Andrea Hill, Founder and Artistic Director
Andrea Hill is founder and Artistic Director of City Ballet, which has almost 150 students enrolled exclusively in classical ballet – the only school of its type in the region. Celebrating a 30-year teaching career (1992-2022), Andrea’s students have received numerous awards and recognition: four accepted into the School of American Ballet year-round; five accepted into the UNCSA year-round; two students receiving the prestigious Rudolph Nureyev Foundation Award (2002-2003 and 2018-2019), two recipients of American Ballet Theatre's "National Training Scholarship" in 2003 and 2004, and three recipients of the NSLI for Youth Moscow (invited to study at the Bolshoi in Moscow) in 2011, 2014, and 2016 (awards are given to only 15 to 20 dancers among thousands worldwide). Andrea’s former students have danced professionally with American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Ballet Magnificat!, Peridance Contemporary Dance Co. (NYC), Ballet Memphis, Smuin Ballet, Avant Chamber Ballet (Dallas), and others.
(click here to see Andrea and her students at work)
(click here to see Andrea and her students at work)
Diane Orio Gerberg, Company Ballet Mistress and Instructor for Ballet
Diane Orio Gerberg performed many principal roles with the Joffrey Ballet from 1968 to 1982, and was elevated to Ballet Mistress in 1978 where she directly assisted Robert Joffrey, Gerald Arpino, and countless legendary choreographers. Having worked with top professional companies and extraordinary dancers from around the world (including Rudolf Nureyev, Kevin Mackenzie, etc), Diane has a wealth of knowledge and experience to share with students. She is a specialist in refining technique and perfecting details in the studio. She brings to City Ballet a link to the styles of legends like George Balanchine, Frederick Ashton, Twyla Tharp, Jose Limon, and many others.
Merlee Hill, Instructor for Ballet and Contemporary/Modern
Merlee Hill began ballet at the age of 2 years old at the Ballet Theatre of Central PA and has continued her study of ballet for over 25 years. She was a principle dancer with the Ballet Theatre of Central PA where she danced such roles as The Sugar Plum Fairy partnering with American Ballet Theatre’s Arron Scott in The Nutcracker, The Princess in The Firebird, Abigail Williams in a ballet interpretation of the play The Crucible, and many others. Merlee has been performed with Louisville Ballet, Pilobolus Dance Company, and North Carolina Dance Theatre. She received acceptances into summer programs with The Joffrey Ballet and attended American Ballet Theatre in Irvine, California in 2003 and Tuscaloosa, Alabama in 2006. She has worked with teachers from top companies around the world including The Martha Graham Dance Company, Philadanco, Limon Dance Company, and others. Merlee was also a principal dancer with Brio (a modern dance company in PA). Merlee is a professional photographer (Merlee Hill Photography) providing wonderful photos for families, special events and performances.
Gabriel Gavrin-Savits, Instructor for Ballet, Boys/Men, Partnering/Adagio
Gabriel Gavrin-Savits has returned to City Ballet after completing his graduate degree in Political Science and American History at UNC Chapel Hill. Gabe joined the City Ballet faculty in 2016, and has been a gifted teacher, mentor, and is as the acting head of Student Management for City Ballet performances. Gabe danced professionally with Columbia Classical Ballet and Gelsey Kirkland Ballet Company performing Soloist and Principal roles. He received full scholarships to Summer Programs from Gelsey Kirkland Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, New Jersey Ballet School, Orlando Ballet Theatre, The Rock School for Dance Education, American Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre Young Summer Dancer and was the recipient of the New Jersey Dance Festival Encouragement Award (2010).
Joshua Wise (Lyrical & Contemporary Instructor) and
Rhiain Wise (Ballet & Character Instructor)
Welcome Joshua and Rhiain Wise!
Joining the City Ballet faculty in Summer 2021, Joshua and Rhiain Wise bring a wealth of experience and knowledge - along with a passion for mentoring students and helping them grow as dancers. Josh danced professionally with Ballet Magnificat! where he also served as a teacher and set designer. Josh's passion is creating and choreographing new works. Rhiain studied the Royal Ballet syllabus working with teachers from the renowned Australia Ballet, and after an injury furthered her training with Joffrey NYC. Rhiain became a teacher for Ballet Magnificat! where she worked with their Vaganova syllabus. Josh and Rhiain live in Wilmington with their son Jadon.
Joining the City Ballet faculty in Summer 2021, Joshua and Rhiain Wise bring a wealth of experience and knowledge - along with a passion for mentoring students and helping them grow as dancers. Josh danced professionally with Ballet Magnificat! where he also served as a teacher and set designer. Josh's passion is creating and choreographing new works. Rhiain studied the Royal Ballet syllabus working with teachers from the renowned Australia Ballet, and after an injury furthered her training with Joffrey NYC. Rhiain became a teacher for Ballet Magnificat! where she worked with their Vaganova syllabus. Josh and Rhiain live in Wilmington with their son Jadon.
