CVCB COMPANY - Key Persons
David Woods, M.F.A., University of Arizona, B.F.A., University of Utah, ACE Personal Trainer, AFFA Certified. His Ballet training began under the direction of William F. Christensen, Ballet West and various teachers through-out the pacific ballet region. He has performed with Lexington Ballet, Lexington Kentucky, Montgomery Ballet, Montgomery Alabama, Ballet Arts ensemble, Tucson Arizona, Utah Ballet, Salt Lake City, Utah, and Utah Regional Ballet. He was the recipient of the Dance Magazine Craft of Choreography Scholarship and received the Capezio talent award for dance. David has taught Ballet for Eastern Kentucky University, The University of Arizona; and guest taught for Brigham Young University. He is a sought after instructor because of his motivating demeanor and his diverse knowledge and background. He is Pilates certified through the Physical-Mind Institute and Balanced Body Education. From Ballet dancer, Choreographer, University and Regional Instructor he incorporates all methods and techniques from his background to give you a solid, inspiring, and challenging workout.
Alexa Sand is a lifelong dance learner and enthusiast. She began studying ballet, character, and modern at the RAD-certificate granting Cornish College of the Arts Junior division under Gwenn Barker, Frank Bays, and Pat Hon. After college, she studied at Shawl Anderson and Berkeley Ballet in Berkeley California. After a hiatus of fifteen years, she returned to dance at Cache Valley School of Ballet's adult classes over a decade ago. Since then, she has taken classes with the Joffrey School New York, the Joffrey Ballet, Kat Wildish, Finis Jhung, Pasadena Conservatory of Dance, and the Place, London. For the last four years, she has attended the ArtEmotion Adult Intensive at the studios of Ballet West, led by Allison DeBona and Rex Tilton. A professor and research administrator at USU, Alexa holds a PhD from UC Berkeley. She enjoys, in addition to dancing, hiking, sailing, and reading.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Additional Board
Alexandria Sorenson began her early training at Pure Movement Dance Institute under the direction of Rhea Gill. Her training is primarily in classical ballet but she has extensive experience in modern, jazz, and tap. Alexandria also danced at Wasatch Arts Center with Alice White. Her ballet training continued at Jaqueline's School of Ballet with Jacqueline Colledge and Heather Gray. Alexandria holds a Bachelors of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in Ballet and graduated Summa Cum Laude in 2018 from Utah Valley University. While at the university, she was a member of the Repertory Ballet Ensemble under the direction of Mark Borchelt and Jamie Johnson. She performed in excerpts from Sleeping Beauty, La bayadere, and works by Andy Noble, Daniel Charon, Sarah Donohue, Mark Borchelt, Jamie Johnson, and Heather Gray. Alexandria presented research on her choreography Roots at the Utah Conference of Undergraduate Research and on Muscle Memory and Dance at the Utah Academy of Science Arts and Letters. Although Alexandria started choreographing at age 15, Utah Valley University has nourished her passion for choreography. She has taken numerous courses in improvisation, composition, and choreography and studied many choreographic processes. She has presented work at the American College Dance Association and won the Judge's Choice Award at Utah Dance Festival in 2018 for her piece Evaporated Rhythm. Alexandria has danced with Oquirrh Mountain Ballet performing roles in the Nutcracker such as Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop Fairy, Snow Queen, Arabian Princess, and Spanish Princess. Next to ballet, Alexandria has a love for contemporary dance. Since graduating she has danced with SALT Contemporary Dance's second company and Oquirrh West Project. From 2020 to 2022 she served as Assistant Director for Oquirrh West Project. She has also directed choreography for Oquirrh Mountain Ballet and co-directed Wasatch Arts Center's Performing Dance Company. Alexandria's teaching experience includes all levels of ballet technique, pointe technique, creative movement, modern, tap, jazz, contemporary, and improvisation. She loves instilling passion and self-worth in her dancers and helping them realize their potential as humans through the study of dance. Alexandria lives and breathes dance each day through her students and her own movement exploration opportunities. She loves the beauty of nature, playing the cello, and furthering her study of anatomy and kinesiology!
