Ballet Masters

Gonzalo Espinoza - Ballet Master

Born in Venezuela, he joined the Ballet Metropolitano of Caracas in 1988, and was asked to join the National Ballet Venezuela in 1990. Mr. Espinoza joined Ballet Nuevo Mundo in 1991 and was promoted to soloist the following year. He has danced principal roles with Cleveland Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, and has done extensive work with Dancing Wheels, a group encompassing both wheel chair and non wheel-chaired dancers.  A prolific choreographer, he has created works for Sacramento Ballet, Cleveland San Jose Ballet School, as well as their respective schools and other regional companies.  Mr. Espinoza has held the positions of Assistant School Director at Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, and Artistic Director of Western Ballet. He brings a wealth of experience to The Rock School.  Mr. Espinoza is credited with challenging and inspiring students as well as raising the level of professionalism to which they aspire.  Mr. Espinoza has taught master classes at dance conferences and festivals.

Mariaelena Ruiz - Ballet Mistress

Mariaelena Ruiz has been a faculty member and rehearsal coach at The Rock School for Dance Education since 2000. Born in Caracas, Venezuela, Mariaelena began her early studies at the “Academia Ballet Clasico Nina Novak. At 14, she became the youngest member of the Ballet Nacional de Caracas, under the direction of Vicente Nebrada, with whom she toured South America and Europe, dancing soloist and principal roles. At 15, she won 3rd place at The USA International Ballet Competition, junior division, in Jackson, and received a full scholarship to continue her studies at the School of American Ballet. She also won 3rd place and Best Couple Award at the Varna International Ballet Competition, and the Prix Volinine in Paris, France. She has danced principal roles with Bay Ballet Theater, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, Carolina Ballet Theater, Ballet Hispanico, and has been a guest artist for many companies in the US and abroad. Mariaelena has been a member of the Suzanne Farrell Ballet since 2001, where she performs Balanchine repertoire and has also assisted with staging and rehearsals. She has been a judge and guest teacher for Youth America Grand Prix and is also very involved with the New York International Ballet Competition.

Jennifer Wheat - Ballet Mistress

Originally from Michigan, Jennifer Wheat trained with the Contemporary Civic Ballet of Michigan, and was a scholarship student with the schools of Pennsylvania Ballet, Boston Ballet, and The Royal Winnepeg Ballet School. In 1981, after a car accident ended her ballet career dancing, she switched to Jazz, and trained at the University of the Arts and the Lou Conte Dance School, where she was an apprentice with The Hubbard Street Dance Company. Ms. Wheat also danced professionally with Astral Theatrical Dance Company and Dance Fusion, and is the founding director of Fusion2 Dance Company. Ms. Wheat has been a faculty member since 1996 and is a choreographer and ballet mistress for the company.