Jennifer Cafarella Betts
Jennifer Cafarella Betts, BS Business Administration (Rivier College), MFA Dance (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Founder and Artistic Director of Convergence Ballet, is a passionate educator, choreographer and dancer who is certified in the ABT National Training Curriculum Primary-Level 5, Progressing Ballet Technique, and Power Pilates Mat. Her teaching methodologies are rooted in somatic exploration and neuro diversity. Her research background allows for individual analysis and a custom training program for each student to become the best dancer they can be. In 2016, Cafarella Betts founded Ballet Theatre of Phoenix and since then, has molded the culture that defines the school. She is dedicated to understanding more about the brain and body connection, therefore updating a traditional method and creating a training program for each dancer to reach their highest potential.
Cafarella Betts’ approach to dance pedagogy is influenced by her experiences at Walnut Hill School for the Arts where she trained under Sydelle Gomberg, the School of Ballet Arizona, and SUNY Purchase. Her professional career has taken her as far as Ballet de Cali in Colombia, Granite State Ballet where she performed soloist roles in the Nutcracker and Cinderella, Portland Ballet as a summer guest artist, and Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre. Her observations of the ever-changing movement patterns developed by technological advances, motivates her to explore and strengthen developmental movement for healthier dancers. She regularly presents her findings at the National Dance Educator’s Organization on creating better pedagogical practices through a neuro athletic lens within the scope of Classical Ballet. She has served on the faculties at School of Ballet Arizona, Arizona School for the Arts, Mesa Community College, Scottsdale School of Ballet and Plumb Performing Arts Center.
Minghong Xu
Minghong Xu is a professional dancer and ABT Certified Teacher with a strong background in both classical and contemporary ballet.
Minghong danced professionally with Virginia National Ballet (2019 – 2024) and Columbia Classical Ballet (2018 – 2019), performing lead and soloist roles in productions such as Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Aladdin, and Boléro. She received her foundational training and Liaoning Ballet School, a Prix de de Lausanne partner school, and later trained on scholarships at Joffrey Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre NYC Summer Intensive, and the Washington School of Ballet.
As an experienced instructor, Minghong has taught at Virginia National Ballet Company School and Hong Dance Studio, coaching youth beginners to pre-professional dancers. Her students have achieved top rankings in competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and WBAC Grand Prix.
With a passion for inspiring the next generation of dancers, Minghong is committed to fostering strong technique, artistic expression, and deep appreciation for the art of ballet in every student she teaches.
David Maurice
David Maurice is a contemporary dance artist, performer, choreographer, and educator based in Los Angeles. His performance career spans over a decade and includes Ate9 Dance Company, Gallim Dance, choreographer Roderick George, and The Foundry under Alex Ketley. Maurice has also performed with Madboots Dance, Convergence Ballet, Loni Landon Dance Project, and ConDanza, appearing in festivals and venues internationally, including Jacob’s Pillow Inside/Out, Fall for Dance, the Gdańsk Solo Dance Festival, and the Prisma International Contemporary Dance Festival of Panama.
As a choreographer, Maurice has created work for independent projects, festivals, and dance companies, including Convergence Ballet, Santa Barbara Dance Theater, and the Cocodaco Dance Project, where he served as Artistic Director from 2017–2020. His creative practice explores collaborative authorship, embodied research, and contemporary performance structures.
Maurice has taught master classes and workshops nationally and internationally at NYU, the University of California, Santa Barbara, Loyola Marymount University, Northwestern University, Alonzo King LINES Ballet Training Program, and the National Ballet of Panama. His teaching integrates contemporary technique, choreographic inquiry, and mentorship practices that prepare dancers for the evolving landscape of the professional field.
Natasha Rader
Natasha grew up in Coos Bay, Oregon, where she began her training under her mother, Christine Rader. She continued her studies at Marin Dance Theatre, Orlando Ballet School, and Alberta Ballet School before joining the Studio Company at Texas Ballet Theater.
During her time at Texas Ballet Theater, Natasha performed in works by Ben Stevenson, including The Nutcracker and Alice in Wonderland, and collaborated directly with Stevenson to originate a role in his ballet Requiem. She later joined Golden State Ballet, where she performed works by Norbert De La Cruz III, Gabrielle Lamb, Raul Salamanca and Nathan Madden. It was there that she premiered her first choreographic work, Thoughtscape, as part of the company’s inaugural Crafted program. The work was selected for presentation in the triple bill The Four Seasons, alongside ballets by George Balanchine and Houston Thomas.
In addition to her performance and choreographic work, Natasha is a comprehensively trained Stott Pilates instructor and enjoys helping dancers and everyday movers improve their physical well-being. She is currently based in Southern California and has worked with Ballet Collective San Diego, Golden State Ballet, San Diego Dance Theatre, and Convergence Ballet Company.