American National Ballet

American National Ballet Artistic Staff

Ballet Master and ANBC Co-Founder and Headmaster: Alexandre Proia

Born and raised in France, Alexandre Proia began his training at the age of 8 after being inspired to overcome a sever medical condition that caused his whole body to lock up in pain.

He started off under the careful training on Michele Mince who molded him into a very talented young dancer who was then accepted to study at the school of the Paris Opera Ballet from which he graduated 6 years later.

Proia was fortunate to train under some of the very best teachers of that time, including Serge Lifar, Claude Bessy, Gilbert Meyer, Michel Renauld, Molly Molloy and Serge Peretti. He then had the honor of being the first student to participate in the exchange program between White Lodge School Of the Royal Ballet and Paris Opera School. A first prize recipient from graduation brought him his first trip to the United States to participate in the American Dance Festival.

Returning back to France, Proia had the opportunity to audition for Boston Ballet while on it’s International Tour. Later that year Proia was offered a contract and asked to the join the company under the direction Williams and Violette Verdy who became his mentor for the rest of her life.

At age18, Proia went on to perform his first principal role with the company (Espada, in Rudolf Nureyev’s Don

Quixote)which was given to him and taught by Mr. Nureyev himself.

After 3 years of touring with Nureyev and the Boston Ballet Proia had the honor to participate in the first New York International Ballet Competition offering him a contract with the New York City Ballet under Master in Chief Peter Martins.

Prioa spent 12 years at New Your City Ballet performing principal roles from its seasoned repertoire also including Balanchine’s The Nutcracker (as Cavalier) Jewels (Emerald) Stravinsky Concerto (the second Area) The Four Temperaments (Phlegmatic) Die Liebeslieder Walzer, Theme and Variations (Elegy) Martins’ Ecstatic Orange, Poulenc Sonatas, Barber Violin Concerto, Fearful Symetries, Robins’ The Four Seasons, Moves, Dancers at a Gathering, In Memory off… Glass Pieces, Ives Songs and Afternoon of a Faun.

During Proia’s illustrious dance career he has partnered with many ballet greats such as Suzanne Farrell, Merrill Ashley, Darci Kisler, Wendy Whelan, Lourdes Lopez, Judith Fugate, Valentina Kozlova and Heather Watts.

After his twelve year acclaimed career with the New York City Ballet, Proia made his Broadway debut in the featured role of San Bayardo in Graciela Daniela ’s musical drama Chronicle of a Death Foretold (Gracia Marquez) opposite Saundra Santiago and George De La Pena. principal artist.

After his debut on Broadway, Director and choreographer Robert Wilson offered him a special role in Snow in the Mesa and invited him to Paris where he premiered his Oedipus Rex at the Theatre du Chatelet.

Upon his return to New York, he joined Martha Clarke with whom he created Very La Flame (five short stories of Chekhov) opposite Robert Bresner, Maggie Guillis and John Kelly, performed Off Broadway and Internationally. He also created Ms. Clark’s Hans Christian Anderson (Off Broadway).

Prior always had an eye for choreography, and after creating many pieces for the School of American Ballet, Proia choreographed Refraction as part the first New York City Ballet’s Diamond Project.

After many wonderful experiences both stage and screen, Proia decided to follow his passion for teaching, coaching, directing and choreographing world wide. His prestigious resume includes Peridance, Steps on Broadway, The Juilliard School in New York, Stars of Paris Opera Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Teatro Colon (Buenos Aires) , Ballet Nationale de Bordeaux, Washington Ballet, Company C, Atlanta Ballet and Monte Carlo Ballet.

Proia also participated in various dance competitions as a teacher, judge or and choreographer, they include: YAGP, Valentina Kozlova Ballet Competition and Danzeoff (Hinton Battle).

Most recently, Prioa went on to become the Director of the Georgia Ballet where he choreographed his first full length Nutcracker and Four Seasons (Richter after Vivaldi) among other works. Prioa has also co-founded and became the artistic director of his own multimedia and multi disciplinary dance group, The Proia Dance Project.

After a long career of so many amazing accomplishments and honors, Prioa is very proud and exited to be joining the Artistic Staff of the American National Ballet as the companies Ballet Master, as well as Co-Founder and Headmaster of the American National Ballet Conservatory.

executive director: ashley benefield

After careers in professional ballet and modeling Ms. Benefield was directly hired by a presidential candidate to build and direct coalitions in key states for the 2016 Presidential primaries and general election. The years of deep immersion in national politics were followed by offers to join the new administration. Instead, Ms. Benefield connected with Mr. Martin to combine her leadership and team building expertise and passion for ballet and Mr. Martin's dance expertise and renown to make a difference in the culture. 

