Instructors

Sandra Emile established the Cache Valley School of Ballet in 1986. She has combined her love of children and ballet to provide excellent training for a lifetime of dance. Graduating from the North Carolina School of the Arts, she apprenticed with the American Ballet Theatre before coming to Logan. She is accredited in the Cecchetti and Vaganova methods, and the Paris Opera Ballet Syllabus. Her students have been accepted at many university dance programs and professional companies (e.g. Ballet West, Atlanta Ballet, Pacific Northwest, San Francisco Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet).

 

Steffanie Casperson began her pre-professional instruction at the Harid Conservatory. Following graduation she became a student with Pacific Northwest Ballet and had the opportunity to perform with the company in various productions and tours. She then joined the Hartford Ballet, and later Ballet West. She is excited to now share her passion for technique and performance with the artists and students of Cache Valley Civic Ballet.

 

Becky Erickson, a member Cache Valley Civic Ballet, has studied with Sandra Emile and Maggi Moar. In addition, she has taken master classes with Troy Bowles, Eric Harris, and School of American Ballet. She is also trained in Irish Dancing and has performed as the Sugarplum Fairy (Nutcracker), Aurora (Sleeping Beauty), and Swanhilda (Coppelia).

 

 

Nicole Gricius received most of her training with Adams Ballet Academy in Tempe, Arizona under the direction of Mary Moe Adams (LRAD and ARAD). She completed all of the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) Grade Examinations as well as the RAD Majors. In 2007 she received her ARAD. For two years she studied ballet at the University of Utah with various teachers such as Sharee Lane, Conrad Ludlow, Richard Wacko, Regina Zarhina, and Mikhail Tchoupakov. This is her first year teaching at CVSB and is very excited to work with such wonderful teachers and students.

 

Karyn Hansen, Karyn Hansen member Cache Valley Civic Ballet; studied with Sandra Emile and Maggi Moar, and has taken master classes with Troy Bowles, Eric Harris, Marsha Knight, and School of American Ballet. She has danced as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Winter Fairy in Cinderella, Little Red Riding Hood in Sleeping Beauty, and Nightingale in Firebird.

Tora B. Johnson, director of Cache Pilates Studio, member of Cache Valley Civic Ballet; performed with the Cache Community Theatre and the Festival of the American West; attended Dance West Workshop at Utah State University; studied under Sandra Emile and Maggi Moar.  

 

Debi King has a degree in Dance and Health Education from USU. Over the past 14 years she has taught all levels of ballet in Salt Lake City. She recently moved to Cache Valley with her family where she now is involved with all forms of costume design and sits on the CVCB board of directors.

Hannah Reid, studied with the School of American Ballet. Apprenticeship/Exchange with the Royal Danish Ballet, Copenhagen, Denmark. Recipient of the Anna Whitney Bass Scholarship for Dancers with Outstanding Promise, 2005-06.

Natalie Robbins, member Cache Valley Civic Ballet; performed with the Festival of the American West, Cache Community Theatre, and Sunburst Dancers; attended Dance West Workshop, Ballet West Christiansen Academy, Ririe Woodbury, RDT; studied under Sandra Emile and Maggi Moar. She has perfomed various roles, including Cinderella.

 

Vivian Taylor, member Cache Valley Civic Ballet; attended Dance West Workshop; performed with the Festival of the American West, Cache Community Theatre, and Valley Dance Ensemble; studied under Sandra Emile, Maggi Moar, Jan Jacobsen and Marsha Knight.  
 

Tami Vernon, member Cache Valley Civic Ballet; studied creative movement for children with Virginia Tanner Dance Institute; attended David Howard Teacher's Workshop. Seattle WA., and Dance West Workshop, Utah State University; performed with Cache Community Theatre and USU Opera Company.

Stephanie R. White, member Cache Valley Civic Ballet; performer and assistant director, Festival of the American West; instructor Dance West Workshop, Utah State University; choreographed and performed for the Cache Community Theatre, Usu Sunburst Club, USU Opera Company and USU Theatre.