meet our instructors
MARK CARLSON
Artistic Director
Mark Carlson was born in Oswego, Kansas. He grew up in Fullerton California and studied with Paul Petroff and Nana Gollner at the School of Imperial Russian Ballet. Mr. Carlson danced with the Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Canada, the Stora Teatern and Malmo Stadsteatern in Sweden, the Badische Staat Theatern in Germany, as well as the Royal Ballet of Flanders in Belgium. Mr. Carlson has taught for the Academie voor Klassiche Russiche Ballet in Belgium and the Stockholms Universitiet in Sweden as well as being Ballet Master for the Norrskoping Ballet in Sweden.
He has enjoyed a long career as a professional ballet dancer for over 20 years, dancing soloist and principal roles throughout Europe. After moving back to the United States, Mr. Carlson worked as the Associate Artistic Director of the Colorado Ballet Two as well as company teacher for the Colorado Ballet. He founded the International Ballet School in Colorado Springs in 1997. Mr. Carlson has been teaching for over 40 years throughout the United States and Europe.
Mr. Carlson has won Outstanding teacher 13 times, outstanding choreographer twice, and Outstanding School 8 times at the Youth America Grand Prix in Denver, Colorado. He has coached students for the prestigious Prix de Lausanne and the U.S.A. International Ballet Competition where his students have received numerous scholarships and company Contracts.
SANDRA KERR
Artistic Director
Sandra Kerr was born in Jakarta, Singapore. She trained in Southern California at the American Ballet School under the direction of Lynda Yourth, Principal dancer with the New York City Ballet. under George Balanchine.
Upon graduation Sandra recieved a contract as a soloist with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf Germany. She danced many soloist roles in both the classical and contemporary repetoire.
After moving back to the United States Sandra joined the Colorado Ballet and promoted to soloist. She danced many soloist and leading roles throughout her career with the Colorado Ballet.
Throughout her career she danced many soloist and principal roles from such notable choreographers as Choo-San Goh, Christopher Wheeldon, Alvin Ailey, Stanton Welch, Martha Graham, Agnes de Mille, Federick Ashton, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and Hans Van Manen. Ms. Kerr has danced many ballets from the classical repertoire such as Swan Lake, Giselle, La Fille Mal Gardee, Coppelia, Don Quixote, the Sleeping Beauty, the Nutcracker, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, La bayadere, Le corsair, Raymonda, La Sylphide and Les Sylphide to name a few.
Sandra founded International Ballet School in Littleton Colorado along with Mark Carlson in 2000 after the birth of their son. She has been teaching for over 20 years, she has won the Oustanding Teacher Award at the Youth America Grand Prix 13 times.
Sandra has coached students who have regularly placed in the Denver regional YAGP and Denver Ballet Guild, Universal Ballet Compitition, USA IBC Jackson, as well as traveling as finalist to the Finals for YAGP. Along with teaching and coaching she designs the costumes and stages the ballet’s for the International Youth ballet.
Artistic Director
Sandra Kerr was born in Jakarta, Singapore. She trained in Southern California at the American Ballet School under the direction of Lynda Yourth. Sandra danced as a soloist with the Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf Germany as well as the Colorado Ballet.
Throughout her career she danced many soloist and principal roles from such notable choreographers as Choo-San Goh, Christopher Wheeldon, Alvin Ailey, Stanton Welch, Martha Graham, Agnes de Mille, Federick Ashton, George Balanchine, William Forsythe, and Hans Van Manen. Ms. Kerr has danced many ballets from the classical repertoire such as Swan Lake, Giselle, La Fille Mal Gardee, Coppelia, Don Quixote, the Sleeping Beauty, the Nutcracker, Cinderella, Romeo and Juliet, La bayadere, Le corsair, Raymonda, La Sylphide and Les Sylphide to name a few.
Sandra founded International Ballet School in Littleton Colorado along with Mark Carlson in 2000 after the birth of their son. She has been teaching for 25 years. Sandra has won best teacher at the Youth America Grand Prix regional’s in the Denver competition four times, and best school ten times.
Her students have regularly placed in the Denver regional YAGP and Denver Ballet Guild, as well as traveling as finalist to the New York Finals for YAGP. Along with teaching and coaching she designs the costumes and stages the ballet’s for the International Youth ballet.
CHARIS SPENCER
Charis grew up in Denver, CO. She began her dance training at 4 years old and joined International Ballet School as a student in 2004 at the age of 8. After graduating high school, Charis earned a Bachelor of Arts Degree in History from CU Boulder and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Education.
She started working for Sandra and Mark in 2014, helping with the seasonal productions (Nutcracker and Spring Performances), and has grown into her role as Children’s Program Director which includes teaching pre-ballet, creative movement, and level 1. One of her favorite parts of her job is getting to perform every year in the Nutcracker as Clara’s mother and Mother Ginger.
