Betsy Hausburg – Artistic Director, Ballet Instructor for all ages and levels

Cofounder of the Valley Dance Theatre in 1980, Ms. Hausburg continues to serve as Artistic Director and Choreographer. She received her BA cum laude in Dance from Butler University where she was Dean of Students for a two year teacher training program. She performed professionally with Syracuse Ballet Theatre and the Hartford Ballet. Ms. Hausburg has been teaching throughout the East Bay for many years, and has lent her choreography skills to many school musicals and opera companies. Ms. Hausburg is also a gifted professional costumer and seamstress, and has designed and/or built most of the wonderful costumes seen in VDT performances.

Margaret Kenrick – Resident Choreographer and Artistic Consultant

Ms. Kenrick is Assistant Director, Choreographer, and dances for the Valley Dance Theatre and Benicia Ballet Theatre. Having taught throughout California, Pennsylvania, and Washington, she most recently was a guest teacher for the Royal Academy of Dance conference in Northern California and attended the Cecchetti Society summer teaching conference. She performed professionally for Redlands Festival Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. Ms. Kenrick’s education crossed into biology with a BA from UCLA and MA from UC Riverside. She recently joined Genentech as a Senior Research Associate.

Genoa Sperske – Ballet and Modern Dance Instructor

Ms. Sperske earned BA degrees in Dance and Drama from University of California, Irvine in 2003 where she performed in undergraduate, graduate and faculty choreographed dance shows and was involved in the musical theatre department. She choreographed for Bare Bones Dance Theatre, a student-produced dance show. Ms. Sperske received UCI honors and scholarships for her work teaching dance and music in Orange County elementary schools and hospitals through the ArtsBridge America program. She received a grant to conduct research on dance instructors in New York City, and used the opportunity to study with some of the best teachers in dance. Ms. Sperske believes in the nurturing power of movement and loves to discover and explore dance along with her students.

Erin Carson - Director of Children's Division, Ballet Instructor

Erin began her college career as a nursing student, earning her Certified Nursing Assistant license from the state of California.  However, in her junior year, she changed course in pursuit of her passion, teaching.  She earned a Bachelors Degree in Liberal Studies (science concentration) from Azusa Pacific University in 2004.  Upon graduation, Erin took a year off and moved to Fukaya, Japan to teach English as a second language at the Junior High School level.  After returning to the U.S. and obtaining her teaching credential and Masters Degree in Educational Technology, Erin began teaching at the 4th/5th grade level in Walnut Creek.  Erin has been dancing recreationally and competitively since the age of three and has been dancing and teaching for the Valley Dance Theatre since the age of 15.  She is so excited to be a part of the VDT staff and to open up new opportunities within the Children's Division.

Doug Johnson – Men’s Ballet, Boys’ Ballet, Classical Partnering Instructor

Doug Johnson joined the Valley Dance Theatre Company in 1990 and is one of our lead male dancers. He began studying classical ballet at age 6 after being inspired by attending a performance of the San Francisco Ballet’s Nutcracker. A competitive dancer from age 9 until he joined the VDT company, he and his first partner swept the northern California competition scene for 5 years in the Ballet duet (pas de deux) category. Doug says “When I stopped competing and joined VDT in 1990, there were fewer than 10 dancers in the company—and I was the only guy. Betsy introduced me to whole new world of ballet. Valley Dance Theatre is all about putting on an amazing performance in a theatrical environment.” As the instructor for the Men and Boys Division of VDT, Doug’s vision is to create an environment where boys and young men can grow and thrive to achieve their maximum potential in dance, where they can start young and work their way through the ranks of the VDT and ultimately make it to the Company level.

Connie Zaug - Ballet Instructor

Connie Zaug earned her BA in dance, Magna Cum Laude, from the University of Washington in 1989, and her MA in counseling from the University of New Mexico in 1997.  Connie began formal training in dance and gymnastics at the age of seven.  She was a competitive gymnast from the ages of eleven to seventeen, while also studying ballet and mime.  Connie’s comprehensive study of dance began in college, where she developed a keen interest in the anatomy and kinesiology of movement.  She was fortunate to have studied ballet under director Hannah C. Wiley, renowned teacher and researcher on the anatomical/biomechanical efficiency of ballet. Beyond her university training, Connie has also studied with the prominent modern dancer Bill Evans, who emphasizes the use of Laban Movement Analysis and techniques that promote a dancer’s longevity.  Her master’s degree in counseling assists her understanding of the mind-body connection in movement and dance.  Over the last twenty years, she has performed ballet, jazz and modern dance, and has created original choreography for gymnasts, dancers and amateur theatre.  As a teacher, Connie strives to emote her love of dance to students while stressing correct placement, mastery of the basics and musical expression.

Amy Hirschman - Ballet Instructor

Ms. Hirschman is thrilled to be bringing her extensive dance experience to Valley Dance Theatre. Before moving to the Bay Area, Amy spent four years as a principal dancer and teacher with the Boulder Ballet while earning her BS in Applied Math at the University of Colorado.  She also performed with the Civic Ballet of Chicago for three years and attended summer programs with companies in Chicago, San Francisco, Houston, Boston, Washington DC and Kansas City. Outside of dance, Amy works as an analyst at CRA International and enjoys exploring California.