Ballet Austin II
Funded in part by the generosity of Sarah & Ernest Butler through a Ballet Austin Foundation Endowment
Established in 1999, Ballet Austin II is Ballet Austin's apprentice program and second company. The 8 apprentices, ranging in age from 18-23, are employed for 34 weeks. They perform with the main company in larger productions and present a minimum of three independent projects per year in residence at Ballet Austin’s AustinVentures StudioTheater. Additional projects have taken Ballet Austin II to Houston, Dallas and Orange County, as well as smaller venues across Central Texas. Choreographers represented in the Ballet Austin II repertoire include Stephen Mills, Jennifer Hart, Thang Dao, Thaddeus Davis, Nick Kepley, Viktor Kabaniaev, and Nelly van Bommel.
Apprentices are contracted with Ballet Austin II for up to two years during which time they receive artistic guidance, career management counseling and job placement assistance. Each spring Ballet Austin brings artistic directors from across the nation to observe and audition Ballet Austin II dancers in class and rehearsal. Ballet Austin II members take company class, augmented by their own classes and rehearsals conducted by Ballet Austin's artistic staff. Apprentices are paid a weekly salary and Ballet Austin provides rehearsal/performance shoes. A network of healthcare providers offers free care to Ballet Austin II members.
Ballet Austin II apprentices are recruited through Ballet Austin's Summer Intensive Program and the year-round Trainee Program. 70% of the main company’s current roster are graduates of Ballet Austin II. Additionally, former Ballet Austin II dancers have joined the ranks of both ballet and modern dance companies, including Aspen Santa Fe Ballet, Smuin Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Washington Ballet, Nai-Ni Chen, The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, Ballet Met, Kansas City Ballet, Kim Robards Dance Company, Dominic Walsh Dance Theater, Wideman/Davis Dance and Thang Dao Dance, and Oklahoma City Ballet. Through a partnership with St. Edward’s University, Ballet Austin II members are eligible to receive 24 college credit hours for their second company experience.For more information on Ballet Austin II shows click here.
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Natasha Carl
Born in Poughkeepsie, NY, Natasha grew up in Northern California. She studied at Contra Costa Ballet where she was encouraged by her teachers to pursue a ballet career. After an inspiring summer at Ballet Austin's summer intensive program in 2009, she finished high school early to focus her time and energy on ballet and Pilates. In 2010 she moved to Florida to train with Miami City Ballet School's Pre-Professional Division for two years. Dancing with Ballet Austin II for her first season is a dream-come-true for Natasha!
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Kody Jauron
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Kody began his classical ballet training under the direction of Andrew Needhammer and later continued his pre-professional studies at the Miami City Ballet School on full scholarship. Upon graduation of high school, Kody joined Ballet Austin's Trainee Program where he was honored to become a recipient of the Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholarship. He has supplemented his training at summer intensives including Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Ballet Austin. Last season, Kody was privileged to dance featured roles in Thang Dao's Quiet Imprint, George Balanchine's Valse Fantaisie, and the world premiere of Nelly van Bommel's Hansel & Gretel, among others. He is honored to be returning to Ballet Austin II for his second season!
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Grace Morton
Grace is from Seattle, WA and received her early training from Vivian Little and Mary Reardom, school directors of Dance Fremont. In 2010 she moved to Portland, OR and studied under the direction of Damara Bennett in Oregon Ballet Theater's professional division. She had the chance to tour in Korea, and performed in company productions of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker, and Nicolo Fonte's world premiere of Petrushka. Grace also danced roles in the School of Oregon Ballet Theater's student showcase including George Balanchine's La Source, Divertimento No. 15, Kent Stowell's Coppelia, and leading roles in Anne Mueller's Carnival of the Animals and Trey McIntyre's Curupira. In addition, Grace attended summer programs at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and Ballet Austin. She is looking forward to her first year with Ballet Austin II.
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Melissa Roetker
Originally from San Diego, Melissa began her training under the direction of Michelle Noblejas-Bartolomei. She was a trainee with City Ballet of San Diego for the 2010-2011 season before moving to train with Miami City Ballet School for the 2011-2012 season. Additionally, Melissa has attended summer programs at the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Miami City Ballet, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, and, most recently, Ballet Austin. This is Melissa's first season with Ballet Austin II.
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Nicole Voris
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Nicole started her training with Renee Antoinette's School of Dance, Dance Theater of the Southwest and New Mexico Ballet Company. She attended summer programs of San Francisco Ballet School, National Ballet School of Canada, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, Taos Workshops with Jillana, and Ballet Austin. In 2007, she was offered a place in the San Francisco Ballet School year round program where she trained for three years on merit scholarship under Lola DeAvila's direction. She had many opportunities to perform with the main company including Helgi Tomasson's The Nutcracker and the 2009 new Swan Lake. She also performed on the company's 2009 tour of China as a part of the Swan Lake corps de ballet. For the 2010-2011 season Nicole was a part of the Cincinnati Ballet II program. Nicole is excited to be back for a second season with Ballet Austin II.
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Mandy Wenk
Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mandy trained under the direction of Karen Alwin, Deanna Encinias and Patricia Dickinson. At the age of 15, she moved to Philadelphia to continue her education on scholarship at the Rock School for Dance Education. Mandy was awarded the bronze medal at the Youth American Grand Prix in 2006 and spent the following two years training at Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy. As a trainee with Ballet Austin for the 2010-11 season, Mandy was awarded The Sarah and Ernest Butler Scholarship. She would like to thank her family and the Butlers for their continued support. She is honored to be a part of Ballet Austin II for a second season.
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Benjamin Wetzel
A recent graduate of Point Park University (PPU), Benjamin hails from the San Francisco Bay Area. He is thrilled to be returning for a second season with Ballet Austin II. Benjamin became enamored with concert dance while studying Theater Arts at PPU and subsequently found any and every way to "sneak" into more dance classes. At school, he studied ballet and Horton technique. He is very grateful for the opportunity to work with this company.
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Cassia Wilson
Cassia Wilson completed her formal and pre-professional training at the Dallas Ballet Center and Company under the direction of Brent and Judy Klopfenstein. There she held many lead roles including Snow Queen and Medora, danced in works by Jason Fowler and Thom Clower, and received professional training with Kim Able. Cassia is the recipient of the 2009 Natalie Skelton Scholarship by the Dance Council of North Texas, the 2010 Outstanding Student - RDASW, the 2010 Lynn Kubinec Heart of a Dancer Scholarship, and three Guild Merit Scholarships. She was thrilled to attend summer intensives at School of American Ballet, Ballet Magnificat!, and Nashville Ballet, and was offered a full-tuition scholarship to Pacific Northwest Ballet. For the past two seasons Cassia was a member of Nashville Ballet II where she performed roles in Anne Frank, folk ballets, and with the Company in Paul Vasterling's Carmina Burana, The Nutcracker, and Salsa Dreams. She is excited about her first season with Ballet Austin II.
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