Faculty members are experienced professionals, carefully selected for their expertise in the dance and education fields as well as for their ability to motivate and nurture students. The collective wisdom and experience of the entire staff encourages the exploration of innovative and effective teaching methods that help students learn in a professionally nurturing environment.

Ballet West Academy Leadership

Adam Sklute


  • ARTISTIC DIRECTOR, BALLET WEST

    Since 2007, Adam Sklute has expanded Ballet West’s outlook, repertoire, and visibility with exciting company premieres, increased touring, heightened public exposure, and a greater focus on the Ballet West Academy. Mr. Sklute began his training in Oakland, California and was with The Joffrey Ballet for twenty-three years, starting in New York as a dancer where he was one of the last two artists personally chosen by Robert Joffrey for his company. He became Ballet Master in 1995 and was part of the team that moved the company from NY to Chicago. In 2004 he became the Associate Director of the Joffrey Ballet. Mr. Sklute has extensive television and film credits and is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Utah as well as a teacher, lecturer, coach, and judge for ballet schools, competitions, and companies worldwide. Mr. Sklute was listed as one of the 25 Movers and Shakers of the Utah Arts Scene in 2007. In 2014, he was named one of Utah’s Enlightened 50, and he received the Utah National Guard’s Bronze Minuteman Award for outstanding service to Utah and the nation. Mr. Sklute was awarded the Utah Diversity Connection’s Business Award for “Outstanding Commitment to Diversity Initiatives,” and Westminster College’s MLK Unsung Hero Award for his ongoing work to promote inclusivity and diversity in ballet and in our community. Most recently, Mr. Sklute was included in Deseret Magazine’s 25 Changemakers of the West for his efforts to build greater equity and inclusion in classical ballet. In 2016, Mr.Sklute took on the dual positions of CEO and Artistic Director of Ballet West for the year.

Evelyn Cisneros-Legate

  • DIRECTOR, BALLET WEST ACADEMY

    Evelyn Cisneros-Legate was Prima-Ballerina of The San Francisco Ballet for many years beginning under Lew Christensen (brother of Ballet West founder Willam Christensen) and continuing under its current Artistic Director Helgi Tomasson. Ms. Cisneros-Legate holds an honorary doctorate from both Mills College and the University of California at Monterey Bay. Considered one of America's leading ballerinas and the first Mexican-American principal ballerina, Ms. Cisneros-Legate is a renowned dance educator who has taught at some of the most prestigious dance schools in the world, a former Principal at The Boston Ballet School, she is a sought-after adjudicator and speaker. 

Sarah Taylor


  • DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS, BALLET WEST ACADEMY

    Sarah Taylor began her role at the Ballet West Academy in 2021 after previously serving as the Director of Company Management. In that role, Ms. Taylor coordinated tours, and managed wellness programs, budgets, contracts and licensing for the Artistic department. She worked closely across departments and was the primary contact for the Ballet West company dancers, beginning with the organization in 2014. She received a Master’s Degree in Art History from the University of Oregon in 2012 after receiving a Bachelor of Arts from Utah State University where she studied Art History, Music, and Philosophy. Ms. Taylor has taught introductory Art Appreciation courses at Utah State University since 2012. Education is the tradition in her family, with the legacy of both of her parents and several grandparents teaching everything from Piano, to Health, to AP Calculus. She is delighted to support the artists and educators that make up the Ballet West Academy. Ms. Taylor lives with her husband and two boys, the oldest of whom is a Beginning Ballet West Academy student.

Campus Principals

Katherine Lawrence


  • PRINCIPAL, JESSIE ECCLES QUINNEY BALLET CENTRE AND TROLLEY CORNERS CAMPUSES

    Katherine Lawrence was named Principal of the Jessie Eccles Quinney Ballet Centre and Trolley Corners Campuses in June 2021 upon her retirement from a thrilling 23-year performing career.  A native of Fairfield, Connecticut, Ms. Lawrence trained at Connecticut Dance School and The Harid Conservatory, where she graduated as Valedictorian in 1998.  She performed with The Hartford Ballet for a year before joining Ballet Internationale, Indianapolis in 1999.  There she quickly rose to the rank of Soloist.  In 2004, Ms. Lawrence joined Ballet West, retiring as a Principal Artist in May 2021.  She has also performed with The Universal Ballet of Korea, as a guest with numerous regional companies and schools, and is a founding member of contemporary dance companies NOW-ID, RUUDANCES, and Dance Grand Moultrie.  Ms. Lawrence holds a Bachelor’s of Fine Arts in Ballet with a Teaching Emphasis from the University of Utah and has been a sought-out guest teacher throughout the course of her performing career.  She is married to former Ballet West dancer Aaron Orlowski. Together they are the proud parents of two boys. 

Allison Debona


  • PRINCIPAL, PEGGY BERGMANN PARK CITY CAMPUS

    Allison DeBona is an artistic leader, educator, choreographer, and cultural strategist recognized for her contributions to ballet performance, arts education, institutional leadership, and interdisciplinary programming. A former First Soloist with Ballet West, she performed with the company from 2007–2022 in an expansive repertoire spanning classical masterworks and contemporary creations by internationally acclaimed choreographers including George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, William Forsythe, Jerome Robbins, Twyla Tharp, Mark Morris, Stanton Welch, John Cranko, and Sir Frederick Ashton.

    DeBona gained national recognition as a featured cast member on Seasons 1 and 2 of the CW docu-series Breaking Pointe, which followed the artists of Ballet West and introduced ballet to broader mainstream audiences. (IMDb)

    Following her performing career, DeBona expanded her leadership focus into arts administration, academy direction, community engagement, donor relations, and institutional programming. She currently serves as Principal of the Frederick Quinney Lawson Ballet West Academy Peggy Bergmann Park City Campus and acts as Ballet West's Park City Donor and Community Liaison, where she has led significant enrollment growth, developed institutionally adopted wellness and educational initiatives, and expanded interdisciplinary training opportunities for students and families.

    She is also the Founder and Artistic Director of artÉmotion, an organization recognized internationally for innovative adult ballet education, choreographic workshops, and artistic development programming. Through artÉmotion, she has directed and produced more than twenty productions while building collaborative partnerships with major arts and educational institutions.

    An advocate for dancer wellness and equity within the performing arts, DeBona co-founded Dancers and Motherhood, an initiative dedicated to supporting professional dancers navigating parenthood and career sustainability. Her leadership work has emphasized mentorship, wellness, accessibility, and the continued evolution of ballet culture.

    In addition to her work in dance, DeBona has contributed to interdisciplinary performance development and elite athletic training, including work with the U.S. Ski & Snowboard team as a movement consultant integrating ballet methodology into high-performance athletics.

    Her artistic and leadership work has been featured in Vogue Italia, The New York Times, Dance Magazine, Pointe Magazine, Dance Teacher Magazine, and Dance Spirit Magazine

Heather Thackeray


  • PRINCIPAL, UTAH COUNTY CAMPUS

    Heather Thackeray was named Campus Principal in July 2020; prior Ms. Thackeray served as the Student Ballet Master and Academy Artistic Liaison.  Ms. Thackeray has enjoyed over three decades of association with Ballet West.  Her first experience with the company was as a child performer in The Nutcracker.  She became a student in the Ballet West Academy, and then accepted a contract to join the company in 1991. Toward the end of her performing career, Ms. Thackeray transitioned to the artistic staff as the assistant to the artistic director.  She is a well-respected master teacher and holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree from the University of Utah.

Principal & Full-Time Faculty

Catherine Batcheller


  • PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND ARTISTIC ENGAGEMENT COORDINATOR

    Catherine Batcheller’s international career as a principal dancer spanned the San Francisco Ballet, the Stuttgart Ballet and the Birmingham Royal Ballet where she worked with some of the 20th century’s most significant choreographers of our time such as Jiri Kylian, William Forsythe, Maurice Bejart, Sir Peter Wright, Hans Van Manen, David Bintely, Stanton Welch, James Kudelka and Wayne McGregor as well as dancing principal roles in works by John Cranko, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Sir Frederick Ashton.

    Ms. Batcheller has worked as a guest teacher and choreographer, working with such schools and companies as Alberta Ballet School, Atlanta Ballet, Belhaven University, Birmingham Royal Ballet, Boston Ballet, Portland Ballet, San Fransisco Ballet, Indiana University, Texas Christian University, University of North Carolina School of the Arts, Walnut School for the Arts and SLK Ballet.

