Over 100 years ago my grandparents settled on a farm between the towns of Joes and Cope on the eastern plains of Colorado, where my mother was born and raised. After she met my father, they moved to Denver, where I grew up. I graduated from John F. Kennedy High School and received a BA degree from Rockmont college (now Colorado Christian University) in 1974.
For the past 37 years I have owned and operated a media and video production service. It was my privilege to serve on the Board of Trustees for Colorado Christian University for many years, and to help found Christian Home Educators of Colorado in 1990.
Government has been a strong interest for me for all of my adult life. I was chosen to participate in the Colorado Republican Leadership Program in 2000. In that same year, Governor Owens appointed me to serve on the Colorado Commission on Family Medicine. Two and a half years later I was elected to the Colorado House, where I served until, in 2009, I was appointed to a vacancy in the Colorado State Senate. In 2010 I was elected to my first full term in the Senate and reelected for a second term in 2014.
With a deep love for our beautiful state, I have backpacked all across the Colorado Rockies, including a 700 mile trek along the Continental Divide. In 1997 I fulfilled a lifetime dream of building a solar and wind powered home, which we continue to live in today.
Monique Verpoort is a registered social worker and trainer who has worked in the field of children’s mental health for close to twenty years. She is a certified practitioner in the modality of Emotional Freedom Techniques (EFT) with NeftTI and previously with EFT International.
Monique has been on a path of personal development and spiritual enlightenment for as long as she can remember. Her desire for wholeness rather than perfection has resulted in a major shift in her process of transformation. Freedom from judgment, self-imposed or externally based, has created space for greater love, laughter and life fulfillment.
Her experience working with both clients and professionals as well as doing her own personal work over the years has provided her with a unique perspective on the way in which self-regulation techniques such as EFT coupled with focused action, can transform limiting beliefs into peace of mind, increased joy, positive transformation, and a life of unexplored possibility at any age. Monique has seen lives radically change for the better when subconscious limiting beliefs are transformed into empowered ones, and she continues to dedicate her life to helping women become emotionally free.
Anthony Werhun is a television, film and commercial director who development the award- winning Comcast series, “Voices of The Civil Rights Movement” and feature documentary “James Hemings: Ghost in America’s Kitchen.”
Anthony directed two award-winning documentaries in 2004 and 2006 before taking a position with NFL Films in 2009. In 2010 Anthony joined Cornerstone Pictures, where he has produced and/or directed projects for commercial clients such as Centers for Disease Control & Prevention, Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, Starkist, Chesapeake Energy, Hersheypark, Turkey Hill, and Conair, while collaborating with Comcast for nine years on the expansive civil rights multi-platform docuseries, “Voices of The Civil Rights Movement,” which is the most watched Comcast original programming to-date.
In 2017 Anthony partnered with Chef Ashbell McElveen to create a documentary about the life, legacy, and erasure of America’s unknown culinary founding father, James Hemings. “Ghost in America’s Kitchen” debuted at The Roxbury International Film Festival in 2021, winning Best Feature Documentary.
Anthony is currently directing documentary projects based in New York City while supporting the recently released Hemings documentary and delivering 10th anniversary segments of “Voices of the Civil Rights Movement.” He looks forward to creating compelling and impactful documentary programming for years to come.
Guest Occupation: Hand Analyst, Coach, Storyteller
Guest Biography:
ABOUT Leslie Zemenek:
For three decades Leslie has been decoding the life story in people's fingerprints and hands, helping them break through their blocks and write their happy endings. After her own hero's journey divorcing a narcissist and ending lifelong patterns of wrong choices and abuse, she wrote her own happy ending, and called in her perfect soulmate.
Now she has made it her my mission to teach others who are ready to do the deep work necessary, how to fall madly in love with who they are, so they can call in their soulmate and find true, healthy, and everlasting love.
