Instructors
Gloria Tuohy
Founder and CEO of the Indiana Ballet Theatre
With over six decades of experience in professional dancing, teaching, and artistic direction across England, Europe, and the United States, Mrs. Tuohy’s career has been nothing short of remarkable. Trained in the world-renowned French Cecchetti classical ballet syllabus, she has also honed her skills in ballet, classical jazz, and tap dance.
Mrs. Tuohy’s expertise extends to the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dance (ISTD) as well. She is the founder of Indiana Ballet Theatre NW, Inc. (IBT), formerly known as Imperial Dance Studio, established in 1978. The company transformed into a 501 (c) 3 non-profit ballet and contemporary dance company in 1998. Over the years, she has designed awe-inspiring costumes and choreographed nine full-length ballets that have been staged more than 40 times throughout IBT’s 38-year history. The Star Plaza Theatre, in particular, has been the stage for her performances for over two decades.
Numerous students have accompanied Mrs. Tuohy on tours across Europe and the USA, enthusiastically taking part in classes, performances, and competitions. In 2012, the company earned 1st place at the Grand Prix in Italy, a testament to Mrs. Tuohy’s remarkable guidance and commitment to her students.
Mrs. Tuohy has been instrumental in imparting her knowledge and expertise to children through various programs such as the Safe Harbor Program, Boys and Girls Clubs, Merrillville Parks Department, Healthy East Chicago, and many more. As a 29-year Master of Dance member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, she has mentored many budding dancers and continues to inspire them to pursue their passion. Mrs. Tuohy’s contributions to the arts have been recognized through numerous accolades, including the CALA Award for Arts Professionals in 2012 and nominations for Influential Women of NWI and the Society of Innovators in 2017. Her leadership qualities have made her a Leaders as Hero and an ATHENA nominee.
Mrs. Tuohy’s lobbying efforts with the Lake County Commissioners have successfully landed her the donation of the Lake County Sanatorium Nurses Home, which is the only remaining building of its kind in America that hasn’t undergone any demolition or refurbishment. The Classical Arts Centre will be headquartered in this facility, providing lodging for countless arts organizations in addition to the IBT.
Starting with just 10 students in a basement, the Indiana Ballet Theater (IBT) School has come a long way. Today, they have 3 schools in DeMotte, Merrillville, and Valparaiso, teaching over 8000 students and reaching a staggering 550,000 audience members. Mrs. Tuohy says, “It was all from the dreams of the children.”
Amanda Tuohy
Founder and CEO of the Indiana Ballet Theatre
Amanda Tuohy holds a multitude of qualifications including a Certified Dance Educator (CDE) certification, a Licensed Mental Health Counselor (LMHC) certification and is currently an AR-Dance/Movement Therapist (candidate). She received her education in Performance and Choreography from Columbia College. Amanda’s extensive professional career includes performance, make up artistry, show direction, coaching, and choreography.
With over 20 years of experience in various dance styles and forms, Amanda has traveled extensively and performed in Indiana Ballet Theatre’s featured repertoire. She has also contributed to the company’s impressive choreography history. Amanda is known for founding and directing IBT’s modern and contemporary program, which has staged shows such as “Kaleidoscope” and “Standing Room Only.” Amanda has also worked as a former member of Perceptual Motion Chicago and consultant for Rebound Dance. She shares her wealth of knowledge by teaching at various studios and workshops in the Chicagoland area including Northwest University.
Amanda is an accomplished ISTD Honors graduate who has been teaching ISTD classes in both the Elementary and Professional Prep Divisions, as well as in versatile Academy programs. She has been instrumental in preparing students for the F.A.M.E. and the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) competitions, many of whom have gone on to win or place as finalists at F.A.M.E as well as being ranked among the top 12 dancers at YAGP.
Aside from her impressive dance background, Amanda’s educational credentials are equally remarkable. She holds a Master’s degree in counseling from Valparaiso University and leverages her expertise in working therapeutically with youth and families in northwest Indiana. Amanda strongly believes in the transformative impact of movement and pursued a Master’s degree in Dance Movement Therapy and Revolutionary Principles of Movement (RPM) from Columbia University and Florida respectively.
