SAB Faculty

Born in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Jonathan Stafford began his dance training at the age of eight with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary. He attended the School of American Ballet’s 1996 and 1997 Summer Courses before enrolling as a full time student at SAB in the fall of 1997.

Mr. Stafford became an apprentice with New York City Ballet in October 1998 and joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in February 1999. He was promoted to the rank of soloist in March of 2006 and became a principal dancer in May 2007. Upon retiring from performing in May 2014, Mr. Stafford was named one of NYCB’s ballet masters. From late 2017 through 2018, Mr. Stafford led New York City Ballet’s four-person interim artistic leadership team while serving as NYCB’s primary artistic liaison with SAB. In February 2019, he was named Artistic Director of both New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet.

During his performing career with New York City Ballet, Mr. Stafford danced featured roles in George Balanchine’s Firebird, The Four Temperaments, Divertimento No. 15, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (Cavalier, Hot Chocolate, Dr. Stahlbaum, and Mother Ginger), ‘Emeralds’ from Jewels, A Midsummer Night’s Dream (Lysander), Orpheus, Symphony In C (First Movement), and Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2; Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, Fanfare (Double Bass), Interplay, and 2 & 3 Part Inventions; Peter Martins’ Octet, The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Desire and Gold), Songs of the Auvergne, and Swan Lake (“Pas de Quatre” and Spanish); and Christopher Wheeldon’s Klavier and Polyphonia. Mr. Stafford originated the role of Paris in Mr. Martins’ Romeo + Juliet.

Mr. Stafford served as a member of SAB’s guest faculty during the 2006-07 school year and joined the School’s permanent faculty in September 2007. In 2015 he was named SAB’s first Professional Placement Manager, a role created to assist students with the transition into their professional careers. Mr. Stafford became only the third Artistic Director in SAB history in February 2019. In this role he works closely with Chair of Faculty Darla Hoover and Executive Director Carrie Hinrichs to ensure that SAB’s students have the training, resources and guidance to develop into world class artists and healthy, well-rounded individuals.

Mr. Stafford was the School of American Ballet’s recipient for Lincoln Center’s Martin E. Segal Award in 1999. A graduate of Professional Children’s School, Mr. Stafford graduated summa cum laude from the Fordham School of Professional and Continuing Studies in May with a B.A. in Organizational Leadership. His film work includes Columbia Pictures’ Center Stage.

A native of Carlisle, Pennsylvania, Darla Hoover started her ballet training at age 6 at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary. After attending the School of American Ballet’s five-week Summer Courses from 1974 to 1976, she was invited to enroll as a full-time student in the fall of 1976. Over the next three years, Ms. Hoover trained with renowned teachers Alexandra Danilova, Antonina Tumkovsky, Stanley Williams, and Suki Schorer, among others, as a student in SAB’s advanced division. In April 1979, George Balanchine created a featured role for Ms. Hoover in a new production of Le Bourgeois Gentilhomme for New York City Opera in which she danced alongside Rudolf Nureyev, and NYCB Principals Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. In October 1979, George Balanchine invited Ms. Hoover to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in April 1980 she was named a member of the Company’s corps de ballet. During her eleven years as a member of NYCB, Ms. Hoover performed featured roles in Balanchine’s La Valse, Chaconne, Harlequinade, Ballo della Regina; Peter Martins’ Eight Easy Pieces, Rossini Quartets, Sonata di Scarlatti; and Jerome Robbins’s Fanfare.

Ms. Hoover began to develop her teaching skills as a pre-teen while training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Recognizing her unusual aptitude for giving steps and corrections, Marcia Dale Weary charged her with teaching her fellow students on a regular basis, and she continued guest teaching at CPYB throughout her performing career and in the initial years following her retirement from NYCB in 1990. In 1995 she was named CPYB’s Associate Artistic Director, and in 2019 she rose to Artistic Director upon the death of Ms. Weary. Concurrently with her work at CPYB, Ms. Hoover joined the faculty of Ballet Academy East on Manhattan’s upper east side in 1996, rising to Associate Artistic Director in 2006. She was named the Artistic Director of BAE’s Pre-Professional Division in 2014, giving her full oversight of a focused ballet training program spanning beginning children through advanced teens. Ms. Hoover has regularly traveled between homes in New York City and Carlisle, PA, over the past 25 years to simultaneously fulfill her roles at CPYB and BAE. In addition, Ms. Hoover has guest taught at ballet companies and schools around the world, including New York City Ballet, Boston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Royal Danish Ballet and the Vaganova Ballet Academy, among many others.

Ms. Hoover has been a répétiteur for The George Balanchine Trust since 1996, staging the works of George Balanchine for leading U.S. and international dance companies, including American Ballet Theater, Royal Danish Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet and The Washington Ballet. Among the works in her staging repertoire are Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante, Concerto Barocco, Serenade, “Rubies” from Jewels, and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

Since 2003, Ms. Hoover has directed the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Teachers Workshop for dance instructors from around the world, and in 2013 she directed a teachers workshop for the Miami City Ballet School. She is a recipient of the Marcia Dale Weary Legacy Award in recognition of her lifelong commitment to education in the arts. In 2021 she received a Congressional Commendation for outstanding public achievement in New York’s 12th Congressional District.

Darla Hoover began her new role as the School of American Ballet’s Chair of Faculty in June 2022.

Aesha Ash was born in Rochester, New York, and started dance lessons at the Joyce Winters School of Dance at age 5. Upon enrolling at Rochester’s Draper Dance Theatre at age 10 she began her pursuit of classical ballet while continuing to train in tap, jazz, and lyrical dance. Beginning at age 14, Ms. Ash attended SAB’s five-week Summer Course for three consecutive summers before accepting an invitation to live in the School’s on-site residence and train as a year-round student in SAB’s Advanced Division. She performed the principal female role in George Balanchine’s “Rubies” from Jewels at SAB’s 1996 spring Workshop Performances and received the School’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise.

Ms. Ash was tapped to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet in June 1996 and was hired into the corps de ballet upon making her debut during NYCB’s 1996 summer residency in Saratoga Springs, New York. She performed with New York City Ballet for seven years, originating corps roles in new works by Peter Martins, Christopher Wheeldon, and Miriam Mahdaviani, among others, and performing in numerous masterworks of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. She originated a principal role in Haiku, with choreography by Albert Evans and music by John Cage, for NYCB’s May 2002 Diamond Project.

