Rose-Marie Menes, Artistic Director - FULL BIO
Rose-Marie Menes began her ballet training in Miami at the age of seven with her ballet master, Georges Milenoff of the Imperial School in Russia. She continued her study in NYC with the outstanding teacher and mentor, Mme. Maria Swoboda, head of the Ballet Russe School. At seventeen, Rose-Marie joined the American Festival Ballet under the direction of Renzo Reiss and toured Europe (Spain, Germany, Luxembourg and Austria). At 18, she became a member of Radio City Music Hall’s Ballet Company and later a soloist with the company. Two and a half years later she was asked to join the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo, renamed Ballet de Monte Carlo, and moved to Monaco where she danced as a soloist and understudy to the ballerinas in Swan Lake, Gaiete Parisinne, Ballet Imperial and the Pas de Trois from Paquita. She returned to the United States at the age of 21 and danced for the New York City Opera under the Title III Program under Governor Rockefeller. She performed with the ballet company, Ballet Brio, and became the ballerina of New York City Ballet under the direction of Thomas Andrew. At City Opera, she danced the ballerina roles in Mephistopheles, Louise, Manon which then led to a new career as a choreographer of operas and has choreographed the ballets to the Merry Widow, Orpheus in the Underworld, Faust and Aida. She has also choreographed and restaged the Moulin Rouge, Peter and the Wolf, The Arabian Fantasy, Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Beauty and the Beast, Cinderella and more.
At the age of 26 she became the ballerina for Dance Caravan and Dance Olympus. Rose-Marie worked with Art Stone Theatrical and the Competitor for twelve years as a ballerina, master teacher, dance consultant and costume designer. She has made over 30 recordings on ballet classes at the pre-ballet/advanced ballet and professional level, some of which remain on file at the Lincoln Center Library. Rose-Marie was the master teacher for Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America and Professional Dance Teachers of America. After almost 20 years as a performer and master teacher, she opened her own school in 1978, The Westchester Ballet Center, later called the Westchester Ballet Center for the Performing Arts. In 1979 she started a professional ballet company called Dance Theatre in Westchester which uses twelve professional dancers plus young dancers strong enough to perform alongside professional dancers. Rose-Marie’s study, experiences as a dance teacher and great love of the ballet has given her many opportunities that opened up doors for her to pursue other outlets of the theatre. She is an accomplished costume designer and has been an advisor and designer to Art Stone Theatrical, Costume Depot, Blasia’s Dance Trends and Costume Galaxy. She has designed and executed costumes for Ballet Brio and The New Jersey Ballet as well as special tutus for principal dancers in various companies, including her own. With more than 40 years of teaching experience, Rose-Marie believes that teaching correctly and giving students a love of dance can result in a positive experience and enhance their lives in the future. Rose-Marie believes that teachers must be able to give good training, (correct body placement), be able to use the dance vocabulary fluently, and be able to give students the love for dance that she has had throughout her life.
At the age of 26 she became the ballerina for Dance Caravan and Dance Olympus. Rose-Marie worked with Art Stone Theatrical and the Competitor for twelve years as a ballerina, master teacher, dance consultant and costume designer. She has made over 30 recordings on ballet classes at the pre-ballet/advanced ballet and professional level, some of which remain on file at the Lincoln Center Library. Rose-Marie was the master teacher for Dance Masters of America, Dance Educators of America and Professional Dance Teachers of America. After almost 20 years as a performer and master teacher, she opened her own school in 1978, The Westchester Ballet Center, later called the Westchester Ballet Center for the Performing Arts. In 1979 she started a professional ballet company called Dance Theatre in Westchester which uses twelve professional dancers plus young dancers strong enough to perform alongside professional dancers. Rose-Marie’s study, experiences as a dance teacher and great love of the ballet has given her many opportunities that opened up doors for her to pursue other outlets of the theatre. She is an accomplished costume designer and has been an advisor and designer to Art Stone Theatrical, Costume Depot, Blasia’s Dance Trends and Costume Galaxy. She has designed and executed costumes for Ballet Brio and The New Jersey Ballet as well as special tutus for principal dancers in various companies, including her own. With more than 40 years of teaching experience, Rose-Marie believes that teaching correctly and giving students a love of dance can result in a positive experience and enhance their lives in the future. Rose-Marie believes that teachers must be able to give good training, (correct body placement), be able to use the dance vocabulary fluently, and be able to give students the love for dance that she has had throughout her life.
