MAGNIFIQUE INTERNATIONAL BALLET WINTER INTENSIVE
January 2 - 6, 2025 at the Kravis Center for the Performing Arts ...More Information
Paris Ballet's The Nutcracker
ON SALE SALE -- NOW -- at the Eissey Campus Theatre Box Office ...More Information
Paris Ballet and Dance has had the privilege to work with some very talented guest artists in many productions! Students also have an extraordinary opportunity to rehearse and perform alongside these extremely gifted artists. This is an incredible learning experience most schools just do not offer.
Tommy Batchelor is from Florida where studied all disciplines of dance at Joan Miller's Palm Beal Beach Ballet Center in Lake Park, Florida. From a little boy, he performed many leading roles in various school productions.
He played the title role Billy, in Billy Elliot -- the Musical on Broadway and in the First National Tour (Chicago) from February 2009 to October 2010. He sang Billy's part in Coldest Night of the Year (Elton John), for the 2008 Broadway Cares' Christmas CD. Tommy was a Soloist Finalist at Youth American Grand Prix in New York in 2008. He has twice performed a leading role in Miami City Ballet's The Nutcracker and in 2012 he performed with the America’s Got Talent Finalists, Silhouettes in Las Vegas.
He has made several radio and television appearances and recently sang The Star Spangled Banner for the opening ceremonies of the Ohio Tournament of Champions.
Mr. Batchelor is currently on the Show Team and coaches at Keep Flippin' Gymnastics in Jupiter. When not performing, he enjoys acrobatics, juggling, fire batons, inventing and film making, and free running. ...See Mr. Batchelor's Blog Site
Joseph J. Bucheck III has been performing on stages in cities in over half of the United States, and in Europe since 1973. Combining his keen musicality with mime, he has created well over 40 vivid and memorable characters while bringing a believable and outstanding dimension to every role. For over 40 years, he was the principal company character artist with Ballet Florida, and has appeared with the Masterworks Chorus, Palm Beach Opera, Madison Square Gardens Productions and with Florida Classical Ballet Theatre. Throughout his career, Joseph has had the privilege to work with renowned choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Robert Davis, Marie Hale, Sean Lavery, Richard Munro, Vicente Nebrada, Jerry Opdenaker, William Soleau and Ben Stevenson – only to name a few.
Having played a wide range of characters, his all time favorites include Drosselmeyer in Marie Hale’s The Nutcracker, Mother Ginger in The Nutcracker, Prudence in Lady of the Camellias, Juliet’s Nurse in Romeo and Juliet, The Wicked Stepmother in Cinderella, Dr. Coppélius in Coppélia, Crassus in Spartacus, Poseidon in Ondine, The Priest in Ben Stevenson's Dracula, The Director in On the Air, Mother Simone in La Fille Mal Gardée, Lorenzo in Don Quixote, Haman in For Such a Time as This: The Story of Queen Esther, Catalabutte and the King in The Sleeping Beauty, The General in Graduation Ball, The Shopkeeper in La Boutique Fantasque, Grandfather in Peter and the Wolf and the title role in Scrooge.
Mr. Bucheck has also performed extensively with Ballet Palm Beach, St. Lucie Ballet, School of Ballet Florida, Dance Florida Academy, School of Ballet Arts, and Palm Beach Ballet Center.
Having over 42 plus years in the professional dance, entertainment, and the theatre industry. His vast professional experience includes a prominent career on the stage, he has been a prominent acting coach, and he has worked behind the scenes as a professional I.A.T.S.E Stagehand. Depending on the the need of the show, as a stagehand, he could be called upon in different departments such as a truck loader, electrician, rigger, in the props department, and in wardrobe – mainly as a dresser for both women, and men. He as worked with countless internationally renowned ballet companies, rock and country music stars, and bands in concerts, National Broadway Tours, cabaret style concert acts, symphony orchestras, operas, ice shows, industrial shows, and even circuses!