    From 2010-2016, she served as Dean of the Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy for six years where she directed both the year round program and their international Summer Intensive and also taught as adjunct faculty at Cincinnati College of Music. Prior to her work with Cincinnati Ballet, she was the Artistic Director at Ballet Conservatory of South Texas which included both a student company and academy.

    In 2001, Ms. Batcheller co-founded and co-directed Configuration Dance, a project based company that showcased contemporary and classical ballets as well as commissioned works from established and emerging choreographers. It celebrated the diversity in dance by bringing different artists from different backgrounds together to dance in a variety of styles of work. In 2004, she founded and directed the school for Configuration Dance.

    Ms. Batcheller holds a M.A. in Dance in Education and the Community from Birmingham University, England. For more information visit catherinebatcheller.com

Courtney Hellebuyck


  • PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND STUDENT REHEARSAL DIRECTOR

    Courtney Hellebuyck began her professional ballet training at The San Francisco Ballet School. She progressed through all of the levels and was then invited to be a part of the inaugural year of the San Francisco Ballet Trainee Program. She then went on to dance professionally with Pennsylvania Ballet, and toured to Edinburgh, Scotland in Christopher Wheeldon’s “Swan Lake”. From there, Ms. Hellebuyck joined Smuin Ballet, under the Direction of Michael Smuin, where she danced in several World Premiere's created on her by Michael.  Ms. Hellebuyck then went on to join Cincinnati Ballet, and danced many leading roles including "Bomb Squad Girl" in Twyla Tharp's "Upper Room", "Marie" in Val Caniparoli's "Nutcracker", & "Demi-Soloist" in Balanchine's "Theme and Variations". After retiring from the stage, Ms. Hellebuyck became Full-Time Academy Faculty + Adult Programming at the Otto M. Budig Academy at Cincinnati Ballet. She has been certified to teach in Group Fitness from A.F.A.A. partnered through N.A.S.M. and has been certified in Barre Fitness at The Ballet Physique Fitness Studio. Ms. Hellebuyck has taught every Division at Cincinnati Ballet including Company Class, as well as being a Rehearsal Assistant for Nutcracker, Aladdin, Beauty & the Beast, Snow White, and the World Premiere of Victoria Morgan's Dancing to Oz. In August 2020, Ms. Hellebuyck became the Associate Artistic Director of Eastern Connecticut Ballet under the direction of Gloria Govrin, where she choreographed for ECB’s Virtual Nutcracker, as well as Spring Showcase. Ms. Hellebuyck is thrilled to now be Ballet West’s Student Rehearsal Director, where she can bring her knowledge and experience to the students, to bring to the stage for each and every performance.

Stacey Mahan


  • PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND ASSOCIATE DIRECTOR OF CURRICULUM

    Ms. Mahan danced with New York City Opera Ballet, Ballet Repertory, and Ballet Ambassadors. In addition, she performed with Anna Sokolow’s Player’s Project, a Graham style modern dance company. Recognizing her passion for education, Ms. Mahan retired from the stage early in her performing career to pursue teaching the next generation of dancers.

    Ms. Mahan earned her bachelor's degree from New York University, where she graduated with Magna cum Laude Honors and her Masters in Arts Education from the Harvard Graduate School of Education. At Harvard, she studied cognitive development and was awarded the Van Otterloo Scholarship for Excellence in Early Childhood Education.

    Ms. Mahan began her teaching career as the youngest faculty member at STEPS on Broadway in New York City, where she taught ballet and developed curriculum for ages four through pre professional. Ms. Mahan worked in the Education Department of American Ballet Theatre for ten years. There, she adjudicated the national audition tour for the summer intensive program, designed the premier Young Dancer Program Summer Intensive, and worked extensively in educational outreach; including teaching and choreographing for the award winning Make a Ballet Program, which is presented at the Metropolitan Opera House at Lincoln Center.

    Ms. Mahan’s early training began with her mother, Sondra Forsyth, who trained with Thaila Mara; as well as Frank Ohman, a former New York City Ballet dancer; and Jan Hanniford Goetz, a former Joffrey Ballet dancer. Her later teachers included David Howard, Wilhelm Burman, Nancy Bielski and Peff Modelski, as well as Olga Kostritsky for character dance.  This blend of training that includes Balanchine, Vaganova and Checchetii methods informs Ms. Mahan’s current teaching practices.

    Additional teaching credits include School of Ballet Arizona, Arizona School for the Arts, Manhattanville College, Director of Ridgefield Conservatory of Dance.

    In 2014, Ms. Mahan moved to Utah and began teaching at Ballet West.  She is delighted to be a part of the quality training offered in a positive atmosphere. Ms. Mahan and her husband have two boys and two dogs and love living in Salt Lake City.  

Bridget Payne


  • PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND COSTUME COORDINATOR

    Bridget Payne began her Ballet training in her hometown of Manitowoc, WI, with Jean Wolfmeyer. At 14 years old she began training on full scholarship at the National Academy of Arts in Champaign, IL, where she trained with Petrus Bosman and Valerie Taylor from the Royal Ballet, Robert Dicello, and former American Ballet Theatre soloist Maria Youskevitch. After graduation, she began an eight-year performing career with Ballet West, under the Direction of John Hart, CBE. She has performed soloist and leading roles in Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella; Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker; Paul Taylor’s Company B; Sleeping Beauty; Swan Lake; multiple works by Balanchine, Ronald Hynd, Val Caniparoli, Andre Prokovsky, and more. In 1995 she was personally invited by Ben Stevenson, OBE, to teach at the internationally acclaimed Houston Ballet Academy, where she was personally mentored by Clara Cravey Stanley. She soon became a Principal Teacher in both their Pre-Professional and Professional Divisions. During her time at HBA, she helped further their syllabus and worked closely with Shelly Power to create two successful Teacher Training Workshops where she led sessions on beginning and Intermediate Pointe work. Ms. Payne and her husband, Jim, opened Payne Academy of Ballet in 2001 in The Woodlands, TX, where they developed a successful school of over 250 students; She was also Co-Artistic Director of Woodlands Ballet Ensemble. She has choreographed and staged many works and full-length Ballets including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, La Bayadere Act III (Kingdom of the Shades) and The Nutcracker. Most recently, she was the Principal of Student and Professional Programs at the School of Philadelphia Ballet. She has taught at Houston Ballet Academy and Ballet West Summer Intensives and has coached several dancers for Ballet competitions. Ms. Payne is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 5 of the National Training Curriculum.

    Ms. Payne has over 25 years of professional teaching experience. She genuinely cares about the mindful and thorough development of the next generation of dancers. She and her husband, Jim Payne, are the proud parents of a son, a rigging artist, and a daughter, a dancer.

Jeff Rogers


  • PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND DIRECTOR OF ACADEMY MEN’S PROGRAM

    Born in Virginia in a southern military family, Jeff Rogers began his early training at the age of nine in Germany under Maureen Gergun, a former Soloist from the Royal Ballet in London. He then continued his formation at the Olaker Youth Civic Ballet in Chester, Virginia, under Christine Parks, an original member of the Ballet Society, which became the American Ballet Theatre.

    Mr. Rogers was awarded full scholarships to the School of American Ballet in New York where he trained under renowned teachers Stanley Williams, Andrei Kramirevsky and Richard Rapp. On another full scholarship at the National Academy of Arts in Illinois, he completed his formation in the Vaganova, Bournonville and Cecchetti techniques, working with such great teachers as Petrus Bosman, Georgina Parkinson and Valerie Taylor of the Royal Ballet and Francesca Corkle of the Joffrey Ballet, , Larissa Skylanskya, Flemming Halby and Toni Lander and Erik Bruhn of The Royal Danish Ballet.

    The honor being one of the first recipients of the prestigious Princess Grace Foundation Award for Artistic Excellence in dance, ultimately led Mr. Rogers to a long career as Principal dancer with Ballet West in Salt Lake City under the artistic directorships of Bruce Marks, John Hart and Jonas Kåge.

    Mr. Rogers has danced all of the major principal roles in the classical repertoire from Albrecht to Siegfried as well as in the best contemporary works by renowned choreographers including Val Caniparoli’s The Lady of the Camellias and Lambarena, John Neumier’s Age of Anxiety,Eugene Loring’s Billy the Kid, John Butler’s Carmina Burana, Paul Taylor’s Company B, Antony Tudor’s The Leaves are Fading, Hans Van Manen’sPolish Pieces, and William Forsythe’s Artifact II.

