CSU Ballet Conservatory - Instructors

David Herriott (herriott_david@colstate.edu )
Mr. David Herriott has been the Executive/Artistic Director of the Columbus Ballet since July 2004, coming from Huntsville, Alabama, after many years of building and growing the Community Ballet Association/Huntsville Ballet Company. He received his early intensive training at the Harkness Ballet School under David Howard. He was a principal soloist with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theater, touring internationally with both companies; at that time he worked with noted choreographers such as Agnes de Mille, John Neumeier, Nobert Vesak, and Elliot Feld and performed with internationally renowned dancers Mikhail Baryishnikov, Gelsey Kirkland, Galina and Valery Panov, and Evelyn Hart.

Mr. Herriott's works have been performed in the United States and Europe, by the Santa Monica College dancers, Linda Gold Concert Ensemble, Huntsville Ballet Company and now the Columbus Ballet. His former students have been invited to study and perform with Alvin Ailey, ABT, Joffrey, Harid Conservatory, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and Alabama Ballet. He earned a B.S. degree from California State University in Business Administration and Marketing.

Bridget Adams
Bridget Adams started her dance training with Jackie O’Neal School of Dance in Birmingham, Alabama with a concentration in ballet, jazz, and acrobatics. After ten years of training there, she began teaching at Nix Dance Studio in Auburn, Alabama while gaining her BA degree in Art. She came to Columbus in 2004 and began dancing with Columbus Ballet. Now she finds great joy in teaching the younger students at Columbus Ballet and sharing with them her passion for dance.

Joanna Ahlman
Joanna Ahlman began her dance training in 1994 under the instruction of Maria Hirsch and Beth Griffin in Columbus. Joanna danced with the Columbus Ballet until 1998, then she continued her training at Ballet Magnificat, a Christian ballet company based in Jackson, Mississippi. After a year and a half Joanna started touring with the company around the U.S. and abroad. In 2002 she moved to Nazareth, Israel to teach ballet, and work with a Jewish/Arab reconciliation dance group. Joanna enjoys her work with students of all ages and levels and looks forward to more opportunities to see the joy and fulfillment of expression through the beautiful art of dance.

Melissa Williams
Melissa Williams' area of concentration is jazz and tap. She has been an area dance instructor and teacher for 34 years. In 1989, DancEffects, a spirit based company, was formed. They are presently in residence at the historic Liberty Theatre. Melissa has also been involved with pageants and numerous theatrical productions.

Brenda May Ito
Brenda has a MFA in Theatre for Youth from the University of North Carolina-Greensboro, a MA in Theatre from Southwest Missouri State University, and a BS in Education Dance from Southwest Missouri State University.