For upcoming visits see the Arts Calendar

John Gardner (September 2010)

John Gardner was born in Lafayette, Indiana, and began his ballet training at the age of 12 with Glen Ashton in Lafayette, and subsequently trained at the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois, under the direction of Michael Maule. He received a scholarship to American Ballet Theatre's School at the age of 16 and joined ABT's secondary company three months later, in 1977. In 1978 he joined ABT's main company and was promoted to the rank of soloist in 1984. Gardner's diverse repertoire included many soloist and principal roles, representing an extensive range of styles and giving him the opportunity to work with some of the great ballet choreographers of the 20th century, including Antony Tudor, Jerome Robbins, Agnes de Mille and George Balanchine.

In 1991 Gardner joined Mikhail Baryshnikov's White Oak Dance Project, affording him the opportunity to work closely with choreographers such as Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Lar Lubovitch and Martha Graham. Gardner created numerous roles during his time with the White Oak Dance Project and toured extensively in Europe, the United States, Asia and South America. He returned to ABT in 1995, where he danced a wide variety of roles with the company until 2002. In 2000, Gardner, together with his wife Amanda McKerrow, began working for the Antony Tudor Trust, staging and coaching his superlative ballet, The Leaves Are Fading, around the country.

During the course of his career, Gardner has achieved an excellent reputation as a master teacher and coach for ballet on both the professional and student levels, and has staged numerous ballets for professional companies and schools across the United States.

Click on the following link to view a video clip of John Gardner dancing with his wife, Amanda McKerrow; Leaves Are Fading Pas de Deux

Amanda McKerrow (September 2010)

See Amanda and John performing Tudor's "The Leaves are Fading"
(Leaves Are Fading Pas de Deux: Amanda McKerrow John Gardner)

Denise Vale (September 30, 2009)

Ms.Vale is principal dancer with the Martha Graham Dance Company and its Senior Artistic Associate.  A native of Pennsylvania, Ms. Vale began her professional performing career with the Martha Graham Dance Company in 1985, attaining the rank of Principal dancer in 1990. Ms. Vale has performed roles such as the Pioneer Woman in Appalachian Spring, Woman in White in Diversion of Angels, Cassandra in Clytemnestra, Chorus Leader in Night Journey, The Attendent in Herodiade, lead dancer in Steps in the Street, and Night Chant, a ballet created in 1989 for Ms. Vale by Martha Graham. Graham solos performed include Lamentation, Frontier, Satyric Festival Song and Serenata Morisca. From 1995-2003, Denise Vale served as an Assistant Professor of Dance at the University of Oklahoma and in 2003 was granted tenure and promoted to Associate Professor of Dance. Ms. Vale has served on the faculty as "Artist in Residence" at Marymount Manhattan College, as well as on the faculty of the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City.   Ms. Vale continues to teach at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and continues to perform, choreograph and teach on a national and international level. 

Miki Orihara (September 30, 2009)

Miki Orihara (Principal Dancer/Martha Graham Dance Company) joined the Company in 1987. She has performed with various other prominent companies and choreographers including the Broadway Production of The King and I, Elisa Monte, Dance Troup (Japan), Twyla Tharp, and Robert Wilson. Ms. Orihara was a special guest artist for Japan?s New National Theater. As an independent artist, she premiered her works in New York and Tokyo. Her teaching credentials include numerous workshops in Japan, Art International in Moscow, Peridance, the Ailey School, New York University, Florida State University, and New National Theater Ballet School; she also works as an assistant for Yuriko. Ms. Orihara performs with PierGroupDance and Lotuslotus. (photo of Miki Orihara by John Deane)

Click here to view the video segment, "Main Streets and Back Roads, St. Johnsbury, Vermont" dated 4 Nov. '09 from WCVB-TV5 in Boston, MA.

Cherie Noble (September 17, 2008)

Chérie Noble, choreographer, ballet master, and teacher, danced professionally as a charter member and soloist of the Pennsylvania Ballet Company. Ms. Noble has served as Associate Director of Ballet Arizona and as Ballet Master and Company Teacher for the Pennsylvania Ballet Company, the Iranian National Ballet, and Ballet Oklahoma. She has taught several American College Dance Festivals and Regional Dance America Festivals, and has participated as a master teacher for the RDA Craft of Choreography Conference and for the National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Ms. Noble has choreographed more than sixty commissioned works and enjoys staging the full-length classics. Nationally recognized for her extensive teaching residencies in the U.S. and abroad, Ms. Noble is respected for her knowledge, caring guidance, and ability to develop artistic potential.

