Artistic Directors

Ilona and Thomas Russell were formerly soloists with the Metropolitan Opera Ballet of New York under the artistic direction of Antony Tudor and the National Ballet of Washington, DC, Frederic Franklin, director. They have worked under the direction of such renowned choreographers as George Balanchine, Antony Tudor, John Butler, John Taras, Alexandra Danilova and Todd Bolender. They received their training in New York, with distinguished teachers Antony Tudor, Frederic Franklin, Robert Joffrey, Anatole Oboukoff and Pierre Vladimiroff. Mr. and Mrs. Russell have performed in many of the major famous operas and ballets and have been associated with the dance faculties of the Peabody Conservatory of Music in Baltimore and the National Ballet of Washington, DC.

Mrs. Russell is a graduate of the Juilliard School of Music and has taught dance at Bennington and Barnard Colleges. She has danced with Jose Limon as a member of the Jose Limon Modern Dance Company. A biographical record of Ilona Russell is listed in the 1977-78 (Tenth Edition) of the Who’s Who of American Women.

Mr. Russell has performed at the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festivals and has choreographed numerous story ballets and classical works for The Fairfax Ballet and The Russell School of Ballet and most recently “The Nutcracker”.