I am told that from infancy music had a powerful effect on me – it still does - all kinds of music, it makes me move! I wanted to be a ballerina for as long as I can remember. Tutu, tiara, the works – but no one in my family knew anything about ballet. At 8 years of age I went to a typical local dance studio that did not offer a high level of ballet training. We had the fancy costumes and awards at the yearly recital but beyond that as I found out later, I was ill prepared to reach my dream. Luckily my family moved back to NJ where I started training with Helena Baron at age 12 (which is “late” for this profession).  I will always remember watching the advanced girls in class at Mrs. Baron’s that first day and thinking in horror “I don’t know those steps!”  It was a shock.  Well, I didn’t get into the advanced class, but I did learn correct ballet technique and because of Mrs. Baron’s training I did achieve my dream. My heart always goes out to students who come to our school having the same experience as I did. I love teaching these young dancers because when they realize what they have to do, they work incredibly hard to perfect their work.  Mrs. Baron was an excellent teacher and choreographer.  Along with training, I assisted in classes with her and eventually taught; she also encouraged me to choreograph following in her footsteps. She gave me many tools that would serve me throughout my career.  Helena Baron was Russian by birth but danced in Berlin, training with Victor Gsovsky, who trained in St. Petersburg.  The lineage of ballet teachers is like a pedigree and this line was an excellent pedigree.  I, who knew nothing about this art form, was lucky enough to find a teacher with this level of knowledge.  This would prove to be a critical part of achieving my dream.