ALISON LISTER, Associate Artistic Director (Ballet, Pointe) trained at the Stretton School of Dance and Drama in Shrewsbury, England and progressed to the London College of Dance where she trained extensively in all forms of dance, dance teaching and choreography. Alison marked the end of each year at London College by winning awards in drama, teaching and performing. She graduated with a first class diploma in 1989 and is in America by special invitation of the U. S. Government as one of the few people in England qualified to teach Revived Classical Greek Dance. In 2000, she was the recipient of the County Executive’s Arts Award in Arts Education.
SUSANNAH JACARUSO (Ballet) began studying dance at Coupé Theatre Studio at the age of 9 and continued until her high school graduation at the age of 18. While a student, she performed many roles in RYDE’s production of The Nutcracker. As a student at Purchase College she majored in ballet and performed in their Nutcracker as well. She danced with the Indianapolis School of Ballet under the direction of Victoria Lyras and while there was the first runner-up at the annual National Arts and Letters competition in Bloomington. Susannah returned to New York to complete her bachelor’s degree at Purchase College.
TED KIVITT (Ballet) is a former Principal Dancer of American Ballet Theater, an international Guest Artist and Artistic Director of the Milwaukee Ballet. On stage, Ted Kivitt was known as one of ABT’s danseurs nobles. After dancing with the company from 1961 to 1979, he made the challenging transition from performer to director, teacher, and administrator of the Milwaukee Ballet, which he led to national acclaim. Mr. Kivitt has partnered many of the world’s leading ballerinas including Cynthia Gregory, Eleanor d’Antuono, Lupe Serrano, Michelle Lucci, Carla Fracci, Gelsey Kirkland, Marianna Tcherassky, and Natalia Makarova. He has received critical acclaim for performances all around the world. In 1975, he was the first American male dancer invited to perform in Cuba since diplomatic relations between Cuba and the U.S. were severed. In 1977, Mr. Kivitt was invited to perform at the White House with Cynthia Gregory at a “Command Performance” for President Carter, in honor of the President of Venezuela. Demonstrating equal comfort performing classical ballets, and contemporary works, Mr. Kivitt is as accomplished an instructor as he was a performer. He is dedicated to artistic excellence and enables students to reach their fullest potential through his strong approach.
BRITTANY LUCAS (Ballet, Kinder) has been dancing since the age of six and received her primary dance training at Coupé Theater Studio. She also attended various summer intensives with American Ballet Theater, Orlando Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, and the Radio City Rockettes. Her dance solo in the musical “Curtains” was nominated for a Metropolitan Theater Arts Award. Brittany has performed principal roles with Rockland Youth Dance Ensemble in The Nutcracker. Additionally, she performed with Alabama Repertory Dance Theater in a piece choreographed by former Miami City Ballet and ABT principal dancer, Mikhail Illyin. She was also a company member of the Warwick Dance Collective. Brittany is currently pursuing a degree in Educational Studies at St. Thomas Aquinas College in Sparkhill, NY and is so excited to be teaching at Coupé.
MABEL MODRONO (Ballet, Pointe) was invited by Edward Villella to join Miami City Ballet in 1989, where she became a principal dancer in 1993, performing lead roles created by renowned choreographers from Balanchine to Paul Taylor. In 1997, she was invited by Terry Orr to join Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as a principal ballerina where she explored the classical repertoire, from Petipa to Jiri Kylian. In 2002, she joined the Broadway cast of Movin’ Out in the lead role of Judy. She also performed as Meg in the Broadway cast of Phantom of the Opera.
CLAUDIA MEIENHOFER (Ballet, Creative Modern, Jazz, Kinderdance) received her training from Jan Hanniford Goetz, and earned her BFA from Adelphi University, under the direction of Norman Walker. She performed and choreographed with the NY Dance Theatre, Huntington Ballet Theatre, Carol Rioux Dance Ensemble, and was a member of Blanco Dances, a NYC based modern dance company. She was a faculty member at Adelphi University, BOCES Cultural Arts Center, Huntington School of Ballet and Steps Performing Arts Center in Connecticut.
LOUISE RUCK (Ballet, Pointe, Tap, Jazz, Kinderdance) was a member of the Gateway Ballet Company at age 9, where she worked her way up to the role of Sugarplum Fairy in their production of The Nutcracker. She received scholarships to the Joffrey Ballet and to the Hartford Ballet. She was also a member of the Fort Worth Ballet. Ms Ruck’s Broadway credits include the original cast of Crazy for You, and Best Little Whorehouse Goes Public. She also performed in Anything Goes and A Christmas Carol and as a Rockette at Radio City Music Hall. Her teaching experience includes the Beutelo School of Dance in St. Louis with students from age 2 through adult.
CHRISTIANE WERSINGER (Ballet, Pointe, Boys Ballet) was born and raised in Germany and studied with the Stuttgart Ballet. Christine’s U.S. credits include Victor/Victoria and Contact on Broadway.She was in the cast of touring companies for West Side Story, Guys and Dolls, and Brigadoon. Other credits include The Cradle Will Rock, Cosby Mysteries, Guiding Light, numerous industrials and television commercials. Other theater: What the World Needs Now, Harmony, Phantom, The Merry Widow, My Fair Lady, and Christmas and Easter Shows at Radio City Music Hall.
HOLLY WERSINGER (Ballet and Pointe) Holly Wersinger, 19, first started to dance at Coupé Theatre Studio at a young age and transferred to the School of American Ballet in NYC. While attending SAB, she has performed with the New York City Ballet in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Harlequinade, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Mozartiana, and Scherzo à la Russe. Holly also performed in SAB’s Winter Ball, Raymonda Variations for the Winter Showing, Divertimento No. 15 in the 2021 Workshop Performances, and the Student Choreographic Institute. She graduated from the School of American Ballet as a part of the 2022 Capstone Class.