Rima Chaeff and Lawrence Pech Our faculty are all highly trained professionals with many years of experience teaching students of all ages. In addition, we invite renowned professionals and teachers to give master classes throughout the year. Faculty Biographies Marion Chaeff, Director Mrs. Chaeff received her professional training at American Ballet Theatre in New York under world renowned teachers, including Alexandra Danilova, Igor Schwezoff, Anatole Vilzak, Ludmilla Schollar, Yurek Lazovsky and Valentina Pereyaslavec. She received her teacher's training in Vienna, Austria and is accredited to teach the Bolshoi School (Moscow Choreographic School) syllabus. After dancing professionally, she directed her own school and company in Oakland, New Jersey for nine years and currently is Artistic Director of the San Jose Ballet Association, a non-profit performing organization. Rima Chaeff, Director Rima began her studies with her mother and was later a government sponsored scholarship student in Vienna, Austria for three years, studying with Irina Borovska/Musil. She has studied with Rosella Hightower in Cannes, Zurich Opera Ballet, Saile Academy in Sydney, Australia, Boston Ballet and in New York with Sulamith Messerer, David Howard and the Joffrey School. She completed three years in the professional division of San Francisco Ballet School and danced in their Nutcracker and Showcase performances. She appeared as soloist with San Jose Dance Theatre and toured Europe with Ballet San Jose as Principal dancer.. She has created original roles with choreographers Lawrence Pech, Audrey King and Harold Lang, and danced the roles of Giselle, Odette in Swan Lake, Nikiya in La Bayadere, and leading roles in Les Sylphides and Paquita. Brianne Ackroyd Brianne danced professionally for seven years in companies in West Germany and toured in France and Sweden. She holds a teaching degree in Ballet and Character Dance from the Hanover University of Music and Theatre and is a member of R.A.D., London. She taught ballet at San Jose State University for two years and in Bay Area schools for many years. Sarah Arnold Sarah trained with San Francisco Ballet and Sacramento Ballet after receiving a Ford Foundation scholarship.  After a 10-year professional career, she became Director of Ballet Idaho's company school as well as directing her own schools for 25 years. She continued studying as a teacher with David Howard, Pacific Northwest Ballet's teacher program, Finis Jhung, Jurgen Schneider/Vaganova syllabus, and most notably, Maria Vegh. Her students have joined companies such as Pacific Northwest Ballet, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Morphoses. Nicole Cunha Nicole has trained with Pacific Ballet Academy and spent two summers with ABT's Orange County program. She has danced many lead roles with us, including Sugar Plum. She has taught at all levels and will be teaching and rehearsing for us this season. Karen Dycaico Karen was a founder and Executive Director of Westlake School for the Performing Arts in Daly City, and presently is Ballet Instructor at the Resurrection School in Sunnyvale. She trained under Sheila Pavitt and Karen Rowe in the Phillipines and the Silid Sining School for the Performing Arts. Karen specializes in teaching young students in Pre-Ballet and Ballet I, and teaches through Level III. She is the Director of our Summer Dance Camp program for young children. Julia James Julia danced with New York City Ballet for 2 seasons.  She trained at Ballet West Conservatory, and School of American Ballet, and attended summer programs at Pacific Northwest and San Francisco.  She has taught for us for the past two years and specializes in the Balanchine style and repertoire. Ali McKeon Ali studied at the Maui Academy of Performing Arts and has trained with American Ballet Theater, LINES Ballet, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance, Post:Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. As a student at Stanford University, she trained under Kristine Elliott, Muriel Maffre, Robert Moses, and master Cunningham teacher Diane Frank. Upon graduating, Ali received the Louis Sudler Prize in the Arts. In 2014, she graduated from the University of California Irvine’s Master of Fine Arts program in dance with a full scholarship.  