Directors

Jennifer Miller received her formal dance training from the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the tutorage of  Marcia Dale Weary.  Ms. Miller continued her studies at Joffrey Ballet and with the San Francisco Ballet. Ms. Miller danced for the Milwaukee Ballet Company, rising through the ranks to the level of Principal Artist. She has had the privilege of dancing a wide range of  roles in such ballets as, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Scherazade, Giselle, Coppelia, Midsummer Night's Dream, Sleeping Beauty; and works by Trey McIntyre, Choo San Goh, David Parsons, George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Peter Anastos, Antony Tudor, Lila York, Margot Sappington, Alvin Ailey and Michael Pink. In the summer of 2005, Ms. Miller was invited to dance for inagural season of the Trey McIntyre Project, performing in such places as Vail International Dance Festival and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Ms. Miller is currently Ballet Master and Academy Coordinator for Minnesota Ballet. She was previously on faculty at the Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy, and on the faculties of Danceworks in Milwaukee, Dance Arts Center in Racine, and Steps of Grace in Brookfield. For the past 20 summers, Ms Miller has had the honor to be invited back to teach at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and for Point Park University's International Summer Dance. Ms. Miller is an established private coach, working with pre-professional dancers of all ages and levels including Youth America Grand Prix performers, ballroom dancers, gymnasts and irish step dancers. As a choreographer, Ms. Miller has created works for Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet II, Central PA Youth Ballet, Point Park University's International Summer Dance, Dance Arts Center and Erie Dance Conservatory. She received the Monticello award for emerging choreographers. Ms. Miller is the co-founder and co-director of Lake Arts Project est. 2013. During her time here, she has produced multiple shows, hosted nationally acclaimed guest artists, and managed touring opportunities for the group.

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Karl von Rabenau, raised in Duluth, Minnesota, Mr. von Rabenau received his early dance training at the Duluth Ballet. He continued his training at Minnesota Dance Theatre, the Boston Ballet School, and the San Francisco Ballet School. Mr. von Rabenau danced for ten seasons as a soloist for the Milwaukee Ballet. During his tenure with MBC he danced such roles as Iago in Jose Limon’s The Moor’s Pavane, and The Blue Bird Pas de Deux from Sleeping Beauty. Mr. von Rabenau has also performed the lead roles in Choo San Goh’s In The Glow of the Night and Unknown Territory as well as George Balanchine’s Rubies, The Four Temperaments, Tchaikovsky Pas Deux, Serenade, and Allegro Brilliante. While with Milwaukee Ballet, Mr. von Rabenau also had the opportunity to dance in works by Petipa, Eugene Loring, David Parsons, Jean–Paul Comelin, and Lisa de Ribere. Prior to dancing with MBC, Mr. von Rabenau danced for five seasons with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. While with PBT, he toured to Taipei, Taiwan, and fulfilled the dream to dance Balanchine’s Tarantella Pas De Deux. He also performed the role of Lucentio in John Cranko’s The Taming of the Shrew. Other highlights of his time spent with PBT include dancing many works by George Balanchine including the 3rd Movement from Western Symphony, Benvolio in Bruce Wells’ Romeo and Juliet, as well as Agnes De Milles, Fall River Legend, and Falls in Alvin Ailey’s The River. Mr. von Rabenau began his career as a member of Boston Ballet II and apprentice to Boston Ballet. He has also performed with the Omaha Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet where he had the privilege to dance such roles as Harlequin pas de deux, Tarantella pas de deux and the lead in Divertomento No.13. Mr. von Rabenau’s second passion in life is teaching ballet. He has had the true pleasure to do this for the past 21 years throughout the Midwest and Eastern United States. Mr. von Rabenau is currently the Artistic Director of Minnesota Ballet and Minnesota Ballet Academy. He was previously is a principal faculty member at the Milwaukee Ballet School. Mr. von Rabenau has also works with the Milwaukee Ballet II. It has been a great privilege for him to teach class and set choreography on the talented dancers that have passed through this program. During the summer months Mr. von Rabenau returns to Pennsylvania where he has been invited to teach at Point Park University for the past 15 years and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet in Carlisle, PA for the past 21 years.

As a choreographer, Mr. von Rabenau has created numerous works for Point Park University’s International Summer Dance Program. He has had works performed in the Regional Dance of America Festivals in both the Northeast Region by CPYB and Lake Erie Ballet School, and Southeast Region by Classical Ballet of Memphis. In 2002, Mr. von Rabenau was invited to choreograph a pas de deux, Speranza for a Milwaukee Ballet presentation at the Milwaukee Art Museum.

