Faculty Bios
Special Artists |
New
Jersey School of Ballet Faculty
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Carolyn Clark
(Director) –
A native of New Jersey, Ms. Clark is Founder and Director of
New Jersey Ballet and New Jersey School of Ballet. She performed
classical and contemporary ballet with American Ballet Theatre
and toured with that company throughout North America,
Scandinavia, Europe and Africa. Additional ballet company credits
include the Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Radio City Ballet, and
as principal dancer with New Jersey Ballet and New Jersey State
Opera. Miss Clark's professional credits also include many Broadway
musicals and television shows, most notably as assistant
to the choreographer for the Bell Telephone Hour. She is a founding
member of ArtPride New Jersey, served two years on the President’s
Council on the Arts for the John F. Kennedy Center, and five
years on the Advisory Board of Channel 13. Miss Clark was honored
with a New Jersey Pride Award for her contribution to the arts,
and was recently named to the President’s Small Business
Advisory Council. Miss Clark attended Rutgers University. |
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Marina
Bogdanova (Ballet) –
a graduate of the Perm Ballet Academy, Russia, Ms. Bogdanova
was a principal dancer with the Russian National Ballet Company,
Moscow, dancing leading roles in the full classical repertory
including Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle and
others. She has the title of Honored Artist of Russia and
has won acclaim in many countries including the U.S. when
famed ballet critic Anna Kisselgoff praised her work. |
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Catherine Brikké (Ballet) - A native of France, Ms. Brikké trained with Rosella Hightower and at the Dance Academy of Paris with a faculty of the Paris Opera Ballet. She holds a National Teaching Diploma in Ballet from the French Ministry of Culture. Ms. Brikké has performed and choreographed a variety of ballets, musicals and plays in Europe, Africa and the US. She is on the faculty of LaGuardia High School for Music, Art & the Performing Arts in New York. |
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Carolyn
Tener Brown (Ballet) - joined
American Ballet Theatre at the age of 19 performing corps,
then soloist, and principal roles for 7 years. Her Broadway,
film and television credits include Hair, All My Children,
The Sopranos, various PBS programs, Carousel,
Brigadoon, Fame-the musical, La Cage Aux Folles and a
principal role in The Phantom of the Opera.
Ms. Brown trained at New Jersey School of Ballet from the
age of 7, originated the role of Clara in New Jersey Ballet’s
Nutcracker at the Paper Mill and continued in many
student and Company roles until joining ABT. |
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Daphne Cunliffe
(Ballroom) - has been teaching dance for more than 25 years and is a Fellow
of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). She initially trained
in Boston in the Fred Astaire system and owned her own studio in Concord,
Massachusetts. For the past 15 years she has had an independent studio in
the Morristown area and has taught ballroom for 7 years at Drew University.
She instructs competitors and social dancers in both American and International
styles. |
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Eleanor
D’Antuono (Ballet) -
principal dancer with American Ballet Theatre for twenty years,
danced leading roles in Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Giselle,
Coppelia, and Les Sylphides, among
countless other classics. A sought-after partner, Miss
D’Antuono has performed with numerous leading premier
dancers including Baryshnikov and Nureyev. She was the
first American ballerina to dance with the Kirov Ballet in
Leningrad and on mainland China. Her teaching credits
include Joffrey School, New York City and the Nutmeg Ballet,
Connecticut. She is Artistic Director of the New York
International Ballet Competition. |
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Albert
Davydov (Ballet) - began his
ballet training at the Kazan Choreographic School of Ballet.
Upon graduation he joined the Tatar State Theater of Opera
and Ballet where he danced solo and principal roles and toured
with the company in Europe and the United States. He
has won numerous prizes in international competition.
Mr. Davydov is currently a principal dancer with New Jersey
Ballet and his repertory includes Don Quixote, Gopak,
Trepak, Le Corsaire and Faust. |
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Michelle deFremery
(Ballet) - Michelle first appeared with NJB during the 1995-96 season and
then returned to California to complete her education, earning a B.A. in
Psychology from University of California at Berkeley. She trained at the
San Francisco School of Ballet and with David McNaughton in Mill Valley,
California. Michelle has performed with regional companies on the West
Coast. In the spring of 2000, she rejoined the company and has since
performed in Carmen, Designs with Strings, Les Sylphides, Who Cares, For
Ella, and Saturday Night. Her portrayal of Myrtha in Giselle won high
praise from leading critics. |
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Peter
Di Bonaventura (Ballet) -
credits include several years as principal dancer with Cleveland
Ballet where he danced principal roles in numerous ballets
including Swan Lake, Romeo & Juliet,
Coppelia, Balanchine’s Apollo, Midsummer
Night’s Dream and the standard classical pas de
deux. He also guested numerous times in Caracas with
ballerina Zhanda Rodriguez. Choreographer Fleming Flindt
invited him to Denmark to film his Lucifer’s Daughter,
a ballet to celebrate the Queen of Denmark’s 25th Anniversary.
