STAFF

Faculty

Joy Delaney Capponi, Artistic Director

Joy’s early training began under Olin D. Kearse and the Joffrey Ballet she went on to earn a BA in Dance, and Early Childhood Education from Virginia Intermont College. She has trained under Harolyn Gaudette, Margaret Faust, Michael Vernon, Karen Gibbons Brown, Helen Starr and Jeremy Blanton.

Joy has performed many notable roles including: Sleeping Beauty, Odette and Odile in Swan Lake, Coppelia and has created many roles in contemporary works. Joy has created many works for PDT including “A Salute to Gershwin,” “Mother Goose and Friends,” “The Wizard of Oz,” “Elvis...a Tribute,” “Stravinsky Concerto,” “Luce Sonata,” “Cinderella,” “The Emperor and the Kite” and re-staged many classics such as “Swan Lake,” “Nutcracker “and “Sleeping Beauty.”

Knee injuries lead Joy to extensive study of Rommett Floor Barre and Pilates which emphasizes proper alignment, awareness of muscle groups and organic initiation of movement. These concepts have been integrated into the PDT syllabus with attention to technical proficiency.


Traves Butterworth, Managing Director

Originally from Bristol, Tennessee, Traves began his dance career at Virginia Intermont College where he graduated in 1991 with a BSW and concentration in dance. After college, Traves studied at the Hartford Conservatory where he was a company member of Sonia Plumb Dance Company. He also worked with members of Pilobolus and Momix. Following this training, he performed at Jacob’s Pillow with Bludance Theatre and throughout North Carolina with both Greensboro Ballet Company and High Point Ballet Company. In 1999, shortly after graduating from the University of North Carolina with a MFA in choreography, Traves founded Butterworth Dance Company and relocated to San Diego.

Traves has taught and choreographed at the professional level extensively. In addition to his independent projects, Traves serves as Artistic Director of Butterworth Dance Company and Faculty Member at Mesa College. Over the past decade Butterworth Dance Company has presented work in Hawaii, Pennsylvania, California, Connecticut, New York, North Carolina, Nevada, Arizona and internationally in Mexico.


Edward Barnes, Ballet

Edward Barnes was raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, where he began studying ballet at age five. He continued his training at Ballet New England under the direction of David Drummond, Angela Sears, and William Pizzuto. At the invitation of Michael Owen, Mr. Barnes moved to Natick, Massachusetts, to train at Walnut Hill, where he danced under Mr. Owen, Kathy Kozul, and Leigh Spencer. He then continued training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary and Darla Hoover. Upon graduating from Carlisle High School, Mr. Barnes moved to Seattle to attend Pacific Northwest Ballet School's Professional Division under the direction of Peter Boal. There, he performed in George Balanchine's Cort'ge Hongrois and The Prodigal Son and A Midsummer Night's Dream. Mr. Barnes has been the recipient of several full scholarships, most notably from School of American Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Chautauqua Institution. He also received a scholarship from Regional Dance America Nationals in 2007. Mr. Barnes joined Pennsylvania Ballet II in 2008 and was promoted to apprentice in 2009.


Patricia Brown, Ballet

Patricia Brown grew up in New Jersey and studied ballet at a young age with the New Jersey Ballet School. As a teenager, Patricia was awarded full scholarships to the American Ballet Theatre School and the Joffrey Ballet School. Ms. Brown has danced professionally with the New Jersey Ballet Company, Joffrey II Ballet Company, Cleveland Ballet (soloist), the Elliot Feld Ballet, and the Joffrey Ballet Company (soloist). She has worked with many well-known choreographers such as Agnes DeMille, Anthony Tudor, Gerald Arpino, Elliot Feld, Paul Taylor, Laura Dean, and Dennis Nahat. Ms. Brown has served as principal teacher for trainee programs at the Milwaukee Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet School, Harrisburg Ballet School, Nashville Ballet School, The Dance Center, and the Mill Ballet School.

She has taught company classes for Joffrey II Ballet, the Elliot Feld Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Harrisburg Ballet, Brandywine Ballet Theatre, the Roxey Ballet, and she has served as Ballet Mistress for the Pennsylvania Ballet. Ms. Brown has choreographed ballets performed at Joffrey Ballet workshop, Milwaukee Ballet workshop, Harrisburg Ballet Company, Brandywine Ballet Theater, the Roxey Ballet and for the international competition at Avery Fisher Hall in New York. Most recently, Patricia has been asked to join the faculty of the Joffrey School in New York City and commutes weekly to teach class.


