John Ottmann, Artistic Director

John Ottmann started his career in 1983 at the National Ballet of Canada after training at The National Ballet School and L’Ecole Superieure de Danse du Quebec. Over the course of his 22 years performing career Mr. Ottmann gained a reputation as a highly versatile and powerful dance artist on the international scene. He has performed for companies including Ballet British Columbia, Alberta Ballet, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet (guest artist), Mascall Dance, Danstabat, Quorum, Fortier Danse Créations, Holy Body Tattoo and The National Ballet of Canada.

An important current that continues to fuel Mr. Ottmann’s artistry is teaching and coaching students and professional dancers. Having a strong background in classical ballet technique, Mr. Ottmann began teaching company class and a professional student program in 1991. He has since spent years developing a progressive approach that achieves both technical excellence and artistry while based in sound anatomical principles. Mr. Ottmann has deepened his knowledge through studies in structural alignment, the pilates method, gyrotonics, as well as courses in the Franklin method, learning theory, Functional Anatomy and Kinesiotherapy.

Mr. Ottmann has taught and/or held position of rehearsal director for professional companies such as Cirque du Soleil (“ZAIA”), Les Grands Ballets Canadiens, La La La Human Steps, Company Marie Chouinard, O Vertigo Danse, BJM Danse (Ballet Jazz de Montreal), Cas Public, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Alberta Ballet, The National Ballet of Canada, Toronto Dance Theater, Ballet B.C. and the Dutch National Ballet.

As a master teacher, Mr. Ottmann has taught for the following schools, institutions and workshops: Transformation Danse –Festival Transatlantic, LADMMI (Les Atellier de Danse Moderne de Montreal Inc.), Ballet Divertimento, Ballet BC Mentor Program, CADA (the Canadian Association of Dance Astists), Dance Teq Toronto, Arts Umbrella, The Vancouver Ballet Society, Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts, Quinte Ballet School of Canada, Richmond Academy of Dance, Burke Academy, Main Dance Bridging Program, Breaking Ground, Harbour Dance Centre, Simon Fraser University, Marin Ballet California and the O Vertigo Summer Intensive.

John Ottmann’s has been an adjudicator for several dance festivals including the largest festival of it’s kind in Canada; the British Columbia Provincial Festival of the Arts. Additionally,  Mr. Ottmann has created more than 20 choreographies, his work has seen growing national support; his duet “Untitled Tangle” opened the 2004 Canada Dance Festival.

Alina Adjemian, A.I.S.T.D. (Cecchetti), T.T.P., P.A.E.C.

After dancing professionally for many years, Alina made a natural transition to choreography and teaching through the National Ballet School. She has been teaching for over seventeen years and has choreographed such shows as The Full Monty, Joseph, Best Little Whore House in Texas, Dames at Sea, Man of La Mancha, Godspell, Rocky Horror Picture Show, Cinderella and Camelot, for professional as well as community theatre.

Alina has been teaching ballet at the Randolph Academy for the Performing Arts in Toronto since its inception and has been Head of the Dance Department for the past six years. She also teaches at Jaymor School of Dance and High Points Dance Academy. She has trained many young professionals that have gone on to join professional ballet companies across Canada and Europe or have joined productions such as Mama Mia, The Producers and Chicago.

Ms. Adjemian's professional dance experience has been with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Ottawa Ballet, Ontario Ballet Theatre, Atlantic Ballet Company and P.M. Jazz. She has also performed in numerous industrial shows and music videos.

