Are you ready for the 2024 Summer Ballet Intensive? Meet all of the wonderful instructors teaching at the 2024 Summer Ballet Intensive.
Ms. Lissa
Instruction of Ballet - Level 3
Lissa is the Executive Director and one of the principal dancers of Safe Haven Ballet. She is a wife, mother of two boys, sexual assault survivor, black belt martial artist, and sought after guest speaker advocating against sexual violence. Years into her healing recovery she has created Safe Haven Ballet which is the first Trauma Informed professional ballet company and ballet school. Lissa also created Safe Haven’s Trauma Sensitive program which has offered free weekly ballet, movement and art classes to survivors of sexual violence since 2019. Lissa recently was the recipient of the 2023 Life Changer Award presented by HAVEN NH, an award given to an individual who is supporting survivors in the community.
She holds a comprehensive certification in classical Pilates from Peak Pilates and holds a double major B.S. in Kinesiology: Exercise Science and B.A. in Theatre and Dance from the University of New Hampshire. She was a principal dancer and guest artist with New England companies for more than a decade performing coveted principal roles. She is also an accomplished choreographer and has created more than eleven full length musicals, and now creates full length ballet productions and repertoire for Safe Haven Ballet. Lissa is thrilled to be here in Alaska with Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy!
Ms. Cassandra Stanek
Instruction of Lyrical & Contemporary - Levels 1 - 3
Ms. Cassandra Stank is an approachable and well-rounded dancer, instructor, and choreographer based in Long Island, New York. In her early days, Ms. Cassandra found a love for performing as a competitive dancer. Ms. Cassandra began her teaching career at the young age of 18 and quickly realized that dance education was a passion.
Ms. Cassandra is now Competition Director at a professional and recreational studio in New York, and a Competition Adjudicator; devoting herself to educating children and adults in dance technique, self-esteem, public speaking, leadership, and social skills, as well as, encouraging and training children interested in a professional career in the arts.
With experience in a wide range performing genres, Ms. Cassandra has completed her Associate in Arts degree, as well as, her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree studying dance technique, acting, voice, lighting and set design, costume design, and professional skills. Ms. Cassandra has been in various performances in Manhattan, NY, and Long Island, NY, touring theaters such as Symphony Space, the Kaye Playhouse, the Suffolk Theater, and the Patchogue Theatre. Ms. Cassandra has performed with local touring band Amber Ferrari, and has appeared in TV commercials for Stems4U Flower Delivery Service, as well as a faith based TV show called Wholly Broken that filmed in Hampton Bays, New York and aired in 2018.
Ms. Cassandra's philosophy is to consistently chase what sparks a fire in your soul, never fear failure, and to focus on what matters most. It is an honor to create art. Ms. Cassandra aims for a never-ending artistic journey and hopes to continue inspiring creative minds.
Ms. Abbigale Seitz
Instruction of Ballet - Level 1 & 2
Abbigale Seitz was born in Tucson, Arizona. Ms. Abbi began dancing at Alaska Dance Theatre at the age of three under the direction of Alice Sullivan. At the age of twelve, Ms Abbi began her formal dance education at the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy. She has earned scholarships to summer intensives including: Sitka Fine Arts Camp, Washington Summer Dance Lab Walla Walla, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and San Jose’s New School Ballet. She has worked with many renowned dancers including Benjamin Griffiths, Lisa Sundstrom, and José Manuel Carreño. She has performed roles in Eugene Ballet Company, Cincinnati Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre’s production of The Nutcracker. As a student of the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy, Ms. Abbi was a participant in the Youth America Grand Prix semi - finals three times and has performed in the Anchorage Ballet repertoire including: Dew Drop in The Nutcracker, Giselle, Aurora: A Tale of the Northern Lights, and La Boutique Fantasque. Ms. Abbi has also choreographed multiple pieces for the NUVO dance competition which have placed in the top three. Ms. Abbi is a graduate of the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy and has a Bachelor of Science degree in Kinesiology with a dance, athletic training, and nutrition minor from the University of Alaska, Anchorage.
Mr. Vlad Coon
Instruction of Hip Hop & Jazz - Level 1
Mr. Vladimir Coon, a native of Anchorage, Alaska, discovered his passion for dance in middle school. With a rich background in various dance styles, Mr. Vlad has honed his skills in ballet, modern, jazz, and hip-hop under the guidance of esteemed instructors like Mr. Ryan Martin, Ms. StephanieBrent, and Mr. Colby Deemer. His journey in dance continued through high school, where he joined the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy (ACBA). As an alumni of ACBA, he showcased his talent and versatility in numerous performances, most notably in the lead role of Dracula in Anchorage Ballet’s 2020 production.
