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Rock Centre Faculty

BOJAN SPASSOFF - PRESIDENT & DIRECTOR
Bojan Spassoff was a Ford Foundation Scholarship student at the School of American Ballet and was an apprentice with the Harkness Ballet,Joffrey Ballet, and New York City Ballet companies. After becoming a member of the Dutch National Ballet, Mr. Spassoff was among the first foreigners to join the Royal Danish Ballet. Subsequently, he was invited to join American Ballet Theatre and continued his career dancing solo and principal roles with the San Francisco Ballet and teaching for that company and its school. Mr. Spassoff served asArtistic Director for both Savannah Ballet and Ballet Oklahoma and their associated schools. He was also guest artist and teacher for numerous regional companies, schools, and universities. A former balletmaster for Pennsylvania Ballet, he was Associate Director of the NewYork State Summer School of the Arts, operated in conjunction with NewYork City Ballet. He has coached gold medalists in prestigious international competitions in Havanna, Moscow, and the USAInternational Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS and is a judge forYouth America Grand Prix. 


STEPHANIE WOLF SPASSOFF - DIRECTOR
An alumna of the School of American Ballet and New York's PerformingArts High School, Stephanie Wolf Spassoff is a former PennsylvaniaBallet soloist, past member of American Ballet Theatre, San FranciscoBallet, and Finis Jhung's New York Chamber Ballet. She was a principal dancer with both Ballet Oklahoma and Savannah Ballet. She was AssociateDirector of Ballet Oklahoma, Savannah Ballet, and their respective associated schools. Ms. Spassoff has been a guest artist and teacher for many regional companies, schools, and universities and was a permanent faculty member of the New York State Summer School of theArts. She has coached gold medalists in prestigious international competitions in Moscow and the USA International Ballet Competition inJackson, MS and is a judge for Youth America Grand Prix.

 

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. At14, she became the youngest member of the Ballet Nacional de Caracas,under the direction of Vicente Nebrada, with whom she toured SouthAmerica and Europe, dancing soloist and principal roles. At 15, she won3rd 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 CoupleAward at the Varna International Ballet Competition, and the Prix Volinine in Paris, France. She has danced principal roles with BayBallet Theater, Cleveland San Jose Ballet, Carolina Ballet Theater,Ballet Hispanico, and has been a guest artist for many companies in theUS 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 / ROCK WEST PRINCIPAL TEACHER
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 Ballet Mistress for West Chester Dance Theatre.


 

JUSTIN ALLEN

Justin Allen began his serious ballet training at The Rock School in 2004. After 4 years he became a professional dancer joining the Dayton Ballet.  Justin danced many roles by Alan Hineline, Septime Webre and William Whitener.  Justin continued his career with Ballet Theater of Maryland dancing leading roles, as well as teaching and choreographing. Since returning to The Rock School for Dance Education Justin has become rehearsal assistant and has shown wonderful promise and talent as a choreographer.

 

JODY ANDERSON

jody.jpegJody started her serious training at age 14 at North Carolina School of the Arts and continued at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York City on full scholarship.  As a principal dancer with the Kansas City Ballet for 16 years, Jody had the honor of performing some of the greatest works of the 20th Century. She was also hand picked by Alvin Ailey to perform as a guest artist with his company The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre. Jody also performed and was the Associate Choreographer and Community Chorus Director with Kansas City's Starlight Theatre in addition to performing with St. Louis MUNY Opera, Atlanta Theatre of the Stars and Houston's Theater Under the Stars. As a choreographer she has staged original works for Kansas City Ballet, Delaware Dance Company, West Chester Dance Theatre in addition to choreographing musicals all over.  Jody was honored to be nominated for a Philadelphia Theatre Alliance Barrymore Award for her choreography for the New Candlelight Theatre's 2007 production of CHICAGO. She has been on the faculty since 2003. 