Victoria Spangler
In 2009, Victoria graduated from the University of Colorado at Boulder, with a B.F.A.
in Dance Performance and Choreography. While earning her degree, she
performed in original works by Gabriel Masson, Onye Ozuzu, and Erika Randall, and
studied under Patricia Renzetti, Robin Haig, Nada Diachenko, Larry Southall, and Nii
Armah Sowah. Upon graduation, Victoria performed numerous featured roles as a
member of Louder Than Words Dance Theatre, a professional Contemporary
Modern and Jazz Company based out of Denver, CO, under the direction of Chris
Harris. In 2012, Victoria co-choreographed, and performed, in an original, evening-
length work titled "Four Letter Words", which premiered on the main stage at the
Parker Town Hall Arts Center. A Colorado native, Victoria received her early training
at David Taylor Dance Theater, International Ballet School, and Cleo Parker
Robinson Dance. During this time, she was fortunate enough to study under
Nikoloz Makhateli, Milenko Banovich, Milton Meyers, James Clouser, and Debra
Mercer, among others. She attended many intensive programs throughout this
time, including the University of the Arts, in Philadelphia, PA, where she spent a
summer training directly under world-renowned dancer Fernando Bujones. While still in high school, Victoria was a member of the Apprentice Company
with the David Taylor Dance Theatre for multiple seasons. Upon graduation, she
spent two years, on scholarship, studying Ballet at Friends University, and dancing
with The Wichita Ballet Theatre, both under the direction of Stan K. Rogers. Victoria
has been teaching and choreographing in the Denver/Boulder area since 2007. Her
pieces have won numerous awards at various competitions, including YAGP, UBC,
NUVO, KAR, StarQuest, Rainbow, and many others. In 2021, Victoria choreographed
THE YAGP Finals Hope Award-winning Contemporary solo, and was also a co-
RECIPIENT OF THE Outstanding Teacher award at Denver YAGP regionals.
Olivier Pardina
Guest Teacher Summer 2023
Olivier Pardina (Ballet) a native of France, was inspired by his father and begins training under his watchful eyes before moving to Paris to continue his studies with the Master Teachers of the Paris Opera. At age sixteen, after replacing (at the last minute) an injured Principal Dancer at an International Dance Gala, he is promoted to Principal Dancer with the Nice Opera House (France). At age twenty, he won the first prize in a National Ballet Competition organized by the French television and he was offered a contract by celebrated choreographer Maurice Bejart. Between the ages of sixteen and thirty two, Pardina performed as Principal Dancer with various prominent European Ballet Companies and toured extensively as a guest artist, and as ambassador of the French culture abroad.
As a recipient of the teaching degree awarded by the French government, he was called upon by Rosella Hightower to evaluate the level of the National Conservatory of Dance. He was later appointed as Artistic director and Principal Teacher of the school of the Nice Opera Ballet.
In 1991 after years of performing on stage, Pardina moved to Florida and dedicates his full time to nurture the next generation of dancers where he was a teacher with the Harid Conservatory for many years. His students have won major prizes at national and international Dance competitions. Many of his students are now Principal Dancers with renowned Ballet Companies in the United States and overseas. Mr. Pardina is still very active as a jury member, and as a guest teacher for national and international Ballet competitions notably for the New York City’s finals of the Youth America Grand Prix. Amongst his many guest appearances he taught at the Rock School in Philadelphia, the Orlando Ballet School, the San Francisco Ballet School, and he was invited by American Ballet Theatre, the Teatro de Rio de Janeiro and the Cordoba Ballet Company (Argentina) to teach the company dancers.
In 2013, Olivier Pardina was appointed Principal Teacher of the Pre-Professional division of the Miami City Ballet School.
Nikoloz Makhateli
Guest Teacher Summer 2023
Nikoloz Makhateli was Principal Dancer for 26 years with the National Opera and Ballet Theater of Georgia USSR. He was trained at the State Choreographic Institute of Georgia. There as a protégé of famed Kirov dancer Vakhtang Chabukiani, he studied the complete eight-year Vaganova syllabus. From 1970-75 he studied at the Tbilisi State College of Theatrical Arts receiving his masters degree in ballet instruction, coaching, and choreography. He later studied choreography in St. Petersburg at the Vaganova Ballet Academy, learning the entire Petipa repertoire under Oleg Vinogradov former Artistic Director of the Kirov (Mariinsky) Ballet.
Nikoloz Makhateli was appointed Ballet Master of Maurice Bejart' school MUDRA Afrique created by Maurice Bejart, President Leopold Sedar Senghor and the UNESCO
In 1983 Mr. Makhateli was named an Honored Artist of the Georgian Republic, in 2000 Mr Makhateli
Recipient of the “Order of the Mark of Distinction“ The highest order of the Georgian Republic,
as a principal dancer and ballet professor. He spent nine years as chairman of the Choreography Department of The Fine Arts College of Georgia. For the past twelve years, Mr. Makhateli has been in the United States, teaching nationally and internationally, as well as coaching many award winning young dancers throughout America. Prior to joining KAB’s faculty, Mr. Makhateli spent the last five years as a ballet instructor for the New Orleans Center of Cultural Arts.
Mr. Makhateli and his wife Marina are the proud parents of former Royal Ballet principal David Makhateli and Dutch National Ballet principal Maia Makhateli, both of whom began their training with their parents at the State Choreographic Institute in Tbilisi, Georgia.
Testimonials
I recently attended their Nutcracker performance and was stunned by the beauty of their costumes, use of color coordination and lighting. Their sets were magnificent! The dancing was beautiful to see and they have talented youth!
Sonya C.
This school has been a blessing for my daughter. International Ballet School is one of the best programs in the country for the most dedicated and passionate ballet students.
Edward B.
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ADDRESS
250 East Dry Creek RD Suite 203
Mon – Fri : 2 PM - 8 PM
Sat: 9 AM - 12:30 PM
Sunday : Closed
About
At International Ballet School our mission is to create a caring and nurturing environment for our students where they can thrive. We provide a program that develops technical skills, musicality, self-esteem, discipline, and a lifelong love of dance. Whether or not a student is pursuing a professional career in dance, we strive to give everyone the care and attention they need to develop into the best dancer and artist they can be.
Opening Hours
Mon - Fri : 2 PM - 8 PM
Sat : 9 AM - 12 PM
Sunday : Closed
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