Our Team

Aldo Kattón

Originally from Yucatan, Mexico, Aldo Kattón Santiago Méndez is an award winning artistic director, rehearsal director, ballet teacher, choreographer, and former dancer with extensive professional experience. He has participated in the production of numerous shows with dance companies and schools in the United States, Mexico, and Guatemala. His expertise and skills are not limited to the technical and artistic aspects of dance, but extend to collaboration in logistics, sound, set design, costume design, and marketing aspects of small and large-scale theatrical productions. He is committed to excellence and the development of individual artists and artistic institutions. He has taught all levels in dance education, from absolute beginners to seasoned professionals. Aldo is member of the International Dance Council CID (The United Nations of Dance).

As a choreographer, he has set new works and staged repertoire for companies such as Rochester City Ballet, Syracuse City Ballet, El Paso Ballet Theatre, and San Antonio Dance Company in the United States, Ballet de Jalisco in Mexico, and Compañía Movimiento Estudio in Guatemala.

Aldo Kattón has taught at universities and pre-professional programs internationally, including Syracuse University, Instituto Superior de Artes, University of Guadalajara, Cary Ballet Conservatory, Quenedit Ballet School among many others. He is an actively sought after private coach among preprofessional students and professional performers.

As a dancer, he performed soloist, character, and ensemble roles with companies in Mexico and United States. Aldo Kattón holds two bachelor’s degrees. A BFA in Classical Ballet from Escuela Superior de Música de Monterrey and a BFA in Performing Arts from the University of Guadalajara.

Kattón’s choreography and pedagogical approach promotes diversity, equity, and inclusion as means to preserve the art of classical ballet by allowing it to evolve. Currently Aldo Kattón is a Professor of Dance for Syracuse University in the Department of Drama and is excited to lead artistically the first season of CNY Ballet.

Sherri Campagni

Sherri Campagni began her study in Syracuse, New York at the Center of Ballet and Dance Arts. To further her studies, she spent her summers on scholarship with the Milwaukee Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet and NYSSSA. In 1994 she met artistic Director, Sergio Neglia which led to an international dance partnership lasting 20 years. As a principal dancer with Neglia Ballet Sherri has danced the lead roles in Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, Spartacus, and Giselle. As well as lead roles in contemporary works by Mark Dimond, Heidi Halt and Victor Plotnikov.

Sherri is currently on staff at Tawn Marie’s Dance Center and a frequent guest teacher at Neglia Ballet.

She is excited to be part of CNY Ballet!

Felipe Panamá

Felipe Panamá is an educator, choreographer, performer and visual artist. He teaches Ballet, Jazz, and Contemporary dance techniques at Syracuse University’s Department of Drama as full time faculty and Assistant Program Coordinator for the Musical Theater BFA. Panamá has coached and choreographed award-winning work for students at the YAGP and has taught masterclasses around the US and Mexico. Recent performance credits include “West Side Story” in Teatro Lirico di Cagliari (Italy) as ensemble member and Dance Captain. Choreography credits include “As You Like It” and “Dance Nation” at the Department of Drama at Syracuse University. As a dancer, Panamá has performed in professional ballet companies in Mexico and the US, dancing ensemble and soloist roles for over 10 years. Panamá holds a BFA in Dance from the University of Guadalajara.

Company Teachers:

Aldo Kattón, Sherri Campagni, Felipe Panamá

Rehearsal Director:

Felipe Panamá

Assistant Rehearsal Director:

Sherri Campagni

Company Photographers:

Royce Burgess

Felipe Panamá

Website Design:

Felipe Panamá

Suzanne Evans

Director of Sky Hill Farm Studio. Suzanne grew up in Knoxville, TN, and studied ballet with Joan Kunsch in Oak Ridge, TN. After receiving a Bachelors in Dance from the University of Tennessee, she studied in New York City, primarily at the Alvin Ailey and Martha Graham studios. Subsequently, she danced professionally in regional ballet and contemporary companies, and later was a founding board member and dancer with Neglia Ballet Artists in Buffalo, NY. Currently, she is a ballet instructor in Cazenovia, a freelance dance teacher, and liturgical dancer. Sky Hill Studio’s goal is to bring dance forward by supporting artists in the development of new artistic work, providing a sanctuary space for the creative process, and building bridges between visiting artists and our community. Sky Hill offers free residency and living space for artists. During their residency, artists share their work with the community of New Woodstock and Cazenovia, New York, through a free master class, performance, lecture demonstration or project of their own invention.

