Daniel Duell - Ballet Chicago Artistic Director and Choreographer

Founder and Artistic Director, Duell is a force in the development of American Classicism, who is passionate about the advancement of ballet technique in its purest and most energetic form. As a dancer with the New York City Ballet from 1972-1987, he was taught and coached daily by George Balanchine. Quickly rising through the ranks, Duell was promoted to Soloist in 1977, and then Principal Dancer in 1979. He embodied a wide-ranging repertoire, dancing leading roles in the ballets of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Peter Martins, and Jacques d’Amboise, among others, including multiple works that were created for him. A Ford Foundation Scholarship recipient from the age of 13, he trained with the Dayton Civic Ballet, then at the School of American Ballet, and at the age of 19 was invited to join NYCB. In addition to his fifteen years at NYCB, he was a featured guest artist for numerous companies nationwide and performed for several PBS Dance in America public television programs. Duell has been choreographing since 1980 and has created works for Ballet Chicago, Ballet Hispanico of New York, Dayton Ballet, Harkness Dance Theatre, the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, and the School of American Ballet. He also collaborated with WTTW Channel 11 in Chicago to design two programs; the first, an Emmy Award winning special (outstanding cultural programming) on Ballet Chicago, and the second entitled “Love in Four Acts”, a program showcasing four Chicago choreographers selected by Duell. He was also awarded the 2000 Ruth Page Award from the Chicago Dance Community for Artistic Direction of the Ballet Chicago Studio Company.

Duell is a frequent lecturer on ballet, music, and the arts, serves on several not-for-profit boards and advisory boards, and has been an adjudicator for the National Endowment for the Arts and the Illinois Arts Council. He is also a repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust and stages ballets across the United States. He conducts master classes in both the United States and Europe, including teaching engagements at the School of American Ballet, Indiana University at Bloomington, the University of Iowa, and the Bulgarian National Dance Academy in Sophia, Bulgaria. In Spring 2011, Duell will work with the Royal Danish Ballet, teaching and coaching the company in preparation for its New York season.

Patricia Blair - Director, The School of Ballet Chicago and Associate Director, Ballet Chicago

Patricia Blair is highly committed to the training, artistic education, and personal well-being of young dancers. She began working with children when she was only 15 years old, and to this day, her love and respect of classical ballet and passing that on to young artists is one of her greatest passions. She was born in New York City, began studying ballet at the age of 7, and began her performing career at 17. While a student at North Carolina School of the Arts, she was chosen to dance the role of “Myrtha” in Giselle alingside principal dancers Svea Ekloff and ABT’s Burton Taylor. In 1979 she joined the Eglevsky Ballet, under the direction of Edward Villella and then Michael Vernon. In 1984, while still dancing full time with the company, she became one of the organization’s Ballet Mistresses, rehearsing the repertoire of George Balanchine, Michael Vernon and guest choreographers. Throughout her years at Eglevsky Ballet she was also an active teacher in NY, teaching classes for Eglevsky Ballet, Harkness House for Ballet Arts, Steps NY, and volunteering to teach at risk youth in church basements and community centers. During off seasons, she performed as a guest artist developing new works with many NY choreographers, danced in musical theatre productions across the US and on Broadway, and briefly entered the LA movie world with Pavanne for a Dying Princess, a solo dance film created especially for her. She came to Chicago in September 1987 upon the recommendation of Balanchine repetiteur Victoria Simon. She staged several ballets for Chicago City Ballet’s fall season, after which Duell invited her to move to Chicago and join his artistic team. She was the Ballet Mistress for Ballet Chicago from 1987 – 1997, and was appointed Director of the School of Ballet Chicago in 1995. She also serves as Associate Director for the company.

In addition to her work with the School of Ballet Chicago and the Ballet Chicago Studio Company, Ms. Blair gives master classes throughout the region and has been a guest teacher for Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, Washington, Gem City Ballet in Dayton, Ohio, and in May 2007 had the honor of teaching at the School of American Ballet. Ms. Blair has a lifelong love for the ballets of George Balanchine, and appreciates both the privilege of having performed his ballets and the joy of passing them on to younger dancers. She has been responsible for a large body of repertoire at Ballet Chicago, and has staged Mr. Balanchine’s Serenade and Allegro Brillante for the St. Louis Ballet.

