Staff
|
|
|
| Anatoli Toropov - Head CoachAnatoli joined our staff in 2001. A former high level National/ International Russian gymnast, he is wonderfully technical, organized, a great communicator, intense and humble…but also very outgoing, humorous and dynamic. His Undergraduate Sports and Master of Gymnastics degrees, coaching years at Krylatskoe in Moscow with the top Soviet Coaches and Gymnasts and his experience coaching the last few years at North Stars in New Jersey, one of the top 10 clubs in the USA, make him a super asset for ACROS. |
 |
|
|
|
| Gennadii Samsonov - Head CoachGennadii joined our staff in 2005. A former high level National/ International Russian gymnast, he is also wonderfully technical, organized, a great communicator, intense and humble…but also very outgoing, humorous and dynamic. His Bachelor’s Degree in Physical Culture from Dnepropetrovsk Physical Culture Institute and his Master of Sports USSR degrees, coaching years at Kyrgistan in former Soviet Union with the top Soviet Coaches and Gymnasts make him a super asset for ACROS. |
 |
|
|
|
| Svetlana Samsonova - Head Girls Recreations Program and Team Coach Svetlana joined our staff in 2005. A former National Artistic Gymnastics Champion, she is a wonderfully nurturing, positive influence on all our young budding gymnasts. Her Masters of Sport Degree along with her years of coaching in Kyrgistan makes her a wonderful addition to ACROS staff. |
 |
|
|
|
| Keith J. Martin - Ballet Artistic Director, an extraordinary addtion to the arts community, Mr. Martin is an internationally acclaimed dancer, choreographer and director, called by David Vaughn of the Encyclopedia of Dance and Ballet, “one of the most brilliant demi-character dancers of his generation and one of the most well known and respected figures in the dance world.” His career has included roles created for him by some of the world’s most eminent choreographers, including Sir Frederick Ashton, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, Rudolph Nureyev, Lew Christiansen, Michael Smuin, Benjamin Harkarvy, John Butler, Anthony Tudor and Hans Van Manen.A former principal dancer of England’s Royal Ballet, Mr. Martin came to the USA to join the Pennsylvania Ballet and Clive Barnes, an English critic writing dance reviews for the New York Times and then the New York Post, wrote, “Mr. Martin is not only a distinct gain to the Pennsylvania Ballet, he also is a distinct loss to Britain’s Royal Ballet and they should never have lost him in the month of Sunday’s.” Mr. Martin has been a principal dancer with Pennsylvania Ballet Company, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet and Maryland Ballet, director of San Diego Ballet, founding director of both the Phoenix Ballet Company and Ballet California. Mr. Martin has partnered some of the great ballerinas or our time, Galina Panova, for whom he created his celebrated Nutcracker, Natalia Makarova, Eleanor D’Antuono, Jennifer Penny, Leslie Collier, Ann Jenner and Francesca Corkle, for whom he created his nationally acclaimed “Romeo and Juliet”. Mr. Martin was a featured dancer in the role of “Johnny Townmouse” in Sir Frederick Ashton’s film “The Tales of Beatrix Potter”.A distinct honour was bestowed upon Mr. Martin when he was invited back to the Royal Ballet as guest artist to recreate his role as “Puck” in Ashton’s “The Dream”. The only ex dancer/dancer ever invited back to the Royal Ballet in such a capacity.Mr. Martin has set his critically acclaimed and outstanding production of Romeo and Juliet, on the Nevada Dance Theatre 3 times, he was honored as a dance custodian in the San Francisco Bay Area by the Dance World Congress, he was a Board Member of NARB, (National Association of Regional Ballet) now RDA, (Regional Dance America), he adjudicated for both NARB and RDA at their festivals as well as teaching at numerous festivals. Mr. Martin was also a board member of the Tennessee Association of Dance and named Arts Educator of Indiana in 2007. |
 |
|
|
|
| Bj Martin - Began her training with Nancy Johnson and Richard Carter in San Diego and upon graduation, joined the San Francisco Ballet rising to the rank of soloist. Ms. Martin danced as a soloist with the Pittsburgh Ballet theatre and Pennsylvania Ballet Company, where she met her future husband, Acros Artistic Director Keith J. Martin and they are the proud parents of their son, Jason, who also follows in their footsteps as a professional dancer after having been trained by his parents. Bj went on to become a principal dancer with the San Diego Ballet and Phoenix Ballet Company.Ms. Martin known for her dramatic ability and strong technique including a magnificent jump and glorious turns, has performed works by some of the most important choreographers of our time namely George Balanchine, Lew Christiansen, Antony Tudor, Lar Lubovitch, Carlos Carvajal, Hans Van Manen, John Butler, Benjamin Harkarvy, Jean Paul Comelin, Frederick Franklin and, of course, her husband Keith J. Martin. |
 |
|
Welch Family Enterprises, LLC |
|