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Veteran Performers 

April Jones-Harris is an Army veteran who served her country faithfully and honorably for 26 years.  After many years of selfless service, she began to realize that beneath the uniform was a woman and mother, labeled and no identity. Energy Depleted and lacking knowledge of self-care. She sought a path of spiritual development, growth, and self-healing -- a way to regain her voice. While April worked with Ann Randolph on her one-woman show “Hear My Sister’s Story” a seed was planted that would encourage April to take the stage and share more vibrant, raw feelings. April became infatuated with these non-traditional, non-therapeutic but therapeutic processes that helped her heal. She discovered an intense passion for performance art and storytelling.  After attending workshops with David Diamond (Theater for Living) and Life Stories Institute -Theater Lab with Buzz Mauro and Deb Gottesman, she began educating others on how to incorporate the post-trauma methods she used to heal into their lives. By seeking healing from trauma, April “performed to heal” in The Vagina Monologues and was featured in an HBO documentary with Jeffrey Wright, appropriately titled "We Are Not Done Yet”.  April is now continuing her service, but with a new mission in which she passionately supports individuals and communities as a professional “Accountability Partner,” facilitating self-resuscitation techniques, storytelling and creative art to maneuver through life’s toughest challenges. 

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Jeff Peterson

Choreographers 

Katherina  Abderholden  began dancing at a young age, primarily focusing on ballet technique.  Abderholden graduated with a BFA in contemporary dance technique and choreography from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.  She has performed works choreographed by Mark Morris, Arnie Zane, as well as contributing as a movement artist in Danceworks Milwaukee (WI), Le Marchepied (CH), Stephen Kowplowitz (USA), and Cie Utilité Publique(CH).  Abderholden’s recent work is focused on improvisation with collaborative artists and teaching dance in local public schools.  She looks forward to engaging the community in creative practice and experiencing the lifelong benefits of the arts in our lives

Brooke Bero originally from Pewaukee Wisconsin, began her training with Milwaukee Ballet under the direction of Rolando Yanes and Michael Pink. During her years with Milwaukee Ballet she had the privilege of performing in some of Michael Pink’s original works including Peter Pan, The Nutcracker, and Cinderella. She then went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Point Park University under the direction of Susan Stowe. During her time at the University she performed works including George Balanchine‘s Serenade and Nicolas Petrov‘s Romeo and Juliet. Her professional career began at Eugene Ballet under the direction of Toni Pimble where she was a part of newly created works including Toni’s Great Gatsby and The Snow Queen. She’s also spent seasons dancing with Charlottesville Ballet, Ballet Fantastique and as a freelance artist in Portland, Oregon and Melbourne, Australia. Brooke is thrilled to be back in the Midwest dancing for Minnesota Ballet for her first season.

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Luke Umphlett is from Columbus, North Carolina, and has been dancing ballet for 10 years!  He has performed roles such as The Nutcracker Prince, The Rat King, The Sugar Plum Cavalier, and so much more!  He just finished his training with The Washington School of Ballet, and is very excited to be entering his second season with Minnesota Ballet!

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Thom Dancy has worked in the arts non-profit sector for 11 years in communications, outreach, and leadership roles for dance companies across the United States. From 2019 – 2023, Thom worked for The Rosin Box Project in San Diego as the organization’s inaugural Executive Director. Through his work, the company grew from a $30,000 to $500,000 budget and engaged students across Southern California in numerous dance education workshops. Thom is most proud of TRBP’s outreach program success,, as well as the integration of TRBP into its present home in Liberty Station, a historic naval training center and reclaimed arts district in the heart of San Diego. Thom has presented on the topics of social media and dance education to the Board of Directors at Arts for Learning, The San Diego Arts Empower Mega-Conference, and San Diego Unified School District. He has previously served on the communications committee for AERO San Diego, as well as on the executive committee for Rising Arts Leaders of San Diego. Thom currently sits on the advisory Board for Vanguard Culture, a cultural arts organization serving the San Diego/Tijuana region. Thom has also served on the Board of Directors for Smashworks Dance, a dance and social advocacy organization based in New York City. Thom is a former professional dancer and performed for Milwaukee Ballet II, Grand Rapids Ballet, The Big Muddy Dance Company, The Muny, and Malashock Dance. In his downtime he enjoys hiking and camping with his dog, Zoey.

