Lena May-Fraser
Lena has over three years experience as a general academic advisor and specialized in pre-medicine advising at Montana State University. She has coordinated an introductory psychology course, supervised graduate teaching assistants, and taught the first-year seminar for incoming students. Lena has also served as an academic counselor for TRiO – Student Support Services and coordinated [Read More]
Kira Jones
Kira has over three years experience teaching, advising, and counseling students. She has worked with the University of Utah Housing and Residential Education, University Writing Center, University Tutoring Services and the Utah Daily Chronicle while she was a student. Since graduating from the University of Utah, Kira obtained a Master’s Degree in Communication from the [Read More]
Glenda Staples
Administrative Officer - Glenda serves both the Ballet and Modern Dance Departments. Her primary assignment is the finances of both departments. One philosophy of life she has is, “Challenges in life are often hard, but we are all given tools and abilities to overcome what, at first, seems impossible.” Glenda has a special insight [Read More]
Tyler Kunz
Office Assistant - Tyler Dean Kunz grew up on a small farm in Victor, Idaho and began dancing at the age of nineteen. He graduated with his BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah in 2007, where he was honored to receive the Dee Winterton Teaching Award. Since then, he has worked with [Read More]
Sara Francis
Clerk - Sara was born and raised here in Utah. She attended the University of Utah and received her BFA in Film Studies in 2009. When she’s not at the nearest movie theater, she also enjoys photography, traveling, and spending time with her family. She hopes one day to make her mark on the [Read More]
Bené Arnold
Distinguished Professor Emerita Bené received her B.F.A. and M.F.A. from the Department of Ballet, and her B.S. in elementary education and Masters of Education in special education (teaching the deaf as her specialty) from the University of Utah. In 1963 Bené was asked by Willam F. Christensen to be the ballet mistress for [Read More]
Barbara Hamblin
Professor Emeritus - Barbara Hamblin was a charter member of the Utah Civic Ballet and principal ballerina with Ballet West from 1964 to 1972. She received her early training from Edna Howell in Klamath Falls, Oregon. Her principal teachers in Utah were Willam Christensen, Mattlyn Gavers, Gordon Paxman and Bené Arnold. Barbara met with critical [Read More]
Cole Adams
Associate Professor Lecturer, Production Director and Lighting Design - B.F.A. Utah State University. Cole serves as the Production Director and Lighting Designer for the Marriott Center for Dance. This is his fourth year at the University of Utah’s renowned Ballet and Modern Dance programs. Credits at the University of Utah include Spring and Fall productions [Read More]
James Larsen
Associate Instructor, Technical Director and Lighting Design - Mr. Larsen received a Bachelors of Fine Arts degree from Utah State University, an Associate of Fine Arts Degree from Western Wyoming College and has been working professionally, designing and freelancing in Salt Lake City for six years. James is currently the Technical Director and [Read More]
Brenton Winegar
AV Room & Webmaster - Having loved all things music from an early age, it was only natural for Brenton Winegar to pursue a career in the audio industry. Driven by his passion for music, technology and high-quality audio, Brenton enrolled at the Conservatory of Recording Arts and Sciences (CRAS) in Tempe, Arizona in 2008 [Read More]
Steve Rasmussen
Associate Professor Lecturer, Costume Shop Director - Steve has a BS from the University of Utah in Clothing ad Textiles, with an emphasis in textile soft sculpture. He has had several art shows in local galleries and has done theater costuming for the Salt Lake Acting Company, Dance Theater Coalition, and Theater Works West [Read More]
Megan Johnston
Theatrical Costume Technician - Megan has a BS in fashion design from the University of Cincinnati’s College of Design, Architecture, Art and Planning. She has worked in television as the on-set costumer and seamstress for the show “Delocated” as well as freelanced for several fashion lines such as The Row and Khunu. She thoroughly enjoys [Read More]
Elizabeth Banzuzi Diansongi
Theatrical Costume Technician - Elizabeth has worked in the MCD Costume shop for six years. She helps create beautiful costumes for both the Ballet and Modern Departments. She is well known for her pleasant personality and meticulous eye for detail. 801-581-5072
Vilena Barekyan
Principal Accompanist In 1977, Vilena graduated from Baku Conservatory where she received her Masters degree from the Piano Department. In 1988 she moved to Moscow, Russia where she attended many competitions and performed as an accompanist. In 1998 she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah. In 2004, Vilena was hired by the University of [Read More]
Svetlana Vasilenko
Associate Principal Accompanist In 1961, Svetlana received her Associates Degree in Musical Theory/Composition/Improvisation at the College of Music. She then went on to study at the Glinka Conservatory from 1963 to 1972 where she earned both her Bachelors and Masters Degree of Art in Composition/Musical Theory. She has researched, composed, and developed repertoire of [Read More]
