I was born in France and grew up in Alsace Loraine in a very modest family. Polish, Italian and French food was served both on the table and in mind... I was often ill as a child and at age 3 my body would lock up (at times I could only move my fingers) “they” found out I had a great birth deficiency and “yes” I was saved from the worst... It was then that -movement -became more than a commodity for me... watching Fred Astaire on TV, I realized that it could become inspiring, intelligent, healing, beautiful, motivating, entertaining and so much fun... there was no choice in the matter... I was going to dance!

Above, click on the arrow to view little montage of old pictures ;)

That’s when I was awarded a grant to study at the American Dance Festival at Durham University (NC). My first trip to America... my dream! Upon my return to France I auditioned for E . Virginia Williams, Pierre Lacotte and Violette Verdy who invited me to join the Boston Ballet. for three years, we toured extensively and mostly thanks to one of the most influential figures in dance; Rudolf Nureyev. I learned so much from him!)

In 1984, after participating in the first New York International Dance Competition, I was invited to join the New York City Ballet, under Peter Martins and Jerome Robins. That was my career... I danced most leading roles I dreamed of performing from the repertoire, such as George Balanchine’s 4 Temperaments - Phlegmatic, Stravinsky Violin Concerto - the second Aria, or Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon Of a Faun  and Dancers at a Gathering. Soon after I joined, Peter Martins created a a new piece on me: Poulenc Sonata... amazing time... I worked with some of the bests of the bests; Suzanne Farrel, Kyra Nichols, Patricia McBride, Merrill Ashley, Darci Kistler, Maria Calegari, Wendy Whelan (to name just a few)  Also, I worked with other genius choreographers such as John Allen, William Forsythe, Twyla Tharp and Lynn Taylor Corbett... In 1992 I participated to the first Diamond Project and I choreographed one of my first work: Refraction...

In 1995, after many injuries and surgeries and different of turns of events, I left NYCB and auditioned, for the first time, for a Broadway show (a deep dream of mine) a few months later I was featured in the Tony and Drama Desk  nominated; the new Broadway production of Chronicle of a Death Foretold directed and choreographed by Graciela Daniele. I was acting and dancing opposite superb artists such as Saundra Santiago and George De La Pena. The show did not last long but the experience and the friendships linger...

later, the Martha Graham Dance Company invited me to guest as a principal for a year. Robert Wilson created Snow on the Mesa and in 1996 invited me to create Stravinsky’s Oedipus Rex at the Theatre Du Chatelet. in Paris...

A few years later I met and joined  director/choreographer Martha Clarke with whom I worked for three years on various new productions including Vers La Flamme and Hans Christian Andersen.

I live in  New-York City  and travel the world (when I can)  I teach and choreograph... I’m loving it!, it’s my life... not easy always since I freelance but, fascinating. I meet the most amazing people and situations and as a teacher I aim to bring life and passion into my classes... I learned from some of the best (and I still do) and I try and transmit the info... plus mine ;)

Numerous companies and schools across the globe I’ve worked with include The

New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Stars of Paris Opera, the Paris Opera, Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires), Maggio Danza (Florence), Cape Town City Ballet (SA) Ballettakademien (Stockholm) the Juilliard School, the Ailey School,  Steps on Broadway and the Lines Ballet School (San Francisco) the New Jersey Ballet, Adelphi University, Bordeaux Opera Ballet and the New York Joffrey School of Ballet.

I am in the process of presenting PROIA DANCE THEATER in the fall 09: a small company that will include 3 generations in conversation with 3 media

(Dance, Theater and Film)

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