In 2003, Ms. Ash joined Béjart Ballet Lausanne as a soloist and for two years toured Europe and the Far East performing new and classic works by Maurice Béjart, including a principal role in his landmark Le Presbytère. She returned to the U.S. in 2005 to join the California-based Alonzo King LINES Ballet, originating roles in new works by Mr. King including Handel and Migration and touring with the company in the U.S. and abroad. From 2007 to 2009 she reunited with Christopher Wheeldon as a member of his Morphoses touring company, performing around the world in works by Mr. Wheeldon and William Forsythe. Ms. Ash retired from performing in 2009 prior to the birth of her first child.

Ms. Ash appeared as herself and as the principal dance double for Zoe Saldana in the 2000 feature film Center Stage. Other video projects include New York City Ballet Workout (Vol. 2) and Barbie in The Nutcracker.

Upon her retirement from performing, Ms. Ash founded The Swan Dreams Project, a not-for-profit endeavor which was initially conceived as a photography project but has expanded to include programs, lectures and camps with Ms. Ash’s career and imagery as the foundation of the Project’s mission to dismantle stereotypes surrounding race, beauty and talent. Ms. Ash returned to her hometown of Rochester in 2018 and 2019 to partner with the city of Rochester for Swan Dreams Project summer programs for underserved youth, and she continues to seek new avenues for the Project to inspire youngsters through her example.

Ms. Ash is a founding member of the School of American Ballet’s Alumni Committee on Diversity & Inclusion, which was formed in 2015. She served as a guest teacher at the School’s 2016 and 2017 California Workshop for Young Dancers and during the 2017-2018 Winter Term and held the position of Visiting Faculty Chair from September 2018 to July 2020.  She participated in SAB’s National Audition Tour as a guest adjudicator to recruit students for the School’s summer training programs from 2018 to 2020. Ms. Ash was appointed to the School of American Ballet’s permanent faculty in September 2020. Aesha Ash assumed her new role as Associate Chair of Faculty at SAB in June 2022

Ms. Ash resides in New York City with her husband and their two young children.

Dena Abergel began ballet classes at the age of 6 with Dorit Koppel at Progressive Dance Studio in Englewood, New Jersey. She attended the School of American Ballet’s 5-week Summer Course at the age of 12 and enrolled as a full-time student in the School’s Intermediate division one year later. In 1989, she joined other advanced students on a trip to Amsterdam’s Holland Festival to perform on a program with Russia’s Vaganova Academy. She also accompanied SAB faculty member Suki Schorer to La Baulle, France, for a student performance of Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie. At SAB’s June 1990 Workshop performances, she danced featured roles in Stars and Stripes and the pas de deux from Kermesse in Bruges. Peter Martins invited Ms. Abergel to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet in 1990, and she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in 1991.

During 18 years as a member of New York City Ballet, Ms. Abergel performed in numerous works by George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. She originated roles in Robbins’s West Side Story Suite; in Peter Martins’s Chichester Psalms, Harmonielehre, Symphonic Dances,  The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Romeo+Juliet; and in Christopher Wheeldon’s Carnival of the Animals, Variations Serieuses, and An American in Paris.

Ms. Abergel performed featured and soloist roles in a number of works by George Balanchine, including The Nutcracker^®, Firebird, Coppélia,  Swan Lake, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

Upon retiring from performing in 2009, Ms. Abergel joined SAB’s faculty and became NYCB’s Assistant Children’s Repertory Directory. She was named Children’s Repertory Director at New York City Ballet in the fall of 2012. In her position with the Company, Ms. Abergel casts and rehearses children from the School of American Ballet in all NYCB productions featuring roles for children, including George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^®, The Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Swan Lake and Coppélia.

Ms. Abergel pursued college studies while a member of New York City Ballet and graduated summa cum laude in 2001 with a B.A. in English from Fordham University.

Marika Anderson was born in Portland, Oregon, and began her dance training at the age of four at the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre, where she studied with Haydée Gutiérrez, James Canfield, and Elena Carter. She was an apprentice with Oregon Ballet Theatre for its 2001-2002 season. After attending the School of American Ballet’s 2000 and 2002 Summer Courses, Ms. Anderson enrolled as a year-round student in September 2002. She was invited to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet in November 2004, and in June 2005 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet.

Ms. Anderson has performed featured roles in numerous ballets including Balanchine’s La Valse, Prodigal Son and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker^®; Peter Martins’s adaptation of Bournonville’s La Syphide as well as Mr. Martins’s The Magic Flute, Romeo + Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake; Jerome Robbins’s The Concert and The Four Seasons; and Alexei Ratmansky’s Russian Seasons. Ms. Anderson also originated a featured role in Justin Peck’s The Most Incredible Thing.

Ms. Anderson was invited to become a teaching fellow at the School of American Ballet in early 2016.  She joined SAB’s permanent faculty in September 2016 and continues to perform as a member of New York City Ballet. She earned a bachelor’s degree from Fordham University in June 2018.

Megan Fairchild was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began her dance training at the age of four, studying with Judy Levitre and Kaelynne Oliphant at Dance Concepts in Sandy, Utah, and at the Ballet West Conservatory in Salt Lake City with Sharee Lane, Deborah Dobson, and Maureen Laird. While at the Ballet West Conservatory, Ms. Fairchild was also a Ballet West trainee. Ms. Fairchild attended the School of American Ballet’s 1999 and 2000 Summer Courses before enrolling as a full-time student in September 2000. She was named a recipient of SAB’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in June 2001, and in November 2001, she became an apprentice with New York City Ballet. She joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in October 2002, was promoted to the rank of soloist in February 2004, and in January 2005, she was promoted to principal dancer.

Ms. Fairchild’s vast repertoire includes principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon and Justin Peck. Among the numerous ballets in which she has starred are Allegro Brillante, Ballo della Regina,  Coppélia, La Sylphide, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Donizetti Variations, Duo Concertant, Raymonda Variations, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker,  Jewels  (“Emeralds” and “Rubies”), Square Dance, Stars and Stripes, Theme and Variations,  Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, and Taranetella.