Job Titles:
- Member of the Additional Board
Becky Erickson has performed for many civic and professional dance industries, including Cache Community Theatre, Valley Dance Ensemble, Fox 13th's "So You Think You Can Dance" competing in Vegas on National TV, touring with Inishfre Irish Dance, and of course all of our Cache Valley Civic Ballet productions. She has spent the last 10 years expanding her experience in dance through the following organizations: Ballet West, New York City Ballet master classes, School of American Ballet, Northwest Dance Intensive's Jehrin Alexandria along with Stephanie Saland (NYCB), Philip Beamish (world recognized ballet master), Elena Maleshevskya (Vagonava trained out of Russia), international recognized ballerina Paloma Herrera, Marsha Knight (University of Wyoming), Jason Celaya (Broadway), and David Scott (International performer). Becky is also a professional judge for competitions around Utah including the "Utah Dance Fest" Judging and performing as the featured guest judge. She choreographed an entire musical at the age of 18 and was contacted by the University of Utah to "use her moves." Becky has appeared at many schools and libraries throughout Cache Valley, reading to and educating children about Classical Ballet in hopes to inspire the next generation. She has been teaching since the summer of 2001, both in private and group settings including home schooled children events/private lessons and classes as large as 35 students. Becky is highly sought after to teach Master classes at the University level and at the advanced youth level. Becky specializes in the following: Audition and Confidence training, Turnout/Foot/Ankle/Core Strength training, and Choreography; setting many pieces that have taken 1st place in competitions and pieces that have been performed in front of thousands of people. She loves the students she teaches and helps them to overcome challenges both in dance and in Life as a whole. She has three beautiful children and a handsome altruistic husband. Recently she was the cover model for the book titled Dance Across the USA. As well as having the honor of being selected out of over 3000 dancers that applied; Becky is found as a featured dancer on two pages of the book in addition to the cover.
Brittany Bailey has been dancing for over 26 years. She studied at Clytie Adams School of Ballet, BYU-Idaho, Patricia Dienhart, and Cache Valley Civic Ballet. Brittany has danced in over 16 Nutcracker performances and over 24 ballet productions. She has also performed on multiple collegiate teams and toured New England & Canada with the BYU-Idaho Dance Alliance Team. Brittany enjoys dancing and teaching a variety of dance styles: Ballet, Ballroom, and World dances. She enjoys sharing her love of ballet by teaching others and helping them to find the joy that dance brings into life.
Christa Harding started teaching dance for Provo community schools over 20 years ago. She has a background in ballet technique and performance from Rocky Mountain Ballet under the direction of Connie Burton. She furthered her dance education at Utah Valley University under Jacqueline Colledge in Ballet and Lisa Stoddard in Jazz Technique. She has taught and choreographed for Utah Academy of dance in Orem where she credits her Jazz and Lyrical background from Rhonda Sevey. She was a member of and choreographer for Orem High School Dance Company. She has participated in many competitions both as a dancer and choreographer. She taught Ballet and Jazz for three years at Stars Dance in Clearfield and four years at ADA in Hyrum. She continues her dance education at Cache Valley School of Ballet and has choreographed for Cache Civic Ballet's Choreographer's Showcase. She has a passion for dance and loves to see her students feel a sense of accomplishment as they work hard to achieve their goals.
Job Titles:
- Vice President of the Season Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Treasurer of the Season Board of Directors
Eve Barlow started her dance career at the age of three at Creative Arts Academy in Bountiful, Utah. She was formally trained in ballet, pointè, jazz, contemporary and hip hop. She graduated from Bountiful High School and was honored to be one of the top ten finalists in the state of Utah for the Family and Consumer Sciences Sterling Scholar Scholarship. She is currently attending Utah State University majoring in Family and Consumer Sciences Education, and double minoring in Family Finance as well as Family and Human Development. Eve is a member of the Utah State Dance Company and serves as President of the program. She has had many opportunities to be trained by renowned instructors across the country. She has been teaching dance at Creative Arts Academy for 4 years. She has choreographed for high school dance companies as well as competitive dance teams. She is also an instructor of Modern/Contemporary Dance at Utah State University. Eve has found a love for teaching dancers of all ages about finding that same love for dance that she has.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Cache Valley Civic Ballet
Jane Miller began dancing at the age of 3. She has trained in ballet, tap, jazz, hip hop, lyrical, contemporary, and acro tumbling. Growing up, she competed with her studio and also as a soloist. She was a member of her high school drill team, the Logan High School Hi-Lo's, and served as both Drill Mistress and Vice President. After graduation, she danced on the Utah State University Dance Company. She also worked as an instructor for the Universal Dance Association and has had the opportunity to work with many teams on the West Coast. At age 20, she became the head coach for the Logan High School Hi-Lo's Drill Team. She led them to a region championship, state military championship, and national military title. After two years of head coaching, Jane decided to finish her schooling. She enjoys still being involved in drill team as a UHSAA certified drill team judge. She also had the opportunity to be the assistant coach for the Weber State University Dance Team in 2018 and helped them win an NDA national title in hip hop. She has choreographed routines for teams and soloists in Utah, Nevada, Washington, and Idaho. Jane is currently pursuing her bachelor's degree in nursing through Weber State University and enjoys teaching at Dance Illusion in Logan, Utah.
