Ms. Kersten grew up in Switzerland and trained in Europe under legendary teachers Boris Kniasef, Lucette Darsonval and Victor Gsovsky. She was a soloist with the San Francisco Pacific Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and had numerous engagements in musical, theater and classical productions. From 1980 to 1992, she served as School Director for the Milwaukee Ballet where she originated the nationally-recognized Identify Youth for Dance program and was awarded a State Senate Citation for her development of dance in Wisconsin. For the Florentine Opera she choreographed productions including Il Trovatore, Faust and Don Giovanni.

In 1992, she was engaged to manage the Bolshoi Ballet Academy at Vail, Colorado and to develop the Vail International Dance Festival. Over fifteen years as Producing Artistic Director, she introduced dynamic educational programs and produced numerous exclusive productions that brought international recognition to the Festival. She produced the International Dance Teachers Conference, an annual International Gala featuring ballet’s most illustrious stars and original ballroom productions. Ms. Kersten guest teaches in the US and abroad including for the Ballet du Nord in France and Arizona State University and has recently choreographed Merlin for the Walden Family Playhouse and, in New York, several Disney television episodes of Out of the Box.

Born in Singapore, Kee-Juan Han began training at age ten with Florrie Sinclair and Goh Soo Khim. Upon graduation from the Australian Ballet School, he was invited to dance with the Sydney Dance Company, the Goh Ballet in Canada where he also trained to teach the Vaganova method. He danced as a principal with Indianapolis Ballet Theater and as a soloist with Boston Ballet. He has danced most of the principal roles in the classical repertoire as well as ballets by Balanchine and modern works by Jose Limon, Mark Morris Ralph Lemon and Bebe Miller.

Mr. Han's international teaching experiences include guest teaching at the Singapore Dance Theater, Edmonton Ballet Academy, Sydney Dance Company, Ballet Austin, Boston Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Company, Milwaukee Ballet and for the Jackson International Summer School. He was Director of Arizona Ballet School from 1992 to 2003. In 2000, he was named best teacher at the Youth America Grand Prix in Long Beach and, in 2005, was the recipient of the “Excellence In Teaching” Award at North Carolina School of the Arts where he is was full-time faculty member 2003- 2007. Mr. Han currently is the School Director for the Washington School of Ballet in Washington D.C.

Gil Boggs began his dance career with the Atlanta Ballet. He joined American Ballet Theater in New York in 1982 and was promoted to principal dancer in 1991. Boggs was a member of the company for 17 years. Boggs also performed with the Twyla Tharp Dance Company, Baryshnikov and Company, Nureyev and Friends, and made several guest appearances around the world. During his career with ABT, he was recognized as both an accomplished virtuoso and one of the company’s most popular performers.

Throughout his career, Boggs has worked with such noted choreographers as Agnes de Mille, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Paul Taylor, Mark Morris, Jerome Robbins and Merce Cunningham and has an extensive performance repertoire of both classical and contemporary works. He has staged ballets for ABT, Twyla Tharp and Royal Birmingham Ballet in England.

As both premier danseur and choreographer, Mr. Briansky has performed with such renowned companies as the Ballet des Champs-Elysees, Ballet de Paris, London Festival Ballet (English National Ballet) New York Metropolitan Opera Ballet, Munich Opera Ballet, Teatro Colon of Buenos Aires and the Chicago Opera Ballet. During his career he has partnered leading ballerinas including Margot Fonteyn, Maria Tallchief and Violette Verdy.  Internationally respected, he has served on the jury of the Prix de Lausanne and ballet competitions in Nyon, Switzerland, Osaka, Japan and Jackson, Mississippi.

