BALLET INSTRUCTORS

Courtney Laves-Mearini - Director

Courtney received her training in Houston, Texas studying primarily under Anne and Nicolas Polajenko, Gilbert Rome, ABT's Alexander Minz, Claire Duncan and James Clouser. She trained for a year at the University of Utah under Li-Chou Chang and had the opportunity to work with Sir Anton Donin and Toni Lander, restaging "Pas de Quatre" in the role of Marie Taglioni. She danced with several companies including Atlanta Ballet, South Carolina Ballet Theater and Cleveland Ballet. She danced lead roles in "Serenade", "Paquita", "Sleeping Beauty", "Concerto Borocco", "Raymonda Variations", and Lynn-Taylor Corbett's "Appearances". She has been teaching ballet since 1978 for various studios, including teaching at the University of Arkron's dance department.She received her B.A. in Anthropology and Communications from Cleveland State University in 1997 and has excavated for three field seasons on the Maya Mountain Archaeological Project in Belize, Central America with Dr. Peter Dunham.

Samantha Basford

Samantha Basford Damoulakis has devoted over 21 years to the dance community. As an artist with the Miami City Ballet and a student at the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, she danced in various roles and a repertoire that ranged from neo-classical Balanchine to modern Taylor to classical standards and ballroom. Her most influential teachers include Stanley Williams, Cuban Pete, Dale Russell, and Patricia McBride. She has lectured, taught, staged, and choreographed for kids and adults through Miami City Ballet, Cleveland City Dance, Groundworks Dance Theater, Sharron?s School of Dance, Oberlin College, and Cleveland State University. Throughout her career, she has continued to add to her development beginning as a representative in negotiations for the dancers of Miami City Ballet, working as artistic assistant to the Chairman and Co-Chairman at the School of American Ballet, graduating from a four-year Feldenkrais Method? training program, and serving as a trustee on the board of Groundworks Dance Theater. As founder of Cleveland Movement LLC, she maintains a private practice as a Guild Certified Feldenkrais Practitioner TM and teaches Awareness Through Movement?. She individually coaches dancers, musicians, singers and people with a wide range of physical and artistic needs.

Andrea Blankstein

Born in Borås, Sweden, Ms. Blankstein began her ballet training with Mary Moe Adams at Adams Ballet Academy in Tempe, Arizona. At the age of sixteen she was awarded the Bartholin Prize at the Bartholin International Ballet Seminar in Copenhagen, Denmark. Upon the invitation of Peter Schaufuss she joined the Deutsche Oper Berlin in Germany where she danced a wide range of ballets and roles including a pas de trois created on her by Bill T. Jones and “Candide” in Sleeping Beauty by Peter Schaufuss. Ms. Blankstein joined the Cleveland/San Jose Ballet upon her return to the United States, later joining Ballet Arizona. Ms. Blankstein was a principal dancer with Virginia Ballet Theatre for two seasons and performed various leading roles including the Sugar Plum Fairy, Romeo and Juliet pas de deux, Sleeping Beauty pas de deux and the white couple from Les Patineurs. She was a guest principal dancer with Albany Berkshire Ballet and Great Lakes Festival Ballet for The Nutcracker. Ms. Blankstein performed with Ohio Ballet for one season where Domey Reiter-Stoffer created the role of “Miss Jessel” for her in The Turn of the Screw. She most recently worked with State Street Ballet. Ms. Blankstein regularly teaches at various studios and is working on her own dance wear line- Trikå DeSYn by Dre.

Jan Martin Deal

Jan started her training in the Cecchetti method of ballet in North Olmstead, Ohio with Alys Beaucaires. She then received a scholarship with Alex Martin and danced as a trainee for the Cleveland School of Ballet. She graduated from Butler Univeristy in Indianapolis, Indiana with a B.A. degree and performed with the Butler Ballet Company. Her teaching career started with Jan being oferred the position of Director and Les Beaucaries Dance Studio. She also taught classes at the Beck Center for Fine Arts in Lakewood. She has been teaching pre-ballet at Cleveland City Dance for the past several years.

Diane Lucas

Diane trained at the Fairmount Center for Performing Arts and the Dance Center of Cleveland Heights, both under the direction of John Begg, and Cleveland City Dance. She performed with the Fairmount Dance Company, the Dance Center Company and the Cleveland Dance Company. She has taught ballet at the Fairmount Center for the Performing Arts, the Dance Center of Cleveland Heights and the JCC. For the past six years she has been teaching for Clveland City Dance and Spotlight Dance Center.

