LDB 2011 Summer Intensive Workshop
Louisiana Delta Ballet presents the 2011 Summer Intensive Workshop held at the Monroe Civic Center's Conference Center and the Jack Howard Theatre. Co-Sponsored by the City of Monroe, this prestigious workshop is for intermediate, advanced, and professional level dancers and boasts prestigious instructors including:
THOM CLOWER - Ballet
Known as one of the most energetic and inspiring teachers across the country, Thom Clower served as Ballet Master for Dallas Ballet, Artistic Director of Ballet Dallas, Ballet Master for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Artistic Director of Yuma Ballet Theatre in Arizona. Since 2001 Thom Clower has worked around the world as a freelance master teacher and choreographer. He has been a guest teacher at Broadway Dance Center, as Associate Ballet Master for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and serves annually as Ballet Master for Young Tanzsommer! in Austria. He joined the faculty of Allegro Ballet of Houston in the fall of 2009Known as one of the most energetic and inspiring teachers across the country, Thom Clower served as Ballet Master for Dallas Ballet, Artistic Director of Ballet Dallas, Ballet Master for Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, and Artistic Director of Yuma Ballet Theatre in Arizona. Since 2001 Thom Clower has worked around the world as a freelance master teacher and choreographer. He has been a guest teacher at Broadway Dance Center, as Associate Ballet Master for Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, and serves annually as Ballet Master for Young Tanzsommer! in Austria. He joined the faculty of Allegro Ballet of Houston in the fall of 2009.
MICHAEL LEVINE - Ballet
Michael has danced professionally for over 15 years. Formerly a principal with the Joffrey Ballet, Levine has had the pleasure of dancing numerous leading and principle parts. He has danced as Albrecht in Freddy Franklin’s staging of Giselle, Death in Kurt Jooss’s The Green Table, Romeo in John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet and The Prince in Aston’s Cinderella. Other leading roles include The Brown Pas in Kylian’s Return to a Strange Land, The Lover in Tudor’s Lilac Garden, Balanchine’s Tychaikovsky Pas de Deux, Iago in Limone’s The Moore’s Pavane. He has also performed the leads in many of Arpino and Joffrey works, some of which include: Arthur St. Leon in Pas de Deesses, the leading man in A Round of Angels, and the lead couple in Light Rain. Levine worked with horeographer Donald Byrd on the collaboration with Ramsey Lewis on To Know Her and in the creation of Motown Suite; both for the Joffrey. Away from the Joffrey, Michael was also involved in the creation of Lauri Stalling’s full evening work Eidelon and performed in some of her other works, including Bacchus’ Vessel, In the Belly of Grace and Sprawling Orchid. While at American Ballet Theater, Michael had the pleasure of appearing in James Kudelka’s Cruel World, Kevin McKenzie’s Transcendental Etudes and Lar Lubovich’s A Brahms symphony and Othello. Michael has received numerous mentions for both his technical ability and classical line as well as for his excellent character portrayal. He has been mentioned numerous times in the Chicago SunTimes and Chicago Tribune as well as the New York Times and Washington Post. Mr. Levine enjoys sharing time both on stage and off with his beautiful wife Maia Wilkins.
ANANDA BENA-WEBER - Ballet/Pointe
Ananda Bena-Weber is a principal dancer artist with the Sierra Nevada Ballet and a founding member. She has danced professionally as a soloist with the Reno Ballet, Perspectives Dance Theatre and Fascinating Rhythm Productions. She has appeared as featured soloist with Sam Weber performing in Morton Gould's "Concerto for Tap Dancer and Orchestra" throughout the SF Bay Area. She has appeared in principal roles in several original dance works such as Dreams, Take Me To The River, Dancing In The New Millennium, GSR, Back Street, Laura, Blue Rondo, Armando’s Rumba and classics such as The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet and Paquita. Ms Bena-Weber is an award winning artist and has performed acting, singing and dancing featured roles in over 30 theater productions in the SF Bay Area. A gifted choreographer, Ananda has choreographed several works for the professional ballet company, Sierra Nevada Ballet, and for the San Francisco State Drama Department, Peninsula Ballet Theater School Performing Group and San Mateo High School performing arts program. Bena-Weber is a Magna cum Laude graduate of San Francisco State University, has attended Columbia University Masters Program in Drama and studies acting at the Linkleter Center in New York City. She teaches at Mary Mount College and guest teaches all levels of ballet and related dance classes and acting (without words) throughout the US. She has performed leading acting roles with Nevada Shakespeare Company and has been featured as a Principal dancer with the Sierra Nevada Ballet company since 2001.
