Academy of Classical Ballet

Dipp's Interests

FACULTY

Carla A. Parks, Artistic Director

Carla's professional training began at the University of Utah (original home of Ballet West) under Willam Christiansen. She has a BA degree from Stanford University in Biology and Chemistry and an MA from the University of Colorado Boulder in Dance. She studied locally at Ballet Arts Center (W. Lawrence Boyette),Boulder Ballet Arts Center (Barbara DeMaree), and Colorado Ballet. Carla has performed with Ballet Arts Theatre, Portland Dance Theatre, and San Jose Dance Theatre. She opened the Academy of Classical Ballet in January of 1980. She has trained all of her current teachers in pedagogy as well as technique. Many of her students have gone on to professional careers.

Karen Newcomm
Advanced Classes

Karen trained at the Academy of Classical Ballet, Ballet Arts Center, Cleo Parker Robinson Dance Theatre, and Colorado Ballet. She also studied acting and musical theater. Karen has performed with Ballet Arts Theatre, Boulder Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Opera Colorado, and David Taylor Dance Theatre. She is currently a principal dancer with Classical Dance Theatre. Karen has been teaching at ACB for more than 15 years. She currently teaches an intermediate and advanced class at ACB where her students love her hands on approach.

Jessica Clayton
Intermediate
Advanced Classes
Private Lessons $50.00/hr

Jessica has trained and performed with Colorado Ballet, and Youth Ballet Colorado. Jessica participated in 2001 Youth American Grand Prix performing the White Swan Variation and was awarded an Honorable Mention and was a New York Qualifier. In 1999/2000, Jessica participated in the Taschco Competition. She won second place for her performance of The White Swan Variation and Lilac Fairy Variation both years. Jessica was accepted into the American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive studying with acclaimed dancers such as Cynthia Harvey, Roger Van Fletterin, Dierdre Carberry, and Magali Messac. Other Summer Intensive programs included Academy of Colorado Ballet, and Vail International Dance Festival. Jessica also studied with Leslie Browne and Finis Jhung in New York City, Meelis Pakri, Inessa Pakri, Michelle Dolighan, Inge Saarsulu, Amy Lynn Stoddard, and Kristin Saint John.

Sarah Foster
Pre Ballet
Ballet Prep
Beginning, Intermidiate
Adult Ballet

Sarah first came to Carla and the Academy of Classical Ballet at the age of 14. She is one of Carla's success stories with her knowledge in technique, musicality and padagogy. She is now a teacher with Carla and her students love her classes and her corrections. She is now 23 and has performed in several productions with the Academy including Nutcracker, Giselle, and Le Corsaire.