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Dance

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Photo: Brian Glass Photography

Natalia Alexandra Retzloff is a female artist, dancer, instructor, business owner, blogger, creative director, and choreographer all based in the beautiful state of Michigan. She began her college journey at Wright State University and is now finishing her Bachelors of Science in Interdisciplinary Studies with a concentration in Ballet, Modern Dance, and Fine Arts Education through Point Park University. She is originally from Swartz Creek, Michigan where she grew up dancing since the age of two. She began her classical  training at Young People's Ballet Theatre under the direction of Denise Paavola, Jennifer Wiley, Nick and Laura Schultz, and Heather Liskewitz for thirteen years. While there, she had the privilege of performing lead roles in full length ballets such as: Cinderella, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Beauty and The Beast, Le Corsaire, Scott Free, Little Women, CoppeliaDon Quixote, Snow White, Le Sylphides, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, and A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also had the honor of performing in Grand Rapids Ballet's production of The Nutcracker under the direction of Patricia Barker. She was a member of Dayton Ballet's second company while she was studying at Wright State University as a B.F.A. Dance major and had the honor of performing with the main company of Dayton Ballet in their productions of Ron Cunningham's The Great Gatsby and Karen Russo Burke's The Nutcracker!

She performed in Wright State's Annual Faculty Concert, Emerging Choreographer's Concert, and Fall Concert. Natalia served as a student choreographer and created her original contemporary ballet work, The Calm Before The Storm, where it was premiered during her junior year in 2020. She had the opportunity to work with esteemed choreographers and teachers such as: Dwight Rhoden, Gina Walther, Jillian Davis, Christian Denise, Desmond Richardson, Teresa Wiley - McWilliams, Ashley Walton (Pabst), Jae Man Jo, Meg Paul, Clifford Williams, Sarah Slipper, Sherri "Sparkle" Williams, Alexandra Wells, and Glenn Edgerton just to name a few. 

She spent her summers training at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp (on scholarship), Charlotte Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, North West Dance Project, and Hubbard Street Dance Chicago. Her first original work, Shattered Reflections, won a choreography competition in 2016, and many of her works have been premiered since in Michigan and Ohio. Her love for choreography was born and since then, she has had the honor of setting her work on: Young People's Ballet Theatre, Care Conservatory of BalletFenton Ballet Theatre, Wright State University Dance Ensemble, Swartz Creek Center Stage, Fenton High School Drama Department, Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts, Muskegon Civic Theatre, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, and The Flint School of Performing Arts.

Natalia accepted a job at Fenton Ballet Theatre as their Resident Choreographer in 2019 with her original work Take Flight. She served on Faculty as a Ballet Instructor and Head of Contemporary Training from (2019-2022). She has choreographed many sections in their full-length ballets: Cinderella (2021), The Nutcracker (2020 & 2021), and Hansel & Gretel (2022). She has also choreographed many original works for Mic
higan Ballet Festival, Youth America Grand Prix, Dancing For A Cure, and their annual school showcase. Natalia accepted a job at Grand Rapids Civic Theatre and School of Theatre Arts as a Teaching Artist Apprentice for the 2022-2023 Season. She had the honor of choreographing sections of Disney's Marry Poppins for their School of Theatre Arts! Natalia also served as Faculty and Resident Choreographer for Care Conservatory of Ballet and The Creative Arts Repertoire Ensemble during her time in Grand Rapids, Michigan!

Ms. Retzloff just closed her run as choreographer for Roger and Hammerstein's full-length Cinderella performed by Muskegon Civic Theatre which premiered this past May. She also serves as Modern Dance Faculty for the Dance Department at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp where she spends her summers teaching, re-staging, and choreographing new works on students in attendance.

Natalia is Full-time Ballet and Modern Faculty for the Flint School of Performing Arts! Ms. Retzloff also serves as Creative Director and Resident Choreographer for The Children's Performance Workshop, Youth Dance Ensemble, and Adult Dance Ensemble! She teaches many Children's, Intermediate, and Adult ballet classes as a Faculty member of the FSPA Dance Department as well as Modern II, Modern III/IV, and Advanced Modern. Natalia also teaches a Grade 4, Grade 5, and Middle School Dance Elective at the Flint Cultural Center Academy where she continues to inspire and cultivate a life long appreciation for the art of dance. Ms. Retzloff serves as Children's Ballet Mistress for The Flint Institute of Music's annual production of The Nutcracker performed at the stunning Whiting Auditorium! She will also be a part of growing FSPA's student choreographic program which will serve as a pivotal educational aspect in their dance department. Ms. Retzloff is a an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT National Training Curriculum. She is also an active member of the National Dance Education Organization and Michigan Dance Council. She will also be continuing to grow her own freelance choreography business that was launched in 2019. She is constantly wanting to push the boundaries of the current performing arts industry, continue growing as an emerging female artist, and inspire the next generation of dancers.