Nina Danilova, Permanent Guest Faculty & Artistic Advisor
Nina Danilova is a 1978 graduate of the Lunatcharski University of the Arts in Moscow, Russia. A doctoral candidate at the State Institute of Theatrical Arts, Nina specializes in teaching, staging classical ballets and choreography. She is also a graduate of the Vaganova Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia. Nina has danced with the Kirov Ballet in St. Petersburg, was a Principal dancer with the Moscow State Ballet Theatre and since 1983 has taught and staged ballets around the world, including Russia, Poland, Italy and the United States. She recently published Eight Female Classical Variations with Oxford University Press, and served as editor for the magazine “Soviet Ballet” and the book Thirty Variations from Classical Ballet Repertoire. Nina has served on the faculty at Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle from 1991 to 1996, when she left to join the ballet faculty of the University of North Carolina School of Arts. In addition to teaching, she has also staged classical ballet for UNCSA and created several original choreographic pieces.
Nina has worked with City Ballet staging the five Raymonda Variations performed as part of Hill's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She is a frequent guest teacher and adviser for The City Ballet.
Nina has worked with City Ballet staging the five Raymonda Variations performed as part of Hill's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She is a frequent guest teacher and adviser for The City Ballet.
Jan Burkhard, Guest Artist and Faculty
Jan Burkhard began her professional training at the School of American Ballet at the age of 9. She performed numerous ballets with New York City Ballet and was involved in the New York Choreographic Institute. Upon completion, she was also the recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award in 2005 for Most Outstanding Promise. In the fall of 2005, she became a member of Carolina Ballet’s corps de ballet. In 2009, she was nominated for the Princess Grace award. She rose through the ranks and was promoted to Principal in 2011. She has performed principal roles including Princess Aurora, Juliet, Firebird, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Giselle.
Jan has danced the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in City Ballet's A Carolina Nutcracker and is on the City Ballet Summer Faculty. She is a frequent guest teacher and coach with City Ballet.
Jan Burkhard began her professional training at the School of American Ballet at the age of 9. She performed numerous ballets with New York City Ballet and was involved in the New York Choreographic Institute. Upon completion, she was also the recipient of the Mae L. Wien Award in 2005 for Most Outstanding Promise. In the fall of 2005, she became a member of Carolina Ballet’s corps de ballet. In 2009, she was nominated for the Princess Grace award. She rose through the ranks and was promoted to Principal in 2011. She has performed principal roles including Princess Aurora, Juliet, Firebird, Sugar Plum Fairy, and Giselle.
Jan has danced the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in City Ballet's A Carolina Nutcracker and is on the City Ballet Summer Faculty. She is a frequent guest teacher and coach with City Ballet.
Adam Crawford Chavis, Guest Artist and Faculty
Adam Chavis joined Carolina Ballet in August 2009. He received his professional training at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem and the School of American Ballet in New York City. Adam has choreographed several ballets, one for NCSA (spring workshop in 2008) and one at SAB (student choreographic workshop in 2009). In 2009 he was chosen to dance for the New York Choreographic Institute. Adam has danced with City Ballet in the principal role of Drosselmeyer in A Carolina Nutcracker, as Hook in Peter Pan, and is on the City Ballet Summer Faculty.
Adam Chavis joined Carolina Ballet in August 2009. He received his professional training at the North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston-Salem and the School of American Ballet in New York City. Adam has choreographed several ballets, one for NCSA (spring workshop in 2008) and one at SAB (student choreographic workshop in 2009). In 2009 he was chosen to dance for the New York Choreographic Institute. Adam has danced with City Ballet in the principal role of Drosselmeyer in A Carolina Nutcracker, as Hook in Peter Pan, and is on the City Ballet Summer Faculty.
Alex Manning, Guest Artist and Summer Faculty
Alex Manning is a Corps de Ballet member with Miami City Ballet. He began his training with the Ballet Theatre of Central Pennsylvania under the direction of Andrea Hill. After six years, Alex studied with Walnut Hill and then furthered his training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the Direction of Marcia Dale Weary. During his time at CPYB, he also received private training with Laszlo Berdo and Leslie Hench. Manning was awarded the Jerome Robbins Scholarship while at CPYB.
Alex Manning is a City Ballet Guest Artist and a Permanent Guest Faculty. Alex joined City Ballet for A Midsummer Night's Dream as Oberon and is on City Ballet's Summer Faculty.
Alex Manning is a Corps de Ballet member with Miami City Ballet. He began his training with the Ballet Theatre of Central Pennsylvania under the direction of Andrea Hill. After six years, Alex studied with Walnut Hill and then furthered his training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the Direction of Marcia Dale Weary. During his time at CPYB, he also received private training with Laszlo Berdo and Leslie Hench. Manning was awarded the Jerome Robbins Scholarship while at CPYB.
Alex Manning is a City Ballet Guest Artist and a Permanent Guest Faculty. Alex joined City Ballet for A Midsummer Night's Dream as Oberon and is on City Ballet's Summer Faculty.
City Ballet
5814 Oleander Dr. #3 Wilmington NC 28403 Email: achill@cityballetofwilmington.org
5814 Oleander Dr. #3 Wilmington NC 28403 Email: achill@cityballetofwilmington.org
