Faculty
Michele Antonioli, Artistic Director
Ms. Antonioli is a Professor in the University of Montana School of Theater and Dance, teaching ballet, pointe, kinesiology, and pedagogy. She studied professionally with the Harkness Ballet School and the School of American Ballet before dancing with the Houston Ballet and the Frankfurt Opera Ballet. She has a BA in Geology and an MFA in Ballet from Texas Christian University. Ms. Antonioli has also served as the Artistic Director of the Garden City Ballet's The Nutcracker. Michele is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Ms. Antonioli is a Professor in the University of Montana School of Theater and Dance, teaching ballet, pointe, kinesiology, and pedagogy. She studied professionally with the Harkness Ballet School and the School of American Ballet before dancing with the Houston Ballet and the Frankfurt Opera Ballet. She has a BA in Geology and an MFA in Ballet from Texas Christian University. Ms. Antonioli has also served as the Artistic Director of the Garden City Ballet's The Nutcracker. Michele is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Jordan Dehline Burt, Instructor (Ballet, Modern)
Ms. Dehline Burt graduated from the University of Montana with a BFA in Dance Education and Choreography/Performance. She has performed as a company member with Bare Bait Dance, Headwaters Dance Company, and The CoMotion Dance Project. Jordan taught for ten years in Missoula County Public Schools, integrating dance with the K-5 curriculum. Jordan is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She attended the Cross Threads Teacher Training Program at the Paris Opera Ballet School in Paris, France in the summer of 2017. Jordan is the co-author of the textbook Dance Integration: 36 Dance Lesson Plans for Science and Mathematics. Jordan served as the Artistic Director of Garden City Ballet's The Nutcracker in 2018.
Ms. Dehline Burt graduated from the University of Montana with a BFA in Dance Education and Choreography/Performance. She has performed as a company member with Bare Bait Dance, Headwaters Dance Company, and The CoMotion Dance Project. Jordan taught for ten years in Missoula County Public Schools, integrating dance with the K-5 curriculum. Jordan is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She attended the Cross Threads Teacher Training Program at the Paris Opera Ballet School in Paris, France in the summer of 2017. Jordan is the co-author of the textbook Dance Integration: 36 Dance Lesson Plans for Science and Mathematics. Jordan served as the Artistic Director of Garden City Ballet's The Nutcracker in 2018.
Colleen Rosbarsky, Instructor (Ballet, Jazz, Musical Theatre)
Colleen Rosbarsky teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, musical theatre and choreographs annually for the BAA Studio Company. In 2012 she served as Artistic Director for Garden City Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Ms. Rosbarsky has a B.F.A. in Ballet from the University of Utah. Earlier in her career she performed with Utah Ballet, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre. In recent years she performed leading roles in Winter Wonderettes and A Christmas Story at MCT as well as Chicago, Pippin and A Chorus Line at the University of Montana Department of Theatre and Dance. She spent two years as a member of Zootown Cabaret, a musical theatre singing group at UM. In the 2017-2018 season she choreographed A Christmas Carol, the Musical at MCT, and title of show at the Downtown Dance Collective. This season she is choreographing Sister Act at MCT and "Waltz of the Flowers" and "Shepherdesses" for Garden City Ballet's The Nutcracker.
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Colleen Rosbarsky teaches ballet, pointe, jazz, musical theatre and choreographs annually for the BAA Studio Company. In 2012 she served as Artistic Director for Garden City Ballet’s The Nutcracker. Ms. Rosbarsky has a B.F.A. in Ballet from the University of Utah. Earlier in her career she performed with Utah Ballet, Gus Giordano Jazz Dance Chicago and Rocky Mountain Ballet Theatre. In recent years she performed leading roles in Winter Wonderettes and A Christmas Story at MCT as well as Chicago, Pippin and A Chorus Line at the University of Montana Department of Theatre and Dance. She spent two years as a member of Zootown Cabaret, a musical theatre singing group at UM. In the 2017-2018 season she choreographed A Christmas Carol, the Musical at MCT, and title of show at the Downtown Dance Collective. This season she is choreographing Sister Act at MCT and "Waltz of the Flowers" and "Shepherdesses" for Garden City Ballet's The Nutcracker.
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Lindsey Schwickert, Instructor (Ballet, Modern, Conditioning)
Ms. Schwickert began her training in Whitefish, Montana at the age of four. Soon traveling to Kalispell, MT, she became a passionate member of the Northwest Ballet Company. Performing in several Nutcracker productions, Spring Showcases, and also a guest artist for Azure Vision Dance Company, her desire to constantly dance landed her at the University of Montana where she earned a BA. Ms. Schwickert has danced with Headwaters Dance Co. and Bare Bait Dance. Lindsey is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Last Summer, Lindsey traveled to Paris and trained with the Paris Opera Ballet through the Cross Threads Program. This program taught musicians and dance instructors from around the world. She also recently graduated from the University of Montana with her MBA and is a new board member serving Montana dance on the Montana Arts Association committee.
