Munro Ballet Studios Faculty

Cristina Munro

Born in England, Cristina Stirling Munro, Artistic Director of the Corpus Christi Ballet, trained in ballet at the Arts Educational Schools in London and with some of Europe’s finest teachers in the Cecchetti and Royal Academy methods of dance. She danced with Sadlers’ Wells Opera at age seventeen for one year then joined the National Ballet of Holland. Ms. Munro returned to England for a special television production of Sleeping Beauty with Margot Fonteyn. She later joined the London Festival Ballet (now the ) and was promoted to soloist status. Ms. Munro toured Europe, Asia, and South America. Then in 1968, Eliot Feld was invited to London to choreograph a ballet for the London Festival Ballet. Soon afterwards, Mr. Feld asked her to be a founding member of his newly-formed American Ballet Company. She danced as Principal Soloist with the company in New York for two-and-a-half years. Ms. Munro has also taught in various schools and has performed as a guest artist with other companies in the United States, including Edward Villella’s New York Ballet Concert Company. She served as Co-Director with Richard Munro of the and of the Academy of the Louisville Ballet from 1973-1977. Ms. Munro has taught on the faculty of the Dance Masters of America and the Southern Association of Dance Masters, and she has been a Seminar Coordinator of the Craft of Choreography Conference. She has produced several television specials on ballet, one of which won an Emmy Award. Ms. Munro was on the faculty of the Houston Ballet Academy and served as Ballet Mistress for the Houston Ballet from 1980 to 1984. She is currently the Artistic Director of the Corpus Christi Ballet and the Director of the Munro Ballet Studios, the official school of the Corpus Christi Ballet.

Heidi Alford

Heidi Erin Alford began her training at the age of three in Dayton, Ohio at Pontecorvo Ballet Studios under the direction of Barbara Pontecorvo. At the age of ten, she began dancing in the pre-professional company Gem City Ballet, where she trained with many teachers and choreographers, including: Laura Alonso, David Keener, Robert Kelly, John Rodrigus, Patricia Blair, Cornilus Cater, Stan and Sharon Rogers, Shawn Stevens, Dominic Walsh, and Gabriel A. Zertuche. Since the age of ten, Heidi has danced in several summer programs, but three of her favorites were Chicago Ballet, Alvin Ailey School of the Arts, and RDA’s Craft of Choreography. In 2009, Heidi graduated from Friends University in Wichita, Kansas with highest honors, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet and Drama. Upon graduating, she began dancing with Ballet San Antonio, where she danced from 2009-2012. Some works included in Heidi’s repertoire are: Pas de Quatre, , Cinderella, , Sleeping Beauty, Concerto Barocco, Variations on a Theme, La Bayadere, Coppelia, Raymonda, Paquita, Dracula, and Don Quixote. Not only a professional ballet dancer and teacher, Heidi has also been choreographing since 2000. Most recently with the Corpus Christi Ballet, she has presented Redemption and Metamorphosis.

Brian Honigbaum

Brian Honigbaum began dancing at the age of eight at the Jordan College Academy of Dance at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana. At age thirteen, he was invited to be one of twenty-five dance students to train at the Harid Conservatory in Boca Raton, Florida. While in Florida, Brian trained with some of the most preeminent teachers of ballet, including Marjorie Tallchief, Claude Bessy, David Howard, Maria Tallchief, and Igor Youskevitch. Brian went on to train with the Center for Dance Education’s Summer Dance Program and at the San Francisco Ballet School, where he was invited to train year round. At age eithteen, Brian was invited to join the Louisville Ballet, where he was a soloist in Bruce Marks’ Lark Ascending. Brian continued his education at Butler University in Indianapolis, Indiana and later joined Dance Kaleidoscope, a Martha Graham-based modern company. Brian has performed lead roles in the major classical ballets, including the Prince from , Romeo and Juliet, Franz from Coppelia, and the Moor in Petroushka. Brian has also choreographed for the Harid Conservatory, the San Francisco Summer Program, and the Corpus Christi Ballet.

