ARB Position: 2006 Wall of Fame

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.

Phyllis Papa began her dance studies at Royal Ballet Academy and became a charter member of the new Princeton Regional Ballet Company when she was just 13. She was a member and principal dancer of the Harkness Youth Ballet for two years, and then joined American Ballet Theatre in 1967. Papa was invited to audition for the Royal Danish Ballet and became the first American to dance in that company and the only foreigner to be offered a lifetime contract. She was a principal ballerina with Stars of the American Ballet in New York, and she eventually became Artistic Director of the group. Miss Papa directed the Atlantic City Ballet, where she choreographed over 30 ballets, and founded the ACBT Performing Arts Academy, its official school.