For over 35 years years while at Ballet Florida, he was the Resident Company Character Actor. There, he also served as Company Tour Manager, Director of Marketing, and simultaneously as the Director of Audience Services. He worked very closely with the Development Department during many fundraising projects and membership drives. For a several years, he was asked to serve as the Administrator for Academy of Ballet Florida to help build the school. When he returned to his duties of Director of Audience Services, he always stayed closely connected, and continually to worked with the Academy and its students until the year, and the day it closed.
Over the past few decades, as a graphic artist and photographer, his work has appeared in local, national and international publications. He has designed dozens of websites, and presently works closely with other arts organizations either as a consultant, and/or on their websites, and printed and other marketing materials.
From the founding days of the school, Paris Ballet and Dance has continued to utilize all his incredible experience, knowledge, skills and talents as a designer, photographer, ticketing coordinator, stagehand and of course, as a seasoned performer.
His experience, passion and devotion for dance and performing is incredible -- and he loves sharing it! His advice is always "spot on" and to the point. With his comforting smiles, warm sense of humor, understanding and caring demeanor, he has the well-deserved honor of being loved, and deeply trusted by both students, and their parents. He considers all the students his "own." He constantly cares about them and is concerned for their safety and well being. While being honest and direct, he treats students with the respect and compassion they deserve.
Rogelio Corrales a native of Cuba, studied ballet with many of the best ballet masters of his country. He graduated in 1991 at the age of 18 from The National School of Ballet in Havana where he studied ballet, modern, folklorico, methodology, history and anatomy. The following year he joined the Ballet Juvenil de Caracas for two years then, The Metropolitan Ballet of Caracas for one year before coming to The United States.
His first company in the U.S. was Bay Ballet Theatre of Tampa. Rogelio, as a free-lance performer guest artist, appeared with many dance academies and dance companies such as Ft. Lauderdale's Ballet Classique, Columbus Youth Ballet, Miami International Ballet, Lexington Ballet, Rockford Dance Company and Miami Hispanic Ballet. In 1996 he joined The Sarasota ballet for two seasons. In 1998 Mr. Corrales was principle at Minnesota Ballet in Duluth, MN (where he was also a teacher in the school).
In 2005 he became member of Ballet Florida in West Palm Beach, Florida, where he was revered and quickly moved through the ranks to portray many important and principle roles. There, Rogelio danced a wide range and important works by some of the world’s greatest choreographers like George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, Vicente Nebrada, Val Caniparoli, Mauricio Wainrot, Trey McIntyre and Lar Lubovitch.
During his incredible career, Mr. Corrales with artistry and sensitivity danced many leading roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Coppélia, La Fille Mal Gardée, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide, Swan Lake, Giselle, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Allegro Brillante (Balanchine), Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux (Balanchine) and other classical and contemporary pieces. Having received critical acclaim for his work, he was always and audience favorite.
Rogelio Corrales is an extraordinary teacher and coach. His attention to detail has transformed many young dancers. He (along with his wife Lydia Oquendo) has owned directed and taught at St. Lucie Ballet since 2004.
Julia Doering began her dance training at five years of age at The Esther Center, dancing in various ballets, including the title role in Madeline when she was 12 years old. She attended Bak Middle School of the Arts and was a dance najor at A.W. Dreyfoos School of the Arts in ninth grade.
Mr. Jean-Hugues Feray had been Julia’s ballet teacher at both Dreyfoos, and Paris Ballet and Dance where she has danced the roles of Bon-Bon, Arabian soloist, Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Pase de Trois in Paquita, and Countess in La Somnambule. She also danced in the Snow Scene and Waltz of the Flowers in St. Lucie Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker for two years.
