Ilena Norton — Company and School Director, has directed and choreographed ballets for the Ballet Ariel Company since 1998. She started dancing as a young child, and later studied Cecchetti technique with master teacher Larry Boyette. She also studied with Milenko Banovich, Michelle O'Brien, Carol Roderick, Franca Smith, Marceline Freeman and many others. She studied classical piano with Allen Giles. She has a Bachelors Degree from Stanford University and postgraduate education from Yale University and the Univ. of Colorado. She has studied psychology, health, anthropology, research, and administration. She has many years of experience in education. She teaches intermediate/advanced technique classes in the school.

Patricia Renzetti — Company Rehearsal 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 intermediate/advanced 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 and floor barre.

Katie Brogren is a company dancer for Ballet Ariel, Hannah Kahn Dance, and Speaking of Dance. She has a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the Univ. of Wyoming and attended the Denver School of the Arts. She danced apprenticeships with the Joel Hall Dancers and Deeply Rooted Productions in Chicago. She teaches beginning ballet.

Jamie Sours has a Bachelor of Arts in Dance from the Univ. of Utah and attended the Denver School of the Arts. She studied Cecchetti technique with Larry Boyette. She teaches beginning ballet classes.