Faculty
Margo Marshall Class Level
Margo Marshall has been teaching for Margo Marshall School of Ballet since 1969. She continues to teach upper level company classes.
Mary Elizabeth Arrington Class Level
Mary Elizabeth Arrington is the Associate Artistic Direction for City Ballet of Houston and the principal teacher for Margo Marshall School of Ballet. She started ballet at the age of seven years and trained at the Virginia Ballet School under the direction of Oleg Tupine and studied at various workshops including School of American Ballet, North Carolina School of the Arts, Chatauqua Institute and City Ballet of Houston.
Ginny Jackson Class Level
Ginny Jackson began her life-long love affair with dance as a young gymnast at the age of five. Later in her childhood years, her gymnastics training propelled her to study ballet with Natalie Skelton in Dallas, Texas. During her college years, as a Fine Arts major at Southern Methodist University in Dallas, Ms. Jackson was mentored by former Ballet Russes soloist, Nikita Talin, and was chosen to attend a summer workshop where she trained with the Joffrey Ballet. Ms. Jackson has danced on stage in productions of Caligula, Stop The World..., The King and I and Gypsy and has performed with stage and screen personalities including Bob Hope, John Davidson and Michelle Lee. Since moving to Houston in 1979, Ms. Jackson has studied with the Houston Ballet and the Margo Marshall School of Ballet and has regularly appeared in the City Ballet of Houston’s annual performances of “Nutcracker.” She has been teaching ballet at the Margo Marshall School since 1995.
"Miss Betty" Laughlin Class Level
“Miss Betty” Laughlin didn’t begin her “dance career” until she was a Mom (having grown up in a very small West Texas town where Ballet was not an option!) When she first enrolled her daughter Karen (at five) for ballet (with a certain teacher we all know and love), the result was that Karen became a ballerina, even graduating from college with a degree in dance. Of course, it was a little late for “Miss Betty” to become a ballerina, but she did begin taking adult classes and fell totally in love with ballet. Later, when her teacher suggested that she might want to teach some of the younger classes, she accepted and THEN, fell totally in love with teaching! And now, even as a Granma, she is still enjoying it! She has been teaching for Margo Marshall since 1970.
Madonna Mabry Macdonald Class Level
Madonna Mabry-Macdonald American born Madonna MacDonald began her early training in Hollywood under David Lechine, Carmelita Maracci and Michael Panieff. She graduated with honors from the world famous Pasadena Playhouse, College of Theatre Arts in California. She received her professional training at the London Dance Center, Covent Garden, England; and in Paris, France with the Academic Choreographic de Franchetti. As principle ballerina of the Queensland Ballet Co., Ms. MacDonald danced the premiere of some of Australia’s best known ballets. She worked under the direction of the famed Frederic Franklin; dancing the leading role of Swanhilda in Coppelia. Later she joined the French company, Le Theatre D’ Art Du Ballet, based in Paris. As principal dancer she twice toured the world.
As part of her tenure with various ballet companies she taught Master Classes; and through government programs such as Artists in the Schools in America and The Arts Council in Australia, Ms. MacDonald has brought ballet to students of all ages, and helped to create new dancers and audiences for Ballet Festivals and Dance Seminars. She has also made two Magnum P.I. episodes with Tom Selleck. She has been teaching for the Margo Marshall School of Ballet since 1996 and serves as assistant to City Ballet of Houston Artistic Directors.
Lesa Mueschke Class Level
Lesa Mueschke has taught dance for the past 33 years. Ms. Mueschke began her training at the age of 4, at the Virgie Lee Emmons Studio and continued her training with Hallie R. Pritchard and Margo Marshall. Ms. Mueschke has studied all phases of dance in New York, Los Angeles and New Orleans. She is a graduate of the Dance Educators of America, a national dance organization based in New York City and a member of the Dance Masters of America, where she earned a certification by both prestigious organizations to teach. Ms. Mueschke has worked with Spring Branch ISD on designing and teaching mini courses in dance. She has been on staff at the Margo Marshall School of Ballet since 1992.
Beverly Williams Class Level
Beverly Williams is a gifted teacher with a diverse background in ballet, jazz, modern, tap and musical theater dance styles. She is the dance master for the Kinkaid School in Houston, Texas and holds a MFA and BA from the University of Houston. She is currently seeking options to work on her doctorate degree.
Ms. Williams has been a long time dedicated instructor for the Royal Academy Of Fine Arts, Delia Stewart Dance Center and for the Margo Marshall School of Ballet. Most recently, Ms. Williams co-directed a performing tour for high school students to perform for private schools in the British Isles. During the summers, she enjoys traveling as an instructor for Cross Jazz Tours and teaching in workshops throughout the United States.
Ms. Williams was chosen as a choreographer for Regional Dance America’s Craft of Choreography Conference. She created Global Experiences, a program designed for the elementary age students, using creative movement. She is an avid volunteer in many “save the world” projects and dedicated to the enrichment of the fine arts.
Soili Arvola Class Level
Soili Arvola at the age of eight was accepted to the Ballet Academy of the National Opera House in Helsinki, Finland. After graduating from the Academy at the age of 17, she was invited to join the National Ballet of Finland, and toured with the company around the world. Among her numerous honors, Miss Arvola won a Bronze Medal and a diploma for high artistic achievement in Women’s Senior category (professional category) at the prestigious 1972 International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. She has appeared as a guest ballerina with the Finnish National Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Chicago Ballet, Houston Ballet, London’s Royal Ballet Choreographic Group, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre, Ballet International de Ochi of Japan, and with numerous civic Ballet companies throughout the United States and abroad.
Leo Ahonen Class Level
Leo Ahonen was accepted to the Ballet Academy of the National Opera House in Helsinki, Finland at the age of six. He joined the National Ballet of Finland at the age of 14, and at 17 years of age guest performed with the Kirov Ballet in Leningrad and the Bolshoi Ballet in Moscow.
At the age of 25 he was already a recognized teacher in Europe. He received the coveted “Golden Achievement Award for International Pedagogues.” Mr. Ahonen won a Bronze Medal in the Men’s Senior category at the Second International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. He was a principal dancer and the company teacher for the National Ballet of Holland, Royal Winnipeg Ballet and the National Ballet of Finland. With is wife, Soili Arvola, he danced as a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet and was noted by the critics as “The Flying Finn,” “West Coast Nureyev,” “Finntastic Finn.” His dancing career includes over 300 roles, 3000 performances in 34 countries. Ms. Marshall, Ms. Arvola and Mr. Ahonen have had a 25 year personal and professional affiliation.