JOHN MAGNUS – ARTISTIC DIRECTOR and BALLET INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Magnus’ bio can be found on the Artistic Director page.
TAMARA APREA – PILATES INSTRUCTOR
Tamara is the owner of Pilates Loft Studio in Ann Arbor, Michigan. She has been a dancer most of her life so knows first hand the benefits a ballet dancer experiences when incorporating Pilates into the training routine. Ms. Aprea holds a Bachelor of Science Degree in Dance/Movement Therapy and was introduced to Pilates while studying dance at Virginia School of the Arts 18 years ago. She is also certified in Hatha Yoga from the prestigious Kripalu Center and has been a guest teacher with Interlochen Arts Academy and University of Michigan – Ann Arbor Dance Department. This is her 5h year teaching at Magnus Midwest Dance Intensive.
PATRICIA BROWN - BALLET INSTRUCTOR
Ms. Brown grew up in Montclair, New Jersey and trained at the New Jersey Ballet School. She performed with the New Jersey Ballet Company form the ages of 15 through 18 and then went on to New York to further her training on full scholarship at the American Ballet Theater School. Patricia danced professionally with Joffrey II Dancers, Cleveland Ballet, Elliot Feld Ballet and as a soloist with the Joffrey Ballet Company. She now teaches and choreographs at various school in the Philadelphia area and also offers private instruction. This is Ms. Brown's second year teaching at Magnus Midwest Dance Intensive.
TEAL DARKENWALD – Jazz Instructor
Ms. Darkenwald holds her MFA in Dance with an emphasis in Choreography from the University of Arizona as well her BFA in Dance Performance and BS in Exercise Science form the University at Buffalo in New York. Prior to moving to North Carolina, Teal taught at the University of Arizona, Glendale and Scottsdale Community Colleges and Ottawa University. Additionally, she served as Co-Director and Resident Choreographer for Physical Graffiti Dance Company. She performed with 32 Flavors Dance Company, the Arizona Dance Ensemble, Zodiaque Dance Company and has served as guest choreographer throughout the country. In addition, she has had the honor of presenting choreography and performing in several of the regional gala performances hosted by the American College Dance Festival Association.
Currently, Teal teaches jazz, ballet, improvisation and modern technique classes as well as Kinesiology of Dance and Introduction to Dance at East Carolina University. The 2010 Magnus Midwest Dance Intensive will be her first teaching in Flint.
KAREN MILLS JENNINGS – CONSULTANT and REHEARSAL ASSISTANT
Karen Mills Jennings is the Chair of the Dance Division at the Flint School of Performing Arts where she supervises a curriculum of creative dance, ballet, modern and three performance Ensembles. She is Artistic Director of the Flint Institute of Music’s production of The Nutcracker and that organization’s Outreach Coordinator. She danced professionally with Ballet Michigan under the direction of Gayla Zukevich while teaching full time at FSPA. In 1987 she founded the Flint Youth Ballet to provide qualitative performance experiences for the area’s intermediate and advanced dance students. Ms. Jennings holds a BFA in dance/theatre from Marygrove College in Detroit and has been consultant for Joffrey Midwest Dance since its inception in 1996.
VALERIE ROBIN – BALLET INSTRUCTOR
Valerie Robin is currently celebrating her 10th season as a member of the Joffrey Ballet. Her repertoire includes leading roles in works by Arpino, Balanchine, Ashton, Kylian, Lubovitch and Robbins as well as the classics. Ms. Robin participated in the1990 New York International Ballet Competition as a bronze medalist and the 1992 Varna International Ballet Competition as a finalist. She has taught all levels from creative movement to professional company classes with Leipziger Ballets, Kieler ballets and the Joffrey Ballet. She is delighted to be part of the Magnus Midwest Dance Intensive faculty for a second year.
JEFFREY STOCKER – ACTING INSTRUCTOR
Mr. Stocker is an internationally renowned professional acting coach and accomplished director. He opened his acting studio in New York City in 1978 and his clients can be seen today performing on the Broadway stage, television and in motion pictures. The 2010 Magnus Midwest Dance Intensive is Mr. Stocker’s second as a faculty member.
