forks, North Dakota. She started her dance training at the Pasley Ballet School under the direction of Nancy Pasley at the age of four. As she grew older, her education expanded to include tap, jazz, pointe, and modern. Recognizing Tracy’s talent, the director asked her to begin teaching the younger dancers. In 1992, Tracy began her professional training with the North Dakota Ballet Company under the direction of Mary Ellen Weir. Tracy was a member of the North Dakota Ballet School and within a few months became a company member. Soon after, she joined the North Dakota Ballet staff and began teaching the younger dancers, assisting in rehearsals and setting choreography. As a company member for ten years, Tracy performed in numerous ballet productions, with featured roles in The Nutcracker and in Hansel and Gretel under the direction of Ronn Guidi, founder of the Oakland Ballet Company, as well as Fire Hall Theater’s productions of Annie, The King and I, Sound of Music, and 1940’s Radio Hour. While gaining experience in dance, teaching, and choreography, Tracy had the pleasure of choreographing a production of Sesame Street with Bob McGrath. In 2002, Tracy took on new roles as Associate Director and School Director of the North Dakota Ballet Company as she continued to dance, perform, teach, and choreograph. In 2004, Tracy and her family moved to Alaska and she has since been dancing with Alaska Dance Theatre. In the spring semester of 2005, she joined the staff of ADT as a ballet instructor under the irection of Alice Bassler Sullivan. During the 2005 – 2006 season, Tracy performed with ADT, as a Project Dancer.
Blair Chenoweth Robinson began dancing at the age of four and has studied with Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet, Alaska Dance Theatre, Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival, Summer Dance Lab at Walla Walla, Ballet Arizona, the Joffrey Ballet and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Blair graduated with honors from the University of Oklahoma in 2003 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Ballet Performance. While at OU Blair was part of the Oklahoma Festival Ballet Company. She also competed as Miss Alaska in the Miss America Program in 2003 on ABC and also as Miss Alaska USA 2007 competing in Miss USA on NBC. Blair combined her love of travel and dance by performing aboard Holland America Cruise Line's luxury ships, the MS Amsterdam and MS Noordam, visiting all 7 continents. She also danced in the world famous "Les Folies Bergere" in Las Vegas, NV at the Tropicana Hotel. Next she performed with the North American National Tour of the hit Broadway show "Movin' Out" by Twyla Tharp and Billy Joel. This will be Blair’s second season as a Radio City “Rockette”, performing in the famous Radio City Christmas Spectacular in NYC. She is proficient in ballet/pointe, jazz, tap, musical theater, modern dance, many ballroom styles, a certified Pilates instructor and is also a trained lyra hoop aerialist. www.blairchenoweth.com Valerie Thurston, Tap Instructor
Leslie Kimiko Ward is a teaching artist with over 30 years of formal training in a wide variety of dance disciplines, including but not limited to ballet, jazz, modern, tap, hip hop, musical theater, belly dance, traditional Japanese and West African dance. A magna cum laude graduate from the Ohio State University, she holds her BFA in dance, and has nearly 18 years of experience teaching in the field. In addition to her work with Alaska Dance Theatre, Ms. Ward is currently a full time faculty member with the University of Alaska Anchorage, a year-long artist in residence with West High School, a frequent contributor to the Kennedy Center?s Partners in Education program, a member of the talent bank of the Alaska State Council on the Arts Artists in Schools program, a featured choreographer with Alaska Theatre of Youth and East High?s Contempo, a movement consultant for the Alaska Sound Celebration and Campfire, U.S.A., a co-presenter of the Dance Through Change personal transformation workshop series, and involved in a host of additional community outreach projects. She is in her third year of certification to become a licensed Alexander Technique teacher.
Stephanie is a senior at University of Alaska Anchorage. She spent her 2008-09 school year as a National Student Exchange at the University of Hawaii-Manoa, where she continued her ballet studies. Born and raised in Anchorage, Stephanie was a Honor Graduate of A. J. Dimond High School and played the violin in her school’s Concert Orchestra. She was also a member of Junior Youth Symphony, and served four years with Anchorage Youth Court. Stephanie has been with ADT more than ten years, and was a member of ADT Company during her 2003-05 school years. Summer 2004, Stephanie studied at Ballet Hawaii under the directorship of Pamela Taylor-Tongg (Atlanta Ballet), and visiting artist Alaine Haubert (ABT and Joffrey Ballet) and Amanda Schull (Center Stage). Summer 2005, Stephanie studied ballet at Punahou School under the directorship of Charlys Ing. Stephanie began her formal schooling in dance at age five at Punahou School in Honolulu, Hawaii. Besides her interest in ballet, Stephanie is also a hula dancer, seventeen years. She has studied with Kumu Hula Kapiolani Hao, and most recently with Kumu Hula Victoria Holt Takamine at the Universtiy of Hawaii Manoa. Stephanie has attended workshops through the years taught by Kumu Hula Ehulani Stephany, Kanoe Cazimero, Halau Kekuhi of Hilo, Hawaii, and Melveen Leed. November 2005, Stephanie was a soloist in the annual World Hula Competition held at the Waikiki Shell in Honolulu. In April 2006, Stephanie was a Miss Aloha Hula contestant in the World famed Merrie Monarch Festival held in Hilo, Hawaii. This past school year while attending University of Hawaii Manoa, Stephanie worked as a Kindergarten teacher-assistant at Punahou School. COMPANY II
Richard Poland
2010-2011 guest artists to be announced!
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Codie Costello,
Executive Director
Bryan Ketron, Ballet Instructor (spring), Company Dancer
