VOLÉE CLASSICAL BALLET SCHOOL Cynthia and Andre share a love and vision of dance. Their dedicated desire to share their wealth of knowledge and create opportunities for others forms the foundation of Volée. Volée Classical Ballet School fosters both professional technical training and in-depth development of the creative process. The structured discipline of Classical Ballet combined with the study of other dance forms and theatrical experience, offers a valuable and expansive opportunity for students to thrive. The benefits of Classical Ballet training are many. Children and adults develop a greater sense of poise, coordination, flexibility, and spatial awareness. Other benefits include physical activity and endurance, a sense of well being, increased self confidence, weight loss, more energy, musical understanding, focus, concentration and FUN! About Cynthia Drayer-Reyes Cynthia Drayer's professional career in Ballet encompasses performance, choreography, teaching and mentoring pre-professional students. Cynthia received her early training at the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois and the Joffrey American Ballet Center in New York City. Her dedication and talent brought her the opportunity to dance with Ballet Repertory Company in New York City before joining Houston Ballet, where she danced as a soloist for five years. In 1985 she was invited by Helgi Tomasson to join San Francisco Ballet, where she danced as a Principal until 1991. Shortly after her San Francisco Ballet debut, she was hailed as a "...rising star" in San Francisco Focus Magazine. Cynthia has been featured in the works of world-renowned choreographers, including Sir Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, David Bintley, Eliot Feld, Anthony Tudor, Jiri Kylian, Jerome Robbins, Michael Smuin, Paul Taylor, Glen Tetley and Helgi Tomasson. In 1991 Cynthia began her teaching career. She has served on the faculties of Cornish College of the Arts and Washington Academy of Performing Arts in Seattle, Washington, and Marin Ballet in San Rafael. Cynthia and her husband, Andre, were Artistic Directors of Santa Clara Ballet from 2000 - 2001. More recently, Cynthia has performed with the Lawrence Pech Dance Company in San Francisco and with the San Francisco Opera. She also made her national television debut on Great Performances as Lolo, in the San Francisco Opera's production of The Merry Widow. Currently, Cynthia is working with San Francisco Opera. About Andre Reyes Andre Reyes is a San Francisco Bay Area native. He received his early dance training from his parents Benjamin Reyes and Josefa Villanueva at Santa Clara Ballet School and continued his training at Joffrey American Ballet Center, American Ballet Theater School, School of American Ballet, and San Francisco Ballet School. Andre, a longtime favorite of Bay Area audiences, performed as a Principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet from 1980 to 1993, and Pacific Northwest Ballet from 1994 to 1996. He has worked with numerous world-renowned choreographers including David Bintley, Elliot Feld, James Kudelka, Jiri Kylian, Michael Smuin, and Glen Tetley. Special appearances include San Francisco Opera's "Fol de Rol", San Francisco Symphony's "Arts for Life" Benefit and the "Pops" series. Andre has also performed in many international Gala Performances. More recently, Andre performed as a guest artist with the Lawrence Pech Dance Company in San Francisco. His work in television includes Dance in America's "Cinderella" (Smuin/Christensen) and "The Tempest" (Smuin), as well as appearances in "Suites by Smuin" (KQED) and "Symphony in Three Movements" (KQED, Gladstein). Andre has served on the faculties of Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, Washington Academy of Performing Arts in Redmond, Washington, Marin Ballet in San Rafael, and San Jose State University. He served as Artistic Director of Santa Clara Ballet from 2000-2001 with his wife, Cynthia. Currently, Andre teaches at San Francisco Dance Center and is a company instructor for Smuin Ballets.