THE
STAFF
The Virginia Ballet Theatre isn't just a Company and Academy; it's a
collaboration. It is dedicated, passionate people who come together
to make sure that our commitment to "Enrich the community and the Arts
with Professional Dance and Dance Education" is upheld and available
to all who seek it out. From our staff and artists, to our many volunteers,
the VBT family works tirelessly to ensure that we stay true to our unique
vision of live performance.
Frank
Bove, Director
Mr. Bove was born and raised in South Philadelphia; his
early athletic interests included baseball, football and pole vaulting.
It was not until college where he was a member of the Arizona State
football and a speech communication major that he was introduced to
dance. Initially utilized as a strong partner, it was not long before
he was a scholarship student at Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Within
a year Mr. Bove was chosen for the touring company of A Chorus Line
and joined Ballets Élan in New Jersey as a professional dancer.
Over the next six years Mr. Bove went on to dance soloist and principal
roles with Atlantic City Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre,
Milwaukee Ballet and Cleveland Ballet, as well as many guest appearances
around the country. Before assuming directorship of the Virginia Ballet
Theatre, he and his wife Janina were the directors of The Mills Street
Dancers, a semi-professional dance company in Southern California where
Columbia Artists Management represented them.
Since his arrival in Norfolk in 1991, Virginia Ballet Theatre has elevated
its status to one of only two professional ballet companies in the State
of Virginia, bringing the dance works of great masters to Hampton Roads,
as well as producing numerous world premieres. In addition to duties
as Executive and Artistic Director, Mr. Bove has collaborated with all
of the regions major arts organizations. He is a graduate of the Leadership
Hampton Roads Class of 1999, has served as member of the Governor's
Advisory Board for Gifted Education and supervised numerous projects
for Virginia Very Special Arts.
In the Fall of 2006, Mr. Bove created a partnership between VBT and
the National Football Players Father's Association to create Athletes
For Kids. The program, which is a collaboration of Dance Professionals
and Professional Athletes, reached more than 200 students in Norfolk,
VA, Philadelphia, PA and Chicago, IL in its first year, with the expressed
purpose of integrating arts, in particular dance and athletics to enhance
the child's cognitive learning process, ability to work with others,
coordination, stamina, and discipline.
Janina
Bove, Academy and VBT II Director
Ms. Bove has danced professionally with such noted companies
as Atlantic City Ballet, Colorado Ballet and the Cleveland Ballet. She
has trained as a scholarship student at the Joffrey Ballet with Meredith
Bayliss, Dorothy Lister, Cho-San Goh, Basil Thompson and Glenn White.
As a young dancer Ms. Bove apprenticed with Los Angeles Ballet under
the direction of John Clifford, where she studied extensively with Irena
Kosmovska. As a member of the Pacific Association for Regional Ballet,
Ms. Bove was awarded scholarships to the Craft of Choreographers' Conferences.
Ms. Bove has performed and taught throughout the United States, sending
her students to major training programs including the San Francisco
Ballet, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet,
where some have gone on to be accepted into these Professional Companies.
Ms. Bove was choreographer-in-residence for Concert Dance Theatre and
The Mills Street Dancers in California before relocating to the east
coast.
After moving to Hampton Roads, Ms. Bove and her husband revamped The
Tidewater Ballet Association and renamed it The Virginia Ballet Theatre
in 1991. She also served as a faculty member for the Virginia Governor's
School for the Arts for thirteen years. During this time, Ms. Bove was
awarded a Presidential Citation from the Governor's School for Visual
& Performing Arts at the University of Richmond. Currently she is the
Director of the Virginia Ballet Theatre Academy, VBT II, choreographer
for First Pointe Players and rehearsal assistant, as well as, choreographer
for the Professional Company.
Suzanne Long, Academy Assistant
Director and VBT II Director
Ms. Long began her training with the Toledo Ballet and
Charlotte Regional Ballet, continuing her studies in Tidewater Ballet
Association's residency program under the direction of Gene Hammett,
founder of what is now Virginia Ballet Theatre. During her residency,
she earned a scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City.
Then Ms. Long joined the Cleveland Ballet as a trainee, progressing
to soloist and principal roles within a year. She went on to dance professionally
for the Cleveland San Jose Ballet for eleven years. Her many featured
roles include Juliet in Romeo & Juliet, Helena in A Midsummer
Night's Dream, Maria and Tzarina in Dennis Nahat's renowned Nutcracker,
Swanhilda in Coppelia, and the title role in Giselle.
She has toured throughout the United States and Europe including a tour
to the Edinburgh Festival.
Ms. Long moved back to the Hampton Roads' area and joined Virginia Ballet
Theatre, dancing such roles as Lucy in the world premiere of Dracula.
She also joined the VBT Academy faculty, becoming Assistant Director
in 2000. Her teaching credits include School of Cleveland Ballet, Cleveland
City Dance and Virginia Governor's School for the Arts. Ms. Long has
also taught and judged dance competitions throughout the United States.
In addition to Academy Assistant Director, she is currently Director
of VBT II, choreographer for First Pointe Players and rehearsal assistant,
as well as, choreographer for the Professional Company.
Jennifer
H. Baden, Director of Marketing & Sales
Born in Georgia, Ms. Baden moved to Hampton Roads in 1976. She graduated from Princess Anne High School, then attended VCU in Richmond where she majored in Design. Ms. Baden joined the staff of The Virginia Ballet Theatre in 2002 as Director of Marketing and Sales as well as Box Office Manager. She is a 2005 Graduate of Leadership Hampton Roads and currently serves on the Board of Directors for The Virginia Ballet Theatre, BARRE and Chrysalis.
Frank
& Janina Bove, Directors
134 W. Olney Rd., Norfolk, Virginia 23510
(757) 622-4822