For the past several years he was a principal dancer with
the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. Prior to joining the
Metropolitan Opera Ballet, he was principal dancer with NJB. |
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Konstantin
Dournev (Ballet) - earned degrees in classical ballet and
choreography in his native Russia. He performed with Novosibirsk Ballet Theatre, Moscow
Classical Ballet Theatre, and most recently with the Russian Ballet Theatre in Moscow. His
repertory included leading roles in Giselle, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote. Mr.
Dournev won silver and bronze medals in international ballet competitions and was a guest star
with the Russian Imperial Ballet with Maya Plisetskaya as Artistic Director. He is a former
principal dancer with New Jersey Ballet.
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Natasha
Girshov (Ballet) - trained
at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Leningrad before joining
the Kirov Ballet where she rose quickly through the ranks
to become principal ballerina, dancing leading roles in Cinderella,
Romeo and Juliet, Carmen and many others. Tours
with the Kirov included Holland, Thailand,
Romania, Africa, New Zealand and Cuba. She was choreographer
and director of the Special School of Classical Dance in Leningrad
where she taught all levels of ballet. |
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Lynne
Grossman - Ms. Grossman's
credits include principal dancer with Israel Ballet, Austin
Ballet Theatre and Radio City Ballet Company under director,
choreographer Peter Gennaro. Classical repertory includes
Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet, Nutcracker and Swan Lake
to name a few. Teaching credits include faculty member University
of Texas teaching all levels of ballet: South Carolina Governor's
School for the Arts and Austin Ballet. Ms. Grossman has also
guested with numerous companies. |
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Claudia
Guimaraes (Ballet) – a
native of Sao Paulo, Brazil, is a graduate of the University
of Rio de Janeiro, with a degree in dance. Her early ballet
studies were with the Russian dancer Tatiana Leskorva and Ismael
Guizer in Brazil. Ms. Guimaraes later joined the Nina
Verchinina Contemporary Ballet and Jazz Company in Rio de Janeiro.
She has taught all levels of Ballet, Jazz and Modern in Brazil.
After relocating to the U.S., she was on the dance faculty at
Oakland University in Michigan teaching all levels of Ballet,
Jazz and Modern. Ms. Guimaraes also teaches Tap and Brazilian.
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Luba
Gulyaeva (Ballet) - a graduate
of the Vaganova Ballet Academy in Leningrad, USSR, Ms. Gulyaeva
joined the Kirov Ballet in 1972, dancing featured roles in
Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, La Bayadere and
Don Quixote. In the 1980’s, she was invited
by Mikhail Baryshnikov to join the staff of American Ballet
Theatre where she taught company class and coached the dancers.
She also taught all levels at the ABT School and is a frequent
guest teacher internationally. |
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Andrei
Jouravlev (Ballet) - studied
at the Perm Ballet Academy in Russia and went on to become a
principal dancer in the Perm State Opera and Ballet. He won
silver and bronze medals in international competitions in Japan
and Russia, and toured the world with American Ballet Theatre
principal Nina Ananiashvili. Mr. Jouravlev is currently a principal
dancer with New Jersey Ballet. |
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Era
Jouravlev (Ballet)
- a principal with NJB, Ms. Jouravlev received her
training at the Perm Ballet Academy, graduating with a degree
in classical ballet. She toured internationally with Stars of
the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballets and with American Ballet Theatre
Principal Nina Ananiashvili in Japan and South Korea. Ms. Jouravlev
joined NJB in 1995. In 1997, she danced in China with Stars
of American Ballet. She has taught ballet and pointe for all
levels. |
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Kotoe
Kojima - Ms. Kojima was born
in Japan and studied with Bolshoi and New York City Ballet
principals Valentina Kozlova and Leonid Kozlov. Ms. Kojima
joined NJB during the 2001-2002 season as an apprentice becoming
a full Company member in 2004. Her repertoire includes Nutcracker,
Giselle, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty
and Flames of Paris pas de deux. Ms. Kojima has been
teaching all levels of ballet for several years. |
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Martine
La Pri (Jazz, Tap, Musical Theatre,
Pilates) - Ms. La Pri comes with 15 years of experience teaching
and choreographing. She has worked with numerous artists and
celebrities on stage, television and film, including Madonna,
Michael Jackson, Nancy Sinatra, Denzel Washington, Idina Menzel,
The Sopranos cast, Donald Trump, and Adam Sandler. Career highlights
include performing on the "Grammy Awards," The Late Show with
David Letterman and at the Olympics. Ms. LaPri also travels
worldwide as an adjudicator of performing arts students. |
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Elly
Mandarakas (Pilates) - is a
certified by AAAISMA to teach Pilates mat and by Pilates Fifth
International to teach Pilates-reformer. She has taught all
levels, abilities and ages for many years and has extensive
experience dealing with serious and minor injuries, disabilities
and chronic issues. Ms. Mandarakas graduated from Montclair
State University with a B.F.A in dance, and teaches for physical
therapy units and Pilates studios. |
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Paul
McRae (Ballet) - began training
in San Francisco when he was 9 and continued at New Jersey School
of Ballet. He became an apprentice to New Jersey Ballet at 16.