Guest Occupation: Full-time volunteer at Diviners, Psychologist
Guest Biography:
NGAN JASMINE NGUYEN (Nguyễn Thúy Ngân)
Ngan Jasmine Nguyen is a full-time volunteer at Diviners. Jasmine was featured on national Television and press for winning 3 prestigious scholarships from 3 billionaires to start multiple community projects. In former lives, as a Watson fellow, Jasmine traveled solo for 15 months to 10 countries across 4 continents with one purpose: to support the growing movement of business which prioritizes people and planet over short-term profit maximization.
During her Watson fellowship, she collaborated with local social entrepreneurs, accelerators and incubator programs, government agencies, universities, think tanks to gain a systems perspective that could nurture a movement of social initiatives for youth.
After her fellowship, Jasmine became Regional Manager Asia Pacific Region at AngelHack for 2 years, where she engaged its diverse community of 160,000+ developers, designers, and entrepreneurs in Hackathons, accelerator programs, and various innovation initiatives.
Jasmine graduated Cum Laude from Macalester College in Minnesota with a degree in Psychology.
ALISUN (Alison Solis) was born in the United States and is proud of her Latin roots, Cuban on her mother’s side and Mexican on her father’s side. The love that her parents have transmitted to her for cultural expression of both countries is reflected in her passion for music and artistic expression.
Since she was very young, she developed her talent and dedicated herself to taking piano, vocal, acting classes and also showing her heart in her compositions. From an early age she has enjoyed the stage and has always dedicated herself to perfecting her skills by participating in endless plays and live musical performances.
In recent years, thanks to her artistic abilities and dedication, she has received the invitation to be part of important tours, as was the case with Camila, in which for more than a year she toured the United States and all of Latin America, showing that she was born to dedicate herself to the scenarios.
On January 21, 2022, ALISUN presented her first single with which she formally began her solo career in the world of music, a song of her own inspiration in English entitled “HYPOTHERMIA” within the indie/pop genre, in which she worked not only in the composition but also in the arrangements and production, and which will be part of her first studio album.
ALISUN has defined her music as a magical and immersive experience, and to give continuity to her project, on April 1, 2022 the magic continued with the premiere of a new song “THEY LIVE IN AND AROUND US”.
“THEY LIVE IN AND AROUND US” is her second promotional single and listening to it, we can once again feel that the essence and sensitivity of the young singer-songwriter, where she expresses with unusual subtlety and exquisite talent her purest feelings and lofty ideals when it comes to composing and interpreting.
Guest Occupation: Multimedia, Interactive Creator and Producer
Guest Biography:
TESS CACCIATORE
Tess is a Multimedia/Interactive Creator and Producer with 25+ years in the entertainment/technology and philanthropic arenas.
Tess is also the Founder and CEO of GWEN Global LLC a for-profit company dedicated to social impact & positive change in the entertainment arena, which also emcompasses Global Women’s Empowerment Network (a 501c3).
Tess is a best-selling author, award-winning producer/filmmaker/songwriter, as well as a Director, keynote speaker, and social entrepreneur who has dedicated her life to advocating for “Transforming lives through the power of storytelling!”
In 2003, Tess was awarded the Fete d’ Excellence within the Sub-Commission for Human Rights at the United Nations (Geneva, Switzerland) for her work in edu-tainment. Throughout the years, Tess has been honored with multiple awards, including in 2011 she won Mobile Excellence Award for the GWEN Alert, FREE downloadable safety app with video-cloud private storage to protect those in need.
Tess is currently working on an original, scripted series called “The Wright Turn” as co-creator, co-writer and Director.
This multi-cultural cast reflects true stories from the Gwen community in a scripted manner, so that we can continue to put forth healing through storytelling, “trauma to transformation.”
HE WRIGHT TURN
Here is what Tess and Terrah had to say – perhaps you can relate. We got tired of people saying NO! We got tired of an industry that says, “you’re too OLD!” We got tired of waiting for someone to say “Hey ladies, we like you”. So instead of waiting for a seat at the table, we built our own table, pulled up two chairs and went to work.