Kimball Whitaker
Accompanist Kimball began playing the piano for the U of U Ballet and Modern Dance in the fall of 2009. Kimball received his B.S. in Family Studies and Human Development, which got him started in a career of software testing and development. For over 15 years he worked on various programs and devices, including [Read More]
Lisa Folau
Accompanist Lisa Folau is currently pursuing a Masters of Music degree at the University of Utah in Piano Performance, and plans to graduate in Spring 2011. She earned her Bachelors of Music in Piano Performance at the University of Utah, and has studied with Dr. Ning Lu for four years. She has participated in [Read More]
Eve Allen
Graduate Teaching Assistant Eve Allen began her dance training at the age of three with Miriam Allen at The Conservatory of Movement in Reno, NV. She attended the Ballet West Academy Summer Intensive 2003 through 2005. In 2007, Eve received a B.S. in Business Management and a minor in Dance from the University of [Read More]
Wilson Domingues
Graduate Teaching Assistant Wilson M. Domingues performed with the Gulbenkian Ballet, Lisbon, Portugal in Europe for 16 years, mostly as a Soloist and toured internationally having had the opportunity of working with some of the most renowned choreographers such as: Paul Taylor, Amanda Miller, Jiri Kylian, Hans Van Manen, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Mats [Read More]
Molly Heller
Molly currently resides in Salt Lake City where she is the owner of The Tea Grotto and a graduate student in the Department of Modern Dance. She has taught dance most recently for Dance New Amsterdam(NYC), SUNY New Paltz(NY), Balance Dance Company(Boise, ID) and Boise State University. Molly has also been making work for the [Read More]
Sarah Longoria
Graduate Teaching Assistant Sarah Longoria began her ballet training at the Santa Ynez Valley Performing Arts Company in California under the direction of Ms. Christine Fossemalle. After graduating from high school she performed with the Santa Barbara Festival Ballet for one year, before attending the University of Utah’s Ballet program, earning a [Read More]
Vinnie Prisbrey
Graduate Teaching Assistant Vinnie Prisbrey is a graduate student at the University of Utah Ballet Department. She has a bachelor’s degree from the University in Ballet Teaching, Performing and character dances. She has danced with Utah Ballet, the department’s resident ballet company for three years, and has also danced with San Diego Ballet and [Read More]
Adam Sklute
Ballet West Artistic Director Adam Sklute was named Artistic Director of Ballet West in March of 2007. Prior to that time, he was with The Joffrey Ballet for nearly 25 years. Beginning as a dancer under Robert Joffrey in the 1980’s, Sklute was one of the last two artists Joffrey personally chose for his [Read More]
Pamela Robinson-Harris
Ballet West Interim Artistic Director Pamela Robinson-Harris has served as Ballet Mistress for the Company for nearly 11 years. Her vast ballet career began with the Cleveland Ballet, where she danced for three years before joining the State of Alabama Ballet in 1982, followed by Ballet Mississippi. Pamela joined Ballet West in 1985 [Read More]
Bruce Caldwell
Ballet West Ballet Master Bruce Caldwell, a native of Salt Lake City, Utah, began his early ballet training in 1961 from Bené Arnold and later from Willam F. Christensen. He first appeared on stage in Salt Lake City in Kingsbury Hall with the University Theater Ballet as a child in The Nutcracker in 1962. Joining Ballet [Read More]
Peter Christie
Peter’s career with Ballet West spans 30 years. He joined the artistic staff in 1998 after a 16-year career as a corps member and, later, a soloist with the Company. During his ballet career, Peter was especially noted for his character roles. He currently serves as Director of Educational Programs and Ballet West Academy, and [Read More]
Jan Clark-Fugit
Jan Clark-Fugit received her formation at the National Ballet in Washington D.C. and at the age of 14, joined the Denver Civic Ballet’s junior company under the direction of American Ballet Theatre’s Enrique Martinez. She later became a member of Ballet Colorado and was promoted to Principal dancer. Performing leading roles in classical and contemporary [Read More]
Christopher Ruud
Born: San Francisco, California Joined Ballet West: 1998 Promoted to Soloist: 2001 Promoted to Principal: 2004 Training: San Francisco Ballet School, University of Utah Department of Ballet Current Repertoire: “Oberon” in Sir Frederick Ashton’s The Dream; “Siegfried” in Adam Sklute’s 2010 newly conceived and produced Swan Lake; Fourth Campaign in Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, a lead role in Balanchine’s Serenade, and “Melancholic” in [Read More]
Cati Snarr
Cati Snarr began her career at 15, dancing with Ballet West at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. During her ballet career she has danced many roles including,Myrtha in Giselle and Swanilda in Coppelia. She is versatile in Ballet, Jazz, Lyrical, Tap and Musical Theatre and has both worked and appeared in TV and film. Her talent in [Read More]
Jane Wood Smith
Born in Washington, D.C., Jane received her formative ballet training at the Washington School of Ballet, in Washington, D.C., most notably with Mary Day, Alice Bralove, and Julio de Bittencourt. At 15, she was invited to perform with the Grand Theatre de Genève, in Geneva, Switzerland under the direction of Patricia Neary and George Balanchine. [Read More]