He was the Associate Artistic Director of the Ballet de Rio de Janeiro and Artistic Director of "Children of Theatre Street," the documentary film and Academy Award nomination on the Vaganova, Choreographic Institute in Leningrad. He has translated "100 Lessons in Classical Ballet" by Vera Kostrovitskaya of the Vaganova Institute and "Classes in Classical Ballet" by Asaf Messerer of the Bolshoi Ballet.  An international teacher and coach, Mr. Briansky has directed principal dancers from New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet and the National Ballet of Canada. His ballet "Scheherazade","The Firebird", are in the repertory of the Ballet Memphis and the Southern Ballet Theatre in Orlando. He is the founder and director of the Briansky Saratoga Ballet

Trained at the École de Danse de l'Opéra National in Paris, Didier Chirpaz graduated at the top of his class in 1969. Since making his professional début, he worked not only as a dancer but also as a choreographer on a regular basis and was the principal dancer at the Grand Théâtre in Geneva (Switzerland) and at the Opéra de Lyon (France). He is a champion of dance that is all-embracing and not limited to strict styles and categories. Mr. Chirpaz is now the Artistic Director of the École Supérieure de Ballet Contemporain and of the Jeune Ballet du Québec. The ESBCM is acknowledged for its well-trained and high calibre dancers and the school continues to make a strong impact on the professional dance milieu in Canada and abroad. With the Jeune Ballet du Québec, he puts into practice the principles he has developed with contemporary ballet and he offers today’s choreographers a wonderful tool to express themselves with this new language when working with the company.

Born in Venezuela, Franklin Gamero was a finalist at the Fourth International Ballet Competition in Moscow. Since joining Miami City Ballet in 1987, he has danced leading roles in Apollo, Prodigal Son, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Swan Lake and Edward Villella's The Neighborhood Ballroom, among others. As guest artist he performs with international companies and festivals, including 20th Anniversary Gala at Wolf Trap and the Vail International Dance Festival. In 1997, he was featured in the Folger Shakespeare Library's 65th Anniversary Gala and received an invitation to the White House. He was awarded the 2000 National Medal for the Arts "Arturo Michelena" in Venezuela for his outstanding contribution to the arts.

Anna-Marie Holmes has performed and taught ballet in over 30 countries on five continents. Trained in Russia, she became the first North American to be invited to perform with the Kirov Ballet. She has taught and restaged many classical ballets for American Ballet Theater and Dance Theater of Harlem. As artistic director of Boston Ballet (l997-2000) her vision brought the company to national prominence. Ms. Holmes has established and organized curriculums, arts festivals, collaborated on major tours, and productions throughout the dance world. Currently she serves as the director of the ballet program at Jacob’s Pillow and sets repertoire for major ballet companies.

A prolific dance journalist and author, Marian Horosko was a dancer with New York City Ballet and has appeared in numerous Broadway productions and Hollywood films including An American in Paris and Oklahoma! She has been an editor on the subject of dance for 20 years and has authored five books on dance. In 1991 she received an award from MedArt, an international medical convention, for being the first to write about medical problems in dance and for being co-founder of the Performing Arts Center for Health - a referral service for dancers. Ms. Horosko was education editor at Dance Magazine until 2000 and is currently New York correspondent for Dancer Magazine.

Internationally recognized dancer, teacher, choreographer and author, Daniel Lewis joined New World School of the Arts in l987as founding Dean of Dance. He created the dance division’s eight-year professional program. In l988, he formed Miami Dance Futures, which produces the Miami Balanchine Conference, the Dance History Scholars’ Conference, the National High School Dance Festival and the Modern Dance Sampler. From l962-74, he danced with the Jose Limon Dance Company originating many roles. Mr. Lewis is the author of The Illustrated Dance Technique of Jose Limon translated in German, Spanish and Japanese. He has been commissioned to create works by many companies including the Julliard School and the University of California and is the recipient of many awards for excellence in supporting the arts.