Martha Chamberlain, Ballet

Martha Chamberlain began her dance training at age five at the Fellowship House in Media, Pennsylvania, where she was born and raised. She went on to study with Donna Muzio, Paul Klocke and Cherie Noble at West Chester’s Dance Center and The School of American Ballet’s Summer Program from 1985 to 1988. She is a graduate of Friends Select and The School of Pennsylvania Ballet.

Ms. Chamberlain joined Pennsylvania Ballet as an Apprentice in the fall of 1989 and was promoted to the Corps de Ballet three months later. She was promoted to Soloist in 1997 and to Principal after her premiere as Juliet in John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet in March 2000.

Ms. Chamberlain has danced several leading roles including Katherina in The Taming of the Shrew, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Swanhilda in Coppélia, Myrtha in Giselle, Dewdrop and Sugarplum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and Helena and Divertissement pas de deux in A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She has also had featured roles in George Balanchine’s Ballo della Regina, The Four Temperaments, Agon, Western Symphony, Serenade, Apollo and “Rubies” from Jewels; Paul Taylor’s Company B and Arden Court. She has created roles for such choreographers as Trey McIntryre, Kevin O’Day, Jessica Lang, Jorma Elo and Matthew Neenan; and she has had the opportunity to dance internationally in Portugal, England and Germany. She recently retired from the Pennsylvania Ballet after dancing with that company for 21 years.

Ms. Chamberlain has designed costumes for many years. Among the choreographers she has created works for are Christopher D’ Amboise, Matthew Neenan, Meredith Rainey, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa and Jorma Elo.


Melissa Chisena, Ballet and Modern

Melissa Chisena, started her dance career at The New Paltz Ballet Theatre founded by Peter and Lisa Naumann, former dancers of New York City Ballet. She has danced and toured with North Carolina Dance Theatre and the Richmond Ballet. She currently is dancing with Tania Isaac Dance where she has performed nationally at venues such as Bates Dance Festival, Jacob's Pillow, Aaron Davis Hall-Harlem Stage, Dance Place in Washington, DC, The Annenberg Center in Philadelphia and numerous colleges throughout the US. She has danced with Meghan Durham/Merge Dnce, Pima Group, independent choreographer Madeline Cantor, and has been a guest performer at Virgina Commonwealth University.

Melissa's award winning choreography has been featured at North Carolina Dance Theatre, Richmond Ballet, American Dance Festival, Regional Dance America, Philadelphia Dance Theatre, Philly Dance Fest, Chisena Danza, Youth American Grand Prix and various dance competitions across the US. Melissa teaches ballet, pointe, modern, and jazz to all levels and ages focusing on creating a nurturing environment for a strong background in technique, artistry, and inspiration.


Yosbel Delgado, Ballet and Modern

A native of Pinar del Rio - Cuba,Yosbel Delgado-Hernandez began his training at the E.V.A. (vocational school of arts) in his hometown, where he studied ballet for five years. Yosbel’s first professional ballet position was at the Camaguey Ballet in Cuba where he remained for almost two years.At Camaguey’s ballet he performed most of their repertoire including several works by Osvaldo Rivero. After dancing at Camaguey Ballet he was hired to dance at Ballet Nacional de Cuba (Cuban National Ballet) under direction of Alicia Alonso.There he stayed for two years and performed featured roles in many works including:Von Rotbart and the pas de six in Swan Lake, Quixote, toreros and sword dance in Don Quixote among many others.

class="text">In 2002 he came to the United States to study and join the Pennsylvania Ballet. Since then Yosbel has performed numerous featured roles with the Pennsylvania Ballet in works many works including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Taming of the Shrew, Dracula, Firebird, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty,The Concert, Kazimir’s Colours, Carmina Burana by Mathew Neenan, Five Tangos, Nine Sinatra Songs,Western Symphony, Messiah, Fearful Symmetries,The Four Temperaments, Romeo and Juliet, Midsummer Night’s Dream and Carnival of the Animals. Yosbel Currently dances with Lustig Dance Theatre and the Pennsylvania Ballet.


Wendi Fisch, Ballet

Wendi Fisch began dance training at the age of three and still continues to study her art form. She became a serious student at Tidewater Ballet Association in Norfolk, VA. She was an invitational student at the School of American Ballet in New York City, The Royal Ballet in London, Melissa Hayden Ballet School and a scholarship recipient at the Joffrey Ballet. She performed with Baryshnikov and New York City Ballet at Kennedy Center and the White House. Wendi has been a guest artist for many companies including the Richmond Ballet, Washington Ballet and was a member of the San Antonio Ballet Company and American Festival Ballet Company.

