Nina Baratova
Ms. Baratova began her training with the San Francisco Ballet School and continued with Barbara Crockett in Sacramento. She is a former principal with the Sacramento Ballet and has danced leading roles in such ballets as Swan Lake, Giselle, Romeo & Juliet, Nutcracker, Cinderella, Coppelia, La Fille Mal Gardee, Les Sylphides, and the Sleeping Beauty, as well as a wide range of contemporary works, many of which were created specifically for her.
She spent a summer studying at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, where she was personally invited by the Academy Director to stay and study on a two year scholarship, she was a finalist in the 5th International Ballet Competition in Paris, France, where the famous Russian ballerina Galina Ulanova was a judge, and in 1997, was awarded an Emerging Artist Grant from the Sacramento Mayor, and the Metropolitan Arts Commission. Ms. Baratova's teaching experience includes classes for the Deane Dance Center, Sacramento Ballet, and master classes around the country.
She has been Director of Classical Ballet of California since 1997, where she teaches daily ballet classes to children and adults, from beginning to professional levels. As Director, Ms. Baratova has staged numerous productions for the school, including Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, La Fille Mal Gardee, Cinderella, Peter Pan and annual productions of The Nutcracker, incorporating all of the students as well as volunteer members of the community.
In 2002 and 2003, Ms. Baratova successfully produced a 22 city, 4 state tour of The Nutcracker, with the Russian Festival Ballet of Moscow, and local children. Recently, she has been featured in the Sacramento Ballet performances of Romeo and Juliet as Lady Capulet and Cinderella as the stepmother.
Gregory Amato
Mr. Amato has enjoyed an extensive career in dance, touring the world, performing a variety of roles, teaching, and choreographing. Gregory’s primary teacher and inspiration was New York City Ballet Dancer, Nolan T'Sani from Sacramento. Mr. Amato also studied at the San Francisco Ballet School, and the Joffrey Ballet School in New York under full scholarships.
Gregory’s professional career is impressive. He has danced with Joffrey Concert Group, was a founding member of Miami City Ballet under the direction of former New York City Ballet Principal, Edward Villella, ODC San Francisco, Eliot Feld Ballet in New York, Arizona Ballet, Oklahoma Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, 4 years with Ballet Du Nord in France under the direction of Jean Paul Comelin, and Smuin Ballet S.F., where he was also a founding member. Michael Smuin, Artistic Director created several ballets on Gregory, including "Frankie and Johnny", and "Cyrano". While dancing with Smuin Ballet S.F., Mr. Amato appeared in the movie, "The Fantastics".
Gregory competed and won the gold medal in the Fred Astaire International Ballroom Dance Competition. He has also danced in 53 countries, performing for the Queen of England, two Presidents, and several ambassadors and dignitaries. A highlight for his career, Gregory was a featured dancer at Carnegie Hall for the 100th Celebration of George Gershwin.
With Ms. Nina in Sacramento, Gregory performed the lead couple in "Borderlines" choreographed for them by Graham Lustig. They also danced the leads together in "Estuary", "La Fille Mal Gardee", and "Casey at Bat" under the direction of Ron Cunningham, and Carinne Binda of Sacramento Ballet.
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After a long absence from the dance scene, Mr. Amato returns to the ballet studio to co-direct CBC, teach, and perform. He is also currently training to become a Certified Instructor for Dance for Parkison’s for people with Parkinson’s disease.
Aline Carili
Aline Carili trained at Mvsika Centro de Estudos in Brazil and holds a Bachelor's Degree in Physical Education from P.U.C. Goias in Brazil. She has Danced works by Henri Crossra and at Mvsika Center for Studies where she was a soloist of Cia. In the United States, she has preformed the work of Gregory Amato and Carlos Carvajal. Aline is currently a member of Peninsula Ballet Theatre and teaches the Contemporary class on Fridays here at Classical Ballet of California.
Minna Rogers
Minna has been professionally trained in Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Modern Dance. Her personal style of dance and teaching is to integrate technical excellence with emotional expression. She began her professional studies at Ballet Arts in Tucson, AZ. Minna has studied at Master Classes and workshops at the University of Arizona, Vienna Opera Ballet School, Vienna Conservatory Ballet, Performance Studies, and Musical Theatre Dance at PBT. She also choreographs and preforms locally in Musical Theatre productions.