Iliana Lopez was born in Venezuela. She was a finalist at the Fourth International Competition in Moscow, danced with the Cleveland Ballet and was a soloist in Germany with Deutsche Oper Berlin and Deutsche Oper am Rheim. Since joining Miami City Ballet in 1987, she dances principal roles in most of the company’s repertoire. Her extensive guest engagements include Wolf Trap and the Vail International Dance Festival. In April 1997, she was a featured performer in honor of the Folger Shakespeare Library's 65th Anniversary and received an invitation to the White House. In August 1997, Dance Magazine featured her on the cover and she was recently on the cover of Pointe Magazine. Ms. Lopez was awarded the 2000 National Medal for the Arts "Arturo Michelena" in Venezuela for her outstanding contribution to the arts.

John Magnus received his dance training at the University of Cape Town Ballet School. He soon joined the Cape Town City Ballet Company performing a wide range of classical ballet roles. In 1980, Mr. Magnus moved to the United States and began working as Ballet Master for Nevada Ballet Theatre. He then moved to New York City and served as Ballet Master for the New Jersey Ballet Company and its school. Concurrently he taught classes for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. In 1986 he joined the faculty of the Joffrey Ballet School where he has taught for the past twenty years and in 2005 was named Artistic Director.

As Ballet Master Mr. Magnus has set some of the world’s favorite ballets, including Don Quixote, La Bayadere, and Swan Lake. At the Joffrey Ballet School he instructs both seasoned professional performers and students as young as seven. Mr. Magnus teaches ballet, pas de deux, and men’s classes. He also choreographs the School’s performances, such as the annual Nutcracker production and this year’s Sleeping Beauty spring workshop. In addition to his activities in New York, Mr. Magnus conducts national auditions for the School’s summer program and the well regarded Flint Michigan summer intensive. Mr. Magnus also conducts master classes throughout the country. He has served as adjudicator for the International Dance Association in Paris and has been a faculty member for the Regional Dance America/SW Festivals (1995–2006), as well as on the Louisiana Dance Foundation’s Summer Dance Festival from 2001-2005.

Ms. Martin had her early dance training at the Alberta Ballet School and danced with the Alberta Ballet Company for four years before joining the Indianapolis Ballet Theatre (IBT) in 1982. While with IBT and, subsequently, the Hartford Ballet in Connecticut, she performed leading and soloist roles in Romeo and Juliet, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty and The Moor’s Pavane as well as creating roles in many original works. Ms. Martin’s teaching credits include guest-teaching engagements at schools and universities in Canada, South Carolina, Michigan, and throughout Indiana and Texas. She was on faculty at Butler University in Indianapolis for five years. Ms. Martin began her tenure with Ballet Austin in 1991 as a dancer with the company and, in 1992 she was appointed Ballet Mistress of Ballet Austin and Curriculum Director of the Academy. In 1999, she founded Ballet Austin II, Ballet Austin’s apprentice program, providing professional development for the 10-member second company and designing educational programming for presentation in schools. Ms Martin has served on the Texas Commission on the Arts advisory panel for Arts Education and is a recipient of the Austin Under 40 award for contributions in the area of Arts and Entertainment. Ms. Martin was appointed Associate Artistic Director of Ballet Austin in September, 2000.

Ms. Masterson has created original classical & contemporary works, restaged repertoire and has created musical theatre & dramatic works throughout the country. She received a BFA from Point Park College and an MFA from United States International University. At Interlochen Arts Academy, she serves as teacher, administrator, ballet mistress and choreographer for the Interlochen Dance Ensemble. She has also worked with the IAA Theatre and Voice Departments on choreographic projects and many of her works have been performed at Regional Dance America Festivals. In 2002-03, she was coordinator for the Regional Dance America Mid-States Festival. As arts administrator, she has worked with the Vail.

Of Swiss nationality, Gilbert Mayer has spent his entire professional career in France at the Paris Opera. After graduating from the Paris Opera Ballet School, he joined the company and became an "Etoile". In l970, he became "Professeur de Danse" for the Paris Opera company and school. He has taught for Ballet National de Marseille, Ballet Lausanne, Hamburg Ballet, Australian Ballet, London Festival Ballet, La Scala, the Kirov and the Royal Ballet School, among others. In 1985, he became director of the Ecole de Danse at the Consevatoire de Musique in Geneva, Switzerland. Mr. Mayer also taught at the Sorbonne in Paris, is a historian, theoretician, television producer, artistic director and choreographer.