A graduate of West High's Class of 2021 and is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Science in Materials Science and Engineering at Texas A&M University. His academic aspirations include obtaining a PhD with a focus on ultra-high temperature materials. Balancing his rigorous studies with his love for dance, Vladimir remains dedicated to sharing his knowledge and passion for dance with students of all ages and skill levels. His unique blend of technical expertise and creative expression makes him a valued and inspiring dance teacher.
Ms. Hannah Jeffords
Instruction of Tap - Level 1
Ms. Hannah Jeffords was born in Mississippi, but spent most of her school years and dance education in St. Augustine, Florida. She started dancing at the young age of 3 and has performed in multiple musical theatre productions while studying at The St. Augustine Academy of the Performing Arts but she spent most of her time dancing with the St. Augustine Dance Academy, under the instruction of Ms. Tasha Wells. There she studied Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Tap, Competition Dance, and Jazz. Hannah started her teaching journey as an assistant in high school and realized her passion for teaching children movement and life skills through the art of dance. Since the summer of 2019, she has taught Tap, Jazz, and Contemporary to students ranging from 3 years old to adults and while continuing her own dance education. Ms. Hannah strives to foster classrooms that are safe environments for students to have fun, enhance body awareness, and study the beauty of dance.
Mr. James Ackermann
Instruction of Musical Theatre - Level 1
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mr. James Ackermann has been dancing since he was five years old. He started his dance study in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap, later adding Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, and Contemporary to his repertoire. Mr. James has trained under Ms. Celia Aramillo and Ms. Jennifer Boren, and developed a strong sense of technique while dancing in companies like Festival Ballet. Musical Theatre is his passion and he has been featured in shows such as Footloose, West Side Story, and Chorus Line. Mr. James started teaching multiple genres of dance in 2010 and has performed in over 70 Musicals, he is excited to pass his passion on to the next generation.
Ms. Amy Black
Instruction of Ballet - Level 1
Originally from Oklahoma, Ms. Amy Black started studying ballet and jazz at the age of five. Ms. Amy has studied at the La Mesa Dance Academy, Dance Works of Enid, and the Broadway Bound Academy of Dance. She has done summer intensive with the Washington Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. She has trained under Trey Pickett, Cecelia Jarmillo, and Debby Alllen and has worked with the New Mexico Ballet Company and Ballet Repertoire Theatre of New Mexico. She began teaching ballet in 2017. She also trains as a figure skater. Ms. Amy relocated to Anchorage, Alaska in the spring of 2021 and is proud to be a part of Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy.
Mr. Ryan Martin
Instruction of Ballet - Level 2
With a career expanding over 28 years, Mr. Ryan Martin has more than 25 years of experience as a professional ballet and contemporary dancer. He graduated from two prestigious ballet schools, the National Ballet of Canada and Mr. Ryan was the first American male dancer ever to be accepted into the Kirov School - now known as the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Ryan has danced with companies in Russia, Germany and the United States (Tulsa Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre, BalletMet, and Milwaukee Ballet) and worked closely with celebrated artists and choreographers. He has performed principal and solo roles in the classical repertoire as well as working with important choreographers of the 20th century. His own choreography is a reflection of his dynamic experiences and includes original works in both classical and contemporary styles. Mr. Ryan became the Co-Artistic Director and Ballet Master of the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy in 2020.
Ms. Stephanie Brent
Instruction of Ballet - Level 1
Born in Oroville, California, Ms. Stephanie Brent started her dance career at age three with the Stars National Dance Team in Monterey, California. Ms. Stephanie danced competitively for six years where she collected multiple titles and awards. She went on to study under Ms. Lucy Cederleaf at the Dance Ballet 2 in Roseville, California. Ms, Stephanie continued her dance education at the Roseville Academy of Dance in Roseville, California. Her studies have included ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, tap, character dance, ballroom, musical theatre, and hip hop. She has performed in countless shows. Her favorites were Giselle, Wizard of Oz, and Swan Lake. Ms. Stephanie has taught dance worldwide, including: Dance Gallery 2, Roseville, California; Yokota Dance Company, Tokyo, Japan; and in Germany where she was the studio director at the Grace Academy of Dance in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Ms. Stephanie has trained dancers that have gone on to So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Next Best Dance Crew, and have choreographed for World of Dance.
Ms. Stephanie has a Bachelors of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on child development and English language acquisition and minors in child development and English as a second language, as well as, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University Sacramento. She became the Executive/Co-Artistic Director of the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy in 2019 after being Academy Principal. As director, the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy placed multiple times in the NUVO dance competition and sent students off to prestigious dance programs and colleges. Ms. Stephanie has choreographed many pieces that have been repeatedly performed in the Anchorage Ballet’s repertoire. She is the co-creator of the Dance with Me and Bitty Bear Ballet curriculum for the Academy and an active member of the DSOA Inner Circle.
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