Mark Otloski

Former Cleveland/San Jose Ballet Principal dancer of 22 years, Mark Otloski, will teach this all men’s class. During his tenure with the company he also served as rehearsal assistant and as Ballet Master of Ballet San Jose of Silicon Valley. Mr. Otloski is currently dancing with GroundWorks Dancetheater and is the Educational Outreach Coordinator for the company. Mr. Otloski is on the faculty at Cleveland City Dance 3 days a week.

Kathleen Davis Pierce

Kathleen has a B.S.in Dance from Kent State University . Kathleen has taught at Canton Ballet, Kent State Motor Development Program, the JCC, and the Fairmount Center. She has taught adult and seniors at Cuyahoga Community College and at Kent State Research and Fitness Program. She has performed with the Leaven Dance Company and Dance Image. Kathleen is also a certified Reike master as of October 2002.

Karen Raven

Karen received her dance training at the State University of N.Y. College at Buffalo where she studied both ballet and modern dance. She received a B.S. in Human Development and Family Relations. After completing her Masters of Education degree at Cleveland State University, she has worked professionally for the past 15 years as a psychotherapist assisting adults, adolescents and families live healthier, more fulfilling lives. She has taken classes in dance therapy. For the past 3 years, Karen has been teaching classes at Cleveland City Dance.

Nan Wiggins

A native Clevelander, Nan Wiggins received her training in both Cecchetti and Russian methods, studying and performing with the Joffrey City Center in New York, Jerry Burr, former Director of Dance at Akron University, John Begg of the Dance Center of Cleveland and the Ballet Guild of Cleveland, Marguerite Duncan of the Cleveland Civic Ballet and Viola Schulen School of Dance. A dancer, choreographer, Nan has taught ballet for 16 years for Cleveland City Dance, Cleveland Contemporary Dance Theatre, Ballet Academy, Dance Center of Cleveland, Broadway School for Music & the Arts, Cleveland Music School Settlement and Cleveland Civic Ballet. As a visiting artist, she has taught and performed in private and public schools, independently and through Young Audiences. She has choreographed and perform six liturgical pieces commissioned by four Cleveland churches. She has served as ballet mistress for Ballet Jeunesse for eight years.

Jill Buchanan

Jill received her early ballet training from Ray and Jan Smith at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby. She has a BFA in dance from the University of Cincinnati where she studied both ballet and modern dance. She also attended John Carroll University and has an Elementary Education degree. She has taught classes at the Fine Arts Association and the Beck Center in Lakewood. You will also see Jill assisting at the front desk on Monday and Friday afternoons.

Sarah Perrett

Sarah began formal dance training in classical ballet at Budzynski Studios in Boylestown, Pennsylvania before moving to North Carolina to attend high school at the North Carolina School of the Arts. There she studied ballet under former New York City Ballet principal Melissa Hayden and Warren Conover, performing works by George Balanchine and Lynn Taylor-Corbett. Ms. Perrett also attended summer dance programs at Boston Ballet and the Rock School of Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia. She furthered her college studies and training in contemporary dance at the North Carolina School of the Arts. She performed with many guest choreographers including Camille Brown, Niki Juralewicz and Monica Bill Barres. Sarah joined GroundWorks Dance Theatre in 2006 which is in residence at Cleveland City Dance.

Teressa Fiderio

Teressa began dancing at the age of 5 with Ray and Jan Smith at the Fine Arts Association in Willoughby. She went on to study with Kay Eichman Courtney Laves-Mearini and various other instructors while attending college at John Carroll University graduating with a degree in Communication. Teressa also teaches ballet at other area schools as well as owning a video production company, T-Star Productions.

Diana Braun

Diana Braun is an alumnus of Cleveland City Dance and has been training with the studio since she was 7 years old. She is a recent graduate of Otterbein College where she received a B.A. in mathematics and a minor in dance. At Otterbein, she was able to work with Randy Skinner in Otterbein’s production of 42nd Street. She was also chosen to be the student choreographer for the 2009 dance concert "To Each, His Own."