    Currently a Principal teacher at the Ballet West Academy, company teacher for Ballet West, and a Master Teacher and Judge for the world renowned YAGP, he has also been an adjunct professor for the University of Utah’s Dance Department. Rogers also teaches at companies and schools nationally and internationally.

Eunice Kim Stafford


  • ASSOCIATE PRINCIPAL, TROLLEY CORNERS CAMPUS AND STUDENT LIFE MANAGER

    Eunice Kim Stafford is from SLC, UT where she started dancing at the age of 6. She received most of her early training from the Ballet West Academy, and William F. Christensen. She attended the University of Utah where she received her BFA in ballet, and danced principal and soloist roles with their performing company, Utah Ballet. In between her junior and senior year of college she took time off to tour and perform with Eugene Ballet Company. After graduation she went on to become a principal dancer with Ballet New England, and Festival Ballet of Providence. Her repertoire includes many classical ballets as well as a large and varied amount of contemporary and modern works. She was often partnered by soloist and principal dancers from American Ballet Theatre, and Boston Ballet.

    While dancing full time, Ms. Stafford taught at the School of Ballet New England and also at the School of Festival Ballet. She also served as an assistant to the artistic director at Festival Ballet. Upon retiring from performing, Ms. Stafford turned to her teaching career. She taught, choreographed, directed and coached for seven years in Morgantown, West Virginia where she lived with her two daughters. Since moving back to Salt Lake City she has taught ballet at The Winner School, Ballet West Academy, Treehouse Dance, UDA, and was also one of the founders of The Dance Project SLC. Most recently she taught at Jazz Dancer Studio where she taught and choreographed. She also taught company class for SALT Contemporary Dance. Some of her former students have gone on to dance with companies such as Batsheva Ensemble, Momix, Hubbard Street, Boston Ballet, Avant Chamber Ballet, Festival Ballet Providence, Nevada Ballet, Houston Metropolitan Dance, Radio City’s Rockettes and others.

Michael Waldrop


  • FULL-TIME FACULTY AND CONTEMPORARY PROGRAM MANAGER

    Michael Waldrop was born in Los Angeles, California. He has toured the world, performing with Ballett des Theater Koblenz, State Street Ballet, and Pasadena Dance Theatre, as well as guest performances with Odyssey Dance Theatre, Seamless Dance Theater and the Covent Garden Dance Company’s international gala, Ballet in the Park. During this time, he performed in the classical and contemporary works of Peter Chu, Andreas Heise, Daniel Ezralow, Steffen Fuchs, Bella Lewitzky, Cathy Marston, Ihsan Rustem, Tom Ruud, William Soleau, Uwe Scholz, and Josie Walsh.

    From the world of concert dance to the commercial industry, Michael has also appeared in the feature film Underground Comedy, ABC’s Bunheads, Nickelodeon’s Fresh Beat Band, and the Emmy Award winning opening routine of the Jerry Lewis Telethon. Other credits include the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, industrials for Disney and MAC Cosmetics, performances at Los Angeles’ Music Center and the Getty Museum for the Dance Camera West Film Festival, the American Choreography Awards, and a feature in an edition of Life Magazine.

    Michael has choreographed original works for Theater Koblenz, Marymount Manhattan College, and the Joffrey Ballet School, as well as instructed for the School of State Street Ballet, the Ballet Hispanico School of Dance, and Peridance Center. Michael has served as Associate Artistic Director of the NYC Jazz & Contemporary Trainee Program and the Artistic Director of the NYC Pre-Professional Jazz & Contemporary Summer Intensive at the Joffrey Ballet School. He is currently traveling the country as adjudicator and faculty with the Universal Ballet Competition.

Artistic Staff

Calvin Kitten


  • ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

    DIRECTOR OF BALLET WEST II/REHEARSAL DIRECTOR, BALLET WEST

    Calvin Kitten began his dance training at the California Ballet School in San Diego, and continued training at the State Ballet School in Tbilisi, Republic of Georgia, and at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Calvin joined the Joffrey Ballet in 1991. During his 19 years with the Joffrey, Calvin performed many principal and soloist roles while touring within the United States and internationally. Calvin has received two Ruth Page Awards, been featured on the cover of Dance Magazine, and appeared in numerous films. In 2010, Calvin joined the teaching faculty at the University of Utah’s ballet department. Calvin joined the Ballet West artistic staff as Director of Ballet West II in 2015.

Bruce Caldwell


  • ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

    REHEARSAL DIRECTOR/COMPANY ARCHIVIST, BALLET WEST

    A native of Salt Lake City, Utah, Bruce Caldwell began his ballet training at age 10 with Bene Arnold.  His first appearance on stage was in Willam F. Christensen’s “The Nutcracker”  in 1961, as Drosselmeyer’s Nephew. After joining The Utah Civic Ballet (predecessor to Ballet West), in 1968, he moved through the ranks, and in 1971 became a Principal Dancer.  Over the next 20 years he performed all of the major roles in the Ballet West repertoire, including Prince Seigfried in “Swan Lake”, Prince Florimund in “The Sleeping Beauty”,  Sugar Plum Cavalier in “The Nutcracker, Oberon in “The Dream”, as well as leading roles in over 15 Balanchine works. 

     In 1991 he moved to the Artistic Staff of Ballet West, assuming duties of staging ballets, rehearsing and teaching the company, continuing on to this day.He has been awarded the Governors Excellence in the Arts Award,  the Chamber of Commerce Artist of the Year Award, and most recently, the Ballet West Guild Arts Legend Award.

Pamela Robinson-Harris


  • ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

    REHEARSAL DIRECTOR, BALLET WEST

    Pamela Robinson-Harris has served as Ballet Mistress for Ballet West for 20 years, as well as the Company’s Interim Artistic Director from 2006-2007. Her career began with the Cleveland Ballet, followed by the State of Alabama Ballet in 1982 and Ballet Mississippi in 1984.

    Pamela joined Ballet West in 1985, advancing to Principal in 1988. During her career, Pamela performed in some of the most prestigious theatres in America, performing principal roles in most major classical works, including those of George Balanchine, Val Caniparoli, Sir Frederick Ashton, and Ben Stevenson. Pamela, together with Associate Director of Ballet West II, Peggy Dolkas, co-choreographed three ballets for Ballet West’s Family Series – The Little Mermaid, Aladdin, and Beauty and the Beast. She also reworked major sections of Ballet West’s productions of The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Giselle, and has choreographed for Ballet West II and the Ballet West Academy Professional Trainee Division.

Jane Victorine Wood


  • ARTISTIC LEADERSHIP

    PRINCIPAL REHEARSAL DIRECTOR, BALLET WEST

    Born in Washington, DC, Jane Victorine Wood  received her formative training at the Washington School of Ballet with Mary Day, Alice Bralove and Julio de Bittencourt.

    At 15, she was invited to perform with the Grand Theatre de Geneve in Geneva, Switzerland, where she performed numerous Balanchine ballets under the direction of Patricia Neary and George Balanchine.

    After returning to the States, Ms. Wood continued her studies at the University of Utah in Salt Lake City, as a ballet major on a Ballet West Guild scholarship. She joined the corps de ballet of Ballet West in 1981 and rose through the ranks to Principal Dancer in 1986, where she performed until 2001.

    Ms. Wood performed title roles in Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Coppelia, Giselle, and Lady of the Camelias, as well as a full range of classical and contemporary works by world renowned choreographers, including George Balanchine, John Neumeier, Val Caniparoli, Peter Anastos, and Lila York, to name a few.

    During her last year of dancing with Ballet West, she completed her B.F.A. in Ballet with a Performance Emphasis, and joined the faculty of the ballet department at the University of Utah. From 2001-2003 she served on the faculty at Florida State University as a Visiting Assistant Professor.

    Returning to Utah, Ms. Wood continued to teach at the University of Utah, for Ballet West company class and for the Ballet West Academy.

    In 2011, she was invited by Adam Sklute, Artistic Director of Ballet West, to join the artistic staff of Ballet West as Ballet Mistress.

    With her current title as Rehearsal Director of Ballet West, Ms. Wood teaches the main company and second company, restages and rehearses the current repertoire, performs character roles and teaches in the Ballet West Academy Summer Intensives.

Michele Gifford


  • ASSISTANT REHEARSAL DIRECTOR, BALLET WEST

    Michele was a long-time dancer with the New York City Ballet and a dancer with Texas Ballet Theater. She is a stager and repetiteur for the George Balanchine Trust and for choreographer Christopher Wheeldon.

