WelcomeClassesRegistrationInstructorsNewsCalendarResourcesHomeContact
Los Gatos Ballet
Instructors
Move with Us, Renew with Us
Marcie Ryken
Director

Marcie Ryken, a California native, has 20 years of professional dance experience. Her initial training was with Yvonne Mounsey and Rosemary Valaire at Westside Ballet in Santa Monica. At age 16, she began her professional career with San Francisco Ballet. While there, she competed and won 4th place in the 1982 International Ballet Competition at Jacksonville, Mississippi. In preparation for this, she was coached by Yvonne Mounsey, Eric Bruhn and Jacques D'Amboise. As a result of her performance in Jacksonville, she was invited by Richard Englund to join American Ballet Theatre II, where Marcie stayed for 2 years. After seeing her in a performance in Texas, Ben Stevenson invited her to become a company member.

During her seven years with Houston Ballet, she performed leading roles in Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Peer Gynt and Les Patineurs. She also had the privilege of working with Margot Fonteyn, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, John Butler and Glen Tetley to name a few. During a pause in performing, she taught at Fresno State University and was Ballet Mistress to California Central Ballet. After moving to the Bay area, Ms Ryken worked as a guest artist, performing leading roles in Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Nutcracker and Ben Stevenson's Three Preludes.

During her professional career, Marcie discovered and integrated Pilates training, which benefited her performance and increased the longevity of her career. Marcie received her Pilates certification training from Jennifer Stacey, owner of Peak Performance in San Francisco. She also is certified in the Franklin Method, which addresses the body/mind function through the use of Dynamic Imagery, Experiential Anatomy and Reconditioning Movement.

Continuing her passion for movement and efforts towards improving body mechanics, Marcie started a Pilates business called Body in Motion, which later became Los Gatos Pilates, in downtown Los Gatos in 2001. A year later, she was able to expand and create Los Gatos Ballet School. In 2005, Los Gatos Ballet, the non-profit segment, was formed.

> Return to Instructors

 

Tell a Friend

Los Gatos Ballet | Los Gatos Pilates