MEET THE TEAM
Theresa Slobodnik
Ballet Director, School of BT-SLO
Artistic Director & Choreographer, BT-SLO Performing Company
​Ms. Terry believes in teaching the classical fundamentals of ballet technique along with creating a challenging and artistic class for all her students. Theresa Slobodnik is from the San Francisco Bay Area, where she received her early ballet training. In San Luis Obispo she studied closely with legends Gilbert & Sydna Reed. Theresa danced professionally for Cuesta College Dance Theatre, Civic Ballet of San Luis Obispo, The Gilbert Reed Ballet Chamber Dancers, Pacific Repertory Opera/Opera SLO, Deyo Dances, SLO Master Chorale and The Gilbert Reed Ballet (GRB, 1993–2003) where she also served as Assistant Director. Theresa and her husband John live in San Luis Obispo, have five children and eight grandchildren.
Blair London
Director, School of BT-SLO
Assistant Director, BT-SLO Performing Company
Blair aims to impart the joy and beauty of expressing all kinds of music through classical ballet movements. Blair London began studying folk dance in his early years and he has been studying ballet since his college days. Blair has performed as part of San Francisco’s International Folk Ballet: Khadra and dance companies in St. Louis. In San Luis Obispo. He was part of a select dance troupe invited to perform in Russia in 2002 under the direction of Lisa Deyo and performed countless roles for BT-SLO. Blair is also a Professor of Materials Engineering at California Polytechnic State University. Blair and his wife Cindy live in San Luis Obispo and have 2 children.
Sage Best
Adult Ballet Teacher
Sage has a Bachelor's in Dance from Ursinus College and a background in ballet, contemporary, swing/ballroom, and modern. Sage has been dancing with BT-SLO since 2012. As a company dancer, Sage has held soloist roles as the Wolf in Gilbert Reed's "Peter and the Wolf", the titled role in Theresa's Slobodnik's "Snow Queen", lead monster in Gilbert Reed's "Firebird", and many more.
Brianna Darneal
Children's Ballet Teacher
Brianna loves sharing movement and dance with others as a way to find joy, connection, expression and healing. Brianna, a San Luis Obispo native, began studying ballet with Miss Terry and Gilbert and Sydna Reed at age 5. She has performed lead roles with the Gilbert Reed Ballet and BT-SLO. In addition to performing, Brianna has experience as a choreographer and director for the UCSC dance team’s annual showcase. Outside of ballet, Brianna enjoys salsa and ballroom dancing and has placed in high-level Latin ballroom competitions (cha cha, samba, rumba, paso double, jive) . Brianna works as a physical therapist treating orthopedic and vestibular conditions. She and her husband, Robert, feel fortunate to be able to raise their son in San Luis Obispo close to family, nature and a wonderful community of the arts.
Justin McMillian
Substitute Teacher
Justin danced professionally for 20 years in San Francisco, Oklahoma, Virginia, Colorado, with tours to Portugal, Denmark, and Scotland. Some of his favorite ballets are Carmina Burana, Romeo and Juliet, and Swan Lake. When not dancing or working, he enjoys running, reading, movies, the beach, and cookies.
Kate Rossi
Substitute Teacher
Brooke Andris
Substitute Teacher
Roeh Q Caramadre
Marketing and Social Media
Roeh loves storytelling through written language, visuals/graphic design, and (of course) ballet. Roeh Quisao began dancing for BT-SLO as a middle school student in the mid-2000s. After a long dance hiatus where she focused on growing a successful tech career in San Francisco, Roeh has returned to the studio and stage. She is a proud company dancer for Ballet Theatre San Luis Obispo and now works locally in the hospitality industry She lives with her husband Nick, an active supporter of the company, and bunny rabbit Chibi.