Annette Hagopian Artistic Director Ms. Hagopian received her dance training in her homeland of England. She holds teaching examination certification in Ballet, Modern, and National Dance, awarded by the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance. She also holds the Advanced Executant Ballet Examination Certificate awarded by the Royal Academy of Dancing, late President Dame Margot Fonteyn. After performing professionally with a Modern Ballet company in Europe, Ms. Hagopian has gone on to teach for over twenty years.  Ms. Hagopian created the Triangle Academy of Dance in 1994 and serves as Director and faculty member. Triangle Academy of Dance prides itself in being a leader in the arts and culture communities of Cary and Raleigh. The Academy has a multi-national enrollment of over 1000 students. Their Summer Camp program is known nationwide.  In 1998, Ms. Hagopian formed the Carolina Youth Ballet, a non-profit youth ballet company to provide serious students with the opportunity to perform with professional guest dancers in full length staged ballets.  The company performs twice a year at the Progress Energy Performing Arts Center, including The Nutcracker to sell out crowds.
	Instructors & Directors (in alphabetical order)
	Kristin Diamondidis Ballet Instructor Kristin Diamondidis began her dance education at age six. Her early training was with Irene Fokine in Ridgewood, NJ, where she danced in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Les Sylphides. After moving to Connecticut, she trained with Alexei Tchernichova. Mrs. Diamondidis trained at the David Howard Dance Center in New York under David Howard. She also attended summer programs with The Joffrey Ballet and the Boston Ballet. While in Boston, she performed professionally with the Boston Ballet. Kristin has a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Mercyhurst College in Erie, Pennsylvania. There, she danced solo roles in Paquita, Ventana, and Coppelia. While in Pennsylvania she also performed with the Lake Erie Ballet in numerous classical and contemporary works. Mrs. Diamondidis has been creating choreography and teaching for Triangle Academy of Dance since 1998. Ms. Diamondidis is looking forward to continuing her work with the Children’s Ballet Program.
	Paul Geldston Tap Director Paul Geldston is originally from New York City, and has been teaching tap dance for over 20 years to students of every age and level. Before joining our staff in 2003, Paul taught for many schools in NYC, including famous professional studios like Broadway Dance Center and Steps On Broadway, and also directed tap music CD's with David Howard and pianist Joe Cross for Roper Records. Paul has performed and choreographed for various musical productions over the years, including Equity Showcases of "Forty Second Street", and "Anything Goes," summer stock including "The Music Man," "Evita" and other musicals, and various concert dance companies, i.e. DancEllington, directed by Mercedes Ellinton,  and the Jeff Edmond Dance Theatre. Paul studied tap with legendary teachers like Bob Audy, Jerry Ames & Henry LeTang. He also studied Ballet, Jazz and Modern, and was a scholarship student at the David Howard Dance Center. Besides teaching tap classes for children and adults, in 2010 Paul launched two competitive Tap Teams for TAD students, and is completing a Masters Degree in Teaching at NC State.
	Ashton Harper Co-Jazz Director Miss Ashton graduated from East Carolina University in 2009 with a B.A in Dance. Miss Ashton had previously received extensive training in Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Tap. She has also studied as an intern at the Broadway Dance Center in N.Y.C where she had the opportunity to study under some of America’s great dance masters, such as David Howard, Ray Hesselink and Sheila Barker. Miss Ashton has performed with Disney on the “Big Red Boat Cruise Ship”, at the American College Dance Festival and with the ECU Senior Showcase. Miss Ashton has also received training in costume design, Dance history, music history, technical theater, drumming and cheerleading. Miss Ashton joined the Triangle Academy of Dance as a faculty member in 2009 and now takes on the position as Co-Jazz Director with Marie Middleton for our 2010 season!
	Megan Laeng-Copeland Jazz, Lyrical & Ballet Instructor Ms. Megan started her dance training at the age of 4 in Durham, North Carolina under the instruction of Sharon Bullock at Dance Arts Unlimited. There she was trained in ballet, jazz. lyrical, pointe and tap. During this time she traveled around the country winning awards regionally and nationally and in 1994 won the title of Junior Miss Dance of North Carolina through Carolina Dance Masters. At the age of 11 she had the opportunity to appear and compete on the nationally known television show "Star Search".  Ms. Megan graduated from East Carolina University in 2003 with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance. While at ECU she performed in the faculty directed musical "South Pacific", with the ECU Performing Company, and in 2001 performed at Jazz Dance World Congress in Chicago, Illinois. Upon graduation she moved to Los Angeles, California, and trained in jazz and lyrical under Darryl Retter and Linda Bernabei-Retter and was also a member of their Pro Dance Company. At that time she had the opportunity of performing in such events as Spectrum Dance and the Keith Clifton Dance Project. Upon returning to North Carolina in 2004, Ms. Megan taught Dance and Drama at Daniels Middle School in Raleigh, and then taught full time at the Triangle Academy of Dance. Last year Ms. Megan moved to Wilmington, N.C with her husband and taught dance at Port City Dance Theatre. Ms. Megan has now moved back to the area with her husband and new little baby girl, Kenley. We are excited to have Ms. Megan return as a Staff Member for TAD’s 2010 season!
