Academy teachers
Virginia Holte Artistic Director
Ms. Holte is the founder and Artistic Director of West Hawaii Dance Theatre, resident Guest Instructor for the Maui Academy of Performing Arts, and Artistic Advisor for Infinity Ballet.
As a professional dancer, Ms. Holte performed extensively with major dance companies, including the Washington Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, Chicago Ballet and Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, touring both nationally and internationally. She is often invited to perform as Guest Artist, most recently with the New Jersey Ballet, Hawaii Youth Symphony, and the Ballet Gala International.
Ms. Holte is a graduate of the Academy of the Washington Ballet. There she received certification in the Ceccheti and Vaganova methods of Classical Ballet.
Since 1986, Ms. Holte has been educating in Hawaii's community in dance through daily classes, outreach school presentations and historical theatrical performances, such as The Nutcracker, Don Quixote and Gainte Parisienne.
Midori Satoh Ballet
Midori received a BFA from NYU Tisch School of the Arts and has performed internationally with New York City¹s based Shapiro and Smith Dance Company. She joined West Hawaii Dance Theatre as one of its instructors in 2000.
Marina Terwilliger Pre Ballet, Primary Ballet
A Mauka Lani Graduate, Marina began training with WHDT when she was 5. Ms Terwilliger went on to become Miss Kona Coffee 2002, attended UH Manoa as a Dance Major for 2 years, and returns to the Big Island Hawaii after pursuing a commercial print modeling career in New York City.
Claire Hollinger Pre Ballet, Creative Movement, Primary Ballet
Claire, a retired RN has been an educator for over 30 years. Her background includes modeling, acting, and dancing. She brings joy to WHDT¹s keiki classes through comedy, laughter, and entertainment.
Kim Jackson Tap
Kimberly started dancing at age 5 and has taken classes in tap, acrobatics, jazz, ballet, modern, and ballroom, with her passion being tap dancing. She studied in Montana, Washington, Oregon, Alaska, Virginia and Hawaii, and has participated in several international tap festivals in Portland, Oregon and New York, NY. Kimberly also writes children's books. For her "day job" Kimberly is an estate planning attorney in Kona.
Keahi Kapela Hula Tahitian
Keahi’s hula and Tahitian background includes studies withGeorge Naope, Napua Kam, Lanakila Brandt and Hoku Demaso, and Keoni Atkinson. She has performed with Tihati Productions,Island Breeze and has many years of Classical Ballet training with WHDT.
Miho Morinoue Ballet, Contemporary, Modern Jazz
Miho Returned to Hawaii after a 10 year career as a professional dancer with “Complexions” Dance Company in NYC. She designed costumes for Dance Theatre of Harlem and other, to name a few.
Jamy Woodbury Hop Hop Lyrical Jazz
Jamy’s formal training was with Cleo Parker Robinson . His work can be seen on the Academy Awards ¹91-¹99, the American Music Awards, Showgirls, Salsa and many other TV and Film Projects. He is on the faculty for MAPA and WHDT.
Guest teachers/dancers
Karen Stubbs Modern Technique & Repertory
Ms. Stubbs holds a Master of Fine Arts in dance from the University of Colorado, Boulder, and a Bachelor of Arts from Mesa State College.
She has attended the Pilates teacher training program in Boulder, a two week intensive workshop in kinetic awareness with Elaine Summers, and is also well versed in Swiss Ball technique.
Alaine Haubert Artistic Advisor
Ms. Haubert is a former principal dancer with the Joffrey Ballet and American Ballet Theatre, and most recently Ballet Mistress for American Ballet Theatre.
She has been a University of Hawaii faculty member for nine years, and is frequent Guest Instructor for West Hawaii Dance Theatre Summer and Winter Workshops. Ms. Haubert currently is Professor of Dance at California State university at Long Beach, and an International Guest teacher.
