Lisa Sheppard Robson
Artistic Director
Ms. Robson began her training at UAB Ballet in Birmingham, Alabama. She attended the Alabama School of Fine Arts under the direction of Thor Sutowski and Dame Sonia Arova.
She danced soloist roles in the affiliate professional company of the State of Alabama Ballet. Ms. Robson received the distinguished Woodward Duane Dishon Memorial Dance Award upon graduation.
She attended Pennsylvania Ballet School and Pacific Northwest Ballet on full scholarship. She danced professionally with Ballet Mississippi in Jackson.
Ms. Robson then joined International Ballet Rotaru in its founding season under the direction of Pavel Rotaru, and performed soloist and principal roles through six seasons. She toured Romania with Romeo and Juliet, Carmen, and The Four Seasons, and performed Rotaru’s acclaimed City Beat in a collaborative performance with Stars of the Bolshoi at the Fox Theatre.
Ms. Robson joined Gwinnett Ballet Theatre in 1996 as guest artist and faculty member, and became Artistic Director in 1997. Ms. Robson accompanied GBT dancer Alessandra "Alex" Ball to the 2001 Premio Roma International Ballet Competition in Rome, Italy. Alex was awarded the Bronze Medal and the Grishko Award, and now dances professionally with North Carolina Ballet Theatre.
Susan DeParle
School Director
Susan began her ballet, tap, and jazz training in Miami at the Jill Mallory Studio of Dance under the direction of Jill Mallory and Donna Hall. Also in Miami she took master classes with June Taylor of the June Taylor Dancers, and trained as a competitive gymnast with Ray Octaviano.
In Fort Lauderdale she attended the Atlantic Foundation For the Performing arts and was a member of the1981-1982 touring company "One For the Road".
From 1983 to 1986 Susan lived in New York City and continued her training in musical theater and dance.
Susan relocated to Atlanta and was on the staff at Atlanta Dance Works from 1991 to 2006. She taught ballet, jazz, acrobatics, stretch, and conditioning. She was also a director and choreographer for their competitive dance company. In 1997 she toured as guest artist with Atlanta Dance Works in Italy. Susan has performed in the Atlanta area for corporate and private events such as NACE and ISES productions, Volkswagen’s foreign press event, and Remax corporate events.
In 2000 Susan joined the staff at Gwinnett Ballet Theatre as jazz instructor for the school and company. In 2006 she took the position of school director in addition to teaching.
Holley Calmes
Marketing Director
Ms. Calmes has been involved in the arts in the Atlanta area for over thirty years. Her career has included positions with The Atlanta Symphony Orchestra, the Woodruff Arts Center, the Academy Theatre, International Ballet Rotaru, the Gwinnett Philharmonic, and the Hudgens Center for the Arts among others.
Ms. Calmes has also maintained a presence on Gwinnett’s art scene by writing her weekly column for the Gwinnett Daily Post, "Art Beat," for four and a half years. She has contributed volunteer work to the Georgia Council for the Arts and been the Chairman of Performing Arts and Volunteers for the annual "Barefoot in the Park Arts Festival" since its beginning in 2003.
She is also on the Board of the acclaimed Atlanta arts presenter "New Trinity Baroque." She is married to the well known dance photographer Richard Calmes, and together they contribute to the support and elevation of dance by contributing time and work for dancers across the country.
Predrag Gosta
Music Director & Conductor
The founding Music Director and Conductor of the Gwinnett Ballet Theatre Orchestra, Predrag Gosta is steadily building a reputation as one of the most exciting conductors in the Southeast. He is the founder and Artistic Director of Atlanta's acclaimed period instrument ensemble, New Trinity Baroque, as well as the Assistant Conductor of the National Philharmonic in Washington D.C. Born in Belgrade, Serbia, Gosta started playing violin at the age of six, and later continued his studies in voice, harpsichord and conducting. Educated at leading music conservatories in Europe, he is the recipient of both academic and performance scholarships from Trinity College of Music in London, Belgrade Music Academy, and Georgia State University in Atlanta. He received an undergraduate degree and Postgraduate Certificate from Trinity, three Master of Music degrees from GSU, and had attended masterclasses and summer schools in England, Germany, Russia and the United States. Gosta performed throughout the U.S. and Europe, including Boston, New York, London, and Belgrade. Most recently, he toured England, Finland, Sweden and Serbia, and guest conducted orchestras in Russia, in St. Petersburg and Moscow. He has over a dozen CD recordings to his credit and has published articles in leading music journals. He is the Artist in Residence and former Adjunct Professor at Oxford College of Emory University, and a member of Phi Beta Delta Honor Society for International Scholars and Mu Phi Epsilon International Music Fraternity.
Kelly Sipsy
Administrative Assistant
Mrs. Sipsy is better known to GBT students as “Miss Kelly,” and she has been a constant, diligent presence in the GBT offices for the past four years. Her administrative expertise has helped continue the every day life of GBT running smoothly.