    Michele has taught regularly at the Ballet West Academy Summer Intensive and staged numerous Balanchine works for the Academy. Last season, she staged Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco for the main company and acted as a part-time Rehearsal Director for Sleeping Beauty while also performing the role of the queen in that ballet.

    Michele will act as Assistant Rehearsal Director for both Ballet West and Ballet West II and will continue to stage Balanchine and Wheeldon ballets for the main company, BWII, the Academy, and around the world as her schedule permits.

Instructors

  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

    Izzy was born in Maracaibo, Venezuela and raised in Utah. He attended Utah Valley University for Modern Dance Performance where he performed with their modern, contemporary and hip-hop dance companies. During his studies he was also cast in several musicals in theaters across the state of Utah. After university, he went on to dance with SALT Contemporary dance for 3 seasons. Alongside his love for dance, he tied it in with his love of photography and became a dance photographer. In 2019 Izzy moved to New York City where he booked a several commercial/film jobs and a musical in Arizona. After his return to Utah, Izzy is now focusing on teaching dance, photography, performance and directing/choreographing professional musicals. Izzy is excited to be joining the Ballet West Academy family.

Silver Barkes


  • INSTRUCTOR AT BALLET CENTRE

    Silver Barkes received most of her training with the Marin Ballet in the SF Bay Area and San Francisco ballet schools. Joining State Street Ballet in the year 2000 was a wonderful "stepping stone" to her career at Ballet West in Salt Lake City Utah from 2004-2011 as a Corp de Ballet member. In her years at Ballet West she was fortunate to work with the Balanchine trust and many  esteemed Choreographers. As a Corps de Ballet member she did numerous soloist and demi-soloist roles over the years. In 2012, she came out of retirement to once again dance with the company and join the cast of the hit reality TV show, Breaking Pointe, as one of their main characters.  Not only has she had a ballet career, she also is an accomplished professional Makeup Artist, receiving her degree in 2012.

    Currently, Ms. Barkes teaches at Creative Arts Academy in Bountiful as co-ballet director creating a beautiful program for their students and directing a ballet production with upwards of 2,000 students. Most recently she has excitedly joined the staff at Ballet West Academy in 2017, teaching all levels. Ms. Barkes has also found her passion for choreography. Her pieces have been chosen and awarded in many competitions as judges’ choice.

    Ms. Barkes also has started coaching for YAGP resulting in many of her students making it to finals throughout the years.

    Ms. Barkes’ love for ballet throughout her career has inspired her as a teacher. She is so excited to continue to work and grow as a teacher and share her knowledge with her students!

Liesel Blue


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS

    Liesel Blue has grown up with a love for music and has enjoyed emphasizing musicality in dance throughout her career.  She began studying ballet at the age of two and at the age of 12 began studying at Ballet West Academy. She has danced several roles in Ballet West’s Nutcracker, as well as several Ballet West II’s performances. For two years, she was a member of Ballet West Academy’s contemporary performing group “Current”, and in 2023 she choreographed on the group. Currently, she is a member with Junction Dance Co. 

    This will be Liesel’s second year teaching at Ballet West Academy. She has always had a passion for the artform of ballet, and is excited to share her love of it with others.

Emily Coello


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS

    Originally from Rock Island, IL, Emily Coello began her ballet training there before continuing at the Alabama School of Fine Arts under Dame Sonia Arova. She was an apprentice at the Alabama Ballet prior to attending the New School University/Joffrey Ballet School degree program where she trained with faculty including David Howard, Eleanor D’Antuono, Trinette Singleton and Karla Wolfangle. While in New York, she was chosen by David Howard to be a demonstrator in his “World Tour” class video. Ms. Coello holds a BFA with honors from New School University as well as a MA in Education from the Royal Academy of Dance/University of Bath, UK.

    She performed as a soloist with City Ballet of San Diego before holding the role of rehearsal director there for several years. Ms. Coello has taught at the City Ballet School (San Diego), Olympic Ballet School in Edmunds, WA and was a member of faculty at the Pacific Northwest Ballet School. More recently, she taught at the Ballet Idaho trainee program and the Eagle Performing Arts Center. She began teaching at the Ballet West Academy in the fall of 2025.

Jamie Butler


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

    Jamie received her formal ballet training at Jacqueline’s School of Ballet under the direction of Jacqueline Colledge. While there, Jamie had the opportunity to tour Europe and perform in the Young Tanzommer Festival in Austria. She later joined Utah Metropolitan Ballet (formerly Utah Regional Ballet), performing soloist and principal roles. Jamie was later accepted into the school at Pacific Northwest Ballet to train in the Professional Division and dance professionally with the company. She received full tuition scholarships to Regional Dance America’s Choreography Conference in Pennsylvania; the International Ballet Competition summer course in Jackson, Mississippi; and Pacific Northwest Ballet School in Seattle, WA. Jamie received her Bachelor degree from Utah Valley University. Jamie has been teaching for students in Utah since 2007.

Claire Campbell


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS

    Claire Campbell grew up in Lewisburg West Virginia, where she began her formative dance training at the age of 11. Throughout her youth, she trained in Ballet, Contemporary, Modern, Tap, Jazz, Acrobatics, and Hip-hop. During this time, Claire was also an assistant teacher for Ballet and Tap at her local dance studio. Claire regularly attended ballet intensive programs such as the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, the Royal Ballet of London, Ballet West Academy, and the Boca Ballet Theater Professional Training Program, where she received intensive and personalized training from renowned artistic directors from around the country. Upon her high school graduation, Claire chose to attend the University of Utah Ballet program, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet. During her time at the University of Utah School of Dance, Claire had the pleasure of partaking in a robust assortment of choreographic and classical ballet works created by renowned choreographers and respected faculty within the program. 

    Claire finds great joy in teaching dance and loves to share her passion for movement and storytelling with her students. She often travels home to West Virginia to teach masterclasses and/or set choreography and repertoire for local students. She began teaching at Ballet West Academy in 2023, and also instructs at Tanner Dance Academy in Salt Lake City, Utah. 

Dantzel Cherry


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

    Dantzel Cherry is a native of Idaho Falls, Idaho. She began her ballet training when she was 9 with former Ballet West dancer Becky Gili, and was drawn toward choreography and teaching from a young age.

    She received a minor in Dance Education and a Bachelor of Arts in English from Idaho State University in 2011. While at ISU she earned several dance scholarships, and performed and choreographed with both the university dance company I-Move and student dance company Danson. In 2011, as a member of I-Move, she had the honor of performing in the Northwest American College Dance Festival Gala Concert.

    Dantzel also has a deep passion for Pilates, which she uses to manage her scoliosis. She enjoys helping people of all ages and abilities to improve their strength, flexibility, and awareness. She has Pilates, yoga, and barre certifications/training through PhysicalMind Institute, STOTT Pilates, ISU, and YogaFit. She loves learning more about movement and is always adding to her body of knowledge with new courses and workshops. She is one of the few Level 2 MELT Method instructors in Utah, and is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique.

    Dantzel owns and operates Mind Your Body Pilates in Eagle Mountain, and teaches Pilates and MELT Method at several studios in Utah and Salt Lake County, including for The Orthopedic Specialty Hospital (TOSH) in Murray.

    She enjoys baking, writing, and spending time with her husband and daughter.

    Dantzel has been sharing her love of ballet for over 20 years in studios throughout Idaho, Texas, and now Utah. She particularly values working with young dancers, and strives to create a positive atmosphere where proper technique and joy of movement can take root.

Izzy Arrieta


Jordan DeBona


  • SENIOR MANAGER OF STUDENT LIFE AND SUMMER INTENSIVE COORDINATOR

    INSTRUCTOR AT PARK CITY

Natalie Desch


  • INSTRUCTOR AT BALLET CENTRE AND TROLLEY CORNERS

    Natalie Desch, a BFA graduate of the Juilliard School and an MFA graduate of the University of Washington, performed for five seasons with the Limón Dance Company and eleven seasons with Doug Varone and Dancers in NYC. She additionally danced in various productions at the Metropolitan Opera and other regional opera companies (Minnesota Opera, Opera Colorado, Palm Beach Opera, Longleaf Opera (NC), Lincoln Center Institute (NYC). Jennifer Dunning of the New York Times wrote of her, she is “…one of those wonderful movers who can simultaneously and clearly communicate both the wide sweep and the fine detail of a choreographed sequence.” From 2005-2012 she taught at Hunter College (City University of New York) and has also been a visiting faculty member at Weber State University (UT), University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and the Beijing Dance Academy. She additionally has taught for the following summer festivals: Doug Varone and Dancers, the Limón Dance Company, UNCSA, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, the Bates Dance Festival, Ririe-Woodbury, and the Canadian Contemporary Dance Theater, among others. Natalie has restaged the works of José Limón, Doug Varone, Jirí Kylián, and Daniel Charon on performing groups around the world, and her choreography has been presented at venues throughout the US. In 2014 Natalie relocated to Salt Lake City, UT, and began teaching at Ballet West Academy, Westminster College, Utah Valley University, and Salt Lake Community College. Natalie joined the University of Utah’s School of Dance as an Assistant Professor in the fall of 2019.

