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William A. Gentes, Founder and Director William Gentes was born in Vietnam and raised in California. He began his ballet training with Kenneth Delmar and at the Marin Ballet School with Maria Vegh. Mr. Gentes then trained on full scholarship for four years at the San Francisco Ballet School, where he also performed with the San Francisco Ballet. In 1990, Mr. Gentes toured Europe as a guest artist with the Universal Ballet Company of Korea. He danced with the Miami City Ballet, touring nationally and internationally. Mr. Gentes danced with the Milwaukee Ballet and taught on the faculty at the Milwaukee Ballet School. He then danced with BalletMet inColumbus, and retired from dancing in 2001 In the summers of 2001, 2002 and 2003, Mr. Gentes taught and choreographed at the Chautauqua Institution’s School of Dance. The Lockport City Ballet was founded in August of 2002, and the Classical Ballet of Western New York was founded in July 2004. Mr. Gentes is also a guest teacher and choreographer for Ballet Western Reserve in Youngstown, OH.
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Susannah Dwyer Gentes , Associate Director Originally from Williamsville, NY, Susannah Dwyer Gentes received her ballet training at the American Academy of Ballet. She attended summer programs at the New York State Summer School of the Arts in Saratoga, the School of American Ballet in New York City, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle. Ms. Gentes continued her training on scholarship at the School of Cleveland Ballet, where she also performed and toured with the Cleveland Ballet. Ms. Dwyer danced professionally for 11 years with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Louisville Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and BalletMet in Columbus. While in Columbus, she taught on the faculty of the BalletMet Dance Academy. Ms. Gentes has also been a teacher and ballet mistress at the Chautauqua Institution’s School of Dance, and has been a guest teacher for Ballet Western Reserve in Youngstown, OH. In November of 2005, Ms. Gentes was a recipient of the 40 Under 40 Award from Business First Magazine.
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Tara Philipps, a long time resident of Williamsville, has danced since early childhood, receiving much of her ballet training at the American Academy of Ballet. She graduated Magna Cum Laude from the University at Buffalo with a B.A. in Dance, studying ballet, modern, jazz, tap, choreography and dance history. She danced with the Zodiaque Dance Company for five years and performed at Tokyo Disneyland after graduation, living in Japan for almost a year. Other performing credits include West Side Story at the University at Buffalo, Miss Pennsylvania State Scholarship Pageant Dancer, Miss Dance of America competition (WNY Chapter), and the American College Dance Festival at Ohio State University. Ms. Philipps currently studies yoga and Pilates, and is a green belt in Isshin-ryu karate.
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Bryan Banach, Accompanist Mr. Banach graduated Cum Laude from Baldwin-Wallace Conservatory in Ohio with a Bachelor’s degree in Music Education in 2005. He has studied piano for over 19 years with such teachers as Lois Jones of Boston, NY, Laurent Boukobza of the University of Central Florida, Dr. Robert Mayerovich of Baldwin-Wallace College, and Bobby Jones of Buffalo, NY. In his studies, Mr. Banach has premiered works for late Cleveland composer, Dr. Frederick Koch, as well as accompanied many student recitals and master classes. Most recently, he has taught band and orchestra in the Ken-Ton School District and given several recitals at the University of Buffalo. |
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Guest Artists
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Maelström Percussion Ensemble
 Performed live at Spring Performance 2004, individual members also play for ballet class. The Maelström Percussion Ensemble is a uniquely dynamic musical collective. The group’s sound is a convergence of four distinct, yet overlapping musical personalities - one voice composed of many. Maelström’s repertoire is a journey across this diverse musical landscape, at times negotiating the intricate complexities of the new music percussion ensemble, at times delving deeply into the powerful rhythms of Africa, Cuba, and Brazil. Then, taking the form of a “jazz/fusion quartet” - mallet-synth bass, drum set, marimba, and vibes - Maelström presents arrangements and original compositions that are fresh and driven by the intense energy of a seasoned ensemble. Masterful melodic and rhythmic improvisations, uniquely percussive power and precision, and a vast sound world that draws from the exotic as well as the electronic, Maelström combines all the forces of the contemporary percussionist in an exciting and innovative musical program.
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David Richardson, Guest Teacher
David Richardson has had a long and illustrious career as a ballet dancer, teacher, ballet master, coach, and assistant artistic director. He received his training at the School of American Ballet and at the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo School, both in New York. Mr. Richardson went on to dance for twenty years with the New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine. In 1983, he became a ballet master at American Ballet Theater, and in 1996 he became the assistant artistic director at ABT. During his tenure at ABT, Mr. Richardson was responsible for teaching, coaching, and rehearsing dancers, as well as scheduling and staging ballets. Mr. Richardson has also staged ballets for the Royal Danish Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Miami City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. In 2002, he was an Artist in Residence at BalletMet in Columbus, OH. Mr. Richardson was a guest teacher at the Lockport City Ballet in October 2003. |
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Eric Carvill, Guest Artist
Eric Carvill is currently a dancer with the Ohio Ballet in Akron. In 1994, he began his dance training in Cuyahoga Falls as a member of the Cuyahoga Valley Youth Ballet. He continued his training with the Ohio Youth Ballet under the direction of Inna Stabrova and Dimitry Tuboltsev. Mr. Carvill has also studied at the Chautauqua Institution and the School of American Ballet in New York. He has been a guest artist with the Grand Rapids Ballet and the Chautauqua Ballet. Mr. Carvill performed with the Lockport City Ballet in The Nutcracker in 2002. |
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Kaleb Baker,Guest Artist
Kaleb Baker is from Canton, Ohio and began dancing seven years ago at the age of 10. He is currently training at the Ohio Youth Ballet with Inna Stabrova and Dmitry Tuybulol. Mr. Baker has attended summer programs at the San Francisco Ballet School, the Harid Conservatory, and the Universal Ballet Academy in Washington DC. Mr. Baker has appeared with the Lockport City Ballet in The Nutcracker and the Spring Performance. |
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