BALLET NEO
Contemporary Ballet
KARIN AVERTY
Classical Ballet -Pointe- Variations
Karin Averty was born in France , trained in 1973 at the Paris Opera Ballet School for 6 years , then joined the Company in 1979 at age 16. In July 1980, she won the Grand Prix, in Junior category at the International Ballet Competition in Varna, earning international recognition early in her career. In June 1983, she became a Premiere Danseuse at the Paris Opera Ballet, where she performed leading roles in Rudolf Nureyev’s choreographies such as Raymonda, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere . Karin danced as well principal roles in works by renowned choreographers such as Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Nils Christe, Agnes De Mille, Michel Fokine, Martha Graham, James Kudelka, Pierre Lacotte, Harald Lander, Serge Lifar, Kenneth McMillan, John Neumeier, Vaslav Nijinsky, Bronislava Nijinska, Jerome Robbins, Leo Stats, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor, Hans Van Mannen. In 1986, Karin was awarded the Prix du Public by the Paris Opera Ballet Friends Association (AROP).The following year, William Forsythe chose her to be in the original cast of Somewhere in the Middle. In August 1987-89 she became a Principal Dancer with the San Francisco Ballet under Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson then returned to the Paris Opera Ballet where she retired in 2005 dancing Juliette in Nureyev’s choreography Romeo and Juliette.In 2003 Karin received her Teaching Diploma and Prime Minister of France honored her with the National Merit Order as a Knight . Karin then started to teach in France and traveled to Japan, Korea, Canada and United States as a Freelance Ballet coach .In 2012 Karin realized one of her dreams and relocated to New York City. Karin has taught at Juilliard, ABT ,Alvin Ailey, Ellison Ballet, Peridance, Boston Ballet, Ballet West,Rock School, Kansas City Ballet ,Joffrey Ballet Chicago among other schools in the country. Karin is a Freelance Ballet instructor and coach.She is a Ballet Faculty at Steps on Broadway and teaches Open classes.
KURT FROMAN
Classical Ballet - Contemporary Ballet Rep - Partnering
Kurt Froman is currently teaching company class for the New York City Ballet as well as open classes for Steps on Broadway. He was the Resident Choreographer of "Billy Elliot, The Musical" on both the Broadway and 2nd National Tour, and was the original Dance Captain on the Broadway production of "An American in Paris".
In Hollywood, Froman is known as the "go-to" ballet trainer and coach for movies involving ballet for actors. Some noteworthy projects include "Red Sparrow"- Jennifer Lawrence; "Black Swan"- Natalie Portman, Mila Kunis, Vincent Cassel; Rooney Mara (*upcoming Audrey Hepburn movie); "Z- The Beginning of Everything"- Christina Ricci.
Kurt’s professional career in New York started when he was awarded the first Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship to study at the School of American Ballet's "Special Advanced Men's Class”. After six months, Kurt joined the New York City Ballet, dancing senior corps de ballet and soloist roles in over 65 ballets. Froman performed principal roles with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center.
His Broadway career includes the leading role of James in the Twyla Tharp/Billy Joel musical “Movin' Out”. Kurt danced in the Broadway revival of “Pal Joey” at Studio 54, and City Center Encores!- “Juno” and “On Your Toes”. Other TV/film work includes “Smash”, the Biography Channel’s “Natalie Portman: The Professional”, “Black Swan”(dancing with Mila Kunis as the Understudy to Siegfried), “Across the Universe”, “Center Stage”, “SNL”, and several “Live From Lincoln Center” telecasts.
KAREN GAYLE
Contemporary - Contemporary Rep
Originally from Toronto, Karen began her formal training in the Claude Watson Arts Program and received her degree from Ryerson University. She moved to New York to study at The Ailey School where she fell in love with the Horton technique. Karen is currently a faculty member for Steps on Broadway, Marymount Manhattan College, Montclair State University, The Joffrey Ballet School and The Ailey School. She has had the opportunity to guest teach and choreograph across the U.S. and abroad, including Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Italy, Cyprus, and Israel and is a returning guest artist for OH Ballet Arts Academy (MD), Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, (PA), Techniche de Danza (Rome), Martha Graham School (NY), Fosse/Verdon Legacy Training Program (NY), and Earl Haig Performing Arts School (Toronto). Choreography commissions include: General Mischief Dance Theatre, The Harvard Ballet Company, Steps Repertory Ensemble, The Boston Tea Party Opera, Steffi Nossen, Marymount Manhattan College, Montclair State University
DEBBIE ROSHE
Theater Dance - Theater Dance Rep
Choreographer Debbie Roshe most recently choreographed “Mary Poppins at The Argyle Theatre. Other work includes “Jersey Boys”, “A Christmas Carol”, “The Little Mermaid”, “The Bodyguard”, “Beauty and the Beast”, and “Memphis” at Gateway Playhouse, Beauty and the Beast and The Hunchback of Notre Dame at The Argyle, “Palm Beach” at La Jolla Playhouse, “A Novel Romance” and “Zona, The Ghost of Greenbriar” Off Broadway, “Damn Yankees” at the Ivoryton Playhouse, “Sing A Christmas Song” at George Street Playhouse, and a National Tour of “The Rocky Horror Show”. She is well known for her classes at Steps On Broadway and Broadway Dance Center in NYC that attract many Broadway dancers and Radio City Rockettes.
