Directors

Stephen Mills, Artistic Director (Bios)
Cookie Ruiz, C.F.R.E., Executive Director (Bios)
Michelle Martin, Associate Artistic Director (Bios)
William Piner, Academy Director (Bios)
Vicki Parsons, Butler Community School Director (Bios)

Stephanie Locklear, Schools Customer Relations/Project Coordinator
Eve Anderson, Registrar & Customer Relations

Vlada Sheber, Pilates Program Director (Bios)
Toni Bravo, Leaps & No Bounds Program Director (Bios)
Joan Wolfe, Creative Ballet Director (Bios)
Joshua Piper, Pianist Coordinator (Bios)

Faculty

Shepherd Allen
Phil Amador
Pei-San Brown
Amanda Bucher

Dane Burch
Orlando Julius Canova
Cheryl Chaddick
Divya Dinakar
Rebekah Fowler

Meghan Gill Bowman
Tyler Guthrie
Emily Igoe

Brittany Harpole
Aminya Houston
Arletta Howard-Logan
Kody Jauron
Vivian Kaw

Jean Claude Lessou
Betsy Lindley
Alex Miller
Prakash Mohandas
Kaitlyn Moise

Elise Pekarek
Madison Piner
Magdalena Riley
Lisa del Rosario
Vincent Sandoval
Brittany Strickland
Christopher Swaim
Kathryn Waggoner
Cassia Wilson
Terri Lynn Wright

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Vicki Parsons, Butler Community School Director
Vicki Parsons is the Director of Ballet Austin's Butler Community School. Her primary role is to develop, implement and manage dance and fitness programming in the Butler Community School, and through classes and community-based programs, promote the value of life-long health and well-being through a wide variety of movement styles to a multi-generational enrollment.

Ms. Parsons joined the staff of Ballet Austin in 1999 after working as a Ballet Austin volunteer for two years. Ms. Parsons has over 25 years of experience working in the field of Long Term Care, specifically in direct care as a Recreation Therapist, using therapeutic recreation as a treatment intervention to improve overall wellness. She also worked extensively with preschoolers, developing physical activity programs for that age. Promoting physical activity to people of all ages continues to be an interest to her. Ms. Parsons taught at Austin Community College for 13 years and worked with several non-profit organizations to develop and present workshops on lifelong health and well-being.  She holds current certifications as a Senior Fitness Instructor, a Youth Fitness Specialist, and a Group Exercise Instructor.  She is also a certified Fitness Business Manager, and has completed her certification in Advanced Sports Nutrition.

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Toni Bravo, Leaps & No Bounds Program Director
BCS Modern & Body Sculpting Instructor
Maria Antonieta (Toni) Bravo is the Leaps and No Bounds Program Director. Ms. Bravo is originally from Mexico City and holds a Master's Degree in Theatre History and Criticism, with a minor in Dance Pedagogy (University of Texas, 1987). Since 1975, she has taught and performed as a professional dance artist in Mexico, England, Israel, Costa Rica, Germany, Spain and throughout the United States. Ms. Bravo began teaching for the Ballet Austin Academy in 1990 and, since 1991, the City of Austin has funded her performance and educational projects. In 1991, 1992 and 1998, she received awards from the Texas Commission on the Arts for her workshop projects with the Travis County Juvenile Court and Austin Housing Authority Education Department. Ms. Bravo spearheaded Ballet Austin's in-school movement programs, which are currently conducted in a number of school districts throughout the Greater Austin area. She continues to develop curriculum as well as train and monitor Academy faculty.

Ms. Bravo also teaches modern dance to kids and adults in the Butler Community School, and her Body Sculpting class has become a favorite BCS drop-in conditioning class for many.

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Vlada Sheber, Pilates Program Director & Certified Core Connections® Pilates Instructor

Originally from the Ukraine, Ms. Sheber received her training in classical ballet from the State Classical Ballet College of Russia (Voronezh). Vlada performed as a soloist in the Donetsk Ballet Theatre before immigrating to the United States. She was a member of Ballet Austin from 1992-2003 and danced a variety of classical and contemporary roles, including the original Lady Capulet in Stephen Mills' Romeo and Juliet.

In 2002, Vlada received her diploma as a Certified Core Connections® Pilates Instructor from the Core Connections® Comprehensive Teacher Training Program at the Pilates Center of Austin.  There she studied under Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle.  In the summer of 2009 Vlada attended a workshop conducted by Wendy LeBlanc-Arbuckle and Michele Larsson that gave her additional insight into working with older clients. Ms. Sheber is also a Post-Rehabilitative Breast Cancer Exercise Specialist.

