 Gerard
Charles, Artistic
Director
Gerard Charles was named Artistic Director in 2001, having served as Interim Artistic Director and Associate Artistic Director for the previous three seasons. Mr. Charles was born in Folkestone, England, and trained at the Royal Ballet School in London. In addition to numerous guest appearances, he danced professionally for Ballet International in London, Milwaukee Ballet and BalletMet. Upon retiring from the stage, he served as Ballet Master for BalletMet and Les Grands Ballets Canadiens. He then returned to BalletMet as Ballet Master and Associate Artistic Director, serving as an advisor to the Artistic Director and as coach and teacher for Company dancers. Mr. Charles has choreographed and staged works internationally and received an NEA Choreographic Fellowship. Audiences have been delighted with his BalletMet productions of Alice in Wonderland, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Coppelia and The Sleeping Beauty.
 Rebecca Rodriguez-Hodory, Ballet
Mistress
Born in Manila, Philippines, Rebecca Rodriguez-Hodory danced with BalletMet for nine years, and became Ballet Mistress full time in 2004. She began dancing under the tutelage of Eduardo Elejar at The Cultural Center of the Philippines and attended the Philippine High School for the Arts and The Fabella-Elejar Dance Studios before joining San Francisco Ballet. Ms. Rodriguez-Hodory has danced with Manila Metropolis Ballet, Dallas Ballet, and as a principal with Cincinnati Ballet. She performed as a guest artist at Ballet Philippines, Philippine Ballet Theater and Ballet Lubbock.
 Hisham
Omardien, Ballet Master
Born in Worcester, South Africa, Hisham Omardien danced with BalletMet for seven seasons. After training at the Julia Hickman Academy of Dance and graduating from the University of Cape Town Ballet School, he danced nine years with the Cape Town City Ballet and later with State Theatre Ballet and has appeared as a guest artist with both companies. Mr. Omardien, a two-time recipient of the South African Balletomaines Award, received the 2004 Violetta Boft Memorial Award. His favorite roles include the lead in George Balanchine's Who Cares?, the title role in David Nixon's Dracula, and Armand in Veronica Paeper's Camille. He is married to fellow dancer Olivia Clark. He retired from dancing and is now full time Ballet Master with the Company.
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