Staff
Shery Gilbert, Artistic Director
Ms. Gilbert, began her training in Los Angeles at the Lichine Studio under the tutelage of Irena Kosmouska., later moving to Long Beach Ballet and eventually to the Orange County Ballet under the direction of Michael Panieff. While recovering from knee surgery, she obtained a BFA at the University of California, Irvine. It was there that she met Antony Tudor, the associate director of the American Ballet Theatre. Mr. Tudor became her mentor and changed the way she approached Classical Ballet. Ms. Gilbert became a member of Ballet Nacional de Panama. She continued to study with Jillana, former NYCB Principal and Wilhelm Burmann in New York City. In addition to founding Laguna Dance Theatre and Laguna Ballet, she continues to actively coach dancers of the New York City Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Nevada Ballet Theatre. Ms. Gilbert is also a member of the caDance Advisory Board and sponsor of the caDance Festival 2005 & 2006.
Marisa Fiore, Ballet/Pilates
Marisa began her training at LDT in 1987 and received a BA in Theatre and Dance with an emphasis in Dance Performance from Chapman University. Marisa is a Body Arts & Sciences International certified Pilates instructor and founder of Laguna Corps Pilates at Laguna Dance Theatre. Marisa’s repertoire includes leading roles in Laguna Ballets The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and other classical ballets along with original works by Shery Gilbert. Marisa has been an assistant choreographer for Laguna Ballets’ productions for the past 4 years.
Sven Toorvald
Sven Toorvald is an alumnus of Westside Ballet who has danced with Houston Ballet and Hubbard Street Dance Company. Sven is also an alumnus of AFT, the American Film Institute. His highly-regarded documentary, The Ballerina Interviews, premiered on PBS in November 2003.
Sara Windal
Sara received her early training in Orange County, attending summer intensive programs at San Francisco Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet as full scholarship student. Sara continued her training on scholarship with the Stanley Holden studio in Los Angeles, where she also studied with Patrick Franz and coached privately with Rebecca Wright. She performed with Pacific Northwest Ballet and Hartford Ballet, later becoming a principal for Anaheim Ballet. Sara received a Bachelors degree from UCLA and has been teaching for over 7 years. This is her second year with LDT and will be joining the artistic staff for Laguna Ballet productions.
Ellen Cretti, Pre-ballet/Tap, Tap & Jazz
Mrs.Cretti is a former Manhattan Rockette who toured cross-country with Bob Newhart, Ricky Nelson, The Four Seasons, and the New Christy Minstrells. Ellen has choreographed and performed in numerous musical and dance productions including Rosie in Bye Bye Byrdie, The Boyfriend, Mame. South Pacific, Oklahoma. She played the lead roles in original musical productions of Beauty and the Beast and Cinderella at the PAF Playhouse in New York. She performed in Guys and Dolls under the direction of Brian Dennehy. She trained in musical theatre and assisted in classes at Hurbert Berghof Studio in New York City. She was the Founder/Director of the Hillside Studio, for Dance and Drama in Huntington, New York for ten years. She taught at the Royal Dance Center in Florida from 1985-1999. Ellen relocated to California and has been with Laguna Dance Theatre for the past seven years. She also has a gift to teach pre-schoolers and has successfully developed a dynamic children’s dance program here at LDT.
Kathleen Cretti, Jazz, Lyrical & Hip Hop/Competition
Kathleen’s dance training began with Beatrix Aldana in Florida and had continued with Shery Gilbert for the past seven years. During that time she has performed numerous roles in Laguna Ballets’ productions. While attending Dana Hills High School, Kathleen danced competitively and was Dance Captain for the 2005-2006 year. At the Grand National Championship in Las Vegas, NV, she placed first in the jazz solo, hip hop, and lyrical categories. Kathleen joins our staff as an instructor and assistant to Laguna Ballets’ The Nutcracker, while attending Saddleback College.
Erin McIntyre, Highland Dance
Erin McIntyre began competing in Scottish Highland dance at the age of 7. After reaching the highest level of competitive Scottish Highland dance at age 9, Erin continued her dancing experience at Laguna Dance Theatre. At age 11 she competed in her first of several National Scottish Highland dance competitions. Erin has traveled all over the world competing in various Scottish Highland dance championships. In order to continue her dance education, Erin attended Alma College in Alma, Michigan to train and receive her British Association of Teachers of Dance Certification. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education, Erin moved back to southern California to teach.
Sunny Yokoyama, Commercial Dance
Sunny Yokoyama has been on the road with the First National Tour, Los Angeles and San Francisco companies of the Tony Award winning Musical of the Decade: Wicked, for much of the past five years. She has also performed in Debbie Allen’s production of Pepito’s Story, has danced in various music videos, industrials, live shows, and choreographers’ benefit concerts in Los Angeles and New York. In addition, Sunny has trained and assisted top choreographers in LA and NY and has an excellent understanding of the dance and entertainment industries on both coasts.
Born and raised in Southern California, Sunny has trained extensively in all forms of dance throughout the Los Angeles and Orange County areas. After completing the scholarship program at DeFore Dance Center, she moved to Los Angeles to attend UCLA where she attained her Bachelor’s degree in World Arts and Cultures. She is also a certified STOTT Pilates instructor.
Lisa Groves
Lisa Groves is one of Southern California’s most accomplished dancers and fitness instructors. A professional cheerleader for both the Los Angeles Rams and the Charlotte Hornets, her passion for fitness is evident in her high-energy, results-focused style. A highly sought after Zumba instructor, her choreography seamlessly blends Latin dance with cardio fitness. In addition to Zumba, she is certified in Boot Camps, Turbo Kick, Step, Cardio Circuit, Strength and
Conditioning and Abdominal classes.
When she’s not in the studio, Lisa is a psychologist for deaf and hard-of-hearing children. She has earned two master’s degrees: one in special education and another in psychology, and has worked in child psychology in both the clinical environment and in school districts since 1995. In addition, she has teaching credentials for both regular education and special education, and
has a certificate in ASL completion and a Pupil Personnel Services credential. Lisa is fluent in American Sign Language.
Lisa, her husband and children live in Southern California.