Tradition. Precision. Grace.
Our Philosophy
At Laguna Dance Theatre, we believe in creating a nurturing and supportive environment that fosters the growth and development of our students. Our comprehensive training programs provide superior instruction in Classical Ballet, Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap, Jazz, and Pilates for students of all ages and levels. Our goal is to inspire our students to be passionate about dance and to help them reach their full potential as dancers and individuals.
Shery Gilbert
Founder & ArtisticDirector
Ms. Gilbert, began her training in Los Angeles at the Lichine Studio under the tutelage of Irena Kosmouska, later moving to Long Beach Ballet and eventually to Orange County Ballet under the direction of Michael Panieff. While recovering from knee surgery, she obtained a BFA at the University of California, Irvine. It was there that she met Antony Tudor, the associate director of the American Ballet Theatre. Mr. Tudor became her mentor and changed the way she approached Classical Ballet. Ms. Gilbert became a member of Ballet Nacional de Panama. She continued to study with Jillana, former NYCB Principal and Wilhelm Burmann in New York City. In addition to founding Laguna Dance Theatre and Laguna Ballet, she continues to actively coach dancers of the New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Nevada Ballet Theatre. Ms. Gilbert is also a member of the CA Dance Advisory Board and sponsor of the CA Dance Festival 2005 & 2006.
Katherine Rochon Thomas
Founder & ArtisticDirector
Katherine is an alumna of Laguna Ballet, where she trained under Shery Gilbert. She continued her training at SAB, PNB, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Dallas Fort Worth as a scholarship student and trainee. Katherine developed an interest in The Pilates Method and studied and taught under Master teachers Diane Diefenderfer and Ron Fletcher. In addition to running FyneLine Body Conditioning, Katherine continued to teach and perform throughout Orange County and Colorado for Defores, Ballet Pacifica, The Crystal Cathedral and Belliston Ballet Academy. In 2015, Katherine returned to Laguna Dance Theatre as a teacher and choreographer; and currently directs The Sugar Plum Tea for Laguna Ballet.
CHLOE KOUTROULIS
Ballet & Contemporary
Chloe started dancing as soon as she could walk. She started as a commercial dancer. At age 12 she discovered her passion for classical ballet under the guidance and mentorship of Lauren Richter. She embraced the Vaganova ballet technique and attended summer intensives with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. During her training, she was selected on scholarship as an ambassador to the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) in Moscow, Russia. At the completion of her program she was invited to attend the Bolshoi Ballet Academy year round program in Moscow trained by Olga Dozortseva, Natalya Revich, Nika Sergeeva and other staff. Chloe continued broadening her training studying various techniques at the Paris Opera Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Brussels International Ballet, Arizona Ballet, Colorado Ballet and State Street Ballet. Chloe has performed principal and soloist roles in ballets such as the Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Giselle, Paquita, Grad Ball and various neo-classical and contemporary works. Chloe received awards from Youth American Grand Prix as a dancer and choreographer. She choreographed an excerpt for the Colorado Philharmonic Symphony’s performance of Rodeo and has created various contemporary and jazz pieces for Colorado Ballet’s Saturday Soirees. Chloe has taught dance at various studios in Orange County emphasizing artistry and technicality. Chloe enjoys teaching, choreographing, and inspiring artists! She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and love for the beautiful art form of dance!
Instructors
Thel Moore III
Ballet
Born and raised in Baltimore MD and started formal ballet training at the Baltimore School for the Arts. Thel moved to Connecticut at the age of 15 to finish training at the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory. While training Thel had the pleasure to learn from ballet legends Eleanor D’Antuono and Kirk Peterson as well as Victoria Mazzarelli who worked with William Forsythe in Frankfurt Ballet. Thel was invited to perform at the Inside/Out theater at Jacob’s Pillow where he performed a mixed rep. Upon graduating he took his first job with the second company at Charlotte Ballet under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. After one season hemoved to Richmond VA and joined the Richmond Ballet, where he spent 5 seasons with the company. Thel has had the pleasure to work with many incredible choreographers and artists such as Patricia McBride, Desmond Richardson, Ma Cong, and Val Caniparoli. As well as performing in works such as “Who Cares?” “Theme and Variations” “Carmina Burana” and many story ballets and performing the second pas de deux in Jerome Robbins’ “In The Night”. Thel always knew he had a passion teach. He has taught at the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory summer intensive and various schools in Virginia
Andrew Playford
Contemporary
Andrew Playford grew up in Grand Rapids, Michigan, and began dancing at CARE Conservatory of Ballet. He has attended summer programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Washington Ballet, Indy Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Boca Ballet Theatre, and the Chautauqua Institution under Kennedy Center honoree Patricia McBride. Andrew attended Indiana University where he completed Ballet Pedagogy and obtained his BSOF in Ballet and Environmental & Sustainability Studies under the close personal instruction of Sophia Fatouros, Sarah Wroth, Kyra Nichols, Michael Vernon, Carla Korbes, Sasha Janes, and Christian Claessens. After graduation, he joined Ballet RI before moving to California and joining Ballet Project OC.