Two years ago Juila was accepted directly from The Harid Conservatory's Summer Program, and currently studies there in Boca Raton, Florida. Being an exceptional young dancer, she has enjoyed dancing in Flower Festival in Genzano, Satanella, Balanchine’s Serenade, and Paquita Adagio among others. Julia has danced with Paris Ballet and Dance as a guest artist since she began at the Harid. It is always a pure pleasure to have her in rehearsal and on stage!
Rafael Ferreras is from the Bronx, New York and received his ballet training in his hometown of New York with Dance Theatre of Harlem and Joffrey Ballet. He has danced with Tulsa Ballet, Hartford Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Elisa Monte Dance and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.
Currently with Memphis Ballet he is known for his lead roles in The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Dracula, Firebird, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and for his performances in Trey McIntyre’s Memphis, The Naughty Boy, Touched, Second Before The Ground and High Lonesome. He also has performed in Dana Tai Soon Burgess’ Venetian Reflections and Mark Godden’s Angels in the Architecture.
Leah Gallas received the majority of her training at Ballet Arts Minnesota while spending summers at the San Francisco Ballet School and the Boston Ballet School on full scholarships. Leah has danced professionally with Colorado Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Virginia Ballet Theatre, Minnesota Ballet and most recently Tulsa Ballet.
Leah has enjoyed dancing in various ballets including Swan Lake, Stanton Welch’s Bruiser, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Ben Stevenson’s Dracula and Paul Taylor’s Black Tuesday, among others. This is Leah’s first season with James Sewell Ballet.
Ms. Gallas has performed many times as a guest artist with Paris Ballet and Dance!
Yumelia Garcia was born in Caracas, Venezuela, where she received her professional training at the Escuela de Ballet Gustavo Franklin (Vaganova school). Upon graduating with honors, Vicente Nebrada invited her to join the National Ballet of Caracas at the tender age of 15, and promoted her to soloist one year later. Ms. Garcia began her U.S. career with Heinz Pohl at Ohio Ballet. She then joined the Milwaukee Ballet, performing as a principal dancer. While in Milwaukee, in addition to having Kathryn Posin's Scheherazade created for her, Ms. Garcia performed many classical roles, including Kitri in Don Quixote, Giselle, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, and the title role in Carmen. She later moved on to Ballet Florida, where she was featured in contemporary and classical works, most recently as Cleopatra, by Ben Stevenson.
In 2009, Ms. Garcia was invited by Ashley Wheater to join the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago, where she hit the stage to critical acclaim in roles such as Valencienne in The Merry Widow and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Her performance in Ashton’s Cinderella was featured in Point Magazine as one of the “Best Performances of the Year 2010.”
Ms. Garcia's remarkable versatility, technical prowess, and intensity have given her extensive experience in works by Alonzo King, Choo San Goh, David Parsons, Jean Paul Comelin, Mark Godden, George Balanchine, Trey McIntyre, Jimmy Gamonet, Christopher Wheeldon, Lar Lubovitch, Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, Wayne McGregor and Robert Joffrey. Ms. Garcia continues to dance as a guest artist throughout the U.S., as well as coaching and teaching. She is has currently received a Bachelors Degree in Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Idael German a native of Cuba graduated from the National School of Ballet in Havana. The following year he joined the Ballet Santiago de Cuba. In 1991, he was invited to join the Ballet Nacional de Caracas in Venezuela under the direction of Vicente Nebrada where he was a principal dancer. He also danced in Italy with Ballet Teatro de Torino.
In 2000, Idael joined Ballet Florida under the Artistic Direction of Marie Hale. For nine seasons, he performed works by leading and celebrated choreographers, and has brought life to many roles from Marie Hale’s The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet and Spring Waters which are among his favorites.
Mr. German was a resident artist with Ballet Palm Beach. He also is a well known teacher throughout the area and dances as a guest artist
...And appears with Paris Ballet and Dance on stage!
