Instructors 

3285 Pine Ridge Road, Naples, Florida 34109-5922
Phone (239) 593-8280 Fax (239) 593-8284

 

Updated 07/02/11

SYBIL BURT, director Head  Instructor ~ Pixie Bevan, A.R.A.D.

BALLET

 

Sybil N. Burt, Director

RAD, RTS

Sybil began her ballet training under the tutalege of her mother, an English ballet dancer.  She then continued her training with Marina Svetlova (former Prima Ballerina of the Metropolitan Opera in New York City).  After moving to Naples she began teaching ballet in 1988.  In January of 2007 she began an intensive 2 year course to become a registered teacher in the Royal Academy of Dance (a world-wide organization which has produced some the finest ballet dancers ever).  She now holds the prestigious Registered Teachers degree of the RAD.  Sybil attended a 2-week seminar in England during the summer of 2010 conducted by the head-quarters of the Royal Academy of Dance.  The highly intensive program covered Pre Primary through Solo Seal and was part of her continuing professional development.

Pixie R. Bevan, RAD, A.R.A.D. (Solo Seal)

 

Born in Perth, Australia, Miss Pixie trained in the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) system.  She successfully passed R.A.D. Grade I, Grade II, Elementary, Intermediate Advanced exams, as well as the Solo Seal, the highest degree in the R.A.D. system.

 

Miss Pixie joined the Australian Ballet.  She then joined the London Festival Ballet (now English National Ballet), one of the world's leading ballet companies and the most touring ballet company in the world.  She danced solo roles all over the world with both of these companies alongside such greats as Anton Dolin, Toni Lander, John Gilpin, Alicia Markova, Tamara Toumanova and Ben Stephenson.

 

In 1960, she retired from professional dancing and later taught ballet at her own school in Valencia, Venezuela.  Residing in Naples since 1993, Miss Pixie continues to teach ballet.  Her thorough knowledge of ballet technique and high degree of training truly make her a master teacher.

 

 

Margaret A. Engle, RAD RTS

This summer Margaret moved to Naples from Charlottesville, Virginia, where she was owner/director a large and successful Royal Academy of Dance ballet school.  Margaret has a great deal of performing experience and has taught ballet since 1972.   She became a Registered Royal Academy teacher in 1988, and has continued to increase her knowledge and skill through many Royal Academy of Dance teacher seminars and refresher courses.  The last one being a 2-week seminar in England during the summer of 2010 conducted by the head-quarters of the Royal Academy of Dance.  The highly intensive program covered Pre Primary through Solo Seal and was part of her continuing professional development.  Etudes de ballet & Co. is thrilled to have Margaret join our team, and make our Royal Academy of Dance ballet program even stronger.  

 

Helen Sedmak, ARAD
                                                            
                  Helen grew up in England where she trained in the RAD system from the age of 5. She successfully passed Primary, Grades 1, 2, 3 and 4, Senior Grade, Pre Elementary, Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced examinations. At the age of 16 Helen joined Northern Ballet School (NBS) where she trained under RAD examiner Patricia McDonald. While there she attained her ISTD ( Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance ) teaching certificate in ballet after passing levels Elementary - Advanced. Helen was on the classical course and danced in productions of Giselle, La Bayadere and The Nutcracker. While at NBS she also trained in Jazz, Tap, Modern, Contemporary and National Dance.  Helen danced with the Manchester City Ballet at the opening of the Dancehouse Theatre in the presence of HRH Princess Margaret and also at Manchester Airport for Air 2000 in the presence of HRH Prince Philip.   After graduating from NBS she went on to dance all around the world on cruise ships in Vegas style shows, where she met her husband Randy. Since getting married Helen has been teaching all styles of dance to children and adults at all levels. She now resides in Estero with her husband, 4 year old son Jack and 1 year old twins Max and Liam. Helen is pleased to join Etudes

 

Ruth Wardein (presently on maternity leave)

Miss Ruth grew up in Naples.  She received her ballet training at Progressive Arts Ballet (now Etudes de Ballet & Co.).  Deciding on a teaching career rather than a performing one, Miss Ruth has been teaching at Etudes since 1998.  Miss Ruth works with dance discover, pre-ballet, and beginning students.  Miss Ruth has been married for 6 very happy years to Nicholas Wardein and is so pleased to see that their 3 year old daughter, Liora, loves to dance!   Ruth recently gave birth to a boy, Xavier Francis, and in expecting her 3rd child in December, 2010.

 

Blair Micheli

Blair joined us in 2007 after dancing ballet, tap & jazz since the age of 4 in Illinois.   She is a junior in high school.  In the spring of 2009 she successfully passed her Intermediate RAD exam.  Blair recently attended a month long seminar on the teaching of the new RAD syllabi for Dance Discovery.

 

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JAZZ

Jenn Sangster

Jenny is the Director of Jazz & Tap at Etudes.  She grew up in Naples and became interested in dance at the age of six when she studied jazz, tap and ballet.  At the age of twelve she received a certificate in the Ceccchetti method of ballet.  She competed in many dance competitions such as Star Power, Show Stoppers, and Tremaine.  She performed with the dance line at Barron Collier High School, and was a member of the Florida Sea Dragons Dragonettes in 2002.  Jenny was the coach/choreographer of the Dance Team at Gulf Coast High School in 2002 and 2003 where she brought her team to numerous 1st place finishes as well as regional championships.  Jenny was coach/choreographer of the Barron Collier High School Dance Team from 2004 – 2007.  Jenn’s Etudes de Ballet competitive jazz team has won countless awards, and has had many dancers recognized as outstanding dancers & receive dance scholarships at various competitions.

 

 

 

Jessie Lefkow

Jessie grew up in Naples and been dancing with Etudes since she was 8 years old.  She was on the Barron Collier High School dance line and dance team throughout high school, and been to many competitions with Etudes.  She went to Florida Southern College in Lakeland, Florida, where she danced for a year and a half.  We are glad to have Jessie back in Naples on the Etudes staff as a teacher of tap & jazz..

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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