Samantha Dunster Set for Sovereign Ballet's Summer Intensive, 7/13-18

SAMANTHA DUNSTER, balletmistress of the Pennsylvania Ballet, will be a member of the faculty for the Sovereign Ballet's Summer Intensive from July 13-18, 2015 which will take place on the Mercyhurst University campus in Erie, Pennsylvania.

SAMANTHA DUNSTER joined the Orlando Ballet in 2000 and was appointed to the position of Assistant to the Artistic Director of the Orlando Ballet. Having worked closely with artistic directors, Fernando Bujones and Bruce Marks, Ms. Dunster played a significant role in the Orlando Ballet's artistic operation.

Ms. Dunster began her professional training with Cristina Pora in Toronto, Canada. At the age of 17, she travelled to Havana, Cuba, to dance with the National Ballet of Cuba. She continued dancing with the Centro Pro-Danza, under the artistic director of Laura Alonso, where she also worked as regisseur. Ms. Dunster was awarded her teacher's diploma based on the Cuban method.

Ms. Dunster has also danced and taught in countries around the world, such as Sweden, Canada, Mexico, and Argentina, as well as the United States.

In 1996 Ms. Dunster accepted the position of artistic director and principal dancer of Bale de Ilha in Brazil where she mounted numerous productions of full-length ballets.

In 2011 Ms. Dunster was appointed the Chairperson of the University of Hartford's Dance Department's Hartt Community Division, and in 2014 Ms. Dunster joined the Pennsylvania Ballet as a balletmistress.

Ms. Dunster is also an accomplished choreographer and has choreographed a number of works for the Orlando Ballet. In 2001 Ms. Dunster choreographed La Fille Mal Gardee which was revived in 2005. In 2003, Ms. Dunster was invited to restage La Fille Mal Gardee on the National Ballet of Korea. In 2004, Ms. Dunster was invited by Fernando Bujones to choreograph a world premiere production, Camelot.

Ms. Dunster has also coached award winning medalists for international ballet competitions, and has won the Best Choreographer Award at the Youth America Grand Prix regional competition in 2004.

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