Additional Dance Faculty
JULIO MONTANO (Ballet Faculty) is a native of Pinar del Rio in Cuba. His career started at the age of 17 at Ballet de Camaguey under the direction of Fernando Alonso. In 1993, Montano was chosen by the director of the company to perform in Lima, Perú, at the official company of the country, Ballet Nacional del Peru, under the direction of Olga Shimazaki as principal dancer. In 1995, he won the Circe Price top award for artists in Peru. In 2002, after nine years of performing in South America, Montano moved to the United States to perform with Tulsa Ballet under the direction of Marcello Angelini for two seasons. As a dancer, he participated in festivals and tours throughout the world performing in Chile, Paraguay, Portugal, Panama, Bolivia, Mexico, USA, etc. He has danced and performed a number of important leading roles in such classical productions as Cinderella, Paquita, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Raymonda, Swan Lake, Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Sherezade, The Nutcracker, Majissimo and other ones. His neoclassical and contemporary repertoire include Duende, The Leaves are Fading, Lady of the Camelias, Nine Lives, Four Seasons of Buenos Aires, among others. During 2005-2006 season, Montano was working at the Patel Conservatory as Interim Co-Director of the Classical Ballet Training Program together with Mrs. Sandra Robinson. He participated as judge for the National Society of Arts and Letters 2006 Dance Competition. In 2010, he was awarded the Outstanding Coach Award at the American Dance Competition. As a ballet master, Montano has given ballet instruction at the University of South Florida, Straz Center, and has been invited to join the faculty for summer programs in different ballet schools in USA and South America and has trained students for numerous ballet competitions.
RICHARD SIAS (Dance Instructor) has been a ballet teacher for 35 years. Sias most recently a member of the ballet faculty for the Professional Ballet Program, teaching senior boys at Canada's National Ballet School. He has been a company member of the National Ballet Company of Canada, Canadian Opera Company, the London Festival Ballet, as well as Broadway musicals and appearances on television in both Canada and the USA. Sias was also Artistic Director of Syracuse Ballet Theater. Sias is Professor Emeritus of Florida State University's Department of Dance where he taught for 25 years and also a member of the Dance Faculty at the University of South Florida. Sias is Founder and 1st President of the CORPS de Ballet International and currently resides in Florida.
CURRA ALBA (Dance Department) was born in Valencia, Spain, and brings years of performing skills to Tampa. Alba has toured extensively in Europe, including a special performance for Princess Grace Kelly in Monaco, plus Canada, U.S. and the Middle East. She was one of the first artists to perform at the Straz Center and loves to teach future Flamenco dancers.
SVETLANA DATSEVA
JUSTIN KAHAN
LINDSAY KOHN
MANDY RICHARDS
SHERRICE ROSE
ALESIA SCOTT-WARREN
MEGAN WEATHERS
JULIEN VALME
NGB Summer Intensive Faculty