Ms. Fairchild has originated principal roles in ballets by Robert La Fosse (Land of Nod), Peter Martins (Bal de Couture, Naïve and Sentimental Music), Angelin Preljocaj (Spectral Evidence), Alexei Ratmansky (Namouna, A Grand Divertissement), Susan Stroman (Double Feature) and Christopher Wheeldon (Shambards).

In 2011, Ms. Fairchild danced the role of The Sugarplum Fairy in PBS’ LIVE From Lincoln Center telecast of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker which was also screened in movie theaters around the world. In 2014, Ms. Fairchild made her Broadway debut in the Tony Award-nominated revival of On the Town at the Lyric Theater. She was nominated for an Outer Critics Circle Award, and received a Theatre World Award for her portrayal of Ivy Smith (AKA Miss Turnstiles).

Ms. Fairchild was a Teaching Fellow at SAB from 2012-16 and a frequent guest teacher during the 2017-18 winter and summer training programs. She joined the School’s permanent faculty in September 2018.

Born in Zaragoza, Spain, Gonzalo Garcia began studying ballet at the age of eight at Conservatorio Superior de Danza “María de Ávila”. In 1995, he attended the summer session at San Francisco Ballet School, and later that year, at the age of 15, Mr. Garcia becoming the youngest dancer in history to receive a gold medal at the prestigious Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition. He subsequently returned to San Francisco Ballet School to resume his studies and was selected by Helgi Tomasson, Artistic Director of San Francisco Ballet, to perform in a world premiere ballet created especially for the 1996 Spring Student Showcase. Mr. Garcia joined San Francisco Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in March 1998. In 2000, he was promoted to soloist, and in 2002 to principal dancer. Mr. Garcia was invited to perform Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina with New York City Ballet as part of the Company’s Balanchine Centennial Celebration in 2004. Mr. Garcia joined New York City Ballet in October 2007 as a principal dancer.

At San Francisco Ballet, Mr. Garcia’s featured roles included Balanchine’s Apollo, The Four Temperaments, Jewels (“Rubies”), Prodigal Son, Square Dance, Symphony in C,  Tarantella, and Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux; William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude; Jerome Robbins’ Dances at a Gathering, Dybbuk, Fanfare, Glass Pieces, and Other Dances; Helgi Tomasson’s Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty (Bluebird, Pas de Six), Swan Lake, and Mr. Tomasson and Yuri Possokhov’s Don Quixote; and Christopher Wheeldon’s Polyphonia and There Where She Loved. In addition, Mr. Garcia created the roles of Nutcracker Prince in Mr. Tomasson’s Nutcracker and Aminta in Mark Morris’s Sylvia, and originated a role in Mr. Wheeldon’s Continuum.

At New York City Ballet, Mr. Garcia’s repertoire includes principals roles in Balanchine’s Brahms/Schoenberg Quartet, Coppélia, Danses Concertantes, Divertimento from ‘Le Baiser de la Fée’, Donizetti Variations, Harlequinade,  A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Prodigal Son,  Jewels (“Rubies”), Sonatine, La Source,  Symphony in C, Tarantella, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, Theme and Variations, Union Jack, and Vienna Waltzes.  He has also performed leading roles in Jerome Robins’s Andantino,  Brandenburg, Dances at a Gathering, Four Bagatelles, The Goldberg Variations, Opus 19, and Other Dances; in Peter Martins’s A Fool for You, Hallelujah Junction, Naïve and Sentimental Music, Romeo + Juliet (Tybalt), The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake; in Mauro Vigonzetti’s Vespro; in Christopher Wheeldon’s DGV: Danse à Grande Vitesse, Mercurial Manoeuvres, and Polyphonia; and in Justin Peck’s Everywhere We Go.

Mr. Garcia has originated featured roles at NYCB  in ballets by Justin Peck (The Decalogue,  The Most Incredible Thing), Pulcinella Variations, Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes), Peter Martins (Bal de Couture, Grazioso), Mauro Bigonzetti (Luce Nascosta); Alexei Ratmansky (Concerto DSCH, Pictures at an Exhibition), Robert Binet (The Blue of Distance), Pontus Lidberg (The Shimmering Asphalt), Wayne McGregor (Outlier), and Christopher Wheeldon (Les Carillons).

Mr. Garcia began guest teaching at the School of American Ballet during the 2017-18 Winter Term and joined SAB’s permanent faculty in September 2018.

Born in Maywood, Illinois, Craig Hall began his dance training at the age of four at Stairway of the Stars with Lois Baumann. At age 14, he began studying with Anna Paskevska at the Chicago Academy of the Arts and also studied at the Ruth Page Dance Foundation with Larry Long. He attended SAB’s 1996 and 1997 Summer Courses before enrolling as a full-time student in the fall of 1997. He was named a recipient of SAB’s Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship for the duration of his training at the School, and in 1999 he was awarded SAB’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise.

During his final year at SAB, Mr. Hall originated the principal male role in Christopher Wheeldon’s Scènes de Ballet, which premiered during NYCB’s 1999 spring season and was performed at that year’s SAB Workshop Performances. In October 1999, Mr. Hall became an apprentice with NYCB, and he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in February 2000. Mr. Hall was promoted to soloist in May 2007.

During his career with NYCB, Mr. Hall danced featured roles in numerous ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins, and has also originated roles in works by Justin Peck, Christopher Wheeldon, Alexei Ratmansky, Benjamin Millepied, Jorma Elo, and Lynne Taylor-Corbett, among others.

Upon his retirement from performing in 2016, Mr. Hall joined New York City Ballet’s artistic staff as a ballet master.

Mr. Hall staged Justin Peck’s In Creases for SAB’s 2018 Workshop Performances and joined the School’s permanent faculty in September 2018. His film work includes Columbia Pictures’ feature film Center Stage and the 2010 film adaptation of Jerome Robbins’ N.Y. Export: Opus Jazz.

Born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania, Adam Hendrickson began his ballet training at the age of six with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Beginning at the age of 13, he attended three consecutive SAB Summer Courses before enrolling as a fulltime student in the fall of 1996. He was named a recipient of SAB’s Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship for the duration of his training at the School, and in 1998 he was awarded SAB’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise. In the spring of 1998 Mr. Hendrickson became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in the summer of 1998 he joined the Company’s corps de ballet. In January 2005, he was promoted to the rank of soloist.