Valerie Scannura, A.I.S.T.D. (Cecchetti)  Flamenco/Spanish

Principal of the Umbrella Dance Programme

Valerie Scannura has had over twenty years of teaching and performance experience.  She is a graduate of the National Ballet School's Teacher Training Programme and, since then, has gone on to form her own flamenco based school and dance company in Toronto called Ritmo Flamenco & Dance Ensemble.  Along with her husband, flamenco guitarist Roger Scannura, they have toured and performed internationally in festivals and concerts in venues such as the Fleck Dance Theatre, The Winchester St. Theatre and the Luminato Festival.  Highlights of their performance career are being invited to take part in the Malta International Arts Festival, presenting new choreography at several Fringe Festivals of Toronto and in their own self-produced concerts where Valerie has received praise for her innovative flamenco works.  Paula Citron from the Globe and Mail states, "Valeria is always a compelling performer...the dancers rivet the eyes with their commitment".  She travels to Spain yearly and brings her company of dancers to train and take part in festivals in order to perform at their highest level.  Valerie has been sought out to set choreography and guest teach for Dance Ontario workshops, Cawthra Secondary School and York University and has received support for her choreography through the Toronto Arts Council and the Ontario Arts Council.  She received a BRAVOFACT! grant to produce a short dance film called "Triple Booked" in 2004 which was shown at the Moving Pictures Festival of Dance on Film.  Valerie is currently the Principal of the Umbrella Dance Programme at the Quinte Ballet School of Canada and teaches in the Professional Training Programme.  She resides part-time in Toronto and Prince Edward County.

Desirée Porter, A.I.S.T.D. (Cecchetti)

Vice-Principal of the Umbrella Dance Programme

Crystal Whyte, R.A.D. (TC), A.I.S.T.D N.B.S TTP (Dip)

 Crystal Whyte is an accomplished performer, instructor and adjudicator of dance who has been teaching and adjudicating for the past 9 years.  She is a graduate of The National Ballet School of Canada Teacher Training Programme, holds a teaching diploma with the Royal Academy of Dancing, holds associate status with the National and Cecchetti branches of the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, and is an accredited instructor with the ADAPT organization.  Many of the students who have trained with Miss Whyte have carried on their performing arts education in notable institutions such as York University, Ryerson Poly-technical Institute, and Professional Ballet Schools across North America.   In addition, many of her students have performed in film, television, professional ballet companies, and musicals such as the Canadian Cast of Showboat, and Dirty Dancing. 

Most notably Miss Whyte is one of the original cast members of the Tony Award-winning show Crazy For You which debuted at the Royal Alexandra Theatre in Toronto.  She has also performed in various industrials, television commercials, and professional sports events in North America.  Miss Whyte currently teaches a multiple of disciplines for the Quinte Ballet School of Canada and Quinte Recreational Dance School, as well as continues to guest instruct for various studios in Ontario and across Canada.  She is a recent graduate of the highly competitive Artists In Community program at Queen’s University, where she holds an Honours Degree in History.  Miss Whyte actively uses her Bachelor of Education from Queen’s and the recognition by the Ministry of Education and the Ontario College of Teachers to promote dance and drama to students of all ages under the Hastings Prince Edward District School Board.     

Jane Wooding F.I.S.T.D., Examiner (Cecchetti)

Jane Wooding was born in Ottawa, Ontario. She graduated from Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto in 1970, and went on to study in England, Holland and Germany. Entering the National Ballet of Canada in 1972, Jane performed Romantic, Classical and Contemporary repertoire, working with such exceptional mentors as Celia Franca, Karen Kain, Veronica Tennant, Erik Bruhn, Rudolf Nureyev, and Mikhail Baryshnikov.

Joining the National Ballet School staff in 1978, Jane taught ballet, repertoire, pointework and pedagogy for 8 years. She also rehearsed young dancers for National Ballet of Canada’s Nutcracker  from 1979 until 1992, including two months in Tokyo and Osaka, preparing Japanese students for the Company’s tour of the Orient.

Jane has also taught on the faculties of the Quinte Ballet School of Canada, York University and George Brown Dance, teaching ballet, pointework and repertoire. A popular guest teacher, Jane has also taught for the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, L’Ecole de danse de Quebec, Dance Teq, Dance Fuzion, Boston Ballet Summer School, Balletmet Summer School in Columbus, Ohio and is a founding Director of Fleet-Wood Dancentre in Collingwood, Ontario.

