1. No category

Amy Earnest
Amy began dancing at the age of three in Atlanta, GA. Ms. Earnest received
her training with the School of Atlanta Ballet; under the direction of Tom
Pazik, School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Pacific Northwest
Ballet School. As a professional dancer she performed with Hartford Ballet,
North Carolina Dance Theatre, Tulsa Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.
She performed principal roles in George Balanchine’s; Four Temperaments,
Prodigal Son, Apollo, Western Symphony, and Who Cares; William
Forsythe’s In The Middle Somewhat Elevated; Alonzo King’s Map and
Dreamer; Nacho Duato’s Arenal; Kirk Peterson’s Amazed in Burning
Dreams, Firebird, Nutcracker; and Paul Taylor’s Esplanade. She also was a
finalist in the prestigious New York Ballet Competition of 1996 and was a
member of the Chautauqua Ballet from 1998 to 2000. Ms. Earnest has been teaching and coaching
students for the last ten years and is certified with the American Ballet Theatre National Training
Curriculum in Primary through Level 3. Ms. Earnest owned and directed Avant-Garde School of Dance
(AGSD), along with her husband Lance Hardin, where they choreographed and produced numerous
performances including an annual Nutcracker. Students trained at AGSD were accepted into many
prestigious schools including American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet School.
Ms. Earnest is also a certified Pilates instructor receiving her certification through D.K. Body Balancing
accredited by the University of Nevada Las Vegas and approved by the Nevada and Arizona State Boards
of Physical Therapists. Ms. Earnest has choreographed both locally and nationally for The Denver
Independent Choreographer’s Project and Springfield Ballet Company. Most recently she enjoyed her
role as company teacher with Dawson Wallace Dance, for their 2011-2012 season, along with a variety of
requests as guest instructor.
Aaron Wood
Aaron began his formal dance training at age 18. He has had the opportunity to
work with such esteemed teachers/choreographers as Ellen Bromberg, Bronwen
Curry, Della Davidson, Bill Evans, Abby Fiat, Pamela Geber, Zvi Gotheiner,
Susan Hadley, Satu Hummasti, Marsha Fay Knight, Andrea Miller, and Peter
Pucci. He has also had the opportunity to perform in such venues as The
Kennedy Center for Performing Arts (Washington, D.C.); The White Wave
Dance Festival (NYC); The American Dance Guild's 50th Anniversary (NYC);
The International Choreographer's Showcase (Madrid, Spain); and several
American College DanceFestivals throughout the nation. He spent seven
seasons as a full time company member with Salt Lake City's Repertory Dance Theatre, where he had had
the pleasure of performing the works of some of the dance world's most renowned choreographers
including Merce Cunningham, Doris Humphrey, Michio Ito, Jose Limon, Murray Louis, Daniel Nagrin,
Anna Sokolow, Shapiro & Smith, Charles Widman, and Laura Dean. Together, with fellow colleague and
educator Sarah Donohue, he continues to further his choreographic and performance skills in their
emerging dance company My Turkey Sandwich.
Marsha Fay Knight
Marsha Fay Knight (MFA University of Utah ’83) is a Professor at the
University of Wyoming where her primary responsibilities lie in the teaching
of ballet, historical dance, choreography, and period movement for actors.
Marsha's full-evening productions include NUTCRACKER, COPPELIA,
PULCINELLA and INANNA, QUEEN OF HEAVEN AND EARTH. Her
experience also includes choreography for numerous short works and musical
theatre productions. Marsha’s contemporary ballet OF A MIND was selected
for presentation at the Kennedy Center in May 2006, through the adjudication
process of the American College Dance Festival.
Marsha conceived, choreographed and co-directed SIX SONGS FROM
ELLIS, a full-evening theatre/dance piece including film and oral histories of immigrants who passed
through Ellis Island. SIX SONGS was a regional finalist, KCACTF, Reno, NV, 2010.
Sharee Lane
Sharee Lane was a soloist dancer with Ballet West from 1970-1979
under Artistic Directors Willam F. Christensen and Bruce Marks, and
was a member of the Ballet West Artistic staff and Assistant Director of
the Ballet West Conservatory under Artistic Directors John Hart and
Jonas Kage from 1989-1999. From 2010, as an Associate Professor
with the University of Utah’s Department of Modern Dance, Professor
Lane teaches ballet technique, freshman seminar, advanced principles
of teaching, and co-directs, as well as choreographs for the
Department’s Performing Dance Company. Her works have been performed internationally at the Berlin
State Ballet School in Berlin, Germany and at the Vaganova Dance Society’s 20th Anniversary Gala in
Edmonton, Canada, and nationally for the Snowy Range Summer Dance Festival at the University of
Wyoming, and the University of Cincinnati’s College Conservatory of Music. Professor Lane, along with
colleague Professor Olaf Hoefer, Director of Repertoire, of the Berlin State Ballet School, co-directs the
Cultural Exchange Program between the University’s Department of Modern Dance, the Berlin State
Ballet School, Ballet West, and the Ballet West Academy, for students, teachers, and musicians. As well
as being a frequent guest teacher for Ballet West, Ballet West II, Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet,
and Repertory Dance Theater, Professor Lane continues her association as adjudicator and master teacher
for the Montana Dance Arts Association and for MusicFest Northwest in Spokane, Washington.