FACULTY

Faculty

Crystal Peterson

Crystal has danced ballet exclusively since the age of four and has been teaching ballet and

Floor-Barre for over 20 years.

Born in California under the maiden name of Peverley, Crystal began her ballet training at the age of four. She received her primary training from first Eleanore Zimmerman and then Shiela Rozann. At age ten, she was awarded full scholarship by the Ford Foundation for her classes at Rozann-Zimmerman Ballet Center in Chatsworth CA.. At age thirteen, Crystal attended the School of American Ballet's Summer Program on full scholarship. she continued her studies at SAB on full scholarship for two additional summers and the following winter. At age sixteen, Crystal attended the Joffrey Ballet School on full winter and summer scholarships. She has appeared with Joffrey and Nureyev in productions of Petruchka at Lincoln Center as well as dancing with the Metropolitan Ballet Co. in NYC. At seventeen Crystal became a Principal Dancer with the Tampa Ballet Co., performing lead roles in Classical and Contemporary Ballets by a variety of choreographers including Richard Sias, Michael Vernon and Ron Cunningham. Returning to New York, Crystal worked with various choreographers performing original works. After marrying her husband Ross Peterson and starting a family, Crystal continued to seek out a more in-depth knowledge of ballet. She began training with Zena Rommett, the creator of the world renowned Floor Barre Technique® designed for reducing injuries and purifying movements with refined alignment. Crystal soon became an instructor for Ms. Rommett teaching Floor-Barre Technique® and Ballet classes at the Joffrey School and Steps Studios in New York.

In 1998 Crystal, Ross and her three children moved back to Los Angeles when her mother had received a heart transplant. Crystal began teaching ballet and Floor-Barre in various schools, as well as founding the Classical Ballet Academy in 1990. In 1996 the Classical Ballet Academy found it's new home at our current facility in Altadena. Crystal's husband Ross renovated the entire space with a free floating sprung floor with the capacity to convert the studio to a theatre. In 1998 Crystal was invited to coach a select group of gymnasts in Hawaii to help in preparations for the 2000 Summer Olympics. She provided coaching in style, strength, alignment, centering and jumps. Crystal was also on the faculty at USC teaching intermediate and advanced ballet. A few years ago, CBA went through another renovation to enlarge their studio. This time her husband and her son Luke did the entire renovation. CBA has presented numerous ballets in a variety of theatres including their own. Students trained by Crystal have been invited to dance in prestigious schools such as the Royal Ballet, Bejart, San Diego Ballet, School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Chicago, Miami City Ballet and Alonzo Kings Lines summer program. Crystal also coaches students for the Youth American Grand Prix.

Star Peterson was born in New York City, where ballet began with the many classes attended up to delivery date by ex professional ballet dancer and mother, Crystal Peterson. Exposed to ballet since an infant, Star spent many days watching advanced–professional ballet dancers in classes taught by mother at Steps and Joffrey studios. Years later after moving to Southern California with her family, Star began her formal training at her mother’s academy at the age of 6. She has trained exclusively at the Classical Ballet Academy through the years and continues to take classes to date.

At the age of sixteen, Star began a two year intensive teacher’s training at the Classical Ballet Academy in Altadena, CA. Training included the Zena Rommett Floor-Barre Technique® in addition to a thorough training program in the many facets of ballet instruction. She started teaching adults and the beginning levels of CBA’s academy students that soon lead to gradually teach more advanced classes. Star then began to take on more teaching positions and branched out to local school’s as an after school ballet instructor. In 2004 she started teaching for JayVee Dance Performing Arts Center in Alhambra, CA as well as teaching a steady amount of classes and becoming the school administrator for CBA. In the summer of 2005 and 2009 Star taught for Alhambra High School’s summer dance intensive as a specialty instructor in ballet technique. Soon after she headed the ballet program as the primary ballet instructor at JayVee Dance, creating a syllabus for all ages and levels for greater progress. She was also on staff at Anatomy Fitness in Los Angeles teaching ballet to children. Star has performed in numerous classical, contemporary, and neo classical ballets throughout the years. She also has a well-rounded understanding and extensive experience in the facets of dance production including; running warm up classes, rehearsals, staging, costumes, lighting, promotion, choreography and working alongside choreographers. Star initially started choreographing for the Classical Ballet Academy’s school lecture demonstrations and showcases. She has staged excerpts from classic ballet’s “Sleeping Beauty” and “Don Quixote” for JayVee Dance’s annual school performances. In 2008 debuted “Re-Animation” a contemporary ballet set for a Choreography Showcase for up and coming choreographers. Choreographing opened the doors to the self-development of a greater dancer with an enhanced awareness and execution of style and musicality. She continues to be CBA’s administrator as well as an instructor at the Classical Ballet Academy. Star has been teaching, performing and choreographing for over ten years and couldn’t see herself doing anything else.

“Ballet is the basis of a lifestyle that is looked at as a source of great fulfillment and happiness.”

Star Peterson

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KEY Program

KEY Winter 2011-12

KEY Summer 2012

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