reams Begin! - Dayton Ballet

1927–2012
Artistic /Administrative Staff
Karen russo BurKe, Artistic Director, Dayton Ballet. Karen danced leading roles by world famous
choreographers Gerald Arpino, Antony Tudor, Jose Limon and Paul Taylor in her 11 year career as a principal
dancer for American Repertory Ballet. Karen has taught at DBS for 17 years and was Director of DBII
Senior for 12 years.
aBigail Beam, Director, DBII Senior Company. Abbie studied extensively with Dayton Ballet and Pontecorvo
Ballet Studios. She is the children’s rehearsal assistant for The Nutcracker. Abbie has performed
with Dayton Ballet II and Ballet de Jeunesse. She was seen as a guest artist in Dayton Ballet’s The Legend
of Sleepy Hollow, Swan Lake, America’s Robin Hood, and her favorite, The Nutcracker. Abbie graduated from
Wright State University.
megan recKcamp Forney, Director, DBII Junior/Outreach programs. Megan graduated from Wright
State University with a BFA in dance. Megan has danced with Dayton Ballet II Senior. She has been the
recipient of the Miss Josephine and Hermene Schwarz Award, Dancer Peer Award and the Walter J. McCaslin
Memorial Award. Megan had the featured role in Bushido at WSU. You have seen her dance in The Legend of
Sleepy Hollow, The Nutcracker, There was a Time, and The Three Musketeers with Dayton Ballet.
carol Jean Heller, Director, Dayton Ballet School, danced with Ballet Repertory, NYC. She owned and
operated a dance school for 10 years, and was a faculty member and examiner for Dance Masters of Ohio.
Carol Jean taught ballet and musical theatre at the Living Arts Center and has been on the DBS faculty since
1987. She has also choreographed extensively in the Dayton area.
Teaching Staff
amanda TKacH leonHard is originally from Buffalo, NY. She trained from age eleven under Ginger
Burke. She danced with Buffalo City Ballet for 5 years, performing in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Firebird.
She also has a Masters in Education. She is currently a special education teacher. This will be her seventh
year on staff at DBS.
camille izard morris danced professionally with American Ballet Theatre, the Maryland Ballet, and
the Cologne Tanz Forum (Germany). She holds an MFA in Dance from NYU. She is the recipient of choreographic
fellowships for both the Ohio Arts Council and the Montgomery Regional Arts and Cultural District.
For five years, she was the producing artistic director for Art from Every Angle benefiting the Josephine
Schwarz Dayton Dancer Fund. She currently directs the OCC dance program.
JacKie ganTT Wisecup was a student of Dayton Ballet School. She was a member of the DBII Junior and
DBII Senior companies. Jackie has been the recipient of the Josephine and Hermene Schwarz Award. You
have seen her perform with Dayton Ballet in The Nutcracker, Peter Pan and Swan Lake. Jackie went to Point
Park College as a dance major. This is her sixth year teaching for DBS.
JaneT HarTsocK began her performing career with the Appalachian Ballet Company as well as the
University of Tennesse Ballroom Dance Company while studying for her BFA in speech and theatre. After
several years in the television industry, Janet returned to the world of ballroom dance and dancesport. She
is a certified Zumba dance instructor.
layla cooper has a BFA in dance from Wright State. She graduated Cum Laude. Layla performed extensively
with Wright States Dance Ensemble. She was a guest choreographer for DBII Senior this past season.
She choreographed several pieces for their dance concerts. It is her fourth year with DBS.
gaBrielle sHarp danced with Dayton Ballet II Senior for 4 years and Dayton Ballet for 2 years. She has
received The Dancer Peer Award, The Walter J. McCaslin Memorial Award and the Josephine and Hermene
Schwarz Award. This will be her fourth year of teaching for DBS. You saw her perform in Dayton Ballet’s
Dracula, The Nutcracker, Tales from the Shadow, There Was a Time, and America’s Robin Hood.
Jodi Villars studied with Dayton Ballet School. She performed in Dayton Ballet’s The Nutcracker as a
member of DBII Senior. It is her sixth year of teaching for DBS.
William r. Hoppe, Jr. is a former member of Dayton Ballet. He has studied with many of the great
teachers, such as Edward Villella, Violette Verdy and Stephen Mills to a name a few. He studied at the
Virginia School of the Arts, Houston Ballet and finally ABT New York. .
JenniFer FesTer is a graduate of Concordia University in Minnesota with a fine arts degree, Jennifer
begins her fourth year teaching at DBS. She taught extensively in Minnesota. She has also studied tap with
Carol Jean Heller.
micHelle BaKer began her dance training in Buffalo, NY. She graduated from Wright State University
with a BFA in Dance. She performed on the Walt Disney Cruise Ship The Wonder. She has taught at DBS for
over ten years.
annalise Woller is a member of Dayon Ballet. You have seen her perform in The Nutcracker, Hyding
Inside and The Butterfly Suite. She graduated from Goucher College.