Chloe Koutroulis
Ballet & Contemporary
Chloe started dancing as soon as she could walk. She started as a commercial dancer. At age 12 she discovered her passion for classical ballet under the guidance and mentorship of Lauren Richter. She embraced the Vaganova ballet technique and attended summer intensives with the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. During her training, she was selected on scholarship as an ambassador to the National Security Language Initiative for Youth (NSLI-Y) in Moscow, Russia. At the completion of her program she was invited to attend the Bolshoi Ballet Academy year round program in Moscow trained by Olga Dozortseva, Natalya Revich, Nika Sergeeva and other staff. Chloe continued broadening her training studying various techniques at the Paris Opera Ballet, Dutch National Ballet, Brussels International Ballet, Arizona Ballet, Colorado Ballet and State Street Ballet. Chloe has performed principal and soloist roles in ballets such as the Nutcracker, Le Corsaire, Giselle, Paquita, Grad Ball and various neo-classical and contemporary works. Chloe received awards from Youth American Grand Prix as a dancer and choreographer. She choreographed an excerpt for the Colorado Philharmonic Symphony’s performance of Rodeo and has created various contemporary and jazz pieces for Colorado Ballet’s Saturday Soirees. Chloe has taught dance at various studios in Orange County emphasizing artistry and technicality. Chloe enjoys teaching, choreographing, and inspiring artists! She looks forward to sharing her knowledge and love for the beautiful art form of dance!
Ellen Cretti
Pre-Ballet, Tap & Jazz
Mrs. Cretti is a former Manhattan Rockette who toured cross-country with Bob Newhart, Ricky Nelson, The Four Seasons, and the New Christy Minstrells. Ellen has choreographed and performed in numerous musical and dance productions including Rosie in Bye Bye Byrdie, The Boyfriend, Mame. South Pacific, Oklahoma. She played the lead roles in original musical productions of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella at the PAF Playhouse in New York. She performed in Guys and Dolls under the direction of Brian Dennehy. She trained in musical theatre and assisted in classes at Hurbert Berghof Studio in New York City. She was the Founder/Director of the Hillside Studio, for Dance and Drama in Huntington, New York for ten years. She taught at the Royal Dance Center in Florida from 1985-1999. Ellen relocated to California and has been with Laguna Dance Theatre for fourteen years. She has a gift to teach preschoolers and has successfully developed a dynamic children’s dance program here at LDT.
Sara Windal
Adult Ballet
Born and raised in Baltimore MD and started formal ballet training at the Baltimore School for the Arts. Thel moved to Connecticut at the age of 15 to finish training at the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory. While training Thel had the pleasure to learn from ballet legends Eleanor D’Antuono and Kirk Peterson as well as Victoria Mazzarelli who worked with William Forsythe in Frankfurt Ballet. Thel was invited to perform at the Inside/Out theater at Jacob’s Pillow where he performed a mixed rep. Upon graduating he took his first job with the second company at Charlotte Ballet under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. After one season hemoved to Richmond VA and joined the Richmond Ballet, where he spent 5 seasons with the company. Thel has had the pleasure to work with many incredible choreographers and artists such as Patricia McBride, Desmond Richardson, Ma Cong, and Val Caniparoli. As well as performing in works such as “Who Cares?” “Theme and Variations” “Carmina Burana” and many story ballets and performing the second pas de deux in Jerome Robbins’ “In The Night”. Thel always knew he had a passion teach. He has taught at the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory summer intensive and various schools in Virginia