Performing Arts Division

Lise Houlton (Artistic Director) became Artistic Director of Minnesota Dance Theatre in 1995, succeeding her mother Loyce Houlton, who founded the company in 1962. A native of Minneapolis, best known for her effortless, fluid style and dramatic sensibility, she began her dance career with MDT, then moved at the age of 19 to the renowned Stuttgart Ballet under the leadership of Glen Tetley. After two years in Germany, she joined American Ballet Theatre where she danced principal roles for many of the great choreographers of the last half century, among them Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Glen Tetley, Antony Tudor, Paul Taylor and Jerome Robbins. She has choreographed several works for the MDT repertory including Sidetracks, House on Fire, Bred in the Bone, Alchemical Wedding, A Piece A Chord, Rumblings and The Enchantment: Twelve Dancing Princesses.

Gloria Govrin (School Director) is a product of the School of American Ballet and New York City Ballet, Gloria Govrin was the vanguard of the tall-is-terrific look of modern ballet. Gloria’s strength, stature, and stamina made her a star soloist for many years. George Balanchine often choreographed roles specifically for her because of her stage presence and unique abilities. Roles such as Hippolyta in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Coffee in Nutcracker, the Princess in Firebird and La Bonne Fee in Harlequinade were so stamped with her identity, that the entrances and exits on the scores were marked with her name rather than that of the role. Mr Balanchine also established her in high-profile roles and ballets such as Stars and Stripes, Western Symphony, Apollo, Agon, Dewdrop in Nutcracker and many others.

Upon retirement, Gloria opened her own school and company in Bucks County, Pennsylvania. In 1986, Robert Weiss asked her to come to the Pennsylvania Ballet to teach and from there; she became principal teacher at the Rock School, the official school of the Pennsylvania Ballet. At the school, Gloria choreographed showcases, conducted audition tours, created and presented lecture demonstrations, taught company classes and assisted in staging Balanchine repertoire. In 1999, she was invited by Helgi Tomasson to be the Associate Director of the San Francisco Ballet School. During her eight years there, she trained many students who went on to professional careers with San Francisco Ballet, as well as many other companies world-wide.

Over the years, Gloria Govrin has been an invaluable mainstay to the Ballet World. People still refer to her strength and personality as a dancer on stage, but she has yet to find a greater passion in this art than teaching. Ms. Govrin is considered one of the leading masters of ballet technique and she brings her years of experience into every class she teaches. Along with her illustrious career, Ms. Govrin is most proud of her daughter, Olivia, a graduate of Berkley College of Music, who currently teaches music for the Boston Public Schools.

Lirena Branitski (Principal Teacher) was previously first soloist of the Kiev State Theatre of Opera and Ballet and frequent guest dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet, performing on stages throughout Europe, Canada and South America. She has performed under all the master Russian choreographers, including the world-renowned Peter Gusev, Vakhtang Tchabukiani, Raisa Struchkova and Alexander Lapauri. Ms. Branitski brings a direct link to the true Russian classical ballet technique, repertoire and character classes.

Erin Baltes began her training with the Milwaukee Ballet School. Her training includes the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and the School of Minnesota Dance Theatre. During her company apprentice year with MDT she had the opportunity to work with such artists as Uri Sands, Matt Jenson and Cynthia Gutierrez-Garner. Erin has performed in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy. Ms. Baltes is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Visual Arts, Theatre and Art Education.

Phillip Carman began his professional career with a Ford Foundation scholarship and Ballet Studies at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, School of American Ballet, and at American Ballet Theatre. Following a performing career as a member of Pennsylvania Ballet, National Ballet of Canada, Les Grands Ballets Canadians and Tanz Project Munchen in Germany, he returned to the United States and began teaching and coaching. Mr. Carman served as Artistic Director and Resident Choreographer for the Maryland Ballet for eight years, creating an original repertoire of over forty ballets, including a full-length Nutcracker.  He has created three original works for St. Paul City Ballet, including Concertina, Carmina Burana, Stations of the Heart, and has staged with new choreography L'apres-midi d'un faune.

Caitlin Fitzpatrick has trained at the Minnesota Dance Theatre, the Dance Institute, and performed with MDT’s Repertory Ensemble. Caitlin has also attended School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Ballet West and American Ballet Theatre summer programs. She has performed works by Balanchine, Fricke, Loyce and Lise Houlton, Petipa and Sayegh. Caitlin is at the present studying at the University of Minnesota.

Barry Leon was a principal dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Buffalo Ballet Theatre, Ballet Florida, North Carolina Dance Theatre, American Repertory Ballet and the Chautauqua Dance Company. He has toured much of the U.S., Canada, Europe and Japan, and was the founding Artistic Director of Buffalo Ballet Theatre and School from 1979-1991. Mr. Leon was inducted into the Western New York Dance Hall of Fame and is an Artistic Associate for Charleston Ballet Theatre.

