Yasuko Tokunaga(Director, Dance Division; Ballet, Pointe, Modern, Senior Seminar) As The Boston Conservatory Dance Division Director and Artistic Director and Producer of The Boston Conservatory Dance Theater, Yasuko Tokunaga has amassed a world-class faculty with performances based in the classics of ballet and modern, as well as premiering cutting edge choreography in dance. In 1993, Ms. Tokunaga received the City of Boston's Pro Arts Public Service in the Arts Award. In the spring of 2000, she received the "2000 Outstanding Faculty Award" from The Boston Conservatory students. She has been listed countless times in Who's Who Among America's Teachers and has served as a dance panelist for the Massachusetts Cultural Council, on the Board of Directors for Boston Dance Alliance, and on the Professional Advisory Committee for the Dance Notation Bureau in NYC. She frequently presents at national high schools, colleges, and professional conferences. She performed in high school with the company now known as Ballet West under the artistic direction of William Christensen. Anna Sokolow saw her at age 16 in a master class and recommended that she attend The Juilliard School, from which she graduated and from where she received the first Rockette Alumni Award in ballet. With her sister, Emiko, she was the co-founder and co-artistic director of the New York City-based Tokunaga Dance Ko (TDK), a company of dancers and musicians that received numerous meritorious awards from the United States, Japan, and Norway. In 1975, TDK opened a New York dance studio that offered ballet and modern dance classes based in the Tokunaga Technique, a coordinated team teaching method which originated at The Boston Conservatory (TBC). Dance Magazine recognized this unique pedagogy in May 1976 and again in February 1992. In 1983, the Tokunagas were featured as “Teachers-of-the-Month” in New York's Attitude:The Dancer's Monthly. Ms. Tokunaga has choreographed over 50 works, which have been included in companies in Atlanta, Boston, New York, North Carolina, and Norway. She is a published author in Dance Magazine, among other periodicals.
Ruth Sandholm Ambrose(Artistic Advisor Director Emeritus) Studies with Lillian Cushing, Adolph Bolm, the Swobodas, Aubrey Hitchins, Madame Anderson and many others. Former soloist and assistant with the Lillian Cushing Ballet Company; actress with Max Reinhardt Touring Company, also in radio and theaters in California, Colorado, New York, Massachusetts and Vermont; Former assistant to Herbert Graf-CBS Television Opera; Choreographer's Workshop in New York; Choreographer for Bay Area Ballet Company, California. Guest teacher at Ballet School of Municipal Theater in Rio de Janiero, Brazil; Choreographed and staged operas for opera companies in the Boston Area. Guest teacher Burklyn Ballet Theater in Vermont. Continued study in England (Laban School of Movement), Germany with Mary Wigman, France with Madame Preobrajenska and observed the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballet Schools for six weeks in Russia. Host coordinator of American College Dance Festival/New England (1980 and 1981); Artistic Director Emeritus of The Boston Conservatory Dance Theater; Former Chair of The Boston Conservatory Dance Division.