Dan Harris started his dance training at the Goleta School of Ballet under Bob and Carol Hanlin who danced with American Ballet Theatre. From there he was given a full scholarship to the Houston Ballet Academy and after two years was asked to join the Houston Ballet under the direction of Ben Stevenson. There Dan danced in ballets by Ben Stevenson, Hans van Manen, John Cranko, Sir Frederick Ashton, Choo San Goh, and many others.
Dan moved to West Palm Beach to join Ballet Florida in its second season. From 1987-2002 Dan had the privilege of dancing many leading roles in full length ballets and many of the companys' mixed repertoire pieces. Dan's greatest joy was working with some of the most renowned choreographers in the world. From the classical and neo-classical works of George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, Peter Martins, Sean Lavery, Vicente Nebrada, Michael Smuin, and Norbert Vesak to the contemporary, modern, and conceptual works of Mauricio Wainrot, Val Caniparoli, Lar Lubovitch, William Soleau, Daniel Ezralow, David Parsons, and Trey McIntyre, Dan enjoyed the incredible variety of movement and creativity of these artists.
Dan works as a fittess coach at a private training studio in WPB. He also teaches boy's ballet classes and develops strength and conditioning protocols for dancers.
Janine Harris received much of her early dance training from Robert and Carol Hanlin (former dancers with American Ballet Theatre). After high school she was given a full scholarship to University of Utah and membership in Utah Ballet. Janine spent two and a half years training at Houston Ballet Academy before joining the newly formed Ballet Florida in 1986.
Ms. Harris danced with Ballet Florida for 18 years and performed many leading roles with the company including the title roles of Firebird, Carmen, Anne Frank, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet -- and others such as The Sugar Plum in The Nutcracker. With Ballet Florida and as a guest artist, she has appeared in over half of the United States and in Europe. Throughout her long and vital career, Janine has been blessed to work one-on-one with -- and dance roles -- created by some of the world’s most exciting choreographers including Val Caniparoli, Daniel Ezralow, Lambros Lambrou, Lar Lubovich, Sean Lavery, Peter Martins, Vicente Nebrada, Margot Sappington, Michael Smuin, William Soleau, Ben Stevenson, Norbert Vesak and Mauricio Wainrot.
Janine also enjoys her passion of photography which led her to become Ballet Florida’s official company photographer after she retired from dance. As a professional photographer, Janine also works as one of Palm Beach County’s leading dance photographers since 2003. Her photographs have appeared in international, national and local publications, as well as, in advertisements -- both in print and online!
As a teacher, Janine considers it a dear and extreme privilege to pass on the vast knowledge she was given through her incredibly diverse experience as a dancer. Mrs. Harris also appears with Paris Ballet and Dance.
...More about Janine Harris Photography
Adriana Baez Hitchcock began her classical ballet training at the age of four and, by age of nine, was selected to attend the American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive in New York City. Since then, Adriana has continued showcasing her ballet talent in prestigious and competitive intensive programs in New York City (American Ballet Theater and School of American Ballet), Washington, D.C. (Kirov Academy of Ballet), Miami (Miami City Ballet), and Sarasota (The Carreño Dance Festival), all on scholarship. Adriana still continues to train at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School and receives master classes with ballet legend Robert de Warren.
She was recently a Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) 2013 finalist in New York after garnering second place in the Senior Women’s Classical Division at Youth America Grans Prix Atlanta 2013. In addition, Adriana has been invited to perform leading roles to including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty Suite, Giselle, and Swan Lake throughout the U.S.
Johanna Hurmemaa, a native of Estonia, has had a varied and incredible life. She began her ballet training in 2005 at Miami City Ballet at age 11. From 2005 and 2008, as a student, she appeared in The Nutcracker. She also received great training and performed with the famed Academy of Ballet Florida, Dance Florida Academy, and Toompea Ballet School in Estonia. As an accomplished gymnast, she received several First Place Awards in National competitions.
In the years of 2007 and 2008 she performed with the Circus "Big Orange" on Trapeze and the Spinning Ring. She was also invited to compete “Rock and Roll,” a style of gymnastics, in China with her older brother.
