Summer!!! at the Ballet
Summer Intensive Guest Instructors
Kathryn McBeth
Miss McBeth began her dance career in her home state of California, studying with Madam Maria Bekefi and Mr. Richard Nordt, RAD and in 1966 became a member of the Royal Academy of Dance.
In 1972 she was invited by Mr. Robert Barnett to join the Atlanta Ballet where she was a principal dancer for 12 seasons. She danced principal roles in “Giselle”, Cinderella”, “Swan Lake”, “Serenade”, and “The Still Point”, which is her signature piece.
In 1986, in addition to teaching at the Atlanta School of Ballet she was appointed Ballet Mistress of The Atlanta Ballet II.
Miss McBeth also performed as a Guest Artist with her Atlanta Ballet partner Mr. Ron Jones from 1984 until their retirement in 1997.
In 1992 she helped create Capital City Ballet, a preprofessional dance company, with Tom Pazik and became Artistic Director after his death.
Miss McBeth has taught throughout the U.S. at summer intensives and dance festivals including the 50th anniversary of the Southeastern Regional Ballet Association (SERBA).
As Trustee of the choreography of Tom Pazik she has had the privilege of staging Mr. Pazik’s ballet’s all around the country.
Mrs Kenyon performing The White Witch
Mrs Kenyon with her husband, Trevor
Catherine Kenyon
Hi, dancers! My name is Catherine Kenyon and I am so excited to hear that you will be learning and performing "Joy" and "You're Beautiful" for Augusta Ballet's upcoming Fall Performance. I choreographed these pieces in 2017 with some dancers that you may recognize as apprentice and senior company members now. Both of these pieces are to showcase how joyful and beautiful God's love, sacrifice, and care for all of us are. I am honored to know that YOU will be communicating this message with an audience soon. I am also excited to step back into the studio this summer to work with you all on these pieces; the studio was my home for many, many years. I began dancing for Ron Jones in 2000 as a little firefly in Narnia. I joined the company in 2005 as a petite, which I fondly remember as one of the most fun-filled years of my life! I danced with the company until I graduated high school in 2013. Some of my favorite roles while dancing with the company were Tiger Lily (Peter Pan), Great Scott (Great Scott), Snowflake (Nutcracker), Celebrant (Narnia), The White Witch (Narnia), and The Maiden of Sorrow/Hope/Joy (Narnia). After dancing, I went to Clemson University for college where I've earned a few degrees in mathematics and where I currently work teaching college students math. However, even off at college while doing a bunch of math, my love for ballet and story-telling through dance never changed. There have been a few times since "leaving" that I've found myself back in Studio 1 with friends dancing again. I cannot wait for you all to experience the excitement of being in a ballet company and learning choreography to tell a story and I am honored to be a part of your journey. See you all this summer!
Gracie Stager
Gracie Stager began her ballet training in Columbia County Ballet’s Academy where she first performed as a Cherub at the age of three in the Roar of Love. When she was nine years old, she joined Columbia County Ballet’s Performing Company and performed the roles of Soldier and Angel in Nutcracker and Penelope in the Roar of Love. She continued to dance with CCB’s company throughout middle and high school, performing the roles of Clara, Dewdrop, and Sugar Plum in Nutcracker, and Flower Princess, Susan, and Maiden in Roar of Love. She also taught a variety of classes at CCB ranging from pre-ballet through company. She is currently dancing with the University of South Carolina’s dance company while pursuing a Bachelor’s degree in Dance Education.