LAURA L. BERRY
berry_Laura_faculty2011.pngLaura Berry received her foundation of ballet training from Brigitte DeCalle, a former principal dancer of the Kirov Ballet.  In addition, Ms. Berry trained with the Joffery Ballet School, the Milwaukee Ballet School, and the Ham Berge Ballet School of Germany.  She completed her training at Pacific Northwest Ballet School after which she opened her own children’s ballet school in Seattle, Classical Youth Ballet.  During the school’s nineteen year history, Ms. Berry received many prestigious national awards for her choreography.  Under her sole direction, the school put on many full length children’s ballet productions.  Ms. Berry is trained and certified in early childhood psychological development and has been instructing ballet and pre-ballet classes for more than 20 years.  

 

 

GONZALO ESPINOZA

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.

GINA (ANGELUCCI) GRACE
Gina (Angelucci) Grace began her training in Philadelphia with Carole Orlandi Barr, Marion Tonner, and later, with John White and Margarita deSaa at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. Mrs. Grace began teaching throughout the Philadelphia area in 1991 and has been a faculty member with The Rock School since 2000. Mrs. Grace has studied Vaganova pedagogy with a special focus on the first three syllabus years.

 

 

 

 

GABRIELE T. TESFA GUMA
Gabriele T. Tesfa Guma is a native of Ethiopia and was raised in Italy. Mr. Tesfa-Guma has a career in music as well as in dance. Mr. Tesfa-Guma received his dance training from teachers like David Howard, and schools like Ballet Academy East, The Rock School, The Joffrey School, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Gabriele danced with many companies, including Joffrey II: The Dancers, Alpha Omega, Takaski Watanabe (Japan), and was a lead dancer with Philadanco for seven years. Gabriele has been teaching a variety of dance techniques as a guest teacher.

 

 

 

CHRISTINA PASTRAS PATCHELL

Christina began her training in Philadelphia and received scholarships to the Joffrey Ballet, The Govenor's School of the Arts, and The Rock School. She has had the opportunity to travel the world performing in Japan, LA, and tours throughout the US with Pembrua Productions and The Marc Scott Dancers. She has performed with several ballet companies as a corps member and a soloist as well as sharing the stage with Will Smith, Mariah Carey, and Boys II Men. Christina has a B.F.A. In Ballet Education from the University of the Arts and is working on her certification as a Dance Teacher with the Philadelphia School District with a Master's Degree in Education.  She has been on faculty with The Rock School for Dance Education for eight years and as a rehearsal coach for The West Chester Dance Theater. She serves as Ballet Mistress for several schools in the Philadelphia Area.  Christina is happy to broaden her position with  The Rock School as RockReach Administrator. RockReach is an outreach program-bringing dance into charter and public schools in and around Philadelphia. She currently resides on faculty as a RockReach Instructor at 3 charter, private, and public schools where she brings dance from grades K-8. Her goal is to bring dance into the lives of children in our school system where arts and physical education is notably absent.   During her free time she loves to be  with her husband and two children Maximus and Isabella.

 EVA SZABO

Eva Szabo danced and toured extensively with the Gyori Ballet, a company which she co-founded in her native Hungary. She graduated from the Hungarian National Ballet Institute, receiving an international teaching certificate encompassing classical ballet, ballroom dance, folk dance, and pas de deux techniques. Ms. Szabo is currently on faculty at the University of the Arts as Associate Adjunt Professor.

 

 

 

GLEIDSON VASCONCELOS 
Gleidson Vasconcelos is a talented young dancer/teacher who is gifted in both arenas.  Among his credits are Cuban Classical Ballet, Principal Dancer.  New Jersey Ballet, Guest Artist, Company Member, Royal Winnepeg Ballet.  He won the Gold Medal at World Ballet Competition.  Silver Medal, YAGP Finals, New York.  Rudolf Nureyev Award.  Best Male Dancer Russian Pointe Ballet Competition.  The School is pleased and fortunate to have Mr. Vasconcelos "on board."

NATALYA ZEIGER
Natalya Zeiger was trained at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet School as well as by teachers of the famed St. Petersburg School. Ms. Zeiger was a company member of the Bolshoi Ballet and toured extensively throughout Russia and Europe. Ms. Zeiger blends her Russian background with her newfound Balanchine influence.