While attending Point Park College, he performed for 4 years
with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. A member of NJB for 15 years
he danced numerous solo and principal roles and often returns
to the stage in memorable character roles such as Carabosse
in Sleeping Beauty. He is a member of the boards of
Dance/New Jersey and ArtPride New Jersey and the Assistant Artistic
Director of NJB. |
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Andres
F. Neira (Ballet) - received
his training in his native Colombia where he was a member of
Ballet de Cali and Barrio Ballet, performing solo roles in Paquita,
Coppelia, Le Corsaire, and Who Cares?
He was named Outstanding Soloist at the 1996 New York International
Ballet Competition. His NJB principal roles include Tango,
Pinocchio, Nutcracker and Saturday Night. |
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Gabriella
Noa-Pierson (Ballet) - began
her training locally, joining the New Jersey School of Ballet
at age 8. At 11, she performed the coveted role of Clara in
NJB’s production of Nutcracker at Paper Mill Playhouse.
Ms. Noa –Pierson studied on scholarship at the Pennsylvania
Ballet, dancing numerous roles. She joined NJB in 1999. Ms.
Noa-Pierson is noted for her work in such diverse works as For
Ella and Flames of Paris, among others. She scored
a major triumph as the Cowgirl in the company’s 2007 revival
of Rodeo. |
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Katie
Pivarnik (Ballet) - trained
at New Jersey Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School. She
joined the Joffrey Ensemble in 2000 where she danced a wide
range of classical and contemporary repertory. In 2003, Ms.
Pivarnik participated in the New York International Ballet Competition.
She has also participated in American Ballet Theatre’s Kaatsbaan
Program, where she danced solos by Glen Tetly and Christian
Holder. |
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John
Prinz (Ballet) – principal dancer
with American Ballet Theatre and New York City Ballet from 1963-1979,
Mr. Prinz danced leading roles in the full repertory of both
companies. He later became an international Ballet Master and
teacher for many major ballet companies and schools in Europe
and America. He served as Ballet Master with La Scalla Ballet
and Ballet Nacional de Espana, among others. Mr. Prinz is experienced
in classical and neo-classical styles including Danish, English,
Russian and Balanchine. |
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Luke Rawlings
(Jazz/Musical Theatre) - his background includes Jazz, Ballet, Modern and
Gymnastics. Mr. Rawlings has appeared in numerous shows in the Metropolitan
area including Miss Saigon, Damn Yankees, Man of La Mancha and An Evening
with Carol Channing. Prior to his New York appearances, he was a soloist
with Memphis Dance Theatre and Radio City Ballet and Opera Memphis. Mr.
Rawlings currently teaches at Steps, NYC. He recently appeared in Seven
Brides for Seven Brothers at Paper Mill Playhouse. |
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Vladimir Roje
(Ballet) - was born in Sofia, Bulgaria. He began his ballet training
at the national Conservatory for Dance in Bulgaria and earned a B.A. and
Masters of Ballet Direction/Ballet Art from the State Music Academy in
Sofia. He began his career as a soloist at the Bulgarian National Theater
for Opera and Ballet, and later became a principal dancer at the opera
in Graz, Austria. He has traveled extensively as a guest artist in
Europe, Japan, and the U.S. His awards include a bronze medal at the
International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria, and third place
in the international competition in Luxemburg. |
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Rosemary
Sabovick-Bleich (Ballet) - joined
New Jersey Ballet in 1981 and performed as soloist and principal
until 2004. A strong classical dancer, she excelled in roles
that demand the elegance of the Sylvia Pas de Deux,
the bravura virtuosity of the Stars & Stripes Pas de
Deux and the feistiness of the Cowgirl in Agnes deMille’s Rodeo.
Ms. Sabovick-Bleich toured with the Pavlova Celebration Ballet,
Kozlov and Friends and International Ballet Stars. Her teaching
experience includes ballet and pointe classes for all levels.
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David
Tamaki (Ballet) - began his
formal training at New Jersey School of Ballet at age 7. He
also studied at the Joffrey Workshop in Texas and with Miami
City Ballet. He became a member of the NJB Junior Company in
1998 and joined NJB a year later. His repertory includes Allegro
Brillante, Cinderella, Pinocchio, Sleeping
Beauty, For Ella, Saturday Night, Trepak
and the Prince in Nutcracker and the Champion Roper
in Rodeo. He has guested with Eglevsky Ballet, International
Ballet and was invited to dance the role of the Champion Roper
in Rodeo for Metropolitan Ballet in St. Paul, Minnesota. |
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Darika
Ukurchinova (Ballet) - trained at the Moscow Academy of
Ballet, Russia and the National Academy of Ballet in Kyrgystan receiving a degree in
classical ballet and as an instructor of the Russian School of Ballet. Ms. Ukurchinova
performed with the National Theatre of Ballet, Kyrgystan. Her repertoire included Swan
Lake, Don Quixote, Carmen, Paquita and Nutcracker. She has taught all ages and levels of
ballet, speaks three languages and is an accomplished pianist. |
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