During his career at New York City Ballet, Mr. Hendrickson danced featured roles in numerous ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins, including The Goldberg Variations, Fancy Free, Watermill, Symphony in Three Movements, Chaccone, and Fearful Symmetries. He retired from performing in July 2012 after 14 years with New York City Ballet.

Mr. Hendrickson has choreographed new works for the School of American Ballet’s Winter Ball, New York City Ballet, the New York Choreographic Institute, and Columbia Ballet Collaborative, as well as for the music video for Edward Sharpe and the Magnetic Zeros song “Man on Fire”.

Mr. Hendrickson was a guest teacher at SAB during the 2017-18 Winter Term and joined the permanent faculty in September 2018. His film work includes Columbia Pictures’ Center Stage and PBS’ New York Export: Opus Jazz.

Born in California, Arch Higgins began studying dance at the age of eight at Berkeley Ballet Theater, where his teachers included Janet Carole and former NYCB dancer Sally Streets. From the ages of 12 to 16, he attended five consecutive Summer Courses at the School of American Ballet before enrolling as a full-time student in the fall of 1986. In 1989, he received SAB’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise and was invited by Peter Martins to join New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet that same year. Mr. Higgins was promoted to the rank of soloist in 1998. He joined SAB’s faculty in 2010 and retired from performing in 2011.

During his 22-year performing career, Mr. Higgins danced featured roles in numerous ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins. His repertoire included Balanchine’s Agon, Allegro Brillante, Divertimento No. 15, Episodes, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Haieff Divertimento, ‘Emeralds’ from Jewels, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mozartiana, Prodigal Son, Robert Schumann’s “Davidsbündlertänze,” Symphony in C, Symphony in Three Movements, Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, Union Jack, La Valse, and Vienna Waltzes; Robbins’s Dances at a Gathering, Fancy Free, Fanfare (Clarinets), Glass Pieces, The Goldberg Variations, I’m Old Fashioned, Interplay, In the Night, Ives, Songs, and Les Noces; and Martins’s Ash, Delight of the Muses, Les Gentilhommes, Jazz (Six Syncopated Movements), Les Petits Riens, The Sleeping Beauty (Gold), Slonimsky’s Earbox, Swan Lake (Benno and Hungarian) and Symphonic Dances.

Mr. Higgins originated roles in David Allan’s Pastoral Dances, John Alleyne’s The New Blondes, Robert La Fosse’s “Rockin’ In Rhythm” from Duke!, Miriam Mahdaviani’s Appalachia Waltz and Correlazione, Mr. Martins’ Reliquary, Trey McIntyre’s Steel and Rain, Kevin O’Day’s Swerve Poems, Robbins’ West Side Story Suite, Susan Stroman’s “Makin’ Whoopee!” (Garrison) from Double Feature, and Christopher Wheeldon’s Carnival of the Animals and Carousel (A Dance).

In recent years Mr. Higgins has staged several ballets for SAB’s spring Workshop Performances. He has staged Peter Martins’s Les Gentilhommes in both 2011 (with Albert Evans) and 2016; and for SAB’s 2013 Workshop he staged Balanchine’s Le Tombeau de Couperin with NYCB Ballet Mistress Rosemary Dunleavy.

In addition to teaching at SAB, Mr. Higgins has been Associate Children’s Repertory Director at New York City Ballet since the fall of 2013. He is also a guest teacher with New York City Ballet and taught at Boston Ballet’s 2010 and 2011 Summer Dance Program.

Anthony Huxley was born in Walnut Creek, California, and trained at San Francisco Ballet School and the Contra Costa Ballet School before attending SAB’s five-week Summer Courses in 2002 and 2003. He enrolled as a full-time student in the fall of 2003 and was awarded SAB’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in June 2006. He performed the virtuoso principal male role in George Balanchine’s Square Dance as part of the School’s 2006 annual Workshop Performances and later that year he was asked to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet. He joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in July 2007, was promoted to the rank of soloist in July 2011, and was named a principal dancer in June 2015.

Mr. Huxley’s repertoire includes principal roles in Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina, Coppélia, Divertimento from ‘Le Baiser de la Fée’, Duo Concertant, Jewels (“Emeralds” and “Rubies”), The Four Temperaments, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mozartiana, Prodigal Son, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Raymonda Variations, Symphony in C, Symphony in Three Movements and Vienna Waltzes; in Bournonville’s La Sylphide; in Jerome Robbins’s The Four Seasons, Goldberg Variations and Two & Three Part Inventions; in Peter Martins’s Romeo + Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Fearful Symmetries; in Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit and Rodeo: Four Dance Episodes; in Alexei Ratmansky’s Concerto DSCH; in Christopher Wheeldon’s Mercurial Manoeuvres; and in Richard Tanner’s Sonatas and Interludes.

He has originated featured roles in ballets by Justin Peck (Belles-Lettres, Pulcinella Variations, Scherzo Fantastique), Peter Martins (Mirage, Ocean’s Kingdom), Liam Scarlett (Acheron), Troy Schumacher (Common Ground) and Peter Walker (dance odyssey).

Mr. Huxley served as a SAB Teaching Fellow for the 2016-17 Winter Term and was a regular guest teacher at SAB for the 2017-18 winter and summer training programs. He joined the School’s permanent faculty in September 2018 while continuing his performing career with New York City Ballet.

Sterling Hyltin was born in Amarillo, Texas. She began her dance training at the age of six at the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, where she studied with Ann Etgen and Bill Atkinson. Ms. Hyltin attended the School of American Ballet’s 1999 and 2000 Summer Courses before enrolling as a full-time student in the fall of 2000. In October 2002, Ms. Hyltin became an apprentice with NYCB, and in June 2003 she joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. She was promoted to soloist in March 2006, and in May 2007 she was named a principal dancer.