Holding many prizes and citations, he has been bestowed the title of "Officier" in " L'Ordre National de Arts et des Lettres" and "Commandeur des Palmes Academiques".  He epitomizes the technique and style of the French School of Dance and officially represents French pedagogy throughout the world. Formally now retired from the Paris Opera Ballet, he is in great demand as a guest master teacher throughout the world.

Mr. Sage began his tenure as Artistic Director of Virginia School of the Arts in August 2007 and was director of the School of Nashville Ballet for more than seven years and served as interim artistic director of the National Dance Company of Bophuthatswana in Southern Africa and as Artistic Director of the MJCC School of Dance/Theatre Arts Centre in Memphis, Tennessee. He began twenty years on stage at the age of seventeen with the California Ballet in San Diego, before moving on to dance with Ballet West, Ballet Memphis and as Guest Artist with Nashville Ballet. Internationally, he has been a principal dancer with Hong Kong Ballet, Ballet Philippines, N.A.P.A.C. Dance Company and the National Dance Company of Bophuthatswana in Southern Africa.

Mr. Sage has performed principal roles in all the great classics, including Romeo & Juliet, Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, La Bayadere, and Cinderella, and in works by dance luminaries such as John Cranko, Kenneth McMillan, George Balanchine, Ninnette de Valois and Frederick Ashton. He has danced at some of the most prestigious theatres in the world including the Opera House at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., The Hong Kong Cultural Center and in command performances at the Cultural Center of the Philippines for President Ferdinand Marcos & First Lady Imelda Marcos. As master teacher, he has taught for Virginia School of the Arts, California Ballet School, Virginia Governor’s School for the Arts, Alabama Dance Theatre, Spring Field Ballet Company, Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet, Washington State Ballet, Ballet Arts, South East Regional Ballet Association and for the past seven years at the National and Regional High School dance festivals. Mr. Sage has coached and taken students to the prestigious “Prix de Lausanne International Ballet Competition” in Switzerland as well as the “American Ballet Competition” in Miami. He was inducted into the “Who’s Who among America’s Teachers” in 2005 and 2006 as well as the “National Honor Roll’s Outstanding American Teachers” in 2006 for his exemplary teaching and dedication to the youth of America.

Now in his tenth year as Nevada Ballet Theatre’s Artistic Director, Bruce Steivel is an internationally recognized choreographer and teacher. Previously, Mr. Steivel served as the Artistic Director of Bern Stadt Theatre in Switzerland, the Hong Kong Ballet and the Universal Ballet of Korea. As dancer, he danced every major role in the classical repertoire and his contemporary repertoire included working with such notables as Sir Frederick Ashton, Hans van Manen, Jiri Kylian and Maurice Bejart. As Artistic Director for the Hong Kong Ballet and the Universal Ballet, Mr. Steivel developed a strong internationally accepted company and launched each company on their first American and European tours. Hong Kong Ballet’s tour to mainland China was the first time the Hong Kong based company performed in China.

With Nevada Ballet Theatre, he has expanded the repertoire by adding 30 ballets – 13 from visiting choreographers and 17 from of his own creation. Several of his works are in the repertoire of five major dance companies. He is frequently sought after as a guest teacher, teaching for Nederland Dans Theatre, the Norwegian National Ballet, the Hungarian National Ballet, the National Ballet of Portugal, the Berlin Stadstoper, Beijing Ballet, Shanghai Ballet, Bat-Dor of Israel, the National Institute of Istanbul, Turkey and numerous schools in Japan and America. He is Artistic Director for the prestigious International Concours de Danse in Luxembourg, under the patronage of the Grande Duc and Duchess of Luxembourg.