Artists:
Sara A. Jansen, Co-Director
Originally from New York, Sara trained at the Ballet School of New York under the direction of Diana Byer and Sallie Wilson. In 2001, Ms. Jansen graduated from the Professional Children's School in New York City and began to dance professionally with New York Theatre Ballet. While dancing with NYTB, Ms. Jansen had the opportunity to tour the United States, perform at the Florence Gould Hall in New York City, and dance roles in Cinderella, Carnival of the Animals, Firebird, and Alice in Wonderland.
In 2004, Sara moved to Richmond, Virginia to join the Richmond Ballet trainee program. While at the Richmond Ballet, she performed with the professional company in such ballets as The Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night's Dream, and original choreography by Richmond Ballet Faculty. She danced with Richmond Ballet for two years before being asked to join Starr Foster Dance Project. As a member of Starr Foster Dance project, Sara performed the role of the White Rabbit in Alice, and had roles in many new works for the company that were created for her.
Ms. Jansen recently received the American Ballet Theatre teacher certification, enabling her to teach students the official curriculum of American Ballet Theatre. She has enjoyed teaching dance for several years and is currently the Ballet Director of The Dance Company located in Hanover, VA. She is excited to put her myriad of experiences to work as executive director of Charlottesville Ballet, while keeping her love of performance alive in her dual role as dancer and director. She looks forward to nurturing the growth and appreciation for dance among peers and community.
Emily Mott, Co-Director
Emily Mott fell in love with ballet at the age of five. She began dance classes at Roanoke Ballet Theatre in her hometown of Roanoke, VA and continued her training with Unurbat Gunaajav and Michele Goacher. She performed in several collaborative shows with Opera Roanoke, the Mill Mountain Theatre, and with Radford University as the Snow Queen in a joint production of The Nutcracker. She has attended summer intensives at the Richmond Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and on scholarship with the Dance Theatre of Harlem. Emily spent her senior year of high school at the Virginia School of the Arts in Lynchburg, VA under the late Petrus Bosman. At VSA she found diverse training and valuable performance opportunities in gala evenings, in lecture demonstrations for children, and in the Piccolo Spoleto Festival. Upon graduation she joined the Richmond Ballet as a trainee, performing in Don Quixote, Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie and Who Cares?, and in many new works by Richmond Ballet faculty. She also enjoyed working with school children in Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion program.
In 2008, Emily relocated to Charlottesville to join the Charlottesville Ballet and to attend the University of Virginia, uniting both her artistic and academic pursuits. As a second-year at UVa, she is pursuing an interdisciplinary degree and participating in the university's Dance Program. In addition to her role as a dancer with Charlottesville Ballet, Emily joins the administrative team this season as an Associate Director and a member of the Board. She will be organizing and choreographing the Children's Ballet Series, A Fairy Tale Gathering in February. Emily also teaches Creative Dance classes to young students of The Dance Barn in Stanardsville, VA. She is delighted to achieve balance through her multiple roles as a student, administrator, teacher, and performer. She looks forward to the season ahead and is thankful to all who've made this journey possible.
Ashley Brett Chipman
Ashley Brett Chipman received the foundation of her training with the Conservatory Ballet, where she studied classical ballet intensively, in addition to discovering the joy and challenge of character dance. Upon beginning college at the University of Virginia as a film and digital art major, she was able to continue her ballet education in Class with Nicole. In addition, Ashley has had the privilege of studying with Boston Ballet, the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C., and Eglevsky Ballet, where her love of the purity of the classical form flourished. Ashley's performance repertory includes variations from La Bayadère, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Who Cares?, Paquita, and the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Upon arriving in Charlottesville in 2005, Ashley continued her ballet education in Class with Nicole. Ashley recently graduated from the University of Virginia, earning a degree in both film and computer science. She was awarded the 2009-2010 Aunspaugh Fifth Year Fellowship for her work in film and digital art. Ashley is excited for her second season with the Charlottesville Ballet and thankful for this amazing experience.
