COLORADO BALLET - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Music Director & Principal Conductor
Alexandra Wilson began training with the Colorado Ballet Academy at age 9, spending her summers away on scholarships across the nation. She competed in Youth America Grand Prix and was awarded First Place Classical in Denver, leading her to the New York Finals. At age 16, Alexandra accepted an invitation to train full-time on scholarship with the Kirov Academy of Ballet, earning both an academic and artistic diploma. During her final semester at the Kirov Academy, Alexandra was selected to join the Corps de Ballet of the Universal Ballet Company in Seoul, South Korea.
After two contracts with Universal Ballet, Miss Wilson returned to the United States to join Colorado Ballet. Highlights since joining Colorado Ballet include Myrta in Giselle, Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, Red Couple in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Jiri Kylian's Petite Mort and Sinfonietta, Demis in George Balanchine's Theme and Variations, and George Balanchine's Serenade at Vail International Dance Festival.
Alexandra holds a Bachelor's of Science from Purdue University Summa Cum Laude
Alexis Drabek received her early dance training in Colorado and was awarded scholarships to the summer programs of School of American Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet. She attended Interlochen Arts Academy in Michigan and was a NFAA/ARTS awardee in both Ballet and Modern. Ms. Drabek earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the Juilliard School in NYC, where she trained under the country's top ballet and modern teachers including Benjamin Harkarvy, Hector Zaraspe, Stephen Pier, Alexandra Wells, Lupe Serrano, Alphonse Poulin, Laura Glenn, Carolyn Adams, Linda Kent, Jacqulyn Buglisi and Christine Dakin. As part of the Juilliard Dance Ensemble, Ms. Drabek performed works by Colin Connor, Adam Hougland, Jose Limon, Igal Perry, Abdul Rahim-Jackson, Maurice Wainrot and Reginald Yates.
Ms. Drabek also danced with Desmond Richardson at the Guggenheim's Work & Process: Picasso Dances, choreographed by George Faison. She has performed with David Taylor Dance Theater, Kim Robards Dance, Diablo Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Company C Contemporary Ballet, and BRIAH Danse, performing leading roles in works by Charles Anderson, Patrick Corbin, Jayne Persch, James Sewell, Twyla Tharp and Antony Tudor. Ms. Drabek also served as Ballet Mistress for Company C Contemporary Ballet and BRIAH Danse, assisting many choreographers including Maurice Causey, Dennis Nahat, Peter Anastos, and Susan Jaffe. Ms. Drabek currently lives in Lakewood, Colorado with her husband and three children.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- PATRON SERVICES / Patron Services Manager
Job Titles:
- Manager of Events and Annual Giving
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Orchestra Personnel Manager
Job Titles:
- Senior Director of Development
Bernadette Mirentxu Torres grew up in San Diego, California, and began her ballet
studies at the age of six. She attended intensives at American Ballet Theatre- New York,
Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet where she was offered a year-round scholarship,
and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Additionally, she was offered a trainee position with
Job Titles:
- ACADEMY Staff Member
- Academy Administrator
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Manager of Education & Community Engagement
Catherine Aoki began dancing ballet at age six and started at a local ballet school in Ogden, Utah and went on to dance in the Professional Training Division at Ballet West. During her training she participated in both the American Ballet Competition and the Youth America Grand Prix, winning awards and scholarships. Catherine also spent her summers training at notable schools such as the Royal Ballet School, San Francisco Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet.
Catherine later moved to Denver to begin training with Colorado Ballet Academy's Pre-Professional program under Erica Fischbach. She was then selected to join the Colorado Ballet Studio Company in 2018, promoted to Apprentice in 2020, and Corps de Ballet in 2022.