She danced professionally with Ballet Palm Beach where she performed in various, and soloist roles. Some include Military Doll, Bon Bon Solist, Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, and in Don Quixote, The Story of Esther, Les Slyphide, Les Petit Egrament, In the Mood, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Romeo and Juliet.
In 2012 she returned to Europe and danced with Noor Ballett Fouette and was featured as The Snow Queen. In 2013, she competed at an international dance competition in Italy where she made it to the finals. Unfortunately, she had to leave the competition early due to a family issue.
In 2014, she joined Paris Ballet Dance and was immediately featured as The Snow Queen and a Bon Bon -- as a Guest Artist!
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Johanna comes from a large and caring family. She is wonderful around children, and children lover her! She is also a great role model for young dancers.
Jay Markov was born in Phoenix, Arizona he started his training at the age of 7 with Slawomir and Irena Wozniak of Master Ballet Academy. He also received full scholarships and training at San Francisco Ballet School.
In 2012, Jay began his professional career with Ballet Arizona for 4 years under the direction of Ib Anderson. Jay continued on to dance with Los Angeles Ballet under directors Thordal Christensen and Colleen Neary where he performed works by George Balanchine, Meghan Lou, Aszure Barton, and Alejandro Cerrudo. Continuing his career Jay danced at Festival Ballet of Providence where he performed in productions by Viktor Plotnikov, Yury Yanowsky, Kathleen Breen Combes, and Misha Djuric.
Jay is currently in his second season dancing with Ballet Palm Beach here in South Florida. When not performing, Jay enjoys teaching for many local schools in the area and performing as a guest artist in productions.
Marshall Ian Levin began his dance career training with Susana Prieto in Hialeah, Florida. After three years, he auditioned in New York and was accepted into the Israel Ballet where he quickly became a soloist. Upon returning to the US, he became one of the initial members of Ballet Florida and danced with the company for 15 years where he performed many varied and often leading roles. After leaving Ballet Florida, he became a guest dancer, teacher and rehearsal assistant, and is currently on staff at The Esther Center/Ballet Palm Beach.
Mr. Levin has had a long and exciting career. He has danced in over 170 different ballets and has had the privilege of working with many of the world’s most renowned choreographers. His most notable roles have been Hilarion and Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, Don Jose in Carmen, Third Sailor in Fancy Free, Le Corsair Pas de Deux, White Swan Pas de Deux from Swan Lake, Belong (a gold medal winning pas de deux), Drosselmeyer and the Grande Pas de Deux in The Nutcracker, an ugly step-sister in Cinderella, Tybalt, Benvolio and Paris in Romeo and Juliet, Puck in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Otto Frank in Anne Frank, Alaine in La Fille Mal Gardée, The Poet in Les Sylphides, The Prince in Sleeping Beauty, Dr. Coppélius in Coppélia and the title role in Don Quixote.
Joseph McNamara grew up in Lake Worth where he studied dance at Ballet Arts Theater in West Palm Beach, which later became the renowned Academy of Ballet Florida. His teachers included Marie Hale, Claudia Cravey and Lynda Swaidon. He also had the privilege to study with and be coached by the great David Howard.
While in his teens, he was specially chosen to attend The National Ballet School in Toronto Canada where he soon became a ballet dancer with the professional company. Throughout his career, Joseph danced with world renowned companies such as The National Ballet of Canada, Ontario Ballet Theatre and Ballet Florida, as well as, making many guest appearances throughout North America. He also performed with the international comedic ballet company Ballet Grandiva. Joseph choreographed the Canadian version of School House Rock - Live which premiered at the Annex Theatre in Ontario in August 1997.