Michele Gaines Jazz and Musical Theatre
Michele Gaines spends most of her time in California directing and choreographing musical theatre productions. She has staged La Cage Aux Folles. Wizard of Oz, Hansel and Gretel, Secret Garde, Joseph and his Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, Annie, Big River, Mame, Ino the woods, and several original productions as well at the McCallum Theatre for the Performing Arts.
The Desert Theatre League has honored her with awards for "Best Direction" and "Best Choreography" for a musical or opera, and honored her with the prestigious Sydney Harmon Award for "excellence in theatre, both on and off the stage". She is also an award winning educator in dance and musical theatre, currently on the faculty of College of the Desert, and formerly on the teaching staffs of Los Angeles Pierce College, ISOMATA, University of the Nations, and is contracted as a master teacher for the Los Angeles, Palm Springs. And Desert Sands Unified School Districts.
She holds a lifetime teaching credential in the fields of dance, speech and drama. She is also the lead resident teaching Artist in dance for the McCallum Theatre Institute's Aesthetic Education Program. She owned her own dance academy for ten year and currently teaches on the staff of other local studios. While residing in Hawaii, Michelle became affiliated with West Hawaii Dance Theatre, and is pleased to return to the islands to work with Ms. Holte twice a year.
Hennry Berg Ballet
Called "one of San Francisco's leading dance teachers", Henry Berg has, according to the San Francisco Chronicle, "carved a strong artistic niche as a teacher". With a career that spans over three decades in dance, film, television, theatre and academia, Mr. Berg has established himself as one of the foremost dance teachers in the country.
His guest teaching engagements now include annual seminars for the Boston Ballet, the Academia Anna Pavolova in Bogata,Columbia, Joffrey Ballet, Dance Educators of America, Oregon Dance Academy, and the Village Dance Arts in Los Angeles.
Mr. Berg traveled to Japan where he taught seminars in Tokyo and Nagoya, staging "American Ballet Selections" in 1994 for several companies there.
Mr. Berg began his dance career in Hollywood, California, appearing in such films as "State Fair", "How The West Was Won", and "Babes In Toyland". In 1962, he joined the San Francisco Ballet. Subsequently, he danced for over seven years with the Joffrey Ballet and assisted choreographer Twyla Tharp in New York City. In 1975, Mr. Berg created the Pacific Ballet Company with co-founders John Pasqualetti and Sue Loyd. He also joined the faculty of the San Francisco Ballet. The list of directors, dancers, and choreographers Mr. Berg has worked with include: George Balanchine, Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, Lew Christensen, Ann Sokolov, Kurt Joos, Jon Hart, and Margaret Jenkins.
Additionally he has worked with skaters John Curry and Peggy Fleming, cartoonist Charles Schultz, and has appeared on the Ed Sullivan Show.
Soili Arvola Ballet
Soili Arvola was accepted to the Ballet Academy of the National Opera House in Helsinki Finland at the age of eight. After graduating from the Academy at age 17, she was invited to join the National Ballet of Finland, touring with the company around the world. Among her numerous honors, Ms. Arvola won a Bronze Medal and Diploma for High Artistic Achievement in Women's Senior (Professional) Category at the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. She has appeared as guest ballerina with the Finnish National Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Chicago Ballet, Houston Ballet, London's Royal Ballet Choreographic Group, indianapolis Ballet Theatre, Ballet lnternational de Ochi of Japan, and with many symphony orchestras, opera companies, and civic ballet companies throughout the U.S. and abroad. Ms. Arvola has performed as Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, the title roles in Giselle and Cinderella, Swanhilda in Coppelia Kitri in Don Quixote and many others.
Leo Ahonen Ballet
Leo Ahonen was accepted to the Ballet Academy of the National Opera House in Helsinki Finland at the age of six. He joined the National Ballet of Finland at the age of 14, and at age 17 guest performed with the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad and the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow. At the famed Vaganova Choreographic Institute in Leningrad Mr. Ahonen became a private student of Mr. Konstantin Shatilov and received the "Kirov Trained" Certificate at graduation. Mr. Ahonen won a Bronze Medal in the Men's Senior category at the Second International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. He was a principal dancer and company teacher for the National Ballet of Holland, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and the National Ballet of Finland. With his wife Soili Arvola he danced as a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet and was hailed by critics as The Flying Finn, West Coast Nureyev, and the Fantastic Finn.
