Biographies for the Teachers of the Dance Education Training Program
Lynlee Towne
Lynlee began her training with Mendocino Ballet under the guidance of Mary Knight. She danced with Sacramento Ballet for seven seasons, where she performed some of her favorite roles, including Fortuna in Carmina Burana and Lady Capulet in Romeo & Juliet. Lynlee also danced with her mentor Robert Kelley at Fort Wayne Ballet, in addition to performing at BalletMet, Ballet Austin, Oakland Ballet, Liss Fain Dance Company, and Mark Foehringer Dance Project. For fellow Sacramento Ballet alumna Amy Seiwert’s company im’ij-re with whom she collaborated for 10 years, she created roles in “lessness” and “Passive Aggression.” Lynlee also acted as an instructor for Marin Ballet, San Francisco School of the Arts, San Francisco Dance Center, and Mendocino College.
Melanie Haller
Melanie began her training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the world reowned direction of Marcia Dale Weary. Her performance experiences included dancing at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi in both 1994 and 1998 as well as having the opportunity to partner with artists such as Albert Evans and Marcelo Gomes in George Balanchines, The Nutcracker. Melanie joined The Sacramento Ballet as an apprentice in 2000 and immediately got offered principal and soloist roles, Blue Bird Pas de Deux in Sleeping Beauty and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. As a company member the following year, other principal roles included The Four Tempermants, Concerto Barocco, Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux, Tarantella, Agon, Serenade, Stars and Stripes, Allegro Brillante, A Midsummer Nights Dream, as well as Ron Cunninghams Carmina Burana. After six seasons with the company, Melanie began teaching for various ballet schools within the region and enrolled with Sacramento City College. Not only has Melanie been affiliated with The Sacramento Ballet, she has also performed with Music Circus in their 2006 production of A Funny Thing Happened on the Way to the Forum as Tintinabula and choreographed two productions for The Sacramento Opera. Melanie is thrilled to be on the faculty of The Sacramento Ballet Dance Education Training Program.
Vanessa Bautista
Vanessa Bautista was born and raised in Seattle, Washington where she Studied Ballet on scholarship at Pacific Northwest Ballet for 10 years. She continued her ballet studies on full scholarship at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Ballet Academy East, and later in Sacramento at CSUS and the Sacramento Ballet Summer Intensive. After High School Vanessa moved to Sacramento to attend UC Davis where she studied Chicano Art, she met her husband and they had three wonderful children. Vanessa has volunteered teaching dance in her community of downtown Sacramento to 3-5 age students and at her local elementary school. In 2009 she realized a dream of founding the local modern/ballet company Ballet Underground, premiering her choreography at the Washington Neighborhood Center’s Cesar Chavez Art and Music Festival. Her choreography has also been shown at CSUS. In addition to teaching and interning at the Sacramento Ballet, Vanessa attends CSUS completing her B.A. in Dance, she teaches for the Ballet Club CSUS, and volunteers as a dance/yoga instructor at her daughter’s elementary school.
Janelle Cooke
Ms. Cooke began studying ballet at the age of four in Derry, NH. Her primary training was in Royal Academy of Dancing. She also received her training from the Academy of Colorado Ballet, School of American Ballet, and Interlochen Arts Academy, where she graduated with honors and a presidential letter or commendation. In 1995, she received the prestigious Young Artist Award for excellence in dance. After graduating high school, Ms. Cooke became an apprentice with Colorado Ballet, and one year later was invited to join the company as a member of the corps de ballet. She was promoted to soloist in 2003. Her roles with Colorado Ballet included Sugarplum Fairy and Arabian in The Nutcracker, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Myrtha in Giselle, Helena in Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Phrygia in Spartacus. She performed leading roles in George Balanchine’s Rubies, Who Cares, and Stars and Stripes; Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs; Paul Taylor’s Company B; Martha Graham’s Appalachian Spring; Frederick Ashton’s Façade; and Alvin Ailey’s The River. She also danced featured roles with many contemporary choreographers including Michael Pink, Lila York, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Jessica Lang, and Toru Shimazaki. Ms. Cooke has been teaching and coaching all levels of ballet for over ten years.
Maia Wilkins
Wilkins trained with the Joffrey student and apprentice companies before joining The Joffrey main company. During her 18-year history with The Joffrey Ballet, Maia Wilkins danced featured roles that showcased her artistic range and physical versatility. From Balanchine pointe to Pilobolus bare feet; favorite ballerina fairies to flying on a trapeze, she has gotten to work with numerous répétiteurs and choreographers. Maia Wilkins is honored to continue Gerald Arpino’s legacy as a repetiteur for his works and the Gerald Arpino Foundation. In 2006, along with Gerald Arpino, Wilkins was named one of the Chicagoans of the year for her important contribution to the arts in Chicago. She can be seen in the feature films Save the Last Dance and Robert Altman’s The Company. As a freelance artist, Wilkins enjoys performing and teaching throughout the country. Maia loves dancing both on stage and off with her husband and fellow artist Michael Levine.
