Stacey Mahan

PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM

Ms. Mahan danced with New York City Opera Ballet, Ballet Repertory, and Ballet Ambassadors. In addition, she performed with Anna Sokolow’s Player’s Project, a Graham style modern dance company. Recognizing her passion for education, Ms. Mahan retired from the stage early in her performing career to pursue teaching the next generation of dancers.

Ms. Mahan earned her bachelor's degree from New York University, where she graduated with Magna cum Laude Honors and her Masters in Arts Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. At Harvard, she studied cognitive development and was awarded the Van Otterloo Scholarship for Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

Ms. Mahan began her teaching career as the youngest faculty member at STEPS on Broadway in New York City, where she taught ballet and developed curriculum for ages four through pre professional. Ms. Mahan worked in the Education Department of American Ballet Theatre for ten years. There, she adjudicated the national audition tour for the summer intensive program, designed the premier Young Dancer Program Summer Intensive, and worked extensively in educational outreach; including teaching and choreographing for the award winning Make a Ballet Program, which is presented at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center.

Ms. Mahan’s early training began with her mother, Sondra Forsyth, who trained with Thaila Mara; as well as Frank Ohman, a former New York City Ballet dancer; and Jan Hanniford Goetz, a former Joffrey Ballet dancer. Her later teachers included David Howard, Wilhelm Burman, Nancy Bielski and Peff Modelski, as well as Olga Kostritsky for character dance.  This blend of training that includes Balanchine, Vaganova and Checchetii methods informs Ms. Mahan’s current teaching practices.

Additional teaching credits include School of Ballet Arizona, Arizona School for the Arts, Manhattanville College, Director of Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance.

In 2014, Ms. Mahan moved to Utah and began teaching at Ballet West.  She is delighted to be a part of the quality training offered in a positive atmosphere. Ms. Mahan and her husband have two boys and two dogs and love living in Salt Lake City.