Courtney Laves-Mearini – Artistic and Executive Director
Courtney received her training in Houston, Texas studying
primarily under Anne and Nicolas Polajenko, Gilbert Rome, ABT's Alexander Minz,
Claire Duncan and James Clouser. She trained for a year at the University of
Utah under Li-Chou Chang and had the opportunity to work with Sir Anton Dolin
and Toni Lander, restaging "Pas de Quatre" in the role of Marie
Taglioni. She danced with several companies including Atlanta Ballet, South
Carolina Ballet Theater and Cleveland Ballet. She danced lead roles in
"Serenade", "Paquita", "Sleeping Beauty",
"Concerto Borocco", "Raymonda Variations", and Lynn-Taylor
Corbett's "Appearances". She has been teaching ballet since 1978 for
various studios, including teaching at the University of Arkron's dance
department.She received her B.A. in Anthropology and Communications from
Cleveland State University in 1997 and has excavated for three field seasons on
the Maya Mountain Archaeological Project in Belize, Central America with Dr.
Peter Dunham.
Mark Otloski- Ballet Master
Former Cleveland/San Jose Ballet Principal dancer of 22
years, Mark Otloski. During his tenure with
the company he also served as rehearsal assistant and as Ballet Master of
Ballet San Jose of Silicon Valley. Mr. Otloski formally danced with
GroundWorks Dancetheater but remains the current Educational Outreach Coordinator for the
company. Mr. Otloski is on the faculty at Cleveland City Dance three days a week.
Additional Guest Choreographers
Rachael Palmero
Miss Widener studied under Scholarship at Cleveland City
Dance with Paul Wilson and Linda Adolphi. Upon graduation from high
school, Miss Widener began her performing career by touring as Dance
Captain/Choreographer with such production shows as The Future of Magic,
The Illusion Corps, and The Magic of Adam Williams, where she
Directed shows for Adam Williams at the Magic Castle. Miss Widener has
also choreographed for many local productions such as Amherst High School
Pop Show, TRW, Tower City’s Holiday Magical Spectacular,
and Workshop Players Theatre. After becoming Director of Midwest
School of Ballet, Miss Widener returned to the University of Akron, where she
will graduate with honors and receive her BFA in Dance in Spring 2007. Miss
Widener has been teaching Dance at Midwest School of Ballet and numerous local
private studios for over 15 years.
Shannon Sterne
Shannon is returning to teach the Thursday Graham modern
classes I & II. She performed with the San Diego Ballet before completing
her Masters degree in nutrition at Case Western Reserve University in
Cleveland, Ohio. She then earned a Masters degree in contemporary dance with a
specialization in dancer wellness also from Case. She has performed in numerous
works by Martha Graham including Steps in the Street, Primitive Mysteries, and
in Verb Ballet’s major revival of Appalachian Spring. Shannon is a part-time
lecturer in the Dance Program at Case where she teaches ballet, Graham-based
modern, kinesiology, dancer wellness and ethnic dance.
Diana Braun is an alumnus of Cleveland City Dance and has
been training with the studio since she was 7 years old. She is a recent
graduate of Otterbein College where she received
a B.A. in mathematics and a minor in dance. At Otterbein, she was able to
work with Randy Skinner in Otterbein’s production of
42nd
Street. She was also chosen to be the student choreographer
for the 2009 dance concert “To Each, His Own”.
Diana has been teaching with CCD since 2009 including establishing the
Musical Theater program.
Main CostumerRaymond J Zander II was born & raised in Northern Chicago suburb of Northbrook, IL. He did his Undergraduate work at Northern Illinois University and began his professional carreer at John Kenley Players nearby in Warren, OH. This was followed by three seasons working in the Costume Shop of the Tyrone Guthrie Theater and then a year of Graduate work at New York University. While living in New York he worked at several of the major costume houses, including Michael-Jon Costumes as well as Grace Costumes. Grace Costumes constructed the designs of David Guthrie for the Cleveland Ballet's production of THE NUTCRACKER. Artistic Director - Ian (Ernie) Horvath and Dennis Nahat invited him to join the staff of the Cleveland Ballet for a 20 year career as Costume Supervisor before financial woes caused the company to close their doors and move to San Jose.
Mr Zander has designed for The San Jose-Cleveland Ballet (DYING SWAN, CORSAIRE, FLOWER FESTIVAL, BLACK SWAN, A FAIRWELL TO IAN HORVATH) THE ILLUSION MIME THEATER, GROUNDWORKS DANCE and THE TOM EVERT DANCE COMPANY - the latter garnered a review from the New York Times dance critic of "genius" for his costume design of 'PIGS & ROSES'.
He is a proud member of Wardrobe Local 883 which has allowed him to work with many of the national Broadway tours, as well as Radio City Music CHRISTMAS SPECTACULAR. Due to the fine work of PLAYHOUSE SQUARE he has been able to work on national tours such as FOOTLOOSE, ON THE RECORD and THE DROWSY CHAPERONE that began their tours in Cleveland. Liviing in Cleveland also has allowed me to work in commercials and film, including A CHRISTMAS STORY and WELCOME TO COLLINWOOD (George Clooney Producer).