Wendi received a Bachelor of Science in Ballet/Music and Psychology from Indiana University, Bloomington under the direction of Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, Patricia McBride and Jacques Cesbron. She has performed lead roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Paquita, Nutcracker, Don Quixote and Balanchine works. Wendi has been teaching for over twenty-five years and lives in the Philadelphia area with her husband and two children. Wendi uses her knowledge in strength training, pilates and innovative techniques to improve the core and body awareness. She believes in inspiring her students to follow their dreams with a solid work ethic, confidence, artistry and passion.


Jillian Prendergast, Ballet


Jillian Prendergast began her dance training at the Olin Kearse School of Ballet in Ambler Pa. She continued her dance education under the instruction of Joy Delaney Capponi and performed with the Montgomery County Ballet Company and Butterworth Dance Company throughout Philadelphia and the surrounding suburban areas. Jillian was a student at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet and performed at both the Academy of Music and Merriam Theater. She continued her training and studies at the University of the Arts where she obtained a scholarship for Excellence in Ballet. Jillian completed her Associates degree in Liberal Studies at Montgomery County Community College and now teaches at Philadelphia Dance Theatre where she is proud to work under her original dance inspiration, Joy Delaney Capponi.


Lauren Putty, Jazz

Lauren Putty has had the privilege of working with prominent choreographers such as Christopher Huggins and Milton Myers. Upon receiving her BFA from University of the Arts in Philadelphia, she left as a proud recipient of the UArts Choreography Prize and Outstanding Performance in Modern Dance Award. Since then, as a versatile performer, Lauren has been steadily building her list of credentials. She has performed with various renowned companies such as Parsons Dance Company, Urban Bush Woman and Washington Reflections; and has performed works by Camille Brown and Robert Battle. Lauren has also danced in the operas “Aida” and “Rigoletto”, as well as industrials and music videos. She, herself, has choreographed works on Ballet X, Washington Reflections Dance Company, Philadelphia Dance Theatre and has showcased her choreography in the American Dance Guild Festival and Elan Awards in New York. Currently, Lauren is freelancing with independent choreographers and companies in Philadelphia and New York. She actively participates as Artist-in Residence with high schools and colleges, all over the east coast!


Ruka White, Ballet and Jazz

Ruka White is a proud member of DCDC, serving his second year. He was born in Italy and raised in Fort Lauderdale, FL. Ruka began his dance training with the Miami City Ballet while attending Dillard Center for the Performing Arts. Ruka then went on to train with the Ailey School and holds a B.F.A. in dance from Florida State University. His dance credits include an Act So Glad Medalist and performed the works of; George Balanchine, Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Alonzo King, Louis Johnson, and Jose Limon. Ruka has served as dance captain for Royal Carribean International, Ballethnica, Alpha Omega Theatrical Dance Company and New Dance Group. He currently dances for Philadanco.

Adjunct Faculty

Robert Gosnell, Nashville Ballet; Hubbard Street Dance Chicago; Faculty, North Carolina School of the Arts
Gary Jeter, Complexions Contemporary Ballet; Philadanco
Jonathan Phelps, Alvin Ailey Dance Theatre

Master Classes

Laura Alonso, National Ballet de Cuba; Laura Alonso Ballet
Soili Arvola, National Ballet of Finland
Michael Bariskill, Houston Ballet; Cats
Igor Burlak, Novosibirsk Ballet; Kansas City Ballet; Atlantic Southeast Ballet; Minnesota Ballet
Sonia Dawkins, Pacific Northwest Ballet; SD Prism Dance Theatre
Julie Diana, Principal, Pennsylvania Ballet; Principal, San Francisco Ballet
Jeffrey Gribler, Principal, Pennsylvania Ballet; Ballet Master, Pennsylvania Ballet
Thomas Hanner, San Francisco Ballet; Washington Balle; Cincinnati Ballet
Gary Jeter, Complexions Contemporary Ballet; Philadanco
Joyce King, Joyce King Dance, Impulse Dance Company; Stepps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center
Mary Macleod, Broadway - Fosse, Damn Yankees
Sean Mahoney, Paul Taylor Dance Company
Addul Manzano, North Carolina Dance Theatre; The National Ballet of Cuba
Sybil Manzano, Florida Ballet Arts Academy; Bay Ballet Theatre
Matthew Neenan, Ballet X; Resident Choreographer, Pennsylvania Ballet
Aranxta Ochoa, Principal, Pennsylvania Ballet
Herman Sebek, Joffrey, Cats, Miss Saigon
Tracie Stansfield, Synthesis Dance Project, Broadway Dance Center
Chet Walker, Walker Dance; Jacob's Pillow; Broadway