Adjudicator Information
Richard Rein,
President/CEO
Topf Center for Dance Education
Born in Queens, New York, Richard Rein began his classical ballet training on scholarship at the School of American Ballet. He then trained under the joint tutelage of Richard Thomas and Barbara Fallis at the New York School of Ballet before embarking on a ten-year professional career that included stints with the American Ballet Theatre, the Pennsylvania Ballet, and Ruth Page's Chicago Opera Ballet.
A reputation for leadership grew during his numerous tours throughout Europe and North America; his peers voted him to be the Chairman of the American Ballet Theatre Advisory Committee and the union representative for both ABT and Pennsylvania Ballet. One of his responsibilities was to head a team of dancers who negotiated for the dance world the construction of the Kennedy Center's stage in Washington, DC.
In the fall of 1974, Mr. Rein joined the faculty of St. Paul's School in Concord, New Hampshire as Director of Dance. Under his direction for twenty-seven years, the St. Paul's School Dance Program and the St. Paul's School Ballet Company achieved both national and international recognition for excellence. Former students are currently dancing professionally in prestigious companies that include, among others, the New York City Ballet, the Limon Dance Company, Mikhail Barishnikov's White Oaks Project, and The Carolina Ballet. Students coached by Mr. Rein have been medal winners at the US International Ballet Competition, Prix de Lausanne and the ARTS Competition
Mr. Rein has represented the United States internationally by teaching under the auspices of the Partners of the Americas Program in Fortalaza, Brazil. In 1986, the White House Commission on Presidential Scholars recognized him for teaching excellence. Other experiences include a term on the Board of Governors of the American Guild of Musical Artists, former National Endowment on the Arts Dance Touring Program Coordinator, consultant to the Massachusetts Cultural Council, and panelist with the Maine Arts Commission. He is a Permanent Guest Teacher at the Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, and he is a frequent guest teacher, teaching for The American Ballet Theatre Summer Program, and the Boston Ballet School.
Mr. Rein left St. Paul's School in 2001 to pursue other interests in dance. Since then he has been a guest teacher, artistic consultant, and regisseur throughout the country, most recently at the Rock School in Philadelphia as Dean of Students and Senior Faculty in 2005-06. Mr. Rein took over the leadership of the Topf Center for dance Education, in August 2006. He resides in Bow, New Hampshire with his wife, Deborah.
Ballet
- Deborah Dawn, former dancer with the Joffrey Ballet, Assistant Ballet Master of the Joffrey Ballet.
- Oleg Gorboulev, former soloist with Pacific Northwest Ballet, founding member of Los Angles Ballet, currently on faculty at Pacific Northwest Ballet
- Kristin Hakala, former principal dancer with Ballet West, former Adjunct Professor of Dance, Wright State University.
- Michelle Merrell, former principal dancer with Miami City Ballet.
Character
- Oybek Tashpulatov, former member with Ballet Internationale, former principal dancer with National Academic Opera and Ballet Theatre in Tashkent City, Uzbekistan.
Modern
- Lyn C. Wiltshire, former dancer with Dance Theatre of Harlem and The Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, currently an Associate Professor of Dance at the University of Texas.
- Elizabeth Limons Shea, Director of Dance Majors, Contemporary Dance Program, Indiana University
Jazz
- Joe Istre, international teacher and choreographer.
- Jennifer Ladner, former dancer with Dance Kaleidoscope and Arizona Ballet Theatre, currently on faculty at Butler University.
Alternate Instructor
- Jessie Gomillion, former dancer with Ballet Magnificat, currently on faculty at Anderson University and Performer’s Edge School of Dance.