Silvia Nevjinsky Goncalves (October 6-16, 2008 and 29 March to 11 April 2009)

Silvia Nevjinsky Goncalves was born in Lisbon, Portugal, where she began her dance training in High School with Rui Horta and at the Gulbenkian Ballet School. From 1984 to 1989, she was a principal dancer with the Lisbon Dance Company, a contemporary repertory company. Since moving to New York in 1989, she has appeared as a guest artist with several dance companies including Empire State Ballet, New American Ballet Ensemble,Ballet for Young Audiences and David Storey Dance Works. She was a member of the Lar Lubovitch Dance Company from 1991 to 1995.In August of that year, she joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company and was a featured dancer until June 2005, originating several roles. With these companies, she performed all over the USA, South and Central America, Asia and Europe. Additionally, she has appeared in two “Dance in America” PBS specials with the Paul Taylor Dance Company, “The wreckers’ ball” and “Acts of Ardor”, in the Oscar nominated documentary “Dancemaker”, in several music videos, industrials and special events, including the Walt Disney Premiere of “Pocahontas” in Central Park. Her teaching experience includes teaching Modern Dance in New York City, San Luis Obispo, Skidmore College, Wilmington, San Paulo, Lisbon, Oporto, Toulouse and Antwerp; Choreography and Dance appreciation in the New York City Public Schools as part of the City Center Outreach Program and at ABT’ s Summer Arts Institute; Yoga at the Paul Taylor Dance Company Summer Workshops. She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Hunter College of New York, a National Dance Institute of New Mexico teacher training certificate, and a Stage to Classroom Dance Teacher certificate. She is a certified Yoga Instructor and a Posture Analysis Specialist.

Angela Whitehill (October 30, 2008)

Angela Whitehill, Founding Artistic Director, was trained by the National Ballet of Canada and at the Arts Educational Schools in London.

She danced professionally with the Ballet Paris, Jack Emile Litler Productions in England and Europe. Ms. Whitehill was the founder and director of London School of Ballet U.S.V.I., New Jersey’s Shore Ballet Company and has worked as artist-in-residence at Castleton State and Colby-Sawyer Colleges.

She has also served as a costume designer to the Atlanta Ballet Co., Scottish American Ballet, International Ballet Competition, New Jersey Ballet and Burklyn Ballet Designs.

She is the recipient of eight Vermont State Arts Council grants, NJ Francis Hopkins Memorial Award, the NJ Institute of Technology Authors Award, Vermont Woman of Achievement Award and is listed in Who’s Who in Entertainment and Who’s Who Women of the World. She is the author of The Parents Book of Ballet (Meriwether, 1988, Second Edition - Princeton Books, 2003), The Young Professional's Book of Ballet (Princeton Books, 1990), The Dancer's Book of Ballet (iuniverse.com, 2000) and Ballet Magic - The Burklyn Story (QCP, 2001) and Nutcracker Backstage (Princeton Books, 2004). She is also the founder and Artistic Director of both Dance Counsel, an advice and counseling service to parents, young dancers and companies and Burklyn Designs, a costume design and seminar program.

Christine Dakin (May 2008)
Photo of Ms. Dakin by Chuck Kimball

Christine Dakin, former principal dancer and former artistic director for the world-renowned Martha Graham Dance Company, is presented a free performance Saturday, May 3, 2008 in St. Johnsbury Academy’s Fuller Hall. The performance was sponsored by the Ned & Sarah Handy Fund for Dance and its contributors.
[photo by Chuck Kimball]

Dakin was selected as a Martha Graham principal dancer in 1976 and served as artistic director from 2002 to 2005. She is widely credited with leading the rebirth of the Company as artistic director and known worldwide for her performances of Graham’s own roles and the principal roles Graham created for her.  For the full press release, visit the News section.

Dakin will be accompanied by pianist Louis Stewart who is an Associate Professor on the faculty of Berklee College of Music. Stewart’s extensive theater and dance experience includes composing scores for LaMama Theater including his 1992 musical theatre work Cambodia Agonistes. He was pianist and assistant conductor with the Martha Graham Dance Company from 1971 to 1977.

In addition to her Saturday, May 3 public performance, Dakin conducted lessons for Academy Dance students.

Dakin is the third world-class dancer hosted by the Handy Fund and the Academy during the 2007-08 school year. In December 2007, the Academy welcomed Martha Graham principal dancer Miki Orihara and Stephen Pier, a member of the ballet faculty at the prestigious Juilliard School of Music in Manhattan.

Additional information about the Handy Fund and Academy dance programs is available at www.stjohnsburyacademy.org or by contacting Marianne Handy Hraibi, the Academy’s dance instructor at mhraibi@stjacademy.org.

