About the Directors

Kimmary Williams received her early training in Washington D.C. with Helen Moore and Pamela Moore. She continued her studies under scholarship at the Joffrey Ballet School and with notable teachers Patricia Wilde, Richard Thomas and Finis Jhung. She has toured extensively throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Bermuda with Twyla Tharp, Connecticut Ballet and American Contemporary Ballet. Ms. Williams also appeared as a dancer in the feature film "Hair", choreographed by Twyla Tharp. As a teacher she has attained the Maestro Enrico Cecchetti Diploma and has taught frequently at the Cecchetti International Summer School. Her teaching credits include Connecticut Ballet as a faculty member and company ballet mistress (1979-1984), Pacific Northwest Ballet (1984-1990), Princeton Ballet (1990-1991), Miami City Ballet as Faculty Principal and Nutcracker children’s ballet mistress (1991-1996), Pittsburgh Youth Ballet (1997-1999) and School Principal at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (1997-2002). The Edinburg International Festival brought Ms. Williams and her husband, Jacob Rice, to Scotland for two summers (1996/97) to create a youth dance choreography workshop. In 2002 Ms Williams and her husband were appointed co-artistic directors of Southold Dance Theater, a professional school and youth company in South Bend, Indiana. During their three seasons with SDT they choreographed a new "Nutcracker", "Graduation Ball" and a "Midsummer Night’s Dream". In the summer of 2006 Ms. Williams was a guest teacher for Ballet Spartanburgs' Summer Intensive. Most recently she was a guest faculty member for the "2007 Cecchetti International Summer Camp".She is currently on the faculty of Ballet Austin. In 2005 she and her husband founded Central Maryland Youth Ballet in Columbia, Maryland.

Jacob Rice received his early training in Naugatuck CT. with Barbara Hyland. He was then offered the opportunity to study at North Carolina School of the Arts for three years on full scholarship. This was followed up with two years of study at School of American Ballet in New York City also on full scholarship. Mr. Rice’s distinguished professional career began with Virginia State Ballet in 1981. As a company member of Connecticut Ballet (1982-84), Pacific Northwest Ballet ( 1984-88), Joffrey Ballet (1988-89), Princeton Ballet (1989-90), Miami City Ballet (1990-1997) and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre (1997-2002), he danced many soloist and principal roles. He has been a guest artist with Fort Worth Dallas Ballet and most recently danced with the contemporary company, Dance Alloy Theater, where he was featured as the Moor in Jose Limon’s "The Moor’s Pavane". During his career he has traveled extensively throughout North and South America as well as the United Kingdom. In addition he was featured in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s movie "Nutcracker: The Motion Picture" choreographed by Kent Stowell with sets and costumes by Maurice Sendak. Mr. Rice has been a faculty member of Miami City Ballet and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. The Edinburg International Festival brought Mr. Rice and his wife, Kimmary Williams, to Scotland for two summers (1996/1997) to create a youth dance choreographic workshop. In 2002 Mr. Rice and his wife were appointed co-artistic directors of Southold Dance Theater a professional school and youth company. During their three seasons with SDT they choreographed a new "Nutcracker", "Graduation Ball" and "A Midsummer Night’s Dream". In the summer of 2007 Mr. Rice was a guest teacher for Ballet Spartanburg’s Summer Intensive. In addition to performing with Central Maryland Youth Ballet he recently danced the role of "Oberon" in "A Midsummer Night's Dream" with Heartland Youth Ballet in Omaha Nebraska June 25, 2011. In 2005 he and his wife established Central Maryland Youth Ballet, a professional ballet school in Columbia Maryland.