ARTISTIC DIRECTOR

Rosine Bena - Artistic Director

Former professional ballerina, Rosine Bena, has graced stages in performances worldwide for 28 years and received critical acclaim as a "Prima" for dancing principal roles in ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo & Juliet, Coppelia, La Fille Mal Gardee and many contemporary works by choreographers such as John Cranko, Jiri Kylian and many others.  She danced professionally with the Stuttgart Ballet, The Washington Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theatre and has performed as guest artist with several US companies.  Rosine lives in Genoa, Nevada, and is the Artistic Director of the professional ballet company for Northern Nevada, the Sierra Nevada Ballet.
 
In her early years, Rosine trained at the Washington School of Ballet with Mary Day, Anne Bena and staff. Other ballet teachers include David Howard, Alan Beale and Maggie Black.  In later years, Rosine studied the Mensendieck System of Functional Exercises with physical therapist, Michael Keropian, in San Francisco.

Ms. Bena is the former Director of Peninsula Ballet Theatre School in California (internationally known for it’s fine ballet training), former Arts Education Specialist for the Arts Council of San Mateo County, former director of the Reno Ballet, Perspectives Dance Theatre and the Kollage Community School for The Arts Dance Program, serving 8,000 students in the SF Bay Area.  Rosine has choreographed over 30 professional productions and numerous community theater events. In addition to her duties as SNB artistic director, Bena is the Director of Ballet for In Motion Studio in Reno and Western Nevada Performing Arts Center in Carson City.

Ms. Bena has been a member of the International Association for Dance Medicine and Science for nine years and received a standing ovation at their conference in Spain in 2001 for her work on Injury Prevention in Dance. The recipient of numerous grant awards, she was also awarded the title of "Outstanding Individual Artist for 1992" by the Arts Council of San Mateo County and she has been honored by Congress and the CA. State Legislature for her work in the arts; at Kennedy Center and the White House by the Clintons as a Washington School of Ballet graduate, and in Who's Who in America in the category of Outstanding Americans.  Ms. Bena continues to guest teach and lecture on dance throughout the USA and Europe.

EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR

Lee Weber- Koch - Executive Director

For over 25 years, Lee Weber-Koch has created award-winning branding, marketing, public relations and advertising programs for non-profit and government agencies, tour and travel companies, real estate associations, financial institutions and health and wellness products.

Today, as the owner and president of Weber & Associates, she offers strategic business, marketing and advertising services to organizations throughout the west coast. 

 One of her finest and favorite responsibilities is her position as the Executive Director of the Sierra Nevada Ballet. In this capacity, she incorporates her experience in marketing, public relations, advertising and sales to manage and shape the future of Northern Nevada’s finest ballet company.

 Lee graduated with honors from the University of Southern California with a degree in Journalism/Public Relations.  She was awarded 'Marketer of the Year/Small Business Division' from the Nevada Chapter of the American Marketing Association and was presented with the 'Silver Dollar Award of Excellence' from the International Association of Business Communicators. 

 Lee was also selected as an 'Employee of the Year' for the North Lake Tahoe Resort Association and was the Tahoe Daily Tribune's 'Lake Tahoe Woman of the Year.'

 She thoroughly enjoys volunteering her free time to a variety of organizations. Lee was the Program Chair for the 2005 Governor's Tourism Conference, offered 10 years of service on the Incline Village/Crystal Bay Visitors and Convention Bureau Board, and has been a key note speaker at numerous non-profit and Cooperative Extension programs throughout the west. She is presently on the Governing Board of the Nevada Special Olympics.

 As an avid outdoor enthusiast, Lee loves to snow and water ski, wake board, play golf, tend to her natural garden, and is a self-proclaimed 'gourmet chef.'  Lee lives in Incline Village, NV, with her husband Marty, and Labrador Retriever 'High Sierra Hip Shot'. Throughout the year they also venture to their cabin on Flathead Lake in Montana where kayaking and long hikes in the mountains are always at the top of their "to do" list.

Pictured are: (L to R) Executive Director Lee Weber-Koch, Marty Koch and High Sierra "Hip" Shot.