Tyrone Eugene Cooper
Tyrone Eugene Cooper was born in Colo'n Panama and began his training at the age of 13 in Newport News, VA. It was while he was at the High School for the Arts that his love of movement flourished and inspired him to seek out a degree in Dance and Choreography from Virginia Commonwealth University. In addition to his studies, Tyrone began training at the School of Richmond Ballet, where they soon offered him a traineeship. It was during this time that Tyrone fell in love with the classical form and where he had the opportunity to perform with the Richmond Ballet. While at the Richmond Ballet, Tyrone performed in Stoner Winslett's Nutcracker, Malcolm Burn's Sleeping Beauty, and George Balanchine's Who Cares? In addition, he appeared in many of the Richmond Ballet faculty's original choreography and Ariadne Conner's who's it all for anyway? Tyrone looks forward to his second season with the Charlottesville Ballet!
Caitlin Lennon
Originally from Montana, Caitlin Lennon began her intensive training at the Queen City Ballet. While a student there, she was given the honor of performing such roles as Sugar Plum, Dew Drop, and Snow Queen in the Nutcracker, as well as Aurora and the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. These performing experiences laid the foundation that allowed her to place in the top 12 at Youth America Grand Prix in 2006, in both classical and contemporary, in addition to being accepted into such prestigious schools as Julliard, American Ballet Theater New York, Atlanta Ballet, Houston Ballet, and Ballet West on full scholarship. Her travels across the country ended at the Richmond Ballet, where she was accepted into the trainee program on full scholarship. While at the Richmond Ballet, Caitlin performed as a demi-soloist in Waltz of the Flowers and in Balanchine's Who Cares? In the Trainee workshop performances, she appeared as the Dryad Queen in Don Quixote, Paquita in Paquita and in Ariadne Conner's Who's It All For Anyway?. In addition to working with the Charlottesville Ballet, Caitlin is attending Piedmont Virginia Community College and is a teacher for the Minds In Motion outreach program, bringing dance to the public school system.
Emily Oppelt
Originally from Lawrenceville, Georgia, Emily began her training under Phyllis Allen at the Gwinnett Dance Ensemble. She culminated her studies with Lisa Sheppard-Robson at the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre. Emily has attended summer programs at ABT Alabama, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. She is currently finishing her senior year on partial academic and talent scholarship at the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music as a Ballet and Pre-Physical Therapy major. While working on her degree, Emily has had many outlets to expand her artistry through professional experiences. She spent the 2007-2008 season as a member of Dayton Ballet II where she performed several roles including Waltz of the Flowers and Snow in The Nutcracker. Emily spent the 2008-2009 season in Annapolis as an apprentice with Ballet Theatre of Maryland under Dianna Cuatto. She had numerous performance opportunities including a Winter Fairy in Cinderella, Arabian in The Nutcracker, and a Priestess in Excalibur. Emily is grateful to her family and friends for their endless support as she looks forward to her first season with Charlottesville Ballet.
Neva Russo
A native of Charlottesville, Neva Russo began dancing at age three at the Academy of Dance Arts and continued her primary training with Wilson School of Dance. While at the Wilson School of Dance, she had the opportunity to perform in numerous original works of varied genres of dance. While in high school, she had the honor of attending the Virginia School of the Arts. She was then accepted into the dance program at Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. It was here that Neva's love for the arts crossed genres, as she decided to pursue a degree in art in addition to studying intensively with the Lake Erie Ballet. Upon completion of her degree, Neva returned to Charlottesville and her studies at Wilson, where she was asked by Ariadne Conner to join the Charlottesville Ballet. Neva is thrilled to be a part of this ensemble and looks forward to many performances ahead.
