Bob Willie , Director
Bob is a native of New York and began his career as assistant director to “Tony” award winning director/producer Joe Layton. He received his B.S. degree from East Carolina University where he was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship for excellence in theater performance. He continued his training in the M.F.A. Acting/Directing program at the University of Louisville and at H.B. Studios in New York under the tutelage of Uta Hagan and Charles Nelson Reilly. As an actor, director and fight choreographer, Bob has over sixty professional credits ranging from Shakespeare to musical comedy. Bob has directed several productions for the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, including On Golden Pond, Last Night of Ballyhoo, Moon Over Buffalo and A Lovely Sunday for Creve Couer, which each received the Miss Annie Award for Outstanding Production in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003, respectively.
Bob has served as Managing Director of the Professional Theatre Workshop working with such notable theatre dignitaries as Helen Hayes, Colleen Dewhurst, Linda Lavin, Maurice Hines, and Geoffrey Holder. Bob has also served as associate operations manager at
Bob is a native of New York and began his career as assistant director to “Tony” award winning director/producer Joe Layton. He received his B.S. degree from East Carolina University where he was the recipient of the Chancellor’s Scholarship for excellence in theater performance. He continued his training in the M.F.A. Acting/Directing program at the University of Louisville and at H.B. Studios in New York under the tutelage of Uta Hagan and Charles Nelson Reilly. As an actor, director and fight choreographer, Bob has over sixty professional credits ranging from Shakespeare to musical comedy. Bob has directed several productions for the Chattanooga Theatre Centre, including On Golden Pond, Last Night of Ballyhoo, Moon Over Buffalo and A Lovely Sunday for Creve Couer, which each received the Miss Annie Award for Outstanding Production in 1999, 2000, 2001 and 2003, respectively.
Bob has served as Managing Director of the Professional Theatre Workshop working with such notable theatre dignitaries as Helen Hayes, Colleen Dewhurst, Linda Lavin, Maurice Hines, and Geoffrey Holder. Bob has also served as associate operations manager at
the Julliard School working with the New York Philharmonic, The School of American Ballet and the Julliard Dance Ensemble.
Since arriving in Chattanooga in 1987, Bob has helped guide Chattanooga Ballet to new levels of artistic and professional development. Under his leadership the Company has grown to include six full time professionals and a thirty member Corps de Ballet. His dedication to the production of new works has resulted in the commissioning of over forty premiere pieces by American choreographers, three of which were presented at the Avignon Festival in France.
Bob was recently honored by the Tennessee Association of Dance with the prestigious Margaret Martin Award for distinguished service and outstanding contribution to the art of dance in Tennessee. He serves as President of Tennesseans for the Arts, Chairman of the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Theatre panel and Chairman of the dance panel of the Louisiana Division of the Arts. Bob has also served as President of the Tennessee Association of Dance and as a panelist for the Southern Arts Federation/National Endowment for the Arts.
Since arriving in Chattanooga in 1987, Bob has helped guide Chattanooga Ballet to new levels of artistic and professional development. Under his leadership the Company has grown to include six full time professionals and a thirty member Corps de Ballet. His dedication to the production of new works has resulted in the commissioning of over forty premiere pieces by American choreographers, three of which were presented at the Avignon Festival in France.
Bob was recently honored by the Tennessee Association of Dance with the prestigious Margaret Martin Award for distinguished service and outstanding contribution to the art of dance in Tennessee. He serves as President of Tennesseans for the Arts, Chairman of the Tennessee Arts Commission’s Theatre panel and Chairman of the dance panel of the Louisiana Division of the Arts. Bob has also served as President of the Tennessee Association of Dance and as a panelist for the Southern Arts Federation/National Endowment for the Arts.
Frank Hay , Ballet Master
Frank grew up in the Bay Area of California where he studied dance and gymnastics with his father. His early training included exposure to some of the finest dance companies in the world. He performed children’s roles with such notables as the San Francisco Ballet and the touring Bolshoi and Leningrad Kirov Ballet Companies.
He attended the University of Utah under a scholarship where he majored in ballet with an emphasis on performance technique. After two years, he joined Ballet West where he toured Europe for six weeks during his first season. With Ballet West he danced principal roles in major ballets including Bournonville’s Napoli Act III, Bruce Mark’s Don Juan and Lark Ascending, and Balanchine’s Four Temperaments, Serenade and Symphony in C. He also performed three soloist roles in the PBS filming of Christensen’s The Nutcracker that has been broadcast internationally. Frank marks his training with Christensen, Marks, Toni Lander and Leon Danilian during this time as the most significant in his early career.
Frank grew up in the Bay Area of California where he studied dance and gymnastics with his father. His early training included exposure to some of the finest dance companies in the world. He performed children’s roles with such notables as the San Francisco Ballet and the touring Bolshoi and Leningrad Kirov Ballet Companies.
