Instructor Bio
Benjamin Westafer
Frankie Levy, Executive Director of the Georgia Dance Theatre, introduced Benjamin Westafer to ballet when he was three years old. At nine he began training with the Augusta Ballet under the direction of Ron Colton. He continued training with the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, School of American Ballet, Joffrey School, and graduated from the North Carolina School of the Arts. Benjamin has danced as a soloist with International Ballet Rotaru, Sacramento Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Chautauqua Ballet Company, and North Carolina Dance Theatre. He has had the honor of dancing soloist roles in works by George Balanchine, Paul Taylor, David Parsons, Nacho Duarto, and Sal Aiello. Choreographers Alonzo King, Peter Pucci, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Mark Diamond, Graham Lustig, José Mateo, Heather Maloy, and Tom Pazik have featured him in world premiers.
Benjamin appears as a principal and soloist around the Southeast with companies including The Moving Poets Theatre of Dance, Georgia Dance Conservatory, Southern Ballet Theatre, and The Augusta Ballet. He is married to former Augusta Ballet dancer Tammy Westafer and is the proud father of Tess Elizabeth Westafer, born 11/24/04. Benjamin serves as webmaster for Susan Martin, Inc. maker of ScubaDoRags™. Coffee Shop of Horrors as well as producing audio, video, print, and web media for the Augusta Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theatre, and Charlotte City Ballet. For three summers, Benjamin served as the Department Chair of Dance for Georgia’s Governor’s Honors Program in Valdosta, GA.