Susan Olson Santoro - Founding Director
In loving memory 9/06/1957 - 4/10/20
|
Pictured above: Dodie Pettit, Evelyn Richmond, Susan Olson, and David Richardson in Les Sylphides at the McCarter Theatre
|
Susan Olson Santoro began her professional dance training at the age of ten with the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, where she studied with Antonia Tumkovsky, Alexandra Danilova, Helene Dudin, Muriel Stuart, Elise Reiman, Stanley Williams, and Felia Doubrovska. While a student at SAB, Susan performed in New York City Ballet productions of George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Harlequinade.
As a soloist with American Repertory Ballet for seven years, Ms. Santoro danced lead roles in many ballets including Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Cinderella and The Nutcracker and worked with national choreographers Neils Jorgenson, Fredrick Franklin and Alexei Yudenich. Performance venues have included The New York State Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Trenton War Memorial Theatre, Garden State Performing Arts Center and the Zellerback Theatre. During her years as a professional dancer she continued to train with David Howard, Wilhelm Burmann, Bobbie Blankshine, Charles Kelly, Phil Black, Gary Flannery and Luigi. Professional performance experience also includes summer stock productions of the Merry Widow with Bebe Neuwirth, The Most Happy Fella, Hello Dolly, Company, Lil’Abner, Midsummer Night’s Dream, dinner theatre productions at Club Bene and the Essex & Sussex Hotel. In addition to Susan's performance career she has also worked and danced professionally with Randy James (Director of 10 Hairy Legs). Ms. Santoro has choreographed shows for Middlesex County College, Taylor Business Institute and County Players. Ms. Santoro holds a BA degree from Seton Hall University. Her instruction includes all levels of ballet, pointe and jazz. Ms. Santoro has also served as Ballet Mistress and Resident Choreographer for the Young People’s Performance Company based in Dutchess County, New York.
As a soloist with American Repertory Ballet for seven years, Ms. Santoro danced lead roles in many ballets including Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides, Cinderella and The Nutcracker and worked with national choreographers Neils Jorgenson, Fredrick Franklin and Alexei Yudenich. Performance venues have included The New York State Theatre, McCarter Theatre, Trenton War Memorial Theatre, Garden State Performing Arts Center and the Zellerback Theatre. During her years as a professional dancer she continued to train with David Howard, Wilhelm Burmann, Bobbie Blankshine, Charles Kelly, Phil Black, Gary Flannery and Luigi. Professional performance experience also includes summer stock productions of the Merry Widow with Bebe Neuwirth, The Most Happy Fella, Hello Dolly, Company, Lil’Abner, Midsummer Night’s Dream, dinner theatre productions at Club Bene and the Essex & Sussex Hotel. In addition to Susan's performance career she has also worked and danced professionally with Randy James (Director of 10 Hairy Legs). Ms. Santoro has choreographed shows for Middlesex County College, Taylor Business Institute and County Players. Ms. Santoro holds a BA degree from Seton Hall University. Her instruction includes all levels of ballet, pointe and jazz. Ms. Santoro has also served as Ballet Mistress and Resident Choreographer for the Young People’s Performance Company based in Dutchess County, New York.