In 2015 Tess had an opportunity to mentor female millennial directors for a network web-series competition. Although the network’s demographics were women 40-plus, the ideas that were presented were focused on the younger demographics. Realizing there was a void in the stories about women her age, Tess asked to put her hat into the ring and created a project which focused on a 50-year-old woman on her journey to self-rediscovery. In the meantime Terrah, who had made the decision to transition to behind the camera and focus on raising her three children, was
slowly returning from an eight-year acting hiatus. Tess needed an actress and Terrah was eager to act again. The network decided to shelve the competition, so Tess’ project was never submitted. Three years later, Tess and Terrah sat down, restructured the idea and story-line, and gave birth to – The Wright Turn.
The Wright Turn is based on true stories. Interviews with various women and men in the 50 plus club were underway, and knowing how the industry often type-cast actors, The ladies sat down with their actors to find out what types of roles they’ve always wanted to play but have been denied the opportunity. They found a way to incorporate each actors’ ideas, which made the character fun to portray. The series also features product lines by cast members and others as a way to support entrepreneurship.
What is The Wright Turn? It’s not a comedy or a drama, it’s a whole bunch of life’s shit, mushed together, and served to us as our individual journeys. From career/romance/motherhood to homelessness/sex trafficking/mental illness and more.It has been a journey to say the least. The idea of creating, and executing 8-forty-five minute episodes independently, was a surmountable feat, but for these two multi-hyphenates, both directors, writers, producers, editors, actors… It was a challenge worth taking on.
Guest Occupation: Actress, director, producer, singer/ songwriter, screenwriter, Life Coach, and Manager
Guest Biography:
TERRAH BENNETT SMITH
Terrah, a Native New Yorker, has enjoyed a rich and multi-faceted career in the entertainment industry having worked as an actress, director, producer, singer/ songwriter, screenwriter, Life Coach, and Manager. On-camera a few of her TV Recurring/Guest Star credits include: STUCK WITH YOU, 68 WHISKEY, BOSCH, GAMES PEOPLE PLAY, 9-1-1.
She is co-Creator-Executive Producer-Writer, and star of “THE WRIGHT TURN”, and co-Director-Producer-Co-Stars in EXTRACTION. Terrah currently co-hosts SUNDAY BITES & TIDBITS, a health conscious show with Celebrity-Chef Babette, which can be seen on the Vitalcy network. Terrah’s stage credits range from Broadway to Regional Theatre.
Behind the camera, Terrah made her directorial debut with the feature film “FLIP THE SCRIPT,” and is currently directing the television show AFTER MIDNIGHT. She recently completed directing the feature film, LOS ANGELES BAKERS, a pilot for a new sitcom, SLEEPING WITH STRANGERS, and is scheduled to direct the Rom/Com feature film, MY PERFECT LIFE… ONCE I CHANGE YOU! This mother of three, is also the CEO/Founder of Royal One Entertainment, and Reclaim Haven, a wellness platform for women.
THE WRIGHT TURN
Here is what Tess and Terrah had to say – perhaps you can relate. We got tired of people saying NO! We got tired of an industry that says, “you’re too OLD!” We got tired of waiting for someone to say “Hey ladies, we like you”. So instead of waiting for a seat at the table, we built our own table, pulled up two chairs and went to work.
In 2015 Tess had an opportunity to mentor female millennial directors for a network web-series competition. Although the network’s demographics were women 40-plus, the ideas that were presented were focused on the younger demographics. Realizing there was a void in the stories about women her age, Tess asked to put her hat into the ring and created a project which focused on a 50-year-old woman on her journey to self-rediscovery. In the meantime Terrah, who had made the decision to transition to behind the camera and focus on raising her three children, was
slowly returning from an eight-year acting hiatus. Tess needed an actress and Terrah was eager to act again. The network decided to shelve the competition, so Tess’ project was never submitted. Three years later, Tess and Terrah sat down, restructured the idea and story-line, and gave birth to – The Wright Turn.
