CLASSIC BALLET SCHOOL - Key Persons
Job Titles:
- Director
- Instructor
- Director Closter, New Jersey
Carolyn Martin Santonicola was accepted in the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo at the age of 17 and toured throughout the U.S. and Canada with that company. She joined the Metropolitan Opera under the directorship of Dame Alicia Markova where she danced as a soloist for seven years. From 1970 to 1980 she was an instructor with The Classic Ballet School as well as a soloist with The Classic Ballet Company. She became co-director of the school in 1980, and beginning in 2005, the director. She staged the full-length Ballet Russe version of "Les Sylphides" for Loyola University in New Orleans in 2003, and in 2009 and 2011 she was the guest teacher and artistic coach for the summer intensives at Portland, Oregon's Classic Ballet Academy.
A native of Massachusetts and graduate of Emerson College, Cheryl has performed since the age of seven. Her formal training began with Tina Malfitano and daughter Karen Pisani and included ballet, jazz, tap, and voice. She also studied classical ballet and performance at the Marblehead School of Ballet. Cheryl went on to perform in New England Regional and Summer Stock productions of 42nd Street (Peggy), Sweet Charity(Charity), Grease(Marty), Guys & Dolls, On the Way to the Forum, Oklahoma, and La Cage Aux Follies. While studying acting at the American Academy of Dramatic Arts in New York City, Cheryl was chosen to perform in Broadway's International Tour of A Chorus Line. Cheryl has enjoyed teaching and choreographing theatrical productions and revues throughout her career. After moving to New Jersey with her husband and two sons, she was thrilled to join Classic Ballet's faculty and directs and narrates its annual Nutcracker.
Christine's early training was in Northern Virginia and at the Academy of The Washington Ballet under the direction of Mary Day. Upon graduating from the Academy, she danced with The Washington Ballet for six years and also attended American University, receiving a BA in Performing Arts. She danced in Chicago for nine years - first with Chicago City Ballet under the direction of Maria Tallchief, and then with Ballet Chicago under the direction of Daniel Duell. She also danced with the Ballet of Los Angeles, directed by John Clifford.
Holly studied classical ballet at The Harkness House for Ballet Arts in New York City. She also trained at The Joffrey Ballet School, and became a member of the Noverre Ballet. As a modern dancer, Holly has worked with the Debra Weiss Dance Company, Harry Streep and Human Arms, and Marta Renzi and The Project Company. She has a BA in French Literature from Barnard College, and loves dancing with the beautiful school that Carolyn has created.
Job Titles:
- Instructor
- Production Manager
Jen has extensive experience in dance and theater production, including work for Alvin Ailey, Martha Graham, Paul Taylor, Frankfurt Ballet, Lincoln Center Theater, and numerous Broadway productions. She spent several years as the production electrician for American Ballet Theater, doing national and international tours and NYC seasons at the Metropolitan Opera House. As a dancer, Jen trained with Kathy Deere, attended the Chicago City Ballet School, and studied modern dance with Beverly Blossom, Doug Nielsen, and Annabelle Gamson. She has a BFA in theater from the University of Illinois, and is a member of IATSE local #1.
Kathie has been a Classic Ballet School faculty member for over 20 years, teaching pre-ballet through adult classes. Kathie holds a BA in Performing Arts and an MS in Counseling with additional study in dance and art therapy, choreography, anatomy and kinesiology, movement analysis and child development. She received her ballet training at the Joffrey and ABT Schools, Steps, and Classic Ballet, and with many other notable teachers while performing with numerous ballet and modern dance companies.In keeping with Classic Ballet tradition, she strives for her classes to be classically correct, informative, healthy and fun.
Lorena began her ballet training in the Royal Academy of Dance with Daurice Synder. She subsequently studied at the Joffrey Ballet School, and in 1974 she joined the Long Island Ballet Theater Co. From 1977-1990 her concentration shifted to musical theater, appearing in featured roles: Mrs. Potiphar in Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat (1st National Tour), Carmencita (Intar Theater), Tintinabula in A Funny Thing Happened on The Way to the Forum (Starlight Theater Productions), Sylvia Gilhooley in Promises, Promises (Equity Library Theater), and other regional theater productions. Additional credits include numerous TV commercials, and films. In 1998 she joined the faculty of Classic Ballet School and has thoroughly enjoyed the past 16 years of teaching, choreographing, and performing in the school's productions.
Norma was born in Rio de Janiero and trained at the "Teatro Municipal" school. She was accepted into the Corp de Ballet of Rio, and at age 19 was invited to join Stuttgart Ballet, where she danced solo and leading roles, and traveled worldwide. She later joined the Munich Ballet company. Norma has worked with John Cranko, Jiri Kylian, and George Balanchine, and has had the fortune to share the stage with Margot Fonteyn, Rudolph Nureyev, Carla Fracci, Natalia Makarowa, Mikhail Baryshnikov, Anthony Dowell, Martine Van Hamel, Marcia Haydee, Richard Cragun and others. She has remained continuously active in dance as a ballet instructor and choreographer for various Bergen County dance schools, the Hathaway Academy of Ballet and Collin County Ballet Theatre in Texas, Rutgers University, and audition classes for the summer program for the Pittsburgh Ballet.