New Paltz School of Ballet
www.npsballet.com
Instructors
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 Georgina Aragon (Ballet Instructor) |
 Deanna Ford (Ballet/Jazz Instructor) |
 Natasha Bar (Ballet Instructor) |
Peter Naumann began his dance training with the famous Andre Eglevsky. Peter also studied in Cannes, France with Rosella Hightower. As a final point, he perfected and completed his training at the School of American Ballet in New York City. Peter was invited to join New York City Ballet immediately after his graduation from SAB. While in the company he performed leading roles in many ballets created by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins. Mr. Naumann's most remembered roles were in the ballets Jewels, Four Temperaments, LaValse and Theme and Variations. As a member of New York City Ballet, Peter performed all over the world. He stayed with New York City Ballet form 1970 to 1996.
It must be mentioned that Peter Naumann is well known thoughout the dance world by many famous directors and dancers. His impeccable work ethic while in NYCB, along with his delightful personality has made him somewhat of a living legend in the dance community. It's hard to meet a Ballet or Broadway Dancer or Director who has not known or wishes to have know Peter Naumann.
Peter is very personable. He is warm, caring and has a wonderful sense of humor. Students adore his classes mostly because of the sense of fun he mixes with his demanding combinations. Peter is also a talented choreographer who interprets music with a style all his own. Peter works for New Paltz Ballet Theatre as a resident choreographer as well as being their Director and Ballet Master.
Lisa Chalmers-Naumann
Lisa Chalmers-Naumann began her ballet training in Houston, Texas with Nina Popova. At the age of fifteen she was invited to join the Houston Ballet Company. Lisa danced with Houston Ballet for two years; She was promoted to soloist at the age of sixteen but decided to accept a full scholarship to School of American Ballet in New York City.
In 1978 while still at SAB she performed as a principal dancer in George Balanchine's The Four Temperaments with the Chicago Lyric Opera. Impressed with her performance, Mr. Balanchine invited Lisa to become an apprentice with New York City Ballet. Joining the company as a member of the corps de ballet in 1979, Lisa performed many works of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins. While in NYCB Ms. Naumann worked at the New York State Theatre at Lincoln Center and toured extensively throughout Europe and the United States.
Lisa married Peter Naumann, a fellow dancer at New York City Ballet in 1979. Upon the birth of their first child in 1987 Lisa left the company to become a mother & teacher. Still active in the ballet world, Lisa continues to guest teach throughout the United States and England. Lisa is a generous, open, warm, and creative teacher; Her students adore her. Having three children of her own she has found a particular understanding with the youngest of students. Ms. Naumann also loves to choreograph and does so, for regional companies nation wide as well as for New Paltz Ballet Theatre. She also serves as NPBT's co-artistic director with her husband Peter and as Ballet Mistress.
Georgina Aragon
Georgina Aragon began her dance training in New Paltz, NY and graduated High School from North Carolina School of the Arts. She attended NYU's Tisch School of the Arts and studied under Deborah Noble at Suny New Paltz. In 1996, Georgina joined In Forward Motion Dance Company with whom she performed the works of Jean Churchill at DTW and danced in the David Matthews music video Crash. She has performed in Tuscon, Arizona with the Arizona Dance Collective under the direction of Jane Willet and Richard Holden, where she was featured as the Gypsy Queen in Two Pigeons and danced in Guido Tuveri's Fourth Wall.
Georgina is currently a teacher and guest choreographer for Configurations Dance Company in High Falls, New York and for Figures in Flight and teaches both at New Paltz School of Ballet and High Falls School of Dance. Georgina has been on faculty at Duchess Community College since the Fall of 2002, and has also taught at Equinox Fitness Clubs in NYC. In 2003, Georgina began teaching dance at High Meadow School in Stone Ridge, New York. Georgina also now performs with the Octavia Cup in NYC.
Natasha Bar
Natasha Bar was born
in Odessa, Ukraine. She was trained at the State Choreographic Academy
with world-renowned teachers and went on to dance professionally with
the Odessa Ballet Company for 15 years. As a soloist with the company
she performed principle roles in over 50 classical ballets and toured
internationally.
Natasha is a
well-known teacher, choreographer and coach. She has been on the
Rock School faculty in Philadelphia for the last 15 years. While
working at the Rock School, Natasha has coached winners of international
competitions in Moscow, Jackson Mississippi, Paris and the Youth America
Grand Prix in New York City. Ms. Bar received the "Outstanding
Teacher Award" in 2008 from the Youth American Grand Prix competition.
Major dance companies, such as New York City Ballet, American Ballet
Theater and the Royal Danish Ballet, professionally employ some of
Natasha’s students. Her students have also been accepted to some
of the most prestigious Art Colleges and Universities.
Natasha is on the faculty at Valentina Kozlova’s Dance Conservatory in
New York. She was featured in the MTV movie “Made”.
Ms. Bar’s daughter Ellen Bar is a soloist with New York City Ballet and performed in New Paltz Ballet Theatre's production of "The Nutcracker" in 2008 as the Sugarplum Fairy.
Deanna Ford
Deanna Ford's training began in Tacoma, Washington with Jo Emery. She continued her dance studies on scholarship in NYC with School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Harkness Ballet and David Howard. Deanna started her professional career at age 19 as a soloist with Hartford Ballet Company. She also performed with New Jersey Ballet and was a ballet dancer for Radio City Music Hall productions. She has performed as an adagio dancer in Japan, Europe and throughout the United States. Her Musical Theatre credits include Kismet, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers, Animal Crackers and Sugar Babies. In NYC she was a cabaret dancer at the Rainbow Room in Peter Jackson's Legs and Tony Stevens Skintight. Deanna performed as a Radio City Rockette on National Tour in Las Vegas and in the Christmas Spectacular Radio City Music Hall in NYC.
Ms. Ford currently teaches dance throughout the New York area as well as Master Classes nationally. Deanna believes that a strong technical background, versatility and a good sense of humor are the ingredients to becoming a successful dancer.