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Ashley McQueen is a New York City-based performer, choreographer, and teaching artist. She holds a BFA in Dance from Webster University and an MFA in Dance from Hollins University. Hailed as “a dancer with the grace of a ballerina, the groundedness of an Isadora acolyte, and the impetuous musicality of someone who dances because she must” (Oberon’s Grove), McQueen has worked with choreographers such as Amanda Selwyn, Shawn T. Bible, Paris Wilcox, Maurya Kerr, Jennifer Medina, Christine Knoblauch-O’Neal, Jennifer Huffman-Olivas, Omar Olivas, James Robey, Uri Sands, and Michael Uthoff; and performed as a company member with ShawnBibleDanceCo, Common Thread Contemporary Dance, and Arova Contemporary Ballet. Her choreography has been commissioned by organizations such as Peridance Youth Ensemble, Hamilton College, Minnesota Ballet, Big Muddy Dance Company, Arova Contemporary Ballet, Alabama Dance Theatre, and Southern Danceworks; and presented at festivals such as Dance St. Louis Spring to Dance, Midwest RADFest, NYC Transit Museum, Westfest: All Over Westbeth, and American College Dance Festival. She previously taught as an Adjunct Professor of Dance at Manhattanville College, and choreographed in residency with Hamilton College and Webster University. She is the Founder/Artistic Director of Smashworks Dance, a New York-based nonprofit dance organization, whose collaboration credits include writing the movement activities for Rebel Girls Productions’ chapter book, “Alicia Alonso Takes The Stage,” and exploring dance-clown fusion at the Theaterlab Hotel New Work residency, in collaboration with Hope Salas and Justin Cimino.

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Jennifer Miller received her formal dance training from the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the tutorage of  Marcia Dale Weary.  Ms. Miller continued her studies at Joffrey Ballet and with the San Francisco Ballet. Ms. Miller danced for the Milwaukee Ballet Company, rising through the ranks to the level of Principal Artist. She has had the privilege of dancing a wide range of  roles in such ballets as, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Hunchback of Notre Dame, Scherazade, Giselle, Coppelia, Midsummer Night's Dream, Sleeping Beauty; and works by Trey McIntyre, Choo San Goh, David Parsons, George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Peter Anastos, Antony Tudor, Lila York, Margot Sappington, Alvin Ailey and Michael Pink. In the summer of 2005, Ms. Miller was invited to dance for inagural season of the Trey McIntyre Project, performing in such places as Vail International Dance Festival and Jacob's Pillow Dance Festival. Ms. Miller is currently Ballet Master and Academy Coordinator for Minnesota Ballet. She was previously on faculty at the Milwaukee Ballet School & Academy, and on the faculties of Danceworks in Milwaukee, Dance Arts Center in Racine, and Steps of Grace in Brookfield. For the past 20 summers, Ms Miller has had the honor to be invited back to teach at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and for Point Park University's International Summer Dance. Ms. Miller is an established private coach, working with pre-professional dancers of all ages and levels including Youth America Grand Prix performers, ballroom dancers, gymnasts and irish step dancers. As a choreographer, Ms. Miller has created works for Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet II, Central PA Youth Ballet, Point Park University's International Summer Dance, Dance Arts Center and Erie Dance Conservatory. She received the Monticello award for emerging choreographers. Ms. Miller is the co-founder and co-director of Lake Arts Project est. 2013. During her time here, she has produced multiple shows, hosted nationally acclaimed guest artists, and managed touring opportunities for the group.

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Composer

Ben Kramer  is a composer and linguist based in Pittsburgh, PA. He graduated from Yale University in 2024 with a BA in music and an MA in linguistics. He was previously an accompanist at Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy, and he participated in the Lake Arts Project in 2018 and 2019. He is very grateful to Karl and Jenny for the opportunity to collaborate with dancers once again!

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Performers 

*Brooke Bero originally from Pewaukee Wisconsin, began her training with Milwaukee Ballet under the direction of Rolando Yanes and Michael Pink. During her years with Milwaukee Ballet she had the privilege of performing in some of Michael Pink’s original works including Peter Pan, The Nutcracker, and Cinderella. She then went on to receive her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Point Park University under the direction of Susan Stowe. During her time at the University she performed works including George Balanchine‘s Serenade and Nicolas Petrov‘s Romeo and Juliet. Her professional career began at Eugene Ballet under the direction of Toni Pimble where she was a part of newly created works including Toni’s Great Gatsby and The Snow Queen. She’s also spent seasons dancing with Charlottesville Ballet, Ballet Fantastique and as a freelance artist in Portland, Oregon and Melbourne, Australia. Brooke is thrilled to be back in the Midwest dancing for Minnesota Ballet for her first season.

