Born in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, Cynthia Dragoni began training at the age of nine at the Wissahickon Dance Academy. She studied on scholarship at The Rock School of the Pennsylvania Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet, she trained under renowned teachers Gloria Govrin, Barbara Sandonato, and Gelsey Kirkland.
In 2003 she danced with International Ballet Theater, where her repertoire included Raymonda variations, Don quixote, La Esmerelda, Sleeping Beauty variations, Nutcracker: Spanish, and Arabian.
In 2004 she was invited by internationally acclaimed dancer, and director of The Donetsk Ballet of Ukraine, Vadim Pisarev, to join the Donetsk Ballet in Ukraine.
She performed in Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Giselle, La Bayadere, Spartacus, The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, and Le Corsaire. She has performed on tour throughout Europe, and studied privately in St. Petersburg with prima ballerina Elena Marchenko.
She was head of the dance department at Bravo Performing Arts and Language Center in Philadelphia, and on faculty at The Barbara Sandonato School of Ballet. She has taught for Ballet Arts at City Center, and Elliot Feld’s Ballet Tech in New York City.
As a dancer she “had wonderful classical training, singing arms, and the unteachable soul of a ballerina...” Anastasiya Gaidukova, Ballerina, Donetsk Ballet, Ukraine.
“She puts her students ahead of her own success, always pushing them towards ever expanding ideals, as a teacher she is a force to be reckoned with.” Kathy Mack, parent of former student
Cynthia Dragoni is that rare type of teacher with intuitive knowledge. Her ability to assess the individual student is uncanny and her ability to thus make the correction is spot on. Her knowledge of dance is very deep and her love for the ballet is endless. Passing along her insights to her many students allows for future "ballerinas" to be born. Gentle, nurturing and exacting, Cynthia brings to the dance floor a quality matched by only the best." Dale Sherman, parent
.gif)