Rachel Terry
Originally from Columbus, Ohio, Rachel Terry began dancing at the age of five at Columbus Youth Ballet. She had the opportunity to perform yearly in the Nutcracker, spring performances, and Youth American Grand Prix. She continued her training at New Albany Ballet Company her senior year of high school, where she performed a lead role in Tarentella. Rachel has spent summers at Briansky Saratoga, Joffrey Midwest, Nutmeg Conservatory, Ballet Met, and Ballet Theatre of Maryland. After her second summer at Nutmeg Conservatory, she choose to attend their year round post-graduate program as a scholarship student, under the direction of Sharon Dante. While at Nutmeg, Rachel performed featured roles in the Pas de Trois des Odalisques from Le Corsaire and variations from Raymonda. Upon graduating from Nutmeg in 2008, Rachel joined the Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an apprentice, where she performed in Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Excalibur, and several other local performances. Rachel is thrilled to join the Charlottesville Ballet this season and is thankful for all the support she receives from her family and friends.
Rachel Turner
Rachel Turner's dance training began at Wilson School of Dance in Charlottesville, where she studied ballet, pointe, and tap. She then trained at the Ballet School for one year under the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. During this time, she was given the opportunity to perform Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. Rachel also studied with Sally Hart at Albermale Ballet Theatre, where she performed the Dying Swan in Carnival of the Animals and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. Rachel's training culminated at the School of Richmond Ballet, where she received intensive instruction in many genres of dance. While a student at the School of Richmond Ballet, Rachel performed many original works by Richmond Ballet faculty. After attending five summers at the School of Richmond Ballet Summer Intensive, she was asked to perform as one of the six friends of Giselle at the summer program's workshop performance. Rachel is currently in the Paralegal Studies program at J. Sargeant Reynolds Community College and looks forward to her second season with Charlottesville Ballet.
Apprentices
Heather Lively
Heather began dancing at the age of four at a local dance studio in Florida before moving to receive most of her training at South Georgia Performing Arts and later at the Wilson School of Dance. She has performed in several ballets including Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, and Beauty & the Beast. In addition to being an apprentice, Heather teaches creative dance, jazz, and tap classes at The Dance Barn in Stanardsville, VA.
Artistic Team
Keith Lee, Associate Director
A native of the Bronx, New York, Keith Lee started his dance training at the age of three. With encouragement from Ben Vereen, he later pursued his studies at the High School of Performing Arts, where he received Capezio awards for excellence in both Ballet and Modern techniques. Immediately following graduation in 1968, he joined American Ballet Theatre. Promoted to the rank of soloist the following year, Keith Lee’s repertory included choreography of such masters as: Jose Limon, Jerome Robbins, Alvin Ailey, Lar Lubovitch, Antony Tudor and George Balanchine.
A versatile artist, as fluent in modern dance technique as Ballet, Keith Lee has served as Ballet Master of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, as well as Ballet Master for the Dallas Black Dance Theatre, The Capitol Ballet, and Nanette Bearden’s Contemporary Chamber Dance Company.
Lee began choreographing in 1968; since, creating ballets for American Ballet Theatre, the Washington Ballet, the Geneva Ballet, the Oakland Ballet, the Garden State Ballet, the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, the Capitol Ballet of Washington DC, the Memphis Concert Ballet, and the Lexington Ballet, to name a few.
Perhaps his most prized skill, Keith Lee is a master dance teacher. Based upon a lifetime of study and immersion, Lee has taught his own style of dance in schools throughout the Americas including: Jacob’ s Pillow, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, Trikinia Kabilios in Bogota, Center Zena Romette, Joseph Holmes Chicago Dance Theater, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Company, University of the Arts, Philadelphia School of Dance Arts, The Rock School of Ballet, Lee Theodore’s American Dance Machine, Canadian Children’s Dance Theatre and regionally, at Virginia School of the Arts, Roanoke Ballet Theater, Arts Council of the Blue Ridge, and Altavista Arts Council.
The co-founder and Artistic Director of Dance Theatre of Lynchburg, Mr. Lee currently resides in Lynchburg, Virginia with his wife and their three children. He continues his free-lance work in the dance field throughout the United States as master teacher and choreographer.
Ariadne Conner, Founder and Choreographer in Residence
A Chicago native, Ariadne Conner relocated to Richmond, Virginia in 2003 to be a trainee with the Richmond Ballet. While a trainee, she had the opportunity to dance in Giselle, Swan Lake, Balanchine's Concerto Barocco, and original choreography by Richmond Ballet Faculty.
