Tim Early Tim Early is celebrating his 19th year consecutive season with the Brandywine Ballet as a principal artist. In addition to dancing, Tim has choreographed for the company and has been on faculty at The Dance Center, the official school of the Brandywine Ballet. Highlights with the company have been his performances in Nancy Page’s Dracula, Ronen Koresh’s Beyond the Steps, Balanchine’s Serenade, and Eddy Touissant’s Souvenance. Mr. Early currently is co-director of the Philadelphia-based modern company Opus I Contemporary. He has choreographed for Lafayette College, Moravian College, and West Chester University. In addition, Tim Early has headed the dance department at the Performing Arts Institute in Wilkes-Barre, PA for the past nine years.
Alex DiMattia Alex DiMattia began his dance training at the age of 14 with the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. At the time, Alex was also involved in several scholastic and club sports teams, including the Philadelphia Junior Flyers. In the summer of 2003 Alex furthered his ballet studies at the Kaatsbaan International Dance Center with Martine van Hamel, Bonnie Mathis and Kevin Mckenzie. In 2004 he competed in the first annual American Ballet Competition in Miami, Florida where he won a scholarship to Cincinnati Ballet's Otto M. Budig Academy. Upon graduation from the Haverford School, Alex was accepted into Houston Ballet II after having danced on full scholarship in their summer program. While in Houston, Alex performed in several pieces including Ben Stevenson's "The Nutcracker," "Romeo and Juliet," and the world premiere of "Bolero" by Stanton Welch. Alex left Houston in 2005 to enroll in West Chester University, and further his dance training with Brandywine Ballet and West Chester University's Certificate in Ballet Program. Since 2005 Alex has perfomed several principal roles with Brandywine Ballet including original works by Nancy Page, Matthew Neenan, Christopher Fleming, and Meredith Rainey. Alex graduated Magna Cum Laude from West Chester University and began his professional career in the tax practice of Pricewaterhouse Coopers (PwC). Alex left PwC in June, 2011 to focus on his performance career and continue dancing with Brandywine Ballet.
Thomas Gant, Jr. Thomas Gant Jr., is a graduate of the Southern New Jersey Academy of the Performing Arts, where he studied under the direction of David Kloss. Mr. Gant received a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet’s Trainee Program. He also studied with Ronen Koresh and Melissa Rector of Koresh Dance Company, as well as Delphine Del Bello, David Kloss, Nancy Page, and Christopher Fleming, among others. Gant works as a freelance artist balancing dancing, teaching and choreography. He dances with Opus 1 Contemporary Dance Company and Dance Del Bello. Gant has been appointed regissuer of David Kloss's repertoire for Dance Del Bello. In 2002, he was first recipient of the National Dance Education Organization’s Award in artistic excellence and leadership. This past summer, Thomas traveled abroad to Taiwan to teach master classes in ballet and modern dance, while there he choreographed three original works. Thomas is now a principal dancer with the newly formed BalletFleming.
Jaime Lennon Jaime Lennon received her dance training at The Dance Center, the official school of the Brandywine Ballet, under the direction of Donna Muzio and Nancy Page. She is currently a member of Brandywine Ballet Theatre and Brandywine Ballet's Certificate in Ballet Program through West Chester University. Ms. Lennon has also trained with Ronen Koresh, Linda Maybarduke, Fernando Bujones, Matthew Neenan, Martha Chamberlain, and Victoria Simon. Ms. Lennon has earned scholarships into prestigious summer programs such as American Ballet Theater, Boca Ballet, Boston Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, and Orlando Ballet Theatre. Ms. Lennon has also danced the lead role of Lucy in Dracula, as well as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and was featured in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco and Serenade. Ms. Lennon graudated last spring from West Chester University with a degree in Communication Studies & Certificate in Ballet. She will be dancing with BalletX in their Fall 2010 Series.
Hannah Telthorster Hannah Telthorster has studied at The Dance Center, the official school of the Brandywine Ballet, for seven years under the direction of Donna Muzio and Nancy Page. She is currently a member of Brandywine Ballet Theatre and Brandywine Ballet's Certificate in Ballet Program through West Chester University. Ms. Telthorster has also studied with Ronen Koresh, Leslie Browne, Martha Chamberlain, Victoria Simon, Meredith Rainey, Christine Cox and Matthew Neenan. She has been a scholarship recipient of Pacific Northwest Ballet Summer Intensive and the Pennsylvania Governor’s School for the Arts summer program. Ms. Telthorster has danced several noteworthy roles with Brandywine Ballet including the Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker; and featured parts in George Balanchine's Concerto Barocco and Serenade. Her performances as Mina/Elisabeta, the lead female role in Dracula, won her notoriety and accolades in the regional press. Ms. Telthorster graduated from West Chester University in 2009 and is currently an Accountant with Siana Carr O'Connor & Lynam, LLP.
Alexa Valentine Alexa Valentine received her dance training under full scholarship at The Dance Center, The Official School of the Brandywine Ballet, under the direction of Donna Muzio and Nancy Page. As a founding dancer of the Brandywine Ballet Theatre, she studied with Eddy Toussaint, Leslie Browne, and Nana Badrena. She received a full scholarship to the School of American Ballet where she trained under Kay Mazzo, Susan Pilarre, and Suki Schorer, among others. She also trained under scholarship at New York's American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive. Ms. Valentine graduated Summa Cum Laude from West Chester University last spring with a degree in Political Science/Pre-Law Studies, and was also the recipient of the 2010 Award for Research and Writing in Political Science. She is excited to be back dancing again with the Brandywine Ballet.
Elizabeth Barchi Elizabeth Barchi received her dance training at The Dance Center, the official school of the Brandywine Ballet, under the direction of Donna Muzio and Nancy Page. She is currently a member of Brandywine Ballet Theatre and Brandywine Ballet’s Certificate in Ballet Program through West Chester University. Ms. Barchi has also studied with Tim Early, Ronen Koresh, Martha Chamberlain, Victoria Simon, Meredith Rainey, Matthew Neenan, and Finis Jhung, as well as participated in the Juilliard’s summer program in New York. Her soloist roles for Brandywine Ballet have included Dew Drop Fairy and Arabian in The Nutcracker, Nancy Page’s Dracula and Voices, as well as featured parts in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco and Serenade. Ms. Barchi graduated from West Chester University in 2010 with a degree in Cellular and Molecular Biology and Certificate in Ballet. She is currently attending Penn State College of Medicine.
Meghan Duffy Meghan Duffy has studied for seven years at The Dance Center, the official school of the Brandywine Ballet, under the direction of Donna Muzio and Nancy Page. She is currently a member of Brandywine Ballet Theatre. In addition, she has studied with Ronen Koresh, Leslie Browne, Martha Chamberlain, Victoria Simon, Meredith Rainey, Jessica Gattinella, and Matthew Neenan. Ms. Duffy has also attended New York's American Ballet Theatre School and the Rock School of Philadelphia summer programs on scholarship. In her time with the Brandywine Ballet Theatre, Ms. Duffy has danced many principal roles including the Second Violin in Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Lucy in Nancy Page’s Dracula, and Sugar Plum Fairy and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. Ms. Duffy won ample press recognition for her 2007 portrayal of Mina/Elisabeta in Dracula. Ms. Duffy graduated in 2007 from West Chester University, with a degree in Nursing and Certificate in Ballet. She is currently employed as a registered nurse with Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania.