Ms. Hyltin’s vast repertoire includes principal roles in works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, Alexei Ratmansky, and Christopher Wheeldon. The numerous ballets in which she has starred include Apollo, Ballo della Regina, Coppélia, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Duo Concertant, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Jewels ( “Rubies”), Stars and Stripes, Theme and Variations, La Sonnambula, La Source, Mozartiana, La Valse, Symphony in Three Movements, Afternoon of a Faun, The Cage, The Concert, In G Major, The Four Seasons, Hallelujah Junction, Calcium Light Night, Jeu de Cartes, Concerto DSCH, Pictures at an Exhibition and Polyphonia, among others.

Ms. Hyltin originated the role of Juliet in the 2007 NYCB world premiere of Peter Martins’s Romeo + Juliet and danced the role of the Sylph in the NYCB premiere of La Sylphide. She has also originated principal roles in ballets by Robert Binet, Kim Brandstrup, Jean-Pierre Frohlich, Douglas Lee, Pontus Lidberg, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Wayne McGregor, Benjamin Millepied, Alexey Miroshnichenko, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky and Christopher Wheeldon.

Ms. Hyltin was NYCB’s Janice Levin Dancer Honoree for 2005-2006. She is featured in the Magnolia Pictures documentary Ballet 422, which follows the creation of Justin Peck’s Paz de la Jolla. Ms. Hyltin was a Teaching Fellow during SAB’s 2014-15 and 2015-16 Winter Terms and joined the School’s permanent faculty in September 2016.

Megan Johnson was born in Santa Rosa, California, and began her dance training at the age of three at the Academy of Dance Arts in Red Bank, New Jersey. Ms. Johnson attended the School of American Ballet’s 2002 and 2003 Summer Courses, and was invited to enroll in SAB’s Winter Term in the fall of 2003. She received SAB’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise in June 2008, at which time she was also named an apprentice with the New York City Ballet. She joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in October 2008.

Ms. Johnson’s repertoire includes featured roles in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Chaconne, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, La Valse, and Walpurgisnacht Ballet; in Peter Martins’s The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Bal de Couture, and Fearful Symmetries; and in Justin Peck’s Everywhere We Go. She originated a featured role in Benjamin Millipied’s Quasi Una Fantasia, and danced in the world premieres of Melissa Barak’s A Simple Symphony; Peter Martins’s Mirage; Justin Peck’s The Most Incredible Thing and Paz de la Jolla; and in Alexei Ratmansky’s Namouna.

Ms. Johnson served as an SAB Teaching Fellow for the 2017-2018 Winter Term, and she joined the School’s permanent faculty in January 2019 upon her retirement from New York City Ballet.

Following early ballet study in Pennsylvania with Marcia Dale Weary, Ms. Killian began her SAB training with the 1977 Summer Course and was subsequently enrolled in SAB’s Winter Term from 1979 to 1981. As a student, Ms. Killian participated in the New York City Ballet Education Department’s Lecture Demonstration program, performing pas de deux from Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments and The Nutcracker® for local-area school children under the direction of Suki Schorer. She was chosen by Peter Martins to dance a leading role in his new production of The Magic Flute for SAB’s 1981 Workshop Performances and reprised the role as a new member of New York City Ballet the next year.

Ms. Killian became a member of the New York City Ballet in 1981 and was promoted to Soloist in 1989. Her repertory included principal roles in Balanchine’s Bourée Fantasque, Divertimento from ‘Le Baiser de la Fée’, Tarantella, Symphony in C, Tchaikovsky Suite No. 3, Western Symphony, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Union Jack, Symphony in 3 Movements, and in Jerome Robbins’s Goldberg Variations and The Four Seasons; and Peter Martins’s Eight Easy Pieces and The Sleeping Beauty.

Among the ballets in which she performed soloist parts were Balanchine’s Coppélia, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Jewels, Scotch Symphony, Chaconne, Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, The Four Temperaments, La Sonnambula, Stars and Stripes, Raymonda Variations, and La Source.

Ms. Killian originated a principal role in Jerome Robbins’s Ives, Songs in 1988.

In 1997, she joined the School of American Ballet as a guest teacher upon retirement from New York City Ballet. She was appointed to the faculty in 1998.

Ms. Killian currently also serves as Repertory Director for the New York City Ballet’s Education Department, staging productions featuring SAB’s Intermediate and Advanced students for NYCB’s Ballet Bridges programs, which reach over 2,000 public school children each year.

Lauren King was born in Massapequa Park, New York, and began her dance training at the age of 10 with Jane Miller, Luba Gulyaeva, Ali Pourfarrokh, and Lynn Glauber at the American Theater Dance Workshop, the official school of the Eglevsky Ballet Company, in New Hyde Park, New York. Ms. King performed with the Eglevsky Ballet Company during its 2000-2001 season. Ms. King attended SAB’s five-week Summer Course in 1998 at the age of 13 and returned for the 2000 and 2001 Summer Courses before enrolling as a full-time student in the fall of 2001.

She became an apprentice with New York City Ballet in the fall of 2003. As an apprentice, Ms. King danced a featured role in Michel Fokine’s Chopiniana, performed by SAB as part of New York City Ballet’s 2004 winter season, and she originated a corps role in Susan Stroman’s Double Feature. Ms. King joined New York City Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in June 2004 and was promoted to soloist in February 2013.

Ms. King has performed a wide range of featured roles during her career at New York City Ballet spanning the Company’s diverse repertoire. She has danced principal or soloist parts in George Balanchine’s Ballo Della Regina, Chaconne, Divertimento No. 15, Jewels (“Emeralds”), Episodes, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, La Sonnambula, La Source, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Symphony in C, Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, and Swan Lake, among others. She has been featured in ballets by Jerome Robbins including The Four Seasons, Dances at a Gathering, Fanfare, and Glass Pieces, as well as in ballets by Peter Martins, Justin Peck, Alexei Ratmansky, Christopher Wheeldon, Lynn Taylor-Corbett, and Troy Schumacher. She originated featured roles in Justin Peck’s New Blood and in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Unframed.

Ms. King served as a SAB Teaching Fellow for the 2016-17 Winter Term and was a regular guest teacher at SAB for the 2017-18 winter and summer training programs. She joined the School’s permanent faculty in September 2018 while continuing her performing career with New York City Ballet.

