About Us

Darlene Walley, Producer

Darlene Walley has been the producer of the Nutcracker ballet at Wells Fargo Center for the Arts since 2005. As President of the Board of Directors of Ballet California in 2005, she successfully helped produce the Nutcracker after the abrupt departure of previous Artistic Director Keith J. Martin, continuing his 13 year tradition. In 2006, Darlene formed Santa Rosa Nutcracker and produced the Nutcracker Ballet with a local dance company. This year, 2007, Darlene has opened the production to“all” Sonoma County dancers. “We all believe that this will result in the best performance possible for Sonoma County.” As Producer, Darlene not only personally funds the production but is responsible for the marketing, advertising and PR along with production of the show including new set design and orchestra / conductor. Each year Darlene donates hundreds of tickets to various youth groups in Sonoma and Napa Counties. Santa Rosa Nutcracker has become a resident company of Wells Fargo Center and invited to participate in the 2007 education series.

“I have two goals – to provide a wonderful performance for Sonoma County and to provide a venue for our talented dancers to perform. I am so excited to have Maria Vegh as our Artistic Director and Viktor Kabaniaev as our Choreographer.  Marilyn Murray will be conducting rehearsals with Maria Vegh. Gabriel Sakakeeny (American Philharmonic) will be conducting our orchestra of outstanding local musicians. I am so blessed to have this stellar team!”

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Maria Vegh, Artistic Director

A native of Allentown, Pennsylvania, Ms. Vegh moved to New York City upon graduation from high school to pursue studies in ballet at the National Academy of Ballet and to continue her vocal training at the Julliard School of Music. After a long and successful career as a performer, master teacher and dance administrator, Ms. Vegh is currently:

  • Director of the Maria Vegh Ballet Centre: This newly-constructed facility provides the setting where Ms. Vegh works intensively with serious and promising intermediate and advanced students of classical ballet. Not a school in the usual sense, the emphasis is upon private coaching, the development of technique, line and musicality, injury prevention and recovery, and stretch and strength (including Pilates), all intended to maximize the potential of each dancer for a professional performing career. Ms. Vegh has former students currently dancing, or teaching, in major companies throughout the U.S. and Europe, including Ms. Joanna Berman, principal ballerina for the San Francisco ballet.
  • Master Teacher and Leader of Teacher Seminars: Ms. Vegh travels frequently throughout the United States and Japan as a guest master teacher. She is author of To Dance, an instructional program and syllabus, which she utilizes in training seminars for ballet teachers. She has recently produced and 3 hour video tape sequence entitled Sculpting the Ballet Body as well as a fourth tape entitled Introducing Ballet to Children: A Different Approach for Teachers. She also serves as an advisor to ballet schools and companies upon request, and has been elected to the National Advisory Committee of Regional Dance America.

Highlights from Ms. Vegh's illustrious career include: Soloist, Ballet Repertory Company of New York; Principal Dancer, Royal Ponciana Theatre; Ballet Teacher, National Ballet of New York; Ballet Teacher, Harkness House for Ballet Arts; Founder and Director, Ballet Repertory Company and School of Pennsylvania; Artistic Director, Marin Ballet; Director of Education and Outreach, Marin Ballet; designed and built the Maria Vegh Ballet Centre; Member of the Advisory Council and Inland Pacific Ballet; Member of the Advisory Committee, Regional Dance America.

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Viktor Kabaniaev, Choreographer

Mr. Kabaniaev graduated from the famed Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. He worked as a principal dancer in several companies in the former Soviet Union, Germany, and in the United States including Boris Eifman Ballet, Russian Ballet, Komiche Oper Berlin, Dortmund Ballet and Diablo Ballet. Since 1996 he choreographed and re-staged his works for Hanover Ballet, Diablo Ballet, Contra Costa Ballet School, Moving Arts Dance, Santa Rosa Dance Theater, Peninsula Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet. He was awarded a Special Prize for choreography at the 29th Annual Ballet Festival of Japan, Tokyo in 1997, and First Laureate at the 3rd International Serge Diahgilev Competition for Choreographers in Gdynia, Poland in 2004. In 2005 Mr. Kabaniaev was awarded a Grand Prize at the Eighth Annual Dance Under The Stars Choreography Festival in Palm Desert, California.

Click here for more information about Mr. Kabaniaev.

Marilyn Murray, Rehearsal Assistant

Training:

  • Studied under Julian Herrin from age 10 through high school.
  • RAD trained and certified through Advanced Professional.
  • Marin Ballet School and Company.
  • Royal Academy in London and the Royal Finnish Ballet Company in 1973 and took classes from ballet greats Alicia Marcova, Gene Badels and Arthur Trevor.
  • Five-year protégé of Jack Williams, a master tap dancer and Broadway performer whose work is featured in the American Archives of Dance in the Smithsonian Institute.
  • Attended Sonoma State University and trained under Ann Woodhead in Modern Dance.
  • Attended Mills College in Oakland majoring in dance.
  • Took classes from Tamara Stocktoun at the Santa Rosa Junior College.

Dance Experience:

  • Soloist with Santa Rosa Ballet Company 1963-1973
  • Soloist with Oakland Ballet Company 1974-1976
  • Danced for Disney Productions, Disney World, Florida 1976-1977
  • Founder and principal dancer of Redwood Empire Ballet Company 1979-1990
  • Danced with Ballet California 1990-1993
  • Danced with Ballet Califia from 1998-2003

Teaching Experience:

Ms. Murray has taught ballet and tap for over 30 years in North Bay schools such as Santa Rosa Parks and Recreation, Ballet Circle, Redwood Empire Ballet, Novato Parks and Recreation Center, Sonoma Ballet theater, Ballet Califia and Santa Rosa Dance Theater.

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