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David Keary began his ballet training with
the Jackson Ballet under the direction of Albia
Kavan Cooper, and later the first professional dancer under the
direction of Thalia Mara. He
completed his training at the School of American Ballet, the official
school of the New York City Ballet. Mr. Keary was invited by George
Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet
where he performed the extensive repertoire of the NYCB and performances
on the PBS series
Dance in America. While a student at the School of American
Ballet, he was invited to perform
as guest artist to honor Princess Grace of Monaco. Before joining
NYCB, he performed with
Natalia Makarova's Company Makarova and Company at the Uris Theatre
in New York.
He also appeared in the film, Reflections
of a Dancer: Alexandra Danilova. Mr. Keary later
joined the Fort Worth Ballet as principal dancer, where he performed
ballets by George
Balanchine including Allegro Brilliante,
Concerto Barocco, Rubies (Emeralds), Scotch
Symphony, Square Dance, Who Cares, and works by choreographers
such as Lew Christiansen,
Lambros Lambrou and Michel Rahn.
Upon returning to Mississippi, he completed his undergraduate
studies at Millsaps College and
later received a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School
of Law. He was the first legal
intern at the Court and later served as a law clerk to Justice
James W. Smith at the Mississippi
Supreme Court.
In 1994, Mr. Keary transitioned and restructured Ballet Mississippi
from a professional company
into a professional school. He was appointed Artistic Director
of Ballet Mississippi and he
choreographed a full-length production of The
Nutcracker. Ballet
Mississippi presents an annual
Spring Gala, which highlights the emerging talent in the school
while presenting classical,
neoclassical and emerging choreographic works. Guest artists
from the New York City Ballet,
American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet and
many other companies have
performed with Ballet Mississippi. Ballets performed include Le Jardin Animee from
the ballet Le Corsaire, Act II from Giselle and Swan
Lake, Act III Sleeping
Beauty. Mr. Keary served on
the faculty International Dance School of the 2006 USA International
Ballet Competition, where
he has also taught classes for the competitors since 1998. Mr.
Keary teaches throughout the
United States and provides consulting work for many ballet schools
and performing artists. Aside from his work at Ballet Mississippi,
he is a jazz guitarist with Swing de Paris, Jackson’s
version of a Hot Club of France which features the gypsy jazz
music of Django Reinhardt.
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Cherri Barnett began her dance training with
the incomparable Linda Lavander Ford and Madame Cecelia Kelly
with the Twin City Ballet of Monroe, LA. Ms. Barnett earned
a B.F.A. in dance from Texas Christian University where
she also performed with the Fort Worth Ballet under the direction
of Fernando Schaffenburg. In 1982, Ms. Barnett joined Ballet
Mississippi’s professional company under the direction
of Charles Dickson and Alan Woodard, where she became a principal
dancer. She remained with Ballet Mississippi for nine years. Her
many ballets include: The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Paquita,
Raymonda, Divertimento, Firebird, Graduation Ball, Coppelia,
Daughters of Morning, Eventide, Traffic, Snow Maiden, and
personalfavorites, Alan Woodard’s Reverie and
William Dollars’ American classic, Le Combat.
Barnett, with Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler, worked tirelessly
to pioneer what is now the Madison Square Center for the Arts,
where Barnett has now taught dance for fourteen years. In
2003, Ms. Barnett established dance in the curriculum of St.
Andrew’s Episcopal School, where she now teaches students
from the middle and upper schools. Ms. Barnett has served
as a dance school administrator for the International Dance School,
as well as being a Past President of Friends of the IBC, and
currently has the honor of serving on the IBC’s Board of
Directors. Ms. Barnett has also received recognition as
an emerging choreographer in the Southwest Regional Dance Association.
In 2007, Ms. Barnett was invited by Mr. Keary to join the faculty
of Ballet Mississippi. It is an honor to again work with
Mississippi’s premier performing arts organization. |
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Kelly Harp Haber began
her dancing career in Monroe, Louisiana. She studied under Linda
Lavender Ford with the Twin City Ballet Company for over 7 years.
During her time there, she perfromed in The Nutcracker, A
Midsummer Night's Dream, Cinderella, Rudolph, A Christmas Story,
Stories from the Levee - Louisiana, and A Storybook Christmas.
While with Twin City Ballet, Kelly trained with Cherri Barnett
of Ballet Mississippi.
At Louisiana Tech University, Kelly studied
ballet and modern dance under Alvin Ailey's Diane Maroney while
earning her degree in Elementary Education. She later earned
her Master of Education degree at Vanderbilt University.
Upon
moving to Mississippi, Kelly joined Encore Ballet Company in
Madison and performed in The Messiah, Spring on Main, and
The Nutcracker. She joined Ballet Mississippi as an instructor
in 2007. Kelly resides in Ridgeland with her husband, Lawrence,
and her three sons Jackson, Sam, and Henry. |
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Lisa Parker began dancing at a very young age under Annette
Venegas in Victorville, CA. Upon moving to Southern Nevada, Lisa
trained under Carol Baker and later under Ed Rumburger at Nevada
Ballet Theater. She has also worked privately with
Gloria Bowen and Vicki Werk.
Lisa attended summer workshops including The Kirov of Washington
D.C, North Carolina School of the Arts, and Ballet Magnificat!.
After graduating high school, Lisa became a trainee at Ballet
Magnificat! in 2002 and became an Omega company member in 2004. She
toured professionally to 2006. Performances include various repertory
from Ballet Magnificat!, The Nutcracker,
Coppelia, Swan Lake, Wizard
of Oz, and
other various classical, contemporary, and modern pieces.
Lisa
joined the Ballet Mississippi faculty in 2007 teaching all levels
in the school, as well as, performing in all productions. |
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