Our staff makes the Ballet Concerto world go round.
MARGO DEAN
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & FOUNDER
Over 60 years ago, Margo Dean founded Margo Dean School of Ballet with a commitment to bringing the art of ballet and professional training for dancers to Fort Worth. In 1969, she founded Ballet Concerto with the hopes of making ballet available to all ages and socio-economic backgrounds. Since its inception, Margo has served as the Artistic Director and continues to do so to this day. Since the start, both Margo Dean School of Ballet and Ballet Concerto have become vital parts of Fort Worth's cultural life.
Margo started out her successful career in dance in the Dallas Summer Musicals and later, at the Louisville (Kentucky) Summer Theater. In 1955 she made her debut as resident choreographer for the Fort Worth Opera Association, and over the past 30 years, she has both choreographed and performed for them. In 1961 Margo also founded the Fort Worth Ballet Association, now the Texas Ballet Theatre, serving as the Artistic/Executive Director during its first year. Previously, Margo has served on the Board of Directors for the Fort Worth Symphony, the Hip Pocket Theatre and was president of the South Western Regional Ballet Association. Over her time, she has studied ballet in a variety of places including, New York, San Francisco, Cannes, France, Paris, London, Rio de Janerio and Havana.
In 1994, Margo was awarded the Mary MacClarry Bywaters Award by the Dallas Dance Council to honor a lifetime commitment to dance. In the spring of 2001, she was designated an Outstanding Women of Fort Worth by the Mayor's Council on the Fort Worth Commission of the Status of Women. In addition, Margo was awarded the Fort Worth Legacy of Women Award for outstanding recognition in the Arts in the fall of 2009.
Margo was married for 60 years to the late attorney Beale Dean. She has two children, Giselle Dean Miller and Webster Dean, and has two grandchildren, Liseanne Miller Scollen and Margo Dean Miller.
WEBSTER DEAN
ASSISTANT ARTISTIC DIRECTOR & ADMINISTRATOR
Webster Dean received his initial dance training from his mother, Margo Dean. He furthered his dance studies at the Harkness House in New York City and later attended the University of Utah, where he graduated with a BFA in ballet. Post graduation Webster joined Ballet West where he danced for twelve years, ultimately achieving the rank of a soloist. Touring with Ballet West, he spent a season at New York City Center and several seasons at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C.. After leaving Ballet West, Webster continued to dance with the Royal New Zealand Ballet, the Milwaukee Ballet, Colorado Ballet and Richmond Ballet. He has also performed for the Casa Mañana Summer Musicals, the Cleveland Playhouse, the Lyric Stage and in the Radio City Music Hall Christmas Spectacular. Webster has taught for the Margo Dean School of Ballet since 1991 and is a company teacher for Ballet Concerto. He has also been a guest instructor at Texas Christian University.
ELISE LAVALLEE
TEACHER & CHOREOGRAPHER, SUMMER DANCE CONCERT
Elise Lavallee is thrilled to be choreographing for SUMMER DANCE CONCERT. She has choreographed numerous musicals, and a few of her credits include: Merry Widow (University Of North Texas Opera), In the Heights (Artes De La Rosa), Jubilation ( Jubilee Theatre) Cabaret (Texas Wesleyan University), A Very Merry Unauthorized Scientology Pageant (Circle Theatre), Frog and Toad (Casa Manana). Lavallee was the Assistant choreographer for Figaro (Dallas Opera) and the workshop of Stagger Lee (Dallas Theater Center). She also was the assistant director in Dallas Theatre Center’s production of Give It Up (Lysistrata Jones), which went to Broadway. DVD credits include: choreographer for a Barney and Friends Music Video I Hear Music Everywhere, and assistant choreographer for Let’s Make Music, and Let’s Go To The Fire House.
As an instructor she has worked with Kids Who Care, and was the principal choreographer for eight years. Lavallee teaches for Margo Dean School of Ballet, Ballet International Elite Academy, All Saints Episcopal School, Texas Wesleyan University, Dance Theatre of Arlington, and Grand Prairie Fine Arts Academy. As a dancer Elise trained with Margo Dean School of Ballet and Texas Ballet Theater. Professionally she was a member of The Bruce Wood Dance Company, Ballet Concerto, and has performed in many musical theater productions with theaters including, Casa Manana, Dallas Theater Center, and Lyric Stage.
CARADEE CLINE
F.I.N.D. TEACHER
Caradee Cline is a Texas native and graduated from Texas Christian University. Previously, she has studied with Ilya and Zoya Gaft at the New York Ballet Institute and has danced with the Sarasota Ballet, Montgomery Ballet and Nevada Ballet Theatre. Caradee also danced with the City Ballet of San Diego where she was featured in Elizabeth Wistrich’s Raymonda Pas de Trois, The Nutcracker, Carmina Burana, Stravinsky Suite, Balanchine’s Four Temperments and Serenade. Since returning to Fort Worth, Caradee has danced with The Dallas Opera, Mejia Ballet International and several other local ballet companies in DFW. Caradee is now the principal teacher for Ballet Concerto’s F.I.N.D. (Find and Inspire New Dancers) Program.
LUIS MONTERO
GUEST CHOREOGRAPHER, SUMMER DANCE CONCERT
Born in Granada, Spain, Luis Montero studied Spanish Classical, Folkloric and Flamenco dance with many of Spain’s masters. A professional dancer by the age of fifteen, Luis has performed throughout the world as Principal Dancer, performing among other esteemed dancers like Jose Greco. Now a U.S. citizen, Luis has received many grants and awards for his work in the Spanish style, including grants from Northern Illinois University, Sam Houston State University, Mercyhurst College and Interlochen Arts Academy.
Luis has danced with major ballet and opera companies in the U.S., Canada, Russia, Italy, France, Denmark, China and Japan. He choreographed Bolero for Ballet Concerto in 1990 and since then has staged the performance for companies throughout the U.S. and in Japan and Denmark. Among his highly acclaimed choreographic works are El Amor Brujo, For Whom the Bell Tolls, The House of Bernarda Alba, Ravel’s Bolero, Rodrigo’s Concerto Andaluz and his balletic version of Bizet’s opera Carmen. He has choreographed and performed in modern and postmodern dance, musical comedy, grand opera and classical ballet both on stage and on television. Luis conducts master classes, seminars and workshops in Spanish dance. He also choreographs in Mexico where he has a winter home in Puerto Vallarta.