In 2002 Vlada worked in a physical therapy clinic with Allison Bennett (Women’s Health specialist) and joined the Ballet Austin Pilates Studio as an instructor.  In 2005 she was acknowledged as a "Pre-eminent Purveyor of Pilates" by Austin Monthly Magazine.  In 2007 Vlada was appointed Director of the Butler Community School’s Pilates Program.  She also designed the layout of the Pilates studio. In recognition of Ballet Austin's commitment to excellence, Ballet Austin’s Pilates studio has been chosen as “Best Pilates Studio in Austin” by Rare Magazine and Austin Fit Magazine.

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Shepherd Allen, Hip Hop Instructor

Shepherd Chase Allen is a dancer/choreographer born and raised in Austin TX. Shepherd has been in numerous commercials (Mtv, Nike, Dominoes Pizza just to name a few...) and has performed all over Austin and the United States. He has been teaching and choreographing since he was 14 which has given him plenty of time to stylize his teaching methods. He is a co-founder of the dance crew Urban Transit and was a finalist for Season 4 of So You Think You Can Dance (top 80) as well as in the reality show Chance to Dance. He also is a member of the Dancers Rock Touring Convention and currently teaches at a number of studios in the Austin area. Hip Hop is his dance passion but he has studied contemporary, modern, and lyrical which has helped him find his own "infused" style. His current mission is to bring the fun back to dance and remind all of us why we found ourselves loving this art in the first place.

Check out this great article in the American Statesman about Shepherd and hip hop at Ballet Austin.

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Phil Amador, Zumba® Instructor

Phil Amador is an aerobics instructor specializing in Zumba® Fitness. He is an enthusiastic teacher and has brought his style of aerobic dance fitness to several local fitness venues over the years including: Galaxy Dance, Corazon Latino Dance Studio, YMCA of Austin, Tapestry Dance, The Hills Health Club and Wellness Center, Uptown Dance, and BodyBusiness Fitness Club. Phil is a certified Group Exercise Instructor with YMCA USA, a licensed Zumba® Fitness Instructor and holds certifications in CPR and AED. Phil is very excited about sharing his passion for fitness at Ballet Austin's Butler Community School.

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Pei-San Brown, Hula Instructor

Kumu Hula Pei-San Ka'ua Brown hails from the island of Oahu, where she first studied hula and ballet at the age of 5. She has been a member of several dance companies, including Disney Entertainment Arts (Los Angeles, CA), the Raul Cruz Dance Company (Orange County, CA), Third Coast Jazz (Austin, TX), and Austin Musical Theatre. She debuted on the silver screen as Miss Alaska, a principal dancer and top ten finalist in the movie Miss Congeniality.

Pei-San earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance and a Bachelor of Science in Biology at the University of California at Irvine in 1994, as well as a Master’s degree in Education at UT Austin in 1999. She is a published author in the fields of education and cognitive development, and has been Community Education Director at Ballet Austin since 2004.

Pei-San studies hula with Kumu Hula Keli'i Chang of Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i in Houston, TX. She has also studied with Kumu Hula Paul Ho'omanawanuiikana'auao Apo (Honolulu, HI), Joyce Flaugher (San Antonio, TX), Kumu Hula Ellen Gay Delarosa (Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, HI), Kumu Hula Keith Awai (Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, HI), and Kumu Hula Lorraine Daniels (Magic Hula Studio, Honolulu, HI). In April 2006, she was honored to compete with Kumu Chang and Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i in the Merrie Monarch Hula Festival, the world's most prestigious hula competition. In May 2011, she attained the rank of Kumu Hula (Hula Master).

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Amanda Bucher, Certified Pilates Instructor

Amanda's love for Pilates originated from her profession as a commercial and theatrical dancer. She began her professional career in Los Angeles in 2004, where she began working for Disney. She has danced behind artists such as Leann Rimes and Hilary Duff, and continued to sharpen her dance and jump rope skills with Disney. Dancing with Holland America Line allowed her to travel to almost 50 countries, and in 2008 had the wonderful privilege to work as a stunt actress for Universal Studios Japan in Osaka. She was also part of L.A.'s Urban Poets when they performed in the 2009 Fringe Festival in Edinburgh, Scotland. In addition to a BBA in Finance from The University of Texas at Austin, Amanda has a fully comprehensive Pilates certification from L.A.'s Pilates Sports Center, where she learned both classical and progressive repertoire. Her teaching style focuses on neutral spine while providing the client with modifications and/or challenging variations. You'll leave each session with a better understanding of your body and feeling worked out, taller and refreshed. She truly believes Pilates is for every body and hopes to still be practicing it when she's 90!

