Curriculum Vitae

ACCOMPLISHMENTS

At Fort Hill Performing Arts Centre:

  • Managed the organization from venue renovation through opening for operations.

  • Researched, selected, and deployed all functional systems and software applications for operations including Financial Accounting and Bookkeeping Systems, Donor CRM, Box Office and Ticketing, I.T. System, Payroll Services, and Merchant Services.

  • Authored the General Policies and Financial Policies Manuals, Operations Procedures, Emergency & Disaster Procedures, Employee Handbook, and Volunteer Handbook which were reviewed and adopted by the Board of Directors. 

  • Authored the FHPAC Board Orientation & Training Manual and co-presented the organizations first Board Retreat to welcome new Board members and grow the Board’s capacity in governance and fundraising.

  • Guided the organization during the COVID-19 pandemic. Positioned FHPAC to be the first business in our area to receive first round PPP funding. Worked with our insurance company to file a successful claim for revenue lost due to the COVID closure. Coordinated a special COVID appeal to select major donors to protect their investment.

  • Headed organization-wide campaign in support of the Save Our Stages initiative (realized as the Shuttered Venue Operators Grant program).

  • Initiated and cultivated ongoing collaborative relationships with our partner organizations – Rochester City Ballet, Rochester Oratorio Society, Rochester Music Hall of Fame, ChamberFest Canandaigua, Finger Lakes Concert Band, Finger Lakes Symphony, Finger Lakes Opera, and Bristol Valley Theatre.

  • Structured post-COVID reopening programming to reflect the organization’s mission, vision, and values.

  • Planed the Nomad Festival of World Music and Dance to be realized (COVID willing) in 2023/24

At Amherst Ballet:

  • Stabilized the 45-year old 501(c)3 performing arts organization that was on a downward trajectory in performance attendance and student participation and suffering out of control and unbudgeted spending.

  • Revitalized the organization by reassessing its relationship to the larger community and adjusting performances, collaborations, classes, and outreach efforts to better meet the needs of the organization and its patrons.

  • Improved the profitability of all performances runs by increasing the number of performances, moving performances to a higher profile venue, and implementing professional production practices thereby controlling production costs and increasing attendance.

  • Improved the quality the performances for both the audience and the artists by programming innovative and challenging new works as well as standards from the classical canon.

  • Initiated successful and repeat collaborations with other artists (choreographers, composers, musicians, and visual artists) and local arts organizations.

  • Conceived, launched, and implemented the "Ballet for All!" Initiative; an outreach program designed to encourage participation in ballet classes by individuals of all ages and skill levels. This program included master classes for pre-professional students, adult dancers at all levels, and inner-city under-served youth.

  • Increased adult student participation from approximately 5 participants to over 100 participants over the span of 3-years.

  • Implemented sound budgetary oversight and bookkeeping practices over all aspects of the organization, implemented the organizations first credit card acceptance schema, and transitioned the school to on-line and computer-based enrolment, payment, and records tracking.

  • Devised and implemented the organizations first data collection and analysis schema to facilitate quantitatively informed decision making.

  • Led the organizations first corporate giving/sponsorship campaign.

  • As a result of the improved financial position (after two years) was able to refinance the mortgage on the building to ease cash flow constraints.

WORK HISTORY

  • Currently: Executive Director, Fort Hill Performing Arts Centre, Canandaigua, NY

  • 2017-2018: Company/Production Manager, Rochester City Ballet, Rochester, NY

  • 2012-2017: Executive/Artistic Director, Amherst Ballet, Amherst, MA

  • 2008-2012: Senior Instructor of Classical Ballet, Amherst Ballet, Amherst, MA

  • 1998-2008: Freelance Performer, Instructor, Theatrical Technician, and Production Management

            Dancer:

  • Ballet Theatre Internationale, Santa Fe, NM - First Soloist

  • Solstice Dance Theatre, Las Vegas, NV - Company member

  • American Dance Company, Las Vegas, NV - Principal Dancer

  • Nevada Ballet Theatre, Las Vegas, NV - Guest Artist

  • Featured Ballerina for various corporate events

            Instructor:

  • Kravenko Dance Academy/Kravenko Youth Ballet, Las Vegas, NV

  • Backstage Dance Studio, Las Vegas, NV

  • Fern Adair Conservatory of the Arts, Las Vegas, NV

  • ABC Dance Studio, Las Vegas, NV

  • Academy of the Nevada Ballet Theatre, Las Vegas, NV

Ballet Mistress/Company Teacher:

  • Ballet Theatre Internationale, Santa Fe, NM

  • American Dance Company, Las Vegas, NV

            Theatrical Technician:

  • I.A.T.S.E. Local 720 - Electrician, Spot Op, Video Wall Engineer, Video Wall Operator

  • The Orleans Hotel and Casino, Las Vegas NV - Assistant Lighting Supervisor

  • Signed, Sealed, Delivered, Las Vegas, NV - Lighting Specialist

            Production Management:

  • Encore Productions, Las Vegas, NV - Repeat Corporate Clients included Toshiba, Kimberly Clark, IBM

  • Events include National Association of Broadcasters (NAB), International Consumer Electronics Show (CES)

  • 1996-1997: Dino Kartsonakis Show/Rendy Lovelady Tour Production, Branson, MO - Featured Ballerina

  • Prior to 1996: Company Dancer, Freelance Guest Artist, and Instructor

            Company Dancer:

  • Louisville Ballet, Louisville, KY - Corps de ballet, Demi-soloist

  • Dance Theatre of Long Island, Port Washington, NY - Company member

  • Ramzi El-Edlibi Dance Company, New York, NY - Principal Dancer

  • Afterimages Dance Company, Louisville, KY - Principal Dancer

            Guest Artist Engagements: Connecticut Ballet, Sayville Ballet, Albano Ballet, Fort. Worth Opera, National Grand Opera, Kentucky Opera,                                Thoughtforms Dance Company, American Music Festival

            Instructor:

  • Ramzi El-Edlibi Dance Company - Men's Ballet Instructor

  • Afterimages Dance Company - Company Teacher, Co-Director ADC II

  • Afterimages School - Director and Principal Instructor of Classical Ballet

EDUCATION

  • Interlochen Arts Academy, Interlochen, MI - Graduate, Fine Arts Award in Dance

  • New York Conservatory, New York, NY - Trained with Vladimir Davidov, Hector Zaraspe, Ali Pourfarroukh, Sallie Wilson, Nicholas Orloff, Igor Youskevitch (Pas de Deux), Ramzi El-Edlibi (Middle Eastern)

  • University of Louisville, Louisville, KY - B.A. Humanities

ADDITIONAL EDUCATION

  • DeVos Institute Arts Management Course On-Line

  • Vaganova Teacher Training Workshop, Berlin, Germany

  • Bournonville Workshop with Karina Elver of the Royal Danish Ballet

  • Independent Study of the Vaganova Syllabus with Monika Rostomian, Graduate of the Vaganova Choreographic Institute Teacher Training Program

ADDITIONAL SKILLS

  • Windows OS, MS Word, Excel, Outlook, OneNote

  • QuickBooks, Donor CRM Database, and Ticketing Systems proficient

  • Audio Editing

  • Video Recording and Editing

  • Costume Construction

  • Technical Theatre including Lighting Design, Light Board operation, Spotlight operation, Video Wall programming and playback

  • General production management