The Wright Turn is based on true stories. Interviews with various women and men in the 50 plus club were underway, and knowing how the industry often type-cast actors, The ladies sat down with their actors to find out what types of roles they’ve always wanted to play but have been denied the opportunity. They found a way to incorporate each actors’ ideas, which made the character fun to portray. The series also features product lines by cast members and others as a way to support entrepreneurship.
What is The Wright Turn? It’s not a comedy or a drama, it’s a whole bunch of life’s shit, mushed together, and served to us as our individual journeys. From career/romance/motherhood to homelessness/sex trafficking/mental illness and more.It has been a journey to say the least. The idea of creating, and executing 8-forty-five minute episodes independently, was a surmountable feat, but for these two multi-hyphenates, both directors, writers, producers, editors, actors… It was a challenge worth taking on.
Alexzandria Morgan wins the heart of discriminating audiences each and every time she performs. She masterfully belts out song after song in a diversity of genres from R & B and Jazz Standards to Alternative Music, Dance Music, and Rock.
Alexzandria began her career at an early age, breaking down Las Vegas entertainment doors at just 16 years old. Even then, she was determined and focused on becoming Las Vegas’ next triple threat. She has succeeded!
Though based in Las Vegas, Alexzandria is currently touring all over the world, opening up and singing backgrounds with various artists including Phil Perry, Tony Terry, Ronnie Laws, Bobby Womack, Ollie Woodson, Ron Tyson, and the Ohio Players. She has also headlined in her own right at international venues in several countries including Japan, China, Brazil, and Korea and was recently selected as a featured singer for the legendary Barbara Streisand’s backing group at the MGM Grand in Las Vegas.
Despite her youth, Alexzandria has the presence of a veteran vocalist, carrying herself with poise and professionalism normally seen in older artists. Even before a note is lifted … before her voice floors delighted listeners, people get a sense of the greatness about to unfold just by looking at her. That is her energy, and she always delivers.
Alexzandria is a dedicated entertainer who is constantly perfecting her craft. Simply put she’s a “Rising Star.” Follow it and see what happens!
Blessed with a sensual baritone bass voice, Will Wheaton is an extraordinarily refreshing singer / songwriter. His fertile gospel background helps him cultivate his own unique sound that is rich and gritty. With a deep resonant voice, reminiscent of his earlier influences Barry White and Teddy Pendergrass, Will strips away the veneer of a traditional ballad with vocal prowess and perfection usually reserved for such contemporary artist as Luther Vandross, John Legend, or Maxwell.
He has an articulated gift of creating music with heart and range, effortlessly crossing the lines of Pop, R&B & alternative soul.
Will has earned a reputation as an accomplished background vocalist by working with a stellar lineup of talent as Michael Bolton, Natalie Cole, Coolio, Celine Dion, Michael Jackson, Quincy Jones, Luis Miguel, Montel Jordon, Kenny Loggins, Whitney Houston, Diana Ross, Chaka khan, and Rod Stewart.
Guest Occupation: General and forensic psychiatrist, educator, court expert testimony provider
Guest Biography:
DR. TRACEY MARKS
Dr. Marks is a general and forensic psychiatrist of over 20 years whose mission is to increase mental health awareness and understanding by educating people on psychiatric disorders, mental well-being, and self-improvement. She believes that insight creates change, both on a micro-level (personal growth) and a macro-level (reduction in fear and social judgment). Dr. Marks produces educational videos on her YouTube channel, DrTraceyMarks.
As a forensic psychiatrist, she has formulated over 1000 opinions through Independent Medical Evaluations, criminal assessments, or civil litigation consultations. She has been qualified as an expert in multiple federal and state courts and military court-martial. She also maintains a general psychiatry clinical practice focusing on mood disorders, anxiety disorders, and burnout.
Dr. Marks has been sought after by CNN and HLN for forensic and general psychiatric commentary.