Karen Paulson-Rivet received her early training with the Andahazy and excels in the rich traditions of Russian classical ballet and character techniques. Her studies include work with Gabriel Komleva, Marina Stavitskaya and Carol Roderick. During her performing career she danced roles in Les Sylphides, Pas de Quatre, Giselle and Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy.  She was also the choreographer and artistic director of the full-length ballet, A Christmas Carol.

Abdo Sayegh originally from Venezuela, trained with Ballet Nacional de Caracas Teresa Carreño School, and his early performing career included both of Venezuela’s leading companies: the Ballet Nacional de Caracas under the direction of Vicente Nebrada and Ballet Nuevo Mundo de Caracas under the direction of Zhandra Rodriguez. He has danced in works by Ailey, Loyce and Lise Houlton, King, Limón, Nebrada, Rhoden, Sands and Tudor among others. This is Abdo’s twelfth season with MDT and holds the position of Artistic Associate. He is a recipient of a 2007 McKnight Artist Fellowship for Dancers, administered by the Southern Theater and funded by the McKnight Foundation.

Eve Schulte has been dancing since the age of six at Minnesota Dance Theatre School, now the Dance Institute and was a member of the Repertory Ensemble. Eve has been seen in Loyce Houlton’s Nutcracker Fantasy, Carmina Burana and work by Ashton, Balanchine, Fricke, Hart, Tetley and Lise Houlton. This is Eve's second season as a company member.

Julia Sutter brings an outstanding background in arts education. She did her undergraduate work in ballet and modern dance at SUNY-Purhase and holds a M.Ed. in child development from Loyola University. Her extensive teaching experience includes positions with the Bockman School of Dance, State University of New York and Loyola University.

Adult Open Classes

Marcia Keegan started her dance training in Minneapolis with Hy Somers, moving on to the Joe Savino Ballet and Centre de la Danse in Cannes, France. She has performed with the Children’s Theatre Company, Minnesota Opera, the Guthrie Theater and Minnesota Ballet with Frank Bourman.

Barry Leon (see bio under Performing Arts Division)

Jill Lile is RAD trained, received a BFA in dance from Texas Christian University and an MFA in dance from the University of Illinois. She holds a certification in Labanotation from the Dance Notation Bureau and has trained extensively in the Alexander Technique. Jill is also a chiropractor and acupuncturist.

Peggy Seipp-Roy trained and performed with Minnesota Dance Theatre for 24 years as well as studying with the School of American Ballet and the Royal Winnipeg Ballet.  She is most recognized for her performances as the Sugar Plum Fairy in Loyce Houlton's Nutcracker Fantasy, in Wynn Fricke's Two Fridas, and in Glen Tetley's Mythical Hunters.  She performed for 5 years with James Sewell Ballet and has dance with TU Dance since its debut performance in 2003.  She holds a B.A. in Communication/Theatre Arts/Secondary Education from the University of St. Thomas. She is certified in Scott Pilates Mat Work.  She taught for 2 years in Breckenridge Colorado and in the present is a faculty member of the St. Paul Conservatory for Performing Arts and Minnesota Dance Theatre and the Dance Institute.  She is a recipient of a 2004 McKnight Fellowship for Dancers administrated by the Southern Theatre and funded by the McKnight Foundation.

Janet Smith is a teacher with over 25 years experience teaching ballet for the top Metropolitan area schools. She brings to teaching the beauty and spirit of the old world ballet with the training of the world today. Her performing career has included principal roles in Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Pas de Quatre and the Nutcracker. She is a graduate of the University of Minnesota with a B.A. in Education.

Ronn Tice was a soloist in Europe and North America as a member of Zurich Opera Ballet, The Grand Theatre of Geneva, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre and American Ballet Theatre. Mr Tice has choreographed over 30 ballets. He has been on the faculty of ABT summer intensive for eight years. He is also employed by the University of Minnesota, where he received his BFA.

Jessica Cressey has been teaching pilates since 2001 and has taught at MDT/DI since 2003. She is also on staff at Align Pilates in Minneapolis. She is a guest instructor at Smartbody in Amsterdam and a variety of corporate offices in downtown Minneapolis. She has studied in the training programs of Stott Pilates, Physical Mind, and currently studies the Pilates Method. Her teaching is also informed by her classical ballet training, modern dance technique, and somatic studies. Jessica has a BA in dance from the University of Minnesota and is a professional dancer.

Accompanists

Michael Koerner, Principal Accompanist

John Banks
Barbara Benn
Maria Benson

Roberta Carlson
William Cermak

Sara Duran
Lidia Gelfand

Justin Hammar
Marya Hart

Tom Linker

Peter Lile
Pat Lyles
Brian Mehr

Lorna Michaelson
Alice Novotna
Kyle Nelson

Sean Wesche

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