Born in Pasadena California, Susan began her ballet training at 4 years old.
At 16 Susan received CEU’s at Ambassador College Dance Dept. in ballet,
musical theater, and character dance.
Recognizing her dedication to ballet, her sister gifted her upon high school
graduation with the opportunity to study ballet in Scotland at Stirling
University where she toured with members of the Scottish Ballet at The
Edinburgh Festival performing the principal role as the maiden in Death
and the Maiden.
While studying classical Russian Vaganova method under Vladimer Luppov
in Pasadena, Susan danced with Zena Bethune Theatredanse and was
featured in MTV music videos in Hollywood.
Wanting to deepen her classical ballet roots, Susan went to New York City
for intensive training of Cecchetti method under Maestro Vincenzo Celli and
Richard Thomas.
Susan joined The Long Beach Ballet where she performed classics such as
the Nutcracker and Coppelia when she met contemporary choreographer
Francisco Martinez. Susan then joined Francisco Martinez Dance Theater
pushing her classical training towards a more expressive contemporary
style.
Susan relocated to Oregon where she danced with The Eugene Ballet
Company and Ballet Oregon under artistic director Dennis Spaight.
Susan also studied Spanish flamenco dance with Roberto Amaral in Los
Angeles, the Fundación Cristina Herren in Sevilla Spain, Julia Chacon in
Albuquerque New Mexico and with La Tania in San Francisco.
Susan discovered her love and natural ability for teaching early on in her
dance career. She joined the teaching staff at the Long Beach Ballet and
the Eugene Ballet Company School. In Oregon Susan was trained and
taught Royal Academy of Dance examination classes to grades 1-6, as well
as character dance and classical Spanish dance for The June Taylor
School of Dance. Susan was the director of her own school Yavapai Dance
Arts in Arizona, Upon moving to Northern California she became assistant
to the director at the Mendocino Ballet teaching pre-professional ballet
classes for 15 years as well as receiving a grant from the Mendocino Arts
Council for her work in bringing an interactive Flamenco Dance and music
project to the school-age children. Locally Susan has taught for The
Sacramento Ballet School, Bay Pointe Ballet, and Napa Valley Dance
Company.