Guest Occupation: U.S. Army Veteran, Death Row Correctional Officer, Corporate Sales Trainer, and Author
Guest Biography:
WAYNE ALTMAN
With a strong desire to make a difference to the people around him, Wayne Altman has worn many hats during his 54 years of life on planet Earth. Born in California but raised in Texas, Wayne grew up knowing he wanted to serve others. U.S. Army Veteran, Death Row Correctional Officer, Corporate Sales Trainer, and Author of 6 books on Mortgage and Credit.
Wayne has traveled to 19 countries and visited 49 States teaching Credit to consumers and Loan Officers in the Mortgage Industry. He currently owns multiple (14) online businesses all designed to enrich the lives of his customers and his community.
His latest business is Melody Clouds, a subscription relaxation website and app. With 8000 hours of Solfeggio, Binaural Beats, Guided Meditation, and 17,000 + Audiobooks all designed to relax and educate its subscribers at a price point other services just will not touch.
Wayne has determined that the healing and beneficial effects of this technology should be available to everyone who wants it. So, Melody Clouds is translated into over 100 different languages, and its membership spans across the globe. Wayne is married to the love of his life Traci, and together they are raising three incredibly beautiful and talented daughters. Cassidy, Reagan, and Morgan.
Guest Occupation: Actress, singer, filmmaker, writer, and director
Guest Biography:
JADE TAILOR
Jade Tailor is an actress of both stage and screen, a singer, filmmaker, writer, and director. She is known for starring as Kady in the Syfy / Netflix critically acclaimed drama series, “The Magicians.” The network’s top scripted series was based on Lev Grossman’s best-selling trilogy and centered around Brakebills University, a secret institution specializing in magic. Tailor’s character, Kady, was a fan-favorite who suffered from loss and addiction.
Tailor previously appeared in multiple episodes of Steve Bochco’s TNT series ‘Murder In the First’ as well as several episodes of the NBC series ‘Aquarius’, playing the love interest to David Duchovny. She also guest starred in the series ‘True Blood’ (HBO) and ‘Vegas’ (CBS).
Her film credits include the IFC feature ‘Juke Box Hero’, ‘Higher Power’ currently streaming on Hulu, Joel Soisson’s thriller ‘Cam2Cam’, and ‘24 Hours to Live’ directed by Benny Boom, and many more.. A true multihyphenate, Tailor is currently writing, producing, and directing projects under her production company, Eyeris Entertainment, a platform for women to tell their positive, inspirational stories.
She recently directed and produced two films that she wrote: ‘The Shift’ which stars Danny Trejo and ‘Within The Silence’ which won several awards on the festival circuit. Tailor also wrote a biopic about Hedy Lemar entitled ‘Hedy’ that she will also direct.
Off screen, Tailor is an Ambassador to the Women’s History Museum and is involved with several non-profit organizations including The New Hollywood, NOW: National Organization for Women, among others. She is also a certified life coach, domestic violence counselor, facilitator and keynote speaker for various self-development and empowerment organizations. She is currently making an album and is set to direct a feature film in the fall.
Guest Occupation: Retired Firefighter and Account Executive at O2X Human Performance
Guest Biography:
John Vargo is an Account Executive at O2X Human Performance. John joined O2X five years after retiring from the Chandler Fire Department after a 20-year career. After retiring from the fire department, John formed Turn In, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization, to introduce first responders to meditation and performance through mindfulness. John has been a keynote speaker addressing first responder mental wellness for various state and city agencies across the country. In 2021 John kicked off a podcast, The Inside Job Podcast, which focuses on wellness issues relating to the mind and body. John enjoys running, hiking, mountain biking, snowboarding, cold immersion, and practicing yoga. John has three adult children, two grandchildren, and lives with his wife in San Diego, California.
Former Virginia Gov. L. Douglas Wilder was the first African-American to be elected governor in the U.S., leading the commonwealth of Virginia from 1990 to 1994. As governor, he was commended for his sound fiscal management and balancing the state budget during difficult economic times. Financial World magazine ranked Virginia as the best managed state in the U.S. for two consecutive years under his administration. He served as lieutenant governor from 1986 to 1990.
