Ahita Ardalan-Bergman, performed with the Paris Opera Ballet, where she danced throughout Europe and the USA. She taught with the Conservatoire de Region de Paris and later became Stage Manager and Assitant Choreographer for the Ballet de Monte Carlo. In 1991, Roland Petit asked her to join Ballet National Marseille as his Artistic Assistant and Stage Manager. During her career in Europe, Ms. Ardalan worked with Rudolf Nureyev, Sylvie Guillem, Alessandra Ferri, William Forsythe and others. She is currently Ballet Mistress for San Diego Ballet and is returning for third year of our summer program.

Dame Sonia Arova, famous international ballerina, won the world championship of dancing in 1939. She danced as principal dancer with Ballet Rambert, the Metropolitian Ballet, the original Ballet Russe, London Festival Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. At American Ballet Theatre, she appeared as a guest performer throughout the world with the greatest male dancers such as Igor Youskevitch, Erik Bruhn and Rudolph Nureyev. She was Nureyev's partner many times and was his choice for his New York and Chicago premiere. In 1965, she became artistic director for the Norwegian National Ballet where she was made Knight in a ceremony held at the United Nations in New York. In 1971 she co-directed the San Diego Ballet and in 1975 went to the Alabama School of Fine Arts to serve as principal instructor. In 1980 she was asked to serve as the Artistic Director for the newly formed Alabama Ballet and has received many recognitions for her teaching and artistic work there. We welcome her to the first week of our program.

Robin Sherertz Morgan, a native of San Diego, began her dancing career with the original San Diego Ballet Company under the guidance of Richard Carter and Nancy Johnson. Ms. Morgan was awarded a Ford Foundation Scholarship to the School of American Ballet where she trained with Alexandra Danilova, Stanley Williams, Murial Stewart, and others. She danced with the New York City Ballet and also toured with Suki Schorer's New York City Ballet's Lecture Ensemble as well as performed in the Virgin Islands with Helgi Tomasson and Kay Mazzo. She is the founder of the San Diego School of Ballet and formed the resident company, the San Diego Ballet, in 1991. Recently, the San Diego Area Dance Alliance named her as an honoree for her outstanding service in the dance community.

Thor Sutowski, has been a member of the original San Diego Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, the National Ballet of Washington D.C. and made guest appearances with the Boston Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. In Europe he danced principal roles with the National Ballet of Norway, Hamburg State Opera Ballet, Ballet de Geneve, and as guest artist in all the major cities of Europe, Scandinavia and Africa. In 1971 he co-directed the San Diego Ballet, and in 1975 he became Chairman of the Alabama School of Fine Arts and served as a regular choreographer for the Atlanta Ballet. He has received three Emmy Awards for dance programs produced by PBS. As Associate Director of the San Diego Ballet, Mr. Sutowski returns for his second year as choreographer for our program.

Javier Velasco, is the resident choreographer and co-director of the San Diego Ballet. A specialist in musical theater styles, he has studied with Eugene Loring, Bella Lewitzsky, Hanya Holm, Carmelita Maracci and Matt Mattox. He is credited with the original choreography of the musical "Suds" in New York, San Fransisco, Toronto and the Old Globe for which he received a Critics Circle Award. Mr. Velasco has been hailed by the San Diego Union-Tribune as "San Diego's answer to Jerome Robbins." We are delighted to have Mr. Velasco choreographing for our student program again this summer.