Silvia Rossetto 

Direction BTB

Born in Padua, Italy, Silvia Rossetto completed her training at Centro Studi Danza Classica, Padua with Honors. She remained in her birthplace as a Soloist with Veneto Balletto before going on to dance with the Theater Turin, Europa Ballett, Theater La Fenice di Venezia and the Rome Opera Ballet.  In 1993 Ms. Rossetto received a contract from the Oldenburgischen Staatstheater, where she was a Soloist until she ended her active dance career in 1999. She has gone on to become a well-respected dance pedagogue, teaching and choreographing in Bad Krozingen, Bad Säckingen, Padua, Mantova und Genova. Ms. Rossetto is an American Ballet Theatre National Curriculum Certified Teacher and has been a member of the BTB teaching staff since 2013. Since August 2023 Ms Rossetto is the Director of the BTB.

Julie Christie Wherlock

Artistic Adviser

Born in Farnborough, Great Britain, Julie Christie Wherlock received her education at The Royal Ballet School London, where she was awarded the Royal Academy of Dancing Solo Seal. In 1977 she started her career as a Soloist with the Hessisches Staatstheater Wiesbaden before becoming Principal Dancer at the Tanz Forum Köln from 1981-1991. Ms. Wherlock is an American Ballet Theatre National Curriculum Affiliate Teacher and member of the ABT NTC Artistic Board of Examiners. She has worked as a guest company and school teacher as well as being a respected jury member at many international competitions.

Ms Christie Wherlock is a cofounder of BTB and has directed the BTB junior school until August 2023.

Muriel Heinzel

Marketing & Event Manager

Gaby Müller

Administration

Petra Rotar

Pre-Ballet teacher

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Ayako Nakano

Ballet teacher

I was born in Japan and began ballet training with the age of 5 in Urayasu Ballet Academy in Tokyo. During my training I won the “Tokyo Ballet Competition”, which is recognized throughout Japan, as well as “The Asia Pacific Ballet Competition”, which is decisive in Asian Region.

2021, I ended after more than thirty five years of theater life as a professional ballet dancer, choreographer but also mother of 2 children – a new milestone in my life has begun.

I would like to share my knowledge, experience and professionalism with others and pass on my passion for classical and modern expressive dance.

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Benoït Favre

Ballet & Modern Teacher

Benoît Favre is a Swiss-born dancer who graduated from the Tanzakademie Zürich
in 2012. During his studies, he won several prizes and was a finalist at the
prestigious Prix de Lausanne. Benoît joined the Ballett Zürich Junior company and
was quickly promoted to the main company. As a member of the main company, he
worked with renowned choreographers such as Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, and
Marco Goecke.
In 2017, Benoît joined the Finnish National Ballet in Helsinki, where he performed
many solo roles in classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works. Two years
later, he became a soloist at the Staatstheater Nürnberg, where he played leading
roles in productions such as Goyo Montero’s Sommernachtstraum and Sacre.
Throughout his career, Benoît has also demonstrated his talents as a
choreographer, winning the gold medal for choreography at Tanzolymp Berlin in
2015. He went on to create works for several companies, including the Ballett
Zürich, the Bayerisches Staatsballett, the Stanislavsky Ballett, and the junior
company of the Finnish National Ballet.
At the end of 2020, Benoît decided to retire from his successful dance career.
However, he continues to share his passion for dance through teaching and
choreographing.

Ivan Yaher

Modern teacher

I am Ivan Yaher – Eliot Ivan Yanez Hernandez – a professional dancer and Hand balancer with a passion for exploring different forms of expression on stage, including circus and physical theatre. I started my journey in Mexico, where I obtained a degree in contemporary dance. Later, I honed my skills in traditional Chinese ballet and Acrobatics at the Beijing International Art School in China. Over the years, I’ve been involved in choreography, working with collectives and dance companies in Mexico City and teaching contemporary dance and choreography to artists from the Chinese National Circus Troupe.

Currently based in France, I’ve performed and choreographed contemporary dance and circus shows in the Three Border Region (France, Switzerland, and Germany). I’m also a co-founder of the circus dance company “Black Stroller,” known for its unique blend of performing arts and Foley* sound techniques. Recently, I’ve been leading the “Expanding Cambodian Circus” project in Phnom Penh, Cambodia, with support from various organizations and awards.

Bruno Raco

Pianist

Born in Savona, Italy, Bruno Raco began studying music at the age of eleven, graduating from the Savona Conservatory. He has been a classical pianist and musical accompanist in Italy and abroad since 1999. He also studied electronic Sound Design for two years in Germany. Mr Raco is a successful freelance composer and a guest pianist for many ballet competitions and workshops. He joined Ballettschule Theater Basel in 2012.