Diane Arvanites-Noya (Modern, Modern Partnering) B.F.A., The Boston Conservatory. Prometheus Dance Artistic Directors Diane Arvanites-Noya & Tommy Neblett create powerful dance/theatre that resonates with honesty and passion. They have been named Best of the Year in Dance by The Boston Phoenix (2004), The Boston Herald (2002) and The Boston Globe (2000). Since 1997, they have choreographed over twenty works for Prometheus Dance, as well as Nixon In China and Alceste for OperaBoston. They, and their company, have also performed and taught in Spain, France, Denmark, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Ms. Noya & Mr. Neblett have received numerous awards for their work, including a Creativity Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and four Artists Grants for Choreography from the Massachusetts Cultural Council; individually in 1994 and 1996, and collaboratively in 2000 and 2004. As respected educators, Ms. Noya and Mr. Neblett teach modern dance technique, partnering and choreography at The Boston Conservatory, Walnut Hill School and Emerson College. They also teach open-enrollment technique classes for professionals (company class) and post-professionals (Dance for 55+) at The Dance Complex in Cambridge. (www.PrometheusDance.org)
Michelina C. Cassella (Kinesiology and Human Anatomy) Michelina C. Cassella, PT is a 1964 graduate of the University of Connecticut, School of Physical Therapy. She is currently Director, Department of Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Services, Children’s Hospital, Boston MA. She was the Associate Director in the above departments from 1974 to 2002. She has a Harvard University appointment, Lecturer in Orthopaedic Surgery, which she has held since 1990. She is currently on the Faculty of the Boston Conservatory Dance Division. Her previous academic appointments include Associate Director of Simmons College, Program in Physical Therapy (1974-1981). She has been a special instructor in Physical Therapy at Boston University and Northeastern University and is currently a guest lecturer at the Massachusetts General, School of Allied Health Professionals. Ms. Cassella is the Director of Physical Therapy Services at Boston Ballet and Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education. She has held that position since 1991. Ms. Cassella has written several articles for professional journals, most recent ones are dance medicine related. She has lectured extensively both nationally and internationally on the topics of Dance Medicine and The Physical Therapy Management of Adolescent Idiopathic Scoliosis.
Don Curioso (Dance Production) MFA in Technical Production from the University of Connecticut. Most recently before arriving at The Conservatory, he worked as Production Manager for The Civic Light Opera in Seattle WA, and Production Manager/ Technical Director for Suffolk University on Beacon Hill. His prior teaching credits include Wagner College on Staten Island and Suffolk University.
Aaron Jensen (Music for Dancers, Music Literature) B.A. in music, Brigham Young University. Previous studies at Utah State University. Improvisational and classical pianist for modern dance and ballet. Mr. Jensen has worked with institutions and studios such as Boston Ballet, Harvard Radcliffe, Emerson College, Ballet Theater of Boston, Green Street Studios and Jeanette Neill. He has accompanied master classes and technique courses directed by current and former company dancers of Paul Taylor, Martha Graham, New York City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Jose Limon, Lar Lubovitch, Alwin Nikolais, Murray Louis, Ballet Hispanico, Prometheus, Twyla Tharp, Bill T. Jones, San Fransisco Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Sean Curran, Ballet West, and Repertory Dance Theater, among others. Mr. Jensen teaches music literature for dancers and music fundamentals for dancers at The Conservatory, in addition to accompanying dance technique courses. He currently performs jazz with the Nanette Perrotte Combo.
Leslie Shafer Koval (Modern, Laban Dance Ed.) B.A., University of Rochester; M.F.A., Sarah Lawrence College; Certified Laban Movement Analyst, Laban/Bartenieff Institute of Movement Studies. Former member: Concert Dance Company of Boston, Elizabeth Keen Dance Co., NY; Rudy Perez Dance Theater, NY. Performances with Ruth Birnberg Dance, Deborah Wolf, Amy Ellsworth, Dance Collective, and others.
William McLaughlin (Jazz) William McLaughlin has performed and taught throughout the United States and Australia. He has performed with Impulse Dance Company, Concert Dance Company, Prometheus, Marcus Schulkind, Granite State Ballet, The Dance Prism and Boston Dance Collective. He has choreographed for industrial presentations, both live and on video. He is currently on the faculty of the Boston Conservatory, the Jeannette Neill Dance Studio and the Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts.