Ivy Drumm


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

    From a young age, Ivy Drumm has been passionate about ballet. She began her initial training at Central Utah Ballet Academy. She then continued her education at Ballet West Academy Thanksgiving Point and Utah Valley under the direction of Jennie Creer King, Maricar Drilon, and Heather Thackeray. During her time as a student, Ivy had the privilege of performing a variety of roles, including the Songbird Fairy from Sleeping Beauty, Little Bo Peep from Once Upon a Ballet, and Queen of the Dryads from The Enchanted Forest.

    For Ivy, ballet is more than just a physical art form; it has the power to transcend the limits of the body and create something truly magical. As a ballet mentor, she is committed to inspiring others and to helping them discover this same sense of wonder within themselves. Ivy firmly believes that by exploring the discipline, technique, and grace of ballet, her students can achieve new possibilities as dancers and artists. 

    Regardless of whom she is working with, Ivy's goal is to share her love for ballet with others and help them unlock their full potential.

Mariah Edmunds


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY AND TROLLEY CORNERS

    Mariah started dancing at the age of 5 in a small basement studio doing both tap and ballet. At the age of 9 she decided to focus strictly on ballet and moved studios to Academy of Ballet Arts (ABA), where she continued her training in ballet, pointe, jazz, character and Pilates. She stayed with ABA until she graduated from high school. While training with ABA, Mariah was able to perform with Mountain West Ballet in many productions including- the Nutcracker, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Stars and Stripes and many other productions. Some of her favorite roles included- Dew Drop fairy, Lilac Fairy, big Swan, and most recently, Party Parent. Mariah also received training from Ballet West Conservatory (now Ballet West Academy) during their summer intensives. After high school, she continued her ballet education at the University of Utah, receiving her BFA in ballet with an emphasis in teaching. She has received her certification with Progressive Ballet Technique. She is also an award-winning choreographer for her original piece “Stars and Stripes.” Mariah has been teaching for almost 20 years at varying studios throughout the valley and loves to teach all ages- from preschool to preprofessional. She finds great joy at the chance to share her love of ballet with the next generation.

Isabella Flanigan


  • INSTRUCTOR AT PARK CITY

Sammy Gomm


  • UTAH COUNTY CAMPUS INSTRUCTOR AND ADMINISTRATOR

    Sammy Gomm started dancing at the age of 7 where her passion began and has stuck with her throughout the years. Sammy graduated in 2021 from Utah Valley University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree with an Emphasis in Modern/Contemporary Dance and an Associates of Science in Dance. While at UVU Ms. Gomm was on scholarship for the pre-professional modern dance company, Contemporary Dance Ensemble. Here she was able to work and perform with companies such as Diavolo Dance Company, Repertory Dance Theatre, and people such as Mike Esperanza, Francisco Gella, LajaMartin, and much of the UVU faculty. Ms. Gomm is excited to continue sharing her passion for dance with other young artists and hopes to inspire them in their dancing careers.

Tyler Gum


  • INSTRUCTOR AT BALLET CENTRE AND ADULT CLASSES

    Tyler Gum is from Calhan, Colorado. He studied with Holly Marble at the Ballet Society of Colorado Springs, and with Fernando Schaffenburg at the Sangre de Cristo Ballet Theatre. He attended summer programs at Walnut Hill, Harid Conservatory and the Pacific Northwest Ballet School on scholarship. Tyler attended the University of Arizona where he performed with the Tucson Symphony Orchestra and was featured in Jory Hancock's Tonadas Pas de Deux. He competed in the Youth America Grand Prix where he received first place with his classical ballet solo at regional competition and a contract with Ballet West II at the New York City finals. Tyler is in his 13th season with Ballet West currently performing as a First Soloist. With Ballet West, Tyler has performed featured roles in Ballet West’s The Sleeping Beauty and Giselle, Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella, George Balanchine’s Symphony in C, Jewels, Divertimento No. 15 and Who Cares, Val Caniparoli’s The Lottery, Jiri Kylian’s Forgotten Land, Overgrown Path and Petite Mort, Willam Christensen's The Nutcracker, John Cranko’s Onegin and Romeo and Juliet, Ben Stevenson’s Dracula. Tyler has performed in world premiers such as Emily Adams' Regarding Us and Way of the Rain, Edwaard Liang‘s Constant Light, Avichai Scher's White Noise and in Nicolo Fonte’s Rite of Spring, Carmina Burana and Fox on The Doorstep.

Hannah Higgs


Stefany Jaurrieta


  • INSTRUCTOR AT PARK CITY

Amanda Kindt


  • RESIDENT ADVISOR & INSTRUCTOR IN PARK CITY

    Amanda Kindt grew up dancing in her home town of Lancaster, Pennsylvania.  She studied many genres of dance at Lititz Academy of Dance and was a part of the CoJoMotion Dance Company.  She then continued her studies of classical ballet, modern technique, choreography, dance kinesiology, and more by pursuing a degree in dance.  Amanda graduated Summa Cum Laude with her B.F.A. in Dance from The University of Akron in the spring of 2020.  A special highlight of her college experience, was when her own choreography, “Elysium”, was performed and adjudicated at the American College Dance Association festival. 

    After graduation, Amanda was a trainee with American Repertory Ballet for two years where she performed various roles in productions like Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Giselle.  She then went on to dance with Montgomery Ballet, where she performed soloist roles such as Chicken in Carnival of the Animals, Arabian Lead in The Nutcracker, and Pas de Trois in Le Conservatoire.

    Amanda has worked for artÉmotion and Ballet West Academy as the Head Resident Intern for their Summer Intensive programs since 2021.  She is currently the Resident Advisor for the new Ballet West Academy housing program.  In her free time, Amanda enjoys teaching dance and being a freelance artist. 

Vera Kotova


  • INSTRUCTOR AT BALLET CENTRE AND TROLLEY CORNERS

    Vera Kotova started her folk stage dance training at the age of seven in her hometown of Almaty, Kazakhstan.  Shortly thereafter, she became a member of Solnechniy Krug, a folk dance ensemble, where she received guidance from Lina Alexeevna, a graduate of the Vaganova School, and Ulzabaev Sundet, a graduate of the Almaty Choreographic School.

    During her 10+ year dance career, Ms. Kotova has performed as both a soloist and a group dancer in a wide range of European national and folk dance styles, including Greek Sirtaki, Italian Tarantella, Spanish Jota de Aragon, Hungarian dance, Czech polka, and, of course, folk dances from the former Soviet republics, such as Kazakhstan, Russia, Ukraine, Belarus, Moldova, and many more.

    Prior to moving to Salt Lake City with her family in 2007, Ms. Kotova practiced law for a decade, having received a law degree from Kazakh State Law University.

    Ms. Kotova is delighted to share her love of character dance with the younger generation. Ms. Kotova joined Ballet West Academy as a character dance instructor in 2022.

Lindsey Larsen Laford


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

    Lindsey Larsen is a graduate of the University of Utah, where she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Classical Ballet with an emphasis on Performance. Lindsey completed her degree with the support of scholarships earned through her service as Miss Utah, which fully funded her education. 

    Her ballet journey began at the age of four, training with institutions such as Barlow Arts Conservatory and Ballet West Academy Thanksgiving Point sponsored by the Barbara Barrington Jones Family Foundation. At Ballet West Academy, she trained under the guidance of Jennie Creer King and Maricar Drilon and was honored with multiple merit scholarships. 

    Lindsey has a performance history that includes roles such as an Autumn Fairy Corps Member in Cinderella with The Washington Ballet, multiple seasons of The Nutcracker with Ballet West, and performances in Sleeping Beauty as the Lilac Fairy and Lead Garland Fairy with Ballet West Academy. Additionally, she performed as a Rosebud in Beauty and the Beast with Ballet West II.

