BALLET TENNESSEE FACULTY & STAFF
Brittany Johnson-Mills and Laurel Shastri in Cinderella 2006
Laurel Shastri- Associate Director - Ms. Shastri began teaching ballet while working as an environmental consultant in Los Alamos, NM .In 1996, she joined the faculty of VanCura Ballet Conservatory and Ballet Tennessee. Ms. Shastri has performed contemporary, classical, solo, and principal roles with the company. She has taught with the Dance Alive summer program since its inception. She works regularly as an artist in the schools in residencies throughout the Greater Chattanooga area. Her early dance training was with the Ballet Arkansas Company and continued throughout college. Laurel graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Geology from Washington University in St. Louis, MO and received an MS in Geology from the University of New Mexico, Albuquerque. She attended teacher seminars at the National Dance Institute in NY, Southeast Center for Dance Education, and the annual TAD Teacher's Conference. For two summers, she taught two hundred school teachers in Nashville as part of the Value Plus Program led by the Tennessee Arts Commission.
Renee Russell, Faculty - received her early training from the Huntsville Ballet Company and Alabama State Ballet Company. She has studied in New York at the School of American Ballet and the Joffrey School. Ms. Russell danced professionally with Atlanta Ballet, Louisville Ballet and for several years with Cincinnati Ballet doing lead and soloist roles. She is a certified Cechetti ballet teacher.She has also danced with Ballet Tennessee, performing the leading role of the evil stepsister in Cinderella, with outstanding comedic timing and polish. Renee instructs for the Primary Division at VanCura Ballet Conservatory and at Ballet Tennessee Outreach Programs.
Brittany Johnson-Mills, Faculty - She has studied and danced with VanCura Ballet Conservatory and Ballet Tennessee for the past ten years. She was selected as a Dance Alive student and continued as a TIP Scholarship recipient. For two summers she danced in New York receiving a full tuition scholarship from The Ailey School. She received the Kitty Sharp Award from the Tennessee Association of Dance. Summer of 2008, she returned to Ailey School for its Summer Intensive Program. She has been on Ballet Tennessee faculty for the past four years. In 2007, she choreographed a stunning contemporary work for the Youth Intensive which was performed at a special luncheon for the Ailey II dancers for the following spring 2008. It was well received by Aily II dancers, directors and audience alike. She teaches Ballet, Contempoary, Jazz and Hip Hop and has taught for four summers in the Dance Alive Program rehearsing and presenting the students in choreography.
Jennia leading the class in improvisations
Jennia Shanley, Faculty -joins the faculty after teaching throughout last year and in the past two summer intensives as artist in residence. She graduated Cum Laude with a BFA in Dance from Florida University. She danced with the Staib Dance in Atlanta, Georgia. Ms. Shanley teaches and choreographs for Baylor School. She also teaches childrens classes for various organizations throughout the city. For the past two summers, she has choreographed outstanding contemporary pieces that develop and challenge the BTSI students.
Emily Pietrantone, Faculty-is excited to begin her third year of teaching with the Conservatory. She combines her love of children and dance as she teaches classes in the primary and junior divisions at VBC. After having danced for fifteen years including five at Ballet Tennessee, Emily graduated in 2008. She previously was a Ballet Tennessee company member and attended summer intensives at Ballet Tennessee and Ballet Magnificat in Jackson, Mississippi. In addition to teaching, Emily also expresses her love of dance through various artistic pursuits. She recently displayed a solo exhibition of ballet paintings at the AVA gallery in downtown Chattanooga. Currently she is a full time student at UTC pursuing a degree in nursing.
Chris Garcia, Faculty- Christopher Garcia studied dance at the University of New Mexico and graduated with honors. He had the honor of working with Bill Evans and learning aspects of the Bill Evans Technique. Mr. Garcia was a member of the Center Stage Dance Ensemble, a professional modern dance company in Phoenix, AZ and currently resides in Chattanooga, TN. He is familiar with the Laban/Bartinieff Fundamentals and is excited to share his passion for modern dance with Ballet Tennessee.
Jenison Owens, Teacher Intern- information to follow