Summer Intensive 2 and 3 - UFAC Teachers
Alexis Miller
Summer Intensive 2 and 3
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Jade O'Connor
Private Coaching
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Jasmine O'Connor
Summer Intensive 2
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Corbin Philips
Private Coaching
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UFAC Teachers - Bios
Summer Intensive 2 and 3 - Guest Teachers
Tarasina Masi-Giulio Tonolo
Summer Intensive 3: Ballet Technique, Pointe and Variation
June 5t to 9
July 26 to 30
June 5t to 9
July 26 to 30
Tarasina Masi- Giulio Tonolo is a native of Illinois and has spent the last ten years dancing as a principal ballerina in Europe with the Vanemuine Teater in Estonia. She has toured the US, Europe and China extensively, and has been invited as a guest ballerina to several companies and schools in the US and Italy. Her repertoire includes many classics such as Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle, Raymonda, Onegin, The Nutcracker and many others, as well as, several new works by choreographers Giorgio Madia, Petr Zuska, Michael Shannon, Par Isberg, Michelle Holmes-Bello, Dr. Ken Bello, Mai Murdmaa, Igor Barberic, Teet Kask, David Sonnenbluck, Silas Stubbs and others. Mrs. Giulio Tonolo’s teaching career began many years ago, having been a faculty member of the USA Ballet Academy in Bloomington before moving to Europe. She continued to share her knowledge with the students of the Vanemuine Ballet Academy in Estonia, and for the past few years as a ballet mistress/coach to her colleagues in the Vanemuine Teater company in Estonia. Mrs. Giulio Tonolo graduated from the USA Ballet Academy, Bloomington, and is a YAGP Gold medal recipient, as well as, a competitor/finalist in world renowned competitions, including South Africa IBC, World Ballet Competition, Moscow IBC and Varna. Besides performing, coaching and teaching, she is the proud mother of a two year old who’s already showing her talent and love for ballet.
Matteo Giulio Tonolo
Matteo Giulio Tonolo was born in Moncalieri, Italy, and received his training at the Accademia Regionale Teatro Nuovo di Torino, Italy, where he studied under the tutelage of Maria Elena Fernandez, Marisa Milanese, Antonio Della Monica and others. Mr. Giulio Tonolo’s career began early when he was invited to join the Compagnia Teatro Nuovo di Torino, Italy, at just sixteen years old. He has worked with several US companies, including Ajkun Ballet, Albany Berkshire Ballet and USA Ballet, as well as continuing to be a guest artist in Europe. For the past ten years, Mr. Giulio Tonolo has worked at the Vanemuine Teater in Estonia, rising quickly through the ranks from corps de ballet to soloist, where he also began his teaching and coaching career. Mr. Giulio Tonolo’s extensive repertoire includes not only the classics such as Raymonda, Sleeping Beauty, Onegin, The Nutcracker etc., but he has had the honor of working closely with many world renowned choreographers including Giorgio Madia, Petr Zuska, Michael Shannon, Robert North, Jelena Pankova, Mai Murdmaa, Michelle Holmes-Bello, David Sonnenbluck, Igor Barberic, Cedric Lee Bradly Mare Tommingas, and many others. He has had several distinguished roles created on him. He has performed all over the world- touring throughout Europe, the US and China.
This past January, Mr. Giulio Tonolo has joined the faculty of the USA Ballet Academy, Bloomington.
This past January, Mr. Giulio Tonolo has joined the faculty of the USA Ballet Academy, Bloomington.
Watmora Casey
Summer Intensive 3: Ballet, Pointe, Variation and Stretch/Conditioning
June 12 to 16
July dates TBA
June 12 to 16
July dates TBA
Watmora Casey is formerly a member of the Caribbean Dance Company, a student of Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York and the coach and choreographer of the five-time national champion U.S. Acrobatic Gymnastics Team.
He is the founder and artistic director of Fauburg Theatre and has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year”, multiple years in a row and many of his students have gone on to dance in renowned international dance companies including Alvin Ailey, The Royal Danish Ballet, and Northern Ballet in England.
