About Dark Ballet

Conceived in the South of England in 2013 and based near Albany, New York, Dark Ballet crafts story-driven performances that explore the raw emotions of the human experience—the dance of life and death. Collaboration is central to our work: by weaving together ballet, modern dance, aerial arts, martial arts, and more, we create immersive narratives that captivate audiences worldwide.

At the core of Dark Ballet are Jeff Moore and Crystal Moore, the creative visionaries behind every piece of music and production choice. Read on for an overview of their professional backgrounds, collaborative experiences, and the passion that drives Dark Ballet to push artistic boundaries.

Collaborative Artistic Work

• Ian Losz (Producer/Engineer): Teamed up on The Ian Losz Project, blending expertise for a polished EP.
• George Krakat Live at the Cohoes Music Hall (Producer/Engineer): Demonstrated Jeff’s sound engineering and production skills on this live album.
• Ear to the Sky (Producer & Artist): Created a compilation album with three international artists, showcasing Jeff’s global appeal.
• Cohoes Songwriters (Producer & Instructor): Mentored aspiring songwriters, building a creative community.
• Forever Young Singers (Co-director & Producer): Led a group of 15 older adults in over a dozen contemporary rock performances across the Capital District over a two year period in collaboration with Colonie Senior Services and funded by Highmark.
• Queen of the Night and Spirits of Solstice (Interdisciplinary Projects): Worked with Skidmore College to combine ballet, visual arts, and heavy metal music composed by Jeff and choreographed by Jason Ohlberg, MFA.

Individual Compositions

• Master of XIS: A unique blend of music and visual arts, resonating internationally.
• Queen of the Night and Spirits of Solstice: Integrated ballet, visual arts, and heavy metal music in standout productions in which storytelling was central.
• Rima’s Quest: An ongoing ballet and visual arts project promising a grand-scale innovative production.
• The Weight of Unfortunate Circumstance, The Flyer, and Jingle Bunny Jane: In-progress works pushing interdisciplinary boundaries.

Guitar Expertise

Studied under Thaddeus Hogarth, Mike Campese, Joe Stump, Shaun Michaud, Joe Musella, Rick Peckham, and Tom Hess, each contributing to Jeff’s mastery of technique, performance, and music business.

Songwriting Mastery

Guided by Neil Diercks (Manager of A&R, Warner/Chappell Music in Nashville) and Jimmy Kachulis (Professor, Berklee College of Music), honing his craft in creating compelling, impactful songs.

Vocal Excellence

• Mentored by Adriana Balic, Robert Lunte, Anna-Maria Hefele, Lydia Harrell, Sarah Kervin, and Wolfgang Saus.
• Creator of the Peak Music Method for Vocal Instruction.
• Co-author of Your Singing Questions Answered: A Handbook for Beginning Singers (published 2024).

Piano Proficiency

Studied under Marjorie Bosguiter, further broadening his musicianship.

Educational Background

• University at Albany: BA, Phi Beta Kappa
• Regis University: MA
• Berklee College of Music: Guitar Mastery Certificate; Vocal Styles Certificate

Collaborative Works

• Ian Losz (Bassist): Worked with Jeff Moore and Ian Losz on The Ian Losz Project, composing and recording creative bass lines.
• Cohoes Songwriters (Co-instructor & Director): Mentored aspiring songwriters, partnering with local government and schools in Cohoes, NY.
• Forever Young Singers (Co-director & Marketing Manager): Developed and led a 15-member senior group performing contemporary rock, in partnership with Colonie Senior Services (funded by Highmark).
• Queen of the Night and Spirits of Solstice: Served as bassist, collaborating with Jeff Moore and Skidmore College’s Dance Department.
• Gloria (Bassist): Invited to join the duo Gloria, playing original compositions for public showcases.

Individual Compositions

• Pile Driver: A southern rock tribute to the resilience of hard-working women.
• Firestorm: A hard rock/blues piece in progress, examining coping strategies that can be more damaging than adversity itself.

Guitar Expertise

Studied with Jeff Moore (Peak Music Studios), Tom Hess (Tom Hess Music Corporation), Lori Friday (Super 400 and Troy Music Academy), and Dave Clark (Berklee College of Music), forming a strong foundation in technique and music theory for guitar and bass.

Vocal Excellence

• Developed under Jeff Moore’s Peak Music Method for vocal instruction.
• Co-author of Your Singing Questions Answered: A Handbook for Beginning Singers (published 2024).

Educational Background

• California State University, Bakersfield: BA (Summa Cum Laude); MA
• University at Albany, State University of New York: MSW; PhD
• Berklee College of Music: Professional Certificate in Bass Studies