CHRISTINA SHORTT (Artistic Director-General Dance Programs) began her serious dance training in Connecticut with the Manchester Youth Ballet under the direction of Priscilla Gibson.  Later, while studying musical theatre and arts administration at Wagner College, she continued her dance training with jazz masters such as Luigi, Frank Hatchett, Charles Kelly, and Phil Black.  After college, Christina performed and acted as dance captain for various touring companies, dinner theaters, and summer stocks based in New York, Connecticut, Florida, and Washington D.C.  Christina was also a member of the 1985 Inaugural Entertainment Company for President Ronald Reagan.  Currently, Christina is on staff at the Connecticut Concert Ballet where she teaches jazz. Christina develops classical ballet outreach programs sponsored by the Ossen Foundation providing classical arts education to inner city students.  She is currently the “Artist in Residence” for the Windham County Elementary Schools.