Ms. Schwickert began her training in Whitefish, Montana at the age of four. Soon traveling to Kalispell, MT, she became a passionate member of the Northwest Ballet Company. Performing in several Nutcracker productions, Spring Showcases, and also a guest artist for Azure Vision Dance Company, her desire to constantly dance landed her at the University of Montana where she earned a BA. Ms. Schwickert has danced with Headwaters Dance Co. and Bare Bait Dance. Lindsey is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Last Summer, Lindsey traveled to Paris and trained with the Paris Opera Ballet through the Cross Threads Program. This program taught musicians and dance instructors from around the world. She also recently graduated from the University of Montana with her MBA and is a new board member serving Montana dance on the Montana Arts Association committee.
Joy French, Instructor (Composition, Jazz, Modern)
Joy French is a dancer, choreographer, videographer and producer. After earning her MFA in Performance and Choreography at the University of Colorado Boulder, Joy moved to Missoula and in 2011 founded Bare Bait Dance (BBD). Joy created BBD to be a home for dancers in the region and to produce nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and their work. In addition to BBD, Joy is on faculty at The University of Montana, teaches in Missoula high schools through BBD's Montana MoDE program and has performed professionally with Headwaters Dance Company and the CoMotion Dance Project.
Joy French is a dancer, choreographer, videographer and producer. After earning her MFA in Performance and Choreography at the University of Colorado Boulder, Joy moved to Missoula and in 2011 founded Bare Bait Dance (BBD). Joy created BBD to be a home for dancers in the region and to produce nationally and internationally acclaimed artists and their work. In addition to BBD, Joy is on faculty at The University of Montana, teaches in Missoula high schools through BBD's Montana MoDE program and has performed professionally with Headwaters Dance Company and the CoMotion Dance Project.
Marie Barnett, Instructor (Ballet)
Photo and bio coming soon!
Photo and bio coming soon!
Tara McFarland, Instructor (Modern)
Tara McFarland holds a BSc in Dance from the University of Idaho and an MSc Dance Science from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, London. She is a professional dancer with Bare Bait Dance Company (Missoula) and teaches ballet, contemporary, & modern for Studio M, On Center Performing Arts, & Ballet Arts Academy. She also enjoys teaching dance for theatre for BBD’s MoDE program in Missoula public schools & was honoured to be guest faculty at Dance the Divide Intensive 2019 and the MT Dance Arts Association Fall Workshop in 2019. She has featured choreography in Garden City Ballet’s Nutcracker & BBD’s Springboard. She has danced professionally with Relay Dance Collective, Converge Dance Festival (Seattle), Evolving Doors Dance, Louder than Words Dancetheatre, and as a guest performer with 3rd Law Dance/Theatre (Denver). She has served as Artistic Director for the Kinetic Arts Performance Team, as co-director for the WCPA Youth Ballet Company, and directed the Fusion BBoyz Crew. She has presented research on injuries in dance at the Idaho Dance Educators Conference & strives to integrate dance science into the classroom to support safe dance practices.
Tara McFarland holds a BSc in Dance from the University of Idaho and an MSc Dance Science from the Trinity Laban Conservatoire of Music & Dance, London. She is a professional dancer with Bare Bait Dance Company (Missoula) and teaches ballet, contemporary, & modern for Studio M, On Center Performing Arts, & Ballet Arts Academy. She also enjoys teaching dance for theatre for BBD’s MoDE program in Missoula public schools & was honoured to be guest faculty at Dance the Divide Intensive 2019 and the MT Dance Arts Association Fall Workshop in 2019. She has featured choreography in Garden City Ballet’s Nutcracker & BBD’s Springboard. She has danced professionally with Relay Dance Collective, Converge Dance Festival (Seattle), Evolving Doors Dance, Louder than Words Dancetheatre, and as a guest performer with 3rd Law Dance/Theatre (Denver). She has served as Artistic Director for the Kinetic Arts Performance Team, as co-director for the WCPA Youth Ballet Company, and directed the Fusion BBoyz Crew. She has presented research on injuries in dance at the Idaho Dance Educators Conference & strives to integrate dance science into the classroom to support safe dance practices.
Mary Gibbons, Office Manager
Photo and bio coming soon!
Photo and bio coming soon!
Board of Directors 2018-2019
Carrie Dillon (President)
Jill Galle (Treasurer)
Jennifer Cavanaugh
Brynn Laird
Jenna Wicks
Jill Galle (Treasurer)
Jennifer Cavanaugh
Brynn Laird
Jenna Wicks