Since joining Colorado Ballet, she's had the opportunity to perform in a variety of works including Jirí Kylián's Sinfonietta, Clark Tippet's Bruch Violin Concerto, Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, Michael Pink's Dracula and Peter Pan, Twyla Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs, George Balanchine's Theme and Variations and Serenade, Septime Webre's Wizard of Oz, and Fernand Nault's Carmina Burana.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Christopher Mitchell was born in Denver, Colorado. When he was seventeen, he began studying at Ellison Ballet Professional Training Program in New York City. While at Ellison Ballet, he had the opportunity to perform many roles such as Siegfried from Swan Lake, Albrecht from Giselle, and Cavalier from The Nutcracker. In 2020, he graduated from Ellison Ballet. He then moved to Amsterdam to begin his career at Dutch National Ballet in 2020, where he enhanced his contemporary and neo-classical style performing in ballets by Hans van Manen. In 2021, he joined Colorado Ballet and has loved performing for Denver audiences.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Master Carpenter Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
David Smithey grew up doing gymnastics before shifting into the world of musical theatre and dance at the age of 16. Upon graduating high school David attended the University of Colorado where he played Angel in RENT, as well as Laurie Lawrence in Little Women, while completing his bachelor of fine arts. There he studied many styles of dance and choreography under Erika Randall, Gabe Masson, Michelle Ellsworth, and Nada Diachenko to name a few. During his studies David also received scholarships to and attended Bates Dance Festival and the Paul Taylor Winter Dance Intensive. Upon graduation David went on to perform with the Hannah Kahn Dance Company. He has enjoyed teaching at Dance2b working in styles such as heels, contemporary, hip-hop, burlesque, and jazz. David also had the pleasure of teaching at Bella Danze Arts teaching competition contemporary as well as choreographing a competition duet. He has also taught for the summer intensives for the Metropolitan Academy of Dance and Bella Danze Arts. David enjoyed teaching his first semester at the Academy for the Colorado Ballet and is looking forward to continuing to grow and learn with the wonderful students there.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- DIRECTOR of MEN's TRAINING
Domenico Luciano, former principal dancer with Colorado ballet, joins Colorado Ballet Academy after a 20 year career. Mr. Luciano danced with Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, Germany, Europadance in France, Maggio Danza in Florence, Teatro Dell' Opera in Rome and Teatro di San Carlo in Naples. In 2004, Mr. Luciano came to the United States and joined Tulsa Ballet as a Demi-Soloist. In 2005, he joined Dominic Walsh Dance Theater in Houston as Principal Dancer, where he danced until coming to Colorado Ballet in 2013. Mr. Luciano's repertoire includes many leading classical principal roles as well as a vast repertoire of contemporary works from masters of the 20th and 21st centuries.
Mr. Luciano's training includes a variety of methods and techniques. His early years were formed with the Vaganova curriculum, establishing strong and clear foundations for classical ballet. Subsequently he trained with teachers from the National Ballet of Cuba, developing a much more athletic and dynamic way of dancing. During the last two years of his training he implemented the French style, refining his technique and quality of movement as he studied with teachers from Paris Opera Ballet. Along with his classical training, Mr. Luciano trained in modern and contemporary techniques including Graham, Horton, Gaga, folkloric Spanish dances, ballroom and character dances. In 1999, he graduated from Royal Teatro di San Carlo Ballet School in Naples.
Mr. Luciano has been teaching and choreographing for Colorado Ballet Academy since 2014. Students who have danced his contemporary choreography have been recognized with top placements at Youth America Grand Prix and his choreography for Academy performances has been met with rave reviews from students and audience members alike. Mr. Luciano will work closely in the after school Academy and Pre-Professional Division daytime training program and oversee the continued development of our Men's Training Program. He is excited to join the Academy team and bring his experience and knowledge to our students.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Lifetime Trustee
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Academy Director Erica Fischbach enjoyed a 20-year professional ballet career with American Ballet Theatre and Pacific Northwest Ballet before embarking on her current teaching career. Ms. Fischbach came to the Colorado Ballet after nine years as the Artistic Director of Southold Dance Theater in South Bend, IN. Ms. Fischbach is certified in the American Ballet Theatre Curriculum and the Gyrotonic Method. She has been on the faculty of the country's leading professional summer intensives including American Ballet Theatre and the Colorado Ballet, and is a current guest faculty at Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Cecchetti Council of America.