Ms. Benefield trained at the Royal Academy of Dance and The Maryland Youth Ballet where she was selected two consecutive years to participate in the Suzanne Farrell - Kennedy Center Class Series. Until injuries ended her career aspirations, Ms. Benefield danced professionally for many companies along the east coast including Ballet Theatre of Maryland, Sarasota Ballet, Ballet Pensacola, and guest appearances with The Baltimore Ballet.  Ms. Benefield has choreographed, staged, and produced many of her own classical and contemporary works.

American National Ballet Conservatory

ANBC executive director:    Beth Bogush

Ms. Bogush’s career as a dance educator, choreographer, director, and producer spans across a variety of artistic and theatrical endeavors for over thirty years. She has created and developed numerous educational and movement programs for both theater and conservatory dance as well as television and film.

Ms. Bogush's extensive knowledge of music genres, dance and movement has resulted in her becoming one of the leading and most versatile dance/movement consultants in the entertainment industry.

Conservatory Dance

Beth served as the Director of the Junior Division for The Ailey School for 6 years where she developed the First Steps Program a conservatory-based dance curriculum for pre-school children enrolled at the school. Her extensive knowledge for creating children’s dance curriculum and the First Steps Program was featured in Dance Magazine.

Prior to Ailey, Beth worked for 5 years in The Boston Ballet’s children’s program as a choreographer, lead teacher, and program developer. Productions included; The Nutcracker, Little Mermaid, and Charlotte’s Web, among others.

Television

Ms. Bogush’s work in television as a consulting producer/choreographer for Nickelodeon on hit series such as “The Backyardigans” earned her a 2008 Emmy recognition award. Her unique understanding of movement and choreography for live action dance, coupled with her expertise in Motion Capture, 3D animation and Green Screen Technology has been highlighted in a New York Times Sunday Magazine article (August 2009). The article highlights the “richly detailed and often gorgeous moves” created by Beth in each episode enables the characters to achieve “artistic exactitude”. Earlier reviews of “The Backyardigans” from The New York Times have hailed Ms. Bogush’s work as “groundbreaking choreography”.

Ms. Bogush has also produced and directed the choreography of Nick Jr.’s full length feature Dora and the Explorer Girls and has also served as the creative consultant/choreographer/producer on other Nick Jr. hits including Dora the Explorer, Go Diego Go, Blues Clues, Team Umizommie, Bubble Guppies and Shimmer and Shine.

Other work as a consulting producer/choreographer includes PBS/Hit Entertainments animated series Angelina the Ballerina.

Live Stage Events/TV

Beth staged and choreographed Nickelodeon’s Mega Music Fest a television live to tape variety show and was the Executive Producer and director of Let’s Have a Dance Party USA a mini USO show that toured the USA serving military families. Ms. Bogush also staged and choreographed the national tour of Backyardigans Live produced by Broadway Across America.

Whether in front of a camera, as a professional dancer or behind the scenes as a director/choreographer, her professionalism and flexible style has led many producers to seek her out for projects.

Related Articles and reviews of Ms. Bogush’s work have appeared in The New York Times, The Hollywood Reporter, Parents Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Nick Jr. Magazine, Dance Magazine and the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine (October 2005).

*Master Teaching/Choreography workshops include:

The Ailey School (junior division, professional level and BFA,

Boston Ballet (professional level)

Company Dance National Teaching Tour

Point Park College

Civic Light Opera

David Howard Teaching Seminars

New York University (Masters Dance Program)

Steps on Broadway

Broadway Dance Center

Headmaster: Alexandre Prioa

Alexandre Prioa is the American National Ballet's Ballet Master as well as Headmaster of the American National Ballet Conservatory. Please see full bio above under Ballet Master

Pre-Professional Program Ballet Misstress: Sarah Metzler

Ms. Metzler's Bio coming soon.

American National Ballet Staff

Director of Marketing: David King

David King, born in Busan, South Korea, trained at the prestigious Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under Marcia Dale Weary, and spent summers at many of the top ballet schools around the United States. He then joined Minnesota Dance Theatre and received his BA and MFA from the University of Minnesota in Comparative Literature and Cultural Studies in the Arts. After sustaining an injury, King focused on teaching, specifically teaching ballet for ethnic body types. Throughout his teaching career, he has taught master classes, workshops, and seminars at various levels of education.

King is the founder and creator of A Ballet Education, an internationally recognized brand and the number two ranked ballet blog in the world. Leveraging his knowledge of PR and Marketing from the fashion industry, he quickly rose to the top of social media rankings and standings. A Ballet Education has worked with numerous companies around the world including American Ballet Theatre, Bolshoi and Pathé Entertainment. King’s previous marketing PR, design clients include LA Fashion Week, LA Style Week, W Hotels, Daniel Chinchilla MUA, Covet Dance Apparel, George Gina and Lucy, Single Dress, and more. He was an editor at LA Apparel and Editor-in-Chief of SOCIAL CULTURE. 

King is very excited to be joining the ANB family and is looking forward to this upcoming season.