Loudoun Ballet Company - Guest Choreographer

Maureen Miller - Artistic Director

Martha Faesi

Guest Choreographer

Ms. Faesi began her training in Dallas, TX at the Edith James Studio under the tutelage of renowned artists such as Natalia Krasovska, Alexandra Danilova, Victor Moreno, Fernando Schaffenburg and Nikita Talin. She also studied at Harkness House in New York and then, encouraged by Anton Dolin, continued her training at Rosella Hightower's Centre de Danse International in Cannes, France. Ms. Faesi’s first professional engagement was with the National Ballet of Iran in Tehran, where she performed as soloist in original works by Maurice Bejart’s protégé, Robert Thomas and in classics mounted by Ann Heaton and Norman McDowell.

Upon returning to Europe, Ms. Faesi joined the Ballet Royale de Wallonie in Charleroi, Belgium directed by Hanna Voss, Jorge Lefevre, and Menia Martinez. There she had the wonderful experience of performing as soloist in many ballets such as Le Coq d’Or, Petruska, Giselle, Swan Lake, Prince Igor and Ecce Homo. Amsterdam became her next place of residence when she signed a soloist contract with Scapino Ballet, directed by Armando Navarro and Marianne Sarstadt. In addition to an annual season in Amsterdam, the company toured Europe, from Italy to Finland, presenting ballets such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Coppelia, as well as mixed repertoire evenings of contemporary works. During her summers in Europe, Ms. Faesi was engaged as soloist by the Wagner Festival in Bayreuth, Germany. There she performed in the premier of a redesigned Tannbauser, with choreography by John Neumier, as well as in Die Meistersinger and Parsifal.

After a successful performing career, Ms. Faesi and her husband returned to the United States to pursue studies at the university level. She graduated, summa cum laude, with a BFA in Dance and a BA in French from Southern Methodist University. After completing her MFA in Dance at the University of Wisconsin - Milwaukee, Ms. Faesi was named School Director and Ballet Mistress of the Des Moines Ballet. The School and Company flourished during her six year tenure. The family, including two sons and a daughter, moved to Indianapolis, Indiana where she became Company Teacher with Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and Rehearsal Director for Dance Kaleidoscope. She was also on Faculty at Butler University teaching Dance History, Masterworks of Dance, Ballet and Pointe Technique and was Ballet Mistress for the Butler Ballet.

In 1997, Ms. Faesi joined Virginia School of the Arts, under the direction of Petrus Bosman and David Keener, as Ballet Mistress and Dance Faculty. She was appointed Associate Director of Summer Programs in 1999, Associate Director of Dance in 2002 and Director of Dance in 2005. Inspired by the talent of the Virginia School of the Arts’ students, Ms. Faesi has choreographed and restaged many works for VSA’s performances.

In the Fall of 2008, Ms. Faesi left the VSA and accepted a ballet faculty position at Sweet Briar College. In addition, she has been invited as guest teacher and coach by schools, colleges, and companies across country. Dedicated to healthy international relations, she has served on the Board of Directors of Sister City of Lynchburg-Plus. Special interests of hers include reading, digging in the dirt, exploring new vegetarian recipes, and going for long walks in the woods with her dogs and other friends.

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2008-2009 Board of Directors

Steve Spaseff, Chair

Kim Fulham, Vice-Chair Production

Patricia Potts, Secretary

Cherilynne Piper, Treasurer

Chris Casuccio, Member-at-Large

Tricia Beisler

Nicholas Graham

Debra Hare

Larry King

Kirk Pierce

Kurt Reiter

Tempe Weinbach

Honorary Board Members

Paul Donovan

Helen Shuiling

Charles Wilkinson

Company Photographer

Corey Sundahl

Sheila Hoffmann-Robertson

Founder

The Loudoun Ballet Company was formed in 1978 by Sheila Hoffmann-Robertson so that her students at the Loudoun School of Ballet could have the opportunity to perform regularly in front of audiences, thereby developing a sense of theatricality as well as technique.