Former Guest teachers/dancers
Darla Hoover
Daria Hoover was trained at the renowned Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction
of Marcia Dale Weary and completed her studies on a full scholarship at the School of American
Ballet. In 1980, after choreographing a solo for her in the NYC Opera production of Bourgeois
Gentilhomme, George Balanchine invited Daria to become a member of his New York City Ballet.
From 1980-1991, Ms. Hoover appeared as a featured soloist in ballets such as Balanchine's La
Valse, Chaconne, Harlequinade, Bello delta Regina, as well as Peter Martins' Eight Easy Pieces,
Rossini Quartets, Sonata di Scarfatti, and Jerome Robbin's Fanfare. Upon retirement in 1991, a
full schedule of guest appearances throughout the United States and Europe made for an even
further expansion of her repertory of experience. Ms. Hoover has now focused her attentions to
teaching and staging ballets. In addition to her positions as the Associate Artistic Director of the
Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Artistic Advisor of Ballet Academy East's graded children's
program in Manhattan, Ms. Hoover guest teaches all over the world. Working as a distinguished
repetiteur, Ms. Hoover stages works for the George Balanchine Trust and for Peter Martins, Ballet
Master-in-Chief of the New York City Ballet. Recent stagings have included George Balanchine's
The Nutcracker, Raymonda Variations, Serenade, Divertimento#15, ValseFantaisie, Aliegro
BriHante, Stars and Stripes and Rubies as well as Peter Martins' Eight Easy Pieces and Fearful
Symmetries.
Johnathan Riseling
Jonathan Riseling began his dance training at the High School for the Performing Arts in New York
City, and graduated as a recipient of the Helen Tamiris Award. While still in school, he held
scholarships at the Jeffrey Ballet School and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center. Upon
graduation, he was asked to join the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble, and after two years there he
auditioned for and was accepted into the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater. Jonathan left after four
years, to dance with a number of other companies; among them that of Jennifer Muller/The Works.
He also worked with Judith Jamison, assisting her in choreographing and staging her works, until she
formed her own company, The Jamison Project. There he held the position of Assistant Rehearsal
Director to Ms. Jamison, and danced lead roles as well. In September of 1990 he was awarded a
'Bessie' for his performance of a principal role in her ballet "Tease". Soon after, he re-joined the Alvin
Ailey company under the direction of Ms. Jamison, but stayed for one year only, leaving in order to be
able to continue work as a freelance dancer teacher and choreographer. During this time Jonathan
performed with the companies of Lar Lubavitch, Joyce Trisler, Amy Pivar, Maurice Brandon Curry,
Francis Patrelle, Zvi Gotheiner, and many others. Often he has held the position of Rehearsal
Director/Ballet Master while dancing. Jonathan acted as Choreographer's Assistant and Assistant
Rehearsal Director for the Broadway Workshop of "Down To Earth", directed by Donald McKayle and
produced by Manny Pox, and appeared on Broadway in "The Red Shoes". He has taught at: the Alvin
Ailey American Dance Center, Danspace, Peridance, Ballet Hispanico and Ballet Academy East
studios in New York City, and has also taught as Adjunct Professor for the Universities of Adelphi and
The New School for Social Research. Jonathan has taught company class for (among others) the
Basel Ballet in Switzerland, Bat-Dor in Israel, RDT in Salt Lake City, The Hungarian National Ballet in
Budapest, and for the cast of Matthew Bourne's Broadway Production of "Swan Lake" here in New
York City. He has also given Modern and Jazz dance Master Classes and Workshops throughout the
U.S. and abroad. He is a Teaching Artist serving the public school system for both Alvin Ailey and
Marquis Studios and - on an average - teaches more than 300 children in a given week, ages 5-18.