Amanda’s passion for dance extends beyond instruction. She recently took to the stage with MOVED, Chicago in Fall 2014 and worked alongside IBT in their outreach Performance in Spring 2015. Amanda is committed to the development of her students’ technical proficiency, longevity, and artistic ability, and is dedicated to inspiring them to discover and express their authentic selves through movement.
Kristy Victor
Kristy Victor, a compassionate oncology nurse, discovered her passion for ballet at a tender age of 3 when she joined the prestigious Indiana Ballet Theatre (IBT). Having honed her skills at the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters, Kristy demonstrated her immense talent by leading the ballet gala performance. Driven by her unwavering dedication, Kristy sharpened her abilities as a dance teacher and choreographer by attending the Dance Teachers’ Expo in Las Vegas, Nevada. Her love for ballet took her to London, England, where she earned her ISTD rubric certification. In 2012, Kristy’s outstanding skills landed her a coveted spot alongside principal dancers from American Ballet Theatre, where they performed at the prestigious venue, Auditorium Theatre in Chicago, IL. Kristy’s exemplary performance earned her prominent roles at IBT such as Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Lilac Fairy, Sugar Plum, and Snow Queen. With her numerous accolades in dance, it’s worth noting that Kristy is also a three-time state champion in gymnastics, having excelled in the floor exercise, balance beans, and all-around categories.
Wendy Holland
Having been a part of IBT for more than two decades, Wendy Holland brings a wealth of experience to the table. She holds certifications in Checcittti and ISTD in addition to a Bachelor of Science Degree in Recreation, where she specialized in Therapeutic Recreation. Wendy is also a licensed educator in Indiana. At IBT, Wendy teaches foundation classes for both ballet students and company classes. She is also a dedicated 5th grade teacher at Porter Lakes Elementary School. Wendy has played the lead role in many of our past performances, assisted with rehearsals, and lent her skills to choreographic work for the LEAP event. On a personal note, Wendy is a proud mother of three children: Ashley, Sarah, and Jack.
Christie Kamanaroff
Christie’s dance journey began at the age of 4, where she began as a gymnast. After being advised to take some ballet lessons, it was not long before her love for dance took hold, becoming an unshakeable passion that would last a lifetime. By the age of 7, Christie had begun dancing with Gloria Tuohy. Her talents brought her to perform in various ballet productions such as The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Coppelia, and Firebird with Indiana Ballet Theatre. She even toured with them to Disney World, France, Germany, England, Cancun, and Cozumel in Mexico. Christie’s commitment to dance was further solidified when she pursued a BA in Dance from Columbia College, Chicago in 2005. During her studies, she had the privilege of learning from renowned performance artists and teachers internationally. She also showcased her talent and choreography at Faculty and Student Concerts. Presently, Christie has been an essential member of the IBT faculty for five years, teaching Ballet and Modern. She is also responsible for the choreography of Company 1, 2, and the Trainees.
Julie Newman
Julie Newman has been dancing for over 20 years. She began in her hometown at Broadstreet Dance Co. and in her early teens, she continued her training at The Ruth Page Foundation and Lou Conte Dance Studio in Chicago where she studied ballet, jazz, tap, and hip-hop. Throughout her dance career, she performed in numerous shows and ballet’s including The Nutcracker with The Empire State Ballet, The Tulsa Ballet Theatre, Indiana Youth Ballet, and Ballet Legere, and danced for the IUN Dance Company in college.
In addition to her dance training, she also dabbled in singing, acting, and modeling. During her late teenage years, she was chosen as the fifth member of the pop/R&B group called “Endera”, which was signed to Universal Records. While with “Endera”, she trained with renowned choreographers like Chris Flournois and Jamaica Kraft, who have worked with big names like P. Diddy, TLC, and 3LW (currently known as the Cheetah Girls). For over 15 years, Julie has been sharing her passion for dance by instructing workshops and imparting her skills at various studios in the Chicagoland area. Aside from teaching private lessons and choreographing, she is now pursuing her Bachelor of Science degree in Computer Information Systems at Indiana University Northwest. To supplement her dance career, she also works at Dance Stuf Etc located in Merrillville.
Peggy Guardiola
Hannah Hartman
Lindsay Hartman
Melody Munro
Sophia Ramos
Neva Reyes
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