Darleen Callaghan, School Director
Ricardo Montealegre, Administrative Director: 305.929.7000 x1802
Jesus Vazquez & Nagia Ortiz, School Registrars: 305.929.7007

School Director -- Darleen Callaghan
Darleen Callaghan began her dance training with the Stone-Camryn School of Ballet in Chicago where she performed as a child with the New York City Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and the Stone-Camryn Ballet. She was then awarded scholarships for further study at the American Ballet Theatre School and the School of American Ballet in New York City. As a student at SAB, she had the privilege of performing with Jacques D’Amboise & Friends, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux -Patricia McBride & Company, and at the White House for the President at a NATO Summit Dinner. 

Ms. Callaghan became a principal dancer with the North Carolina Dance Theatre performing a variety of roles in both classical and contemporary works. She joined the company for two European tours, performances at the Spoleto Festivals in America and Italy, and extensive yearly tours throughout the United States. 

Upon retiring from the stage, Ms. Callaghan honed her skills as a teacher, choreographer and arts administrator. She was invited by Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride to direct the North Carolina Dance Theatre School of Dance under their artistic leadership. She successfully built the School into a nationally-recognized professional training ground for students from around the United States, Europe, Japan and South America. 

Ms. Callaghan is so pleased to accept the position of Director of the Miami City Ballet School and looks forward to working closely with Artistic Director, Lourdes Lopez, to realize their common goals for the School. It is with great anticipation and sincere gratitude that Ms. Callaghan begins this next chapter in her dance career. 

SCHOOL ADVISOR

Roma Sosenko - (PRINCIPAL BALLET MISTRESS, MIAMI CITY BALLET) a former soloist with New York City Ballet, Ms. Sosenko is responsible for rehearsing the many ballets Miami City Ballet dancers perform during the season. Ms. Sosenko taught for Miami City Ballet School in both the winter and summer programs. During her career as a dancer, Ms. Sosenko danced many lead roles for Jerome Robbins and George Balanchine.

Faculty -- BALLET

Carter Alexander - (SR. FACULTY ADVISOR) began his ballet training with his mother Amanda Stone in Cheyenne, Wyoming. He continued at Arts Magnet and Dallas Ballet Academy before joining the Hartford Ballet, where he studied with his mentor, Truman Finney. He danced principal and soloist roles with the Kansas City Ballet, and also danced with Pennsylvania Ballet (where he taught on the faculty of the Rock School). Mr. Alexander received an offer to become the principal teacher at the Ballet Workshop New England in Boston, where he taught for five years. He also became the artistic associate of the Massachusetts Youth Ballet. He then joined Truman Finney at The School of Ballet Arizona as Assistant Director of the school. He is a principal teacher on the Miami City Ballet School faculty.

Amanda Knox Caveny – was born and studies ballet in Clinton Township, Michigan.  She attended various summer programs including The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Burklyn Ballet Theater, American Ballet Theatre, and the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of the New York City Ballet.  Amanda was invited to attend SAB’s year- long program on scholarship where she was chosen to dance the lead role in Balanchine’s Symphony in Three Movements for the school’s annual workshop performance. In the fall of 1997 Amanda was invited to join the New York City Ballet as an apprentice.  She was soon promoted to Corps under the direction of Peter Martins.  She has danced in much of NYCB ‘s repertory with choreographers such as George Balanchine, Peter Martins and Jerome Robbins.  In the fall of 2000 Amanda left the New York City Ballet to pursue a college degree.  She has taught master classes throughout this time.  Amanda has moved to Miami to become a full-time faculty teacher for the Miami City Ballet School. 

Geta Constantinescu - was born in Romania. She performed numerous principal and soloist roles with the Company of State Opera and Ballet in Timisoara. In 1970, while touring in Italy, she defected to the West. She performed as a guest artist all over Europe and America. Ms. Constantinescu began her teaching career in New York. She was Ballet Mistress with the Ballet Arizona, Manhattan Ballet of New York, Universal Ballet in Seoul, and the Hong Kong Ballet. She was also Lecturer with the Academy for Performing Arts in Hong Kong. While touring the United States with the Hong Kong Ballet, she was invited by Linda Villella to become a principal teacher at the Miami City Ballet School. Ms. Constantinescu has staged the third act of Sleeping Beauty and the pas de trios from the first act of Swan Lake for Miami City Ballet company, and with Edward Villella, mounted the full-length production of Don Quixote. For advanced students at Miami City Ballet School, Ms. Constantinescu produced her own production of Cinderella, and with her colleague Rafi Maldonado, created the original ballet Carnival of the Animals, both of which were performed to high acclaim at Adrienne Arsht Center in Miami. In addition, Ms. Constantinescu is a master trainer in the Gyrotonic® Technique.  

