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“ My favorite thing to do in CTB is dancing. The performance was really cool. At first I was shy, then I was scared, at the end I was happy!! ” -Izac, 3rd grd, Red Sandstone Elementary School |
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| FACULTY |
Tracy Straus - Founder/Artistic Director
As an arts consultant, Ms. Straus has worked to develop multicultural arts programs for schools in the five boroughs of New York City and has also trained dance instructors. Ms. Straus began her performing career at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. An actress as well as a dancer, she trained at The Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts in London and performed in various off-Broadway venues. Other work includes choreographing for “America’s Next Top Model” for CBS, and associate producing the Tony Award-winning Broadway production “Spring Awakening.” Tracy is currently involved as an associate producer of "American Idiot". She holds a Master’s Degree from Bank Street College of Education in early childhood education, and a Bachelor of Arts Degree from the University of Michigan in dance and literature. She has taught as an adjunct dance professor at New York University and the State University of New York at New Paltz. Dan Rubinoff - Executive Director
Heather Kratz - Teaching Artist/Program Developer
Tony Kieraldo - Musical Director
Between 2003-2005 he played in various musical groups in NYC, touring the U.S. as well as Canada. He graduated from Interlochen Arts Academy in 2000 and attended New England Conservatory (NEC) from 2000-2003 majoring in jazz piano. In the summers of 2000 and 2001 he toured Peru with his jazz trio performing his original compositions. Tony was recognized in Downbeat Magazine in 2000 for outstanding jazz piano performance and composition. Having played piano since the age of 4 and having composed music since the age of 9, Tony is excited to accept the position of Musical Director for Celebrate the Beat and Director of First Notes. He will be moving to Colorado with his wife and daughter in September of 2010. Beth Swearingen - Teaching Artist
A graduate of the University of Colorado with a degree in Music and Theater with a minor in dance, she has had the privilege of being a featured vocal soloist with the Colorado Symphony, as well as singing the National Anthem for the Colorado Rockies. She is a highly sought after entertainer and singer who has been heard on numerous voice over spots and jingles. You may hear her every morning singing the theme song for TV 8’s GOOD MORNING VAIL a song that she also wrote. She is also part of the popular vocal trio “the Fabulous Femmes”. This award winning performer, director and choreographer is now raising her family here in the Vail Valley. Before joining Celebrate the Beat she brought her considerable experience and love of teaching to the children of the Vail Performing Arts Academy as the director/ choreographer for such shows as FIDDLER ON THE ROOF, THE MUSIC MAN, BYE BYE BIRDIE., GUYS AND DOLLS, and GODSPELL. For the past 8 years she has been the co/creator, director and choreographer of AN EVENING ON BROADWAY, the annual fundraiser for the Vail Valley Theatre Company. She has a passion for introducing young people to the magic of theatre, and guiding, teaching and encouraging promising young performers. She is excited about being a part of the Celebrate the Beat family. She looks forward to watching young artists grow in confidence and ability, and increasing the performing arts opportunities available to children here in the Vail Valley. Colleen Macomber - Teaching Artist
Tim Ribner - Musical Director
Robyn Avalon - Guest Teacher
She was a founding member of the American Tap Dance Orchestra, and has performed extensively with many legendary rhythm tappers, including Honi Coles and the Copesetics, Gregory, Hines, and Savion Glover. Robyn has also taught thousands of children through National Dance Institutes in NYC, LA, NM, and Celebrate the Beat in CO. In addition to her theatrical/dance work, Robyn is the Director of Alexander Technique teacher training programs in New Mexico, Oregon and Italy; and is the creator of Living in a Body™. She offers workshops throughout the US, Canada, Europe and Japan. Gemtria St Clair - Guest Instructor
She raised four children before resurrecting her dance background to become an instructor for the National Dance Institute of New Mexico (NDI-NM) in 1998. She spent several years as the North Artistic Director for NDI-NM, co-choreographing the End-of-the-Year Event, directing the North Show, overseeing staff, and training apprentices. In 2004, NDI-NM was asked to assist with establishing an independent organization in El Paso, using the NDI teaching techniques. Gemtria acted as an artistic and administrative consultant and was a founding member of the Kid's Excel El Paso Board of Directors. Her interest in the success of the organization inspired her to move to El Paso to fill the position of Artistic/Executive Director for the budding program in 2005. Since then, the organization has experienced meteoric growth and serves over 1400 children with its innovative weekly dance program. Jon Swarthout- Guest Teacher
Soon after returning to his home state, in 1996, Jon established Dance Rascals (now known as CDI), a children’s dance enrichment program designed to teach a love and appreciation for the art of dance. Jennifer Box - Guest Instructor
