Welcome. I am a ballet teacher, coach, ballet mistress, artist and former professional dancer based in Phoenix, AZ. From my earliest memories I have been singing and dancing, equally enchanted by both. For me, music and dance are inseparable. I grew up watching “Live from the Met”, Margot Fonteyn, Rudolf Nureyev, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Fred and Ginger, Gene Kelly, Leslie Caron, Danny Kaye, Donald O’Conner - anything involving music and dance. Eventually, when the frequency of my pleas to dance did not cease, my parents took me to a ballet class and history began. I had some wonderful teachers who further inspired and fed my love of ballet, including Madame Pacaud, who danced with the Paris Opera Ballet and guided my parents to New Jersey Ballet. The best of these teachers reflected just how much dance can teach you about life, the humanity in us all, and continue to inspire me to share my passion with my students.
My extensive training at New Jersey Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and in NYC immersed me in the Vaganova, Cecchetti, Balanchine and English schools. As a teacher I have continued to study these as well as the French school and American Ballet Theater’s curriculum. In my teaching I strive to take the best from the depth of my experience and impart it to my students while focusing on the importance of placement, alignment, and a sense of line and musicality.
Musicality was something that came naturally to me. On my journey as a teacher I have found that many students are not sensitive to rhythm, to the music they are dancing to, and are unaware of how invaluable that awareness is to their work as a dancer and artist. Throughout my work I have found that focusing on music and timing has as much of a positive effect as proper placement. I so enjoy when students start to really “feel” and connect with the music. I strongly believe true artistry as a dancer is not possible without this connection and awareness.
Whether as a supplement to one’s regular classes, a way to begin ballet, or return after an absence, I believe private classes to be an invaluable format. It allows the student 60 to 90 minutes of undivided attention where the sole focus is on their training and progress. During this time we can hone in on what is and what is not working, take the time to retrain muscles and build greater confidence. This all leads to the student progressing at a more advanced rate. Private lessons, the pace of improvement they provide, are invaluable. They are one of my favorite settings to pass on the passion I have for this art form that has brought me joy, inspiration and worthy challenges over my career.
In life, love, and dreams, be a work of art!