Prior to her two-year tenure as a trainee Ariadne was honored to work with outstanding teachers, many who worked personally with George Balanchine. Spending summers at the Houston Ballet Academy, Miami City Ballet, and the School of American Ballet in New York City, she worked with such teachers as Edward Villela, Suki Schore, Susan Pilar, Lauren Anderson, and Peter Boal.
Over the years, Ms. Conner trained at the Chamberlain School of Ballet in Dallas, Texas, with Marcia Dale Weary at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and with Dan Duell as a member of the Ballet Chicago Studio Company. During her time with Mr. Duell, she performed principle roles in Balanchine's Concerto Barocco, Theme and Variations, Serenade, Tarantella, and The Nutcracker.
Ariadne’s varied background of experiences has enabled her to transition from the role of performer to that of choreographer. When Ms. Conner choreographed for the trainees of Richmond Ballet in the 2006 and 2007, she was propelled into a whole new experience with dance. Ariadne co-founded Charlottesville Ballet in 2007 and she continues her unique vision for the company through her beautiful works of choreography.
Kelly Silliman, Choreographer in Residence
Kelly Silliman studied ballet for ten years before falling in love with modern dance at age fourteen, after which she promptly began her first company. She holds a BA in Theatre Arts from Stetson University, and while in school she implemented and taught the modern dance program for the Academy of Dance in DeLand, FL. During the summers she participated in Drink to This!, a program for emerging artists in the Hartford, CT area, eventually serving as artistic co-director. After college Kelly moved to Boston, where she co-founded Royal Jelly, a performance ensemble for dancers, musicians, and artists. In 2000, she moved to Tucson, AZ, where she danced with NEW ARTiculations Dance Theatre. She founded the company's Youth Dance Ensemble, which offered training and performance experience to low-income youth, as well as choreographing on and teaching NEW ART's professional dancers. Kelly also spent many years teaching ballet and modern in the studio setting. Since moving to central Virginia in 2004, Kelly has danced with Prospect Dance Group, performed in Wunderkammer and Shentai, choreographed for the UVa Dance Program, and worked with inFlux Dance and UpRooted Dance Theatre.
Kelly and her husband Tom own Sweet Dog Farm, a sustainable agricultural (ad)venture in Greene County. Kelly also owns The Dance Barn in Stanardsville, VA where she graciously donates her studio space to Charlottesville Ballet. She is an asset to the company and we look forward to presenting her work for many seasons to come.
Nicole McGurn, Artistic Associate
Nicole Busse McGurn received her early dance training in Alexandria, Virginia, from Sally O’Connor, who was associated with Mary Day of the Washington School of Ballet in D.C. As a teenager, Nicole lived in Germany. She attended the Stuttgart Ballet School and taught for Alice Kaluza in Frankfurt am Main. As a young adult, Nicole moved to California and taught for the Michele Armand Gaines Studio in Los Angeles. Nicole later trained in Chicago, Illinois, with Warren Conover of the American Ballet Theatre, Beirute Baroccate of the Illinois Ballet, and Ginger Farley of the Hubbard Street Dance Company.
For ten years, Nicole was the Director of the Ballet Centre in Charlottesville, Virginia. Nicole has also taught at the School for the Performing Arts in Orange, Virginia and in the after-care program at St.Anne's Belfield School. Teaches for the Miki Liszt dance company at McGuffey Art Center.
Nicole has placed numerous students in prestigious summer workshop programs, such as the Washington School of Ballet, the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, the Boston Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet School, Walnut Hill, the Rock School of Philadelphia, and the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Nicole’s former students have received dance scholarships at the University of Utah, the University of Indiana, and the North Carolina School of the Arts. Nicole’s most accomplished students have joined the Miami City Ballet, the Charleston Ballet Theater, the Annapolis Ballet, and the Aspen/Santa Fe Ballet.
Nicole is excited to work with the dancers of Charlottesville Ballet using her years of expertise to promote the highest caliber of dance at Charlottesville Ballet.