JENNIFER “Jen” CLEATON - JAZZ, MUSICAL THEATER & TAP - This is my 20th season as a teacher at FBC and I am celebrating my 12 year anniversary on November 1st as owner and Director. I received my B.A. Cum Laude from Virginia Commonwealth University. I performed at Paramounts’ Kings Dominion for four years and choreographed two shows which were performed in conjunction with the USO. I taught dance at the West End Academy of Dance in Richmond and taught creative movement and dance to local Richmond children through the YMCA. I have continued my educational training by attending various workshops with such teachers as Tremaine, Doug Varone, Doug Nielsen, Gus Solomen Jr., Dianne McIntyre, Ron Brown, Susan Kicuchi (Martha Graham Company), Richmond Ballet and more. I have two daughters of my own, a rising 4th grader and a rising 2nd grader whom share my love of dance.
ALLISON ESPOSITO - JAZZ, TAP & MUSICAL THEATER- Ms Esposito graduated from the University of Mary Washington in the Spring where she was a member of both the Performing Arts Club and the Dance Team. She plans on continuing being involved in PAC over at UMW. She received her training in tap, jazz, ballet, and lyrical at Power Explosion Studio of Dance in Maryland. Ms Esposito has been competing in regional and national dance competitions for about ten years. She has been teaching summer dance classes at Power Explosion for the past three years. This will be Ms Esposito’s fourth year with FBC.
KRISTIN GAUTA - BALLET & TAP - We welcome Ms Gauta back to the FBC staff for her 3rd year. She currently is attending the University of Mary Washington pursuing a degree in Elementary Education with a Major in Psychology. She is on the UMW Dance Team as well as the President of the Performing Arts Club. Ms Gaußta has been dancing for 16 years with training in Ballet, Pointe, Jazz, Tap, Modern, Hip-Hop, Pilates and Flamenco. She was a substitute teacher at her studio in New Jersey, the Jazz Rock Ballet Studio.
AMY HABEL - IRISH STEP & COMPETITION -Mrs. Habel is a former student of 16 years and has been an instructor at FBC since 2001. Amy is also the Irish instructor in Richmond teaching classes at Jessica Morgan School of Dance. She danced at FBC for 17 years where she studied a variety of dance styles including: ballet, tap, jazz, musical theatre, & hip-hop. She also performed for 4 years in the studio’s Senior Dance Company. In 2000, she decided to focus her dance training specifically on Irish Dance. She began training through attending various workshops and classes held throughout VA as at the time she was also attending college at Virginia Commonwealth University (VCU). ). In 2005, she began training full time with Danny Tighe, TCRG. Amy is also the Artistic Director for Crossroads Irish Dance Troupe in Richmond, VA. Crosssroads is a performing Irish troupe that makes appearances at local festivals, schools, benefit shows, etc. throughout the Richmond area. (www.crossroadsdance.com). Miss Amy received her Bachelor’s degree in business administration from VCU in 2004 and when she is not teaching, she works as the Employment Specialist with the VA Department of ABC.
CHERISH HORTON - BALLET, TAP, JAZZ, HIP-HOP & COMPETITION - Ms Horton started her career in dance as a toddler at Fredericksburg Ballet Center. Since then she has been a featured performer and choreographer on numerous stages across the globe including those in New York City, Vermont, and at The Edinburgh Festival Fringe in Scotland. Highlights in her training include studying with the Richmond Ballet, Virginia School of the Arts, The Royal Danish Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theater and Robert Battle's Battleworks. She works full time for "Minds in Motion," a Richmond Ballet award winning outreach program that teaches dance to 4th Graders in the Richmond public school system. A proud graduate from Virginia Commonwealth University's department of Dance and Choreography, Ms Cherish is thrilled to be returning to the Fredericksburg Ballet Center for her 3rd year to share her passion and talent with her students.
TERESA “Terry” MAYER - BALLET - Ms. Mayer has taught at FBC for 13 years. Previously she taught at the Roanoke Magnet School for the Visual and Performing Arts where she directed the Magnet School Dance Company. Ms. Mayer received her B.S. in dance, Summa Cum Laude, from Radford University. Her training includes Point Park College, Washington School of Ballet, Boston School of Ballet and Chautauqua Institution. Ms. Mayer danced professionally with Southern Ballet Theater in Orlando, FL. She and her husband John have performed as professional guest artists for FBC, Southwest Virginia Ballet, Rockbridge Ballet, Lynchburg Rigional Ballet Theatre, Southwest Virginia Opera and Dance Matrix.
BEVERLY MENDEZ - BALLET MISTRESS & MODERN - Ms Mendez has 30 years of experience in all aspects of dance and theater production. She just celebrated her 10 year Anniversary with FBC. She is a Magna cum Laude graduate with a double major in Dance and Theater from St. Leo College in Florida with additional training in N.Y at Martha Graham School, Alvin Ailey School and Eric Hawkins School. Her accomplishments include Theatrical Choreographer for the Embassy Theater in S.F. California, Artistic Director & Choreographer for Licensed Movers Dance Company, N.Y.C., Dancer, Instructor & Choreographer for Phyllis Rose Dance Company, N.Y.C.,and more. She currently is the Co-Artistic Director of Dance Matrix and teaches dance at the University of Mary Washington.
