ALEXI ZUBIRĺA, Artistic Director

Alexi Zubiría has danced with ballet companies worldwide including the International Ballet of Caracas (principal dancer), Ballet Nuevo Mundo (principal dancer), Deutsche Oper Berlin (soloist), Roland Petit’s Ballet National de Marseille (principal dancer) and San Francisco Ballet (soloist). His career with San Francisco Ballet (1986 – 1994), included roles as the male lead in Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, the Pas de Deux from Le Corsaire and the Cavalier in Christensen/Tomasson’s Nutcracker. His other works with San Francisco Ballet included leading roles in Lew Christensen's Divertissement d'Auber and Tomasson’s Bizet Pas de Deux. In 1982 he competed in the II U.S. International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, winning a Silver Medal. His talents made him an extremely versatile dancer, proficient in classical, neo-classical and modern styles of dance. After retiring from San Francisco Ballet, Mr. Zubiría earned a degree in biology and has accumulated years of experience in the high tech business world. Mr. Zubiría brings a wealth of experience and a passion for teaching of the highest standards to Western Ballet.

DAVID FONNEGRA

David Fonnegra was born in Venezuela and was a principal dancer for the Ballet de Caracas directed by the legendary choreographer, Vincente Nebrada. After seeing him perform on tour, Mr. Fonnegra was invited by Edward Villella to join the Miami City Ballet. During his tenure, he appeared in principal roles in ballets such as Romeo and Juliet and Don Quixote. Mr. Fonnegra joined State Street Ballet in Santa Barbara for their 2002-03 Season and appeared in principal roles in Taming of the Shrew, Hollywood Nutcracker, and Romeo and Juliet. Since joining Diablo Ballet in 2004, Mr. Fonnegra has been featured in The Legend of Taj Mahal, Petrushka, They’ve Lost Their Footing and Who Cares?

Tiffany Hartsfield

Tiffany Hartsfield trained on full scholarships at Bossov Ballet Theater and as part of Miami City Ballet's Professional Training Program. She was also hand picked by Altynai Asylmuratova to attend the famed Vaganova Academy in St Petersburg, Russia. Showcased by Morag Productions as the Principal Dancer on board Japan's famous Asuka Cruise Ship based out of Japan; Tiffany performed excerpts from Carmen, My Fair Lady, One, Chorus line, Oklahoma and Cats. As a free lance artist she has performed as Swanilda/Coppelia in Coppelia, as Alice in Background Production's Alice in Wonderland and danced a number of soloist roles in but not limited to Andrei Bossov's Le Corsaire, Paquita, Bolero, Yanis Pikieris' Tchaikovsky Suite and Imagined Notions, and in Alexi Zubria's Un Atardecer en Sevilla. This is her first year with Western Ballet.

Melanie Hawkes

Melanie Hawkes, a California native started dancing at community recreation departments at the age of 5. She began her formal training at a Royal Academy of Dance school with Jean San Juan at 8 years old and enjoyed performing Clara with Pacific Ballet Theatre at age 12.   She joined Western Ballet at age 15. Melanie has attended summer programs with American Ballet Theater, Ballet West, Alonzo King's Lines Ballet, Princeton Ballet School, and Contra Costa Ballet.  She received her B.F.A. from The University of Utah's ballet department on scholarship (including the William F. Christensen scholarship) completing all three emphases available: teaching, performing, and character dance.  During this time she performed with Utah Ballet and The Character Dance Ensemble. Her choreography for The Character Dance Ensemble won the Tatiana Popova award two years in a row and was performed throughout the United States and England. Melanie had the honor of performing in the 2002 Winter Paralympic Opening Ceremony in Salt Lake City. Melanie took a job dancing with The Montgomery Ballet where her favorite roles included the Pease Blossom Fairy in A Mid Summer Night's Dream and the Candide Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty.  Melanie also worked two seasons with Ballet Tucson where her favorite roles included Lucy in Dracula, Mirtha in Giselle opposite ABT stars Amanda McKerrow and John Gardener, the Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and the Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker.  She spent four seasons with Columbia City Ballet in South Carolina where she enjoyed such roles as the Evil Queen in Snow White, the Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, touring Off the Wall and Onto Stage: Dancing the Art of Jonathon Green, and performing with The Hootie and the Blowfish band live. She also toured Europe with the Blue Lake Fine Arts Ballet Ensemble performing George Balanchine's Sylvia pas de deux.  Melanie joined Western Ballet Company in May of 2010 and also is a teacher at Western Ballet's school. Most recently, Melanie completed the first level of training in American Ballet Theatre's national teacher training program.

Mary Ines

Mary Ines is from the San Francisco Bay Area. She trained at the San Francisco Ballet School under the direction of Gloria Govrin with Pascale Leroy, Shannon Breshnahan, Jorge Esquivel, and Parrish Maynard. She also trained, on scholarship, at the Ballet San Jose School under the direction of Lise La Cour with Peter Brandenhoff, Dalia Rawson, and Le Mai Linh. She attended summer courses at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre School, and Boston Ballet School. As a student at San Francisco Ballet School, Ines performed in the school’s Student Showcases and in the company’s productions of Nutcracker and the 50th Anniversary Gala. While with the Ballet San Jose School, Ines performed in ballets both with the company and school. With the company, she danced corps de ballet roles in Swan Lake, Serenade, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Carmina Burana, and The Nutcracker. With the school, her student roles included Snow White in Lise La Cour’s Snow White.

Alison Share was born and raised in the San Francisco Bay Area. She trained at Western Ballet under the direction of Mark Foehringer. At Western Ballet, Alison has performed principal and soloist roles in Paquita, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia and Cinderella and has danced in contemporary ballets by Mark Foehringer, Gonzalo Espinoza and David Popaliski. She is currently dancing with Peninsula Ballet Theatre.

Jessical Woodman

Born and raised in San Jose, Jessica trained in Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Contemporary around the Bay Area. Her teachers include Xavier Ferla, Kristine Elliott, and Sam Weber. She attended ABT's intensive in New York in 2006, 2007, and 2008 as well as Ballet Austin's in 2010. She has had the pleasure of working with renowned choreographers such as Yannis Adoniou, Gregory Dawson, Mark Foehringer, and Liz Roman. She is currently working with Menlowe Ballet. Jessica is very excited to be working with Western Ballet's Chamber Company this year.