Meagan Mann was reared in Lakewood and Howell, New Jersey, and began her ballet training at More Than Dance in Jackson, New Jersey. She was accepted into the School of American Ballet’s Children’s Division at the age of 11 and progressed through the Intermediate and Advanced training levels over the following 6 years. She was invited to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet in June 2006 and joined the NYCB corps de ballet in the spring of 2007.

Ms. Mann’s NYCB repertoire includes featured roles in George Balanchine’s Coppélia (Spinner), Cortège Hongrois, Divertimento from ‘Le Baiser de la Fée’, “Emeralds” from Jewels, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (Coffee, Flowers), Raymonda Variations and La Sonnambula (Pastorale); in Bournonville Divertissements; in Peter Martins’s The Sleeping Beauty (Courage) and Swan Lake (Spanish); in Jerome Robbins’s Glass Pieces and Interplay, and in Myles Thatcher’s Polaris. She originated a featured role in Justin Peck’s New Blood and danced in the world premieres of Justin Peck’s Everywhere We Go, The Most Incredible Thing, Paz de la Jolla, Scherzo Fantastique and The Times Are Racing; in Peter Martins’s Ocean’s Kingdom, Romeo + Juliet; in Liam Scarlett’s Acheron; in Troy Schumacher’s The Wind Still Brings and in Christopher Wheeldon’s American Rhapsody.

Ms. Mann served as a SAB Teaching Fellow for the 2017-18 Winter Term. She joined the School’s permanent faculty in September 2018 while continuing her performing career with New York City Ballet.

Kay Mazzo was born in Chicago, where she received early training from Bernadine Hayes. She first performed with New York City Ballet at the age of eight when the Company brought The Nutcracker on tour to the Chicago Opera House. She was cast by George Balanchine as a Party Scene guest and Polichinelle. She reprised the roles when NYCB returned to Chicago the following year.

Ms. Mazzo auditioned for SAB’s Summer Course when she was 12 and attended the program for three consecutive years before moving to New York and enrolling as a full-time student in SAB’s advanced division in 1959.

Following performances with Jerome Robbins’ Ballets U.S.A., Ms. Mazzo became a member of the New York City Ballet in 1961 and was promoted to soloist in 1965 and principal dancer in 1968. George Balanchine created principal roles for her in Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3 (1970), Stravinsky Violin Concerto (1972), Duo Concertant (1972), Scherzo à la Russe (1972), Union Jack (1976), Vienna Waltzes (1977), and Robert Schumann’s “Davidsbündlertänze” (1980), among others. She originated principal roles in the Jerome Robbins masterworks Dances at a Gathering (1969) and In the Night (1970).

Over the course of her nearly twenty-year career, Ms. Mazzo’s repertoire included countless roles in the works of Balanchine, Robbins, and other choreographers such as Merce Cunningham, Antony Tudor, Todd Bolender and John Taras. Among the many ballets in which she performed principal parts are Swan Lake, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Serenade, Symphony in C, Jewels, Agon, Square Dance, Episodes, La Sonnambula, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, La Valse, Liebeslieder Walzer, Apollo, and Donizetti Variations. Her dancing partners included Jacques d’Amboise, Arthur Mitchell, Peter Martins, Edward Villella, Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Sean Lavery.

Upon her retirement from New York City Ballet in 1981, Mr. Balanchine asked Ms. Mazzo to begin teaching at the School of American Ballet, the official academy of New York City Ballet. She joined SAB’s permanent faculty in 1983, serving as a coordinator of curriculum between 1993 and 1997. She succeeded Stanley Williams as Co-Chairman of Faculty in October 1997, and in 2018 was named Chairman of Faculty. Ms. Mazzo retired from her role as Chairman of Faculty in June 2022 and continues to teach advanced classes.

Ms. Mazzo has been a Trustee of The George Balanchine Trust since 1987. She served as President of the Jury of the 2014 Prix de Lausanne international ballet competition.

Allen Peiffer was born in Harrisburg, Pennsylvania. He began his dance training at the age of 6 with Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle, Pennsylvania, under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary. Mr. Peiffer attended the School of American Ballet’s 1999 and 2000 Summer Courses before enrolling as a full-time student in the fall of 2000. In October 2002, Mr. Peiffer became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in October 2003, he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. He retired from performing in 2015 and joined SAB’s permanent faculty at the start of the 2015-16 Winter Term. After assisting Jonathan Stafford in the role, Mr. Peiffer was appointed SAB’s Professional Placement Manager in 2019.

At New York City Ballet, Mr. Peiffer performed featured roles in George Balanchine’s Agon, Chaconne, Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperaments, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® (Cavalier and Candy Cane), Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2, Union Jack, and La Valse; August Bournonville’s Bournonville Divertissements (Ballabile from Napoli) and Flower Festival in Genzano Pas de Deux; Peter Martins’ Fearful Symmetries, Les Gentilhommes, Romeo + Juliet (Romeo), The Sleeping Beauty (Jesters) and Swan Lake (Neapolitan); and Jerome Robbins’ 2&3 Part Inventions, The Concert, and Les Noces. He also originated featured roles in Adam Hendrickson’s Flit of Fury – The Monarch, Justin Peck’s ‘Rōdē,ō: Four Dance Episodes, and Peter Martins’ Ocean’s Kingdom.

Mr. Peiffer is a 2002 recipient of SAB’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise.

Susan Pilarre was born in Brooklyn, NY, and began her ballet training in Cedarhurst, NY, with New York City Ballet Principal Melissa Hayden. She enrolled at the School of American Ballet at age 11 and subsequently performed several children’s roles in NYCB’s production of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® in the late 1950s and early 1960s. Ms. Pilarre was invited by George Balanchine to join NYCB when she was 15. She was named a soloist in 1971.

During her 16 years as a member of New York City Ballet, Ms. Pilarre appeared in numerous works by the Company’s founding choreographers, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. She originated a featured role in Balanchine’s Who Cares?, and her repertoire included featured roles in The Four Temperaments, Stars and Stripes, Serenade, La Source, La Valse, Divertimento No. 15, Jewels, Raymonda Variations, Dances at a Gathering and Coppélia.

Ms. Pilarre appeared in the original productions of Balanchine’s Harlequinade (1965), Jewels (1967), Symphony in Three Movements (1972), Danses Concertantes (1972), Le Tombeau de Couperin (1975), and Union Jack (1976).