Serving as a state senator representing Richmond from 1969 to 1985, Wilder became the first African-American state senator in Virginia since Reconstruction. During his five terms as state senator, he chaired committees on transportation, rehabilitation and social services, privileges and elections, the Virginia Advisory Legislative Council and the Senate Steering Committee, which appoints committee members. He successfully sponsored Virginia’s first drug paraphernalia law and the compulsory school attendance law.
Other legislative achievements as state senator include providing state health care coverage for sickle cell anemia patients, toughening penalties for capital murders and prison escapees and expanding low- and moderate-income housing. For eight years, he persisted in sponsoring legislation that eventually led to establishing a state holiday honoring Dr. Martin Luther King Jr.
Dr. Michael Rectenwald is the author of twelve books, including The Great Reset and the Struggle for Liberty: Unraveling the Global Agenda (Jan. 2023), Thought Criminal (Dec. 2020); Beyond Woke (May 2020); Google Archipelago: The Digital Gulag and the Simulation of Freedom (Sept. 2019); Springtime for Snowflakes: “Social Justice” and Its Postmodern Parentage (an academic’s memoir, 2018); Nineteenth-Century British Secularism: Science, Religion and Literature (2016); Academic Writing, Real World Topics (2015, Concise Edition 2016); Global Secularisms in a Post-Secular Age (2015); Breach (Collected Poems, 2013); The Thief and Other Stories (2013); and The Eros of the Baby-Boom Eras (1991). (See the Books page.)
Michael is a distinguished fellow at Hillsdale College. He was a Professor of Liberal Studies and Global Liberal Studies at NYU from 2008 to 2019. He also taught at Duke University, North Carolina Central University, Carnegie Mellon University, and Case Western Reserve University. His scholarly and academic essays have appeared in The Quarterly Journal of Austrian Economics, Academic Questions, Endeavour, The British Journal for the History of Science, College Composition and Communication, International Philosophical Quarterly, the De Gruyter anthologies Organized Secularism in the United States and Global Secularisms in a Post-Secular Age, and the Cambridge University Press anthology George Eliot in Context, among others (see the Academic Scholarship page). He holds a Ph.D. in Literary and Cultural Studies from Carnegie Mellon University, a Master's in English Literature from Case Western Reserve University, and a B.A. in English Literature from the University of Pittsburgh. (See his C.V. for details.)
Michael’s writing for general audiences has appeared on The Mises Institute Wire, The Epoch Times, RT.com, Campus Reform, The New English Review, The International Business Times, The American Conservative, Quillette, The Washington Post, Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, CLG News, LotusEaters.com, Chronicles, and others. (See the Essays and Presentations page.)
Michael has appeared on major network political talk shows (Tucker Carlson Tonight, Fox & Friends, Fox & Friends First, Varney & Company, The Ingraham Angle, Unfiltered with Dan Bongino, The Glenn Beck Show), on syndicated radio shows (Coast to Coast AM, Glenn Beck, The Larry Elder Show, and many others), on The Epoch Times’ American Thought Leaders series, and on numerous podcasts (The Tom Woods Show, The Leighton Smith Podcast, Steel-on-Steel, The Carl Jackson Podcast, and many others). (See “Interviews” on the Media page.)
Professor Michael Rectenwald has spoken to audiences large and small in many venues: The New York Metropolitan Republican Club (five talks); The Mises Institute (The Austrian Economics Research Conference Ludwig von Mises Memorial Lecture, The Libertarian Scholars Conference Opening Lecture, the Ron Paul Symposium); The NYU Republican Club; the New York Ex-Liberals Group; Baylor University’s Hankamer School of Business; The Leadership Institute (several talks); Turning Point USA (several talks); Grove City College; Hillsdale College (several lectures); Regent University; The Austrian Student Scholars Conference Ludwig von Mises Memorial Lecture; The Mises Caucus of the Libertarian Party (two talks); The Common Sense Society; The Conservative Opportunity Society (a U.S. Congressional caucus); the Republican Spouses Club; the Conservatives and Libertarians at Microsoft (CLAMS) group; American Freedom Alliance; Liberty Speaks; and others. Please write to Michael@MichaelRectenwald.com for fees and availability.
