Academy Director

Terry (Teruyo) S. Davis achieved her BFA in teaching, choreography, and character dance  in 2009; and her MFA in ballet pedagogy and choreography in 2011 from the University of Utah. Born and raised in Japan, Terry trained with Yurisu Ballet for 15 years before moving to the United States. Terry studied and performed in Spain, Japan, Greece, and Costa Rica as a member of Character Dance Ensemble prior to becoming Assistant Director of Character Dance Ensemble and School Director of the SLC Ballet. She also had the honor of  performing as a guest artist in Edmonton, Canada, in Vaganova Dance Society’s 20th anniversary gala and also regionally as principal dancer in Mountain West Ballet's Nutcracker 2006 (Sugar Plum Fairy) & 2007 (Dew Drop Fairy). Upon invitation from the internationally acclaimed Valentino Dance Center, she participated as a guest performer and choreographer in Tokyo, Japan in 2009. Terry is also a guest choreographer for Utah Ballet’s 2011-2012 season.

Artistic Director

Comprehensive study of ballet and modern dance transformed Hillary into a dynamic performer, teacher and choreographer. From an early age, she took master classes from Loretta Livingston & John Magnus which afforded her the opportunity to study at the Joffrey during their Summer intensives. Hillary has studied with the Portland Ballet under Nancy Davis and also with Fernando Bujones, Gesley Kirkland, and John Clifford. She began performing with the Eugene/Idaho Ballet at 17 years old. After entering the University of Utah Ballet Department on scholarship and joining Fierce dance company,  Hillary transferred to the Modern Department of U of U in 2005.  Additional training at Northwest Dance Project, American College Dance Festival and with Deborah Hay, Holly Johnston, Liz Lerman and Kathleen Hermesdorf propelled Hillary into GoGoVertigoat (now based in NYC) and the college's Performing Dance Company. Hillary has partnered with Brolly Arts, Westminster College and Arts Alliance, premiering her first dance-film at the 2010 San Diego/Tijuana dance film festival. She has performed as a soloist in Gary Vlasic and graduate productions, is currently the lead organizer for the New Pedestrians, and has choreographed three full length shows. In 2009, she was featured in Sugarspace’s annual show, Suite: Women Defining Space.  She is presently on their Artist Advisory board. Through YouthCity Artways, Hillary gained a devoted following and the recognition of her peers as an esteemed teacher of youth.  Hillary holds memberships to National and State Dance Educators Organization, Dance Film Association and Intermountain Arts Educators.  She is honored to be working along side Terry Davis and Mattie Do as Artistic Director of the SLC Ballet.

Founder & Executive Advisor

Mattie has been an avid balletomane since childhood. Although a professional-grade ballet education was not available to her as a child, she developed an extensive academic knowledge of ballet and its methodology, and trained as a National Guild recognized pianist. Mattie took a few recreational ballet classes in college, but wanted more than a leisure course. While living in Rome, Italy, Mattie trained at IALS where she finally matched her academic ballet knowledge with rigorous classical ballet training from Bolshoi graduates and former professionals, including Marcello Raciti (John Cranko Company) and Andrei Fedotov (former principal of La Scala Ballet Theater in Milan). Back in the States, Mattie attended the now defunct Salt Lake Ballet Conservatory where she was given the rare opportunity to train alongside the Conservatory’s pre-professional students taking full advantage of the Conservatory program. In 2007, Mattie was voted onto the board of the nonprofit Salt Lake City Ballet and a year later she assumed control of its conservatory as Executive Director, where she was able to apply her small-business background in fostering steady growth and future sustainability—a difficult proposition for any arts business during a troubled economy. In the spring of 2010, she welcomed Terry Davis and Hillary Van Moorleghem as the new creative directors of the Salt Lake City Ballet.

Technique & Yoga Instructor

Kate, a former Ballet West soloist for ten seasons, retired in June of 2010 to pursue a career in ballet and yoga instruction.  Kate studied with Pacific Northwest Ballet and danced with Kansas City Ballet for five seasons.  Kate performed on many wonderful stages across the United States; her favorites being the Kennedy Center and City Center in New York.  One of Kate's highest career achievements was her appearance on the cover of Dance Magazine in February of 2009. While dancing she devoted time to her yoga practice and teaching yoga at Centered City Yoga.  After many years of training, performing, and traveling, Kate discovered yoga while searching for balance in her career. She has been practicing yoga for eight years and teaching for four. Kate also teaches at Ballet West and the University of Utah. Kate works with D'ana Baptiste directing the Inbody Outreach Program at Centered City Yoga where she connects non-profit organizations to skilled yoga teachers. Kate is working to extend Inbody Outreach to include yoga and volunteerism retreats both locally and around the world.

Technique Instructor

Misha Tchoupakov’s career has spanned twenty years of diverse experience as a professional dancer with the world’s finest dance companies of Russia, Europe, and the United States after graduating from Moscow State Academy of Choreography and the Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Misha has been associated with major companies such as the Bolshoi Ballet, Vienna State Opera Ballet, and Sarasota Ballet in both solo and principal roles. In addition to those companies, he has also been both principal and guest artist with many other notable dance companies internationally.

     His teaching qualifications stretch over twenty five years of instruction in various dance disciplines with emphasis in ballet technique, pas de deux, and repertoire. Misha has taught technique classes, company classes, and rehearsals as well as staged, choreographed for leading organizations as the English National Ballet School, Bolshoi Ballet Academy, Royal Ballet School of London, Southland Ballet Academy, Los Angeles Ballet Academy, University of Utah, Aoyama Ballet Studio, and Kirchheimbolanden Tanzeschule to name a few.

     Besides dancing and teaching, Misha has also been a valued judge, master teacher, choreographer, and juror for respected competitions and festivals like Youth America Grand Prix, Sibiu International Ballet and Contemporary & Dance Competition, and Regional Dance America.

     His former students are now members of companies such as the Royal Ballet, English National Ballet, Birmingham Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Houston Ballet, Norwegian National Ballet, Het National Ballet, and Zurich Ballet.

Jazz Instructor

Kayley Winfield was born and raised in Calgary Alberta Canada and completed her formal RAD ballet training at the International School of Ballet. She received the Solo Seal Award in April 2008 and shortly thereafter was a semi-finalist at the Genee International Ballet Competition. She will be completeing her BFA in Ballet at the Univeristy of Utah in the Fall. During her time at the school she has competed at the Youth America Grand Prix competition for two years. In 2011 she was awarded third place in the contemporary category. In June 2010 she competed in the Sibiu International Ballet and Contemporary Dance competition where she was awarded third place in the Junior Women’s competition.