PHYLLIS PAPPA
Artistic Director

In 1967 American Ballet Theatre invited Miss Papa to join the company. She toured extensively throughout the United States. As a member of American Ballet Theatre she was given special permission to appear with Harkness Ballet as a guest artist at the White House for President Johnson during an Official Dinner, dancing a ballet choreographed especially for her by Donald Saddler. 1n addition to corps work in Ballet Theatre Miss Papa was given the opportunity of doing solo roles in "Pillar of Fire", "Giselle", "Coppelia", "Billy the Kid" and others. Besides dancing for the President of the United States and the Shah of Iran, Phyllis has done many Royal Command Performances in Europe. One of her favorite fans was the late King Frederick IX of Denmark. In 1970 Miss Papa was invited to audition for the Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen, Denmark and was the first American ever accepted into the company. She was also the only foreigner ever to be offered a life long contract. Two months after joining the company Miss Papa was chosen to dance the lead role in Flemming Flindt's new ballet "Triumph of Death", based on the Eugene Ionesco play, for Danish television. It was entered into the Italian Film Festival in 1971 and was sold to Eurovision and later premiered on the stage. She received rave reviews for her work in this ballet. Miss Papa toured Europe with the Royal Danish Ballet dancing solo and principal parts in "La Sylphide", Etudes", "Pas de Quatre", "The Lady and the Fool", "Triumph of Death", etc. After her work in Europe Miss Papa continued her career in this country by becoming principal ballerina with Stars of the American Ballet in New York City. Later she became the Artistic Director of this company, while continuing to dance as a principal and serving as Ballet Mistress as well. While touring with Stars Phyllis taught Master classes in every major city. Miss Papa is listed in Marquis' "Who's Who of American Women", "Who's Who of the World ", "The Social Directory ", and the "National Biographic Society".

The New Jersey State Council on the Arts has awarded her two fellowship grants for choreography. The first award was for her ballet "Concerto Vivaldi", the second she received in 1982 for her work, "Clear water". These ballets are among a number of the twenty-five works she has choreographed that appear in the in the repertoires of the Atlantic Contemporary Ballet theatre. Miss Papa has been a member of the faculty of Dancers' School in New York City which is supported by Joanne Woodward.

When Miss Papa came to Atlantic City in 1980, her intention was to begin and firmly establish a professional ballet company in an area of New Jersey where there had never been a company of this caliber. Happily, this has been accomplished. Miss Papa has been justly acclaimed as "One of the finest dancers and teachers on the American Scene today".