MAIA WILKINS - Pointe/Variations
Maia is honored to continue Gerald Arpino’s legacy as a repetiteur for his works and the Gerald Arpino Foundation. As a freelance artist, she enjoys performing and teaching throughout the country. Wilkins has guest taught and helped with dance workshops and performances at Point Park University Pittsburgh PA, Southern Methodist University Dallas TX, University of Wisconsin at Steven’s Point, Nevada Festival Ballet in Reno, Eastern Connecticut Ballet, and throughout the greater Chicago area. She loves dancing both on stage and off with her husband and fellow artist Michael Levine. During her 18-year history with The Joffrey Ballet, Maia Wilkins danced featured roles that showcased her artistic range and physical versatility. From Balanchine pointe to Pilobolus bare feet; favorite ballerina fairies to flying on a trapeze, she has gotten to work with numerous répétiteurs and choreographers including pieces by Tudor, Parsons, Tharp, Kylian, Ashton, and Nijinsky. Maia Wilkins has performed more Joffrey and Arpino ballets than any other ballerina. Wilkins received the Ruth Page Dance Achievement Award in 1999 for her artistry and in 2001 for the role of Kate in Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew. She has been one of Dance Magazine’s “25 to Watch.” In 2002 the Chicago Tribune named her one of the top ten artists in Chicago. In 2006, along with Gerald Arpino, Wilkins was named one of the Chicagoans of the year for her important contribution to the arts in Chicago. Wilkins can be seen in the feature films Save the Last Dance and Robert Altman’s The Company. Maia Wilkins was born and raised in Truckee, California. She began her dance training in tap then later began ballet. Wilkins received her formative training under Maggie Banks in Reno, NV. She has also studied with Stanley Holden , The School of American Ballet, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Luigi, and Tina Bernal. Wilkins performed with Joffrey Concert Group then Joffrey II before joining The Joffrey main company.
KERSTEN TODEY - Contemporary/Jazz/Musical Theater
Kersten grew up at Bobbies School of Performing Arts in Thousand Oaks, CA. She then went on to graduate from the Edge Scholarship Program in Los Angeles. In 2003 she became a member of Myo Dance Company under the direction Josie Walsh. She has worked with some of the most well renowned choreographers in Los Angeles including Mandy Moore, Dan Karaty, Michael Rooney, Gregg Russell and more. Recent credits include Taylor Swift’s performance on “Dancing with the Stars”, the regional tour of “Glee”, NBC’s hit reality show “America’s Got Talent”, and the National American Idol Promo Ads. She is currently working on the Nickelodeon show “Fresh Beat Band” and recently finished choreographing a show for Hannah Montana star Mitchel Musso. Kersten is a master teacher and choreographer around the country. She is now a second time finalist for the Ace Award in New York City for her choreography. She has style for days and will make you love every movement with her upbeat personality and love of dance!
CHRISTIAN VINCENT - Jazz
Christian Vincent is a man of many talents that is a success in many areas of the entertainment industry. He is a native of Windsor, Ontario,Canada and holds a B.F.A from Butler University where he graduated with highest honors, cum laude. As a multi-talented performer, Christian first experienced success in the entertainment industry as one of the most working professional dancers. Christian has worked with such artists as Shakira, Ricky Martin, Chayanne, Mandy Moore, Macy Gray, Brian Setzer Orchestra, Ashanti, Prince, Gloria Estefan, Britney Spears, Stevie Wonder and Madonna (where he was dance captain for her Drowned World Tour). Christian has also danced in various films including She’s All That, Starsky and Hutch, Rent, The Wedding Planner, Walk Hard “The Dewey Cox Story,” Flintstones “Viva Rock Vegas” and Ms. Congeniality 2,. Even more extensive are his television appearances on Buffy, Disney’s Annie, Arrested Development, Baywatch, Mad TV, The George Lopez show, Cold Case and Dancing with The Stars. Additionally, he has appeared in multiple commercials and print ads for Chevrolet, Muscle and Fitness “Hers” and Verizon. His talent’s as a choreographer can be seen in various projects. He has worked with directors David Fincher and Marc Webb to name a few. Christian’s commercial credits include Target, AT&T, Nationwide Insurance, Wal Mart, Covergirl with Queen Latifah, Adiddas and Subway. Most recently his work can be seen on film in the recently released Noah’s Arc Jumping The Broom and 500 Days of Summer. This man is truly a triple threat. His acting career is definitely on the rise. Christian appeared off Broadway in Radiant Baby, directed by George C. Wolf. More recently Christian has made appearances on Smallville, Center Stage 2 as Harris Webb, J, J Abrams hit series Fringe, as The Archangel Michael on the ABC Family show entitled Fallen and most recently the Lifetime movie Sins of the Mother. Christian also played Ricky Davis on the hit show Noah’s Arc. This multi- faceted young man reprised his role of Ricky in the film Noah’s Arc “Jumping the Broom.” Aside from his professional ventures Christian is known as a master dance teacher and motivator. He currently teaches on various dance conventions throughout the US and Canada. It is important for him to impart his knowledge to the next generation of performers.