|
Arlene Minkhorst
Director
Graduate of The National Ballet School and RWB School’s Professional Division, Ms Minkhorst has performed in numerous productions with the RWB Company.
Throughout her years with RWBS, Ms Minkhorst has taught all levels of ballet and pointe technique, repertoire classes, conducted rehearsals for performance and taught in RWBS’ Teacher Training Program.
Ms Minkhorst was instrumental in implementing RWBS’ integrated academic and ballet program and worked closely with select Winnipeg schools to develop the current academic/dance structure.
She is a member of the jury for the Youth America Grand Prix in New York, NY and has worked as a guest teacher and adjudicator for dance festivals and dance competitions across Canada and the United States.
Ms Minkhorst has travelled to Europe to observe classes, performances and operations at other internationally recognized schools, including the Paris Opera Ballet School, the Royal Ballet School and the English National Ballet School.
Debra Zoerb
Director of School Business Operations
Ms Zoerb has recently joined the RWB School as director of business operations, coming from Dance Manitoba Inc. where she has spent the last six seasons as executive director. Ms Zoerb is not unfamiliar with working at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, having been part of the RWB team from 1995-2000, first as customer service manager and then as systems manager. Ms Zoerb has also worked at various arts organizations in Winnipeg, having held positions with the Winnipeg Symphony Orchestra and Manitoba Conservatory of Music & Arts. Additionally, she has volunteered within the local arts community with a number of organizations including the Manitoba Theatre Centre and serving over eight years on the board of directors for the Osborne Village Cultural Centre and its Gas Station Theatre where during her two terms as president saw the inauguration of the Winnipeg Comedy Festival.
Jorden Morris
Associate Director
Mr. Morris is a graduate of RWB School’s Professional Division and former principal dancer with the RWB Company. After retiring from the stage, Mr. Morris worked as artistic coordinator for the RWB Company and chief ballet master for Boston Ballet before returning to RWBS in 2002.
In 2001, Mr. Morris received the E. Virginia Williams award for artistic inspiration through leadership for his work in Boston. The following year, Mr. Morris was named one of the top 25 artists to watch by Dance Magazine. Mr. Morris teaches ballet, pas de deux, variations, repertoire and Stott Pilates. Mr. Morris has also choreographed many peices for the School and is currently choreographing Peter Pan for the RWB Company, which will premiere this December.
Jacqueline Weber
Principal, Professional Division
Ms Weber is a graduate of the RWB School’s Professional Division and a former dancer with the RWB Company. She has studied and trained in the Russian dance system for 25 years and has been teaching at RWB School for over 30 years.
As principal, Ms Weber’s responsibilities include supervising teaching staff, liaising with parents and students and overseeing RWB School’s programs and performances.
Ms Weber teaches senior ballet and pointe classes, variations and repertoire. She also choreographs and rehearses dancers for performances.
Johanne Gingras
Teacher Training Program Director
Ms Gingras is a graduate of The National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program and holds an Associate Diploma from the Cecchetti Society, I.S.T.D.
In addition to directing the Teacher Training Program, Ms Gingras currently teaches ballet and pointe for RWB School. As a choreographer she has created numerous pieces for RWB School and the Manitoba Opera. Ms Gingras also works as a guest teacher in Japan, the USA and across Canada.
Stéphane Léonard
Aspirant Program Director
Mr. Léonard began his dance training in Montréal with private teacher Natalia Izbinsky and went on to study at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg. Mr. Léonard danced with the National Ballet of Canda from 1993 to 1995 and has also performed with the Rimsky-Korsakov Company in St. Petersburg. Mr. Léonard joined the RWB in 1998 as a soloist and has been teaching full-time for the RWB School’s Professional Division since his retirement from performing in 2002. He oversees the Aspirant Program and teaches ballet, variations and repertoire.
Suzanne André
Teacher
Ms André studied at the National Ballet School and the RWB School and is a graduate of RWB School’s Teacher Training Program. She holds her Associate Diploma from the Cecchetti Society, I.S.T.D. Ms André teaches ballet, pointe and creative movement in the school and creative movement, pre-ballet and pedagogy in the Teacher Training Program. She also choreographes and rehearses dancers for performances.
Maritel Centurion
Teacher
Maritel is a dance educator with a wealth of dance training in Ballet and Spanish dance. After several years of professional dancing in Argentina she moved to Toronto where she graduated from the National Ballet School of Canada with a Teaching Diploma. Before coming to the RWB School, Ms Centurion taught in the Junior Division (Recreational) of the National Ballet School and the Quinte Ballet School in Ontario. Since 2001, Ms Centurion has been teaching at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School and serving as a coaching assistant for children who perform in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s production of Nutcracker. During 2004/05 season, she was away taught abroad where she gained further teaching experience.
Integrating all her dance background, Maritel Centurion has been working on the creation of new Spanish dance works. Last spring, she performed her contemporary Spanish choreography at the Canada Dance Festival 2004 as part of a collaborative work with Theatre Flamenco. In tune with this direction, she has also created pieces for the RWB School ’s Aspirants program On The Edge.