Ms. Fischbach began her training in Ballet and Highland Dance with Theresa Bullard's Kalamazoo Ballet Company at the age of seven. When she was 12, her family moved to Milwaukee, where she studied on scholarship at the Milwaukee Ballet under the direction of Ted Kivett and Basil Thompson, and trained privately with former Israeli Ballet principal Mariana Sachs Laufer. At 15, Ms. Fischbach was awarded a scholarship to attend the North Carolina School of the Arts for three years where she studied primarily with Balanchine's muse Melissa Hayden, American Ballet Theatre's Fanchon Cordell, and Ballet Russe's Duncan Noble.
During her first months as a professional dancer, Ms. Fischbach had the privilege of dancing Balanchine ballets as a principal under the direction of Edward Villella before accepting a position with Pacific Northwest Ballet, where she danced principal and soloist roles in numerous Balanchine ballets. After nine years with PNB, Ms. Fischbach took two years away from company life and freelanced as a guest artist and guest teacher of ballet, Pilates, and Gyrotonic® based classes.
In 1996 Ms. Fischbach was invited to join American Ballet Theatre under the direction of Kevin McKenzie, where she danced until 2005. Ms. Fischbach had roles created for her in world premier ballets by Lar Lubovitch, Mark Morris, Twyla Tharp, Paul Taylor, and Kevin McKenzie and danced principal roles in ballets by Anthony Tudor, Twyla Tharp, Jiri Kylian, and Agnes DeMille. She also enjoyed featured roles in the company's full-length classical repertoire. On September 8, 2001, Ms. Fischbach was featured as a principal guest artist for Twyla Tharp performing Tharp's "Sinatra Suite" at the World Trade Center in New York City. Ms. Fischbach has appeared in several Dance in America films, the PNB Nutcracker, and Center Stage.
Ms. Fischbach transitioned to her teaching career in 2005 and in 2008 created a Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) program in which her students quickly gained a prominent presence by winning top placements and passing onto the NYC International Finals each year. In 2013 and 2015, YAGP honored Ms. Fischbach with the "Outstanding Teacher" award. Her program was introduced with great success at Colorado Ballet Academy in 2016, and in 2019, CBA was awarded the prestigious "Outstanding School" award. CBA placed 1st in 2017, 2018, and 2nd in 2019 in the ensemble category as well as several top three placements in solo and pas de deux categories which have competed each year in the NYC International Finals.
Ms. Fischbach has been praised for her choreography and adaptations of the famous classic ballets to incorporate dancers of all ages. She has choreographed full-length versions of Coppelia and Swan Lake for Colorado Ballet Academy at the Ellie Caulkins Opera House as well as The Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Les Patineurs, and numerous original concert pieces for YAGP and community performances.
Ms. Fischbach's graduating students have been accepted into professional companies including Colorado Ballet and top ranked collegiate dance programs all over the country. Many of her current students have been awarded scholarships to prestigious summer intensives and year round programs including American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet, Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Miami City Ballet.
Erica Fischbach is thrilled to lead Colorado Ballet Academy's team of dedicated, world-class professionals.
Job Titles:
- Academy Business Coordinator
Job Titles:
- Assistant Academy Principal
Gabrielle Johnson was born in Palmer, Alaska and began training at the age of seven at the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy under the direction of Michelangelo and Farah Canale.
Continuing her training, Ms. Johnson joined the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at the American ballet theatre in 2009. Ms. Johnson then joined the ABT Studio Company in September of 2011, joined the American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in October 2011, and was then promoted to corps de ballet in May 2012.
Ms. Johnson danced for the American Ballet Theatre from 2012-2015. Following her time at ABT, she continued her career joining the corps at the Houston ballet in July of 2015, until September of 2020.
