UTAH ARTISTS SCHOOL OF BALLET: July 2009

Our Faculty

Barbara Olsen- Owner and Directress Barbara Olsen is the principal ballet, teaching children from the ages two through college. She has been teaching for 35 years. Her philosophy is to teach children to love to dance while learning to execute proper techniques and develop talent all with a positive attitude. She has also choreographed many children ballets, and is the only teacher to present a full length Nutcracker ballet with children as young as three.
Ms. Olsen comes from a long history of ballet. Her career being taught by William Christensen, the founder of Ballet West. She has also performed in many ballets. Barbara was a ballet major at the University of Utah. And her teachers included William Christensen, Bene Arnold, Gordon Paxtman, Mattelin Gavers, Al Girbert of Hollywood, Roland Butler and many more.
Her showcase of students have often auditioned for various ballet workshops, and received scholarships around the state and county such as: University Of Utah, B.Y.U., College of Eastern Utah, Idaho, Walnut Hills School of the Arts, Dance Aspen, Joffery Ballet(N.Y.C.), and American Ballet Theater (N.Y.C.) and the coveted William F. Christensen Ballet Scholarship. Many students have received principal roles with Ballet West's Nutcracker including "Clara". Many students have been varsity cheerleaders, on drill teams, dance companies and college cheerleaders. As well as becoming professional dance teachers.
Presently, Barbara has been involved as a member of the Utah Ballet Teachers Association and the Sandy Arts Guild. She's been on the production committee for Sandy City, secretary for Sandy Dance Alliance, and Producer of the annual Sandy City Talent Show.

Jennifer Beaumont
Jennifer graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in Ballet. She danced with the Utah Ballet. She began dancing and performing with Repertory Dance Theater (RDT). She has a Masters degree in Modern dance from the U. of. U. She is currently teaching ballet at the University of Utah.

Candace McQueen
Candace was a Utah Jazz Dancer for "Utah Jazz Games". Extensive training in jazz and hip hop. Candace received a Dance scholarship to the University of Utah where she graduated. She was in charge of the West Jordan H.S. drill team. She has had extensive training and is an excellent choreographer.

Abigail Ririe
Abigail trained at Utah Artists School Of Ballet 1992-2004 and the University of Utah Dance dept. 2005-2008 where she graduated with honors with a BFA in modern dance. She was trained in Ballet, pas de deux, modern, jazz, pilates, folk forms, dance history, teaching methods, kinesiology and choreography. She performed all the the principal ballet roles with Utah Artists School of Ballet. She choreographed and performed with the Modern Dance Dept. at U. of. U. extensive teaching.

Katie Horrocks
Katie began her training with Utah Artists School of Ballet where she danced such roles as Clara, Snow Queen, Spanish, and more in the Nutcracker. She auditioned ans was selected to perform in Ballet West Nutcracker, Mountain West, Ballet West Summer Conservatory, Long Beach Ballet Conservatory. She also was on the Alta High School drill team and dance company, Dixie State College drill team and All State drill team. She has had master classes in New York. She is presently the Brighton High School drill team coach.

UTAH ARTISTS SCHOOL OF BALLET

Monday, July 20, 2009

Summer Dance Camp~2009

Nutcracker 2008

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