Carol N. Iwasaki, retired Professor and Chair of the Department of Ballet at the University of Utah received her B.F.A. and M.F.A. degrees from the University of Utah, where she was the recipient of a teaching fellowship.

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Professor Iwasaki received her early dance training from June Purrington Park in Salt Lake City, Utah. She then began intensive training in the ballet preparatory and collegiate programs at the University of Utah with Willam F. Christensen, Gordon Paxman, Yurek Lazowski, Mattlyn Gavers, Bene’ Arnold, Gilbert Reed, Ramon Segarra, John Callendar, Terri Port, Barbara Hamblin, and Marianne Hatton.

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She was a member of Utah Civic Ballet, forerunner of Ballet West, and was on the faculty of Ballet West’s annual summer residencies in Snowmass, Colorado. Prior to her return to the University of Utah, she was Head of the Dance Division at the College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) at the University of Cincinnati, where she was named the first chair holder of the Corbett-McLain Distinguished Chair in Dance. She served as Director of Dance at The Wichita State University, and Executive Director of Dance at Wichita Children’s Theatre and Dance Center.

In addition, she owned and operated The Dance Center, a private dance school in Kansas. She has taught numerous master classes for dance schools and organizations that include Alaska Ballet Theater, Dakota Ballet Association, University of Iowa, University of Oklahoma, Mid-America Dance Network, Kyrung Hee University, Seoul, So. Korea, Akutami School, Gifu, Japan, and in Taipei, Taiwan. She has served on numberous boards and arts councils such as Mid-America Dance Netowrk, Kansas Arts Council, Cincinnati Ballet, Cincinnati Chamber Orchestra, Ohio Dance, and Corps de Ballet International. She is currently on the board of Odyssey Dance Theatre, Salt Lake City, Utah

Claire received her BFA in Modern Dance from the University of Utah in the Spring of 2016. While attending the the University she performed with The Performing Dance Company and was able to work with esteemed artists in the dance community such as Sharee Lane; Lesley Telford; Katie Sherman and Kate Wallich. Claire also performed in concerts such as the Student Concert Series; Grad Thesis Salon; and the Senior Concert Series. While receiving her BFA, Claire choreographed her own works “Unspecified” in the SKOBLU Series, and “Five Minus One” in the Shirts and Skins Concert Series.

In 2016 Claire had the opportunity to join the Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company (WCDC). As a company member Claire performed with them for four seasons and received the Dancers Choice Award in the fall of 2016 and the Outstanding Soloist Award in the spring of 2017. During her time with WCDC Claire had the privilege of working with state and world renowned artists such as Dina Smirnov; Rebecca Analoski and Roxanne Grey. Claire was also able to set her latest work Canvas on a few company members.

In August of 2013, Claire joined the non-prophet organization Promethean Spark where she traveled to Nairobi Kenya to teach life skills through dance to impoverished youth.

Claire is thrilled to continue as a staff member with the Classical Ballet Conservatory, where she can continue to be inspired by the students and learn and grow as a teacher.

Elisse Shell is the owner and director of Classical Ballet Conservatory. She grew up dancing under Christy McQuaid and Attila Ficzere. Upon graduation from highschool, she attended BYU on a talent scholarship in the Ballet Department. She received her Bachelor of Science in dance from Brigham Young University and was a member their pre-professional touring company, Theatre Ballet. While studying at BYU, Elisse Trained under Jan Dijkwel, Shani Robison, and Suzi Wood. Elisse received the Phyllis Jacobson Dance Talent Scholarship, and a scholarship to study Martha Graham and Jose Limon methodologies. Her choreography was chosen to represent BYU at ACDFA (The American College Dance Festival Association).
Shortly after graduating from BYU, Elisse was awarded a choreographic residency at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. After a cold summer in San Fransisco, she went on to earn her Masters of Fine Arts in ballet with an emphasis in teaching and choreography from the University of Utah; during which, she was an assistant professor and taught both beginning and advanced ballet, pointe, character dance, and modern at the University.
Elisse has Choreographed and taught all over the Wasatch front, and is the Resident Choreographer for Mountain West Ballet. Her choreography has also been seen in The Mormon Tabernacle Christmas Show, Utah Opera, Utah Ballet, Youth America Grand Prix, and on solo competition stages throughout the state.

David Riskin was born in Modesto, California. The son of a classical violist and guitarist, David was exposed to the arts from a young age. He quickly fell in love with ballet, and it became a defining factor in his life. He was fortunate enough to train with a number world-renown dancers, choreographers, and instructors, and became a principle at Central West Ballet in 2004. After serving a mission in Texas, David moved to Utah in the summer of 2010 and performed with both Ballet West and Utah Ballet while obtaining a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and a Master’s degree in Business Administration at the University of Utah.
Since leaving the professional dance circuit, David has pursued a full-time career in business technology, and is currently the CTO of an IT company in downtown Salt Lake City. He continues to perform leading roles with local companies such as Mountain West Ballet, Municipal Ballet Company, and others, in addition to teaching both Pas De Deux and Men’s master classes.

Lauren Frost holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from the University of Utah, where she was awarded a full talent scholarship. Her professional dance experience includes performing with SALT II, Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company, Mountain West Ballet, and as a featured soloist in both the Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas Concert and the TC Nutcracker. She has also shared her passion for dance and education internationally, having traveled to South Africa to teach both English and dance.

Lauren is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) and is a NASM-certified fitness instructor. She currently teaches cycling in Saratoga Springs and serves as a choreographer for Epic Dance, where she finds great joy in creating pieces that inspire dancers and delight audiences.

Outside of her professional work, Lauren is a dedicated wife and mother to two daughters, Sawyer and Sophie, and a proud dog mom to Lucy and Jack. She enjoys camping with her family, watching movies, exploring new foods, and getting lost in a good book.