*Isabella Blindauer was born and raised in Duluth Minnesota, and began dancing at the Minnesota Ballet Academy in 2014. She now has her associates of the arts degree from Lake Superior College, and is working towards a bachelors in early childhood education from St. Catherine’s University. Since joining the company, she has performed in such works as Bruce Wells’ A Midsummer Night's Dream, Sleeping Beauty, and Karl von Rabenaus’ original works of POE, Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale, and Snow White. Her most notable roles include Clara and Madeleine in Allen Fields’ Manhattan Nutcracker, and the Sister and Farmer in Karl von Rabenau’s Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale. She is very happy to be continuing her work with the company and is looking forward to her third season here.

*Brianna Crockett began her training at International Ballet School in Littleton, Colorado, at age 10. At 15, she was awarded the Florence Rustin Award as well as first place at the Denver Ballet Guild competition. Later that year, she was invited to attend the Ellison Ballet Professional Training Program in New York City, where she remained until graduating in 2016. In 2015 she performed in Danse Boheme at Lincoln Center during the Youth America Grand Prix Stars of Today Meet Stars of Tomorrow Gala. Brianna also attended a number of summer intensives on partial or full scholarships including Joffrey Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet, Ellison Ballet, and the School at Jacob’s Pillow. Brianna joined Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company in 2016 and remained there through the 2017-2018 season. During her time at Colorado Ballet, she performed various roles in the company’s major productions including a corps de ballet Swan in Swan Lake, a Flower and Snowflake in The Nutcracker, and a corps dancer in Serenade. She also danced the role of Young Girl in Michael Pink’s Dracula and one of Rosaline’s friends in Derek Deane’s Romeo and Juliet. In 2017, Brianna had the opportunity to work privately with guest artists Jairo Heli Garcia and Paola Rubio from Crisol Dance in Guadalajara, Mexico, to prepare a pas de deux for the choreographers’ piece RedBeat, which was staged for the Studio Company. She has also guested for BRIAH Danse in Boulder, Colorado, performing a number of contemporary works, and for Atlantic City Ballet’s Swan Lake. Brianna is in her fourth season with the Minnesota Ballet. From 2018-2019, she performed roles such as Chosen One in Robert Gardner’s Rite of Spring and grown-up Clara, Ice Fairy, Dew Drop Fairy in Allen Fields’ The Nutcracker. In 2020 to 2021, she danced the role of Clara/Sugar Plum in Karl von Rabenau’s The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale and Aurora in an excerpt from Sleeping Beauty in the spring production Dancing Through.

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A Wiscsonsin native, *Rebekah Docea began her dance education at the age of 4 with a local ballet school located in Brookfield, WI. During her high school years, Rebekah trained with the Milwaukee Ballet School and Academy under the direction of Rolando Yanes, dancing full-time her senior year as a trainee. At MBSA Rebekah danced alongside both the professional Milwaukee Ballet Company and Milwaukee Ballet II in productions such as The Nutcracker, Balanchine’s Serenade, and the world premier of Michael Pink’s Beauty and the Beast. After her experience as a trainee, Rebekah was accepted into the ballet program at the University of Cincinnati, College-Conservatory of Music (CCM), where she graduated summa cum laude earning her BFA in Ballet performance and BA in French studies. During her time in Cincinnati, Rebekah performed a number of classical and contemporary ballets including Pas de Quatre (Carlotta Grisi solo), Giselle, Balanchine’s Serenade, and original works by the CCM faculty. Her studies even took her to Paris, France where she attended both the Sorbonne University and trainee program with Paris Marais Dance School. Rebekah spent two seasons as a professional artist with Roanoke Ballet Theatre under the direction of Rolando Sarabia performing various repertoire including Giselle, Norbert Nirewicz’s Dracula, The Nutcracker (Chinese Tea soloist), Paquita (soloist), and Vivaldi’s Four Seasons. This is Rebekah’s first season with Minnesota Ballet. 

