Artistic Director
Patricia Tomlinson
Patricia has enjoyed a successful Ballet career in the United States. Her formal training began with Elizabeth Carroll and Melissa Hayden in Saratoga, New York. She continued her studies in New York City at the School of American Ballet, the official school of NYC Ballet, where she was coached by George Balanchine, Alexandra Danilova, Peter Martins and Helgi Tomasson. While studying, Ms. Tomlinson was chosen by Natalia Makarova to perform in her company, Makarova and Company, on Broadway in New York City.
After graduating from her studies she joined the Houston Ballet Company and quickly rose to the rank of soloist, working with choreographers and coaches Kenneth MacMillian, Anton Dolin, Glen Tetley, Margot Fonteyn and Ivan Nagy. She continued her career with Pennsylvania Ballet performing soloist and principal roles. Her career continued in California, dancing with Diablo Ballet as a principal dancer.
During her professional career she represented the United States in the "Masaka Ohya Japan World Ballet Competition," in Osaka, placing fourth among a group of competitors from 32 countries. She has guest performed, taught and set ballets through out the United States.
Her wide ranging repertoire includes principle roles in "The Nutcracker," "Stars and Stripes," "Serenade," Carmina Burana," "The Firebird," "Swan Lake," "Les Sylphides," "Coppelia," "Esmerelda," "Apollo," "Sylvia," "A Midsummer Night's Dream," and "La Sylphide." Patricia also performed in the contemporary works of Glen Tetley, Choo San Goh, John Butler, Lynn Taylor-Corbet, Jerome Robbins, Bruce Wells, Dennis Nahat, Christopher D'Amboise, Lar Lubovitch, Paul Taylor, K.T. Nelson, and many more.
Patricia has been teaching, ballet mistressing and choreographing in the Easy Bay for the past 16 years. She is also a certified Pilates instructor who has taught through out the Bay area.
In 2009, Patricia founded the Orinda Ballet Academy and performing company for the Orinda Community Center. Patricia choreographed and directs the annual production of “A Sweet Dream Nutcracker” as well as past Spring productions of “Raymonda Variations,” “Coppelia,” “Sleeping Beauty,” and this present years production of “Cinderella’s Ball.” She greatly enjoys sharing her love of Ballet with her teaching, choreographing and directing ballet productions in the Orinda community.
Shahla Radetich -
Pre- Ballet, C0ntemporary , Jazz & Tap Instructor
Sarah Schori-
Pre-Ballet & Ballet Instructor
Sarah grew up in Moraga, California studying ballet at the Lamorinda Ballet Center. She continued her studies at the University of Arizona, earning a BFA in Dance. She is certified in Pilates and is currently teaching in the Bay area along side her ballet teaching. She also can be found performing locally in musical theater productions in and outside the Bay area with various theater companies.