Marti's professional career encompasses over twenty years of experience as a production manager and coordinator for theater, opera, concerts, film, dance and multi-media projects.

These projects have included dramatic, corporate and educational pieces. Many have been used as fundraising vehicles for non-profit organizations. Clients have included The U.S. Navy, Smithsonian Institution, New York Philharmonic, the Dallas, Denver, and National Symphonies, Grollier Publishing, AT&T and Pitney Bowes.

Locally she has served on the Friends Board for St. Lukes Lifeworks, Roxbury School Executive Board, the Connecticut Association of Production Professionals Executive Board, Connecticut Film and Video Commission Advisory Board, the steering committee for the Collaborative Alliance, as board member of the Stamford Public Education Foundation and was on the advisory board for the Fairfield County Community Foundation’s Center for Nonprofit Excellence. She was a founding member of Stamford’s Arts and Culture Commission..

When David Parsons and Tony Award winning lighting designer Howell Binkley founded Parsons Dance in 1985, they knew exactly what they wanted to do:  train dancers to develop the athletic prowess and technical skill that would engage audiences with the joy of it all.

He was a kid from Kansas City whose athletic talents surfaced early.  He was a gymnast, a wrestler, a wild guy on the trampoline. When he was 9, his mother enrolled him in a summer dance program at Sunset Hill Academy, which was affiliated with the Missouri Dance Theater, a local presenter who often brought companies like Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Joffrey Ballet, and Paul Taylor Dance Company to town.  Through the Missouri Dance Theater, Parsons met Christopher Gillis, a longtime Paul Taylor dancer. Gillis encouraged him to come to New York City to learn more about dance, and to Parsons, it seemed like the right move. So, at 17, after graduating early from high school, he made it to New York on a scholarship to the Alvin Ailey School, an opportunity he further supported by cleaning the Ailey studios, accepting $100 a month from his grandmother and $40 a month from his brother, while also pumping gas on New York City’s Upper East Side.  After Ailey, he understudied with the Paul Taylor Dance Company and then joined the company as a principal dancer. He stayed for eight years. During summers, he toured with MOMIX; he appeared with Mikhail Baryshnikov and Mark Morris in the first White Oak tour; and he launched his choreographic career by setting work on the Taylor Company and on the National Ballet of Canada, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Batsheva Dance Company, and the Paris Opera Ballet.

Throughout his career, Parsons has created more than 75 works for Parsons Dance.  He has received commissions from American Ballet Theatre, New York City Ballet, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, the American Dance Festival, Jacob’s Pillow, the Spoleto Festival, and Het Muziektheater in Amsterdam, among many others. In 2018, he received the Capezio Award, one of the most prestigious awards in dance.

After leaving the Taylor company, Parsons was a guest artist with New York City Ballet for four years before his artistic prowess led him to undertake such diverse work as choreographing Aida at Arena di Verona and producing and co-choreographing María de Buenos Aires at the Skirball Center, as well as creating the choreography for Fool’s Fire, a 1992 film directed by Julie Taymor.  Perhaps one of his most thrilling assignments was choreographing and directing the dance elements for Times Square 2000, the 24-hour festivities in Times Square celebrating the turn of the Millennium. Since then, Parsons has participated in many projects, such as choreographing A Knight’s Tale, a new musical theater work directed by John Caird, who previously directed the Broadway and West End productions of Les Misérables and  the London’s National Theatre’s production of Candide.  Staged at Tokyo’s iconic Imperial Theatre in summer 2018, the work featured Japanese pop stars in leading roles.  

Parsons credits Paul Taylor for inspiring him to create good work and for teaching him how to treat dancers fairly, to collaborate with artists in other disciplines, and to be a generous mentor to the next generation’s choreographers.  When he and Binkley started their company, Parsons was already an accomplished choreographer whose talent for creating high energy, accessible work was in demand among presenters and was revered by audiences who, to this day, embrace the notion that important art can be joyful, profound and fun.

Josue Jasmin is an esteemed leader within the dance education community, recognized for his dedication to fostering creativity, excellence, and inclusivity in dance education. With over 19 years of experience as a dance educator. He has played a pivotal role in shaping the next generation of dancers and educators.

 

As the Education Director for Dance, he led the development and implementation of comprehensive dance education programs, ensuring alignment with industry standards, artistic integrity, and the diverse needs of students. His visionary leadership has propelled Rogers International School and Ballet School of Stamford to the forefront of dance and performing arts, establishing it as a hub for artistic innovation and educational excellence.

