About Gary | Gary - Artistic Director | Photos of Gary | Audio/Video of Gary

With a career as a dancer/choreographer and teacher that spans nearly four decades, Gary is one of Ohio's most sought after and respected dance educators. He began dancing with Miss Kathryn Hass of Springfield at the age of six. After high school he began extensive training in New York City on scholarship with the legendary June Taylor. When June Taylor left the city, he began his training with the Harkness Ballet, again on scholarship. At Harkness, his teachers included the most respected ballet teachers of the era, including Igor Swetzoff, David Howard and Madame Maria Swoboda from Russia. In addition to his ballet training, he studied modern dance with Martha Graham and Merce Cunningham, jazz with Matt Mattox and Jaeme Rodgers, and tap with Bill Gary and June Taylor. Although he enjoyed performing, it was his remarkable energy and talent as a teacher that caught the eye of his teachers. After only two years in New York City, he began his professional teaching career in Harlem. In the early 1970's he was invited to St. Thomas to co-direct the Ballet Theatre of the Virgin Islands, where he trained dancers, performed, and choreographed for the Company. Since returning to the U.S., he has operated his own school and served on the faculty of Wittenberg University, Clark State Community College, Wright State University and University of Dayton.