Brett Raphael, Artistic Director and Founder of Connecticut Ballet, has choreographed more than 18 original works and ten full-length productions since founding Connecticut Ballet in 1981. At age ten, Raphael was chosen by George Balanchine to receive a Ford Foundation scholarship to attend the School of American Ballet where his principal teacher was Stanley Williams. He also studied intensively with Hector Zaraspe, Gabriela Taub-Darvash, Leon Danielian, Valentina Pereyaslavec, Richard Rapp, and Errol Addison in London. He subsequently performed with the touring ensemble, Stars of American Ballet and choreographed independently for Boston Ballet, Netherlands Dans Theater and Joffrey II Dancers.

 

For over two decades, Raphael danced leading roles with Connecticut Ballet in ballets such as Les Sylphides, Giselle, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Petrouchka, Strays, Full Moon, Goose Pimples, Indian Summer, Magritte/ Magritte, and many others. In 2005, he founded Connecticut Ballet Center, official school of Connecticut Ballet. Mr. Raphael has served on the faculties of Alvin Ailey American Dance Center, Harkness House in New York City, and Purchase College Division of Continuing Education. He has served as dance panelist for the New Jersey State Council and Pennsylvania Council for the Arts and was President of Connecticut Dance Alliance from 1999-2004.