By Jim Knippenberg
The Cincinnati Enquirer

Clarify something, Marvel. We hear a lot of talk in the arts community about ballet tech ohio. What is it, what is your role and is that lowercase spelling correct?

Marvel Gentry Davis (Michael E. Keating photo) | ZOOM |

Yes, it's correct. ballet tech ohio is actually two entities. One is the school in Maineville, in the shadow of Kings Island. The other entity is our performing arts association that produces a number of professional shows a year at the Aronoff, plus the Gala of International Ballet Stars in August.

My role is president of the board and executive producer of the August gala. Plus, I do the public relations, write grant proposals and run the Celebrity Dinner Dance fund-raiser.

Honestly, it's a second full-time job for me.

Cincinnati already has the Cincinnati Ballet's Budig Academy and several other ballet schools. Why does it need another?

Because of the performance opportunities and the quality of diversity of those performances. Without the stage experience, dancers probably aren't going anywhere.

Another reason is because of our founder (1997) and director, Claudia Rudolf Barrett. As a former professional dancer (Cincinnati Ballet), she understands how important it is to provide a wealth of performance opportunities. She's really the salt of the company.

And as I said, we provide more than anyone else. All you have to do is look at the schedule on our Web site (ballettechohiopaa.org) and you'll see what I mean.

Are you a dancer?

All my life, but not professionally. I'm 49 and for most of those years it has been a passion, a hobby, a great love of my life. I've studied ballet, tap and jazz formally - I still study them at ballet tech - but I love all kinds of dance.

Are you a Cincinnati lifer?

I was born here but left for college at Northwestern. I got my degree in English lit in 1975 and went to work in Chicago. My career has always been in sales - right now, it's computer software sales - and came back here in 1991 after (daughter) Epiphany was born and I settled in Loveland. I wanted her go grow up around family.

You've used the word "diverse" twice today. How important is that to you?

Extremely. At ballet tech it's one of our core values. We want to bring a diverse audience to our performances, so we develop diverse programs - everything from African drums and dance to Celtic programs to Russian character dance.

Is ballet tech's student body diverse?

Not as diverse as we'd like, but it's growing more so. We have African-American, Asian, Caucasian and Hispanic students.

Our teaching staff is also diverse - Hispanic, American and Russian. Alexei Kremnev and Anna Reznic (the married duo and former Cincinnati Ballet dancers) are on our staff, too.

What are you working on right now?

I'm looking for corporate or foundation support that would make money available for scholarships, especially for students from within the city. Our tuition isn't the highest in town, but by the time you get to the Ballet 6 level and taking classes five days a week, you're probably spending $3,000 a year.

What all does ballet tech ohio offer?

Everything from movement discipline for 3- to 4-year-olds up to Ballet 6 for the advanced students. We also offer adult ballet and have fairly large classes. For a lot of the men and women, it's the way they stay in shape.

What's the next level for ballet tech?

We're looking to expand our season series next year to include a guest company. I'd like it to be a Latin dance company, because it's something you don't see here everyday.

We're also exploring exporting our Gala of International Ballet Stars to other cities. We have our eye on Columbus, Houston, Orlando. We have two years' success under our belts and we feel like we can do it because the gala attracts the best dancers from the best companies in the world.

And I'd also like to see the school grow to include things like salsa, ballroom and belly dance. African dance, too.

What's the next level for you?

More travel, I hope. I want to go to Hong Kong and just hang out. You know, ride the buses and trains, go to the local arts events, totally immerse myself in the culture. But that's going to have to wait. In April my daughter and I are going to Australia.

I'd also like to study music, but I think it's out of my reach. I tried violin once and I was a lost cause.

Do you sleep?

I just keep dancing.

E-mail jknippenberg@enquirer.com