Karel Shook (1920 – 1985) is recognized internationally as one of the most influential and productive ballet teachers of our time. He danced for several seasons with Ballet Russe de Monte Carlo and for one year with New York City Ballet. After teaching for several years at the Katherine Dunham School, where he met Arthur Mitchell, he started his own school, the Studio of Dance Arts, where he taught many of the leading multi-cultural dancers and choreographers of today. He was also on the faculty of the June Taylor School and in 1959 became first teacher and ballet master of the Dutch National Ballet, a post he held for nine years.