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.

Originally from Nicaragua, Francisco Avellan has studied classical ballet extensively with teachers such as Alexi Zubiría and Maria Vegh. He is known for his warm and compassionate teaching style with students from absolute beginners to advanced levels. He has danced professionally since 1985 with many Bay Area companies including Marin Ballet. Francisco is Pilates certified and also has a great deal of experience teaching ballet for rhythmic gymnastics.

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?

KIM GARDNER

Kim Gardner has been teaching ballet in the South Bay for over 20 years. She is known for her clarity and her ability to impart an experiential knowledge of the anatomy and aesthetics of ballet technique. Also a certified pilates instructor, she runs the dance medicine program at the Center for Sports Medicine at O'Connor Hospital, where she develops individualized exercise programs to serve a variety of rehabilitation issues. Her clientele includes dancers and instructors, competitive and recreational athletes and individuals affected by stroke and multiple sclerosis. In 2001, O'Connor Hospital awarded her a certificate of excellence. Prior to working at the Center, Ms. Gardner danced professionally for 17 years, performing with the Milwaukee Ballet, Alonzo King's Lines, Margaret Wingrove Dancers and touring the United States with Oakland Ballet. As principal guest artist with San Jose Dance Theatre, she is best remembered as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the annual Nutcracker and as Beauty in Beauty and the Beast for which she received critical acclaim.

ALEJANDRO GOMEZ

Alejandro Gomez began his studies at the ‘Instituto Superior de Danza’ in Caracas, Venezuela. He then joined the ‘Ballet Nacional de Caracas’ where he danced an array of choreographies by Vicente Nebrada. Next, he joined ‘Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas,’ under the direction of Zhandra Rodriguez, where he performed choreographies by Choo San Goh and Donald McKayle, among others. With these two companies, he toured throughout South America, the Caribbean, the United States, and Europe. Mr. Gomez later came to the US and since then, he has danced with several companies, such as Minnesota Dance Theatre, Island Moving Company of RI and Ballet Theatre of Boston. He also has performed in various festivals, such as International Ballet Festival of Miami and Dance Festival of Joinville, Brazil. As a choreographer, he has created several pieces for Island Moving Company and various dance schools.

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.

SYLVIA MARTIN

Sylvia Martin was born in Lima, Peru. She graduated from the Escuela Nacional de Ballet in Lima, Peru. As a scholarship recipient, she continued her professional training in ballet at the Teatro Colon de Buenos Aires in Argentina. Among Ms. Martin's credits are soloist work with Compania del Ballet Nacional de Peru, and the Gary Palmer Dance Company where she broadened her reputation as a versatile modern/ballet dancer. Sylvia has enjoyed teaching classical ballet in the Bay Area since 1991. Some of the schools she has been an instructor at include San Jose Dance Theater and The School of Ballet San Jose/Silicon Valley. She is also a preschool teacher for the Santa Clara Unified School District. She developed curriculum and lesson plans for children 3 to 5 years old and created motor development activities for young children. She earned a certificate of achievement in Early Childhood Education from San Jose City College and is currently working on earning a Bachelor degree in Child Development.

Ramon Moreno

Ramón Moreno, a native of Pina Del Rio, Cuba, Principal Dancer of Ballet San Jose (formerly San Jose Cleveland Ballet) in 1999. Mr. Moreno has participated extensively in competitions worldwide, including appearances in Cuba, Peru, Brazil, Finland and the United States, and has been awarded seven medals including four gold. He has performed with the Classical Ballet of Havana, toured internationally and appeared as a guest artist with the Cuballet of Pittsburgh. His vast repertoire includes Apollo, Carmen, Who Cares?, Flower Festival, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Coppelia, Don Quixote, Swan Lake and Involucion. As a guest artist with San Jose Cleveland Ballet in 1998, his performance in Involucion was named one of the "ten best dance events" in the California Bay Area. Ramón has also been a member of the faculty for Ballet San Jose School's Summer Dance Program.

As a student, Linda Rickert was selected for a full scholarship by Igor Youskevitch, a guest teacher with the Princeton Regional Ballet Company. She was awarded a scholarship to the School of Pennsylvania Ballet, studying with Edward Caton, Maria Swoboda, David Howard, Maggie Black, and Benjamin Harkavy. Ms. Rickert joined the Pennsylvania Ballet upon the invitation of Benjamin Harkavy and performed numerous works including Les Sylphides, Raymonda Variations, Serenade, Four Temperaments, Concerto Barocco and Symphony in C. She has taught extensively in schools on both the East and West Coasts, including Maryland Youth Ballet and San Jose Dance Theater.

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.

Grant Spencer trained with Jon Cristofori and Kathleen Sinclair at Yuma Ballet Academy in Yuma, Arizona. He supplemented his training at Joffrey Ballet, San Antonio Ballet, Ballet Met, and Pacific Northwest Ballet, where he received full scholarships. His professional experience began with Sacramento Ballet where he danced soloist roles in works by Alan Heinlein, Septime Weber, and Katherine Posin. Mr. Spencer continued his career with Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, where he performed soloist roles in much of the classic Russian repertoire, including Swan Lake, Paquita, Tarantella, and Stars & Stripes. Grant is now a member of Company C Contemporary Ballet.

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.