Gary began teaching the ballet classes here in the Department of Theatre & Fine Arts in 1985. Currently for the BFA programs and the Dance minor, Gary teaches Ballet I, Ballet II, Ballet III and Ballet IV.
Professional Experience
Gary began performing with the Skidmore Dancers, Saratoga Ballet Company, Schenectady Civic Ballet, Buffalo Repertory Ballet Co. and Camelon Dancers. At Artpark, he choreographed and appeared in La Traviata and Rigoletto. He has also performed with Configuration Dance Theater in Michael Shannon’s ballet “Been there Done That” and as the Merlin character in “Arthur”. He has also choreographed numerous ballets for the Buffalo Repertory Ballet Co.
Previous teaching experience includes Skidmore College, New York State Summer School of the Arts, Darlene Ciglia Dance Project, Royal Academy of Ballet, Union College, Steppin Out Dance Academy, Performing Arts, Lockport City Ballet, Classical Ballet of Western New York, Dawn Marie’s Dance Works, Dance Spectrum, Ballet Regent School, David DeMarie’s and Mary Alice’s Dance Studio in Orchard Park and SUNY at Albany and Buffalo, among others.
As a judge, Gary has adjudicated numerous dance competitions in the U.S. and Canada including Cutting Edge, Dance Masters of America, and Western New York Dance Championships. In addition to teaching classical Vaganova technique in ballet, he has coached both figure skating for the Buffalo Skating Club and gymnastics at Gleasons Gymnastics. Gary also created a new ballet in collaboration with Peter Bennett on Jackie Gleason’s “Gigot” performed at Niagara University. Many of his students have gone on to join ballet companies and touring companies.
Current Projects/Research
- Most recently, Gary appeared on the new season of “Dance Twins” on the Lifetime network.
- Gary is also on faculty at American Academy of Ballet, Spezio’s Dance Dynamics, and Dance Spectrum.
- Other talents involve composing and producing music for dance, including a ballet class recording with pianist Guy Bolero.
Training
Gary began his formal training in the music department of SUNY at Albany, then went on to study dance with Melissa Hayden, Elizabeth Carroll, Edward Vilella, Kay Mazzo and Peter Martins at Skidmore College. He has also studied jazz with Rhett Dennis at the Luigi School in New York as well as modern dance with Ethel Winter of the Martha Graham School.