Igor Burlak, Boston Ballet School
A native of Moldova, Igor Burlak studied at the School of American Ballet with Olga Kostritzky, Peter Boal, and Jock Soto. As a dancer, he has performed with the New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and as a soloist with Atlantic Southeast Ballet, and a principal with Minnesota Ballet. He has appeared in the films Center Stage, George Balanchine’s Nutcracker, and a documentary by Tomasol Digital called The Waiting. He was the 2008/09 recipient of the Fellowship Initiative Grant from the New York Choreographic Institute, an affiliate of the New York City Ballet. Since 2003, Igor has served as the program coordinator and a faculty member at the New York State Summer School of the Arts. During the 2010-2011 season, he was the company manager, ballet master, and director's assistant to Igor Zelensky for the Novosibirsk Ballet in Novosibirsk, Russia.
Igor has choreographed pieces for the Minnesota Ballet’s Celebrity Dance Challenge, the School of Minnesota Ballet’s Student Performance, the School of American Ballet’s Choreography Workshop, Miami City Ballet's Our Show, and "Concerto de Arangus" for the Kansas City Ballet. He has also had the pleasure of choreographing for and working with Daniel Ulbricht, principal dancer of the New York City Ballet.
Igor has choreographed pieces for the Minnesota Ballet’s Celebrity Dance Challenge, the School of Minnesota Ballet’s Student Performance, the School of American Ballet’s Choreography Workshop, Miami City Ballet's Our Show, and "Concerto de Arangus" for the Kansas City Ballet. He has also had the pleasure of choreographing for and working with Daniel Ulbricht, principal dancer of the New York City Ballet.
Michael Vernon, Chair of the Ballet Dept. of Indiana University/Chautauqua Faculty
Michael Vernon studied at the Nesta Brooking School of Ballet and the Royal Ballet School in London with such legendary teachers as Dame Ninette de Valois and Leonide Massine. He performed with the Royal Ballet, the Royal Opera Ballet, and the London Festival Ballet before coming to New York in 1976 to join the Eglevsky Ballet as ballet master and resident choreographer. He was artistic director of the Long Island-based company from 1989 to 1995.
He has choreographed many ballets for the Eglevsky Ballet, in addition to ballets for many other professional companies in the United States and worldwide. Mikhail Baryshnikov commissioned him to choreograph the successful pas de deux In a Country Garden for American Ballet Theatre (ABT). His solo S'Wonderful was danced by ABT principal Cynthia Harvey in the presence of President and Mrs. Reagan and shown nationwide on CBS television. He also served as the assistant choreographer on Ken Russell's movie Valentino, starring Rudolph Nureyev and Leslie Caron.
Vernon continues to teach classes at New York-based Steps, works regularly for the Manhattan Dance Project, and is artistic advisor to the Ballet School of Stamford. Since 2000, he has taught and choreographed the ballet company and ballet school at the Chautauqua Institute. His annual activities also include a long association with Ballet Hawaii.
Vernon was company teacher for the ABT from 2001 to 2002 and worked as a company teacher for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet from 1994 to 1998. He was also a guest teacher for the Juilliard School in 2001 and has had long associations with Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey Company and School.
He has choreographed many ballets for the Eglevsky Ballet, in addition to ballets for many other professional companies in the United States and worldwide. Mikhail Baryshnikov commissioned him to choreograph the successful pas de deux In a Country Garden for American Ballet Theatre (ABT). His solo S'Wonderful was danced by ABT principal Cynthia Harvey in the presence of President and Mrs. Reagan and shown nationwide on CBS television. He also served as the assistant choreographer on Ken Russell's movie Valentino, starring Rudolph Nureyev and Leslie Caron.
Vernon continues to teach classes at New York-based Steps, works regularly for the Manhattan Dance Project, and is artistic advisor to the Ballet School of Stamford. Since 2000, he has taught and choreographed the ballet company and ballet school at the Chautauqua Institute. His annual activities also include a long association with Ballet Hawaii.
Vernon was company teacher for the ABT from 2001 to 2002 and worked as a company teacher for the Metropolitan Opera Ballet from 1994 to 1998. He was also a guest teacher for the Juilliard School in 2001 and has had long associations with Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Alvin Ailey Company and School.
Wendy Whelan, Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet
Wendy Whelan was born and raised in Louisville, Kentucky, where at the age of three she began taking dance classes with Virginia Wooton, a local teacher. At age eight she performed as a mouse with the Louisville Ballet in its annual production of The Nutcracker. Joining the Louisville Ballet Academy that year, she began intense professional ballet training. In 1981 she received a scholarship to the summer course at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, and a year later, became a full-time student there. In 1984, Ms. Whelan danced as an apprentice with New York City Ballet. Ms. Whelan became a member of New York City Ballet's corps de ballet in January 1986. She was promoted to the rank of soloist during the 1989 spring season and to the rank of principal dancer in the 1991 spring season. Ms. Whelan has performed on galas all over the world as well as guest starring with the Stephen Petronio Company, Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company, among others.
Robert Fairchild, Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet
Robert Fairchild was born in Salt Lake City, Utah, and began his dance training at Dance Concepts at the age of four with Rebecca Bateman and Kaelynne Oliphant. His formal ballet training began at the age of ten at the Ballet West Conservatory with Sharee Lane. Other various teachers include: Laura King, Trey Barber, Brooke Healy, and Jaqueline and Heather College of Utah Regional Ballet.
Mr. Fairchild attended the 2002 and 2003 summer courses at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, and enrolled as a full time student in the fall of 2003. In June 2005, Mr. Fairchild became an apprentice with NYCB, and the following June, he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. He was promoted to soloist in May 2007 and in October 2009 was promoted to Principal Dancer.
Mr. Fairchild attended the 2002 and 2003 summer courses at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, and enrolled as a full time student in the fall of 2003. In June 2005, Mr. Fairchild became an apprentice with NYCB, and the following June, he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet. He was promoted to soloist in May 2007 and in October 2009 was promoted to Principal Dancer.