    Her commitment has led her to attend several prestigious summer intensives, including programs with The Washington Ballet under the artistic direction of Septime Weber, Ballet Hawaii, Master Ballet Academy, and Ballet West Academy.

    In 2022, Lindsey was crowned Miss Utah, a role that allowed her to engage in impactful service across the state. She also represented Utah at the Miss America competition, where she earned the Non-Finalist Talent Award for her performance of La Esmeralda. Through her platform, she created a dance education program that brings the joy of dance to elementary students. Lindsey also launched a gold medal winning DanceSport program with Special Olympics, further demonstrating her dedication to inclusivity and community service.

    Lindsey now uses her training, performance experience, and passion for dance to inspire her students. She strives to help them discover a love for ballet while encouraging strong technique and artistry, guiding them to blossom into confident dancers.

Nicole Lawrence


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

Alesha Tuley Ramos


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

    Alesha grew up dancing in Utah.  She participated in Children’s Company Dance at BYU.  Alesha began teaching social dance while receiving her education degree at USU in 2008. She continued various styles of social dance between 2008 and present and opened a children’s dance studio in 2015, focusing on musicality basics and inclusivity.

Nanette Reimschussel Chertudi


  • UTAH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, INSTRUCTOR AND ADULT PROGRAM COORDINATOR

    Nanette was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. Her early training at Ballet West Academy led her to receive a full scholarship offer from the University of Utah, while still in high school, where she performed with Utah Ballet. At the age of 16, she was offered a contract with Ballet West. Following her performing career, she began teaching ballet and developed her own ballet school through the Eccles Community Art Center in Ogden, Utah. Under her direction, the school became a satellite program for Ballet West which was being directed by Jonas Kåge. Prioritizing the needs of her growing family, she stepped away from teaching and eventually moved to Lehi, Utah. In 2017, she resumed her teaching career. She has a wealth of knowledge and over 20 years of teaching experience. Ballet West Academy welcomes her to the Utah County Campus where she is currently teaching the adult ballet classes.

Ashleigh Richardson


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS

    A former member of Ballet West II, Ashleigh Richardson has studied ballet at Ballet West Academy, The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, PA, and at Imagine Ballet Theatre in Ogden, Utah, where she received the Laura Swensen and Jill Rasmussen Scholarship. In 2014, Ms. Richardson was awarded the Birger-Bartholin Scholarship for study at The Royal Danish Ballet School, which she attended for two summers. She has also attended the Bournonville Academy in Biarritz, France, under the direction of Dinna Bjorn, on full scholarship.

    In spring 2016, Ms. Richardson placed Top 6 at the YAGP NYC Finals for Senior Classical Pas de Deux. As a soloist, Ms. Richardson has been a Youth America Grand Prix NYC Finalist three times, having received 1stand 3rd place awards in the Senior Women’s Classical Ballet category at YAGP Regional Semi-Finals. She also received 2nd place in the Senior Women’s Classical Ballet category at American Ballet Competition in 2014. 

    Ashleigh has enjoyed dancing a variety of roles with Ballet West.  Her favorite part of teaching for Ballet West Academy is seeing the children achieve the things for which they have worked so hard and the happiness it gives them.

Autumn Ryskoski


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS AND ADULT CLASSES

    Autumn Ryskoski was born in Austin, Texas where she began her ballet training. In 2018, she moved to Nashville, Tennessee to attend Nashville Ballet as a Professional Training Division student. After two years, she moved to Salt Lake City, Utah to train in Ballet West’s Professional Training Division, where she is currently. She began teaching at Ballet West Academy in the fall of 2021. She is also currently working towards her BFA in Ballet and enjoys working with the next generation of ballet dancers.

Mary Ann Schaefer


  • INSTRUCTOR AT PARK CITY | Ballet

    Born in Memphis, TN, Mary Ann Shaefer took her first ballet classes at the Allegro Ballet Academy with instructor Norah Curran. After moving to Indianapolis, IN at age 12, she studied at the Clara R. Noyes Academy of Ballet Internationale until its closing in 2005, and then continued her training under the instruction of Alyona Yakovleva, Tatiana Pali, and Sergey Sergiev at the Russian Ballet Academy of Indiana.

    In 2007 she won first place in the classical division at the Youth America Grand Prix competition, and in 2010, she competed at the World Ballet Competition, where she received a Jury Award and full scholarship to Ballet West’s summer program and year round trainee program in Salt Lake City, UT. In 2012, Artistic Director Adam Sklute asked Ms. Shaefer to join Ballet West II, where she performed in their productions for two seasons and then stayed on as a supplemental artist for their 2014-2015 season. Beginning in 2015, Ms. Shaefer performed Aspen Santa Fe Ballet’s “The Nutcracker” for two seasons under Artistic Director Tom Mossbrucker, and was also a member of The Suzanne Farrell Ballet for two seasons, where she had the honor of performing numerous Balanchine ballets on tour and at The Kennedy Center in Washington, D.C.

    In 2017, Ms. Shaefer returned to Indianapolis, IN as a founding company member of the Indianapolis Ballet. Over her four seasons there she performed numerous soloist roles, including “Dark Angel” in Serenade; “Tall Girl” in Rubies; “Katerina” in Firebird; and “Dew Drop” & “Arabian” in The Nutcracker. Ms. Shaefer is currently a faculty member at Ballet West’s Park City campus.Find her @schaef.ma on Instagram.

Heidi Slagle


  • INSTRUCTOR AT PARK CITY | Voice and Piano

Connie Smith


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS

    “Miss Connie” loves to create magic in her ballet studio. She has had the privilege of teaching thousands of children across the Wasatch Front and in the Willamette Valley for over 30 years. Ms. Smith also feels honored to be teaching a second generation of ballerinas, as many of her students are children of her former dancers.

    Ms. Smith’s family has three generations of a strong ballet legacy. Several of her children and grandchildren have become ballet teachers and dancers.

    Ms. Smith enjoys the entire process of ballet, including teaching, choreography, costuming, and performance. Her love of dance began as a young child, and she fondly remembers many years of her mother driving her to the Rowland Butler Ballet Academy. Ms. Smith went on to study at the University of Utah under Willam Christensen and Bené Arnold. She also trained in dance and theater at Brigham Young University. She has enjoyed many years of stage performance and choreography work.

    Ms. Smith developed a passion for teaching ballet, and ran her own successful ballet school for over 20 years before joining Ballet West Academy.

    Ms. Smith also loves gardening, writing, and spending time with her family and grandchildren.

    “Miss Connie” loves her ballet students, and she strives to create a positive learning experience for every dancer.

Kristen Stringham


  • INSTRUCTOR AT PARK CITY | Ballet, Tap and Jazz

    Kristen began her dance training at the age of seven, studying with LaRae Thackeray at LaRae’ Dance Unlimited in Layton, Utah where she studied ballet, tap, and jazz for eleven years. During this time, she performed in Ballet West’s annual production of “The Nutcracker,” attended summer intensive programs at Brigham Young University, and gained valuable student teaching experience. She attended Southern Utah University, graduating in 2016, where she minored in dance performance. In college she performed with the Cedar City Junior Ballet for five seasons, and was a member of SUU’s modern dance club, Orchesis. Since moving back to Salt Lake City Kristen has stayed active in the local dance community, teaching ballet, tap, and jazz at Starz Unlimited Dance Studio and Wasatch Arts Center, and recently at Ballet West Academy. When she isn’t dancing, she enjoys hiking, knitting, and reading.

Scout Sutton


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS AND ADULT CLASSES

    Scout Sutton graduated from the University of Utah with a BFA in ballet and is in her fourth year teaching for Ballet West Academy. Originally from Grantsville, Utah, Ms. Sutton's ties to Ballet West began at an early age when she was cast in The Nutcracker in 2009 at the age of 8. After performing in The Nutcracker, she joined the academy the following fall and received her formal training there until her graduation in 2019. After high school she decided to attend the University of Utah to gain a Bachelor of Fine Arts in ballet before pursuing a professional performing career. During Ms. Sutton's first semester at college, an opening for a teaching position became available at the academy and she began teaching part time. Since then, she has continued teaching and has also helped as a rehearsal assistant for The Nutcracker children’s cast. Aside from ballet, Ms. Sutton is also involved in her school and community by holding many leadership positions within the Delta Gamma organization and currently serving her hometown as Miss Grantsville 2021.  

