HENRY DANTON - Adjunct Faculty

Classical Ballet

A native of England, Mr. Danton is an internationally known dancer, choreographer, artistic director and teacher. He began his performing career with the lnternational Ballet of London and then transferred to Sadler Wells Ballet, where he danced for three and a half years as First Soloist. He also appeared with the Paris Opera Ballet and the Ballet des Champs Elysees before coming to the United States where he toured as First Classic Dancer in Roland Petit's Ballet de Paris on its first US national tour. He then performed on the South American tour and later as a guest artist with the Australian National Ballet. His European engagements include performing in France, Sweden, Belgium, Switzerland, Denmark, and Spain. During his dancing career he has partnered such ballerinas as Moira Shearer of Sadler Wells, Lycette Darsonval of Paris Opera and Mia Slavenska.
Mr. Danton returned to Australia as a guest artist and artistic director of the Australian National Ballet. After performing as a guest artist in Venezuela¸ he formed the Venezuelan National Ballet. In South America he also founded Ballet National de Columbia, was Artist Director of Ballet National de Panama, and served as teacher and choreographer to Danzas Venezuela, Ballet International Caracas, and Ballet Metropolitano de Caracas. While in the United States he taught at Carnegie Hall, Sarah Lawrence College, Julliard School of Music, and held the position of first ballet instructor with Martha Graham's School and Company. He has choreographed classical ballets for the Washington Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Garden State Ballet, and Ballet Theatre of Scranton.
During his more than twenty years association with Ballet Theatre, he has choreographed numerous ballets including GISELLE, SWAN LAKE. DON QUIXOTE, COPPELIA, LA BAYADERE, LA FILLE MAL GARDEE, CARMEN, LA ESMERALDA and FIREBIRD. Mr. Danton served as Director of the Dance Educators of America Training Course for teachers for over 10 years, and freelances as a guest teacher and choreographer. Mr. Danton directed the annual Russian Ballet Seminar from 1991 to 1996. In 1998, Mr. Henry Danton was honored for his outstanding artistic contributions to Ballet Theatre of Scranton.

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IRENE PETRAGLIA
Modern Director

Studied both Classical Ballet and Modern Dance in NewYork under the direction of Alan Banks
Assistant – National Dance Institute, N.Y. Public School District, under the Direction of Jaques D’Amboise, Brooklyn. In 1989, instituted the Modern Program for Scranton Civic Ballet Company. Former, Director, Teacher and Choreographer of Modern Dance for the Turi School of Dance

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LIZA MARTINELLI
Tap and Jazz Staff

Graduate Elizabethtown College – Degree

Business Administration
Graduate Marywood University – Masters of Public Administration
Soloist – Ballet Theatre of Scranton
Scholarship Recipient – NEIU #19 “Arts Alive”
Scholarship Recipient – Pennsylvania Governor’s School for The Arts

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LAURENE WILKES
Jazz Staff

BFA in Dance Performance, Choreography and Education from Towson University
Teacher and Choreographer for the Abington Heights Civic League Dance Academy
Faculty – University of Scranton

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ELLEN MORAN GATTENS
Minidance Staff

Graduate of Point Park College, Dance Major
Former Keystone Camp Dance Movement Instructor
Former Jazz Dance Faculty – University of Scranton

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MADELYN KIRKELLA
Minidance and Jazz Staff

Life Member and 1st Nat’l Vice President of the National Association of Dance & Affiliated Artists
Instructor at Seminars Throughout the Eastern U.S.
Faculty Member of Nat’l Assoc. of Dance & Affiliated Artists
Director - The Hawley Cultural Dance Center in Hawley, PA

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BARBARA CASTELLETTI
Tap Staff

Trained at Ballet Theatre of Scranton / Civic Dance Center under the late Constance Reynolds
Dance Educators of America
Professional Dance Teacher’s Association
Attended Dance Seminars at Hunter College to study under Gus Gioradano, Henry Danton and Charles Kelley

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DEBBIE GUY
Jazz Staff

Master Teacher/Lecturer in Jazz at the Hungarian Dance Academy in Budapest & the Cologne Center in Germany
Choreographed dozens of musicals in theaters throughout the United States
Extensive training and experience in jazz, tap, musical theater and children’s dance
Taught and choreographed in Chicago for 8 years, now happily back in NEPA