Leigh Ann Benz

Leigh Ann owns Oh My Darling in downtown Syracuse.  She previously owned and operated a women’s boutique store, Lee Lee’s Forest, at the South Street Seaport in New York City, which was named the Best Kept Secret in the Financial District by AM New York. Leigh Ann toured with Feld Entertainment “Disney Live! Mickey’s Rockin’ Road Show” for 3 years performing in over 16 countries. She professionally trained in Modern Dance in Chicago at Columbia, Thodos Dance, Deeply Rooted and Visceral. Benz was a company member with Mordine & Co. She has appeared in stage performances in Syracuse, including The Nutcracker and Cinderella as Cinderella’s stepsister. She is excited to see CNYB grow and flourish in this amazing community! 

Robert Jovanovski

Robert currently serves as a key member of an accounting team at Pyramid Management Group, specializing in providing strategic financial guidance to businesses of all sizes. Whether managing budgets, conducting audits, or navigating complex tax regulations, Robert’s expertise ensures financial stability and compliance. Robert earned his undergraduate in accounting from the State University of New York at Oswego where he later went on to earn his MBA with a focus in accounting.

Brett Messenger

Brett is the Executive Director of Gettysburg College’s Majestic Theater. He is a performing arts curator and presenter with over ten years of experience with The Santa Fe Opera, Peak Performances, and Live Arts at the Morris Museum. Brett conceived the contemporary arts series, Live Arts at the Morris Museum to foster artistic creation across multiple genres; the series has presented seven world premieres since its launch in 2019. During the summer of 2020, Brett launched Jazz on the Back Deck and Lot of Strings Music Festival as safe, socially distanced ways to keep audiences and artists connected for live performance. Both of those series continue as mainstays of the organization’s annual programming and have included notable collaborations with Jazz at Lincoln Center, American Symphony Orchestra, Orpheus Chamber Orchestra, as well as many other Grammy-Award winning and nominated artists.

Brett was selected as one of only a dozen early-career dance presenters to participate in the 2019 National Dance Presenters Forum by the New England Foundation for the Arts and Jacobs Pillow and was recently invited to return in 2023. Brett has served on performing arts grant panels with Morris Arts and the Mid Atlantic Arts Foundation.

Gigi Murphy

Gigi is a partner at the law firm of Barnes & Thornburg LLP and CNY Ballet’s President. She is a trial lawyer specializing in patent and other commercial litigation and has successfully represented leading U.S. companies in high stakes jury trials and injunctive proceedings. Gigi was recognized on the 2021-2024 The Best Lawyers in America lists for Commercial Litigation and Intellectual Property Litigation, and on the 2019 and 2020 Delaware Super Lawyers Rising Stars lists for Intellectual Property and Civil Litigation.

Gigi does extensive pro bono work representing clients in prisoner rights and family court proceedings. She is a former diplomat in the U.S. Foreign Service, former international business consultant, and former classical ballet dancer who trained in Tampa, Florida with Haydée Gutiérrez, at the San Francisco Ballet School with Richard Cammack, at the former School of the Pennsylvania Ballet with Lupe Serrano, as well as in Tampa and New York with Royes Fernandez, Barbara Fallis, Richard Thomas, David Howard, and Melissa Hayden. She also owned and directed her own ballet studio for many years. Gigi won the Barnes & Thornburg Joseph Maley Pro Bono Award in 2018, Penn Law’s Distinguished Pro Bono Service Award, and a U.S. Foreign Service Meritorious Honor Award, for her management of the Refugee Office at the American Consulate General in Hong Kong during a time of crisis.

Ralph Solis

Born and raised in Brooklyn, NY, Ralph Solis was accepted to, and attended the leading school in commercial arts education, the High School of Art and Design in Manhattan, NY. There, he developed his artistic abilities in sketching, sculpting, fine art, photography, and graphic design. Solis was a competitive, sponsored Skateboarder for 13 years. Solis then moved to Syracuse, NY in 2018 to pursue a career in law enforcement with the Syracuse Police Department. Solis has completed certifications in leadership, communication, and conflict resolution tactics and skills, since joining the SPD. Since calling Syracuse home, Solis has taken on a passion and love for the city and has high hopes for what a quality arts scene can do to improve our city for all who reside in it.

Liz Cundiff

Company Manager Liz Cundiff has an extensive background in office administration. With a proven track record of optimizing operations and navigating complex business landscapes, she brings a wealth of expertise to CNYB. Liz’s dynamic career is complemented by a life of frequent travel and volunteering, seamlessly balancing her career ambitions with her love for new destinations and commitment to family life.