Mia Carvalho

Mia Carvalho started studying ballet at age three at the Munro Ballet Studios at the Corpus Christi Athletic Club. Mia has had the good fortune to have studied under the direction of Corpus Christi’s finest instructors, including: Cristina Munro, Kay Boone, Lori Anderson, Alex Trevino, Shannon Cruz, and many other memorable teachers. Her performances while at the Corpus Christi Ballet include The Nutcracker (from Angel to Sugar Plum Fairy), Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Peter and the Wolf, Paquita, Coppelia, Dracula, Giselle, Graduation Ball, Swan Lake, Pas de Quatre, Remembrances, and World of Dance with Sandy Duncan, as well as other pieces choreographed by the Corpus Christi Ballet for Regional Dance America during the past twelve years. Mia plays a major part in dance education throughout the city with premiere and innovative programs, such as ballet Works for Kids/ Children’s Spotlight on Ballet. A Soloist for the Corpus Christi Ballet, Mia teaches ballet, jazz, and modern for the City of Corpus Christi Recreational program at Oak Park Elementary School and West Oso. Mia encourages and inspires others, especially children, to follow their dreams. She is dedicated, enthusiastic, and dynamic, while nuturing a life-long love for dance.

Heidi Howard

Heidi Howard was born in Bay City, Texas and began dancing at age two. She has studied at a variety of dance studios, including Marsha Woody Academy of Dance, the Houston Ballet Academy, and Ballet Austin Summer Intensive. Heidi was accepted into the Joffrey Ballet School at age fifteen. She has performed in numerous ballets, including: The Nutcracker, Prince Igor, Graduation Ball, and Peter and the Wolf, among others. She attended Lamar University and received a Bachelor of Science in Communications with a minor in Broadcasting. Heidi is married to Brian Howard and has three children.

Vanessa Morgan

Vanessa Morgan began her classical training at age three. She was accepted into the Corpus Christi Ballet’s Company at thirteen and has studied with many artists and master teachers from various companies throughout the United States. She has also enjoyed performing in several classical ballets with the Corpus Christi Ballet, including: The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Peter and the Wolf, and Coppelia. She retired from performing with the company in order to obtain her degree in Radiology Technology and to begin her family. She is married and has a daughter and son, Iliana and Remington.

Lucy Garcia

Lucy Garcia recently graduated from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi with a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology and a dance certification. While attending college, she won an outstanding Dance Student Award. Since age two, she has studied various dance forms, including ballet, modern, jazz, and hip-hop. She has also performed in many productions with the Corpus Christi Ballet, such as The Nutcracker, and in numerous recitals with the Munro Ballet Studios under the direction of Cristina Stirling Munro. She has also taken workshops with Phillip “Pacman” Chbeeb and Olivia “Chachi” Gonzales of the winning dance crew, I.aM.mE. of America’s Best Dance Crew Season 8 in Houston, Texas. In addition, she has had the opportunity to attend NUVO Dance Convention and has taken classes from Dana Foglia (Beyonce’s choreographer), Ivan Koumaev (So You Think You Can Dance), Stacy Tookey (So You Think You Can Dance), Mark Meismer, and Kim McSwain. She is currently a backup dancer for the Latin Cumbia rock girl band La Conquista and has performed with them on the Tejano Music Awards and on the Jonny Canales show. Dancing has always been her passion, and she is excited to be a part of the Munro Ballet Studios faculty.

Bridget Lamoureux

Bridget Lamoureux was born in Rochester, New York, where she danced at Drapers, home of the Rochester City Ballet. She performed with the Rochester City Ballet before attending college in North Carolina. While in North Carolina, Bridget earned her Associate of Arts in Dance. After college, Bridget traveled quite a bit, ending up in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she has been a dance instructor at Munro Ballet Studios for several years. While teaching, Bridget completed her Bachelor’s Degree in Exercise Science and her Master’s Degree in Educational Leadership. In addition to being a part of the Munro Ballet Studios faculty, Bridget teachers at Miller High School and Metro Prep.