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*Matthew Frezzell began his ballet training in Norfolk, Virginia at Ballet Virginia International under the direction of Janina Bove and Suzanne Lownsbury Long. In 2014, he joined the Orlando Ballet School Academy under the direction of Dierdre Miles Burger. Matthew became a trainee the following year and then joined Orlando Ballet II the next year in 2017 under direction of Robert Hill.  While dancing at Orlando Ballet Matthew had the opportunity to dance in original works by artistic director Robert Hill such as “The Firebird”, “Romeo & Juliet”, “Piano Concerto No.2”, Swan Lake as well as other notable works such as Michael Pink’s “Dracula”, “American Ballet Theatre’s “Don Quixote””and “Val Caniparoli’s “A Cinderella Story”.From 2018-2020 Mathew was a company dancer with San Diego Ballet directed by Javier Velasco. Some of Matthew’s highlights dancing with San Diego Ballet were Basilio in “Don Quixote Suite”, Bottom in “A Midsummer's Night Dream” as well as many leading/soloist roles in original works by Javier Velasco. From 2020-22 Matthew danced as a company dancer with Columbia City Ballet under direction of William Starrett ,where he performed various soloist and corps de ballet roles such as Renfield in “Dracula:Ballet with a bite” and the Jester in “Swan Lake”. For the 2022-23 season Matthew had the opportunity to dance with Ballet San Antonio under the direction of Sofiane Sylve as a corps de ballet dancer. A few highlights include the “King of Hearts “in Brian Enos’ “Alice in Wonderland” and a member of the corps for Houston Thomas’s “Pauline Project”. While dancing with Minnesota Ballet the past two seasons Matthew has danced many featured, exciting, and original roles by Artistic Director Karl Von Rabenau such as “the Accused” and “the Priest” in “Poe”,Snow King and Nutcracker/Cavalier in “The Nutcracker: A Duluth Tale”, “The Huntsman” in “Snow White”, Romeo in “Romeo & Juliet” as well as many others! Matthew is extremely excited for the upcoming season with Minnesota Ballet!

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*Pierce Gallagher originally from Waxhaw, North Carolina Pierce began his training at the age of 8 at Charlotte Ballet Academy where he spent his years training under Sarkis Kaltakchian, Laszlo Berdo, Kati Mayo and Patricia Mcbride. In 2021 Pierce joined Charlotte Ballet’s Pre-Professional program and was promoted to Charlotte Ballet’s second company a year later where he worked for two years. He has performed in works by George Balanchine, Sasha Janes, Helen Pickett, Christopher Stuart and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. Additionally he has attended summer intensives at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, and the Chautauqua Institution. He is very excited for his first season with Minnesota Ballet!

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*Cecilia Hernandez, of Teaneck, New Jersey, began her ballet training at Nunnbetter Dance Theatre under the leadership of Mr. Leath Nunn. She continued her training at her home studio while also attending summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre, Ballet Academy East, Cincinnati Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. Upon graduating high school, she spent two years in PBT’s Graduate Program, where she was honored to perform in the school productions of Don Quixote and Swan Lake. She then became an apprentice for Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre. With PBT, she has performed various corps roles in Swan Lake, the Nutcracker, Beauty and the Beast, the Sleeping Beauty, George Balanchine’s Theme and Variations, and Michael Pink’s Dracula. Her contemporary works include Bolero by Susan Jaffe and Monger by Barak Marshall. Cecilia is beyond thrilled to join the Minnesota Ballet for the 2024/2025 season.

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Brazilian born *Jessica Lopes began her professional ballet training in 2014 at Escola de Dança Alice Arja, until joining and graduating Miami City Ballet’s Pre-Professional Program in 2016. After her time in Miami she returned to Brazil and joined Cia de Ballet do Rio de Janeiro as a Corps de Ballet member. Jessica returned to the states in 2017 joining the Milwaukee Ballet 2 Program where she spent two seasons training and performing alongside their main company. During her time with Milwaukee’s second company Jessica had the opportunity to perform in ballets such as Michael Pink’s Swan Lake and Dracula, excerpts of August Bournonville’s “Napoli”, and Bruce Well’s “ A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, being featured in Corps de Ballet roles throughout those seasons and receiving soloist casting in Milwaukee Ballet’s “Genesis; Choreographic Competition” as well as “A Midsummer Night’s Dream”. In 2019 Jessica joined American Midwest ballet for three seasons, including a digital series during the lockdown where Mrs. Lopes had the pleasure to perform Frank Chavez's “If Only” with her husband, Isaac. Jessica has had the opportunity to work with many renowned choreographers during her training and career including; Aleix Mane Saez, Kathy Posin, Pam Tanowitz, Gerard Ebitz, Michael Pink, Timothy O’Donnell, and many more. This is Jessica’s second season with Minnesota Ballet and her first season as a full company dancer. While with Minnesota ballet Mrs.Lopes has been featured as Princess Florine and Fairy of Courage (Finger Fairy) from Sleeping Beauty and contemporary works like Adam McKinney’s“Home Ablating Downstream” and Karl VonRabenau’s “Rinnovo”.

