The Academy of Ballet was founded in 1958 by Tatiana Bechenova. Now under the direction of daughter Marina O'Rourke, the Academy of Ballet has been in continuous operation for 50 years!

Tatiana Bechenova (known to all as Tanya) began training in Paris with the famous Maryinski ballerina, Lubov Egorova. At age 13, Tanya joined the Ballet de la Jeunesse, and a year later became the youngest member of the Ballet Russe, Col. de Basil, touring with the world famous company for seven years. As a soloist, Tanya performed and worked with legendary dancers, choreographers and artists including Balanchine, Fokine, Danilova, Bronislava Nijinska, Lifar, Franklin, Lichine, Stravinsky, Dorati, and countless others!

After leaving the Ballet Russe in New York, Tanya became the principal dancer for Agnes de Mille, performing on Broadway in Carousel. When on tour with Carousel, Tanya met and married Tom O'Rourke.

After living in Chicago, and New York, Tanya, Tom and their young family moved to Dubuque, Iowa. Tanya began teaching ballet at Clarke College, then opened the Academy of Ballet, and in 1968, formed the Dubuque City Youth Ballet.

Photo: Tom Bierie

Tatiana Bechenova

Who We Are!

Marina O'Rourke is a second generation dancer, the daughter of Tatiana Bechenova. Her training began at the Academy of Ballet, and continued in Chicago, Kansas City and Minneapolis with Stone/Camryn, the Dukodowskys and Loyce Houlton. Marina was a scholarship student at the Oklahoma University School of Ballet where she graduated and received the Outstanding Student and Choreography awards. After graduating, Marina studied at the International School of Ballet in Cannes, France, and she has completed three Teachers Courses with renowned Master Teacher, David Howard. She has served as president of the Iowa Dance Council and served as a consultant to the Iowa Arts Council. She has been a faculty member in the Drama Department at Clarke college, and an artist-in-residence for the Washington and Roosevelt Middle Schools performing arts programs. In Fall, 2008, Marina will serve as Artist-in-Residence for the Dubuque Arts Council.

Marina is Director of the Academy and principal instructor. She is also the director of the DCYB and the Heartland Ballet. She has staged all the most famous ballets, created numerous original ballets and in 2002, wrote the original ballet/play "The Golden Glow" performed at the Five Flags Theater. Marina has also staged two dozen musicals with university, high and middle schools.

Megan Macleod

Megan MacLeod, Instructor, joined the Academy in 2005. She graduated with highest honors from the University of Iowa in 2004, with a BFA in Dance and a BA in Classics. Megan began her training at the Academy of Ballet, and performed as a soloist with the DCYB and Heartland Ballet. Her performing highlights include Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, as a guest artist in Return of the Goddess, and in 2007, as Odile in Swan Lake. While at Iowa, Megan was featured as Taglioni in The Grand Pas de Quatre, and performed extensively with faculty and students. She has studied with Basil Thompson, Jeffery Bullock, Armando Duarte, Alan Sener and Charlotte Adams.

Megan is guest choreographer for the Washington Middle School performing arts program where she has staged Hello Dolly and Bye Bye, Birdie, and this year: State Fair.

Katherine O'Connor

Deborah Duehr, Rehearsal Assistant, has trained for many years at the Academy of Ballet. She has performed extensively with the DCYB and Heartland Ballet in soloist and corps de ballet roles. She has also taught dance and art history at Clarke College. Deborah conducts rehearsals and records choreography.

Deborah Duehr

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Office Mailing address:

Academy of Ballet/DCYB

2085 Mullen Road

Dubuque, Iowa 52001-3054

Office Telephone Number: 563.583.2047

marina@balletdubuque.com

Studio Location:; Academy of Ballet; 880 Locust Street, 2nd Floor: Suite 228; Dubuque, Iowa 52001; Studio Telephone Number: 563.582.0812

Performance Opportunities

Schedule of Classes

Rules and Regulations

For and About Our Dancers

Calendar and Rehearsals

Katherine (O'Connor) Quann, Instructor, joined the staff Summer, 2007. Her training began at age 6 at the Academy of Ballet. She continued her dance training while at Creighton University under the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) and ISTD (Imperial Society for Teacher's Dancing.) She graduated Sum Cum Laude with a BA in Spanish and History, and took her pre-professional RAD and ISDT exams receiving a grade of "Superior."

Katherine has danced leading roles in Giselle, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, Coppelia and Sleeping Beauty, and has performed in numerous classical and neoclassic original works.

Who We Are!

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