Michelle Blanton

Michelle graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Biology and a minor in Dance. Originally from Houston, Texas, she is currently a MFA candidate in the Contemporary Dance Program at Case Western Reserve University under the direction of Karen Potter and Gary Galbraith. While attending Texas A&M she was awarded various honors for academic achievement in dance, performance, and leadership. Shelley has taken master classes from Katherine Duke, Kathy Dunn Hammrick, Adrienne Clancy, Frank Hatchett, Peter Dimuro, Lisa Nicks and David Dorfman to name a few. Shelley had the privilege of attending the American Dance Festival in 2007, 2008, and was awarded a full scholarship for the festival in 2009 and 2010. At the ADF she has trained with Brenda Daniels, Tatiana Baganova, Ming-Lung Yang, Stafford Berry Jr., Neta Pulvermacker, and Linda Tarnay among others. She has performed at venues including the New York City Fringe Festival, Performática in Puebla, Mexico, and various festivals throughout Texas as a member of the Armstrong/Bergeron Dance Company, Inc. In addition to her work with ABDC, she has performed pieces by Shani Nwando Ikerioha Collins, Gaspard Louis, Sabatino Verlezza, and, as part of the 2009 American Dance Festival’s Performance series, she also performed two site specific world premieres choreographed by Mark Dendy. As a strong advocate of Dance Education and Dance Wellness, Shelley has attended multiple conferences hosted by organizations such as the National Dance Association (NDA), the American Alliance for Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance (AAHPERD), the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS), and the Dance Educators Training Institute in Baltimore, Maryland.

JAZZ INSTRUCTORS

Rachael Palmero

Miss Widener studied under Scholarship at Cleveland City Dance with Paul Wilson and Linda Adolphi. Upon graduation from high school, Miss Widener began her performing career by touring as Dance Captain/Choreographer with such production shows as The Future of Magic, The Illusion Corps, and The Magic of Adam Williams, where she Directed shows for Adam Williams at the Magic Castle. Miss Widener has also choreographed for many local productions such as Amherst High School Pop Show, TRW, Tower City’s Holiday Magical Spectacular, and Workshop Players Theatre. After becoming Director of Midwest School of Ballet, Miss Widener returned to the University of Akron, where she will graduate with honors and receive her BFA in Dance in Spring 2007. Miss Widener has been teaching Dance at Midwest School of Ballet and numerous local private studios for over 15 years.

Carly Dorman

Carly Dorman hails from New York and Miami Florida. She received her BFA in dance from the New World School of the Arts in Miami under the direction of Daniel Lewis, where she graduated Summa Cum Laude. She also trained in New York at the Alvin Ailey, Jose Limon and Paul Taylor schools. Additionally, Carly received scholarships to study with Axis Dance Company in California and the Florida Dance Festival. Dance and choreography credits include Fashion TV, Florida Grand Opera, Karen Peterson & Dancers, Florida Dance Festival, Celebrity Cruise Line and the Meg Louise Dance Sneak Reviews. She has also done print and film for Miami Living Magazine and “Christmas in Miami.” Carly is a currently dancing with Dancing Wheels here in Cleveland.

Damien Highfield

Damien Highfield began dancing at age 6 in his hometown of Columbus training at Ballet Met for ten years becoming a member of BalletMet/Jazz Met. He continued his studies at Butler University in Indianapolis receiving his BFA in Performance Concentration. He returned to Ohio after dancing with Atlanta Ballet under John McFall. Mr. Highfield has performed a as a guest artist with Indianapolis Opera, Columbus Opera, Akron Symphony, Canton Ballet, Fort Wayne Ballet, Diavolo, David Parkers Bang Group and currently GroundWorks Dancetheater in-residence at Cleveland City Dance. Damien has danced title roles in “Hamlet”, “Dracula”, “Nutcracker”, “Sleeping Beauty”, “Coppelia”, “Cinderella”, “Les Sylphides” with our own Cleveland Dance Company, Alonzo King’s pas de deux in Heaven & Earth as well as works by David Shimotakahara, Jeffery Graham Hughes and Stella Hyatt Kane. He was a featured choreographer for Ohio Ballet’s Roots of Choreography and has also created a full length Ballet “The Toymaker.” Mr. Highfield also teaches jazz in Findley, Ohio.

Theressa Bonvissuto

Theresa Bonvissuto graduated from Mercyhurst College in May 2010 with a BA in dance. She began her training at The Royal School of Ballet under the direction of Joanne Morscher and participated in their company, The Royal Youth Ballet Company, where she danced most soloist and principal roles in the reperatoire. She has spent several summers studying at BalletMet and The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. More recently she has furthered her training at Great Lakes Youth Ballet, under the direction of Ana Lobe, and in the Mercyhurst College dance department. She is also trained in tap, jazz, and modern dance. Theresa has performed in many classical, neo-classical, and contemporary works at Mercyhurst.

