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Summer Faculty
 | Kiyon Gaines
Ballet |
Kiyon Gaines is from Baltimore, Maryland. He trained at Baltimore School of the Arts, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, School of American Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. He joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2001.
Mr. Gaines has danced leading roles in George Balanchine's Agon, A Midsummer Night's Dream (Bottom) and Symphony in Three Movements, Val Caniparoli's The Bridge and Torque, Sonia Dawkins's Ripple Mechanics, Nacho Duato's Jardà Tancat and Rassemblement, Ronald Hynd's The Merry Widow, Jerome Robbins' Fancy Free, Kent Stowell's Silver Lining, and Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room and Nine Sinatra Songs. In 2005, he originated a leading role in Paul Gibson's The Piano Dance and a featured role in Dominique Dumais' Time and other Matter. He has also been featured in Balanchine's La Sonnambula, La Valse, Prodigal Son and Symphony in C; Nicolo Fonte's Within/Without; Ronald Hynd's The Sleeping Beauty; Peter Martins' Fearful Symmetries; Stowell's Firebird, Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and The Tragedy of Romeo and Juliet; Paul Taylor's Roses; and Twyla Tharp's Waterbaby Bagatelles.
In addition to his performing career, Mr. Gaines is an aspiring choreographer. He created blitz...Fantasy for PNB's Choreographers' Showcase in 2005, and {SCHWA} for the Choreographers' Showcase in 2006. {SCHWA} was taken into PNB's repertory during the Celebrate Seattle Festival in April 2007. For the 2007 Choreographers' Showcase he choreographed Infinite Intricacies.
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 | Benjamin Griffiths
Ballet |
Benjamin Griffiths is from Boise, Idaho, where he received his early training with Lisa Moon. He also studied at the School of American Ballet, where he was a 2001 Mae L. Wien Award recipient. He attended summer courses at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and San Francisco Ballet School. After dancing with Boston Ballet, he joined Pacific Northwest Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet in 2005.
Mr. Griffiths has performed leading roles in Balanchine's Agon, Ballet Imperial, Emeralds and Square Dance; William Forsythe's In the middle, somewhat elevated; Marco Goecke's solo Mopey; Ronald Hynd's The Sleeping Beauty (Gold and Silver pas de trois, Bluebird pas de deux); Mark Morris's Pacific; Kent Stowell's Swan Lake (Jester); Twyla Tharp's In the Upper Room and Waterbaby Bagatelles; and Christopher Wheeldon's Polyphonia. He originated a leading role in Victor Quijada's Suspension of Disbelief and a featured role in Paul Gibson's Sense of Doubt. He has also been featured in Balanchine's La Sonnambula, Symphony in Three Movements and La Valse, and Kent Stowell's Carmina Burana and Nutcracker.
Mr. Griffiths is a 2003 Princess Grace Foundation Award recipient. |
 | Robert Kelley
Ballet |
Robert Kelley received his formal dance training at the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School and with Alonzo King. He danced professionally with Charleston Ballet Theatre, Sacramento Ballet and Fort Wayne Ballet, where he also served as Ballet Master and Resident Choreographer. As a dancer, he had many works choreographed especially for him by choreographers, such as Jill Eathorne Bahr, Philip Jerry and Ron Cunningham. Robert has performed every major classical role and was known for his onstage charisma and sublime partnering abilities.
Robert's choreography lives in the repertoires of many regional and professional companies across the United States, including his full length "Cinderella" and "Beauty and the Beast." His choreography has earned several awards and two of his works are in the Regional America Choreography Plan. He was the Artistic Director of San Jose Dance Theatre, where he implemented several ongoing community programs. Robert has choreographed over thirty ballets for the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre.
In addition to his work for the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, Robert sits on the Tannery Arts Center Project Board and represents Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre as an Associate of the Cultural Council of Santa Cruz County. Robert teaches all levels of students at The Studio of Classical Ballet, of which he is a co-director. |
 | Jeanne O'Connell
Jazz/Tap |
Jeanne O’Connell is a gifted dancer, performer, and choreographer. A triple threat in her own rite!
As a youngster, Jeanne trained at her mother’s dance studio in Ohio as well as studios in Los Angeles and New York. By her teenage years, she was a sought after dancer and choreographer in her home town. After high school, Ms. O’Connell relocated to Los Angeles where she landed a spot in the National touring company of 42ndStreet. This offered many opportunities including the lead role, Peggy Sawyer, in one such production. Other professional credits include “Music Man†with John Davidson, “Joseph and the Amazing Colored Dream Coat†with Sam Harris, and “Sweet Charity†with Donna McKechnie.
Jeanne has also performed in numerous shows at Disneyland, been a magicians assistant, and appeared in many TV commercials. Her television credits include “Saved by the Bell†and “General Hospital†to name a few.
As an instructor and choreographer, Jeanne has worked with such notables as Katie Holmes, Christina Applegate, and Drew Barrymore. She has taught around the country at workshops and conventions as well as at her own studio in Naperville, IL where she currently resides.
Jeanne brings a wealth of knowledge and an amazing energy to her teaching. She is hard working, dedicated, and passionate about her dancing and enjoys working with students with similar qualities. Dancing with Jeanne is an experience not to be missed!
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 | Candace Bouchard
Ballet |
Born and raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Candace received her early training with St. Louis Ballet and continued her training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Ballet Academy East in New York City. She danced with Oregon Ballet Theatre as an apprentice in 2003 and joined the company in 2004. Candace was recently promoted to Soloist and has been featured in ballets such as Company B, La Valse, and Angelo, William Forsythe's The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude and Dewdrop in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker. |
Serving Richland, Kennewick, and Pasco
Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet & Music
21 Aaron Dr., Richland, WA 99352 946-1531
Office Hours: 10am-8pm M-F
Saturday 10am-3pm |
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