He attended the University of Utah under a scholarship where he majored in ballet with an emphasis on performance technique. After two years, he joined Ballet West where he toured Europe for six weeks during his first season. With Ballet West he danced principal roles in major ballets including Bournonville’s Napoli Act III, Bruce Mark’s Don Juan and Lark Ascending, and Balanchine’s Four Temperaments, Serenade and Symphony in C. He also performed three soloist roles in the PBS filming of Christensen’s The Nutcracker that has been broadcast internationally. Frank marks his training with Christensen, Marks, Toni Lander and Leon Danilian during this time as the most significant in his early career.
After nine years in Utah, Frank accepted a position with the Atlanta Ballet where he performed principal roles in The Nutcracker and Tom Pazik’s Cinderella and Firebird. He then spent a year as a principal dancer with the Tampa Ballet before joining the Louisville Ballet under the direction of Alan Jones. His first engagement with Louisville Ballet included a tour of Texas with Mikhail Baryshinikov. Some of the other highlights of his eight years in Louisville include dancing principal and soloist roles in such major works as Jooss’s The Green Table, Loring’s Billy the Kid, Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliant, Bournonville’s La Sylphide (staged by Erik Burhn) and Ruthanna Goris’s Cakewalk.
In addition to his duties as Ballet Master with Chattanooga Ballet, Frank teaches classes at all grade levels of the Chattanooga Ballet School. He has also restaged many of the works from the classical repertory including the second acts of Giselle and Swan Lake. Frank’s choreographic credits also include Juvenile Ambition (a work based on his training in Bournonville technique), Partita Prelude and The Creation, based on the Hayden Oratory. He recently served as choreographer of the Chattanooga Theatre Centre’s production of Oklahoma! and the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera productions of Hansel and Gretel and Orfeo and Euridice.
Karen Smith , Children’s Company Director
Karen is the founding Director of the Children’s Company. Growing up in Saudi Arabia and Europe, Karen began her studies in the tradition of the Royal Danish Ballet. Upon returning to the United States, she joined the ranks of the feeder school of the Tampa Ballet and at age fourteen began dancing with the Company. In Tampa, she danced under the tutelage of the notable Edward Villela and modern dance pioneers Ted Shawn and Myra Kinch. She holds a B.A. degree from Florida State University where she danced with Carol Lee and Maria de Baroncelli of La Scala. After completing her degree, Karen entered the University of Cincinnati Conservatory under Oleg Sabline and David MacClean. In 1974, she helped to establish the Chattanooga Center for the Dance, now Chattanooga Ballet. Karen has danced roles in classical ballets including Swan Lake, Coppelia, Les Sylphide and Sleeping Beauty. She also serves the community as the instructor of dance at the Baylor School and as Vice President East of the Tennessee Association of
Karen is the founding Director of the Children’s Company. Growing up in Saudi Arabia and Europe, Karen began her studies in the tradition of the Royal Danish Ballet. Upon returning to the United States, she joined the ranks of the feeder school of the Tampa Ballet and at age fourteen began dancing with the Company. In Tampa, she danced under the tutelage of the notable Edward Villela and modern dance pioneers Ted Shawn and Myra Kinch. She holds a B.A. degree from Florida State University where she danced with Carol Lee and Maria de Baroncelli of La Scala. After completing her degree, Karen entered the University of Cincinnati Conservatory under Oleg Sabline and David MacClean. In 1974, she helped to establish the Chattanooga Center for the Dance, now Chattanooga Ballet. Karen has danced roles in classical ballets including Swan Lake, Coppelia, Les Sylphide and Sleeping Beauty. She also serves the community as the instructor of dance at the Baylor School and as Vice President East of the Tennessee Association of
Amanda Walker Gray
A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Amanda trained with Natalia Botha, Charles Hagan and Gwynne Ashton at the Southern Academy of Ballet Arts and Pas de Vie Ballet, Inc. She holds a B.A. in Dance Performance from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania under the direction of Tauna Hunter. She has also danced and trained with such organizations as Lake Erie Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts and the International Flamenco Festival. She has danced principal and soloist roles in ballets including Coppelia, Les Sylphides, Serenade, Dracula, Giselle, Raymonda, Carmen, Paquita and The Nutcracker. Amanda was the 2006 recipient of the Tennessee Arts Commission Fellowship for artistic excellence in dance performance. This is Amanda’s ninth season with Chattanooga Ballet.
A native of Tallahassee, Florida, Amanda trained with Natalia Botha, Charles Hagan and Gwynne Ashton at the Southern Academy of Ballet Arts and Pas de Vie Ballet, Inc. She holds a B.A. in Dance Performance from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania under the direction of Tauna Hunter. She has also danced and trained with such organizations as Lake Erie Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Boston Ballet, Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts and the International Flamenco Festival. She has danced principal and soloist roles in ballets including Coppelia, Les Sylphides, Serenade, Dracula, Giselle, Raymonda, Carmen, Paquita and The Nutcracker. Amanda was the 2006 recipient of the Tennessee Arts Commission Fellowship for artistic excellence in dance performance. This is Amanda’s ninth season with Chattanooga Ballet.