Michael Levine
Michael Levine is from Grass Valley, California. He trained and danced with Sacramento Ballet and San Francisco Ballet before joining The Joffrey Ballet. As a principle with the Joffrey Ballet Levine had the pleasure of dancing numerous leading and historical rolls. He has been involved with many world premier collaborations with The Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and other independent choreographers. Levine has received recognition for his technical ability and classical line as well as for his excellent character portrayal. As a freelance artist, Levine enjoys performing teaching, coaching and helping lead workshops throughout the country. Micheal Levine’s photography captures moments from his unique, experienced dancer perspective. Levine enjoys sharing time both on stage and off with his beautiful wife Maia Wilkins.
Joanna Summerhays
Joanna Summerhays began lessons with Marguerite Phares at age five, and in these early years discovered her love for dance. At age ten she joined Phares Theatre Ballet and danced with this company for the next several years. In 1985, Joanna also joined Laverne Krei’s tap company, and was awarded scholarship and first place in local and national competitions. For the past 18 years Joanna has worked for several dance studios as teacher and choreographer for ballet, tap, musical theatre, and lyrical dance. Among the hundreds of students Joanna has taught, many have received scholarships and have become professional dancers and teachers. Joanna is a caring and devoted teacher, guided by her love for the arts and a desire to inspire in her students ~ the joy of dance.
Christina Schreivogel
Christina Schreivogel completed the graduate year at the London Studio Centre in the UK and she also is a graduate of Virginia School of the Arts. Her training has taken her to Milan, Italy with Teatro Carcano and to New York City at Steps on Broadway. Her performing experience includes works by Val Caniparoli, Alan Hineline, Agnes de Mille, Glen Tetley, Lotte Goslar, Nolan T’Sani, Ron Cunningham, Thor Sutkowski, Amy Seiwert, Adam Cooper, and Balanchine among others. She became a Sacramento Ballet Apprentice in 2000 and a Company member in 2001, performing Solost roles before retiring in 2005 to have her first born daughter, Ada. She has also been a guest dancer with the Omaha Theater Co. Ballet and Greenville Ballet. Christina was an outreach leader for Dance Power and a Ballet teacher for the Sacramento S.T.A.R.T. program grades 1-6. She has also toured England and Wales performing with the London based Ballet Company “Images of Dance.” In 2009, Christina had the pleasure of Directing the Young Dancers Summer Workshop and looks forward to Directing the YDSW 2010 this next summer. Her greatest joy and accomplishment to date are her two children, Ada Christine and Wayne Benjamin.
Elaine Hunter
Elaine Hunter began her dance training at the age of four. She studied ballet under Marguerite Phares, Stuart Carrol, and Sharon Newton and danced with both the Theater Ballet Company and Capitol Ballet Company. Elaine has studied several other dance styles including tap with Joanna Summerhays and Krei Mathews, hip hop, lyrical, and jazz. Elaine has competed at the national level with her high school dance team; and has taught several dance clinics and tap classes. Elaine is a supportive and devoted teacher whose love of dance is shared with all of her students.
Tyler Langdale
Tyler Langdale, owner of Yoga Shala Sacramento, has been in the holistic health and competitive athletics community for the last 7 years, as a coach for swimming and water polo, a massage therapist, and a yoga teacher. He stands for connection with community and loves being able to teach about health, spirituality and personal power. Tyler teaches of Peace, Truth and Love and uses a physically demanding yoga practice to compliment themes of self awareness and strength. Tyler believes that, “when we look through the eyes of Love, we will start to recognize the same light, the same essence or spirit, which insinuate in each of us and connects us together as beings of this Earth.”
Lyle Silverthorn
Lyle grew up in a dance studio, his mother the owner and teacher, and while attending Sacramento Waldorf he further explored his creative expression through song and dance. As an adult, Lyle has actively pursued holistic health as a personal trainer with body sculpting and pilates, and now power yoga. He is currently working on his Masters degree in Physical Therapy as he further his understanding of the BodyMind and ways of natural healing. Expect to be challenged in Lyle’s yoga class while being supported in his warm loving energy and words of acceptance and compassion.
Jacob Montoya
Has trained in jazz, ballet, tap, contemporary and hip hop. He also grew up training at conventions and received scholarships to further his training. Jacob Montoya has been an avid performer in the Sacramento area for the past eight years with performances in musical theater and dance where he received Elly’s for his performances. Jake continued his dance training at the University of Nevada Las Vegas Dance Department where he was certified in the style of Erick Hawkins modern dance technique. Jake has had extensive training in Lester Horton Technique. He performed for Richard Havey for the University of Arizona dance showcase. He was also given the opportunity to perform in a piece done by Margot Colbert (Juilliard School), and was lead in a piece done by the directors of the Korea National Sport University in Seoul. Jake worked for the Las Vegas Contemporary Dance and Missy Cochran Entertainment while living in Las Vegas. Jake is currently at Sacramento State University working toward finishing his Bachelors, with the ultimate goal of teaching. Teaching for the Sacramento Ballet, Hawkins School of Performing Arts, Northern California Dance Conservatory, Dance 10, Ovations and working with Woodcreek and Granite Bay High School in various styles from Jazz/Musical theatre to contemporary, he is excited to be apart of all of them. He also guest choreographs for musical theatre programs like Kids unlimited. Jake dances professionally for Core Dance Collective and works with E:motion Dance Ensemble from time to time. This is Jake’s first season teaching for Sacramento Ballet and is truly honored to be a part of such an amazing staff, and being amongst such amazing talent.
