Craig Black
Born and raised in San Jose, California, Craig Black began dancing at age 10 with South Bay Dance Center. In 2007, as Captain of his nationally ranked dance team the Lincoln Convertibles, he won the title Mr. Dance of California through Dance Masters of America. Craig received his B.F.A. in Dance from The Juilliard School where he has performed works by Merce Cunningham, William Forsythe, Ohad Naharin, Twyla Tharp, Bronislava Nijinska, Stijn Celis, and Alexander Ekman. While attending Juilliard, Mr. Black has been fortunate enough to tour internationally to Germany and France and receive the 2010 Princess Grace Award in Dance. In his summers, Craig has been lucky to attend Springboard Danse Montreal, Maximum Dance Course in Den Haag, and Jacob’s Pillow in the Berkshires. Recently he was chosen as the 2011 Lorna Strassler Award recipient through the contemporary program at Jacob’s Pillow. Additionally, Craig has had the pleasure of performing works by Aszure Barton, Andrea Miller, Larry Keigwin, and Darrell Grand Moultrie. Craig is pleased to be starting his professional dance career with Aspen Santa Fe Ballet. When he’s not performing, Craig is also a master teacher and choreographer for many studios around the United States.
Alexandra Venter
Alexandra Venter was one of the founding dance students of South Bay Dance Center in 1999. Ms. Venter became a member of the regional ballet company South Bay Ballet Arts in 2004 and was a Soloist from 2005 - 2009. Ballet credits include The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty and Cinderella. Principal roles include Clara, Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy, Butterfly, Fairy of Grace, Princess Florine, and Cinderella. Ms. Venter has attended summer intensive programs at Contra Costa Ballet, City Ballet in San Diego, Marin Dance Theatre, and received a scholarship to Boston Ballet School’s summer program. She has had the privilege to study with many distinguished teachers including David Howard, Alonzo King, Susan Jaffe, and Andre Reyes. Through her experiences with South Bay Ballet Arts, Ms. Venter has been able to partner with many talented dancers
such as Jekyns Pelaez, Eric Bourman, and Charles Torres. In addition to ballet, Ms. Venter also dances jazz, tap, modern and hip hop. She has been a member of Pure Dance Productions, a jazz and tap performing company, for nine years. At age 14, Ms. Venter had her first professional ballet role when she was hired by Brentwood Ballet Theatre to perform the role of Sugar Plum Fairy. Since that time, she has danced professionally for the Chambersburg Ballet in Pennsylvania, Oakland Ballet
and Peninsula Ballet Theatre. Ms. Venter will be touring to Nevada this winter with Peninsula Ballet Theatre.