In 2001, while dancing in Japan, Joseph decided to make a transition from the world of performing arts and into the world of healing arts which he had also been a part of for many years. This was a very smooth and natural transition since the two industries complement each other very well. After moving back to West Palm Beach, Joseph graduated from The Academy of Healing Arts in Lake Worth. In 2002, he became a Licensed Massage Therapist thus, combining his passions with the practice of Eastern and Western holistic medicine.
After having had the opportunity of traveling around the world and experiencing many different cultures, people and places, he is happy to be back home and living in Palm Beach Gardens, where he considers it to be his very own little slice of paradise. Joseph has performed on stage with Mr. Feray in the past.
Lily Ojea currently dances as a resident artist with Ballet Palm Beach. She is a graduate of The Esther Center, the official school of Florida Classical Ballet Theatre -- now, Ballet Palm Beach.
Throughout her bright career, Lily has danced a variety of exciting roles. Her favorites include Titania in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Swanilda in Coppélia, Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Kitri in Don Quixote, Marzipan Lead in George Balanchine's The Nutcracker and the title role of Queen Esther in For Such a Time as This: The Story of Queen Esther.
As an accomplished teacher, Ms. Ojea has completed Royal Academy of Dance Teacher Training and the Ruth Petrinovic Teacher Training Program. She has taught ballet for The Alabama Ballet School and currently teaches for The Esther Center in Palm Beach Gardens.
Ms. Ojea has had the privilege of participating in dance missions trips to Hungary and Cuba with Florida Classical Ballet Theatre's Ballet Ambassadors International. Lily danced professionally with The Alabama Ballet, Hosanna Sacred Arts and New Orleans Ballet Theatre before joining Florida Classical Ballet Theatre.
Kelvin Rabines was born in Trujillo, Perú. He trained at the Centro de Arte y Ballet Visión de la Danza in Perú. He has been awarded the Gold Medal at the International Ballet Competition in Lima in 2006, a full scholarship to the Vladimir Issaev School of Classical Ballet in 2008 and a full scholarship to the The Rock School For Dance Education in the United States in 2011. Mr. Rabines has been a soloist dancer for the official ballet company of the Ministry of Culture, Ballet Municipal de Lima - Perú, and for Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida. From thereon, he has been a guest dancer for Magda School of Dance, School of Ballet Arts, Brandon Ballet, Naomy Funatsuki Ballet Studio in Japan, Cuban classic of ballet and The Latin Choreographers Festival in New York.
Annie Ruiz Diaz was born in Matanzas, Cuba. She studied at the National Ballet School of Havana from 2002 to 2006 where she graduated with honors. She became a member of the National Ballet of Cuba and danced the company's repertoire including leading roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Don Quixote and many more. In 2013 she left Cuba and became a member of Ballet Concierto of Puerto Rico. There, she was as a principal dancer. She is currently a member of Brandon Tampa Ballet as a principal dancer and also a teacher in the school.
Francisco Serrano began his career at the age of 13 under his mother’s instruction. In a very short time he has achieve many awards such as YAGP Grand Prix Atlanta 2013. He placed top 12 at the YAGP New York finals where he won a full scholarship to the Royal Ballet in London.
He was a Gold Medalist at American Dance Competition 2013 in the Classical and Contemporary Divisions and he also won the Fernando Bujones Excellence Award at American Dance Competition 2013.
Ben Slayen trained at the School of American Ballet and has danced with Ballet Florida, Miami City Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Dance Alive National Ballet and Memphis Ballet. He has performed the roles of the Cavalier in The Nutcracker, the Bluebird from Sleeping Beauty, the lead role in Balanchine’s Who Cares, Allegro Brillante and Valse-Fantasie (Theme and Variations) and the lead male in Gregory Dawson’s Eclipsing Venus.
Mr. Slayen has also danced works by many renowned choreographers including Fredrick Ashton, Alonso King, Vicente Nebrada, Norbert Vesak and Christopher Wheeldon. He is certified as a physical trainer and is a teacher with Paris Ballet and Dance. He also appears as a guest artists with other companies.
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