Christina Bernal

Associate Director

Christina Bernal began her dance training at San Francisco Ballet School. At the age of 14 1/2 she was invited by Artistic Director Lew Christenesn to join the San Francisco Ballet.

In 1973, following her marriage to San Francisco Principal dancer Lawrence Matthews, Christina and her husband went on to join Pennsylvania Ballet before making the move to New York City. Her 30 year career included dancing with Stars of American Ballet, and at the request of Lincoln Kirsten and George Balanchine, she joined Garden State Ballet, where she later became Associate Director.

Christina guested throughout the United States with both with her husband, a member of New York City Ballet for 22 years, and Paul Mejia, a former leading dancer with New York City Ballet and husband of Suzanne Farrel. She also guested with the Royal Ballet, where she was coached in the classic ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and Giselle.

In 1982, she began her teaching career. While teaching, she developed an association with Dr. William Hamilton, orthopedic surgeon for New York City Ballet and Marika Molnar, founder of Westside Dance Physical Therapy in New York. This affiliation led her to found Injury Recuperation for Dancers, which evolved into 'The Bernal Method'. Susan Jaffe, Ballerina at American Ballet Theatre, contacted Ms Bernal after she was told she needed knee surgery. This began a wonderful mentoring relationship of many years and led to Ms Bernal joining the staff of American Ballet Theatre, where she taught the professionals for seven years. Ms Jaffe never had knee surgery and danced without injury until her retirement in 2002.

Christina has given 'The Bernal Method Intensive' throughout Europe, Scandanavia, Japan, Memphis, New York City and California. She has just completed another Intensive at Los Gatos Ballet, where she has been asked to share her Method, knowledge and love of dance with the Intermediate and Advanced students. Ms Bernal commented that, "This is another wonderful opportunity to further develop the Bernal Method, not just with accomplished professionals, but with those young dancers whose dreams have yet to be fulfilled."