A former Marxist, Professor Rectenwald is a champion of liberty and opposes all forms of totalitarianism and political authoritarianism, including socialism-communism, “social justice,” fascism, political correctness, and “woke” ideology.
George Zouvelos is a SAG-AFTRA / AEA actor that was born, raised, and lives in New York City. He is 6'4+, of Greek ancestry, with an ethnically ambiguous appearance, and maintains multiple accents capabilities. George is a multi-award-winning actor, screenwriter, and director of independent television and films.
He studied Adler, Meisner, and Chubbuck - Stanislavsky Method acting; and finished his studies at the Lee Strasberg Theatre and Film Institute in New York City. George constantly seeks to perfect the craft of his acting by continuously studying with other actors, acting coaches, casting directors; and acting studios every chance he gets.
George served as a Judge for the Daytime Emmy's at the National Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. He is a member of NYWIFT New York Women in Film and Television.
He also earned his 'Filmmaking' diploma from the New York Film Academy, NYFA, and a Bachelor of Arts degree from John Jay College of Criminal Justice in New York City. He is an accredited New York State bounty hunter / bail enforcement instructor.
George has decades of real life professional experiences as his earlier careers include him being a New York City Paramedic, in law enforcement, a private investigator; and as a bounty hunter.
George speaks, reads and writes Hellenic Greek fluently, and his surname is pronounced (Zoo' vel os)
Guest Occupation: Dance & Sports Educator & creator of “Ballet for Figure Skaters”
Guest Biography:
Annette T. Thomas has been teaching Vaganova Methodology for over 30 years throughout the United States and abroad. Originally trained at Carnegie Hall by the late Maria Nevelska of the Bolshoi Ballet, she also trained with Ana Garcia of the San Juan Ballet Company, Marguerite De Anguera and Mme. Alexandra Danilova of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo during her time at the Connecticut Regional Ballet Company. Annette has traveled the world gaining extensive training, teaching and performance experience in various forms including Contemporary, Jazz, Flamenco, International Folkloric, Character Dance, and Bharatanatyam.
Annette also studied the pedagogy of Russian Classical Ballet with Mme. Nevelska and under the tutelage of her mother who studied ballet pedagogy with the famed John Barker. She received her Certificate of Completion of the First Class Pedagogical Course for the Study of Classical Ballet in 2005 from one of America’s leading pedagogues Dr. Peggy Willis-Aarnio.
Annette’s primary focus and proven forté is the meticulous training of teaching the fundamentals of the first year of Vaganova methodology. As it is this first year of training which is foundational to all ensuing work. She has devoted her life’s’ work to training teachers and coaches this vital work. She has authored 2 books and a video on the biomechanics of classical movement specifically for figure skaters and is the former director of the Russian Ballet program at Brookfield Centre for The arts. Annette currently Teaches workshops and on-line pedagogy course through American ice Theatre and is a member of UNESCO CID (International Dance Council)
Guest Occupation: Certified Peer Support Facilitator
Guest Biography:
Denise began in EMS in 1992, volunteering with New Canaan EMS from 1992-2008. In 2004, Denise began working as a Medical/ Surgical Assistant for a private Otolaryngology practice in Greenwich, Ct. She was there until 2012, when she began working at Danbury Hospital as a Medical Assistant in the Oncology department. In 2017, Denise, along with her then partner and now husband Peter, made the decision to retire and move to Canada where Peter was from, in order to spend time with his aging father. It was during her time in Canada that Denise began working with Provincial and National organizations for Peer Support.
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