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Pacific Theatre Ballet is the resident ballet company of
Pacicfic Ballet Conservatory.
Pacific Theatre Ballet began as a dream by master teacher, Ann-Marie McClellan, to expose young dancers to the rigors, joys and triumphs of being a professional classical dancer. Dancers who participate in PTB are given the experience of dancing at a real, professional audition, reaching out to the community through lecture demonstrations, and performing for the community in classical ballets. All of our lead roles are danced by the incredibly talented dancers in our company. We do not hire professionals to dance in our productions--we don't need to.
The director, Ann-Marie McClellan, began dancing at the age of 5 under the direction of Sarah Derrickson at the El Toro School of Dance. Her classical ballet training began with the Cecchetti Method and as it developed came to include Russian and Balanchine styles. Her instructors have included Jillana, Stefan Wente, El Gabriel, Marnell Himes, Katherine Steadmen, Janine Paulson, Larry Rosenberg, and Lila Zali, Molly Lynch and many more. Ms. McClellan's training also includes extensive experience in modern, jazz, musical theater and tap dance styles including working with Donald McKayle in his world premier of "Ringaleveio" and Chet Walker in "Follies". Ms. McClellan has performed with San Francisco Ballet, Ballet Pacifica, Golden State Ballet and Coast Ballet Theatre. Ann-Marie has received a Bachelor's Degree in Dance with an emphasis in Teaching and a Master of Fine Arts degree, both from the Univeristy of California at Irvine. Her students have continued their professional preparation at such prestigious schools as the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet to name just a few. Ann-Marie currently has had previous students performing with Pennsylvania Ballet, Momix, Radio City Music Hall Rockettes and Houston Ballet, again, to name only a few.
Ann-Marie is a Faculty member of Pacific Ballet Conservatory in Aliso Viejo. She is also an Associate Professor of Health and Wellness for Saddleback College's Emeritus Institute.
2024 marks Ann-Marie's 39th year of teaching.
It is of the utmost importance to Ms. McClellan that her dancers, regardless of age, look and feel like professional dancers on stage.
"Practice never makes perfect...only perfect practice makes perfect."
--Vince Lombardi, famous football coach
"Try not. Do or do not...there is no try!"
--Yoda, Jedi Master
Isabel Sierzchula is the co-director of PTB with Ann-Marie McClellan. Isabel Sierzchula has been classically trained in ballet for 17 years as well as other dance styles at Pacific School of Ballet and Pacific Ballet Conservatory. She holds a Bachelor's Degree from Concordia University as well as a California State Teaching Credential. Isabel attended numerous Summer Intensive programs as a young dancers including Jillana in Taos, New Mexico, Alonzo King at UC Irvine, and The Joffrey Ballet. She continued her training as a dance major at California State Fullerton and also continued to study dance at Saddleback College. Isabel has participated in our own Pacific Theatre Ballet Nutcracker for the past 10 years, performing lead roles, and is the co-director for the ensemble, working directly with executive and artistic director, Ann-Marie McClellan.