ROBERTO MUNOZ, EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

A native of Chile, Mr. Muñoz was born into a family of dancers.  Both of his parents were pioneers of the dance movement in Chile during the late 40's and 50's.  With them, he traveled throughout South America and the Caribbean: first with Ballet de Concepción and later on with Ballet Municipal de Maracaibo and Ballet de la Universidad del Zulia, taking this art form to places where Ballet had rarely been seen before.  Thanks to his parents' influence and under their tutelage, Roberto Muñoz began his career at a very early age. ...more info 
 

MELINDA ROY, ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Principal Dancer at the New York City Ballet from 1989 until her retirement in 1996, Ms. Roy performed leading roles for audiences all over the world.  She has numerous television and film credits, and is also Co-creator of the New York City Ballet Workout, published by William Morrow in 1996.  Ms. Roy was Choreographer for the Broadway version of the movie Urban Cowboy, for which she was nominated for a Tony in April 2003.  Ms. Roy makes her permanent home on Sanibel Island. ...more info
 

JOCK SOTO, ARTISTIC ADVISOR

Mr. Soto, who is half Navajo Indian and half Puerto Rican, was born in New Mexico and raised in Phoenix, Arizona. At the age of five, he began studying ballet with local teachers after seeing a television special featuring Edward Villella in the “Rubies” section of George Balanchine’s JEWELS.  ....more info

 

LISA TAFEL, CHILDREN'S DIVISION

Lisa began her classical ballet training at the age of 6 in Lincoln, Rhode Island.  In the late 1970’s, Lisa continued her training at the Dance Academy (home of the Festival Ballet of Rhode Island) in North Providence, RI under the direction of the late Christine Hennessey and Winthrop Corey.  She continued her training at the Dance Academy and in the early 1980’s, she became a company member of the Festival Ballet of Rhode Island.  As a student of classical ballet, Lisa performed in many of Festival Ballet’s productions: The Nutcracker, Les Sylphides, Coppelia, Cinderella, and Romeo & Juliet. ...more info
 

JOEY PIZZI, JAZZ

Joey Pizzi recently completed work as associate choreographer of the Miramax film "Chicago" under the direction of Rob Marshall.  Last season, Mr. Pizzi served as associate choreographer under Kathleen Marshall on "Follies" and "Seussical", both on Broadway and on Encores! critically acclaimed revival of HAIR.  Recently Mr. Pizzi served as associate choreographer on "Minelli on Minelli" at Broadway’s Palace Theatre.  He was the associate choreographer of the Walt Disney Teleflex "Annie", which recently aired on ABC’s the Wonderful World of Disney.  Prior to that he choreographed "The Most Fabulous Story Ever Told" at the New York Theatre Workshop and was featured in the Broadway revival of "Little Me", for which he also served as associate choreographer. ...more info