Lane Dallape is a dancer, teacher, and choreographer from Suwanee, Georgia, trained in ballet, modern, jazz, and tap. Her education includes Suwanee Academy of the Arts, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and Brenau University where she graduated with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance. Recently, Lane performed with VISIONS Contemporary Ballet, directed by Ranardo-Domeico Grays. She also completed the American Repertory Ballet trainee program under the direction of Aydmara Cabrera and Ethan Stiefel, where some of her more memorable roles include Myrtha in Giselle, and the Spanish Pas de Deux in The Nutcracker. Since her completion of the trainee program, Lane has been teaching with Princeton Ballet School and has also worked on the administrative side as a Front Desk Receptionist. Lane looks forward to another season with the school and helping young dancers find their passion through technique and musicality in the classroom.
Archives: People
Leigh Donlan
Former ballerina Leigh Donlan trained in Russian technique and a variety of folk and modern dance techniques, was Children’s Ballet Mistress at the Washington School of Ballet, Director of the Athenaeum School of Ballet, and studied English at the University of Oregon and Public Relations at Georgetown University. She has been writing for Ballet to the People since 2014.
Tim Acito
Lynda Sing
Lisa de Ravel
Lisa de Ravel is the Founder and Lead Educator of Vitality and Grace Fitness, a wellness space where adults rediscover the joy and strength of purposeful movement. Her innovative programs—Silver Swans Ballet, Pilates, Aqua Fitness, and BeBalanced—are designed to support physical vitality, mental well-being, and social connection at every stage of life. From 2019 to 2023, Lisa served as Managing Director of the Miami City Ballet School, where she led the development and implementation of the institution’s first-ever strategic plan. Her leadership included spearheading a groundbreaking collaboration with the City of Miami to establish a student dormitory, expanding access and community engagement.
Lisa’s career in dance and education spans more than 30 years at American Repertory Ballet and Princeton Ballet School, where she held numerous leadership roles. As Dean of Students (2007–2017) and Alumni Relations Coordinator (2015–2019), she cultivated a strong sense of community among generations of dancers. She co-chaired milestone events such as the organization’s 50th Anniversary, The Nutcracker Reunion, fashion shows, and multiple annual galas.
Lisa began her tenure at ARB in 1988 as a dancer under the direction of Dermot Burke, performing works by renowned choreographers including Alvin Ailey, Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, José Limón, Antony Tudor, Paul Taylor, Septime Webre, and others. From 1989 to 2006, she taught and choreographed for Princeton Ballet School, including directing the Cranbury summer program, now known as the Summer Intensive Intermediates.
In recognition of her contributions to dance education, Lisa was honored with the Audrée Estey Award for Excellence in Dance Education and inducted into the Princeton Ballet School Wall of Fame.
She holds a B.A. in Psychology, Summa Cum Laude, with a concentration in Child and Adolescent Development from Rutgers University, where she was inducted into Phi Beta Kappa and the Psi Chi Psychology Honor Society. She is a Certified Pilates Instructor and a licensed Silver Swans teacher through the Royal Academy of Dance. Her early dance training includes the North Carolina School of the Arts, the School of American Ballet, and Boston Ballet.
Karen Russo Burke
Erin Mahoney-Du
Diane Partington
Sean Mahoney
Sean Mahoney came to Princeton Ballet School at age eleven, after two years of study at Knecht’s Dance Academy. He was a member of PBS’s Professional Training Program and performed in many Nutcracker performances and school shows (including Franz to his sister Erin’s Swanhilda in Coppelia). In high school, he was an apprentice to American Repertory Ballet and upon graduation was chosen to be one of the first members of Taylor 2. Next, he danced for David Parsons Company, appeared in The Christmas Spectacular at Radio City Music Hall, danced with Geoffry Doig-Marx, then returned to ARB under Graham Lustig’s direction. He joined the Paul Taylor Dance Company in 2004.
Kraig Patterson
Kraig Patterson was born in Trenton, NJ. He was inspired to pursue a career in dance after performing in high school musicals. His formal dance education began with a scholarship to Princeton Ballet School. Following further training at Juilliard School for the Performing Arts, where he received his B.F.A. in 1986, he danced with the Mark Morris Dance Group from 1987 until 1999. Kraig has also performed with Ohad Naharin, Neta Pulvermacher, and the White Oak Dance Project.