Kris Kramer - was born in upstate New York, where she began her training at the Saugerties Ballet Center and later attended teh Albany Dance Institute, under the direction of former New York City Ballet dancer, David Otto.  During the summers, she studied at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre and Chatauqua Dance Institute.  Kris joined Miami City Ballet in 2001, after being a scholarship student at Miami City Ballet School and apprenticing for the Company for a year.  During her six years with MCB, she was featured in ballets such as Giselle, Edward Villella's "THE QUICK-STEP: Unspeakable Jazz Must Go!", George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™, among others. 

Roberto Rodriguez - began his dance training with Ballets de San Juan in Puerto Rico and studied at the School of American Ballet in New York. He worked for the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, returning to Ballets de San Juan, where he performed many classical lead male roles, specializing in George Balanchine's choreographies. Mr. Rodriguez holds a Bachelor's Degree in Business Management and in Theater and Dance Education from the University of Puerto Rico. For the past 23 years he has been teaching ballet, theater, pantomime and creative movement. He is currently a Florida State Department of Education certified teacher, a Dance Consultant for the M-DCPS, and is also an adjunct teacher for the New World School of the Arts, Theater Division.

Faculty -- JAZZ

Richard Amaro - a multi-talented dancer, teacher and director/choreographer, began his career dancing with the Alvin Ailey Repertory Ensemble. He appeared on Broadway in the original companies of Jerome Robbins Broadway, Dangerous Games, and as Chita Rivera's partner in The Dancer's Life. Mr. Amaro also appeared in the national tours of Kiss of The Spiderwoman, and in West Side Story where he played the role of Bernardo. He has performed with top artists including Michael Jackson, Prince, Tina Turner, Michael Bolton and Vanessa Williams. He appeared in the films The Mambo Kings and Jeffrey. Mr. Amaro conceived, directed, choreographed and performed in An Evening of Latin Rhythms for BC/EFA in NY. He was associate director/choreographer of a Dreamgirls national tour and of Lounge 2200 for Miami City Ballet. He recently choreographed videos by famed photographer Bruce Weber for A & F and Ralph Lauren. Currently Richard is the choreographer for Magic City the new STARZ TV series in which he also appears as a featured performer. Mr. Amaro, who has has taught master classes around the world, teaches jazz at Miami City Ballet School. 

Rafi Maldonado-López - is a faculty member of New World School of the Arts, where he teaches ballet and advanced Jazz for Music Theatre, and Movement in the Drama track. He has worked as a guest teacher across the Midwest as well as St. Petersburg, Russia, for the resident dance company of the famed Music Hall. He began his dance training in San Juan, Puerto Rico with Ballet Concierto and Ballet de San Juan, and later continued his studies under scholarship at Joffrey Ballet School and the Boston Conservatory. He performed contemporary works with Boston Dance Company, Minnesota Dance Theater, Ballet of the Dolls, Ballet Arts of Minnesota, as well as various commercial video works. Most recently he has choreographed for Anything Goes, Carousel, and Guys and Dolls, and has just been awarded a choreography commission for a new original Broadway musical: Palladium. Mr. Maldonado-Lopez is head of the Jazz department of MCB School since 2004.

Liz Malm - is a Miami native who graduated from New World School of the Arts. Ms. Malm has worked in the music video industry, where she has choreographed, danced and toured with artists such as Lenny Kravitz, Ricky Martin, Jay-Z, P-Diddy, Beastie Boys, Perry Farrell of Jane's Addiction, Lil' Romeo, Baha Men, Carlos Ponce, Jaime Camil, Tito Puente and Iron and Wine. She has choreographed many commercials and television shows such as Virgin Mobile featuring Missy Elliot, Samsung, Bud Light featuring Cedric the Entertainer, Super Bowl, Lays Potato Chips, Telefonica, Herbal Essence, Pollo Tropical, "Truth" Anti-smoking campaign, MTV, BET, CBS, Telemundo and Univision. Ms. Malm has also choreographed half-time shows for the Miami Heat. Currently, Ms. Malm divides her time between New World School of the Arts and Miami City Ballet School, where she teaches jazz, stretch, and hip hop classes and choreographs for student performances. She recently choreographed Lounge 2200 for Miami City Ballet's "Open Barre Dance Series", with Rafi Maldonado and Richard Amaro.

For more information about MCB School please call 305.929.7007 or e-mail at school@miamicityballet.org.