Jonathan continues to assist Ms. Jamison and Mr. Gotheiner in choreographing and staging their
ballets on companies throughout the world. He also continues to freelance as a dancer teacher and
choreographer, and is the Home-Schooling Parent of a 4 grader.
Eloisa Enerio
Eloisa Enerio born in Manila, Philippines, started her training at age
12 with the Royal A academy of Dance in Manila. Upon completion of
her r.a.d. exams, she continued her studies with Felicitas Radaic,
William Morgan and Basilio. Eloisa has performed with Dance
Theatre Philippines, Ballet Philippines, Berkley Ballet Theatre,
Canada's Ontario Ballet Theatre. She is currently a principal
dancer with Ballet Pacifica in Irvine, California. During her long
association with Ballet Pacifica, she has danced lead roles in
Nutcracker, Les Sylphide, Graduation Ball. She has also been
featured in ballets by Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Antony Tudor, David
Allen, Molly Lynch, and others.
She is best known for her emotional performance as Emily in Jerry's
"Our Town, and the title role in Robert Sund's "Carmen".
Christina Summer Gibbs
Born in Newport Beach, California.
Began training at age 12.
Studied in Los Angeles, California from 1987 to 1991 with Yvonne Mounsey,
former principal dancer with the New York City Ballet.
Studied with Margot Fonteyn in New York, New York in 1988.
Studied at the Bolshoi School in Moscow, Russia in 1989.
Has worked with Stanley Holden (Royal Ballet), David Allan (National Ballet of
Canada), Rosemary Valaire (Royal Ballet), and Veronica Tennant (National Ballet
of Canada).
Attended summer sessions at the School of American Ballet for 4 years on merit
scholarships.
Studied full-time at the School of American Ballet in the fall of 1992.
Currently coached by Carmen Rozenstraten, formerly of the Dutch National Ballet
and lines Contemporary Dance and Kristine Elliot, formerly of American Ballet
Theatre.
Andrei Jouravlev
Andrei Jouravlev was born in Russia. He received his dance training at the famed Perin State Choreography Academy of Russia and went on to become a Principal Dancer of the Perin State Opera and Ballet Theater. In the beginning of his career he worked with the famous ballet Mistress from Kirov Ballet, Ms Ter-Stepanova, performing the leading role of James in "La Shyphida". He won a Diploma (1992) and the Silver Medal (1994) in Russia and a Bronce Medal (1993) in Japan's ballet competitions.
Touring internationally with the "Stars of the Kirow and Bolskoy Ballet", he has performed in Italy, England, Czechoslovakia, China, South Korea, Poland and Germany.
Spencer Gavin Hering
Spencer Gavin Hering, born in Munich, Germany, began his training with his
mother Cecilia Hering at the School of International Ballet in Redlands, California.
He has received scholarships from Pacific Northwest Ballet School, School of
American Ballet, Boston Ballet Center for Dance Education and San Francisco Ballet
School. Spencer has performed with Pacific Northwest Ballet. He has danced
principal and solo roles with Redlands Festival Ballet, Inland Dance Theatre, Pasadena
Dance Theatre, Golden State Ballet and Dance Kaleidoscope. He is presently under
contract with Ballet Pacifica, where he has performed works by Paul Vasterling, David
Allan, Rick McCullough, Anne Marie De Angelo, Raymond Van Mason and other
notable choreographers. For the past two seasons, Spencer has been highly praised in
his work in their ballets.
Christophen Dolder Modern
Mr. Dolder, currently a professor of Dance at U.C Berkeley, holds a Masterof Fine Arts degree in Dance from Mills College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dramatic
Art/Dance from U.C. Berkeley. As a professional dancer, Mr. Dolder was a soloist
with the Martha Graham Dance Company, BARD/east dance group, NYC, and Guest
dancer for Berkeley Ballet Theatre. He is the Director for the Bay Area Dance Company, and Artistic Director and co-founder(with Anne Westwick) of "Christopher Dolder and Friends" dance company.
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