Gallery

Pictures of my original contemporary ballet, The Calm Before The Storm ,premiered on Wright State University Dance Program in February of 2020

All images taken by SPS Visuals. 

Ballet Dancer

Choreography Workshops

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I am so excited to finally be able to launch and offer my NAC Choreography Workshop. This intense workshop is designed to teach eager, young, and passionate students a unique introduction to the art of choreography. Over the past few years, I have been developing a curriculum that dives into topics like: prompting inspiration, improvisation tools, learning styles, personal movement theory, phrase development, movement quality, impulse discovery, and helping students discover their personal organic choreographic process.

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Choreography is one of the most creative, original, and intuitive parts of the performing arts world. Pushing boundaries, taking risks, and thinking outside the box are very crucial elements to the continuation of the dance world. It is our job as current professionals in the industry to inspire and cultivate creativity in this next generation of young dancers. As a young female choreographer, I possess a very unique outlook on the art of choreography. I have such a desire to share my knowledge and invest into the lives of the next generation of up and coming dancers!

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For more information about pricing, availability, and general questions, please feel free to email me at nataliaalexandrachoreography@gmail.com 

Ballet Dancer

Teaching Resume

Teaching Resume​

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CARE Conservatory of Ballet, Grand Rapids, Michigan 2016-2023

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  • Ballet (Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced), Contemporary (Intermediate and Advanced), Pointe (Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced), Pas De Deux (Intermediate and Advanced), Contemporary Ballet (Intermediate and Advanced), Lyrical (Beginning, Intermediate, and Advanced), Jazz (Intermediate and Advanced), Conditioning, Creative Movement, Musical Theatre, and Improvisation

  • Guest Teacher for the Creativity and Ability Festival

  • Choreographed, Directed, and Filmed College Dance Screenings

  • Choreographed original works for their annual Student Cabaret

  • Summer Intensive Faculty

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Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Muskegon, Michigan 2023-Present

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  • Modern Dance Faculty

  • Teaching Classes: Ballet (Intermediate and Advanced), Modern (Intermediate and Advanced), Contemporary (Intermediate and Advanced), and Pointe (Intermediate and Advanced)

  • Teaching Workshops: Improvisation, Jazz, Weight Sharing Partnering, and Choreography/Composition

  • Choreographed original work

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Flint Cultural Center Academy, Flint, Michigan 2023-Present

  • Dance Faculty for Elementary and Middle School Classes

  • Teaching Classes: Grade 4 Dance, Grade 5 Dance, and Middle School Dance Elective

  • Writing a curriculum based off of the Michigan Guidelines for Dance Education

  • Responsible for Lecture Demonstrations and Grade Showcases 

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Flint School of Performing Arts, Flint, Michigan 2023-Present​​

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  • Full-time Ballet & Modern Dance Faculty

  • Children's Ballet Mistress for Flint Institute of Music's annual production of The Nutcracker

  • Teaching Classes: Pre Ballet, Children's Ballet (levels III and IV), Intermediate Ballet (levels I and II), Adult Ballet (levels II and III, and Modern II, III/IV, and Advanced Modern

  • Choreographing and setting new works on: The Children's Performance Workshop, Youth Dance Ensemble, Adult Ballet Ensemble, and The Flint Youth Ballet

  • Growing their student choreography program

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Master Class Locations 

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  • South Dayton Dance Theatre, Bellbrook Dance Academy, Dayton Dance Conservatory, Terri's Dance Workshop, Young People's Ballet Theatre, CARE Conservatory of Ballet, Fenton Ballet Theatre, Michigan Ballet Academy, Terry Matlock School of Dance, Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Flint School of Performing Arts, and Michigan Academy of Dance and Music,, 

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Joey Collins & Isabella Brady - Peters of CARE Conservatory of Ballet

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Children's Performance Workshop at Flint School of Performing Arts 2024

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