Leadership

While a music scholarship student training to become a conductor, Daniel Simmons began studying ballet with Doria Avila (New York City Ballet) at the Texas Academy of Ballet. Grethe von Bullow's (Royal Danish Ballet, Ballerina) private instruction and encouragement was a major force in his pursuit of a career in classical ballet.

Mr. Simmons, a 1964 San Francisco Ballet School, Ford Foundation scholarship recipient, joined the San Francisco Ballet in 1968. He performed soloist and principal roles with the San Francisco Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Ballet Del Nuevo Mundo- Caracas, Deutsche Oper Berlin and Les Grands Ballet Canadiens. He worked with world-renowned choreographers and classical ballet directors. His performance career included Broadway productions as well.

Mr. Simmons graduated with honors from the Royal Academy of Dancing, Professional Dancers Teachers' Course, London, England and received ballet and teacher training to include a teacher's certificate from the Vaganova Choreographic Institute in St. Petersburg, Russia.

A member of the San Francisco Ballet faculty for eight years, Mr. Simmons taught for both the company and the school and has been an international guest instructor for the Royal Ballet School, the Royal Academy of Dancing, London, the Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and the Joffrey Ballet School (NYC). He was Artistic Director, San Jose Dance Theatre Academy, California. For the past five years, Mr. Simmons was Director of the Budig Academy, Cincinnati Ballet.

Nancy Fountain danced professionally with the Louisville Ballet, Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, the Utah Opera Ballet and the Philadelphia Opera Company. She received her initial ballet training in Wilmington, Delaware with Catherine Streltzov (Chicago Opera Ballet) and Jeanne Reeves Kaufman (New York City Ballet). She subsequently trained at the School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, and the University of Utah with Lupe Serrano, Toni Lander and Willam Christensen.

Ms. Fountain completed three pedagogical training courses and received certification in the Vaganova Syllabus for teachers of classical ballet and attended an in depth seminar, School of the Paris Opera Ballet Methodology. She has experience teaching dancers age four through professionals. For the past five years, Ms. Fountain was Principal and Assistant to the Director of the Budig Academy, Cincinnati Ballet. She has been a faculty member of CCM's Preparatory Dance Division, the Connie Dow Dance Center, and the Wyoming Fine Arts Dance Program. She has been a guest instructor for many schools and colleges, notably the University of Cincinnati Dance Division, SCPA, the University of Louisville Dance Academy and Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Michigan.

In addition, Ms. Fountain holds a B.S. in Clothing & Textiles/Dance Costuming from the University of Utah. She was a costumer with the Louisville Ballet and freelance costumer for numerous dance companies and colleges.