Samantha Taggart


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

    Samantha Taggart was born and raised in Salt Lake City, Utah and began dancing as soon as she began walking. From a young age Ms. Taggart participated in ballet, jazz, contemporary, and tap classes. Ballet quickly became her favorite genre of dance because of the ornate costumes, the beautiful music, and the magnificent love stories. She spent one summer with Long Beach Ballet, and has participated in workshops at Utah Dance Center, Ballet West, and Municipal Ballet Company. In May 2020, she graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts, with an emphasis in Ballet from Utah Valley University (UVU). Performance is one of her first loves and she has had the opportunity to share the stage with Long Beach Ballet, Mountain West Ballet, and Repertory Dance Theater. She cultivated her artistry as part of UVU’s student ballet company, Repertory Ballet Ensemble. Through the dance program at UVU, Ms. Taggart had the opportunity to participate in the American of College of Dance Association conference, and loved performing in the gala alongside her ballet and modern dance major peers. Samantha’s love of dance does not end with performing, she has also found joy and passion in teaching.

    Ms. Taggart began teaching under direction of Christy McQuaid, owner and director of Utah Dance Center, at age 15. She has also taught at Academy of Ballet Arts in South Jordan Utah, and at Evolve Dance Studio in Draper, Utah. Samantha enjoys bringing energy, hope, and determination to her classroom, and hopes to inspire dancers throughout her career.

Jessica Thompson


  • INSTRUCTOR AT BALLET CENTRE

    Jessica Harston Thompson is from Orem Utah and began her early training with Utah Regional Ballet. She joined Ballet West in 1994 under the direction of John Hart and was promoted to principal dancer in 1999 by Jonas Kåge. 

    Some of her favorite principal roles include the title role in Birgit Culbergs’s Miss Julie, the Sylph in Peter Schaufuss’ La Slyphide, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, the Sugar Plum Fairy in William Christensen’s The Nutcracker, Bianca in John Cranko’s Taming of the Shrew, and Titania in Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream.

    Ms. Thompson has also been featured in ballets by esteemed choreographers such as Hans van Manen, Ted Brandsen,  Ronald Hynd, William Forsythe, Frederick Ashton, Anthony Tudor, and Jerome Robbins.

    After retiring from Ballet West in 2004, Ms. Thompson has continued to teach, choreograph, and coach at many different ballet academy’s, universities and schools. She has had the opportunity to set and coach many excerpts and full length ballets on the students she’s worked with, including sections of Swan Lake, La Sylphide, The Nutcracker, Giselle and Sleeping Beauty.

    While dancing professionally with Ballet West, Ms. Thompson had the opportunity to work closely with many world renowned teachers, coaches, and artists. Their influence on her has given her a unique perspective on both classical and contemporary ballet. She enjoys using her experience and expertise to help the students she works with develop as artists and technicians. Ms. Thompson has had the opportunity to mentor several young classes of dancers from their early training all the way to their graduation into university programs and professional careers.

    Ms. Thompson is married to Scott Thompson and they have four children together. 

Rex Tilton


  • INSTRUCTOR AT PEGGY BERGMANN PARK CITY CAMPUS | Ballet

    Rex Tilton is the Artistic Director of artÉmotion. He is a former Principal dancer with Ballet West and danced with the company from 2008-2022. He was a featured cast member on seasons 1 & 2 of the CW Docu-series Breaking Pointe. He has been featured in issues of Dance Magazine, Dance Spirit Magazine, and Pointe Magazine.. He shared the cover of Dance Teacher Magazine, February 2018, with Allison DeBona. He was also the model for the August 2015 Grishko Pointe shoe ad featured in Pointe Magazine. Additional accolades include producing the ‘I Am Your Friend’ Benefit Dance Performance alongside Allison DeBona, June 2015, to benefit the non-profit organization Fahodie for Friends.  He attended the Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division program on scholarship, one year, before getting his job at Ballet West. Additional training includes School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. He grew up under the artistic direction of former Pacific Northwest Ballet Principal, Ben Houk, and Pacific Northwest Ballet Soloist, Lauri-Michelle Houk, at San Elijo Dance and Music Academy. In 2020, he was named a Nikolay Brand Ambassador.

    Rex Tilton is currently an Associate Instructor for the University of Utah's School of Dance. He acted as interim principal of the campus from September-December 2023 while Allison DeBona was on maternity leave, and was operations manager for the 22-23 season.

Joshua Trader


  • FULL-TIME FACULTY AND DANCE ADVANCE COORDINATOR

    Born in San Francisco, CA, Joshua Trader trained at the Academy of Ballet under the Direction of Richard Gibson. After completing his training he joined Eugene Ballet for two years where he danced numerous leading roles. He then joined Tulsa Ballet for eight years where he expanded his classical and contemporary works and was privileged to dance in the works of the world’s leading choreographers including Jiří Kylián, Nacho Duato, Val Caniparoli, George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Hans van Manen, Christopher Wheeldon, Nicolo Fonte and Stanton Welch among others.

    Mr.Trader was always interested in teaching ballet and began teaching early into his dance career. Some of his teaching credits include The Joffrey Ballet Summer Workshop in San Antonio, TX, Ballet Idaho Academy, Tulsa Ballet Center For Dance Education and Tulsa Ballet’s junior company Tulsa Ballet II. Upon retiring from the stage in 2010, Joshua began teaching full time at his alma mater the Academy of Ballet in San Francisco, CA. While teaching at the Academy he was instrumental in helping young students achieve their goal of becoming professional dancers. His students joined the likes of National Ballet Of Canada, Kansas City Ballet, Ballet West II, The Julliard School, and Fordam University among others.

    In the fall of 2015, Mr. Trader and his family moved to Santa Rosa and he joined the faculty of Santa Rosa Dance Theater. In the Summer of 2017, Joshua was honored to be named the Artistic Director of SRDT. After 7 years of directing Santa Rosa Dance Theater, Mr. Trader is excited to join the faculty of Ballet West Academy

Barbara Valles


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS

    Born in Caracas, Venezuela Ms Valles has over 35 years of experience teaching Classical Ballet. She started her ballet training at the Ballet- Arte School. Lidija Franklin Foundation, for 8 years. She danced and started falling in love with the art of teaching classical ballet under the guidance of Maestra Graciela Diaz. Received her BFA in Ballet from University Institute of Dance in Venezuela. She is certified in Methodology of Teaching of the Classical Technique by Ramona De Saa (Cuban Technique). Cuban Ballet Teaching Methodology (USA International CUBALLET. Elementary & Professional level) by Laura Alonso, Reynaldo Muniz Delgado and Deborah Marquez, Maestro Rumen Rachev, Artistic Director of Ballet Nacional de El Salvador and Maestro Vladimir Issaev, Artistic Director of Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida (Vaganova Technique). She has extensive training in programs, workshops and seminars including:““Advanced Workshop for Ballet Teachers” (by Master David Howard), “Advanced Workshop for Dancers (by Master David Howard), International Seminar and Workshop of Science and Sport (by Gatorade Sport Science Institute). Seminar of “Medicine and Art”. Floor Barre Workshop (by Ines Marino form Alvin Ailey). Pre & Pointe shoes course by Alice Arja. Ms. Barbara is a PBT Progressing Ballet Technique certified Level 3 and member by Marie Walton-Mahon and Megan Berlint-Nicko. She danced with the Youth Ballet of Venezuela under director and professional dancer Eva Millan. Also she was Ballet Teacher, Choreographer, Programs Coordinator of Activities and Performances at the Fredy Reyna Music and Ballet School.

    Ms. Barbara was also a faculty member for the Dance Program of the Department of Education, Culture and Sport of Venezuela. She also served as a Ballet Teacher at The Municipal School of Rhythmic Gymnastics in Caracas, Venezuela. She continued her education by studying Physical Education, (6 semesters), at the Pedagogic Experimental University El Libertador en Caracas, Venezuela. Ms. Barbara was a Ballet Teacher faculty member for 15 years at America’s Ballet School in Tampa, Florida, actual name is Tampa City Ballet School and for 3 years at Tampa City Ballet. During her tenure at America’s Ballet School she coached for the Youth America Grand Prix and the American Dance Competition.