 

Josue expertise in dance pedagogy, curriculum development, and choreography enriches his approach to dance education. He collaborates with faculty and staff to design a curriculum that fosters technical proficiency, artistic expression, and a deep appreciation for dance as a performing art. His commitment to cultivating well-rounded dancers extends beyond the studio, incorporating elements of dance history, theory, and cultural relevance into the curriculum.

 

In addition to His role in curriculum development, He is a passionate advocate for dance education and its transformative power. He works tirelessly to expand access to dance education opportunities, particularly in underserved communities, and to promote diversity and inclusion within the dance field. His leadership has led to the establishment of outreach programs, scholarships, and partnerships with community organizations to ensure that dance is accessible to all aspiring dancers.

 

Josue, a proud recipient of the 2017 SPEF educator award, and avid performer/choreographer/enthusiast. He trained at Alvin Ailey NY, Ballet School of Stamford CT, and New Hampshire City Ballet in Manchester, NH. His passion for dance extended to teaching and choreography. He has taught at Brass City Ballet and choreographed for Vibe Magazine, New Faces Development Inc and IMTA NY & LA.  He also worked with six-time Grammy winner Justin Timberlake for his US promo tour, R&B Artist Amerie, popstar Kesha, and three-time Grammy winner gospel artist Mary Mary, Bette Midler, and Toney award winner choreographer George Faison. He’s recently Choreographed Off Broadway Musical “ONLY HUMAN", "ALL FOR JOE" -  (Musical) and "TWO LOST WORLD "- (Musical New York & London).

Josue believes in the power of dance to inspire, connect, and transform lives, and is committed to sharing this passion with the next generation of dancers/performers.

Lilia Khanina is a native of Russia and earned Master’s Degree in Conducting and Ph.D degree in Musicology from the Moscow Tchaikovsky State Conservatory. During her study at the Conservatory she had advanced training as a choirmaster with the famous Bolshoi Theater Choir. In 1996 she accepted a position of the Conductor and Teacher of theoretical disciplines at the Music School Vesna. Its choir with which she has performed is notable for receiving numerous prestigious awards in international competitions. 

       After relocating to the US in 2003 she joined the artistic staff of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School as a pianist and a choral conductor. In 2007 she moved to Connecticut and started working at the Ballet School of Stamford where she later became Music Director. She provided piano music for ballet classes at The New Haven Ballet, Connecticut Dance School, Ballet Etudes, Rye Ballet Conservatory, New England Academy of Dance, The Conservatory of Dance in the School of the Arts at Purchase College (SUNY). 

       In addition to her work as a ballet pianist Ms. Khanina performs as a soloist and accompanist. She is the founder and Director of Piano Lessons in New Canaan. She offers a unique approach to creative piano lessons for all ages.

      Her articles and essays were published in peer reviewed journals and books. She is the author of the book, Gian Carlo Menotti and His Operas. 

Kelsey Emmett Buffer a Stamford native, Kelsey trained throughout Fairfield County including Ballet School of Stamford. She attended SUNY Buffalo and graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Shortly after moving to New York City, she spent a year traveling the world and performing on Regent Seven Seas Cruises, followed by years of performing in NYC, including work at Couture Fashion Week, Young Choreographers Festival, Project Dance, Gotta Dance at The Wild Project, Brooklyn Bowl, Little B's Big Holiday Wish and several Aerial workshops. Kelsey worked with ALMA NYC, an outreach dance and performance company with which she climbed Kilimanjaro to support The Bethel School in Burkina Faso. Kelsey has also more recently performed pieces by Nathan Trice and Teresa Perez Ceccon through Marcia Brooks Various Works.

Kelsey has taught Ballet, Jazz, Tap, Contemporary and Irish Dance throughout the tri-state area for over a decade to dancers from 18 months old to High School aged students. She created a youth dance company for promising dancers focused on developing foundational dance technique and performance quality, and has developed a successful Grown Up and Me program to introduce the youngest of movers to the world of dance. She loves to challenge students to explore their limits to achieve more than they imagined they could. 

Along the way, Kelsey has supported dance and arts-focused organizations in growing their studios and serving families and students to have the best possible experience with their dance journey.

It is so incredible to come full circle back to Ballet School of Stamford and rejoin this community of dancers and their families.