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Our instructors are some of the best costumers and designers working today, and all bring many years of talent, experience, and expertise to the classroom. Not only are they the best at what they do, they are also wonderful teachers. These short bio's are intended to provide you with just an inkling of their very extensive backgrounds and abilities. | |
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Ms. Claudia Folts has over 30 years experience in the world of ballet, as a professional dancer and director onstage and backstage, in the classroom and the design shop, as a student and a teacher, and as a school owner, company director, and author. She is much in-demand as a costume and stage designer, and to costume individual dancers and entire ballets. She has been designing and constructing tutus and other dance costumes for over 20 years, has written and published several books on dance costume design, construction, and decorating, and has designed and published a wide range of adult and children's dance and costume patterns. She is considered one of today's leading authorities on dance costuming, and her books and patterns are in use by professional and amateur costumers at ballet companies and schools all around the world. Her designs have been commissioned for performance and competition, film and television, print and advertising, and have won numerous awards and acclaim. Ms. Folts has conducted tutu and costume design, construction, and decorating seminars since 1996,
and has taught this fine art to costumers from every continent.
She fully understands the techniques and methods of 'The Masters of Yesteryear',
and successfully combines those methods and techniques with today's fabrics, technologies, and choreographic styles.
Ms. Cheryl Beasley is a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Design in Los Angeles, California. She has been designing and constructing costumes for over 10 years, for a variety of stage roles from ballet to theatre to stand-up comedy. Her design credits include "The Nutcracker", "Sleeping Beauty", "Swan Lake", "Don Quixote", and "Cinderella", as well as numerous lyrical pieces and period costumes. She has worked with Ballet Etudes, several schools, studios, and companies, Sue Turner-Cray of the "Manchester Girl", and designed costumes for the Youth America Grand Prix competition. Some of her work will be featured in a soon-to-be-released photographer's book ot tutus. Ms. Beasley is known for her patience and for the care with which she develops her designs, as well as for her friendly, easy-going, and ‘approachable’ teaching style. Originally a native of Seattle, Washington, she now resides in California, where she works as a freelance artist, and lives with her daughter and son (who, as we understand, is an aspiring chef of some renown – be nice, you might get a dinner invite!).
Ms. Therese St. Germain has a solid background in Commercial and Fine Arts, and began costuming as an apprentice for Ms. Claudia Folts in the shop at Charlotte City Ballet. A performer for most of her life, dancing ballet (in younger days), and as an actress these days, she's no stranger to the demands backstage or 'out-front'. As an assistant designer for Tutu.Com, she's currently specializing in costume-accessories, and has helped develop several of the workshops in our newest 'Tutu Accessories' seminar. She is equally at home with a sewing machine or a circular saw, and enjoys the challenge of making things easier, simpler, and more productive. Ms. St. Germain successfully combines her teaching abilities, patience, and natural comedic talent into a classroom style we call "Make it Fun, but Get it Done!" Originally a 'West-Coaster' from San Jose, California, she currently lives in North Carolina, where she is involved in costume design, the theatre, video productions, and a bit of retail.
All images and logos are the copyrighted property of Tutu.Com, Inc., unless otherwise noted Tutu.Com, Get the Pointe Dancewear, Developpé Publishing, & Developpé Designs, are registered trademarks of Tutu.Com, Inc. © ® 1997-2008 All Rights Reserved |
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