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ARTISTIC DIRECTORS
"The company has flourished since
1986 under the artistic direction of Beth Fritz-Logrea and Jean Logrea." --
The New York Times, June 7, 1998.
Beth Fritz-Logrea
was a protege of Dame Alicia Markova. While receiving her early
training in Memphis, Tennessee, with Charles Kirby and Manola
Agullo, she was seen by Markova and offered a scholarship to the
Metropolitan Opera. She then joined the company at the age of
16 and continued her training in New York with Markova's teacher,
Vincenzo Celli. She has performed as principal dancer with Ballet
Etudes Repertory Company, Connecticut's first resident ballet
company; St. Gallen Stadt Theatre, Switzerland; and the Graz Opera
House, Austria, where she met and married her husband, Jean Logrea.
She toured Europe, dancing leading roles in such ballets as Giselle,
Swan Lake, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, and Pas de Quatre.
Jean Logrea was trained at the Scoala Speciala in Cluj, Romania, in classical ballet, character, and folk dance. He was principal dancer at the Opera House Cluj as well as a teacher at the affiliated school for nine years. Here he was entrusted with a class of gifted student dancers, all of whom are now dancing internationally in major professional companies. He toured extensively throughout Europe and the USSR, dancing such major roles as Mercutio in Romeo and Juliet, the Jester in Swan Lake, the Peasant Pas de Deux from Giselle and the Rocker on The Miraculous Mandarin. Prior to moving to the United States, he performed as principal dancer for seven years at the Opera House Graz, Austria.
In memoriam Russel Fratto, Artistic Consultant, 1986-2002, master teacher, choreographer, company director, producer, advisor, and beloved friend. Russel Fratto trained as a dancer at an early age with Vitali Fokine and Madame Elizabeth Anderson and focused on dance education for over 40 years. His students went on to dance with the American Ballet Theatre, the Joffrey Ballet, Le Grande Ballet Canadien, the Metropolitan Opera, and throughout Europe. In 1957 he founded the Ballet Etudes Repertory Company in Connecticut, and subsequently worked with Jeannette Lauret, an original member of the Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo. His students have gone on to dance with the American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, Les Grande Ballet Canadian, the Metropolitan Opera, and throughout Europe. In an effort to bring dance to the community, he conceived and organized the Palace Performing Arts Center in Norwalk, Connecticut. To the great benefit of our company, Mr. Fratto coached, encouraged, and advised as our artistic consultant for fifteen years. His presence will be missed, but his mark upon our company and our dancers is indelible -- his legacy of commitment and professionalism endures.
Photos by Vivian Travin.