Richard Wacko
Professor- Richard Wacko earned an MFA from the University of Utah, a B. Admin from Athabasca University and a Diploma in Marketing Management from the Northern Alberta Institute of Technology. Early studies began at the Ukrainian National Federal School of Dance and continued at the Alberta Ballet School. He received private instruction with Maria Bokor [Read More]
Maureen Laird
Associate Professor- Maureen Laird received her early training at Point Park College and the Pennsylvania Ballet School. She continued her studies at David Howard’s School and Melissa Hayden’s Studio in New York and then went on to study at the University of Utah. Maureen performed with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Ballet El Paso, and [Read More]
Regina Zarhina
Assistant Professor- Regina Zarhina has been granted an academic leave during the 2012 – 2013 academic year to write a book on the history of ballet methodology. Regina Zarhina received her initial education in St. Petersburg, Russia. She fortified that with a Film Degree from Columbia College – Hollywood and further cemented it with [Read More]
Jay Kim
Assistant Professor and Artistic Director, Utah Ballet Professor Kim’s career as a professional dancer includes having been awarded a total of 9 medals in international dance competitions, including 2 Grand Prix and 7 Gold Medals earning the top placing medals in Ballet, Contemporary Dance, and Korean National Dance categories from 1989-1998. His professional [Read More]
Rory Foster
Visiting Professor- Rory Foster trained in New York, Chicago, and London with many renowned teachers including Vera Volkova, Valentina Pereyaslavec, David Howard, Benjamin Harkarvy, and Vincenzo Celli. He was invited to join American Ballet Theatre under the direction of Lucia Chase where he worked with some of the most influential choreographers of our time [Read More]
Maggie Wright-Tesch
Associate Professor Lecturer- Maggie Wright Tesch danced her entire 18-year career with Ballet West, 12 as a Principal Artist. During her career she performed the leading roles in the classics The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle and Swan Lake as well as all the full lengths in the repertoire. She worked with and was coached by [Read More]
Rob Wood
Associate Professor Lecturer Rob Wood has directed the music program in the Ballet Department for the last twelve years. He is currentlyAssistant Professor Lecturer in the Department of Modern Dance as well. Rob’s professional music-for-dance career spans 30 years having worked closely with many professional dancers, teachers, and directors. This includes recording ballet CD’s [Read More]
Calvin Kitten
Assistant Professor Lecturer- Calvin Kitten began his dance training at the California Ballet School in San Diego and furthered his training at the Tbilisi Choreographic Institute in Soviet Georgia and also at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Calvin was then invited to join the Joffrey Ballet, and danced with them, both in [Read More]
Victoria Stocki-Kim
Assistant Professor Lecturer and Associate Director, Utah Ballet Victoria Stocki-Kim currently serves as Assistant Professor Lecturer and Associate Director of Utah Ballet in the Department of Ballet at the University of Utah. In November 2012, Victoria Co-Directed and staged the full-length classical ballet Swan Lake featuring Acts II, III, and IV on Utah [Read More]
Tamara Squires
Assistant Professor Lecturer- Tamara Squires is an internationally acclaimed Master Teacher, Choreographer and Performer with numerous TV, film and live performance credits. She was the Assistant Choreographer for Michael Jackson’s production of Sisterella in Europe and worked with Paula Abdul on the Academy Awards and the filmDance To Win. Other credits include The Tonight Show, Broadway on Tap, Kids [Read More]
Conrad Ludlow
Adjunct Professor- Conrad Ludlow had an illustrious twenty-year career as a principal dancer with both San Francisco Ballet and New York City Ballet, where he was especially known for his skill in partnering. He established exciting partnerships with such well-known ballerinas as Violette Verdy, Melissa Hayden, Maria Tallchief, Allegra Kent, Suzanne Farrell, and Patricia [Read More]
Brenda Butcher
Adjunct Assistant Professor- Brenda Butcher teaches course in Flexibility and Strength (Ballet 3000) which include mat Pilates work and Conditioning for Ballet Dancers (Ballet 3300) using Pilates apparatus. 801-581-8231 promdatebarbie@gmail.com
Kimberly Ballard
Adjunct Assistant Professor- Kimberly received her BFA in Ballet with emphases in Performance, Teaching, and Character Dance in December of 2009 and her MFA in Ballet Performance in December 2011 from the University of Utah. Kimberly began her dance education in southern California at the Looking Glass Studio of Performing Arts and The [Read More]
Sarah Franco
Adjunct Assistant Professor Sarah Franco Adjunct Assistant Professor– Sarah Franco teaches the Kinesiology course (Ballet 4400). She graduated from BYU with a BA in Ballet Performance in 2004 and received her MFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah in 2007. While in the Modern Dance Department Sarah was the Teaching Assistant for [Read More]