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Alex McCleery

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From Mesa, Arizona, *Sophia Morgan began her training at Ballet Etudes School of Dance, under artistic director Sharon Meko. After attending summer intensive at Oregon Ballet Theatre in 2022, Sophia was accepted into Oregon Ballet Theatre’s 2nd company (OBT2) under the direction of interim director Peter Franc and, in 2023, artistic director Dani Rowe. Over the two years spent in OBT2, she’s had the opportunity to perform in many of the company productions, such as August Bournonville’s La Sylphide, Christopher Stowell’s Swan Lake and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and Serenade. She is very excited to be entering into her first season with Minnesota Ballet! 

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Originally from Grand Rapids, Michigan, *Taylor Phillips began his dance training at the age of nine at the Letha Fulton’s School of Dance. Letha truly fostered his love of dancing. He later danced at various studios in Grand Rapids including the West Michigan Youth Ballet, where he performed his first Nutcracker. At 16, he moved to Florida to train at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet School under the tutelage of Ariel Serrano and Wilmian Hernandez. In the fall 2022 season he started with the Minnesota Ballet. He will be going onto his second season with the Minnesota Ballet.

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*Ansley Pierce began her training at Hinsdale Dance Academy, then attended the same conservatory as HDA founder and director, Jennifer Grapes Croughan. At UMKC, Ansley trained under Paula Weber, Ron Tice (former dancer with The Zurich Opera-Ballet, The Grand Theatre of Geneva, The Royal Winnipeg Ballet, The North Carolina Dance Theatre, Pacific Northwest Ballet, American Ballet Theatre), DeeAnna Hiett (former dancer with Alvin Ailey), Garry Abbott (co-founder of Deeply Rooted), Tobin James (trained by Martha Graham), and David Justin (former dancer with Royal Birmingham Ballet). Ansley’s training includes a strong classical ballet foundation and modern repertoires of Horton, Graham, Limone, and the Cunningham style and choreography teachings. After two years at UMKC, Ansley transferred to Northern Illinois University School of Theatre and Dance. Here, she trained under Judith Chitwood (former dancer with Cincinnati Ballet), Paula Frasz (founder of Dance Loop Chicago), Marc Macaranas (founding dancer of DanceWorks Chicago), Jennifer Grund (former dancer with Dayton Ballet), and Rich Grund (former dancer with Dayton Ballet and Joffrey Ballet faculty member). In college, Ansley studied pedagogy for ballet and modern, dance history, anatomy, improv, pas de deux, variations, analysis of movement, Jazz, Pilates, and choreography. Ansley has performed many soloist and principal roles, including An American in Paris, Pas de Deux; PHANTOM, by Marc Macaranas; Sea Songs by Paula Frasz; Carmina Burana, restaged by Paula Frasz; Carmen, by Septime Weber, restaged by Rich Grund; The Three Fates, by Ron Tice; as well as numerous works by student choreographers. Through her variety of performance experiences and varied coursework, Ansley discovered a love for choreography. Notably in her first year at NIU, she was the first-ever recipient of the Jerry Tulk Choreography Award and Scholarship. Ansley is now in her first season with the Minnesota ballet as an apprentice.

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*Luke Umphlett is from Columbus, North Carolina, and has been dancing ballet for 10 years!  He has performed roles such as The Nutcracker Prince, The Rat King, The Sugar Plum Cavalier, and so much more!  He just finished his training with The Washington School of Ballet, and is very excited to be entering his second season with Minnesota Ballet!

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**Olivia Anderson

**Natalie Carter

**Adelaide von Rabenau

**Kadence von Rabenau

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*Appearing Courtesy of Minnesota Ballet

**Appearing Courtesy of Minnesota Ballet Academy

Production 

Katie Kampfhenkel