Kathleen Waltz
Academy Founder and Director, Kathleen Waltz, owner/director of Houston International Ballet Academy, began her ballet training in Southern California, receiving her formative training in Ballet Russe and continued her pre-professional training in Vaganova. Waltz danced as soloist and principal with Basel Ballet in Switzerland, Boston Ballet, Nevada Dance Theater, and San Antonio Ballet. She has performed as guest artist for many regional companies, including Clear Lake Metropolitan Ballet and Delta Festival Ballet. Waltz was director of Springfield Ballet in Missouri from 1985 to 1987.

Lauren Humphries
Ballet Instructor, Lauren Humphries is a graduate student of Houston International Ballet Academy. She has attended intensive ballet workshops with Austin Ballet, Universal Ballet Academy, and Colorado Ballet. Lauren is a company member of League City Ballet. Her past performances have included roles in the "Nutcracker", "Midsummer Night's Dream", "Giselle", "Paquita", and "Peter and the Wolf".

Ashley Hoffmann
Ballet Instructor, Miss Hoffmann is a Level 6 student at the Academy. She as attended intensive workshops with Russian Masters and known dancers. She is also a company member with the League City Ballet. She performed as a soloist in Houston International Ballet Academy's production of "Giselle". Other performing credits include the "Nutcracker", and "Midsummer Night's Dream".

Galina Sower is the Academy accompanist. She plays for our Level 6 class. Miss Sower received her degree for ballet accompanist in Russia.

Teachers Assisants, Miss Jessica Cetrone and Miss Kayla Orsak are the Academy's teacher assistants for our younger level classes in Pre-Ballet through Ballet 1. They are both students in upper level classes at the Academy.

BeBe Kelly-Serrato
Vocal Instructor, BeBe Kelly-Serrato, started her career in theater at the high school level, continuing with a degree in secondary education and a minor in music. Miss Kelly-Serrato has performed in numerous productions at Clear Creek Country Theater and Harbour Playhouse.

 

Guest Instructors

The Academy is pleased and honored to list the following guest instructors for our ballet Masterclasses and Workshops: Soili Arovola; Leo Ahonen; John Magnus; Irina Vahkromeeva; Konstantin Kolotov; Val Salnikov; Firat Ozsoy; Lauren Anderson; Milena Leben; John Andrew Ruth, and Arkadiy Orohovsky.