About Sonoma Ballet Conservatory - Art Director: Patricia O'Reilly, ARAD

	SONOMA BALLET CONSERVATORY (SBC) Since 1970, Sonoma Ballet Conservatory has enjoyed teaching dance to the children of the Sonoma Valley area. The ballet curriculum at Sonoma Ballet Conservatory is based on the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) syllabus. In addition to excellent instruction in Ballet, SBC also offers classes in Jazz, Flamenco, Character, Modern and Drama—all styles found in the repertory of ballet companies worldwide and an important component in the overall training of students who wish to pursue a career in dance. Learning drama and other dance techniques can improve ballet technique and offer students new insights into different styles and teachers. Faculty at SBC will encourage and coach any students who wish to participate in the RAD system of examinations to track their progress. Guest instructors Ms. O’Reilly has hired include Jonathon Burnett (Irish National Ballet), Dawn Caccamo-Perrin (Joffrey Ballet) and Shannon Chain (American Ballet Theatre). It was a great honor when Libby Salerno, former ballerina with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and William Dollar Concert Ballet, voluntarily came out of retirement to teach at Ms. O’Reilly’s school in Vallejo. -------------------------------
	SONOMA BALLET THEATRE (SBT) Sonoma Ballet Theatre is the performing wing of Sonoma Ballet Conservatory. SBT is open to interested students in Intermediate I and above. These students sign a contract to attend any additional classes and rehearsals as well as agree to keep their academic grades above a certain level. SBT dancers perform at festivals and for social service organizations and are representatives of Sonoma Ballet Conservatory. As such, they are expected to be role models to the other students and examples of the artists Sonoma Ballet Conservatory believes all children can become. -------------------------------
	PATRICIA O’REILLY, ARAD Artistic Director, Sonoma Ballet Conservatory Ms. O’Reilly received her teaching certificate from the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and completed the Elementary, Intermediate and Advanced Executant Examinations with the RAD after extensive training with Katie Heil, a graduate of the Royal Ballet School’s Teacher Training Program. Ms. O’Reilly also studied with Kirk Peterson (Ballet Master, American Ballet Theatre) and Sally Streets (Artistic Director, Berkeley Ballet Theatre). Her performing experience includes Oakland Ballet, Santa Clara Ballet and Khadra International Dance Theatre. Ms. O’Reilly most recently served as Artistic Director of Vallejo Ballet Conservatory, which she established in 1993. Vallejo Ballet Conservatory students were accepted into the most prestigious dance programs both locally and nationally, including Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet DanceLab, Colorado Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, BalletMet, DanceAspen, Berkeley Ballet Theatre and Marin Dance Theatre. In addition, a student of Ms. O’Reilly’s was a semi-finalist in the Adeline Génée Dance Awards, the most prestigious competition for RAD-trained dancers. Tragically, in 2004, Ms. O’Reilly’s husband was bicycling home from his job in Santa Rosa and was killed by a drunk driver. Ms. O’Reilly realized that she was unable to run a business in Vallejo while living in Sonoma and caring for their 2 young daughters. Danny O’Reilly had also been a dancer and one of their dreams had been for her to teach in Sonoma. When the opportunity arose to assume directorship of Sonoma Ballet Conservatory and continue its long-standing tradition of excellence, she embraced it fully. Ms. O’Reilly is pleased to continue doing what she loves in such a wonderful place as Sonoma. -------------------------------
	ROYAL ACADEMY OF DANCE (RAD) Originating in England, and found in nearly every country throughout the world, the RAD is a system of dance instruction known for its comprehensive and safe approach to teaching Ballet to all children. The RAD develops a strong dancer with a well-rounded technique, artistry, musicality and accuracy of execution with each ballet level referring to a syllabus created by the Royal Academy. Thus, a student from Singapore can enter at the same level at a school in France with little deviation in curriculum and both student and school know what to expect from each other. The RAD offers examinations at selected levels so students and their teachers can track their progress. Some advanced-level students can qualify for the Adeline Génée Dance Awards, one of the most prestigious competitions in the ballet world. In addition, the RAD is one of the few systems that trains and certifies teachers to ensure quality and uniformity of teaching styles.