Faculty

Katie Marshall—School Director, has over 14 years of teaching experience.  She began her dance training at Ballet Arts Theatre and continued her studies at the Academy of Colorado Ballet and the Denver School of the Arts.  Her instructors include Carol Roderick, Kathy Hayes, Michael O'Banion, Nadia Tikhanova, Zhana Dubrovskaya, Sergey Kozadayev, Patricia Renzetti, and Martin Fredmann.  She has a BFA in Dance from the University of Wyoming, studying dance kinesiology, choreography, pedagogy, history, and performance with Patricia Tate, Marsha Knight, Margaret Wilson and others.  Katie has performed with Ballet Ariel, Hannah Kahn Dance Company, and Speaking of Dance.  She apprenticed with Joel Hall Dancers and Deeply Rooted Productions in Chicago, and was pre-professional with the Colorado Ballet.  She teaches beginning/intermediate technique and advanced modern.

Ilena Norton—Artistic and Executive Director, has directed and choreographed ballets for the Ballet Ariel Company since 1998. She has created many original ballets for the company including Echelons, Latin Movement, and The Chase. She recently choreographed Theme from the Pink Panther and the Sorcerer’s Apprentice for the Denver Brass’ Halloween Concert at the Newman Center. Under her direction, Ballet Ariel performs their season concerts at the Cleo Parker Robinson Theatre, and has also performed at the Denver Art Museum, the Arvada Center, the Brooks Center for the Arts, and this past season went on tour to Casper, Wyoming. Ballet Ariel provides excellent ballet training at our studio at 1930 South Broadway, and offers outreach school programs and performances. She has a Bachelors Degree from Stanford University and postgraduate education from Yale University and the University of Colorado.

Patricia Renzetti—Associate Artistic Director, was the prima ballerina for the Colorado Ballet for twelve years, and also was a principal dancer with the London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet), Scapino Ballet of Holland, the Iranian National Ballet, and the Tampa Ballet. She has danced leading roles including Cinderella, Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, Sugar Plum Fairy, Swanilda in Coppelia, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. Patricia completed a Masters Degree in Choreography at the Univ. of Iowa. She studied with Bene Arnold, Willam Christensen, Larry Boyette, Margaret Craske, Marina Stavitskaya, Larisa Sklyanskaya, and Martin Fredmann. She teaches advanced technique, pointe, variations, and company class.

Greg Gonzales was a principal dancer for the Colorado Ballet from 1996-2004. He also danced with Ballet Pacifica, Ballet Arizona, Nevada Dance Theatre, and David Taylor Dance Theater. Major roles include the Preacher in Appalachian Springs, Dark Angel in Serenade, Pat Garrett in Billy the Kid, Head Wrangler in Rodeo, Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet, and Franz in Coppelia. Greg graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance/Kinesiology from the Univ. of Northern Colorado. He studied with Larry Boyette, James Clouser, Nadia Tikhanova, Cherie Noble and others. He teaches intermediate/advanced technique, contemporary, pas de deux, and floor barre.

Jamieson Lehto has over 18 years dancing experience including two years professional experience with Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company, under Gil Boggs. She has studied with Guita Schultess, Nikoloz Makhateli, Mark and Sandra Carlson and German and Valentina Zamuel. Jamieson was also a finalist in the Denver regional of YAGP in 2006 and 2007. In addition, she has attended summer intensive programs with Kirov Academy of Ballet, David Taylor Dance Theater, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Orlando Ballet and Colorado Ballet. She has prior experience teaching ballet at several area studios. Jamieson will be teaching beginning ballet and beginning pointe.