Ms. Pilarre retired from dancing in 1980 but continued her involvement with the work of George Balanchine by staging his ballets for companies around the U.S. In 1983, she staged Balanchine’s Slaughter on Tenth Avenue ballet for the Broadway revival of On Your Toes.

Ms. Pilarre joined the permanent faculty of the School of American Ballet in 1986. Since then, she has staged numerous ballets or ballet excerpts (primarily by George Balanchine) for SAB’s annual Workshop Performances.

For New York City Ballet’s 1993 Balanchine Celebration, Ms. Pilarre reconstructed Balanchine’s Symphonie Concertante, consulting with the ballet’s original principals, Tanaquil LeClercq and Maria Tallchief, and using archival film footage of Ballet Society’s 1947 production and ABT’s 1983 revival. The ballet was performed by an all-SAB student cast at the Balanchine Celebration and at the School’s 1993 Workshop Performances. Ms. Pilarre set this version of Symphonie Concertante on ABT in 1994.

Other Balanchine ballet stagings include Serenade for Warsaw Ballet and Tarantella for ABT Studio Company in 2004, and Symphony in Three Movements for Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2005. Ms. Pilarre also collaborated with Suzanne Farrell on the staging of La Valse and La Source for Suzanne Farrell Ballet’s 2005 performances at The Kennedy Center.

She is one of the principal auditioners for the School’s National Audition Program, which screens over 2,000 prospective students each year in 22 U.S. cities for the five-week Summer Course.

Suki Schorer began her professional career with the San Francisco Ballet and joined the New York City Ballet in 1959, becoming a principal dancer in 1968. Her repertory included principal roles in Apollo, Serenade, Concerto Barocco, Symphony in C, Stars and Stripes, Tarantella and Jewels among others. Balanchine choreographed solo roles on her in Don Quixote, Raymonda Variations, Harlequinade, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

In the early 1960s, George Balanchine asked Ms. Schorer to assist him as a teacher at the Company and in Ford Foundation Seminars for teachers. She started as a guest teacher at the School of American Ballet while still a fairly new corps dancer in the Company and she also took class with several of the founding teachers of the School. In 1972, Ms. Schorer became a permanent member of the faculty, teaching intermediate and advanced students. That same year at Balanchine’s request, she reorganized the NYCB lecture-demonstration program for public schools, which she oversaw until 1995.

Suki Schorer has set ballets (or ballet excerpts) choreographed by Balanchine for SAB’s Workshop Performances annually since 1973. In early 2007, she staged Serenade with Francia Russell for the Bolshoi Ballet.

Ms. Schorer lectures on Balanchine aesthetics and guest teaches widely in the United States and abroad. She is the author of the award-winning Suki Schorer on Balanchine Technique (Knopf, 1999) and Put Your Best Foot Forward: A Young Dancer’s Guide to Life (Workman Publishing, 2005); and is the recipient of the Dance Magazine Award for 1998, among other honors.

Andrew Scordato was born in Sewell, New Jersey, and began his dance training at the age of nine at The Rock School in Philadelphia. Mr. Scordato earned a merit scholarship to the School of American Ballet’s 2002 Summer Course at the age of 16 and was invited to continue his training in SAB’s Winter Term the same year. In October 2005, Mr. Scordato became an apprentice with New York City Ballet, and in July 2006, he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet.

Mr. Scordato has performed featured roles in numerous ballets including Balanchine’s Agon, Chaconne, Divertimento No. 15, The Four Temperaments, Symphony in C, and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker® ; Peter Martins’ Romeo + Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty and Swan Lake; Jerome Robbins’s The Concert and Glass Pieces; and Christopher Wheeldon’s Carousel (A Dance). Mr. Scordato has also originated featured roles in several ballets by Justin Peck, including Everywhere We Go, Rōdē,ō: Four Dance Episodes, Pulcinella Variations, and The Most Incredible Thing.

Mr. Scordato was invited to become a School of American Ballet teaching fellow in 2012. He joined SAB’s permanent faculty in 2014. Mr. Scordato currently oversees the SAB/NYCB Apprentice Mentorship Program alongside SAB’s dean of students and continues to dance with New York City Ballet.

Sheryl Ware began training in her hometown of San Mateo, California, with Robert and Carolyn Hanlin when she was 7. She continued her ballet studies with Roberta Meyers and then Richard Gibson.

At the age of 15, Ms. Ware attended the School of American Ballet’s Summer Course and subsequently enrolled in the School’s Winter Term. When she was 17, George Balanchine invited her to join the New York City Ballet.

During her ten years with NYCB, Ms. Ware performed in numerous works by the Company’s founding choreographers, George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. She danced principal roles in Divertimento No. 15, Symphony in C, Vienna Waltzes and Symphony in Three Movements. Soloist roles included La Source, Scotch Symphony, Raymonda Variations, George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Goldberg Variations, Stars and Stripes, Chaccone, Ballo Della Regina and Swan Lake.

Ms. Ware performed in the original productions of a number of George Balanchine’s masterworks, including Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2 (1973), Coppélia (1974), Union Jack (1976), Vienna Waltzes (1977), and Ballo Della Regina (1978).

Ms Ware retired from dancing in 1980. She was invited by Peter Martins to join SAB’s permanent faculty in 1996.

Being involved in the sport of gymnastics and realizing the potential movement has on our wellbeing is what drew Dirk toward the Physical Therapy profession.
Dirk received his bachelors in Health Science and his Masters in Physical Therapy from Quinnipiac University in 2008. Over the years he has pursued a higher level of education completing his Doctorate of Physical Therapy from Temple University in 2015.

He is also a board certified orthopedic specialist (OCS) and a certified strength and conditioning specialist (CSCS) and Registered in Musculoskeletal Sonography (RMSK). Dirk also works as a strength and conditioning coach with New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet.

He continues to further his professional development with certifications through the National Strength and Conditioning association, the American Physical Therapy Association and being a member of various professional organizations.

His passion is to stay up to date with the latest research, science and evidence that will provide the best possible outcomes for his patients.  He enjoys staying active and finding new challenges that maintain overall health and wellness; to include rock climbing, skiing, hiking and maybe even a gymnastics class once in a while!