LONNE MORETTON
Stretch and Strengthening
Lonné Moretton received degrees from San Jose State University (B.A., Drama), and New York University (M.F.A., Dance). His performance experience is comprised of ballroom dancing, musical theater, ballet, jazz and modern; with Dennis Wayne's DANCERS, Boston Repertory Ballet, Joyce Trisler's Danscompany and Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble (charter member), and on TV ASAHI (Japan).
Currently on faculty at STEPS on Broadway, Steps Youth Programs, and Montclair State University, Mr. Moretton has also taught at Jacob's Pillow, Alvin Ailey Dance Center, American Academy of Ballet Festival (Royal Academy of Dance School), Joffrey Ballet School, and Ballet Arts, with adjunct positions at CAP 21 (New York University), Adelphi University, San Jose State University, and SUNY/Purchase. International teaching includes Balett Akademien (Stockholm), Gulbenkian Ballet (Lisbon), Tani Momoko Ballet School (Tokyo), and at the Horeftika Vimata organization in Nicosia (Cyprus).
Mr. Moretton choreographed for companies such as Dennis Wayne's DANCERS, Dalton-Hartel Dance, Avila/Weeks, Okamoto Ballet (Japan), the 92nd St. Y's 75th Anniversary Gala and All-Stars Talent Network Galas at Lincoln Center, and for a NY-based band Bootä. In addition to serving as Ballet Master / Rehearsal Director for Bill T. Jones/Arnie Zane Dance Company, Dennis Wayne's DANCERS, Joyce Trisler's Danscompany, Ballet Neo, Avila/Weeks, and Dance Express, Mr. Morreton was also resident choreographer for Soundance Repertory Company from 1995-2000, and Artist-in-Residence at the Brooklyn Music School. Awards include the Midtown International Theater Festival for Marat/Sade in 2000, and AUDELCO awards for Playing with Heiner Muller, and Sally & Tom (revival), in 2011 and 2012 respectively.
TEMPLE KEMEZIS RATZENBOECK
Ballet Neo Repertory Coach
For the last 14 years, Temple Kemezis has worked in New York City as a professional dancer, with repertoire including classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works. She began her training at the School of Nashville Ballet and continued with teachers Dennis Marshall and Marjorie Grundvig in Seattle, Washington. Summer intensives include Boston Ballet and American Ballet Theater (NYC), Alonzo King's LINES Professional Workshop, and the Northwest Professional Dance Project. She has performed with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, Dances Patrelle, Texture Contemporary Ballet, Ballet Neo, and Sensedance, including a tour to Peru, among others. Her classical repertoire includes Coppelia, La Sylphide, Paquita, The Nutcracker, and Francis Patrelle's Romeo & Juliet and others, as well as many new works including those by Cherlyn Lavagnino, Pascal Rekoert-Valdez, Gemma Bond, James Canfield, and Catilin Trainor.
In 2016, she had the pleasure of joining the cast of Isaac Mizrahi's Peter and the Wolf with choreography by John Heginbotham. Temple has had the honor of performing at such revered venues as Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, Jacob's Pillow Inside/Out Festival, New York Fashion Week, the Guggenheim Museum, and Alice Tully Hall of Lincoln Center. In 2015, she co- founded the Higher Ground Festival in NYC with Pablo Francisco Ruvalcaba, HGF has brought over 150 Northern Manhattan artists together through its Meet & Greet Series and performances and has produced 38 interdisciplinary collaborations presented free to the uptown community. www.creatinghigherground.com
Temple's approach to teaching is influenced by the Vaganova technique however additionally utilizes concepts of achieving natural alignment of the body without force. She chooses this approach to build correct classical form that is accessible to all body types. Also important in her teaching is the emphasis on musicality being the foundation for the classical technique.
