Rosanna Ruffo
Rosanna Ruffo, adjunct instructor of dance, began her ballet
training at the National School of Ballet in Panama. In 1987 she
received a scholarship to study at the prestigious Russian Ballet
Academy in St. Petersburg. While in Russia, Ms. Ruffo performed in
The Maryinsky Theatre (former Kirov) productions of Les
Sylphides, The Nutcracker, Paquita, La
Bayadre and others.
In 1985 after her return to Panama, she was promoted to the rank
of principal dancer. Under the artistic direction of Dame Margot
Fonteyn and Nitzia de Martin, Ms. Ruffo performed the leading roles
in La Bayadre, Swan Lake, Giselle,
The Nutcracker, and Les Sylphides. Ms. Ruffo was
a finalist in the Third USA International Ballet Competition in
Jackson, Mississippi in 1986. Two years later she joined
Indianapolis Ballet Theater and performed leading roles in
productions of The Nutcracker, Giselle, Swan
Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and Juliet,
Raymonda, A Midsummer Night's Dream,
Variations Brilliante, and George Balanchines Night
Shadow. In 1993 she began working with regional schools and
dance companies in St. Louis and Chicago, teaching ballet technique
and pointe, and re-staging and coaching ballet productions.
Ms. Ruffo joined Butler's dance faculty in 1995 where she
teaches Ballet Technique and Pointe and coaches dancers for Butler
Ballet company productions.