Li-Chuo Cheng

Li-Chou Cheng (Ballet Master-in-Residence) was born in Shanghai, China. His professional training began at the Beijing Ballet School under Pyoter Guschev, former artistic director of the Kirov Ballet. He was a soloist with the Beijing Central Ballet from 1961-80, where he performed lead roles in classical ballets such as Swan Lake, Le Corsaire and La Esmeralda, as well as in Chinese contemporary ballets. From 1966-80, Mr. Cheng also served as ballet master and rehearsal director for the company. After immigrating to the U.S. in 1980, he worked as an assistant professor at the University of Utah and at Arizona State University, as well as principal teacher for the Boston Ballet School and Company. Mr. Cheng has been a guest teacher with such schools and companies as the National Ballet School of Canada; the National Institute of the Arts in Taipei, Taiwan; Ballet West and Ballet Met.

Christian von Howard

Christian von Howard Christian is part of the dance faculties at Texas Christian University in Fort Worth, Texas and the Alvin Ailey American Dance Center in New York City. He has danced professionally in the United States and Europe with such artists as Doug Varone, Fred Benjamin, Fernando Bujones, Douglas Becker, Mark Dendy and many others. Christian holds a BFA from Texas Christian University and a MFA from Tisch School of the Arts, New York University.