Alex Trevino

Alexandra Trevino received her dance training from the Houston Ballet, the Munro Ballet Studios and Joffrey Ballet. She has performed leading roles in many Corpus Christi Ballet productions, such as Myrtha and the Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, Prayer in Coppelia, and the Arabian Pas de Deux and Dew Drop from The Nutcracker. Alexandra graduated from Carroll High School in 1994 and was invited to dance professionally with the Louisville Ballet Company. There, she performed in many of the classics, including: Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Dracula, Coppelia, Peter and the Wolf, The Firebird, Carmina Burana, Raymonda, Les Patineurs, Gaite Parisienne, Billy the Kid, and numerous other works choreographed by the Company. She returned to Corpus Christi in 1997 and joined the faculty of the Munro Ballet Studios. As a member of the Corpus Christi Ballet for seven years, some of her favorite roles include: Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Esmerelda Pas de Deux, Odette in Swan Lake, and Swanhilda in Coppelia. She was also invited to perform in Naples, Florida as Odette in Swan Lake and was a guest teacher for the Abilene Ballet Theatre summer course. Alexandra has also choreographed several ballets for the Corpus Christi Ballet that were chosen to be performed throughout the United States for the Regional Dance America/Southwest Festival. She is happily married to Dr. John Trevino, the Principal of Tom Browne Middle School, and has two beautiful children, Elizabeth and Marcus.

Julie Green

Julie Green was born in Corpus Christi, Texas, where she received most of her training at the Munro Ballet Studios. She has danced as a company soloist with the Corpus Christi Ballet, performing in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Coppelia, Dracula, and Swan Lake. During her years with the Corpus Christi Ballet, she participated in the Regional Dance America/Southwest Festival ad choreographed multiple pieces for the company. In May 2010, Julie graduated from Texas A&M University with a Bachelor of Science in Dance and with minors in Music and in Art & Architectural History. Julie has also been a member of the TAMU Dance Ensemble, has served as the Chapter President of the Nu Delta Alpha Dance Honor Society, and has taken master classes and worked with many professional artists, including: Joe Alegado (Jalegado Dance Company), Jane Weiner (Hope Stone Dance Company), Kathy Dunn Hamrick (KDH Company) Michael Banigan (BalletForte), Gary Galbraith (Martha Graham Dance Company & Mather Dance Ensemble), Kelli Sanford (RED Company), Andy Noble (Noble Motion & Sam Houston State), Jonathan Fredrickson (Hubbard Street Dance Chicago), and Katherine Duke (Erick Hawkins Dance Company). Prior to returning to Texas, Julie was a faculty member with the Marquette School of Dance in Stow, Ohio. Just this past year Julie choreographed a full length ballet, The Wonderful Wizard of Oz, for the Corpus Christi Ballet. She is happily married and is excited to be back in her hometown teaching at the studio where her passion for dance began.

Catherine King

Catherine King received her training from Cristina Munro at the Munro Ballet Studios. She danced with the Corpus Christi Ballet until graduating from Ray High School in 2000. Upon graduation, Catherine moved to Austin to study at the University of Texas. In 2004, she returned to Corpus Christi, where she resumed dancing with the Corpus Christi Ballet. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Communication from Texas A&M University-Corpus Christi. Catherine has taught ballet to students of all ages at Dance Associates in Austin and at the Pulse Center for the Arts in Leander, Texas. In 2008, Catherine began her career as a classroom teacher. She is currently the dance teacher at Ray High School and couldn’t be happier. Catherine is excited to be in her hometown and to be teaching at the studio where she began her dance career.

Krystal Obenhaus

Krystal Obenhaus, originally from Wharton, Texas, has over fifteen years of experience in teaching dance. She has taught tap, ballet, modern, lyrical, and jazz to students ages three to adult throughout Texas, including Huntsville, Houston, Rockport, and Corpus Christi. Krystal graduated cum laude in 2000 from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. She has been teaching for the Munro Ballet Studios since 2002 and currently teaches dance to kindergarten through sixth grade students at Metropolitan Elementary School of Design in Corpus Christi.

Andie Purdy

Andie Purdy…coming soon!