Central Wisconsin School of Ballet artistic staff

WALTRAUD G. KARKAR, Artistic Director
Waltraud Karkar is the founder of the Central Wisconsin School of Ballet & Wausau Dance Theatre, had her training in Europe and in the United States, and has completed the Vaganova (Russian) Grades with Madame Vilu Vecsey, Prima Ballerina, Budapest, Hungary. During her career as a teacher, she studied with and was coached by Joan Lawson, a well-known author, teacher, and former coach of The Royal Ballet; Stone-Camryn School of Ballet in Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet, New York City. Madame Karkar is the recipient of the first honorary degree from the Isadora Duncan International Institute to teach Isadora Duncan for Children, and writes a monthly column for the Wausau Daily Herald on dance. In the September 1998 issue of DANCE MAGAZINE, she was featured in the "Great Starts Series" as one of the great American teachers.

PATRIK KASPER
Patrik Kasper began his training at the Central Wisconsin School of Ballet and was also a scholarship student with Robert Joffrey in New York City. He has performed many of the major roles in the classics and Balanchine Ballets. He has performed with the Milwaukee Ballet, San Diego Ballet and Festival Ballet.

In 1992, Mr. Kasper and Valerie Robin competed in the Varna International Ballet Competition, becoming the first American couple in 10 years to make the final round. He is a certified Pilates Instructor and has worked with and trained many professional athletes, including Olympic figure skaters and gymnasts.

Mr. Kasper is the founder of SNEAKER MOVES an Out-Reach program geared for elementary and middle school students, a member of the Kennedy Center Education Alliance, is a regular on the Community Health Care Community Education Program circuit, and has lectured for the Wisconsin Women's Health Foundation.

ANNALUNA KARKAR
Ms. Karkar began her training with Madame Karkar and as a scholarship student at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. She continued her training with Dame Margot Fonteyn and Wayne Stewarte, both of the Royal Ballet, and has performed in many classical and contemporary ballets. Ms. Karkar has choreographed many variations and full length productions including The Tales of Peter Rabbit and Other Favorite Stories, Carnival of the Animals, and critically acclaimed Alice in Wonderland.

Her extensive background in production includes work for Telepictures and Warner Brothers. She has also worked in development of projects for musicians including; Kenny Loggins, and PowerStation. In 1993, Annaluna worked on the Ford's Theater Benefit for President Clinton, and in 1997 judged the finals of The Prelude Awards at the Indianapolis Children's Museum.

She is on the advisory committee for Tyler's Home - A respite home for children with disabilities, a board member of United Cerebral Palsy, and the Wisconsin Alliance for Arts Education. Annaluna has also served as an Artistic Program Support I panelist for the Wisconsin Arts Board 2000-2002.

Ms. Karkar was the 2002 recipient of the YWCA Woman of Vision Award.

KATRINA"KAT" MERRITT
Kat started dancing at the age of five. Following the family tradition, her mother , a fifteen year veteran on Broadway, and one of the youngest members of Ballet Rouse de Monte Carlo. Katrina was one of the youngest recipients of the Ford foundation School Scholarship/School of American Ballet, New York City.

A trained classical dancer, Katrina found a new love in Jazz and Musical Theater. Performing in New York, Los Angeles, Australia and Hawaii. Katrina added experience in the film and television industry as well as serving tour manager with rock and roll band "Cheap Trick". She is also the founder of Gatita Productions. Katrina is Wausau Dance Theatre's Associate Director and Rehearsal Master and the resident Jazz and Hip-Hop instructor at the CWSB.

124 N 3rd. Ave
Wausau, WI 54401
tel: 715-842-4447 • fax: 715-842-0005
info@cwschoolofballet.com