Mr. Casey's students have won top honors at The Youth America Grand Prix Regional Competition qualifying for the National competition in New York.
He is the founder and artistic director of Fauburg Theatre and has been recognized as “Teacher of the Year”, multiple years in a row and many of his students have gone on to dance in renowned international dance companies including Alvin Ailey, The Royal Danish Ballet, and Northern Ballet in England.
Mr. Casey's students have won top honors at The Youth America Grand Prix Regional Competition qualifying for the National competition in New York.
Valery Lantratov
Artistic Director,
Russian National Ballet Foundation
Russian National Ballet Foundation
Ballet Technique
July 10 and 11
July 10 and 11
Valery Lantratov has had a distinguished career as a dancer in the companies of Vladimir Vasiliev, Maya Plitsetskaya and Ekaterina Maximova and international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. Most recently he has made international headlines for his role as Czar Nicholas II in a production of the new ballet Rasputin, with Farouk Ruzimatov of the Marinsky Theater (Kirov) and for successful international tours of Don Quixote and original choreography for the annual festival for the goddess Aphrodite in Cypruss.
A graduate of the Moscow Academic Choreographic College, Lantratov was selected as a first soloist with the Moscow Stanislavski Ballet. With the theater he danced principal roles in such ballets as Don Quixote, Copellia and Romeo and Juliet.
He has received accolades in the Russian and international press for his strong technique, personality and expressiveness.
In 1993, Lantratov began working for the Kremlin Ballet. This same year, he formed the Russian National Ballet Foundation. He has toured as a solo guest artist in such countries as Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and the United States. The Russian National Ballet Foundation has toured in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and the United States.
In 1997, Russian president Boris Yeltsin named Valery Lantratov “ People’s Artist of Russia,” the Russian Federation’s highest artistic honor.
Mr. Lantratov holds a teaching certificate Russia's renowned National Academy of Theatrical Arts- GITIS.* For three years, Mr. Lantratov served as a guest instructor at the Boston Ballet. With his Russian National Ballet Foundation, Lantratov is able to realize his goal of introducing new audiences throughout the world to some of the finest classical works of Russia. “No matter what might happen between the countries in the world, dance can deliver peace, compassion and art—eternal values.”
*GITIS' ballet department was founded in 1946 under A. Gorsky, R. Zakharov and Leonid Lavaovsky of the Bolshoi Ballet with equal state funding to the Bolshoi. It is the only institute in Russia to offer a diploma in choreography and direction for ballet theatre. Its distinguished ballet masters include Vladimir Vassiliev (director of the
Bolshoi, retired), Nadja Pavlova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired) and Katirina Maximova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired).
A graduate of the Moscow Academic Choreographic College, Lantratov was selected as a first soloist with the Moscow Stanislavski Ballet. With the theater he danced principal roles in such ballets as Don Quixote, Copellia and Romeo and Juliet.
He has received accolades in the Russian and international press for his strong technique, personality and expressiveness.
In 1993, Lantratov began working for the Kremlin Ballet. This same year, he formed the Russian National Ballet Foundation. He has toured as a solo guest artist in such countries as Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and the United States. The Russian National Ballet Foundation has toured in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and the United States.
In 1997, Russian president Boris Yeltsin named Valery Lantratov “ People’s Artist of Russia,” the Russian Federation’s highest artistic honor.
Mr. Lantratov holds a teaching certificate Russia's renowned National Academy of Theatrical Arts- GITIS.* For three years, Mr. Lantratov served as a guest instructor at the Boston Ballet. With his Russian National Ballet Foundation, Lantratov is able to realize his goal of introducing new audiences throughout the world to some of the finest classical works of Russia. “No matter what might happen between the countries in the world, dance can deliver peace, compassion and art—eternal values.”
*GITIS' ballet department was founded in 1946 under A. Gorsky, R. Zakharov and Leonid Lavaovsky of the Bolshoi Ballet with equal state funding to the Bolshoi. It is the only institute in Russia to offer a diploma in choreography and direction for ballet theatre. Its distinguished ballet masters include Vladimir Vassiliev (director of the
Bolshoi, retired), Nadja Pavlova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired) and Katirina Maximova (prima ballerina absoluta of the Bolshoi, retired).