William Miglino - Intro to Ballet, Ballet 1 through 4, Open Ballet

William began taking ballet at age 10 in a small town outside of Seattle, Washington. At the age of 15, he attended the School of Ballet Chicago Summer Program and was subsequently invited to attend year-round on full scholarship. As a Ballet Chicago Studio Company member, he performed numerous solo and principal roles, including Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Concierto Barrocco, and Nutcracker Plum Pas de Deux, Daniel Duell's Snow King, Russian and Soldier Doll, Duell's Angel Scene from Act II of Hansel and Gretel, and Ted Seymour's Continuation. At age 18 he was noticed by renowned guest faculty member and Balanchine repetiteur Victoria Simon, who helped arrange an audition for Carolina Ballet, under the direction of former New York City Ballet principal dancer, Robert Weiss. Mr. Miglino was hired immediately. William spent the year dancing in over 40 performances. Sidelined after a year by the need for surgery in both ankles, Miglino reassessed his life direction and in 2008 chose to return to ballet as a professional teacher. He spent the majority of 2007/2008 teaching in Seattle and was invited by Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair to join Ballet Chicago's faculty for the 2008/2009 season. While teaching full time at Ballet Chicago he has had the opportunity to perform with the school as well as various companies in the greater Chicago area. William is thankful for the experience of seeing ballet on both sides, as teacher and student.

Cheryl Olendzki - Preparatory Division

Cheryl holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Teaching and Choreography from Columbia College Chicago. She has studied at North Carolina School of the Arts, at Perry Mansfield Performing Arts School, at the University of Wisconsin- Madison, and under David Howard. She has performed modern works by Bebe Miller, Julia Rhodes, and Ruth Solomon and choreographed many of her own. Her main interest is teaching dance and movement to children in Chicago. Every day she loves guiding children in artistic as well as intellectual growth, self confidence, and expression through dance. She adores being a part of the Ballet Chicago family and learning from each of her students!

Ted Seymour - Student, Open, and Professional Division

Ted was born in Dallas, Texas where he began his training at The Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. He later moved to Chicago to study with Dan Duell and Patricia Blair at the School of Ballet Chicago as a member of The Ballet Chicago Studio Company.  Ted choreographed his first ballet for BCSC, Toccata for 5, in 2001. Later, Ted moved to New York to attend the School of American Ballet. While at SAB, Ted choreographed two ballets for the Student Choreographic Workshop and was invited by Peter Martins to create a new work for The New York Choreographic Institute.  Upon leaving SAB, Ted joined Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, dancing for choreographers such as Edward Liang, Nicolo Fonte, and Benoit-Swan Pouffer.  Currently, Ted is a member of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet and continues to dance and choreograph throughout the country.  Ted has been a frequent guest teacher for The School of Ballet Chicago and is joining the faculty for this 2009 / 2010 year.  

Elizabeth Shy - Prep, Student and Open Division

Elizabeth was born in Mt. Pleasant, Iowa and studied at the University of Iowa before moving to New York to train at the Joffrey Ballet School. After attending several summers with Ballet Chicago, she became a member of the Ballet Chicago Studio Company, where she stayed for three years before joining Charleston Ballet Theatre. She returned to Ballet Chicago as both a Ballet Chicago Studio Company Member, Ballet Instructor, and Pilates Instructor. Elizabeth is thrilled to be teaching technique, Pilates, and stretch & strengthening to the students of Ballet Chicago

Megan Wright - Prep and Student Divisions

Megan is a Chicago native and alumni of Ballet Chicago who has danced professionally with the Los Angeles Ballet and the Saint Louis Ballet. In addition, she has performed with the San Diego Ballet and completed professional workshops with the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance as well as Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet. Megan spent her summers studying at the School of American Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet School, and American Ballet Theater. Prior to joining the Ballet Chicago Studio Company in 2000, she trained at the Chicago Multi-Cultural Dance Center. In 2010, Megan received her Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from DePaul University. Since 2008, she has taught ballet to ages three through adult at the Beverly Arts Center. Megan is honored to join Ballet Chicago’s faculty and looks forward to working with their many dedicated dancers.

Tiernan Damas - Prep and Student Divisions

Tiernan is originally from Overland Park, Kansas where she began her training at Legacy School of the Arts. She also attended programs at Virginia School of the Arts, the Jillana School, and Thodos Dance Chicago. She holds a Bachelor of Arts with honors in Dance, a minor in Spanish, and fulfilled pre-requisites for Physical Therapy from The University of Iowa. While training under George de la Pena, Deanna Carter, and Eloy Barragan, she was able to perform with Ballet West II for their Iowan tour. Before moving to Chicago she briefly lived in Washington, DC while interning at Dance/USA. She currently works as the Kemper Fellow in Artistic Administration at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago.