Where Tradition Meets Innovation
Stage 7's faculty generously shares their decades of study and professional practice with all students. Like so much of contemporary life, many aspects of dance training are evolving very quickly. Stage 7 pays attention to that!!! Stage 7's simultaneous commitment to traditional and evolving contemporary wisdoms generates deep relevance to our students' goals.
Kathryn Irey
A Teacher:
Kathryn Irey began her technical ballet training through the comprehensive curriculum and exams of the Cecchetti Council of America and the Royal Academy of Dance, London, and continued professional training at Arts Educational Trust, London, and National Ballet of Canada, Toronto. Deep learning was guided by great teachers like Maria Fay, Charles Dickson, Eve Pettinger, and many more. Decades of study of somatic movement practices, Feldenkrais and Alexander Technique, challenged long held pedagogic dogma and inspired new teaching strategies. Performing classical repertoire shaped technical and artistic gifts and inspired curiosity about their impact on evolving contemporary teaching practices.
A Dancer:
Professionally Kathryn danced five years for the Deutsche Ballett am Rhine, one of Germany’s leading ballet companies, as well as Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and other American touring companies. She danced a rich repertoire of classical, neoclassical, and modern choreographic works including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Firebird, Rite of Spring, Les Biches, Three Cornered Hat, Song of the Earth, Giselle, Grand Pas de Quatre, Daphnis and Chloe, and many more.
An Arts Educator:
As master teacher in the field of Arts Education Kathryn taught for the San Diego Institute for Arts Education, and contributed to national research projects of Lincoln Center's Institute for Aesthetic Education, and the Leonard Bernstein Center for Education Through the Arts. Kathryn teaches ballet for SDSU’s School of Music and Dance where she has designed coursework especially to support emergent contemporary dance artists.
Director Stage 7:
Kathryn has directed Stage 7 since 1983, where she has taught ballet, pointe, pas de deux, and directed, choreographed and produced many performances and festivals. Our students have gone on to use their Stage 7 training to leverage jobs and careers.
Gg - Gianna Muir Robinson
Gianna (Gg) Muir-Robinson GCFP, LMFT is a graduate of Elizabeth Beringer’s San Diego professional Feldenkrais training program, where she trained with some of the world’s most experienced practitioners. She continues to receive additional training and mentoring from master practitioners Donna Ray, Olena Nitefor, and Bonnie Humiston. Gg is a licensed psychotherapist and works with people in a way that connects mind and body to change habitual patterns, and improve functioning. She is in continuous study of ballet and movement with Kathryn Irey at Stage 7 School of Dance, where she first experienced the power of helpful movement.
Please visit helpfulmovement.com to learn more
Lily Kang
Wu-Style Tai Chi Chuan
Lily Kang is certified to teach the International 108 Standard Form by the International Wu Style Tai Chi Chuan Federation. Lily came to the United States from Mainland China. She started studying Tai chi in 2003 and won 1st place awards in International competition for 108 forms, 2nd place in 108 Tai chi sword form She has a bachelor degree in Chinese Literature, worked as a journalist, then as a Software Engineer. She is currently teaching Chinese at the San Diego Chinese Academy. https://sandiegowustyle.com