Phoebe Higgins trained in SAB’s Children’s Division from the ages of 8 to 12 and also received ballet instruction as a child from SAB alumna Romana Kryzanowska.

While earning an Art History degree at SUNY Purchase, Phoebe re-encountered Kryzanowska (then the director of The Pilates Studio) and began to study the Pilates Method. From 1980-89, Phoebe taught under Kryzanowska at The Pilates Studio, and upon its closing she partnered with NYC-based chiropractor Howard Sichel to offer Pilates to his patients. That work led to the establishment of Power Pilates, which Ms. Higgins helped to grow into a successful studio with locations around the world.

In 1998, SAB invited Ms. Higgins to design a Pilates program for SAB’s Intermediate and Advanced Students, and two decades later she continues to offer instruction to Winter Term students as an important component of SAB’s student wellness offerings.

In addition to her current work at SAB, Ms. Higgins offers private instruction and workshops to clients in New York City. She is a PMA Gold Certified teacher.

Marimba is a graduate of the San Francisco Ballet School and danced professionally with Ailey II, the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and other prominent dance companies in New York City. She was first introduced to Pilates in 1997 as a student at the Ailey School.

Marimba is a graduate of Barnard College of Columbia University with a degree in Art History. She has taught Horton technique in the Junior and Professional Divisions at the Ailey School since 2005 and at university dance programs throughout the country, as well as in Italy for the Italian Television series Amici and Tecniche Di Danza Moderna. Marimba is a NCPT (Nationally Certified Pilates Teacher) and a Registered Certified Biodynamic Craniosacral Therapist®.

Caroline has been a ballet student since she was 5 in her hometown of Nashville, TN. After a knee injury when she was 16 she ended her formal dance studies and started to pursue a new passion — physical therapy. She earned her BS in Kinesiology from Miami University of Ohio where she studied the effects of the Female Athlete Triad on a dancer’s likelihood of injury. Soon after, she earned her Doctor of Physical Therapy from New York University and has since worked with dancers of all styles to rehabilitate and prevent their injuries. She is a Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist with a strong passion for educating dancers on the importance of cross-training that differs from traditional ballet exercises.

She continues to take courses to broaden her knowledge and expertise in the field of dance medicine and manual therapy. She understands from personal experience how much an injury can impact a dancer’s future and is always excited to provide education, prevention, and treatment that keeps dancers dancing.

A recipient of a New Music USA Project Grant, CBA Fellowship at New York University and The Juilliard Career Advancement Fellowship, Aaron is an American composer and avid educator committed to developing communicative skills between artists of multiple disciplines.

Prior to receiving his Bachelor and Master of Music degrees in composition from The Juilliard School, he trained at the School of American Ballet and danced professionally for New York City Ballet. In 2021, he became the music teacher at SAB and has developed a curriculum that is unique to the School and informed by his experience in both art forms.

As a composer, he collaborates regularly on scores for concert, dance, film, television, and new media. Recent projects include music for a documentary about the Baryshnikov Art Center in New York and music for a new theatrical production in the works about opera singer Sissieretta Jones.

Aaron has spearheaded multiple educational projects including co-founding Juilliard’s student-run initiative, OperaComp, that led to the implementation of a two-semester course at the School called Opera Lab­­.

Awards and honors including The ASCAP Foundation Morton Gould Young Composer Award and In 27 Pieces: The Hilary Hahn Encores – Honorable Mention. He divides his time between New York and Connecticut.

Margaret Severin-Hansen began her training at the Huntington School of Ballet on Long Island, NY. She was accepted into The School of American Ballet and trained there until joining as an apprentice with Carolina Ballet in the inaugural season (1998) and made a Principal in 2002. Ms. Severin-Hansen trained with the Royal Danish Ballet for six weeks in 1997 and danced with The Royal Ballet of Flanders in 2013. At Carolina Ballet, Ms. Severin-Hansen has had many ballets created on her and has danced the majority of the ballets in the repertoire. She has repeatedly been singled out for her artistry and technical merit. In January of 2009, Ms. Severin-Hansen was one of eight graduates of the School of American Ballet personally invited by Peter Martins to perform with New York City Ballet dancers in the 75th Anniversary Celebration of the school. In addition, to being a Principal at Carolina Ballet, Ms. Severin-Hansen is the Director of the Ruth S. Shur Summer Intensive and Co-Chairman of the School of Carolina Ballet. She is also a founding member of the SAB Alumni Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion as well as Assistant Director at Triangle Academy of Dance in Cary, NC.

Aaron Jackson was born in Johnson City, Tennessee, and began his dance training at the age of ten at Holloway Dance School. He continued his training during summer intensives at Joffrey Ballet School, The School of Pennsylvania Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet School, all on full scholarship. Additionally, Aaron enrolled in the Summer Course program at the School of American Ballet, before enrolling as a full-time student in the Fall of 1998. In 2000, Aaron was invited by Arthur Mitchell to join Dance Theatre of Harlem, where he danced for one year. In 2001, he joined the Washington Ballet where he performed for eight seasons before joining Company C Contemporary Ballet in San Francisco for two seasons. After Aaron retired from performance in 2010, he returned to Washington, D.C. Arron’s repertoire includes works choreographed by Arthur Mitchell, George Balanchine, Christopher Wheeldon, William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp, Laveen Naidu, and Geoffrey Holder.
Currently, Aaron acts as the Head Ballet Instructor for the Pre-Professional Division at the Dance Institute of Washington, a department he has been part of since 2019. Additionally, he has taught at the Washington School of Ballet since 2010. Previously, he was on the faculty at Jones-Haywood Dance School and the Berrend Dance Centre. Additional institutions he has taught at include The Ballet Alliance, Tennessee Association of Dance, City Youth Ballet (Tennessee), Tanzwerk 101 (Zürich, Switzerland), Tanz Akademie (Zürich, Switzerland), Zürcher Hochschule der Künste (Zürich, Switzerland), Musical Factory (Lucerne, Switzerland), and Tanzkompanie des Theaters St. Gallen (St. Gallen, Switzerland). Aaron also serves on the School of American Ballet’s Alumni Advisory Committee on Diversity and Inclusion.