Catherine Glasser
Teacher
Ms Glasser began her teacher training at the Canadian College of Dance at the Ryerson Theatre School and is a graduate of the National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program. She holds her Advanced and Licentiate certificates from the Cecchetti Society, I.S.T.D. Ms Glasser also holds her Advanced certificate in RAD, Modern, I.S.T.D. and National Dance, I.S.T.D. She has performed professionally and teaches in the RWB School, Teacher Training Program.
Sandra Holtzappel
Teacher
Sandra was born from Dutch parents in 1973 in Malang, Indonesia and started dancing at the age of six. She studied at the Royal Conservatory in The Hague, Netherlands and at the Dance Academy of Budapest in Hungary and finished her training with a diploma from the Dutch Conservatory as well as from the Hungarian Dance Academy. After graduating she became a Professional Freelance Dancer which gave her the chance to work one on one with different choreographers known in Europe and The Netherlands.
At 29 she decided to stop dancing professionally and developed her communication skills and her interest in teaching and coaching dancers. She taught with various recreational schools within The Netherlands and Italy while working with professional dancers during their freelance productions and performances. In 2004, she followed her partner, a former RWB dancer, to Canada.
Petru Macra
Teacher
Mr. Macra danced professionally for 28 years with the Romanian Opera Ballet in Timisara. He continues to perform character roles with the RWB Company. Mr. Macra teaches senior men’s ballet, variations and pas de deux classes. He also choreographes and rehearses dancers for performances.
Claire Marchand
Teacher
Claire Marchand is known internationally as a dancer and an artist of distinction. As a dancer she embodies the intensity, introspection and vitality of the art of Flamenco. As a visionary, she has created a niche for Flamenco in the Canadian dance landscape, creating an impressive body of work with leading artists – 10 new works in the past 7 years. Ms Marchand is a featured soloist in Flamenco festivals across Canada and internationally.
Following early studies in Spanish Regional styles, Ms Marchand studied with Flamenco choreographer Claudia Carolina, founder of Theatre Flamenco. She went on to study in Spain with various maestros. Now a member of Theatre Flamenco dance collective, Ms Marchand produces and performs in innovative works.
Claire Marchand teaches in Winnipeg at her own studio as well as at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet to students in the Professional Division. She has also taught private students in Madrid and Jerez de la Frontera, Spain.
Claire Marshall
Teacher
Claire Marshall began her performing career in her hometown of Toronto, Ontario with the Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre. Throughout her nine seasons with the company she performed works by some of Canada’s leading choreographers. She also participated in many national tours. Since her graduation from the Senior Professional Program at the School of Contemporary Dancers she has performed with local choreographers Casimiro Nhussi, Coral Aiken, Adesola Akinleye and Josee Garant. Ms Marshall is a founding member of Sight Unseen Productions, a local film and dance company and sits on the Board of Directors for Dance Manitoba.
Ms Marshall is a full time teacher in the Professional Division, teaching Modern Technique, Movement Improvisation and Movement Composition and in the Recreational Division, teaching Creative Movement.
Vyacheslav Mesropov
Teacher
Vyacheslav Mesropov is from Baku, Azerbaijan and received his training from the Baku Academy of Ballet where he studied for eight years. He was a soloist with the Azerbaijan Academic Theater of Opera and Ballet, Moscow Festival Ballet and Colorado Ballet.
As a teacher of classical ballet in the Vaganova methodology, Mr. Mesropov has taught for Ballet Theater of Maryland and the Academy of Colorado Ballet. He was also an instructor of ballet for the Baltimore School for the Arts, and regularly taught master classes and summer intensive programs throughout the United States including at Peabody Institute in Baltimore, Southland Ballet Academy in Orange County, California and The Washington Ballet in Washington D.C. During his teaching career, Mr. Mesropov has prepared several participants for international competitions. He was named the Most Outstanding Teacher at the 2003 Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) international competition in New York. Most recently, Mr. Mesropov served as Artistic Director of Ballet Royäle Institute of Maryland for four seasons.
Bruce Monk
Teacher
Mr. Monk is a graduate of RWB School and former RWB Company dancer. He is a graduate of the National Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program and holds an Associate certificate from the Cecchetti Society, I.S.T.D. Mr. Monk teaches junior men’s ballet, pas de deux and also works as a choreographer and photographer for RWB School.
Marijka Stanowych
Teacher*
Ms Stanowych is a graduate of RWB School’s Teacher Training Program and has also studied professionally in Kiev, Ukraine with the Pavlo Virsky Dance Ensemble. Ms Stanowych holds her Associate Diploma from the Cecchetti Society, I.S.T.D. and teaches ballet, pointe and character.
*currently on leave
Tanya Walsh
Dean of Residence
Ms Walsh holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology, which included completion of both intermediate and advanced courses in child development, educational behaviour modification and performance anxiety. She also has a fine arts degree from York University in Theatre Studies and English.
Before coming to the RWB School Residence, Ms Walsh was the Artistic Director/Producer of Shakespeare in the Park and a Stage Manager for the Manitoba Provincial Dance Festival. She has also held various administrative positions throughout her career.
|
