Cyndie Bellen-Berthézène’s diverse artistic gifts and academic accomplishments – in modern dance, opera, languages, painting and, most recently, as a published children’s book author and illustrator – support and energize the innovative arts-based pedagogy of Hi Art!’s curriculum. Cyndie was appointed director of Windham College’s dance department when she was 18. After dancing professionally in New York and Paris, she went on to combine musical studies with doctoral studies in Slavics at the University of Pennsylvania and at Columbia University. During the course of her studies, she received numerous awards and fellowships in Slavics, while also teaching Russian language and literature, and she was the recipient of several research grants in the former Soviet Union. Cyndie also holds a Diplôme de langue from the Alliance française-Paris, and her series of children’s books on making art for Scholastic was published in 2005-2006.

Critics have been unreserved in their praise of her singing. "The voice has a mercurial quality that fascinates," wrote the Star-Ledger of her debut as Mimi. "Commanding," exclaimed the Denver Post and The New York Times singled her out as an "affecting" and "effective" recitalist. Cyndie has been praised by reviewers here and in Europe for her lyrical approach to contemporary music, and she has created the leading roles in numerous operas including Queen Alcyone in Greenbaum's Ovidiana, and the Laputan Princess in his A Floating Island (recording available on the Centaur label, 2006); Hera in Wright's Trojan Conflict, Guinevere in Williams' Guinevere and Violet in Opera Nova’s production of Scarlatti’s Eraclea: VGW. Her credits encompass an array of Mozart heroines and such roles as Violetta, Liu, Micaela, Cendrillon, Donna Elvira, Fiordiligi and Tatjana. Cyndie has concertized extensively both at home and abroad, specializing in twentieth-century song.

Kidsketch Book Club

Check out Cyndie’s 4 fabulous new books for Scholastic’s Kidsketch Book Club.  The series begins this October with Cartoon How-To – an incredibly lively, technique packed (and intelligent) guide to cartooning.  In November you’ll receive HiArt!’s Manga and Comics book — illustrated by the amazingly talented Hyeondo Park, who will be teaching at HiArt! beginning with a manga workshop this winter break!  Cyndie also wrote book 4 — Flip Animation  - and Book 5 on realistic drawing. The books, although written for second and third graders — are fun to read and, like all HiArt! Programs, will grow with your kids, whether they’re just seven or going on 15.

Live, learn and enjoy!

Cyndie's Works

"The Orange Princesses -- Love for Three Oranges"

"The Cook -- Love for Three Oranges"


"Goldy Meets the Vixen "