Tommy Neblett (Modern Dance, Partnering, Choreography) B.A. James Madison University. Prometheus Dance Artistic Directors Diane Arvanites-Noya & Tommy Neblett create powerful dance/theatre that resonates with honesty and passion. They have been named Best of the Year in Dance by The Boston Phoenix (2004), The Boston Herald (2002) and The Boston Globe (2000). Since 1997, they have choreographed over twenty works for Prometheus Dance, as well as Nixon In China and Alceste for OperaBoston. They, and their company, have also performed and taught in Spain, France, Denmark, Venezuela, and Ecuador. Ms. Noya & Mr. Neblett have received numerous awards for their work, including a Creativity Grant from the National Endowment for the Arts, and four Artists Grants for Choreography from the Massachusetts Cultural Council; individually in 1994 and 1996, and collaboratively in 2000 and 2004. As respected educators, Ms. Noya and Mr. Neblett teach modern dance technique, partnering and choreography at The Boston Conservatory, Walnut Hill School and Emerson College. They also teach open-enrollment technique classes for professionals (company class) and post-professionals (Dance for 55+) at The Dance Complex in Cambridge. (www.PrometheusDance.org)
Christine Ploski, PT, MS, PCS (Kinesiology and Human Anatomy) Christine received a BS in Physical Therapy from the University of Connecticut in 1976, and an MS in Physical Therapy from the Massachusetts General Hospital Institute of Health Professions in 1989. She is currently Inpatient Supervisor at Children’s Hospital, Boston, where she has worked since 1980. Christine has extensive teaching experience. She has taught anatomy and injury prevention courses for dancers since 1978. Christine is also an adjunct faculty member at Baystate College where she teaches Kinesiology for Physical Therapist Assistant students. She is a guest lecturer at the MGH Institute of Health Professions and Simmons College Graduate Physical Therapy programs. She has extensive experience in the treatment of dance injuries in children through professional dancers and is part of the physical therapy team at Boston Ballet. Christine is also pursuing a Master of Acupuncture Degree at the New England School of Acupuncture and expects to graduate in April 2004.
Jennifer Scanlon (Modern Dance, Pedagogy, Repertory, Alexander Technique) Dance studies at Jacob's Pillow, Juilliard, The Limon Studio, American Dance Festival and American Center for Alexander Technique. Twenty-one year career in principal roles with Jose Limon Dance Co. followed by nearly a decade of work with the Limon Foundation as a master teacher and reconstructor/director of Limon Repertory with such companies as the Cleveland Ballet, the English National Ballet, the Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Compania Nacional de Bailado de Lisbon. Teaching for numerous schools, colleges and dance companies world-wide. Has coached such luminaries as Rudolf Nureyev, Alexander Godunov, Clay Taliaferro, Erik Braun, Lynn Seymour and Monica Mason.
Donna Silva (Ballet, Pointe, Partnering, Pedagogy) Extensive and diversified training with Leila Crabtree of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, Metropolitan Opera Ballet of New York, Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival, American Ballet Theatre School, and American Ballet Center. Performances throughout America and Europe with the Manhattan Festival Ballet, Radio City Music Hall, as soloist with the Joffrey Ballet, as principal dancer with the First Chamber Dance Company and Bern State Theatre of Switzerland. Numerous guest appearances including the White House for President Johnson; The King and I, West Side Story and On The Town; with the Akar Dance Group and Il Cerchel Magic of Switzerland. Has worked directly with such well known choreographers as Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, Charles Bennett, Kurt Jones, Eliot Feld, David Blair, Agnes DeMille, Paul Sanassardo, Alvin Ailey, Joe Layton, Tod Bolender, Leonide Massine, Anna Sokolow, Anne Schlotz, Ted Shawn, Alexandra Danilova, and LaMeri. Teaching experience includes the Bern State Theater Ballet Company, Zurich Ballet Company (Ballet Mistress), Mark Morris Dance Group, Dance Academy Silva (founder and director, Switzerland), First Chamber Ballet Dance Company, Portland Ballet Company and School. Currently a faculty member of the Boston Ballet and the Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education Summer Program.
Ruth Solomon (Dance Injury Prevention) B.A., Bard College. Appeared on and off Broadway, on television, and in concerts throughout the United States, Canada, and Japan. For many years a permanent member and solo dancer with the Jean Erdman Dance Theater. Has choreographed more than fifty works, in addition to staging such diverse musical/dramatic productions as Euripides' Hecuba, Stravinsky's L'Histoire du Soldat, and Brecht's Three Penny Opera. Her most recent choreography was done for a Japanese dance company for performance in Tokyo, July 1997. Formerly assistant director of the dance program at New York University School of the Arts; founder and director of the dance program in Theater Arts at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Her teaching technique documented in an hour-long video, Anatomy as a Master Image in Training Dancers, (1988). Research/publication in field of Dance Medicine/Science in all major periodicals in the field, as well as chapters in such books as Dance Medicine: A Comprehensive Guide. Author of: Preventing Dance Injuries: An Interdisciplinary Perspective; Soviet-American Dance Medicine 1990; East Meets West in Dance; and Dance Medicine and Science Bibliography. National Dance Association's Scholar of the Year (1992).
