Marika holds a graduate certificate in physical therapy from Columbia University, a master’s degree in dance education from New York University, a nutrition certificate from the Institute for Integrative Nutrition, and a master’s in acupuncture from Tri-State College of Acupuncture.

In 1980, she became the first physical therapist hired on-site at a professional ballet company, serving the dancers of the New York City Ballet. Currently, she is the director of physical therapy services for both the New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet.

Ms. Molnar is actively involved in various professional endeavors, including serving as a clinical advisor to the PhysicalMind Institute, rehabilitation editor of the Journal of Dance Medicine and Science, and a member of the Development Committee of the International Association of Dance Medicine and Science (IADMS). She has also been a board member, president, and chair of the Education Committee for IADMS. With 28 years of lecturing experience, she has published extensively in peer-reviewed journals and books on dance injury rehabilitation.

Prof. Karin Steere specializes in human neurophysiology and systemic disease. She teaches courses in cardiopulmonary PT, pharmacology, systemic pathology, and applied neuroscience. Prior to graduating from Puget Sound’s DPT program, she performed professionally in a variety of genres, including ballet, contemporary, Broadway, and circus arts. In addition to teaching full time, she continues to maintain a clinical practice where she treats predominantly performing artists. She is an Advisor and the Lead Research Scientist for Orza Brand, a dancewear and ballet shoe company. As a researcher for the Workwell Foundation, a branch of the NIH-funded Cornell Center of Enervating Neuroimmune Disease, she is currently investigating autonomic, endocrine, and neuroimmune changes in chronic immune conditions. Her research interests include the neuroscience of pain, human neuroimmunology, autonomic nervous system dysregulation, and injury prevention of professional and amateur performing artists.

Jonathan Stafford is the Artistic Director of New York City Ballet and the School of American Ballet. A former NYCB Principal Dancer, he retired from performing in May 2014 and was named one of NYCB’s Ballet Masters. In December 2017, he was appointed to lead NYCB’s interim artistic team and in February 2019, he was named Artistic Director of NYCB and SAB.

Born in Maywood, Illinois, Craig Hall began his dance training at the age of four at Stairway of the Stars with Lois Baumann. At age 14, he began studying with Anna Paskevska at the Chicago Academy of the Arts and also studied at the Ruth Page Dance Foundation with Larry Long. He attended SAB’s 1996 and 1997 Summer Courses before enrolling as a full-time student in the fall of 1997. He was named a recipient of SAB’s Rudolf Nureyev Scholarship for the duration of his training at the School, and in 1999 he was awarded SAB’s Mae L. Wien Award for Outstanding Promise.

During his final year at SAB, Mr. Hall originated the principal male role in Christopher Wheeldon’s Scènes de Ballet, which premiered during NYCB’s 1999 spring season and was performed at that year’s SAB Workshop Performances. In October 1999, Mr. Hall became an apprentice with NYCB, and he joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in February 2000. Mr. Hall was promoted to soloist in May 2007.

During his career with NYCB, Mr. Hall danced featured roles in numerous ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins, and has also originated roles in works by Justin Peck, Christopher Wheeldon, Alexei Ratmansky, Benjamin Millepied, Jorma Elo, and Lynne Taylor-Corbett, among others.