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Our Faculty

Christine Janis - Texas Youth Ballet Faculty

Christine Janis
Ballet

Born and raised in North Texas, Christine has been dancing for 11 years. She began studying ballet at the age of 10 with Texas Youth Ballet Conservatory. Upon graduating high school, Christine joined the Dallas-based company, Avant Chamber Ballet as a trainee. As a trainee, Christine has been the go-to understudy, dancing most of Avant Chamber Ballet’s 22/23 season, including Paul Mejia’s Nutcracker, works by director Katie Puder, and, under repetiteurs Shawn Stevens and Michelle Gifford, Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco. She played the dormouse in Katie Puder’s Alice in Wonderland. Christine has attended summer intensives across the country, including Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, NYC (where she was asked into the year-round program). Oklahoma City Ballet, and Ballet Met in Columbus Ohio. Christine has danced professionally as a guest artist at local area schools and has been offered an apprenticeship to Ballet Texas, and a contract to perform with a Houston area company.



Viviana Lubertino - Texas Youth Ballet Faculty

Viviana Lubertino
Ballet

Viviana was Principal Ballerina with the Teatro Municipal de Santiago, Chile. While there she danced Swanhilda in “Coppelia”, Sugar Plum Fairy in “Nutcracker”, the Black Swan Pas de Deux, and in “Le Corsair”. She studied under Gloria Kazda, Alexander Mintz, Antonio Truyol (Director, Corps de Ballet, Teatro Colon) and graduated with highest honors from the Instituto Superior de Arte del Teatro Colon, in Buenos Aires. She danced with the Ballet de Camara del Teatro Colon, the Ballet del Teatre Argentino de la Plata. Viviana has danced in “Les Sylphides” and “Swan Lake”. Since coming to the Dallas area, Valentina has danced with several local ballet organizations and taught extensively.



Laura Price - Texas Youth Ballety Faculty

Laura Price
Tap

Laura Price has danced professionally in the tap groups NStep, Rhythm Junkies, and others. She trained with Buster Cooper and has taken classes from one of the Nicholas brothers, got to shake hands with the great Gene Kelly, and many other tap greats. She was voted a Texas Tap Legend in 2012 by Dance Council North Texas. Laura’s alumni include Dylis Croman, who has played Roxie Hart on Broadway and in the National Tour of Chicago, and appeared in Fosse on Broadway.




Joel Christopher Cortez  - Texas Youth Ballety Faculty

Joel Christopher Cortez
Modern

Joel Christopher Cortez was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. He Graduated from Texas Woman's University with a Bachelor’s of Arts in Dance. Joel begun dancing at Freestyle dance Studio under the direction of Jay and Stephanie Hall. There he learned ballet, Luigi Jazz, and Tap. He taught youth Ballet/Folklorico/modern at Dance Institute of Dallas for the 2019-2020 season. Joel is currently a company member with Flamenco Black under the Direction of Antonio and Delilah Arrebola and Bridget Moore. He continues to take dance class regularly 5 days a week to learn and improve his technique.