Emiko Tokunaga (Artistic Director Summer Dance; Costume Designer; Ballet, Modern) B.F.A., University of Utah; M.A., New York University, Administrative Fellowship, Harvard University. The Boston Conservatory premiered her choreographies: The Bridge, Hanayagi, Gaman, and Narrow Interior Roads. She co-founded with Yasuko Tokunaga the New York based Tokunaga Dance Ko. (TDK) which has performed over 2,000 times nationally and internationally. TDK received 17 years of funding from NEA, 10 years from NYC Department of Cultural Affairs, three years from Japan-United States Friendship Commission (representing both countries), and countless corporations and foundations. She has choreographed over 60 65 works, and produced 15 Celebrate Asia festivals in New York City. The Tokunagas have co-authored articles for Dance Magazine, and contributed to Dance Teacher and Houghton Mifflin's Career Choices math textbook. She has taught in over 40 institutions in the US, Japan and Norway. As a cultural anthropologist, she is a protégé of the late doyenne of African dance, Pearl Primus, and has lectured at Harvard, Princeton, Sarah Lawrence, among others. She was a resident fellow in Harvard University's Administrative Fellowship Program 1995-96, and was the Dance Coordinator at Harvard and Radcliffe 1994-98. At Harvard University she was guest speaker at the Center for the Study of World Religions on Japanese Culture through Dance. At Radcliffe College she was the first speaker for the arts at the 10th Annual Women's Leadership Project. In 2003, she was received the Outstanding Faculty Award by the Student Government Association at The Boston Conservatory. Leading apparel, dance, and theater companies have requested her unique costume designs. ETokunaga@bostonconservatory.edu
Mary Wolff (Choreography, Dance History) B.A., Duquesne University; M.A, Indiana University; M.A., University of California, Los Angeles. Recipient, Massachusetts Council for the Arts and Humanities Grant; finalist in choreography for the Artists Foundation Fellowship; Arizona Commission on the Arts Choreographic Fellowship. Concert and commercial choreography including: Universal Pictures' Once Around and Walt Disney World's Canadance. Former faculty member: University of Arizona.
Leslie Woodies (Ballet, Musical, Theater, Choreography for Musical Theater) worked with Michael Bennett as "Cassie" in Pultizer Prize winning New York Shakespeare Festival Production of A Chorus Line. She covered Natalia Makarova and Dina Merrill in the Tony Award winning Broadway production of On Your Toes, under the direction of Mr. George Abbott; played "Flo" in the west coast premiere of The Mystery of Edwin Drood with George Rose and Karen Morrow; and created the role of "Kathleen" opposite director/actor John Cullum, in the pre-Broadway run of Drumwright! TV, film, industrial, and commercial credits include: Move Out! With Leslie Woodies; the Emmy Award winning George's House for PBS; The Kennedy Center Honors for CBS Echoes; A Chorus Line (movie); Walt Disney Studios' Aladdin (live-action rep); International I Love New York (principal roles) industrials; New England Telephone/AT&T's Reach Out and Touch Someone commercial. In addition she has done live, runway, and print modeling; and voice-over work. She was a former soloist with the Boston Ballet Company under the direction of E. Virginia Williams. She toured the U.S. and Europe with Dennis Wayne's "Dancers". She was a guest artist with the New York Dance Theater at Lincoln Center. Her repertoire work as a solo and principal dancer includes choreography by Petipa, Balanchine, Robbins, Agnes de Mille, Merce Cunningham, Paul Taylor, Margot Sappington, Lynn-Taylor Corbett.