In November of 2020 Ms. Johnson began teaching pre-professional students, as well as adults, for the Houston Ballet Academy. Dedicated to instilling strong technical skill, musicality, and performance quality, Ms. Johnson is passionate about sharing her knowledge of classical ballet with the next generation of aspiring artists.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director
- Executive DIRECTOR
Gregory Gonzales graduated from the University of Northern Colorado with a degree in Sports Fitness/Kinesiology and Dance. He has danced in several companies both modern and ballet. Gregory has spent the bulk of his career at Colorado Ballet where he was a Principal Dancer doing both classical and contemporary roles. He has taught ballet, modern, jazz, floor barre, acting for dancers, Anatomy In ClayR and stage combat, etc. Gregory has been involved with several ballet intensive programs and schools, most notably with the Colorado Ballet Academy and Denver School of the Arts.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Production Director of Production
Janina Falik grew up in Queens, NY where she began dancing at the Robert Mann Dance Center at the age of three. She was selected at 10 years old to study in the adult program at Hines and Hatchett, now The Broadway Dance Center, under Maurice Hines and Mercedes Ellington. She further honed her tap skills under Danny Daniels, choreographer of Broadway's The Tap Dance Kid. From age 10 to 18, Janina spent her evenings, days off, and summers dancing at The Broadway Dance Center under such faculty as Germaine Salsberg, Judy Bassing, Frank Hatchett, Donald Farnsworth, Trudi Gasparinetti, and Finis Jhung. Saturdays, she spent her time at The Lee Strasberg Theatre Institute, the former Actor's Studio.
She also studied and performed in Great Barrington, MA. Janina later appeared on ABC's Loving and test pilots for Nickelodeon. She went on to study theatre at Boston University. Ms. Falik co-choreographed and performed in Bourbon Street Straight Up with the Denver Brass and Hot Tomatoes Dance Orchestra at the Newman Center for the Performing Arts. After moving to Denver, she received a B.S. in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, and is currently the Director of Accounting for Colorado Ballet.
Job Titles:
- Assistant Carpenter / Head Flyman
Jessica Payne is from San Clemente, California. She received her training at Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy under the direction of Dmitri and Jennifer Kulev in southern California. In 2015, she joined Tulsa Ballet's second company and was promoted into the main company the following year, where she continued to dance until joining Colorado Ballet in 2020. Her featured roles include Olympe in Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, Clara and Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, Pink in Clark Tippet's Bruch Violin Concerto, and Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle. She was promoted to Soloist in 2022.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- ACADEMY Staff Member
- ACADEMY OPERATIONS MANAGER
Julie holds a Bachelor of Science in Dance from the University of Idaho, under the direction of Gregory Halloran, and she is a certified Evans Method instructor. Julie completed coursework in Brain-Compatible Dance Education, developed by Anne Green Gilbert, and the Healthy Dance Certification from Safe in Dance International.
For over twenty years, Julie has been supporting the development of dance programming as a teacher, administrator, and the owner-operator of Lakewood Dance Academy, a concept-based dance education program in Lakewood, CO. Julie is a teaching artist for the Education and Community Engagement department at Colorado Ballet and a lead instructor for "Be Beautiful, Be Yourself," a specially designed series of ballet classes for children who experience Down syndrome.
Julie performs with Maedee Dupre and Dancers and she was a company member with Louder Than Words Dance theatre, under the direction of Chris Harris, for six years. She has performed in many project-based works for Denver based artists including Leslie Merrill and Mary Lynn Lewark. She continues to collaborate with fellow teaching artists and arts administrators to support dancers and directors in their individual endeavors to tell stories and create community connections through movement.
Julie is thrilled to take on a new role as operations manager for Colorado Ballet Academy. She looks forward to the increased opportunities for interactions with Colorado Ballet's amazing staff and students that this new chapter will bring.
