Gina Fiume

Ms. Fiume began her ballet training at Ballet Pacifica in Laguna Beach, Ca. at the age of 6. There she received the highest level of training in the classical Vaganova and Cecchetti methods under Lila Zali. She has also trained in all styles of dance. She started performing with Ballet Pacifica right away and was dancing with the company in all productions by age 13. Within Gina’s training, she attended Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet summer intensives. With Ballet Pacific she annually attended and performed in the Pacific Regional Ballet Festivals. She also received further training in a more contemporary style when Molly Lynch took over Ballet Pacifica and turned the company to a contemporary ballet company. She was trained and worked with well known teachers including David Allan, Alaine Haubert, Janek Schurgen, Lynn Cox, Charles Maple and Robert Sund. Also with many well-known choreographers including Lynn Taylor-Corbett, Ann-Marie DeAngelo, Rick McCullough, Paul Vasterling, Peter Pucci and Stephen Mills among others. Many of the roles she performed throughout her career were created on her and she has been recognized for her precise technique, strength and flexibility.  With a request from others for Gina to start teaching, she has continually and carefully honed her teaching skills through study, observation, and her own dancing experience and continued education. Gina has taken the ABT® National Teachers Training Curriculum at ABT-NY and is a certified instructor for levels Pre-Primary to level 5. Her teaching career that has now spanned well over 25 years, her knowledge and instruction of classical ballet technique has proven to develop strength and fluidity of movement that is necessary for today’s dancer. She strives to instill the importance of a strong foundation of technique as a means to freedom of movement. Her experience includes the instruction of all levels and abilities including beginning to professional and adults. Gina is also a certified Pilates instructor which she has been teaching just as long. Gina’s own professional dance career was spent not only as a 20 year company member of Ballet Pacifica but also guesting for other local companies, theater productions and studios. During her time with Ballet Pacifica, she was very close to both directors and was transitioning to become Ballet Mistress or future Director. Gina knew choreography to not only all ballets within the repertoire, but also the well renowned Ballets for Children. During several years of teaching at Ballet Pacifica and their summer intensives, she had a chance to re-stage several classical ballets including Les Sylphides, Don Quixote, La Sylphide (excerpts), Swan Lake (Act II), Paquita, Giselle, the Nutcracker(excerpts), and many female and male variations required in the training of young dancers. She has also produced full length classical Nutcracker Suite and several other classical and contemporary choreography. Ms. Fiume had owned her own very successful studio and many of her students have been accepted to and attended well known summer intensive programs and year around schools such as Royal Ballet, ABT, SAB, PNB, SFB, OBT, North Carolina School of the Arts, National Ballet of Canada, Ballet Austin, Julliard, Harid Conservatory, Boston Conservatory, The Bolshoi Academy, and Kirov Academy among others. Also, they have been trained/coached and competed in several ballet competitions like Youth America Grand Prix and Spotlight. And many have gone on to achieve professional dance careers with such companies as listed. Gina has held annual winter and summer intensives for more than 15 years that she has solely taught.  The past couple of years Gina was teaching for the Ballet Idaho academy and adult program.  She is excited to be part of the Draper Center for Dance as well as being part of the Rochester community.