Ms. Wooding is a Fellow and an Examiner for the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing, Cecchetti Faculty. Past Chair of the Ontario Branch, Jane was elected to the National Executive Council of the Cecchetti Society of Canada serving from 2000 – 2005.

In 1997,  Jane received the Paul Harris Fellowship Award for outstanding community service in the Collingwood area. She is an Advisor to the Muskoka Ballet Scholarship Fund, and has served on the Board of the Blue Mountain Foundation for the Arts.

Tina Fushell - Modern

Born and raised in St. John's, Nfld., Tina Fushell moved to Ontario in 1995 to attend the Quinte Ballet School, and continued her training at the School of Toronto Dance Theatre, graduating in May 2002. That same year, Tina co-founded Ambitious Enterprises (AE) with Kate Franklin and Samm Higgison, together producing the "At the Wrecking Ball" series, an event which has garnered much praise for the young company and ushered in a new generation of choreographers and collaborators from various disciplines.

As a choreographer Tina has had her work presented in The Festival of New Dance 2004 and 2005, FIDA 2004, Hysteria: Festival of Women 2005, WinterCity 2006, Larchaud Dance Project presentation of Shinjiri and The Guelph Contemporary Dance Festival 2006. 

In April 2005, Tina co-produced "The Violet Hour" series with Lucy Rupert and Rebecca Carney, and presented, The Things We Do.  In August 2006 Tina will be presenting a new work in The Violet Hour 2.

As a dancer, Tina has had the pleasure of working for numerous choreographers including Miranda Abbott, Leah Archambault, Tal Aronson, Andrya Duff, Alana Elmer, Kate Franklin, Samm Higgison, Jasmine Inns, Rose Marie MacGregor, and The Grasshoppa Exchange at this year’s Canada Dance Festival.

When not creating and performing in dance works, Tina divides her time teaching dance for the Quinte Ballet School and working for "Learning through the Arts", a project of the Toronto School Board where she teaches Kindergarten-Twelfth Grade curriculum through dance.

Accompanists
Marilyne Williams, Roger Scannura, Sandy Parisi-Unger, Lana Aganian, Lucas Bell, Claudia Scott, Peter Edwards, Steven Baric, Ian Wright

Administration
Artistic Director - John Ottmann

Executive Director - Martine Lusignan
Office Administrator - Yvonne King

Accounts Payable/Finance - Sharon Robinson

Principal, UDP - Valerie Scannura

Vice-Principal, UDP - Desiree Porter

Promotions - Roger Scannura

Reception - Jamie-Kristal Lott
Building Maintenance - Richard Brant

Support Staff
Nutrition Consultants: Jill Detlor, BASc, RNCP
Psychosocial Coordinator: Dr. Bonnie Robson

Physiotherapy:  One to One Fitness and Health Centre

Quinte Ballet School of Canada Guild Members

Co-Chairs:  Helen Kelly, Joy Ewing; Treasurer:  Joy Ewing

Members:  Marilynn Bjorgan, Doug Daniels & Sheila Crooks-Daniels, Diane Dobiech,

Judy Atkinson, Alanna Kalnay, Kath White, Marg Walker, Judy Kirby, Raymond Green, Harold Farr, Bill Peck

Board of Directors

Co-Chairs, Judith Atkinson

                  Sheila Crooks-Daniels

Vice-Chair, Jessica S. Michael

Secretary, Christina Taylor

Treasurer, Boyd Kalnay

John Zikopoulos

Rose Mary Rashotte

Keith Walker

Joy Ewing, Guild Representative

Brian Scott, Ex-officio

Quinte Ballet School of Canada would like to extend sincere gratitude to its Honourary Patrons
Annette av Paul, Frank Augustyn, O.C., Roy Bonisteel, C.M., Karen Kain, C.C., Brian MacDonald, C.C., Joanne Nisbet, David Scott, Hugh O'Neil and Lyle Vanclief.