Valerie Madonia

Artistic Director & Instructor

Contact Valerie    with any questions on class levels or performance decisions.

 

Valerie Madonia has been the Artistic Director and a teacher at the Telluride Dance Academy since 2006.  She trained to become a ballet dancer for 9 years at the American Academy of Ballet, in Buffalo, NY and for 4 years at the National Ballet School of Canada. She danced professionally for over 20 years with the National Ballet of Canada,  American Ballet Theatre and the Joffrey Ballet, beginning her career as a member of the corps de ballet and, eventually, establishing herself as a prima ballerina with the Joffrey.  Ms. Madonia has been a guest artist with many dance companies and at dance gala’s all over world, and as recently as 2005, performed with the New York Philharmonic.   She has appeared in six PBS Dance in America Specials and is featured in numerous dance books, most notably, Classical Ballet Technique, by G.W. Warren.

Ms. Madonia has been teaching for 15 years, was on the faculty at the New School University in NYC from 1999-2003, has taught for the Joffrey School since 1996 and has directed the Joffrey School South Workshop, in Georgia, since 2003, guest teaching in NYC frequently. She teaches bi-annually in Yokohama, Japan and has been a guest teacher for such companies as The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago,  Alaska Dance Theatre, Louisiana Delta Ballet and the Colorado Ballet. 

Her choreographic credits include a full length Cinderella, the Nutcracker, Appalachian Spring, and solo works for the NYC Dance Now Festival, and dances in Colorado Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. 

Amanda Sturdevant

Instructor

A native of Colorado, Amanda Sturdevant formally began dance when she was five years old. As a youngster, Amanda danced with Colorado Academy of the Arts and Mary Constantine-Nelson Dance Academy before finding her home at Westin Arts Academy. During the 10 years that Amanda attended Westin Arts Academy, she studied and trained in jazz, ballet, modern, lyrical, hip hop, and tap. As a member and soloist of the Westin Dance Ensemble, Amanda won several first place awards in regional and national dance competitions, such as the New York City Dance Alliance.

Since Amanda's involvement with the Telluride Dance Academy, she began dancing with 10,000 Feet Dance Company. Some of the company's performances include: The Beaux Arts Ball, The Telluride Film Festival, Rico Peace Gardens, Spirit of the Valley Festival, the Forth of July Parade (where the company won first place), and, of course, the  Telluride Dance Academy's performances.

Amanda’s most recent credits include assisting in the choreography for the Telluride AIDS Benefit Fashion Show, as well as being a model. Amanda is excited to continue to choreograph and dance in Telluride. She also looks forward to many more years of teaching at the Telluride Dance Academy.

Natasha Pyeatte

Instructor

 

Natasha Pyeatte is a native of Los Angeles, CA., where she began dancing at the age of 4. She has extensively trained in tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, modern, hip-hop, and ballroom and has been teaching and choreographing for six years.  Ms. Pyeatte has danced at the Colorado Ballet School in Denver, Gotta Dance in Los Angeles, Mesa State College under master tap teacher, Tony Coppola, and "Feet First" dance ensemble on tour internationally.  She has acted as Artistic Director and choreographed many shows on the Western Slope.  Some of her recent credits include "Cinderella" for the Magic Circle Theatre in Montrose, "Alice in Wonderland" for Weehawken Dance, and annually performs "Spanish Chocolate" for the TDA Nutcracker.  This is Ms. Pyeatte’s 5th year of teaching for the Telluride Dance Academy.

                                                                                      

                                                                                             Jessica Galbo

                                                               Instructor

Jessica Galbo holds a Bachelors degree from the Unviersity of Colorado at Boulder where she studied Pre-Medical Sciences, Humanities & Dance.  Before graduating in 1993, Ms. Galbo studied ballet, jazz, and modern dance, also performing in numerous dance concerts and repertory ensembles with modern dance masters such as Hanna Kahn. Ms. Galbo choreographed and performed with the dance company Orchesis from 1995-1997 and went on to teach at various schools and art festivals in the Southwest.  Ms. Galbo has been an instructor at the TDA since 2007, bringing to Telluride her own unique blend of energy, technique and fun!!