BIOS SHARON STORY (Dean of the Centre for Dance Education, Ballet Mistress) Sharon Story is in her 19th season with Atlanta Ballet. She joined Atlanta Ballet after a professional dance career that spanned more than 20 years, including tenures with Joffrey Ballet, the School of American Ballet, New York City Ballet, Atlanta Ballet and Boston Ballet. In 1996, in addition to her role as ballet mistress, John McFallâs vision and mentorship brought Sharon to her position as Dean of the Centre for Dance Education. The Centre has rapidly grown to one of the largest dance schools in the nation. She is committed to providing a non-competitive atmosphere and access to dance education that is shaped by the community needs, is innovative and inspires the commitment and excellence that are the trademarks of Atlanta Ballet. Under Sharonâs direction, the Centre achieved accreditation with the National Association of Schools of Dance. Sharon is a member of the Commission on Accreditation for NASD and is delighted to serve on many community and national boards. ROSEMARY MILES (Ballet Mistress) Rosemary Miles is in her 17th season with Atlanta Ballet. One of eight children of an English brigadier general, Rosemary trained at Elmhurst and the Royal Ballet School in England, during which time she successfully passed all Royal Academy and Cecchetti examinations. During her professional career, Rosemary danced with the Royal Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada and the London Festival Ballet. In America, she performed with the educational division of the New York City Ballet and as a soloist with the National Ballet of Washington, Chicago Ballet and Houston Ballet. Upon retiring as a dancer, Rosemary has enjoyed being a principal teacher at the Houston Ballet Academy; a guest teacher throughout the United States, England and the Far East; artistic director of the Lexington Ballet; and a member of John McFallâs artistic team for 17 years. Rosemary is the proud aunt of 22 nieces and nephews and 28 grandnieces and grandnephews. Rosemary thanks the dancers of Atlanta Ballet for being such an inspiration. Rosemaryâs other passion is golf. DALE SHIELDS (Ballet Mistress) A native of Winston-Salem, N.C., Ms. Shields graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts and Butler University before starting her career as a professional dancer. After joining and rising to principal dancer with Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, she appeared in the leading roles of many productions, including Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, GaitĂŠ Parisienne, A Midsummer Nightâs Dream, CoppĂŠlia, Night Shadow and The Moorâs Pavane. Ms. Shieldsâ artistic collaboration with IBT artistic directors George Verdak and Dace Dindonis produced a great number of original works as well as staging and performing the Russian premiere of the ballet Le Bal in St. Petersburg. In her position as principal ballet mistress for Ballet Internationale, she assisted with the original choreography of several full-length ballets by Artistic Director Eldar Aliev and worked alongside Irina Kolpakova in staging many well-known Russian classics. Dale has taught on the faculty of the Academy of Ballet International and Butler Universityâs Jorden Academy. She enjoys her time guest teaching around the country and in the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Educationâs Summer Intensive Program. It has been inspiring for her to work with John McFall and the artists of Atlanta Ballet in creating new and more exciting productions every season.
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