Co-Founder and Artistic Director JOSEPH CIPOLLA was born, raised and trained in Buffalo, New York. The New York Times described his technique as crisp and stylishly deft. The Birmingham Post called his stage presence "charismatic and sexy." The Village Voice admired his acting ability. He was a principal star for Dance Theatre of Harlem, Sadler's Wells Royal Ballet, and Birmingham Royal Ballet, and a favorite with choreographers and audiences for his ability to portray any role, the touchstone by which others are compared today when recreating his original roles. Nominated for an Olivier Award in 1993, he returned to perform with Catherine Batcheller in 1994, Marion Tate OBE (Order of British Empire) in 1995, and as a presenter in 1996. He performed in Royal Ballet and BBC televised productions, i.e., Margot Fonteyn's Magic of Dance, Hobsons Choice, The Nutcracker, Nutcracker Sweeties, and for Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. He founded CDT with Catherine Batcheller in 1999, retired in 2002, but returns to BRB for administrative and dancing roles, i.e., in 2007, BalletDance Magazine reported "the welcome return of long time favorite, Joseph Cipolla, as De Guiche in David Bintley's 'Cyrano,' where even under costume and heavy make-up, there is no mistaking his commanding presence." In 2006, his alma mater, St. Josephs Collegiate Institute, inducted him into the Fine Arts Wall of Honor for his contributions and achievements in the arts at home and abroad. In 2009, he co-founded the Configuration School of Ballet in Buffalo, New York.

Resident Choreographer MICHAEL SHANNON trained under scholarships from age 9 in Los Angeles, New York, Canada, Italy, Sweden, Hungary and Russia to become the first American graduate of the Moscow Choreographic Institute Bolshoi Ballet Academy and Hungarian State Ballet Institute (1989), and was awarded Professor of Choreography from the Ukrainian State Academy of Ballet (1999). The Bolshoi's Madame Golovkina told People Magazine (1989) how she discovered him at 16 when he was a member of the Royal Swedish Opera Ballet (1986), and by 19, he was a featured star on tour with the Bolshoi Academy, Stars of the Bolshoi, and Bolshoi Ballet for Artistic Director, Yuri Grigorovich. He was Principal Dancer for Artistic Director David Bintley (CBE) in England's Birmingham Royal Ballet, and for Artistic Director Elena Tchernichova in the Vienna State Opera Ballet, and others in the United States and Europe 1986-2008. The Russian Nobility League appointed him to direct and re-establish the Imperial Theatre of Opera and Ballet in Moscow (1995-97); co-Artistic Director & Choreographer for Russiches Kammertheater Berlin (1997-99). Since 1995, 40 of his ballets, operas, plays and films have premiered in the USA and Europe. He was commended for his leadership and achievements in the arts and representation of the United States abroad by the California Arts Council (1986), Town Hall of California (1986 & 1990), President George H.W. Bush (1990), L.A. Board of Supervisors (1990), President William Jefferson Clinton (1993); and was invited to dance for President Mikhail Gorbachev in Moscow (1989, ABC, Good Morning America) and President Gerald R. Ford in Vail (1994). In 2010, he was appointed Artistic Director of the Royal Ballet School of Antwerp for the Kingdom of Belgium.

Principal Guest Choreographer SUSAN JAFFE was born in Washington, D.C. and rose to stardom from age 8 to the School of American Ballet, ABT School, ABT II (16), ABT corps de ballet (18) where Artistic Director Mikhail Baryshnikov chose her (19) to be his new starring ballerina and partner to ABT Bolshoi legend, Alexander Godunov. In 2002, The New York Times described her 22-year legacy at American Ballet Theatre, "she was our long stemmed American rose, America's quintessential ballerina, she raised the standard of dancing, matched dazzle with eloquent form, never hesitated to extend her range, remold herself, and few excelled in as wide a repertory." Admired worldwide, she danced for England's Royal Ballet, the English National Ballet, Royal Danish Ballet, Royal Swedish Ballet, and Vienna State Opera Ballet. Today, her new roles are, choreographer, educator, author, television host, actress, business owner. She is a lecturer on "Excellence" for Duke Corporate Education; Advisor to ABT's Chairman for the Board of Governing Trustees (2002-2007); Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School faculty member since 2002; co-Founder, Director and partner at Princeton Dance & Theater Studio, and Dance Vision Youth Ensemble since 2003; a Dance Magazine Awardee who co-produced and hosted the weekly television show, "Dance New York," and was featured on "Dance in America," and in the movies, "Angie" starring Geena Davis, and the Frederick Wiseman documentary, "Ballet." In 2010, she was appointed Ballet Mistress of American Ballet Theatre.