Ashley Thopiah
Choreographer, Private Coaching and Summer Intensive 2 Ballet Technique
June 12 to 16
Julu 10 to July 30
June 12 to 16
Julu 10 to July 30
𝗔𝘀𝗵𝗹𝗲𝘆 𝗧𝗵𝗼𝗽𝗶𝗮𝗵 has a BFA in Dance Performance from Butler University. She began her dance training at the Christine Rich Dance Academy and furthered her training in summer programs at State Street Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Ashley has performed corps, soloist, and principal roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Giselle, La Bayadere, Cinderella, and George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments. Joining Oakland Ballet in 2019, she has performed Luna Mexicana, The Nutcracker, and Borderlines by Graham Lustig. Ashley was featured in various new works created by several choreographers, including Caili Quan, Elaine Kudo, and Phil Chan.
Richard Smith
Private Coaching - Ballet
All Summer
All Summer
Richard began his training at the age of 18 in Peoria, IL. While in Peoria, he was able to
perform soloist and principal roles during and after his training was completed. Such credits
include: the Prince from Cinderella, Prince Ivan from The Firebird, and a recording of the Sugar
Plum adagio from The Nutcracker. Richard spent time training at The Rock School under Bo and
Stephanie Spashoff among others.
Richard has performed as a guest artist in Chicago, New York, and Florida; and currently
is a freelance artist in Minneapolis, MN. He most recently was a member of Minnesota Dance
Theatre where he performed in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy and performed with
Continental Ballet Company in the spring of 2023.
In addition to his dancing, Richard is an accomplished teacher, having taught for UFAC
for the past 5 years. He currently teaches at North Ballet Academy in Otsego, MN and has been
coaching their full length production of The Sleeping Beauty.
perform soloist and principal roles during and after his training was completed. Such credits
include: the Prince from Cinderella, Prince Ivan from The Firebird, and a recording of the Sugar
Plum adagio from The Nutcracker. Richard spent time training at The Rock School under Bo and
Stephanie Spashoff among others.
Richard has performed as a guest artist in Chicago, New York, and Florida; and currently
is a freelance artist in Minneapolis, MN. He most recently was a member of Minnesota Dance
Theatre where he performed in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy and performed with
Continental Ballet Company in the spring of 2023.
In addition to his dancing, Richard is an accomplished teacher, having taught for UFAC
for the past 5 years. He currently teaches at North Ballet Academy in Otsego, MN and has been
coaching their full length production of The Sleeping Beauty.
Robin Ferrrer-Wilson
Pilates Conditioning for Dancers
All Summer
All Summer
Robin began dancing at age 4, and received her training in Classical Ballet through the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance. While training with the Omaha Academy of Ballet, Robin danced various roles in Ballet Omaha’s (now American Midwest Ballet) production of The Nutcracker. After her family relocated to Illinois, Robin continued her dance training with the Peoria Civic Ballet School. Robin danced the role of the Guardian Angel in the Peoria Civic Opera Companies’ production of Hansel and Gretel. After taking a number of years away from Ballet to rehabilitate following a severe leg injury, Robin began dancing again, earning a minor in dance from Illinois State University. After graduating from Illinois State University, Robin relocated to Chicago and attended classes at the Joel Hall Dance Center. Robin taught Ballet and Tap to young dancers with special needs through the Northwest Suburban Special Recreation Association. Robin also developed a strong desire to study anatomy and fitness, seeking and earning her certification as a fitness instructor through the American Council of Exercise. In addition to providing classes and private fitness training, Robin focused on her own fitness training and competed in body building competitions in the Chicago area for two consecutive years. Robin continued to focus on her personal fitness as she pursued a Master’s in Education and a Specialist degree in School Psychology. Robin returned to dance when her daughter began dancing with the Urbana Fine Arts Center. Robin participates in the Adult Ballet Program at UFAC and is holds a certification in Mat Pilates Conditioning through the Body Arts and Science International (BASI) program.