Riet Velthuisen – Founder/Director

Riet is both the founder and director of the Continental Ballet Company. She is a native of Holland and has danced professionally with several European ballet companies, including the Dutch National Ballet. Riet studied classical ballet in Amsterdam, the Hague and Paris.

After working as ballet mistress in Memphis and Florida, she moved to the Twin Cities with her family. In 1987, she began teaching in Bloomington and in 1988 formed the Continental Ballet Company.

Riet’s primary work is with the Company Dancers conducting all rehearsals and directing all productions. She passes on her European style which is evident in the dancers who have trained with her. On several occasions she has accompanied dancers to Holland to share her European heritage and training with them.

Riet has choreographed numerous ballets for the Company. These include Floret Silva, Proclaimation, Classe de la Danse, Bonae Fortunae, Cinderella, and the Nutcracker. In addition, she has staged/choreographed Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Paquita and Swan Lake.

Riet is also involved in community education by speaking in public schools for Career days, physical fitness seminars and arts education. Her love of classical ballet is evident in all her work; whether she is speaking, teaching or creating choreography.

Jenny Spooner – Assistant Director

Genevieve “Jenny” Spooner is the Assistant Director for Continental Ballet Company.   She works closely with the Director to administer the daily operations of the Company.  Jenny writes and researches grants, seeks out new sponsors and maintains relationships with current sponsors, writes press releases, and was integral in the development of the Bloomington Center for the Arts (completed in 2003) Jenny currently serves as Vice President for the Bloomington Fine Arts Council.  She regularly attends workshops on nonprofit management and grant writing to refine her skills in this area.

Jenny also has a background in dance having studied and performed with the Andahazy Ballet Company where she was in major productions such as Giselle, Les Sylphides, Scheherazade, Los Seises,  and Miraculous Stag.   She also participated in numerous lecture demonstrations and smaller performances.   After completing a pedagogy class taught by Lorand and Anna Andahazy, Jenny joined the teaching staff at Andahazy Ballet Company.    Spooner later taught for Continental Ballet Company until 1999 when she focused her time on administrative duties.