About
The Academy of Classical Ballet-CALIFORNIA is committed to providing a high-performance training program, grounded in classical techniques and balanced with an emphasis on fun.
Established in 2009, The Academy is owned and directed by Ms. Crystal Petzel. Her qualifications, commutative skills and teaching approach have led the Academy to become one of the Bay Area's top and often duplicated ballet institutions.
Location
236 West Campbell Ave.
Campbell, CA 95008
Crystal Petzel
Owner/Director
She is known as being a fair, disciplined, and nurturing instructor who takes the time to treat each student individually, getting the best out of each and every one of them. Her aim is to accomplish this regardless of the student’s intent – whether it be dancing simply for personal improvement and enjoyment or pursuing the dream of becoming a professional dancer. The concept has proven to be successful as shown by the impressive number of her students who have received scholarships to train or to dance with prestigious dance schools, universities and companies such as: Dutch National Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, School of American Ballet among others.
Ms. Petzel is particularly proud of bringing dancers to the finals of the Youth American Grand Prix in New York City, competing amongst the best of international students and is equally pleased by the accomplishments of former students who have succeeded in becoming doctors, teachers, small business owners, and other acclaimed professionals.
She also enjoys working with those in Ballet-assisted fields: Figure Skaters, Artistic (Synchronized) Swimmers, and Gymnasts, helping coach them to win National titles and competitions. Ms. Petzel’s expertise and involvement with classical ballet, and dance in general, stems from an acclaimed background of varied teaching methods including Vaganova and The Royal Academy of Dancing. She began her early training in Oklahoma with Marjorie Kovich and legendary Ballet Russe dancers Yvonne Chouteau and Miguel Terekhov and was chosen to be the youngest member of the Norman Ballet Company. She has completed her American Ballet Theatre training and is certified from Primary through level 7. Ms. Petzel received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from Southern Methodist University in Dallas.
Ms. Petzel has worked with several dance companies and schools in many varied roles: That of a choreographer, artistic director, principal teacher, and ballet mistress. She has conceived outreach programs that bring the arts to under-served, ESL, and special needs elementary school children. Ms. Petzel developed a Student Guild organization that gives students a chance to grow in the areas of personal development, business management, leadership and community involvement.
Throughout her career Crystal has appeared as a guest artist for a variety of companies throughout the country, performing as a soloist and principal dancer. Many original roles were created for her in ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, The Firebird, A Mid-Summers Night's Dream, The Red Shoes, Stars and Stripes, and The Little Prince. Her ballet and modern choreography continue to receive praise for exceptional creativity and professionalism.
With her boundless energy and enthusiasm, Ms. Petzel leads by example, promoting positivity while instilling valuable life lessons. She has the innate ability to make the culmination of effort and hard work exciting.
Instructors
Sandra Hahs has been teaching ballet, pointe, pre-pointe, and variations for 17 years. She began studying ballet in Portugal with the Royal Academy of Dance method. During this time, she acted as a teacher’s assistant and helped prepare students for the RAD exams. Sandra later went to study ballet at the Escola Técnica de Profissionais de Bailado (TechnicalSchool of Dance Professionals) before joining the Portuguese Companhia Nacional de Bailado (National Company of Ballet). She danced with the company for three years in the corps de ballet, and performed in classical ballets as well as more contemporary works. As a teacher, Sandra has not only worked and subbed for dance studios, but she also taught in a private school setting. Sandra is certified by the American Ballet Theatre ® (ABT) National Training Curriculum from Pre-Primary to Level 7.
Amanda Marquez is a versatile Performer, Instructor and Choreographer in multiple dance styles including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Latin Dance. Her extensive dance training began with classical ballet, musical theater and modern dance at the school of the Garden State Ballet in New Jersey; where she toured with the Company in their annual productions of Nutcracker and A Midsummer's Night Dream. Her training and experience as a performing artist continued throughout the years in Los Angeles, San Francisco and New York City. Amanda’s performance highlights include Broadway Bares- Equity Fights Aids, The Latin Billboard Awards, where she danced for Latin Popstar Don Omar, The Latin Nutcracker, as well as appearing in various television specials.
Amanda has been an instructor at some of the most prestigious dance institutions in NYC including: Ballet Hispanico, Alvin Ailey and Broadway Dance Center among others. Now in the Bay Area, she teaches master classes and workshops in Latin, Jazz and Ballet at many Studios and Performing Arts Centers and High School Dance teams. Amanda is also the Founder and Artistic Director of ENCANTO Youth Latin Dance Company and ECHALE! Adult Latin Dance Company, also based in the Bay Area.
In 2022, Amanda Choreographed On Your Feet, a Broadway musical about the life of Gloria and Emilio Estefan at Woodminster Theater in Oakland, Ca. She has proudly traveled as a Performer and Instructor throughout the US and Internationally sharing her love and passion for the Art of Latin Jazz and still actively teaches at special events throughout the Bay Area such as SFSBK, SF Salsa Festival, Nova Festival and Salesforce Park’s newest monthly event, Mucho Mambo.
Amanda is a certified Yoga Instructor through Greenpath Yoga in San Francisco and holds her BA in Sociology with a concentration in Family Studies from San Jose State University.
Maria Scott, a former AOCBallet dancer, is a patient and kind instructor who loves working with younger students. She began her dance training with Marie Stinnett in jazz and musical theatre. Maria joined AOCBallet in 2016 on a recommendation from Marie. Maria first started teaching ballet while she was an AOCBallet student, mentored by the Academy Director, Crystal Petzel. She teaches when she is home from Gonzaga University, where she is pursuing a double bachelor’s degree in psychology and dance, with a double concentration in dance pedagogy and performance. She was selected to dance in Inland Northwest Opera’s production of Orpheus and Eurydice. She also represented Gonzaga Dance in a 6 week dance performance tour in Italy, and was accepted into the University Ballet Company that collaborate with Oregon’s Ballet Fantastique. Maria is also exploring the world of dance therapy with her recent Dance for PD® certification. Maria enjoys teaching ballet, jazz, dance composition, and conditioning, as well as assisting in rehearsals for AOCBallet performances. Above all, Maria loves sharing her joy for dance and movement with children of all ages.
Nicole Yip Chen first started teaching pre-ballet classes while she was a student growing up in the suburbs of Denver, Colorado. After she finished her ballet training with German Zamuel, Mark Carson and Irina Brecher, Nicole relocated to the Bay Area to join the former Ballet San Jose. As a professional ballet dancer, she has also performed as a guest artists with many ballet companies and schools including Western Ballet and Peninsula Ballet Theater.
Nicole has fifteen years of experience teaching all levels of ballet classes throughout the San Jose area. She is also passionate about introducing dance to young children and is the founder of First Position Dance which offers on-site dance classes to preschools, kindergartens and elementary schools.Nicole received her B.S. in Business Administration and Finance from SJSU and is a NCPT® certified pilates instructor.
Former Instructors and Guest Teachers
Shannon Bynum Adams - Ballet San Jose
Damir Emric - Royal Danish Ballet
Anthony Lomuljo - Royal Swedish Ballet
Kristine Elliot - American Ballet Theatre
Kristina Lind - Bavarian State Ballet
Jessica Lind - Oregon Ballet Theatre Marie Stinnett - Musical Theatre/Jazz/Tap
Maykel Solas - Ballet San Jose
Kevin Jenkins - Contemporary Choreographer
Melissa Pane - Modern/Contemporary
Linda Hurkmans - Ballet West
Shaina Leibson - Ballett im Revier in Germany
Sylvia Martin - Compañia Nacional de Ballet de el Peru