She currently dances for Menlowe Ballet, is a guest lecturer at West Valley College, and has started her own dance company, Ali McKeon Dance Project. Erin McNulty Erin found her love for ballet at Pacific Ballet and continued her training at the San Francisco Ballet School. She attended summer programs in New York with American Ballet Theatre and in Washington D.C. with Suzanne Farrell. Erin danced professionally with the San Francisco Ballet for 12 years, dancing all over the world and is happy to return to her home school. She has been teaching the upper levels as well as doing choreography and coaching.  Anton Pankevich Anton trained at the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg and School of American Ballet in New York City. He has danced with New York City Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, and the Royal Ballet in London and Pacific Northwest Ballet and was a soloist with Ballet San Jose. He has guested with us in our Nutcracker and Showcase productions and is a member of our permanent faculty. Lawrence Pech Larry was trained at American Ballet Theatre and School of American Ballet and danced with American Ballet Theatre, and as Principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet. He was Artistic Director and Founder of Diablo Ballet in Walnut Creek. Larry is currently Ballet Master of the San Francisco Opera Ballet, as well as the Director of the Lawrence Pech Dance Company. Larry has performed, choreographed and taught for us since 1987. Nutnaree Pipit-Suksun Nutnaree (also known as Ommi) is a former soloist with San Francisco Ballet and currently a soloist with Ballet San Jose. She trained with the Royal Ballet School and the Australian Ballet school, and has successfully completed the ABT Teachers' National Curriculum Training. Alyse Romano Alyse studied at Pacific Ballet Academy and at ABT's summer intensive program in Austin, Texas. She has danced many lead roles with us, including Sugar Plum, Swan Lake and Les Sylphides. She has assisted Karen Dycaico in the summer dance camps since its inception. She has just recently graduated with a degree in dance from UC Santa Barbara. Francesca Tan Francesca began her training at age 3 and has trained with American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet and has joined Alonzo King's Lines Ballet as a trainee. She teaches adult open classes as well as youth classes. Lauren Wray Lauren has trained with Pacific Ballet Academy and was a teacher's assistant for several years. She has taught our lower level students and is a permanent member of our faculty.  She specializes in teaching ballet to gymnasts and is starting a new class for Moms and Tots. Guest Faculty Karah Abiog Karah danced with Ballet San Jose (aka San Jose Ballet Association), and Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Ensemble in Denver and was one of the original members of the Complexions Contemporary Ballet in NYC. She specializes in modern dance and has a degree in dance from Loyola Marymount in L.A. She now directs the collegiate program at Lines in San Francisco. Victoria Ananyan Victoria trained at the Perm State Theater school and and later joined the Tchaikovsky Perm Ballet, rising to the principal rank. She joined the Dutch National Ballet and San Francisco Ballet as a soloist at both companies. She is currently with the Dutch National Ballet. Aesha Ash Aesha danced with the New York City Ballet, Lines Ballet, and recently danced with Morphoses, Christopher Wheeldon's company in Australia. She has been teaching master classes for us for the past year. Amanda Garrett Ban Amanda was trained at the Pacific Ballet Academy and San Francisco Ballet School. She has appeared in San Francisco Ballet's Nutcracker and was a solo dancer with Ballet San Jose, touring Europe and the Soviet Union.  Kimberly Boman Kimberly received her advanced ballet training at the Walnut Hill School for Performing Arts in Boston. After studying with the Heinz Boal Stifting Ballet Academy in Munich, Germany, she joined the Bavarian State Opera Ballet Company at age eighteen and danced with them for three and one-half years. She then joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre where she danced for three years. She has danced Sugar Plum in our production of The Nutcracker. Davit Karapetyan Davit is a principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet and did the lead on the PBS' televised "The Nutcracker" and "The Little Mermaid . He was trained in the Armenian National Ballet in the Russian/Soviet style and also danced for Zurich Ballet. Antonio Mark Lopez Antonio was a Principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet, creating the leading role in Michael Smuin's choreography in "Song for