ERIN PERUGINI - BALLET - Ms Perugini found her way to FBC by way of the University of Mary Washington where she will be a Junior. Wanting to continue her excellent training from the Academy of Ballet in NJ, Orlando Ballet Summer Intensive and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, she joined FBC two years and even performed in our Swan Lake production. Her training is in Classical Ballet, Pointe, Variations, Jazz and Modern. While a student at Academy of Ballet in NJ, she was an Assistant Instructor. She is continuing her training and assisting ballet classes over the summer. We welcome back Ms Perugini for her 2nd year at FBC.
JIM POLLARA - BALLET MASTER - Jim Pollara began his dance training as a scholarship student with the Miami Conservatory and Later San Francisco Ballet School under scholarship. While at SFB James became a protege of Royal Ballet Principle Keith Martins and later joined him at the San Diego Ballet Company where he had several roles created on him. While there Jim also performed with the renowned San Diego Opera as a Principle dancer. Jim later moved to Los Angeles and moved into the contemporary arena, dancing in films, nightclubs, industrials, and numerous music videos for MTV. Jim left Los Angeles to join Nevada Dance Theater and upon his return to California, continued his classical ballet career dancing with The Los Angeles Classical Ballet, Golden State Ballet and as a principle with Ballet Pacifica under Molly Lynch where he had a ballet commissioned for him. At Ballet Pacifica Jim performed under a wealth of international choreographers in both the modern and classical repertoire. Upon moving to Virginia, Jim performed with The Virginia Ballet Theater as a principle and also as a guest with the Virginia Symphony. His classical repertoire includes principle roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Le Corsair Pas De Deux, Specter De La Rose, Raymonda Pas de Dix/Balanchine and various modern and contemporary ballets. He has balanced his career with a variety of teaching and coaching assignments.
CAROLINE SAUNDERS - TAP- Miss Saunders is a Junior at James Monroe High School. She has been dancing at FBC since she was 3 years old and is trained in Classical Ballet, Jazz, Tap Musical Theater, Modern, Contemporary, Irish Step. She is a member of the FBC Senior Company and past member of the Competition Dance Team. She was chosen to perform the roles of “Clara” and the “Snow Queen” in FBC’s annual Nutcracker. For the past 2 years, Miss Saunders has been an assistant, substitute teacher and office staff worker. Along with a fellow staff member, Miss Saunders is responsible for teaching our Ballet & Jazz Birthday Parties. We welcome Miss Saunders to the FBC staff knowing that she will be an asset to our program.
CRISTI SAUNDERS - CREATIVE MOVEMENT & BALLET - Ms Saunders is returning for her 4th year as an instructor at FBC. She received her training in Creative Movement and Ballet at FBC. When not in the classroom, you can find Ms Saunders behind the FBC desk or with needle and thread creating the beautiful costumes that the FBC students wear in productions. Two of her daughters are students at FBC, her oldest, Mary Catherine, a former FBC student, is a staff member while home on summer vacation from college.
ROSALIND WHITESCARVER - HOMESCHOOL PROGRAM & CREATIVE MOVEMENT - Rosalind Whitescarver (Roz or Miss Rozzie), a native of Fredericksburg, Virginia, earned a Bachelor of Arts with a dance major from the University of Mary Washington and a Master of Arts in Movement Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She has studied dance and movement at The American University, The London Contemporary School of Dance, The Laban Center for Dance, and many studios in New York, Virginia, and Washington D.C. Ms. Whitescarver danced with Kathleen Harty Dance Theatre, Mary Washington College Dance Company, Virginia Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, and the Fredericksburg Ballet Company. She founded and directed the Virginia Contemporary Dance Theatre for the purpose of presenting school performances. She has taught dance and movement education classes at three universities (Virginia Commonwealth University, University of Richmond, University of Mary Washington) as well as numerous schools and studios in Fredericksburg, Richmond, Washington, D.C.,and North Carolina. Ms. Whitescarver was Dance and Movement Specialist for Stafford County Schools and worked with all grade levels as she trained Physical Education, Drama, and Music teachers how to incorporate movement and dance into their curriculum. She trained classroom teachers how to utilize the arts to enhance learning. Ms. Whitescarver holds a North Carolina Post Graduate Collegiate Certificate for grades K-7. She has taught grades 2-6 in Virginia and North Carolina.
VICKY WILDER - CREATIVE MOVEMENT & BALLET- Ms Wilder double majored at MWC receiving a BA in Dance and Psychology. She received her Master's in Dance Therapy at Hahnemann Medical in Philadelphia. Ms Wilder has taught and substituted at various schools in the Fredericksburg area. She is the Artistic Director of the Sacred Dance Assemble of Fredericksburg and is actively involved in Friends of Dance at the University of Mary Washington. She is currently a dance therapist for the Spotsylvania County school system.
JAMIE WILSON - HIP-HOP- Miss Wilson is a Senior at Riverbend High School where she has participated in all of the schools drama performances. She is Drama club teasurer, vice president of the thespian organization and national honor society. Miss Wilson is alsm a member in a community show choir. She has been dancing at FBC since 3 years old studying pointe, ballet, modern, jazz, tap and hip hop and has performed in 9 Nutrcrackers. She has also takend a master summer course at Allegany Ballet in Altoona, PA. Miss Wilson has been an assistant at FBC for 4 years and a substitute teacher for 2 years. Along with a fellow staff member, Miss Wilson is responsible for teaching our Ballet & Jazz Birthday Parties. Welcome to the FBC staff.