Staff

Instructors:

Sherry Horton
Sherry Horton has taught young dancers in ballet, modern and jazz since 1992.  She received her ballet training from Robert Ivey, Michael Lland and William Starrett of the Columbia City Ballet where she performed as a member of the Corps de Ballet and soloist for ten years.  In 1992 Miss Sherry was promoted to Ballet Mistress for the Columbia City Ballet.  While the Columbia City Ballet was her primary teaching position, she continued to choreograph and guest teach for many other companies throughout the East Coast and the South.  In 1999, Miss Sherry founded her own Company, Dance Theatre of Sumter.  In 2002 we were very fortunate to have Miss Sherry join the SVBS as Instructor and Artistic Director of our productions and to share her vast experience and talents in teaching and choreography.

Cindy Forgeon
Cindy Forgeon hails from San Diego California where she studied ballet from a young age.  After graduation Miss Cindy trained with North County Ballet Company in San Diego under the direction of Victor Moreno (formerly of Ballet Russe and California Ballet) for 10 years.  She also studied with Lila Zali of Ballet Pacifica in Laguna Beach, California and Jazz with Judi Misset. At North County Ballet Company Miss Cindy went on to dance in the corp as well as soloist.  Miss Cindy joined The Sun Valley Ballet School staff in 2004 teaching our Creative Movement and Ballet Beginnings classes.  Miss Cindy brings to her 3 and 4 years olds her love and passion for ballet.  It’s a love for many of these young dancers that they will never loose.  Miss Cindy begins the process and from there we are proud to say, many young dancers go on to wonderful things in dance.

Kassidy Brice
.Kass has been dancing since she was 3 yrs old. Most of her training was in Sheridan WY. When she was 15 her teacher gave her the opportunity to teach a class on her own. From then on she knew that she wanted to share her knowledge and love of dance. She continued teaching and choreographing for The Dance School in Sheridan. In addition, Kass has had the privilege of working with many teachers and companies like Eugene Ballet Co., Especially Tap Chicago, Chi Town, Joe Tremaine, Gus Giordano, Bruce Stegman, Judy Rice, David Norwood, and Joel Rumminer to name a few. After leaving Wyoming, Kass moved to Indianapolis where she taught tap, jazz and lyrical for Showtime Dance Studio. After 4 years of teaching in Indianapolis Kass was offered a job by Bruce Stegman to dance on Celebrity Cruise Lines. After her contract ended with Celebrity, Kass chose to move to the Wood River Valley. We are ortunate to have Kass share her expertise and love of dance with the students of the SVBS.

Keri York Dancer
Keri York grew up dancing in the Wood River Valley and danced with a local company in Ashland, OR her first year of college. She took up the Brazilian martial art Capoeira in Portland and since returning to the Wood River Valley has begun dancing with the local Argentine tango group and performing with the Dirty Feet Dance Company. Keri thrives on the freedom of dance and is thankful to be with Dirty Feet once again. Professionally, she has pursued a career in conservation biology but continues to dance whenever, wherever possible.

Alysha Oclassen Choreographer, Dancer, Artistic Director and Dirty Feet Founder
Alysha spent her formative years here in Hailey and is deeply grateful to Hilary and Footlight Dance Center for springing her into the professional dance world. Alysha holds a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle WA and has spent the last 18 years performing extensively in the U.S. and Ireland. Notable performances include roles with Duende Dance Theater in Atlanta, Core Dance in Hailey, and Sickle Cell Theater in Seattle. She is a founding member of Galway Dance Theatre in Galway, Ireland.

Alysha completed the Authentic Pilates training program in 2000 and currently owns, directs, and teaches at Pure Body Pilates Movement Studio here in Hailey. She also runs a Pilates apprentice program, is a certified massage therapist, and is the founder of Dirty Feet Dance Company. Alysha would like to extend her most heart-felt gratitude to all who have helped her on this journey.

A huge thank you to Mom, Dad, Laun, Family and Friends on three continents and spanning seven different time zones for supporting her wild dreams. And thanks for and to John, whose love continues to surprise, bless and awe her. Welcome home love!

School Directors:

Laura Caminiti
Laura has served on The Board of Directors of The Sun Valley Ballet Foundation as President and Director. Having been an active "Mom" volunteer before her Board positions with SVBS, she also danced as a young girl. Laura and her family moved to the Wood River Valley from Newport Beach, California in 2005. Laura used to be a member of the Junior League of Honolulu and the Junior League of Orange County where she was an active volunteer in many fundraising efforts and helping in important projects. Laura serves as director by improving the dance community through her effective action and leadership. Although Laura shares a passion for dance, her main purpose is exclusively educational and charitable.

Nadja Hirner
Nadja has served on The Board of Directors of the The Sun Valley Ballet Foundation as President and Vice-President. Before her official tenure working for the Foundation, Nadja was actively involved as a “Mom” volunteer since 1990.  In 2000, along with her partner Jill, Nadja officially took over as School Director.  In 1982 Nadja moved to Sun Valley as a nanny without even a word of English in her vocabulary.  With a degree and vast background in tailoring and costume design, Nadja soon learned English and created a niche for herself by tailoring and altering clothing.  She has, for the past 2 decades volunteered her time to design and make most of the costumes used in the School’s many productions.  Nadja’s costumes have received immense praise from important people in the ballet world.  Her costumes have been compared to those of the major ballet companies.  As Costume Coordinator for all The Sun Valley Ballet School productions, Nadja is able to fulfill her passion for costume design.

Jennifer Bernbaum

Megan Burks

Molly Page

Special Featured Volunteer:
Shirley Horton
Shirley Horton lives in Columbia, South Carolina and is the mother of our very own Miss Sherry.  Every performance that the SVBS has done since 2002, Miss Shirley and her husband Bo, fly out to the Wood River Valley where they are the remarkable, hardworking volunteers that represent the backbone of our program.  Miss Shirley or “Mom” as all the dancers call her, is our back stage dresser for the senior company and makes all of the wonderful headpieces worn in all our performances.  Miss Shirley and Bo are essential in the set up of every show.  Both Shirley and Bo epitomize the volunteer spirit that has kept the SVBS going for so many years.

Special Featured Back Stage:
Chip Booth
No show would ever hit the stage without the multi talents of Chip Booth.  Chip and Miss Sherry work together prior to every show manipulating the vision each have of the final product.  Chip is our light and sound wonder man.  Chip makes the stage come to life with his amazing light show in which the dancers dance.  All the sound mixing is thanks to his musical talents and his experience over the years helps in bringing to life the sets that Miss Sherry envisions.

The Sun Valley Ballet Foundation, Inc -  Board of Directors

President:	Heidi Pietsch
Vice President:	Dydra Cleven
Secretary:	Mandie Wilson
Treasurer:	Tracey Baer
School Director:	Nadja Hirner
School Director:	Laura Caminiti
Board Members:	Jennifer Bernbaum
	Megan Burks
	Kristen Morton
	Molly Page