a Dead Warrior". He has appeared as Guest Artist with many companies in the U.S. and taught for us during the 2000 Summer Session. Maximo Califano Maximo graduated from the Colon Theater Institute of Fine Arts in Buenos Aires, Argentina, and joined Colon Theatre Ballet and also was a principal dancer with Ballet San Jose. He has danced with the Royal Ballet in London, the Stuttgart Ballet in Germany, Argentine Ballet Company, and Santiago Ballet in Chile. He has been a long-time teacher and dancer for us. Monica Pelfrey Monica trained with Pacific Ballet Academy for 10 years and studied 2 summers with School of American Ballet on full scholarship. After she graduated from college, she danced with Corella Ballet in Spain and was a principal with Los Angeles Ballet and currently dances for the Grand Rapids Ballet company. She teaches for us when she is available and has danced lead roles with us. Kim Saunders Kim received her training as at SAB, Steps and Broadway Dance Center in NYC.  She was a principal dancer with The Empire State Opera, The Oregon Shakespeare Company and Janlynn Dance Company. She is involved with many musical theater productions and plays in the area. James Strong James received his BFA in Ballet at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia and has danced for Eugene Ballet, Lawrence Pech Dance Company, Ballet San Jose Silicon Valley, and Smuin Ballet. He has performed for us in the past and is a welcome addition to our staff. He will be guesting this year. Lisa Sundstrom Lisa danced with American Ballet Theater under Baryshnikov's and Kevin McKenzie's directorships. She was a principal dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet and has taught at Rock School, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and has taught extensively for us. Maria Vegh Ms. Vegh directed Harkness Ballet in New York City and the Marin Ballet School and Company for many years. She is well known for her unique and superior teaching and coaching skills and her ability to develop young dancers into professional artists. She spends extended teaching time with us as her international teaching schedule permits. Miriam Wenger Miriam danced with Miami City Ballet and Ballet West and trained at the School of American Ballet. She has taught for us regularly during the school year and specializes in the Balanchine repertoire and style. Past Guest Teachers Brian Bertscher Brian danced with the Royal Ballet and Sadlers Wells in London, England. Ricardo Bustamante Ricardo is the former Director of Teatro Colon in Argentina and was a Principal Dancer with American Ballet Theatre and Guest Artist around the world, including at the Kirov Ballet and the Royal Ballet.  He is now Ballet Master at San Francisco Ballet. Kristine Elliott Kristine is a former soloist with American Ballet Theatre, and currently teaches ballet at Stanford University. Audrey King Audrey was one of Margo Fonteyn's early teachers and had her own Youth Ballet Company in South Africa. Ashlee Knapp Ashlee danced with the New York City Ballet and currently teaches ballet at Columbia University's Ballet Collective.  Igor Kanygin Igor was trained and danced with the Kiev State Ballet School and company in the Ukraine Catherine Ryan Catherine was a former dance with New York City Ballet and San Francisco Ballet. Daniel Simmons Daniel is the new Director of the Cincinnati Ballet School, the company school of Cincinnati Ballet Company. He danced with Joffrey Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and in European companies and has taught at Joffrey Ballet School in New York, the San Francisco Ballet School, and was Director of the San Jose Dance Theatre School. Noemi Nargizian Noemi was trained and danced with the Armenian National Ballet in the Russian/Soviet style. She also danced with both the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballet Companies. Frances Tshudy Frances has a Master of Arts in Theater Arts, Dance Emphasis. She teaches ballet at Ohlone College and has extensive stage and art experience.
		Top of Page Pacific Ballet Academy   •   P.O. Box 765   •   Los Altos, CA   94023 Ballet Campus located at: 295B Polaris Avenue   •   Mountain View, CA For more information, contact:  director@pacificballet.org Or telephone Pacific Ballet Academy at:  (650) 969-4614 Photographs are the property of Pacific Ballet Academy, and may not be used or reproduced for any reason without the written permission of the directors. Copyright © 2005       •       All Rights Reserved