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Alexandra Zaharias is founder of the Alexandra
School of Ballet, established in 1949. She is also the founder and artistic director of Alexandra Ballet. She
received her early training in St. Louis from Isabella Rainford, and went on to study at the School of American Ballet in
New York City under the legendary George Balanchine. She was inspired to become a teacher by one of her instructors at SAB,
Anatole Obukhov, and subsequently received her training in that area from Thalia Mara, renowned teacher, author, and founder
of the International Ballet Competition, held in Jackson Mississippi.
Miss Zaharias is National Dance Chairman for
the National Society of Arts and Letters, and past president of the St. Louis chapter. She has served as codirector of the
Midwestern Music and Art Camp, University of Kansas, and taught ballet at Fontbonne College in Clayton, Missouri. She was
Dance Consultant for the St. Louis Board of Education Commission and served as dance panelist for the Missouri Arts Council.
She also directed four seasons of The Nutcracker, and choreographed KinderKonzerts and Young People's Concerts for the Saint
Louis Symphony Orchestra. Miss Zaharias received the Hellenic American Achievement Award in 1991 for her work in the arts
and the Arts & Education Council's Excellence in the Arts Award in 1999. She currently serves on the National Board of
Regional Dance America, and is an honorary member of the Dance St. Louis Troupe.
Students of Alexandra Zaharias have
gone on to careers with major companies around the world, including Alvin Ailey Dance, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Hispanico,
Basel Ballet (Switzerland), Charleston Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Joffrey Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet,
National Ballet of Canada, New York City Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, Royal
Birmingham Ballet (UK), and San Francisco Ballet.
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Founded by Alexandra Zaharias 20 years ago
and based in Chesterfield, Missouri, Alexandra Ballet is a regional company with non-profit status. The classically
oriented company strives to raise the level of awareness of classical dance in our region through educational outreach programs
and brings the magic of the dance world to inner city children, local elementary schools, and rural communities with free
school performances, lectures, and demonstrations. The company has performed with the Saint Louis Symphony Orchestra at KinderKonzerts
and Young People's Concerts.
Alexandra Ballet offers several public performances every year, including free performances
of a narrated version of The Nutcracker, suitable for young audiences, a repertory program benefiting our scholarship fund
and diverse, full-length ballets every spring. Our repertoire ranges from traditional to contemporary, and performances showcase
original works, the restaging of classics by nationally known choreographers, and the collaboration of professional guest
artists.
Partially funded by the Arts and Education Council of Greater St. Louis, the Missouri Arts Council, and the
Regional Arts Commission, Alexandra Ballet is a member of Dance St. Louis, Regional Dance America (Mid-States Honor Company),
and the St. Louis Mid-Sized Arts Cooperative.
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