Job Titles:
- Chief Advancement Officer
- Director of Advancement
Job Titles:
- Education & Community Engagement Coordinator
Kevin Gaël Thomas is from Cannes, France and studied at Rosella Hightower's International Ballet Center and at Canada's National Ballet School, where he received a full scholarship and graduated in 2006 with honors. Kevin also graduated with honors from the Music Conservatory in France for piano. He danced for a year with Houston Ballet II, then joined Colorado Ballet in 2007. While waiting for his visa for Colorado Ballet, Kevin danced at Ballet de Lorraine in France in 2007.
Since joining the Company he has performed many soloist and leading roles. Kevin was chosen to represent France at the New York International Ballet Competition in 2009 and at the USA Jackson International Ballet Competition in 2010. He was promoted to Soloist in 2016.
Kevin's selected roles and ballets include Jirí Kylián's Petite Mort and Sinfonietta, Twyla Tharp's Nine Sinatra Songs and Brief Fling as the Red Couple, Renfield and Johnathan Harker in Michael Pink's Dracula, Gaston in Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, Blue Bird and Jewels in The Sleeping Beauty, The Whip Boy in Glen Tetley's The Rite of Spring, Jester in Ben Stevenson's Cinderella, Peter in Michael Pink's Peter Pan, The Nutcracker Prince, Fritz and Russian in The Nutcracker, Puck in Christopher Wheeldon's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Peter in Michael Smuin's Peter and the Wolf, First Sailor in Jerome Robbins' Fancy Free, Gurn in La Sylphid e, Benno in Swan Lake, Kaschei in Firebird, Pink in Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1, Green Man in Lila York's Celts, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, Mercutio in Derek Deane's Romeo and Juliet, and Lion in Septime Webre's world premiere of The Wizard of Oz.
Job Titles:
- Production & Advancement Coordinator
Job Titles:
- ACADEMY Staff Member
- ACADEMY ADMINISTRATOR
Lindsay Falter is a Colorado native who graduated from University of Colorado-Boulder with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in performance and choreography. She was a company member with Louder Than Words DanceTheater as well as an independent choreographer whose work was shown across the country. She has been teaching dance for over a decade specializing in children's beginning ballet/tap and all levels of contemporary.
Alongside her artistic endeavors, Lindsay has been involved in art administration with numerous organizations. She has held roles as Program Coordinator and Academy Administrator with local Denver nonprofits that support dance education and performance. A budding grant writer, she completed the Grant Writing Suite from the University of Colorado-Colorado Springs in order to better serve the organizations which she strongly believes in.
After living in multiple states, Lindsay and her husband returned to Colorado to put down roots in their home state. They have a bright and happy little boy who always keeps them busy!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Patron Services Representatives
Job Titles:
- Arts & Venues Representative
Job Titles:
- Assistant Director of Institutional Giving
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Education & Community Engagement Assistant
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Senior Database Administrator
Job Titles:
- Company Physical Therapist
Mieke Scripps has followed her love of dance throughout her career. She earned a BA in Dance and Kinesiology at the University of Wisconsin while performing in the modern dance troop Li Chao-Ping Dance. After her dance career, she received her Doctorate of Physical Therapy form Northwestern University. Following graduation, Mieke served as a physical therapist in New York City and Miami for the New York City Ballet, School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet, the Juilliard School and many Broadway shows. Mieke found yoga as a complimentary movement therapy to provide safe stability and strength work while increasing the flexibility. She has recently relocated to Colorado and looks forward to continuing to practice physical therapy integrated with yoga training for the Colorado Ballet Academy.