Elizabeth Weldon


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS, BALLET CENTRE, AND ADULT CLASSES

    Originally from Duxbury, Massachusetts, Elizabeth Weldon came to Utah to dance for Ballet West where she spent almost 9 years dancing in the company. Some of her featured roles include Tall Swans in Swan Lake, Zulme in Giselle, Arabian and Doll in The Nutcracker, side woman #2 in William Forsythe’s In the Middle Somewhat Elevated, as well as numerous leading roles in Ballet West’s dancer choreographed works. While at Ballet West, Ms. Weldon had the opportunity to dance works by world-renowned choreographers such as George Balanchine, Sir Frederick Ashton, Jiri Kylian, Nicolo Fonte, Helen Pickett, Val Caniparoli, Matthew Neenan, among many others. She has also been a model for BLOCH and Eleve Dance Wear. 

    Ms. Weldon holds a Bachelor of Arts from Stonehill College and has written articles that have been published by A Ballet Education and Utah Business Magazine. She is also a yoga teacher for Myriad Genetics’ corporate wellness program and is an avid yoga practitioner and meditator. Elizabeth loves to share her passion for ballet with others and teaches open adult classes at Trolley Corners and for Ballet West Academy at the Ballet Center. 

Kyohei Yoshida


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY, BALLET CENTRE, TROLLEY CORNERS, AND ADULT CLASSES

    Kyohei is a former international professional ballet dancer who started his training in Tokyo, Japan. He began attending the Elmhurst School in the UK on full scholarship where he got to perform with the Birmingham Royal Ballet. While attending the school, he received medals from major competitions in Japan and China.

    He also trained at prestigious schools such as the Rock School of Dance in Philadelphia, San Francisco Ballet School, and The Washington Ballet in Washington D.C.

    He went on to compete at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi, considered the largest and most renowned ballet competition in the world. He performed six different ballet pieces and was awarded bronze medal in 2010.

    He then performed and danced professionally in Slovakia, Japan, Michigan, Miami, and California.

    Some of his roles included Melancholic in Balanchine’s “The Four Temperaments”, Principal in “Etude”, Basil in “Don Quixote”, Ali in “Le Corsaire”, one of the four Lead Dancers in Ulysses Dove’s “Red Angels”, The Prince in “Nutcracker”, “Tchaikovsky Pas De Deux”, Principal Man in “Raymonda”, Bronze Idol in “La Bayadere”, Principal Man in “Paquita”, the Principal Soloist in Kirk Peterson’s “Amazed in Burning Dreams”, the Principal Man in Balanchine’s “Rubies”, Iago in Jose Limon’s “The Moor’s Pavane,” Prince Desire in “The Sleeping Beauty,” and Prince Siegfried in Kent Stowell’s “Swan Lake.”

Accompanists

  • ACCOMPANIST

    Penelope Brown is a classically trained composer and musician with an extensive ballet background.  She has danced from the time she was very young but over the last few years her interests have shifted more to the musical side of the studio, composing and arranging her own music inside and out of class.  She currently studies under the instruction of Dr. Koji Atwood and Walter Bellini.  Formerly she studied with Julie Rencher and Sarah Lund.  Miss Penelope’s Piano Concerto #1 in G Major recently premiered at Rocky Mountain Shakespeare Company’s production of Hamlet.  

    Penelope began her American ballet training in Dallas, Texas under the tutelage of Amanda Dalton and has since been immersed in the Vaganova technique under the direction of Alexei Dovgopolyi, Maureen Laird, Sarah Lund, Justine Sheedy-Kramer, Victoria Stocki-Kim, Misha Tchoupakov, Vladimir Tsal, and Joy Womack, and Charlotte Kelly. She is currently an assistant faculty member and choreographer for Preparatory Ballet.

  • PRINCIPAL ACADEMY PIANIST AND ASSISTANT COMPANY PIANIST

  • ACCOMPANIST

  • ACCOMPANIST

  • ACCOMPANIST

  • PRINCIPAL ACADEMY PIANIST

    In his early years, Max studied at the Piano Preparatory Division from 1997-2010, and danced with Ballet West Academy from 2002-2010. Max continued studying Piano performance and ballet performance at the University of Utah from 2012-2016. From 2016-present he has been a piano accompanist at the University of Utah, and at Ballet West Academy.

  • ACCOMPANIST

  • ACCOMPANIST

Administrators

  • SENIOR MANAGER OF STUDENT LIFE AND SUMMER INTENSIVE COORDINATOR

    INSTRUCTOR AT PARK CITY

Jennifer Hildreth


  • SENIOR ACADEMY OPERATIONS MANAGER

    Jennifer Hildreth has trained in dance her entire life and is currently based out of Salt Lake City, Utah. She graduated from the University of Utah in 2020 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance and a minor in Business. She began dancing at the age of 3 and trained with the Rockbridge Ballet in her hometown of Lexington, Virginia. Jennifer joined Ballet West Academy in 2019, where she worked as an Intern, Administrative Assistant, and Campus Administrator. Recently, she was promoted to the Senior Ballet Centre Operations Manager. Ms. Hildreth has a passion for performing as well as working in arts administration. She hopes to continue pursuing a career in arts administration alongside a professional company. In addition, Ms. Hildreth loves to travel and spends a lot of her time in national parks and other wilderness areas. In her spare time, she enjoys swing dancing, skiing, hiking, and horseback riding. She hopes to inspire others by sharing her love for dance, the outdoors, and art.

  • UTAH COUNTY ADMINISTRATOR, INSTRUCTOR AND ADULT PROGRAM COORDINATOR

    Nanette was born and raised in Ogden, Utah. Her early training at Ballet West Academy led her to receive a full scholarship offer from the University of Utah, while still in high school, where she performed with Utah Ballet. At the age of 16, she was offered a contract with Ballet West. Following her performing career, she began teaching ballet and developed her own ballet school through the Eccles Community Art Center in Ogden, Utah. Under her direction, the school became a satellite program for Ballet West which was being directed by Jonas Kåge. Prioritizing the needs of her growing family, she stepped away from teaching and eventually moved to Lehi, Utah. In 2017, she resumed her teaching career. She has a wealth of knowledge and over 20 years of teaching experience. Ballet West Academy welcomes her to the Utah County Campus where she is currently teaching the adult ballet classes.

Hannah Lowell


  • PEGGY BERGMANN PARK CITY CAMPUS ADMINISTRATOR

Jenny Lowell


  • CAMPUS OPERATIONS MANAGER

    Jenny Lowell trained in ballet, tap, and jazz at the Gunn School of Dance and the University of Utah. With 15 years of dance experience, Mrs. Lowell shared her love of dance choreographing for Dance Co, Cheer, and community theatre. Jenny was also a Master Pointe Shoe Fitter at Pat’s Dancewear.

    Mrs. Lowell’s position at Ballet West Trolley Corners brings together her love of ballet and working with children! 

  • BALLET CENTRE CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

  • TROLLEY CORNERS CAMPUS ADMINISTRATIVE ASSISTANT

Michelle Lapioli


  • INSTRUCTOR AT UTAH COUNTY

Kristina Windom


  • PRINCIPAL FACULTY AND TRAINEE MANAGER

    A native of Washington, D.C., Windom established her foundation in classical ballet under the tutelage of Mary Day at the Washington School of Ballet. At age 17, she was one of only two U.S. competitors at the prestigious Varna International Ballet Competition. She then embarked on a performing career across both classical and contemporary repertoire, including principal roles with The Washington Ballet, Cleveland/San Jose Ballet, and Alonzo King's Lines Ballet in San Francisco.  

    Prior to Ballet West, Windom served as Principal of the School of Philadelphia Ballet (2023-2025), overseeing comprehensive training programs and implementing holistic educational methods. She previously dedicated 16 years as both educator and administrator at The Washington Ballet, collaborating with directors and mentors to prepare students for professional opportunities in dance. 

    Windom's students have achieved professional careers with national and international dance companies and distinguished themselves in competitive dance. She has also coached prize-winning soloists and ensembles in international competitions. Windom holds a Master of Fine Arts in Dance from George Mason University, where she served on the faculty for 18 years, specializing in the integration of dance within academic curricula. 

    Her research focuses on innovative, interdisciplinary approaches to dance training, with particular emphasis on neuromuscular performance and biomechanical execution. As a somatic practitioner, she integrates principles of dynamic alignment and injury prevention into her ballet pedagogy. Windom is committed to diversity and inclusion initiatives within ballet, working to enhance accessibility and equity in classical training for all students. 

Alesha Tuley Ramos


Sasha Lowell


  • INSTRUCTOR AT TROLLEY CORNERS