BALLET
This page spotlights mentors with expertise in Ballet, a discipline built on precision, artistry, and rich tradition. Each mentor offers deep technical knowledge, performance experience, and cultural context to help dancers strengthen their foundation, elevate their technique, and develop the poise and storytelling needed to excel both on stage and beyond.
AVAILABLE TO ALL MEMBERS
DISPLAYED: DONATIEN RAVET
“As a Mentor, I think the aim is not only about guiding people through their journey, but about making sure that the connection between the Mentor and the Mentee is deep and meaningful because the understanding of the Mentor is everything to nurture and inspire people through their experiences and inspirations ”
Donatien was born in Puyricard. He joined the Mediterranean Academy of Dance in Marseille, where he trained in various dance disciplines. Three years later, he joined the Ballet Méditerranéen and is now dancing professionally on stage. As a soloist, he has danced all the major roles in the classical repertoire, including ballets such as Giselle, The Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, La Bayadère, Diana and Acteon, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Raymonda, and many others of the Ballet Répertoire. He has also performed roles created specifically for him by the director of the Ballet Méditerranéen. Some of these ballets are Colomba, Dialogue of the Carmelites, Portrait of a City and others.
He also works with a lot of great teachers with international fame (Cyril Atanassof, David Allen, Elisabeth Platel, Charles Judes, Eric Quilleré, Attilio Labis, etc).
In 1994, he was engaged by the Ballet de L'opéra de Marseille, and in 1995, he joined the National Ballet of Nancy and Lorraine, under the direction of Pierre Lacotte. From 1996 to 1998, he became a soloist of the Ballet du Grand Théatre de Reims, dancing alongside Elisabeth Maurin, prima ballerina of the Paris Opera. From 1998 to 2002, he held the position of soloist at the Grand Theatre of Limoges, dancing alongside Xiomara Reyes, the Principal soloist of the American Ballet Theatre. There, he signed his first choreography, commissioned by the Directorate for Ballet and Soloists. This was received with great success and was hailed unanimously by the press.
In 2002, he decided to return to Marseilles with his wife, Anne-Laure Gosselin, and once again he became the leading soloist of the Ballet Méditerranéen, named Principal Dancer in April 2005 after his performance in La Sylphide at Palais des Congrès in Marseille, whilst also dancing with the Grand Théâtre de Bordeaux, directed by Charles Judes, with Avignon, where he had been noticed by Eric Vu-An, who liked his physique and his technique and Ballet de Toulon, where he performed a lot of Repertoire Ballet and Contemporary Choreography. He performed Le Songe Du Minotaure, signed by Bianca Li.
In 2014, he went to Japan to perform and to teach as well. He went back to Japan in 2015, where he danced La Sylphide of Bournonville. He was also invited to teach Master Classes in Japan.
His physique and technique allow him to address both the major roles of the classical repertoire as well as more contemporary choreography. He was nominated as an Étoile Danseur for this reason after the performance of La Sylphide on March 24, 2005, at the Palais des Congrès de Marseille.
DONATIEN RAVET
Photographer Cody Choi
ELENA GIBSON
Elena Gibson is a classical ballet dancer with the National Ballet of Canada and the Bavarian State Ballet. Elena made history as the first UK and World Pole Dancing Champion. Her groundbreaking work has redefined how movement, artistry, and empowerment intersect, earning her recognition as the “International Instructor of the Year” (IPDFA) and the recipient of the “Industry Pioneer Award” (Pole Dance Community).
With over three decades of experience, Elena has founded dance studios and creative communities across the UK, Italy, and Spain. She is currently the founder of The Body is Art Method, based in London, which facilitates fitness and feminine power through pole dance.
She is also the Artistic Director of Nocturna, serves on the Artistic Committee of POSA federation, member of Equity, REPS and CID UNESCO, and has worked with prestigious clients such as Sir Elton John's aids foundation, Mikhail Gorbachev's Leukaemia Foundation, McMillan Cancer Research Foundation, The Round House, Copenhagen Summer Ballet, Nokia, 02, Chelsea Arts Club, Soho House, The Roof Gardens, Torture Garden, Club RUB, Max Power Live, Frankie Goes to Hollywood, Skin Two Rubber Ball, David Guetta, Ministry of Sound, Playboy, Vogue and many more.
MARíA GARCíA LÓPEZ
María is a Dance Educator, Advocate and emerging Choreographer whose work bridges dance, disability, and mental health.
She holds a First Class BA (Hons) in Ballet Education from the Royal Academy of Dance, where she deepened her commitment to making dance accessible and sustainable.
With a background in Ballet, Flamenco, and Contemporary, she is passionate about inclusive practices that empower dancers to trust themselves and reconnect with the joy of movement.
Her ethos is rooted in advocacy and care, supporting dancers not only in their artistic growth but also in navigating the challenges of the industry with resilience and authenticity.
“Dance has always been more than movement to me - it’s a language that speaks when words fall short. My aim as a mentor is to help dancers reconnect with why they started dancing in the first place, especially when faced with pressure, burnout, or self-doubt. I believe the most important thing a mentor or teacher can do is help dancers trust themselves.”