Wheaton Dance Company
This program offers advanced dancers an in-depth exploration of the aesthetic and performing issues of a specific dance idiom. The study of ballet, modern, jazz, and other dance forms begins in the choreographic process and continues through the rehearsal stage, culminating in the performance of selected repertory works. Performance opportunities occur throughout the first and second semester with the emphasis placed on the bi-annual mainstage concerts in December and May.
Christianna Kavaloski, Artistic Director
The 2008-2009 season will be Christianna Kavaloski's first year as the director of the Wheaton Dance Company and her second year as a member of the Department of Theatre Studies and Dance. She brings over twenty-five years of experience as a performer, teacher, choreographer and arts administrator to the college.
Professor Kavaloski has studied and worked with both contemporary and classical dance companies including the Boston Ballet, Danny Sloan Dance Company, Ballet Theatre of Boston, Boston Repertory Ballet, New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, among others. She studied technique and pedagogy with Finis Jhung in New York City, then pursued further undergraduate studies in dance at Indiana University and the University of Massachusetts, Amherst, and later completed a masters degree from Boston University. She is trained in the Vaganova, Balanchine, Cecchetti, Royal Academy of Dance, Limon and Horton techniques, as well as Sutton dance notation. Her teaching experience includes beginner through advanced ballet and pointe, lyrical and dance history courses. Currently, she is on the dance faculty of Dean College and the Boston Ballet.
THE COMPANY 2008-2009
Lesley Backus 2009, Captain
Elise Barrar 2010, Captain
Laura Peters 2010, DAME
Julie Forrest 2010
Jossie Mar Diaz 2010
Kayla Rack 2010
Erin Biles 2011
Sarah Griffin 2011
Marlowe Miller 2011
Tanya Aritao 2012
Natasha Holm 2012
Understudies:
Dalia Sapoznikow 2011
Becca Seferian 2011
Liz Mullen 2012
Kristen Stevens 2012