Stephen Pier (December 2007)

http://www.piergrp.org/links.html 
http://home.earthlink.net/~miki3lotus/id2.html


Photo by John Deane

Miki Orihara (December 2007)

http://home.earthlink.net/~miki3lotus/ 
http://thewinger.com/words/contributors/miki-orihara/ 
Stephen & Miki were guests at the Academy Dec 2004, 2005, 2007 

John Deane (Dance Photographer)

http://www.johndeane.com/ 

John Deane permits use of his photos 2004, 2005, 2006, 2007 

Steve Paxton  (St JA guest Dec 2001 / May 2003)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Steve_Paxton

http://www.artsalive.ca/en/dan/meet/bios/artistDetail.asp?artistID=178

http://www.kimpro.dk/historie_eng.htm 

Alice Helpern      (St JA guest May 2003)

http://www.ecampus.com/book/9057550989

Kennet Oberly  (St JA Guest Fall 2002 / May 2003)

Dec 2002 (choreographed on St JA students/his wife, Larissa Sintsova, performed with St JA dancers in public performance)

http://www.ballet-%20dance.com/200505/articles/Oberly200504.htm- dance.com/200505/articles/Oberly200504.htm

http://www.alexandraballet.com/company/co_staff.html

Kennet Oberly's performing career began in 1972 with Germany's famous Stuttgart Ballet, where he worked with one of the greatest choreographic storytellers of our time, John Cranko. Over the next 12 years, Oberly performed with companies such as Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Tulsa Ballet Theater, and Tivoli Pantomime Theater in Copenhagen, Denmark. In 1988, he was named Artistic Director of Ballet Iowa after serving as a Resident Choreographer and Ballet Master of Finnish Ballet. His expertise in the ballet technique of 19th century Danish master August Bournonville then took him to Estonia Ballet as Guest Master Teacher for sixth and eight year students of Bournonville training.

Oberly later served as Director of the Wolcott Children's Ballet, a non-profit organization in rural Vermont dedicated to offering quality pre-professional dance training to children regardless of financial status. Oberly recently taught for Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio, and is currently working on independent projects throughout the Midwest. Rich with choreographic credits from Ballet Iowa, Estonia Theater Ballet, and others. Oberly brings his highly regarded work to Alexandra Ballet in 2008, with the Bournonville masterpiece, Konservatoriet.

Larissa Sintsova  (St JA Guest Dec 2002 / March 2003)

http://list.uvm.edu/cgi-bin/wa?A2=ind0303&L=nek_arts&P=246

Kennet & Larissa

http://www.enquirer.com/editions/2000/03/12/loc_diverse_styles%20of.html

"Kennet Oberly and his wife Larissa Sintsova will instruct students in Vaganova and the Danish Bournonville styles. Mr. Oberly is former ballet master of the Finnish National Ballet and Ms. Sintsova is former principal dancer of the Estonia Theater Ballet. "

Betty Low (SJA guest May 2004)

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0522789/bio

Biography for Betty Low

Danced with the Ballet Russes de Monte Carlo under the name of Ludmilla Lvova. Head of the dance department at Finch College from 1953-75

http://www.ibdb.com/person.asp?ID=78105

Betty Low Productions and Dates of Production

          Aren't We All?  [Revival, Play, Comedy, Romantic Comedy] 
              Standby: Betty Low [Angela Lynton];

              Standby: Betty Low [Lady Frinton]
              Apr 29, 1985 - Jul 21, 1985

          The Golden Age  [Original, Play]
              Standby: Betty Low [Isabel Hastings Hoyt]
              Apr 12, 1984 - May 6, 1984

          A Talent for Murder  [Original, Play, Comedy, Mystery]
              Standby: Betty Low [Anne Royce McClain]
              Oct 1, 1981 - Dec 6, 1981 

          To Grandmother's House We Go  [Original, Play, Drama]
              Understudy: Betty Low [Clementine];
              Understudy: Betty Low [Grandie];
              Understudy: Betty Low [Harriet]
              Jan 15, 1981 - Mar 8, 1981 

          The Kingfisher  [Original, Play, Comedy] 
              Standby: Betty Low [Evelyn] 
              Dec 6, 1978 - May 13, 1979

          Juno  [Original, Musical, Comedy] 
             Performer: Betty Low [Mrs. Dwyer] 
              Mar 9, 1959 - Mar 21, 1959
          Great to Be Alive!  [Original, Musical] 
              Performer: Betty Low [Prudence] 
              Mar 23, 1950 - May 6, 1950 
          Lend an Ear  [Original, Musical, Revue]
              Performer: Betty Low [Dancing Class Student] 
              Dec 16, 1948 - Jan 21, 1950 
          Antony and Cleopatra  [Revival, Play, Tragedy]
              Performer: Betty Low [Octavia] 
              Nov 26, 1947 - Mar 13, 1948 
          Bloomer Girl  [Original, Musical, Comedy] 
              Performer: Betty Low [Dancer]
              Oct 5, 1944 - Apr 27, 1946

Sherry Travers Underwood  (St JA guest May 2004) 

http://www.jstor.org/view/01472526/ap050031/05a00020/0

Samputu & Ingeli