Job Titles:
- Education & Community Engagement / Director of Education & Community Engagement
Job Titles:
- Marketing & Communications Associate
Job Titles:
- Lighting Director Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Technical Director & Production Manager Emeritus
Job Titles:
- Director of Marketing & Communications
Job Titles:
- Lifetime Trustee
- Member of the Executive Committee
Job Titles:
- Member of the Executive Committee
Mr. Munoz has been a guest Master Teacher at a number of Ballet Companies, including Atlanta Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Ballet Met, Boston Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Houston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theater and Suzhou Ballet in China, among others. He has also taught master classes at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Magda Aunon Classical Ballet School, Wexford Dance Academy, Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh, Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy, Colorado Conservatory of Dance, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet School, both in Aspen and Santa Fe, Vail Valley Dance Academy, Ballet Conservatory of South Texas, Dance Conservatory of Maryland, Takeuchi Ballet Studio in Japan and the Kenny Wang Ballet School in Taiwan.
Job Titles:
- Ballet Master / Assistant to the Artistic Director
Job Titles:
- Member of the Emeritus Board
Job Titles:
- Assistant
- Physical Therapist
Job Titles:
- ACADEMY Staff Member
- Summer Intensive Operations Manager
Job Titles:
- Development Administrator
Job Titles:
- LOWER DIVISION COORDINATOR
Suellen's career can aptly be described as colorful. She has spent as much time in a boardroom as on a spotlight on stage; or the bright light on the ER. She has guided dancers through careers and accomplished surgeons through surgeries. She has always taken on different challenges treating all opportunities with passion and tenacity.
South African born she commenced her dancing career at a very young age of 2. Her Secondary education was at the National School of the Arts in South Africa where she graduated as a Dance Major. This provided her with with exposure to a variety of dance genres and world renowned choreographers and teachers. She was trained and qualified for all graded and Vocational RAD exams under Ms Reina Berman and Ms Joyce Myroff (RAD examiners). Her education at the school included Anatomy, Dance Kinesiology, History of Ballet and Music Appreciation.
She also developed a keen passion and expertise for Classical Spanish and Flamenco under Rhoda Rivikind (Luisa Cortes) She was awarded for classical ballet and Spanish dance on numerous dance platforms within South Africa and the proud recipient of the RAD and Mercedes Molina Bursaries. Her training education also involved collaboration with PACT Ballet under the guidance from Nicola Middlemist learning appreciation and skill of mixed repertoire. After a Rotary Exchange program in Argentina Suellen decided to follow in her mothers' footsteps and qualified for her RAD Teaching certification (1995) with a distinction under Ms Jaqueline Wells.
Suellen has 25 year teaching experience in both ballet (RAD, Vaganova) Contemporary and Spanish dance in South Africa and the Asia Pacific region She has helped train and coach students on all levels working to develop a passion and skill in dance, all within a nurturing environment. Through these years her choreographies have been highly awarded on a national and international platforms both in South Africa and the Asia Pacific region. The Asian Grand Prix, Get the Beat and YAGP or just a few to mention. Her students have progressed to International Ballet schools and Professional Ballet/Spanish companies. She is a mentor and tutor for the RAD Teaching studies and has successfully coached many dancers into successful teachers today.
Whitney Popp began training with Mid Columbia Ballet in Washington, and later trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet. She then spent 5 years as a principal dancer with Sacramento Ballet performing many lead roles such as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, leads in numerous Balanchine ballets, and the Cowgirl in Agnes de Milles Rodeo, just to name a few. Whitney was chosen to perform in many works by outstanding choreographers as well, such as Dwight Rhoden, Amy Siewert, and Val Caniparoli. After moving to New York, she was discovered by Twyla Tharp and joined Twyla Tharp Dance.
Whitney toured Europe with Twyla Tharp Dance and went on to become one of Twyla's leading principals for the creation of several new works. Whitney also joined the 1st Nat'l Broadway tour of Movin' Out performing multiple lead roles. She later toured Europe once again, this time with her husband Corbin, performing more works by Twyla Tharp. Whitney has had the privilege of teaching all over the world and lives in Colorado with her husband and their three children. Whitney is also a co-founder of the performing company Lightwire Theater based in New Orleans that finished in the semi finals of America's Got Talent in 2013.