Job Titles:
- Secretary of the Season Board of Directors
Karyn Hansen, a native of Cache Valley, has performed with the Cache Valley Civic Ballet Company since 1990. She began dancing at the age of three, learning a range of dance styles such as tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and ballroom, along with classical ballet. Karyn has danced in a variety of leading roles for the Cache Valley Civic Ballet, some of which include: Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in the "Nutcracker"; Fairy of the Golden Vine in "Sleeping Beauty"; Mina in "Dracula"; Hermia in "A Mid-Summer Night's Dream"; and Nightingale in "Firebird". She has also performed with the Utah Festival Opera, American Festival Chorus, Sky View Ballroom Dance Team and the Drama Club, and professionally with a ballroom dance troupe. Karyn has studied primarily with Sandra Emile and has taken technique and master classes from Ballet West's Peter Christy and Jeff Rogers, New York City Ballet's Jonathan Strafford, Royale Winnapeg, Snowy Range, Ririe-Woodbury Dance, and School of American Ballet. She has also attended the Snowy Range Dance Festival and received training from several distinguished dance institutes such as Joffery Ballet, Richmond Ballet, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Karyn is the Administrator for the Cache Valley Civic Ballet-School; she also teaches all levels of ballet technique and beginning to advanced pointe classes for The School. Karyn also enjoys doing choreography and has choreographed many pieces which have been performed in "The Nutcracker", "Sleeping Beauty", "Cinderella", and "Showcase or Choreographers". She has also assisted in judging the Cache Valley Civic Ballet Company's public and company auditions. When Karyn isn't teaching or dancing, she enjoys spending time with her amazing husband and two wonderful kids.
Kelly Bateman, has been teaching at the Cache Valley Civic Ballet-School since 2014. She received her ballet training through The School and performing over the years with the CVCB-Company. She has participated in two Brindusa-Moore Ballet summer intensive programs, and has taken master classes with Royal Winnipeg, Santa Fe, and American School of Ballet. She also performs with and has had the opportunity to choreograph for musical theater companies in the valley including Music Theatre West, Four Seasons, and Celebrate America. She loves getting to share her love of ballet through teaching.
Lexie Keller received most of her early training at Brindusa-Moore Ballet Academy in Pocatello, Idaho. During her high school years, her family moved to Burley, Idaho where she began to expand her movement vocabulary taking classes in contemporary, jazz, lyrical, and joining her high school dance team. During this time, Lexie was given a High Honors Award from a visiting representative of The American Academy of Ballet. After graduating, Lexie traveled to Orem, Utah, where she studied through Utah Valley University's dance program, performed on one of the university's ballroom teams, and choreographed for UVU's choreography club. After receiving her associate's degree, she moved to the Cache Valley area where she is currently pursuing her bachelor's.
Job Titles:
- President of the Season Board of Directors
Job Titles:
- Member of the Season Board of Directors
Natalie Robbins has been teaching with the Cache Valley School of Ballet for over 16 years and has loved every minute. In addition to teaching she is a former member of the Cache Valley Civic Ballet. She has had several parts in the Nutcracker from Snow Princess, Doll, Spanish, and Marzipan leads. Her two favorite roles were Cinderella and Coppelia. Natalie has trained at the Ballet West Conservatory, The Christiansen Academy under Williams Christiansen. She has done Summer workshops with RDT, and Ririe Woodbury. Natalie has performed in the Ballet West Nutcracker, American West, Cache Community Theatre, USU Sunburst Dancer, Inishfre Irish Dance Company. She has loved being a part of both the Ballet School and the Ballet Company and loved studying under Maggie Moar and Sandra Emile.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Additional Board
Ruby Hall has been a patron of the arts for twenty two years with experience in several departments of the artistic world. A Utah native, raised in a very cultural home with a family that embraced the joys of music and dance assisted her growth as an artist. She began piano lessons at age five at the University of Utah preparatory division under the instruction of Merla Little for 12 years. Her dance training began the same year at local studios and quickly transitioned to Ballet West Academy where the bulk of her training took place. The academy taught her about discipline, etiquette, dedication, technique, stylistic appreciation, and stylistic experimentation. With the combination of music and ballet training for so many years, she naturally developed a deeper understanding of music and dance as a duo. She continued her education at the University of Utah where she studied and completed a bachelor's degree in piano performance under the instruction of Vedrana Subotic. These four years provided her with further knowledge of music history, music theory, musicianship, accompanying, composing, analytical writing, teaching, and performance opportunities as a pianist and dancer. After graduating in 2016 she transitioned to the North West to experience a new environment teaching private piano and flute lessons, group classes, and ballet technique to children and adults. Ruby is thrilled to be in Logan in the comfort of her home state and she looks forward to nurturing the artistic progress of the community in Cache Valley.