Laura Schlatter
A native of Leo, Indiana, Laura began studying ballet at Indiana University-Purdue University Fort Wayne (IPFW) community dance program and continued her training at Fort Wayne Ballet and New American Youth Ballet. Through FWB’s Conservatory Program, Laura had the opportunity to work with Kim Sagami and Glen Edgerton of the Joffrey Ballet Chicago for Fort Wayne Ballet’s premiere of the Gerald Arpino ballet Birthday Variations. She continued her studies with scholarships to Interlochen Center for the Arts, Cincinnati Ballet, and Oklahoma City Ballet. And this past year, Laura traveled with the New American Youth Ballet to the Regional Dance America Festival in Montreal, Canada, and performed Melinda Howe’s ballet Breath of Haydn. Laura’s repertoire includes Marzipan and Dewdrop in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppélia, and the pas de trois from Swan Lake, Act I. This is Laura’s first season with Chattanooga Ballet.
A native of Leo, Indiana, Laura began studying ballet at Indiana University-
Kirsten Hyde
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Kirsten began her ballet training with the Olympic Ballet Theatre under the direction of John and Helen Wilkins. In 1998 she became a member of the company which allowed her to go on tour, performing throughout the states of Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona. She has performed in Don Quixote, Peter and the Wolf, La Bayadere, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker as well as many new works. Kirsten also received training from the Boston Ballet, The Rock-Philadelphia Ballet, Walla Walla Dance and Salt Lake City’s Ballet School. In 2003 Kirsten became a member of Impact, a hip-hop dance group based in Seattle which inspired her to begin teaching hip-hop to children in the Dominican Republic over her summers. In 2006 Kirsten received her B.A. in Communication as well as minors in Dance and Women’s studies from the University of Washington. While in school Kirsten co-founded and soon became president of the University Ballet Company. In 2006 she moved to Chattanooga to work at a college ministry at UTC. This is Kirsten’s sixth season with Chattanooga Ballet.
Born and raised in Seattle, Washington, Kirsten began her ballet training with the Olympic Ballet Theatre under the direction of John and Helen Wilkins. In 1998 she became a member of the company which allowed her to go on tour, performing throughout the states of Washington, Oregon, California and Arizona. She has performed in Don Quixote, Peter and the Wolf, La Bayadere, Swan Lake and The Nutcracker as well as many new works. Kirsten also received training from the Boston Ballet, The Rock-
Era Terry
Era has recently returned to Chattanooga Ballet after studying dance at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A Chattanooga native and graduate of the Center for Creative Arts, she has performed in Giselle, Swan Lake, Peter and the Wolf, Don Quixote, and The Nutcracker as well as various other new works. Era has danced in collaborative productions with the Chattanooga Theatre Centre in Oklahoma! and with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera in Orfeo ed Eurydice and Hansel and Gretel. Era has also received training from Joffrey Ballet School, Center for Creative Arts, and Boulder Ballet. Currently enrolled at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Era is working towards a B.S. in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Nutrition/ Dietics.
Era has recently returned to Chattanooga Ballet after studying dance at the University of Colorado, Boulder. A Chattanooga native and graduate of the Center for Creative Arts, she has performed in Giselle, Swan Lake, Peter and the Wolf, Don Quixote, and The Nutcracker as well as various other new works. Era has danced in collaborative productions with the Chattanooga Theatre Centre in Oklahoma! and with the Chattanooga Symphony and Opera in Orfeo ed Eurydice and Hansel and Gretel. Era has also received training from Joffrey Ballet School, Center for Creative Arts, and Boulder Ballet. Currently enrolled at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga, Era is working towards a B.S. in Health and Human Performance with a concentration in Nutrition/ Dietics.
Hope Smisson
Hope is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She began her ballet training at Karen Horton’s School of Dance and moved to Chattanooga Ballet at the age of five. In 2009, Hope began teaching for Chattanooga Ballet, and has moved up through the company to accept soloist roles. She received additional training at Fort Wayne Ballet under Jeremy Blanton, Alabama Ballet under Tracey Alvey and Roger Van Fleteren, and Atlanta Ballet. She has performed demi-soloist and soloist roles in Giselle, Guitar Concerto, Firebird, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, and many other excerpts and new works. Additionally, she has performed in musicals such as Thoroughly Modern Milly, Guys and Dolls, and Honk. Hope is pursuing her Pediatric Physical Therapy degree at Covenant College and plans to pursue her Master degree, but first wants to accomplish a career in ballet.
Hope is a native of Chattanooga, Tennessee. She began her ballet training at Karen Horton’s School of Dance and moved to Chattanooga Ballet at the age of five. In 2009, Hope began teaching for Chattanooga Ballet, and has moved up through the company to accept soloist roles. She received additional training at Fort Wayne Ballet under Jeremy Blanton, Alabama Ballet under Tracey Alvey and Roger Van Fleteren, and Atlanta Ballet. She has performed demi-
