Christine Spizzo Serrano

In 1975, Christine joined American Ballet Theatre, under the direction of Lucia Chase, who promoted her to soloist in 1980.  A soloist with ABT from 1980-1988 (the Baryshnikov years), Spizzo was noted primarily for her "soubrette" roles, which included Amour and a Flower Girl in "Don Quixote", the Pigtail Girl in "Graduation Ball", the White Cat in "Sleeping Beauty", a Harlot in "Romero and Juliet", and virtually every "pas de trios" in the ABT classical repertoire.  She performed with Mikhail Baryshnikov in Apollo, and danced leading roles in Concerto, Carmen, Bouree Fantasque, and Paul Taylor's "Airs".

Ms. Spizzo appeared in all of the ABT "Live from Lincoln Center" telecasts, and in several "Dance in America" programs between 1975 and 1988.  She performed in both of the Baryshnikov television productions -- "The Nutcracker" and "Don Quixote" -- and appeared in both of the Herbert Ross/ABT motion pictures, "The Turning Point" (1977) and "Dancers" (1987).

Christine was a Principal dancer with Ballet Arizona in Phoenix (Jean-Paul Comelin, Director).  From 1988-1990, where she danced lead roles in Comelin's "Nutcracker, "Coppelia', "Requiem", and "Idylle Pas de Deux", as well as in Balanchine's Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux.  Also during the late 1980's Spizzo performed independently with Martine van Hamel's "New Amsterdam Ballet" (US tour), the "Dances...Patrelle Co" (Gregory/Bujones' City Center season), the Santa Fe Chamber Music Festival (Lila York/Bruce Adolph's Sharehi), and with the "Nureyev and Friends" North American tour.  Christine was also featured Guest Artist of the Greensboro Civic Ballet and the Princeton Ballet Company earlier in her career.  Finally, Spizzo performed on Broadway in "The Phantom of the Opera" for 10 years.  This, her first and only Broadway experience was where she ultimately retired from the stage.

Ms. Spizzo is widely recognized for her teaching, and is currently a full-time ballet-faculty teacher at the NC School of the Arts. 

Prior to assuming her position at NCSA, she was, for several years, an adjunct teacher in New York at NYU (Program in Dance Education), and several years, and at SUNY/Purchase.  She was the original Artistic Coordinator of the ABT Summer Programs (NYC and Austin, TX).  Also during her years as a dancer in New York, Spizzo was a regular teacher at the David Howard Dance Center (summer programs), the Eglevsky Summer Dance Camps, the Ballet Hispanico (company and school), Ballet Academy East, the Red Bank Ballet (NJ) and the School of Performing ARts in New Milford, CT.

Christine currently lives in Winston-Salem with her husband, Raymond Serrano, a masseur, who was himself a dancer with ABT, and is also a teacher at the NC School of the Arts.

Raymond Serrano was born on the island of Vieques in Puerto Rico.  He began his early ballet studies with his mother, Louis Kolb, and continued formal training with the Ballets de San Juan, the National Academy of Ballet in New York, and the School of American Ballet.  His first professional experience was with the Ballets de San Juan, and the National Ballet of Washington.  A soloist with the National Ballet from 1969-72, Serrano also made guest appearances with the Maryland Ballet, Miami Ballet, New Jersey Garden State Ballet, Eglevsky Ballet, Ballet Concierto, and the Ballets de San Juan, during that same period.

Prior to joining the American Ballet Theatre in 1975, Serrano toured with ABT's "junior" company, the Ballet Repertory Co., where he performed, most notably, the classical pas de deux, "Black Swan," "Spring Waters," and "Flower Festival."  Also, in 1976, Serrano originated the role of "Daphnis" in Jean-Paul Comelin's production of "Daphnis and Chloe" for the Milwaukee Ballet.

With American Ballet Theatre, Raymond developed an outstanding reputation for his character acting/dancing.  He received critical acclaim for his performances as "Herr Drosselmeier" in Baryshnikov's "The Nutcracker," "Madge, the Witch" in "Graduation Ball," "Hilarion" in "Giselle," "Tybalt" in "Romeo and Juliet", and "Espada" in "Don Quixote".  Also known for his skillful partnering, he was cast in the original production of Tudor's "The Leaves are Fading," and was chosen to dance the "Pas de Trois" in Glen Tetley's "Voluntaries" by Tetley himself.  Raymond appeared in all of ABT's "Live From Lincoln Center" broadcasts and in several "Dance in America" programs, between 1975 and 1990.  He performed in Baryshnikov's televised productions of "The Nutcracker" and "Don Quixote", as well as in the Herbert Ross film which featured ABT, "The Turning Point".  During his 20 years with ABT, Serrano toured with the company throughout the United States, South America, Japan and Europe.

Mr. Serrano was the Company Masseur for the American Ballet Theatre from 1984-1994.  He also worked as the masseur for Baryshnikov's "White Oak Dance Project", Ballet Arizona, the Cannon Film Company ("Dancers"), and the Evian "Domaine du Royal Club/Spa" promotional in New York.  He was, for more than ten years, a self-employed masseur in mid-town Manhattan, and, as such, was particularly well-known within the Broadway theater community.

In addition, Serrano has taught ballet and partnering classes for the ABT Summer Intensive Program (NY-1996), Ballet Academy East (NY-1997), the State University of New York (Purchase), the Red Bank Dance Academy (NJ), the Serrano School of Ballet (PR), the Greensboro Civic Ballet, and the "Festival of NC Dance", at NC School of the Arts.  Raymond is currently a part-time ballet-faculty teacher at the NCSA and together with his wife, Christine Spizzo, also a dance teacher at NCSA, resides in Winston-Salem.

James Clouser has distinguished himself in the international dance world as a dancer, instructor, and choreographer. Early in his career, Mr. Clouser danced with American Ballet Theatre, and for twenty years was a principal artist with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet in Canada. He then taught at the Julliard School, Connecticut College, the University of Houston at Clear Lake, Loretto Heights College, Texas Christian University, and the University of North Texas. Mr. Clouser served as Ballet Master of Houston Ballet and Artistic Director of Dayton Ballet. He has choreographed numerous original works, including “Carmina Burana,”  and “Vampire Follies” for Ballet Dallas. In addition, Mr. Clouser’s choreography has been recognized at regional, national, and international dance festivals. He is currently a Professor of Dance at the University of Arizona in Tucson.

Larry White teaches modern dance technique and composition at Southern Methodist University.  A former principal dancer in the Martha Graham Dance Company, he also performed with the Minnesota Dance Theatre and in the companies of Pearl Lang, Paul Sanasardo, Peter Sparling, and Manual Alum.  Larry has choreographed more than sixty works, including many for his own companies, Larry White and Friends, and MOVINGStill, and for groups that have performed in numerous cities in the U.S., Russia, and Hong Kong.  He has taught at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and at the Alvin Ailey School.  He was a senior Guest Lecturer at the Hong Kong Academy for Performing Arts, and assoiciate professor of dance at Butler University.  His interest in the cultural context of dance led him to study dance ethnology at U.C.L.A. and to investigate the relationship of Islamic belief to attitudes regarding dance in West Africa.  He is currently a student of Argentine tango and on staff at Southern Methodist University as Professor of Dance.