Stephanie R. White has studied, performed, taught, and choreographed with the Cache Valley Civic Ballet Company and School since 1984. A character dancer at heart, Stephanie has played most evil roles including the Carabosse (Sleeping Beauty), Wicked Stepmother (Cinderella), the Mouse King (Nutcracker), and Kashchei the Immortal (Firebird). She holds a master's in Education and recently completed her MFA in Dance from Montclair State University. Currently, Stephanie is a Professor in the Theatre Arts Department at Utah State University teaching most dance forms including movement exploration for Educators, tap, musical theatre, ballet, period and social dance, and jazz/contemporary. Stephanie has choreographed or performed with the following companies: Cache Valley Civic Ballet, Utah Festival Opera & Musical Theatre, Lyric Repertory Company, USU Theatre, American Festival Chorus and Orchestra, and Music Theatre West. She is ever happy to return to her home base at Cache Valley Civic Ballet-School and currently acts as a substitute or guest artist for CVCB productions/Showcase of Choreographers.
Job Titles:
- Member of the Additional Board
Tami Vernon has taught for the Cache Valley School of Ballet since 1988. Her instructor training includes Virginia Tanner Dance Institute Creative Movement for Small Children, David Howard's Teaching Workshop (Seattle, WA), Snowy Range Dance Festival (2015), and Finish Jhung: Ballet Dynamics (2016). Tami has trained with Sandra Emile, Maggi Moar, Marsha Knight, Richard Richards, and Jan Jacobsen. Tami performed with the Cache Valley Civic Ballet Company for twenty years dancing in all the company's performances. Her favorite roles include Dancing Doll, Snow Princess, Spanish, and Marzipan Solo from The Nutcracker. In addition to the CVCB, Tami has performed with Cache Community Theater and USU Opera Company. Tami has also sereved on the CVCB Board of Directors. Tami loves sharing her love of ballet performance with her many students.
Tyler Burkett is a talented performer and instructor with over 13 years of teaching experience. He has received multiple awards, including the Grand Prix Award in Denver, CO & Best Emerging Choreographer at Regional Dance America. Tyler Burkett was born in Corpus Christi, Texas. Tyler was a full scholarship recipient at the University Of Utah and was a member of Utah Ballet. In 2007 and 2008 Tyler was a top 12 finalist in the Youth America Grand Prix in NYC. Tyler also received the Grand Prix Award in Denver, CO, and placed first in both contemporary and classical in Chicago, IL. He was also awarded "Best Emerging Choreographer" at Regional Dance America. During his career Tyler performed with Inland Pacific Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, and Utah Metropolitan Ballet. In 2019 Tyler signed a contract to go on tour with St. Petersburg Classical Ballet under the direction of Marina Medvetskaya but was unable to perform due to Covid and made the decision to retire. During his career he performed various principal roles such as Puck in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Peter in Peter Pan, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, Prince Desire in Sleeping Beauty, and Waltz Boy in Balanchine's Serenade. Tyler also has 13 years of teaching experience. He has taught at Encinitas Ballet School, Mississippi Ballet Theatre, Barlow Arts Conservatory, Elevation Dance,Long Beach Ballet, Wasatch Ballet, Jazz'n Place, The Pointe Academy, Luv2Dance, Utah Dance Artists, Salt Lake City Ballet, Revolution Dance, Synergy Dance, Jacqueline's School of Ballet and is so proud to be a part of Central Utah Ballet Academy.
Vivian Taylor began her technical ballet training more than 25 years ago. The larger part of her performing years have been with Cache Valley Civic Ballet, dancing roles such as Sugar Plum Fairy in Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty and Godmother to Cinderella. She has also enjoyed the opportunity to perform with Dance West, Cache Community Theatre, Festival of the American West, African Drum and Dance, and Valley Dance Ensemble. Her diverse background in movement enables her to approach performing arts with a broad perspective and enjoys being invited to Choreograph for CVCB company members in their annual showcase. Her most influential instruction has been under Sandra Emile, Maggie Moar, Marsha Knight and Jan Jacobsen. Her most recent experiences have involved taking classes from Ballet West company members, participating in an AileyII master class and training in the Progressing Ballet Technique. Vivian is also a STOTT Pilates certified instructor and continues to teach and train in the method. She is passionate about helping people cultivate a love and appreciation for movement. She hopes to educate students not only in technique, but help them evolve into artists.