Deborah Weaver

Instructor

Contemporary Ballet Dallas

Ballet, Knaiseff floor barreRecently appointed as a member of the Idea Committee of the Charlottesville Ballet in Virginia, and a guest teacher for the Robert Thomas Dancenter in Ames Iowa, Deborah is a former choreographic assistant to Alvin Ailey, born in Oklahoma and trained in Dallas, alumna of The Juilliard School and Balanchine’s SAB. As a soloist she toured the world with major European companies such as Teatro Alla Scala Milano, AterBalletto, The German Opera - Düsseldorf, The Royal Ballet of Belgium, and The National Ballet of Portugal. In the US she has appeared with ABT, The Hartford Ballet, Andre Eglevsky Ballet, and Off-Broadway. A versatile dramatic dancer whose eclectic repertory spans the full-length classics, Balanchine, Tetley, and Forsythe, to include personal creations by Tudor, Limòn and Ailey, she has been featured in European festivals, galas, and Eurovision TV. She is the recipient of European awards and honors, and is a member of the National Honor Society.Her extensive teaching credits include numerous workshops, theaters and universities in Europe such as Teatro di Torino, the University of Mantua, ballet mistress for the chamber group of La Scala, The Dance Space in NYC, as well as a guest lecturer at The Juilliard School. She has served as Ballet Mistress for Dallas Black Dance Theater II, as well as adjunct faculty at Southern Methodist University. She has trained and coached winning competitors ranging from the Italian Olympic Ice-Skating Champions to the Medalists at the IBC Competition in Jackson Mississippi, and for YAGP, where her choreography took 3rd place and was invited to the NY Finals.Her ballet technique class emphasizes working in an organic manner that is anatomically correct and customized for each individual’s abilities. It allows for freedom of expression with special attention to musicality, movement flow, the use of natural épaulement, and most especially, to the breath. This approach is well suited to dance artists of all backgrounds, who want to attain technique through dynamic relaxation. Her Knaiseff-based floor barre is applicable to all ages and abilities to align the spine and allow the student to use the correct muscles to perform a movement while maintaining dynamic alignment.Selected choreography...Esmeralda and FriendsSognoDance Educational Development podcast: