School of DanceWest Ballet

Philosophy
The objective of The School of DanceWest Ballet is to offer high quality dance training in a professional atmosphere. We want our students to enjoy and respect the art of dance, celebrating the human body's ability to translate feelings and emotions into dance form. Ricardo and Regina Moyano bring years of training and experience to their teaching. They hope to inspire students to strive to reach their full potential.

Instruction
Dance is an art form that takes time and dedication to develop. The School of DanceWest Ballet offers professional instruction, high standards, and a program that allows students to gradually progress according to the level of their individual skills and technique. It is important that each student develops pride, discipline and self-confidence while having fun and facing challenges. We recognize that students are impressionable, therefore, we strive to make each class positive and constructive.

History
DanceWest Ballet was founded in 1990 by professional dancers Ricardo Moyano, formerly of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and Chicago Ballet, and Regina Helmer Moyano, formerly of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and San Diego Ballet. In 1994, DanceWest Ballet Company (DWB) received its not-for-profit status. Included in its repertoire are a variety of classical ballet, jazz, and contemporary pieces. This affords the dancers the opportunity to become proficient in more than one dance style. Graduates of The School of DanceWest Ballet and DanceWest Ballet Company have gone on to join professional dance companies throughout the U.S. or have been accepted into collegiate dance programs.

• In May of 1996, DanceWest Ballet was accepted into the Regional Dance America organization as an Intern Company. Regional Dance America is a national organization of pre-professional ballet companies. After participating for one year as an Intern Company, DWB was awarded Performing Company status. In 2000 DanceWest Ballet received Honor Company status -- the highest honor for a Regional Dance America member company.
• In May 2002, DanceWest Ballet hosted the Regional Dance America MidStates Festival, the first time the festival was held in Naperville, IL. Over 600 dancers, teachers, and choreographers attended the festival. Three days of classes and scholarship auditions were held. Three evenings of performances by members of the MidStates companies were presented at Pfeiffer Hall on the campus of North Central College in Naperville.
• Each December, DanceWest Ballet Company along with guest artists and area children perform The Nutcracker in its entirety. And, each spring DanceWest Ballet Company performs several works from its extensive repertoire. These performances allow the residents of Naperville and the surrounding communities to enjoy high-quality, affordable dance.
• DanceWest Ballet has performed benefit concerts for non-profits such as DuPage PADS. These concerts have included former Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre principal dancers, Tamar Rachelle and Ernest Tolentino and Greg Begley, formerly of Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Additionally, DanceWest Ballet offers reduced pricing on student tickets for The Nutcracker for school field trips. Throughout the years, company members have visited local schools and libraries providing lecture demonstrations and performing excerpts from the repertoire.

Founders
Regina Helmer Moyano received her early dance training at the schools of San Diego Ballet and Norfolk Civic Ballet. At the age of 16, she was awarded a scholarship to the Professional Programme of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She performed as an apprentice with the company and went on to join the San Diego Ballet. Regina performed a variety of contemporary and classical roles and worked with such luminaries as Alicia Alonso, Valery Panov, and John Butler. She toured the eastern half of the U.S. while a member of Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and was noted for vivacious performing style and strong technique in such signature roles as the cat in "Aurora's Wedding," the turning variation in "Pas de Dix" and the "Peasant Pas de Deux" in "Giselle." After dancing five years with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Regina moved to Chicago. While residing there, she continued to perform as a guest artist and dance solo roles in the Arie Crown production of "The Nutcracker" for five years.

Regina has brought her strong background in the classical and neo-classical repertoire to the choreography she has created for schools and regional companies in the Chicago Metropolitan area. She has taught Ballet, Pointe, and Variations to students ages two through adult and is Co-Director of the School of DanceWest Ballet and DanceWest Ballet Company.

Ricardo Moyano, originally from Argentina, has studied dance with Carol Walker, Richard Arve, Marjorie Mussman, Larry Long, and Lou Conte. He began his professional career with Richard Arve Modern Company and later danced principal and soloist roles at Chicago Ballet, San Diego Ballet, Dayton Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. Most recently, Ricardo performed with Hubbard Street Dance Company where Lynn Taylor Corbit set "GO SAID MAX" on him. He also performed as a principal dancer in John Butler's "Carmina Burana" during his three years with San Diego Ballet. Critic reviews read, "Ricardo Moyano is a powerful dancer with a compelling presence."

Ricardo is also renowned for his choreography. He set ten works for the San Diego Dance Ensemble while serving as their director. He choreographed and performed his critcally acclaimed "Getting Out" throughout the U.S. and Europe. Ricardo was awarded the Illinois Arts Council Fellowship Grant for choreography and created five original works for Chicago dance companies. He was invited by Stuart Sebastian, director of Dayton Ballet, to create one of his most stunning works, "L'Arc De Triomphe." Ricardo has taught ballet and jazz for numerous dance companies. From 1986 to 1988, he taught master classes in Muster, Bonn, and Ahem, West Germany, performing with Tanztheater Werkstatt. His teaching experience includes Ruth Page Foundation, Lou Conte Dance Studio, Gus Giordano Dance Center, and numerous studios throughout the U.S. Ricardo is resident choreographer and Co-Director of DanceWest Ballet and the School of DanceWest Ballet.

Honors, Awards & Reviews
In 1993, DanceWest Ballet adjudicated and was accepted into Regional Dance America (RDA), a nationally renowned organization of pre-professional dance companies. Each year over 400 dancers attend RDA festival, and each year, DanceWest Ballet Company members have been awarded scholarships to summer dance programs at some of our nation's most prestigious dance companies. Scholarships awarded to DWB company members have included American Ballet Theater, Colorado Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Interlochen Arts Camp, Ballet Oklahoma, and the National Regional Dance America's Choreographers Conference. Additional honors awarded DWB Company members in the past include scholarships and apprenticeships to: Arizona Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, River North Dance Company, Forum Dance Theatre, and Nutmeg Ballet. Graduates of Dancewest Ballet have joined The Professional Programme of The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Dayton Contemporary Dance Company, Ruth Page's The Nutcracker, and two Chicago-based companies, Moose Project and Melissa Thodos and Company. In recent years, students who have completed the program at DanceWest Ballet have been offered trainee and company positions at Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Montgomery Ballet, State Street Ballet (Santa Barbara), Texas Ballet Theater, and Ballet Tucson.

Reviews of the Company's performances read: DanceWest Ballet gives major-league performance, Tim West, Chief Editor, The Naperville Sun; and DanceWest Ballet sparkles with Nutcracker rendition, Lois Michel, Staff Writer, The Naperville Sun.