Natalia Botha
Director Pas de Vie Ballet School
Natalia Botha, born in Pretoria, South Africa, began her training in Canada as a chosen scholar at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. At age 11, she was awarded a full scholarship for the summer to attend the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Also on scholarship, and under the continued tutelage of her mother, Gwynne Ashton, Ms. Botha studied at the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, Illinois, training both in the United States and abroad with many world-renowned teachers of this century. She soon became a member of the National Ballet of Illinois. To further her career, Ms. Botha joined the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in 1976 under the direction of Patrick Frantz and later Patricia Wilde. During her tenure, she danced many soloist and principal roles of varied repertoire from the great classics (Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker) to original contemporary works by Alvin Ailey, Agnes de Mille, Domi Reiter Soffer and George Balanchine. Currently Ms. Botha teaches, directs and choreographs locally for Pas de Vie Ballet. Ms. Botha and her husband Charles Hagan staged Peter and the Wolf for Chattanooga Ballet in 2008. Most recently, and also for the Chattanooga Ballet they staged an original work, Totemotion.
Charles Hagan
Director Pas de Vie Ballet
Charles Hagan began his early training with Sylvia Waters in his hometown of Evansville, Indiana. At age 16, he was awarded a full scholarship to attend the National Academy of Arts under the direction of Michael Maule. After graduating from the Academy, Mr. Hagan joined the National Ballet of Illinois and in a short time became soloist.
In 1978 he joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and in 1980 was named soloist. Because of his versatility in dance, mime, makeup and dramatic ability, Mr. Hagan was promoted to principal character dancer in 1985 – a title created especially for him. During his tenure he danced all the principal character roles along with many leading classical roles ranging from the “Blue Bird Pas de Deux” (Sleeping Beauty), “Pas de Trois” (Swan Lake), “Peasant Pas de Deux” (Giselle) and a variety of Balanchine repertoire. On the administrative side, Mr. Hagan served locally, statewide and nationally for the American Guild of Musical Artists and as company manager for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre when they toured. In addition to his position as Ballet Company Director for Pas de Vie Ballet, he teaches locally, choreographs for and serves as ballet master for Ballet Theatre South and enjoys a second career as a piano technician.
Beatrice Scherz Corbin
Beatrice Scherz Corbin received her dance training in Zurich and Paris in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and Feldenkrais method. She has danced professionally in numerous companies in her native Switzerland, as well as in Germany, Paris and Hungary, touring Europe, Africa and Israel. Since moving to Tallahassee, she has danced in many productions of the Florida State University Department of Dance. Beatrice has been teaching ballet, contemporary, jazz and stretching classes for all levels throughout her career and is also a certified yoga teacher. She is currently teaching and choreographing locally.