Michelle Blanton

See Michelle Blanton

TAP INSTRUCTORS

April Hirsh

April Hirsh is originally from Syracuse, New York, and grew up taking dance classes at Miss Colleen's School of Dance in New York. April has a bachelor's degree in English and Sociology from The State University of New York at Geneseo. While at Geneseo, she choreographed and performed in 6 student dance productions, and taught hip hop for the Salvation Army and tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, and musical theater at Kasey's Creative Dance Studio. April came to Cleveland to study social work at Case Western Reserve University, and currently teaches jazz, hip hop, and musical theater for Strongsville Dance Company. April also is a member of the tap company, Cleveland City Rhythm, and is a substitute tap teacher at Cleveland City Dance.

Mari Beth Smith

Mari Beth Smith is a life long dancer and has been an instructor for 15 years. Mrs. Smith has performed and competed with the well-known Manhattan Dance Company in New York, Los Angeles and Las Vegas and others. She has been seen in the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade and has choreographed many award winning dancers. Her most recent project involves putting together a performance troupe of dancers called Cleveland City Rhythm.

MODERN INSTRUCTORS

Kathleen Davis Pierce (On Sabbatical)

Kathleen has a B.S.in Dance from Kent State University . Kathleen has taught at Canton Ballet, Kent State Motor Development Program, the JCC, and the Fairmount Center. She has taught adult and seniors at Cuyahoga Community College and at Kent State Research and Fitness Program. She has performed with the Leaven Dance Company and Dance Image. Kathleen is also a certified Reike master as of October 2004.

Shannon Sterne

Shannon is returning to teach the Thursday Graham modern classes I & II. She performed with the San Diego Ballet before completing her Masters degree in nutrition at Case Western Reserve University in Cleveland, Ohio. She then earned a Masters degree in contemporary dance with a specialization in dancer wellness also from Case. She has performed in numerous works by Martha Graham including Steps in the Street, Primitive Mysteries, and in Verb Ballet’s major revival of Appalachian Spring. Shannon is a part-time lecturer in the Dance Program at Case where she teaches ballet, Graham-based modern, kinesiology, dancer wellness and ethnic dance.

Heather Koniz

Heather Koniz holds a Master of Fine Arts in Contemporary Dance from Case Western Reserve University and a Bachelor of Arts from Hamilton College. Originally from outside Philadelphia, PA, Ms. Koniz made the official move to Cleveland, OH after graduating in May 2008. Koniz teaches at Case Western Reserve University, Lakeland Community College, Urban Active, and the Hillcrest YMCA. In addition, she is a professional dancer with Antaeus Dance and has worked with Verlezza Dance Company, Marquez Dance Project and Tikvah Company of Artists.

Sarah Perrett

See Sarah Perrett

Michelle Blanton

See Michelle Blanton

HIP-HOP INSTRUCTORS

Chelsie Gould

Chelsie comes to Cleveland City Dance graduating from Bowling Green University in May 2009 with a degree in a Bachelors of Science in Dance. Her training is in hip-hop, modern, tap, jazz and ballet; she especially enjoys working with children and creative movement. She was campus student dance president and a member of the BGSU Company.

MIDDLE-EASTERN INSTRUCTORS

Nailah

Nailah has studied Middle Eastern dance for over 20 years with renowned dancers Katina, Basha, Cassandra Al Warda, Mizeyah Phyllidia, Suzanna Del Vechio, Jasmine Jahal, Zahra Zuhair and others. She is a former member of Troupe Dayim Lahib and has danced professionally, incorporating sword and cane in her American Cabaret and folk routine.

PILATES INSTRUCTORS

See Courtney Laves-Mearini

ZUMBA INSTRUCTORS

See Heather Koniz

YOGA

Katrina Cerny

This class links breath with classic yoga postures, building strength flexibility and balance. The focus is on learning yoga postures and exploring alignment in a supportive environment with ample direction. You will also practice relaxation techniques to release tension, reduce stress, and regain energy. This class is appropriate for all levels of experience Katrina taught dancers who benefit from alignment and joint stabilization and strengthening, which help prevent injuries. She is a certified yoga instructor registered with the Yoga Alliance. She has 11 years of experience teaching yoga classes, workshops, and women's retreats throughout Michigan.