Introducing: Miss Ariadne!

Today's Meet the Teacher features The Dance Barn's very own Miss Ariadne. Ariadne is a returning teacher this year, having taught our Ballet III class last year, as well as assisting with our first annual production of The Nutcracker.

I first met Ariadne as the Artistic Director of Charlottesville Ballet, when they were looking for rehearsal space. As a new studio, I immediately recognized the advantage of having a local professional company rehearsing here four days a week. In addition, I have always thought the Charlottesville area could support a ballet company, and never understood why there wasn't one thriving here already. I was excited to do what I could to support this fledgling company, and we worked out a schedule and contract for the 2008-2009 season.

As I worked with Ariadne in this capacity, I was impressed with her beliefs and principles related to ballet training, and asked her to teach my intermediate/advanced ballet class for the year, and to help with The Nutcracker. I am so glad she has stayed with us this year, and am looking forward to her taking on our entire ballet program for the year! We will also be working on this year's production of The Nutcracker together (I do love me some Nutcracker!!!).

As Artistic Director of Charlottesville Ballet, Ariadne will be here at lot this year, and they have an exciting season coming up. We are thrilled they are still rehearsing here, and look forward to being able to watch their creative process as their repertory pieces develop. Oh, and in case I haven't babbled enough, Ariadne's official bio is below.

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A Chicago native, Ariadne Conner spent many years traipsing across the country to various pre-professional schools. Spending summers at the Houston Ballet Academy, School of American Ballet, and Miami City Ballet in addition to intensive training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Ballet Chicago during the year, Ariadne became steeped in the new tradition of George Balanchine. Ariadne relocated to Richmond, Virginia in 2003 to be a trainee with the Richmond Ballet. While a trainee, she had the opportunity to dance in Giselle, Swan Lake, Balanchine's Concerto Barocco, and original choreography by Richmond Ballet Faculty. In 2004 she became enamored with a new form of expression, choreography. She had the honor of choreographing two works on the Richmond Ballet Trainees before moving to Charlottesville. In 2007 she became the co-founder and Artistic Director of the Charlottesville Ballet. She is thrilled to be teaching at The Dance Barn and sharing her love of this art with all!