	Marie Middleton Co-Jazz Director Marie Middleton began dancing at the age of eight, studying modern jazz, modern dance (Horton Technique), African dance, tap and ballet. She trained at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City for five years before joining the Alvin Ailey American Summer Institute as an intern in 1992. Marie graduated from Penn State University in 1995 with a Bachelor of Arts degree. While at Penn State she was the Artistic Dance Director of Nommo Performing Arts Center. Marie was a member of the regional NA'ADE in Philadelphia, performing traditional African Dance and Modern Dance from 1995 to 1997. She performed at Carnegie Hall in New York City as a member of the Rosemarie Lindt Dance Company during the 1998-1999 season.
	James Wallace Ballet Instructor James began his training at the age of 8 with the Carolina Strut Performing Arts Centre in Morehead City, NC.  During his ten years at the Carolina Strut, James studied ballet, jazz, lyrical, tap, and musical theatre with a variety of notable instructors. James also attended numerous workshops and master classes through his involvement with Carolina Dance Masters and Dance Masters of America. In 2001, James competed for and won the title of Mr. Dance of North Carolina and represented the Carolina Dance Masters chapter at the Mr. Dance of America competition in Orlando, Florida. That same year, James also attended a summer intensive program at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.  Following his summer in New York, James spent two summer tour seasons traveling with the Joffrey Ensemble Dancers. Since arriving to the Triangle in 2002, James has taken part in several Carolina Ballet performances, has danced roles in various full-length ballets, and has taught several Boys Class workshops.   James is excited to work with the students of the Triangle Academy of Dance and is thrilled to be a member of the team!
	Sherie-Beth Wilson Children's Ballet Director Mrs. Sherie-Beth Wilson is a graduate of Roanoke College. Mrs. Wilson has received extensive training in Classical Ballet in New York City where she studied under the ballet master, Marya Kennett. There Mrs. Wilson had the opportunity to work alongside principal dancers from The New York City Ballet Company. There Mrs. Wilson was accepted into the prestigious “Marya Kennett Ballet Theater Company”. While a member of the ballet company she performed many principal roles in such ballets as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and the Nutcracker. Mrs. Wilson has also performed with the Charlotte City Ballet Company and the Unity Praise and Worship Company. Mrs. Wilson lives locally with her husband and two children, Grace and Luke. She joined TAD in 2009 with over eight years of teaching experience and is excited to take on the position of the Triangle Academy of Dance’s Children’s Ballet Director.
	Guest Instructors (in alphabetical order)
	Maggie Lloyd-Ewing Guest Instructor Miss Maggie is an independent dancer and choreographer.  Her work has been performed at The New York State Summer School for the Arts, Brown University, Rhode Island College Dance Series, and in cities such as Philadelphia, New York City, and Seattle. She has danced with Pacific American Balllet Theatre, Cavanaugh and Dancers, Heidi Henderson's Elephant Jane Dance, and with several independent choreographers.  She has taught Ballet and Modern technique at Rhode Island College, Brown University, Pomona College, and The New York State Summer School for the Arts, as well as at many private studios.   Maggie has trained at the North Carolina School for the Arts, The Hungarian National Ballet, The Merce Cunningham Dance Studio, and she holds a BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts.  Maggie lives in Southern Pines with her four year old son, Jasper. Please join us in welcoming Miss Maggie as our newest staff member for the 2007 season.
	Adam Schiffer Professional Guest Teacher & Dancer Adam Schiffer is a native of Budapest, Hungary where he graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy in 2005. In the following seasons, he performed with the Vienna State Opera, the Slovakian National Opera, and the Columbia Classical Ballet. While at Columbia Classical Ballet, he performed principal roles and was invited to perform as a part of Ballet Builders in New York City by Rick McCullough. In 2007, Mr. Schiffer was awarded the Viktor Fulop Scholarship from the Hungarian Ministry of Culture. And he has participated in summer intensive programs at North Carolina Dance Theater in Charlotte, North Carolina; Pergine, Spettacolo Aperto in Milan, Italy; and the Ballet des Jeunes d’Europe in Marselles, France. He also toured in Hungary, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Austria, Czech Republic, Italy, France, and in the USA. In spring 2008, Mr. Schiffer performed with Carolina Ballet in Sleeping Beauty. Adam Schiffer has also performed as a guest performer for the Carolina Youth Ballet’s 2009-2010 seasons.