I’m a former ballerina whose career has spanned performance, education, choreography, and mentorship. I was trained by the legendary Madame Maria Yurieva Swoboda and began dancing professionally in my teens with the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. Later, I performed principal roles with both American Ballet Theatre and the National Ballet of Washington, D.C.

For over 30 years, I served as Artistic Associate of Dennis Nahat’s Cleveland Ballet/Ballet San Jose—teaching, coaching, and performing beloved character roles with the company.

My mission is to lift the spirit and nurture self-confidence through ballet—gently modified to suit any age or ability. I believe ballet is for everyone, regardless of physical condition. I’ve taught the expressive magic of ballet arms to students in wheelchairs, helping them transcend limitations and feel transformed. By loosening the rigid demands required of professional training, ballet becomes a source of joy and inspiration. My favorite compliment? “I feel inspired.”

I’ve taught at many of the world’s most respected dance institutions, including:

• Ballet Academy East
• The Juilliard School
• The Alvin Ailey School
• Ballet Tech
• The Joffrey School
• School of Ballet San Jose
• Florence Summer Dance in Italy

I also served as a tenured Assistant Professor and Director of Dance at Kansas State University, where I launched the university’s Dance Degree program. In recognition of my work, KSU named a ballet studio in my honor and presented an annual student award in my name for fifteen years.

As a choreographer, I created works for Cynthia Gregory and Fernando Bujones for their New York City Center performances. I also developed Ballet Movement for the Athlete, a custom conditioning program for the Cleveland Browns.

My 6-DVD instructional series, The Complete Guide to Teaching Ballet, has been used by educators and studios across the country.