About OurFaculty
About OurFaculty
Richard Patten
Mr. Patten was born in Fayetteville, NC. He started his dance training at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill where he received his B.A. in Communication Studies. At Chapel Hill, Mr. Patten did many musicals with the UNC Pauper Players and he danced with the modern dance troupe, ModernExtension. This is where he met Marian Turner, teacher and director. She had a huge impact on him by encouraging him to pursue a dance career in New York City.
Mr. Patten auditioned for the Juilliard School and was accepted in 1994. Mr. Patten attended Juilliard from 1994-97 and studied under the direction of Mr. Benjamin Harkarvy, artistic director. He began his choreographic endeavors at Juilliard as well as being chosen to choreograph in the Choreo/Comp Concert at Alice Tully Hall in his junior year. While at Juilliard, Mr. Patten furthered his dance training by attending the American Dance Festival, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, and Cleveland Ballet as a scholarship student over the summer.
After Juilliard, Mr. Patten was cast in the 1st National Broadway Tour of “The King and I”. He left the tour to pursue a career in concert dance. He apprenticed with the Bill T. Jones Dance Company for 1 year, and he also worked with choreographer/teacher, Kevin Wynn in the Kevin Wynn Collection. Mr. Patten also performed with the New York City Opera in Lincoln Center doing 3 operas with the company. Mr. Patten then joined Terry Creach in his modern dance company, Creach Company. He was able to learn the art of contact improvisation with Mr. Creach and taught at residencies in Mexico City and across the United States.
Mr. Patten was performing in the Broadway Bares/ Equity Fights AIDS production when he auditioned for French pop singer, Mylene Farmer. He was hired to be one of her dancers in her concert in Europe and he toured with Mylene in Europe making television appearances on Hit Machine and the NRJ Awards Show in Cannes, France.
Upon returning to the United States, Mr. Patten began to get involved in the commercial side of dance. He danced on Saturday Night Live, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, and did a national commercial for Herbal Essence Shampoo. He then ventured back to Europe on Celebrity Cruise Line as a dancer in their show choreographed by Broadway choreographer, Wayne Cilento.
Mr. Patten came back to NC to visit his sister and began teaching at West Johnston High School. He taught at West for 11 years and built his dance department from the ground up. He became Head of the Fine Arts Department and Coach of the West Johnston Dance Team. Mr. Patten led his team to a 2-time National Championship at Dance Machine Dance Competition. His dance team has received the highest recognition at Edge Dance Camp as well as dance competitions throughout NC receiving Diamond Awards. Mr. Patten also had the pleasure of directing and choreographing the musicals at WJHS. WJHS won “Best Musical” at the Triangle Rising Star Awards for “The Wizard of Oz” and “Most Outstanding Choreography” for “Guys and Dolls”.
Mr. Patten is excited to be teaching at Durham School of the Arts. He has led the DSA Dance Department to a 3-time State Championship at the NCASA Dance Festival. His company has received top honors in lyrical/contemporary , hip hop, jazz, dance team and student choreography. He believes that dance as an art form can instill positive qualities in children. He strives for the best from his students and maintains a high standard of excellence. He currently teaches DSA Company, Ensemble, Fundamentals, and middle school.
Erin Kalfas
Erin Wright Kalfas started dancing when she was two and a half years old. Her sister was taking a dance class and started crying because she didn’t want to dance and well, Ms Kalfas popped out her pacifier and said “Leave her alone momma I do it.” This started her lifelong passion for dance. Erin danced at Nina’s School of Dance for 14 years and was a company member for 7 of those years. During these years she got the opportunity to take master classes with Jose Meier, Gus Giordano, and Nan Giordano. She also was a dancer in the Miss NC pageant in 1996. Ms. Kalfas graduated from East Carolina University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance Performance. Dance Performance majors are chosen by faculty and must undergo an annual faculty jury to stay in the program. She studied under Tommi Overcash Galaska, Joseph Carow, Patti Weeks, as well as other dance instructors. She was cast in Senior Choreography pieces all four years, and was chosen to perform in Dance Theatre in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. She also attended ACDFA and performed in pieces that were chosen as well in 2002. Her Senior Choreography piece was chosen to be adjudicated at ACDFA in 2002.
Ms Kalfas also attended Jazz Dance World Congress in the summer of 2002, where she performed “Creatures” choreographed by Tommi Galaska. She attended The Gus Giordano intensive, under the instruction of Nan Giordano and several of Giordano’s company members. At ECU, she had opportunities to take class from Mia Micheals, Eddie Campo, and Mark Dendy. In the summer of 2003 she attended Pure Movement workshop in Philadelphia with Rennie Harris.
Ms Kalfas is currently teaching at Nina’s School of Dance and has been for 19 years, and now at Durham School of the Arts. She also choreographs routines for dance competitions, gymnast floor routines, and performances. She also volunteers many hours to a jazz show benefit for Duke Children’s Hospital called Multiple Choices, where she helps choreograph. She delivered twins just before Nina’s big recital and came back two weeks after birth to finish out the younger recital. She is very dedicated and passionate about her work and career.