Jennifer has also consulted for Sesame Street Workshops, creating lesson plans and informational web pages for their 'Dancing with Zoe Video' and has presented at the National Dance Education Organization Conference. In the summer of 2005, Jennifer's first educational dance book on choreographer Jose Limon was published by Rosen Publishing Group. Jennifer has performed and choreographed in Modern, Jazz, Tap, Musical Theater, Hip Hop and West African performances for nine years in NYC with many prestigious choreographers/producers in various companies. Jennifer Box holds an M.A. in Dance Education, Teaching in Higher Education and a B.S. in Dance Education, K-12, both from The Steinhardt School of Education at New York University. She also received an A. A. in Dance Performance from Dean College and attended The Alvin Ailey American Dance Certificate Program. Currently Jennifer serves as an independent NDI Dance Educator working only with NDI Affiliated Programs such as National Dance Institute (NYC), Kids Excel (TX), California Dance Institute and Celebrate the Beat (CO). With 10 years experience in the NDI methodology she assists Directors in creating Teacher Training Programs, In-School Residencies and/or choreography for these NDI Affiliated Programs. |
Tracy Straus founded “Celebrate the Beat” (CTB) In 2000. Tracy is also the 
Dan moved to Colorado over twenty-seven years ago to attend the University of Colorado. He went on to receive his MA in Education from Regis University in Denver. After several years of running his own business in Asia, Dan joined the Crested Butte Academy (CBA) in its infancy in 1994 as a full time teacher, dean of students, and director of several programs. In 1999 he received the Boettcher Teacher Recognition Award. In 2003 Dan was named the Director of the Slate River School, a K-6 experiential education school in Crested Butte. He directed Slate River School until 2006. In 2009 Dan became the Executive Director of Celebrate the Beat, a non-profit institution that brings dance into schools all over Colorado.
Tony Kieraldo has been musical director with “Celebrate the Beat” (CTB) since 2008. Tony is also director of First Notes, a youth orchestra program in the Vail Valley modeled after 
Beth Swearingen has been passionate about music, theatre and dance for most of her life. At age 9 she was the youngest student ever to be accepted on scholarship with Doris Humphrey’s famed master teacher Ernestine Stodelle. Her theatrical career has taken her to Broadway, around the nation, and around the world in such shows as CATS, A CHORUS LINE, JEROME ROBBINS BROADWAY, THE WORLD GOES ROUND, and others too numerous to mention.
Colleen Macomber was raised in the rich culture of Southwestern Louisiana. Music and dance have been her passion since the age of 3. She has been teaching tap, ballet, and jazz in Louisiana and Colorado for the past 12 years; and has also danced at the professional level. In high school, her discipline for dance developed when she was part of a National Dance Championship team. After winning eight national titles, she pursued being a dance instructor. Colleen moved to Colorado in 2000 to further her education and obtain a BFA degree in graphic design from Colorado State University. She then move to Crested Butte to instruct dance and continue her artistic career. The first CTB experience was in the fall of 2009, where she assisted a residency in the Gunnison valley. She has since then traveled to communities throughout Colorado to instruct and currently is working in the Vail valley. Teaching in the school systems has been an amazing shift from her work in private studios. Being able to teach dance to a wide variety of children, accompanied by live music, has been a new driving force in her life.
Tim Ribner, a composer and musician, has been working with the National Dance Institute in New York City for seven years. There, he has served as an in-school Music Director, collaborated with students from around the world, and composed for in-school and citywide final performances. Working in collaboration with the World Wide Orphans Foundation, Tim recently traveled to Ethiopia where he had the opportunity to share music and dance with children living in orphanages. He graduated from New School University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Jazz and Contemporary Music. Tim is currently moving to Colorado where he has accepted the position of Musical Director for Celebrate the Beat.
Robyn is a choreographer, director, and writer. She grew up in the proverbial theater trunk, beginning her professional performing career at the ripe age of six. Her work as a director, choreographer, and dancer has been seen throughout the US, Europe, and Japan, in a variety of renowned venues including Lincoln Center, Carnegie Hall, multiple Off-Broadway and regional theaters, NYC’s Blue Note and the White House.
Gemtria grew up in El Paso, Texas and began studying ballet at the age of three. She danced as a member of the corps and a demi-soloist with the University Civic Ballet Company under the direction of Ingeborg Heuser for 5 years. Gemtria attended UTEP, and later The University of Utah, on full ballet scholarships.
Artistic Director and founder of Children's Dance Institute and a native of Boise Idaho, Jon started acting in local theater productions at age 13. After training as a full scholarship student at the prestigious Houston Ballet Academy, Jon then danced professionally for New York City’s Joffrey Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theater, The Feld Ballet in New York, Ballet Idaho and Idaho Dance Theater.
Jennifer began training with the National Dance Institute (NDI) under Jacques d' Amboise in 1999 where she taught NDI classes in the NYC public schools, assisted in Teacher Training Workshops, and directed NDI residencies in colleges and universities. Jennifer left NYC to work with National Dance Institute New Mexico as their Teaching Excellence Associate Director, training teachers and developing In-School curriculum. Promoted to Associate Artistic Director, Jennifer directed their annual Event performances that culminated in a two-week Theatre performance with 1000 dancers.