Midland Festival Ballet

Ms. Clark joined Milwaukee Ballet as a principal dancer in 1990. The dual roles of Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella in Cinderella are among the most notable roles she performed in her career. Upon retiring from performances in 1996, Ms. Clark became Ballet Mistress with Milwaukee Ballet. 

Prior to 1990, she was a principal dancer with Atlanta Ballet, danced with the Ballet Repertory Company in New York City, danced with Twyla Tharp in the film version of Hair, and was a prizewinner in the 1987 International Dance Competition in Osaka, Japan.

Clark received her formal training with William-Martin Viscount in Fort Worth and the National Academy of Dance in Champaign, Illinois.

Ms. Clark co-directed Ballet Midland with Anthony Ferro and continues to be a sought after guest ballet instructor throughout the country. Clark has cultivated many relationships in the dance world and continues to mentor young dancers.

Mrs. Garrett began her ballet training locally with Janice Collerd. Her professional training continued under William Martin-Viscount, Susan Clark, John Wey Ling, Nanette Glushak, and Michel Rahn. She also attended the School of American Ballet under full scholarship before starting her professional career at the age of 16. Mrs. Garrett enjoyed many years with the Fort Worth Ballet, now known as Texas Ballet Theater, under the directorship of Paul Mejia, where she was honored to perform many of Balanchine’s great works. She is most known for her role as the evil step-sister in Mejia’s Cinderella. Her greatest joy is now her beautiful family and sharing her love and knowledge of ballet with the young dancers of today.

Sarah studied ballet for 12 years, performing with Cache Valley Civic Ballet and choreographers such as Sandra Emille and Peter Pucci. She then transitioned to modern dance, getting her BFA in Modern Dance with honors from the University of Utah where she studied and performed with renowned faculty such as Satu Hummasti, Eric Handman and Stephen Koester. While performing is a joy, teaching is at the heart of Sarah’s career. She has taught ballet, modern and contemporary dance for many years to students of all ages and levels. Sarah will continue to teach for as a long as she possibly can.

An inspiration to all young dancers, Karen’s dance career had been varied and extensive. Performing first with Permian Civic, later Ballet Midland, her experience led her to dancing many different roles under the directorships of Bill Martin Viscount, Ann Burton, and Anthony Ferro. Karen has also performed with Midland Theatre Dancers, Lubbock Civic Ballet, and San Antonio Dance Theatre, and James Cramer and Friends companies. Karen is also a graduate of Texas Tech.

Throughout her local teaching career at Audrey Walker School of Dance, Ballet Midland, Judy Gorlin’s in Odessa, Coleman Academy and now Midland Festival Ballet, she has trained many local dancers. 

Rebekah has trained locally with Judy Coleman and Susan Clark at both Coleman Academy and the School of Midland Festival Ballet. In addition, she has attended a number of prestigious summer intensive workshop sessions at Milwaukee Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Dallas Ballet Company, Princeton Ballet School, and American Ballet Theatre. Rebekah has been a member of Midland Festival Ballet's Company for 8 years, and has performed a variety of roles in local productions as well as at the Regional Dance America/Southwest annual festival. Rebekah teaches Little Ballet through Ballet 3 students, and prior to joining MFB's staff, she was a teaching assistant for MFB classes and summer workshops for three years.

Meghan began studying ballet at age 4 with Susan Clark and Judy Coleman, first at Coleman Academy, and later at the School of Midland Festival Ballet. Meghan was a member of MFB's company for 8 years. She performed for many years in Midland Festival Ballet's production of The Nutcracker, and in MFB's Spring Gala productions including Giselle. As a company member, she attended and performed at a number of Regional Dance America/Southwest festivals. After graduating from Midland High School in 2012, Meghan began teaching ballet at local studios including Midland Festival Ballet, Art & Soul, and Absolute Dance. In addition to teaching ballet, Meghan is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor. 

Melanie studied dance for 13 years at Beaux Arts Dance Studio in Pampa, Texas under Jeanne Willingham, who did choreography work in Los Angeles and New York for various television programs and ballet companies.  She resumed her love for dance in 1995 with Bingham Dance Center and began teaching tap and jazz at Bingham in 1997, and at Art & Soul in 2011.  She has produced winners at Dance Caravan and Tremaine Dance competitions, winning the Grand Championship Award in 2002.  Melanie completed the Dance Educators of America 2003 Teacher Training & Certification Program in Las Vegas.  She soon realized her heart was in the rhythm of tap dancing and has spent several summers in Austin participating in the Soul to Sole Tap Festival, studying with many classic and contemporary tap professionals.