| John Magnus Artistic Director Mr. Magnus, Artistic Director of San Gorgonio Ballet received his training at the University of Cape Town ballet school. He soon joined the Cape Town Ballet Company performing a wide range of classical roles. In 1980 Mr. Magnus came to the United States and began working as Ballet Master for the Nevada Dance Theatre. Based in New York he served as Ballet Master for New Jersey Ballet Company and School and taught classes for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet. As Ballet Master he has set some of the world's favorite ballets including Etudes, La Bayadere, and Swan Lake. For the past fifteen years he has been an instructor at the highly acclaimed Joffrey Ballet School in New York City and was recently appointed Artistic Director of the Joffrey Ballet School. He has also served as Artistic Director of the famed Joffrey Midwest Workshop since it's inception in 1995. |
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| Julia Olsen-Rodriguez Artistic Director Miss Olsen -Rodriguez Founding Artistic Director of San Gorgonio Ballet received her training from many of the finest teachers including John Magnus, Charles Maple, Zelma Bustillo, Cecilia Hering, and Clifford Breland. A seven year full merit scholarship student of the elite Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program, she has been accepted to such schools as American Ballet Theatre, The Kirov , The Bolshoi at Vail, Houston Ballet, The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, and The School at Jacobs Pillow. She has performed with many companies such as American Ballet Theatre, Inland Pacific Ballet, Redlands Festival Ballet, Palm Springs Ballet, and Bre Dance Theatre. Noted for her superb technique, delicate grace, and elegant expression, she is also a principal dancer with San Gorgonio Ballet. |
| San Gorgonio Ballet 240 West Ramsey Street Banning CA 951/ 922-8820 fax 951/ 922-8830 Copyright 2007 San Gorgonio Ballet Company All Rights Reserved |
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| Elyssa Guardino Ballet Mistress/ Principal Dancer Ms. Guardino Ballet Mistress and Principal Dancer with San Gorgonio Ballet has danced in the three major disciplines of classical, modern, and musical theater. She has performed with Boston Ballet, Chicago Ballet, and Radio City Ballet as a Soloist. She was a Principal dancer with the avant-gardecompany of Rudy Perez and the modern companies of Joan Lumbari, and Paul Sanasardo. She is an accomplished dancer, singer, and actress and has appeared in many national tours and on Broadway. .After settling in the desert, she performed as Principal dancer in eight seasons of The Nutcracker at the McCallum Theater, and two hundred performances of the popular review Sinatra My Way. Noted for her grace and, beauty, and perfection of stage presence and technique, she was selected by Robert Beck, Founder of Palm Springs Ballet, to be his Prima Ballerina. Ms. Guardino has also served as Artistic Director of Palm Springs Ballet. Ms. Guardino is an accomplished dance teacher, having many years of experience teaching for major schools nationally. When not performing on stage she is the San Gorgonio Ballet Stage Manager. |
| Jaime Zarco Ballet Master/ Principal Dancer Mr. Zarco , San Gorgonio Ballet Principal Dancer and Ballet Master has trained extensively in ballet and ballroom with many of the finest teachers such as, Julia Olsen-Rodriguez, Damian Diaz, Roan Montez, and Nadia Efendal. An award winning ballroom dancer , his talent in classical dance was recognized early in his training with San Gorgonio Ballet School and he was soon invited to be a member of San Gorgonio Ballet. He is noted for his stage presence and agility. Mr. Zarco also teaches Salsa/Swing classes at San Gorgonio Ballet School of Dance. |
| Barbara Crafts Barbara Crafts began dancing in Melbourne, Australia with teachers from Ballet Rambert. When she returned to America she trained with Carol Serenberg of Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. She spent two summers in New York City training with Talia Mara, Arthur Mahony, Serge Romanoff and Hilda Bustova at Ballet repertoire. One of her classmates was Maria Vegh. College training was with William Christiansen at University of Utah. Mr. Christiansen was forming a company separate from the university. Fellow students were Michael Smuin, Kent Stowel, and Finus Jhung. Mr. C. assigned Finus Jhung to be Barbara’s partner for the years they trained at Utah. The university company performed the first full length Coppelia in America, on nationwide television and won a Ford Grant to form the separate company. The company was first named Utah Ballet, then Utah Civic ballet, and finally in 1963 Ballet West , which is it’s name today. Barbara retired from ballet to continue college in the field of teaching, and raise a family. She returned to dance in January of 2001, studying at several area studios. She performed the role of Step-Mother in Riverside Ballet Arts performance of Cinderella in 2003. She began training with San Gorgonio Ballet in 2004 enjoying the technical excellence and choreographic beauty that Miss Julia Olsen- Rodriguez brings to the stage. At 70 years old Barbara has not lost her love of dance. |
