3 New Works

Choreographers & Pieces

PEDRO SZALAY - ARTISTIC DIRECTOR SOUTHWEST VIRGINIA BALLLET
A native of Venezuela, Pedro received a Bachelor of Science degree from Saint Vincent of Paul, in La Guaira, and went on to study further at at the University Monsenor de Talavera. He has danced professionally with the New York Dance Theatre, Latin Ballet of Virginia, and the Richmond Ballet. Pedro has choreographed for Virginia School of the Arts, Minds in Motion, Richmond Ballet, and the Academy of International Ballet. Pedro is currently an instructor with Minds in Motion and the Dance Centre of Southwest Virginia. (full bio)

Pedro's dance, set to The Comedians by Dmitry Kabalevsky, was inspired by the movie Water for Elephants.
The characters in the circus will come to life through the fusion of dance and music.

ABIGAIL WILLIAMS - BALLET INSTRUCTOR
Abigail is from Roanoke and received her training at The Dance Centre, formerly Post School of Ballet. She has danced many leading roles, including Sugar Plum Fairy in"The Nutcracker," Odette in "Swan Lake," Blue Bird and Fairy of the Crystal Fountain in "Sleeping Beauty." Abigail teaches ballet at the Dance Centre of Southwest Virginia and is an instructor with Minds in Motion.

Abigail's inspiration for the Junior Company piece comes from the dancers themselves. Throughout the season she has seen them grow both artistically and technically. She wants to showcase their achievements with a technically difficult piece that will also teach them the importance of team work in a ballet company.

KATHERINE KEELING DORMAN - GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER
Katherine was born and raised in Virginia Beach, Virginia. She studied ballet under the direction of Teresa Martinez and Anna Maria Martinez, and modern with Elbert Watson, former member of the Alvin Ailey Dance Company. She has also studied at North Carolina School of the Arts and received her Dance degree from Randolph Macon Woman's College. After graduating she danced with the Tidewater Dance Collaborative in Norfolk, Virginia before returning to Lynchburg, Virginia in 2005. In addition to her full-time employment in the city she served as a ballet instructor for Virginia School of the Arts until it closed in May 2011.

Katherine will be choreographing the Hungarian Sketches by Johannes Brahms. Each of the five pieces will explore the art of movement and how our ever changing emotions as humans manipulate and change how we move and interact as both individuals and in groups.