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Dane Burch, Contemporary and Barre Cardio Instructor
Dane was raised in northwest Oregon where he started dancing at the age of 10. After high school he was awarded a scholarship to Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. He trained there for several years, preparing him for the performance industry. Dane has worked with choreographers such as Mandy Moore, Malaya, JT Horenstein, Terri Best and many more. He has worked with MTV, danced on the NBC show "American Dreams" and has performed and choreographed numerous live shows around the L.A. area. In 2008 he ended a 5 year run working with Tremaine Dance Conventions and he has been traveling the U.S. judging for Creations Dance Championships. 

Dane currently lives in Austin, TX where he teaches dance and choreographs for private studios and local high schools. This year he was a part of professional development of Austin Independent School District dance teachers. He has also helped in the production of live show benefiting charities around the U.S.  He is enjoying sharing his talents with the dance community of Austin.

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Cheryl Chaddick, Modern Instructor
Cheryl Chaddick taught modern dance in San Francisco from 1983 until moving to Austin in 2007. Starting in 1985, she also had her own modern dance company, Company Chaddick. In 1991 Alonzo King invited her to teach at his studio and she was on faculty there until she and her husband moved to Austin, in her home state of Texas.

Ms. Chaddick has been trained in all styles of dance with emphasis on modern and ballet, which are reflected in her movement and choreography. In the Bay Area she was on the faculties of the University of California, Berkeley; San Francisco School of Theater and Arts; Alonzo King's Pre-Professional Summer Program; and Summer Lee Rhatigan's San Francisco Conservatory of Dance.

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Divya Dinakar, Bollywood Fitness Instructor

Originally from Bangalore, India, Divya Dinakar is an engineer at Intel Corporation by day and a dance aficionado otherwise. She is formally trained in Kathak, an Indian classical form of dance and has been dancing to Bollywood songs all her life. Divya is also a certified Zumba instructor. In addition to dance, she is a running enthusiast. Dance and fitness combination classes always excite her and she is thrilled to be an instructor at Ballet Austin. 

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Rebekah Fowler, Zumba®, Brazilian Dance, & Kids Zumbatomic® Instructor

An avid student of Brazilian dance since 1995, Rebekah Fowler continues to study and share the dance traditions of Rio, Bahia, and beyond. Since 2000, she has been teaching students how to samba "like they do it in Brazil," focusing on footwork, technique, and the Brazilian spirit of "alegria e charme" (joy and charm). Rebekah has worked in the United States and the United Kingdom as a performer, choreographer, and teacher of Brazilian dance for all ages and skill levels. In addition to teaching ongoing classes in the community, she has worked as choreographer and dance director for the Austin Samba School, one of the largest samba schools in the U.S. Rebekah is also a licensed Zumba® Fitness instructor and AFAA-certified group fitness instructor who enjoys transforming her exercise classes into a dance-party workout while having fun with students on the dance floor. She has trained in Brazil and the U.S. with Rosangela Silvestre, Nildinha Fonseca of the Balé Folclórico da Bahia and members of DanceBrazil. In addition to showing her students just how fun Brazilian dance and dance fitness can be, she also works as a translator (Spanish/Portuguese > English).
 

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Meghan Gill Bowman, Tap, Jazz & Contemporary Choreography

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Tyler Guthrie, Pilates Instructor
Tyler has had a passion for fitness and nutrition all her life.  Her involvement in athletics and interest in “clean” eating diet habits led her to pursue Personal Training certification through ACE.  After graduating from SMU, Tyler moved to Austin and began her career in fitness, teaching boot camps, spinning classes, and creating customized programs to help clients reach their goals.  Tyler began her advancement in Pilates training through PEAK Pilates in 2009 while continuing her personal training pursuits.  Tyler is an education enthusiast who loves learning about the body and what techniques help each client find their ideal level of fitness and performance. Tyler has an understanding and compassionate approach to fitness.  She enjoys challenging her clients but tailors each workout regimen carefully to ensure that she is meeting the particular needs of each client.  She is available to her clients at all times to answer questions, motivate, and help each client reach their true potential. 

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Brittany Harpole, Certified Pilates & Fitness Instructor
Brittany Harpole was introduced to Pilates though her 15 years of classical ballet training. She studied under Vlada Sheber, director of Ballet Austin's Pilates Program. She is also certified with Peak Pilates and Power Pilates; both internationally recognized companies. Brittany danced with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre's scholarship program and The Richmond Ballet. Her passion for fitness and movement guides her clients though personalized sessions to help achieve goals and specific fitness needs.

Brittany is also a Certified Turbo Kick® Instructor.

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Aminya Houston, Hip Hop and Jazz Instructor
Aminya Houston was born and raised in Austin, Tx where she began dancing at the age of 3. She is trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, hip-hop and musical theater. She competed and performed with the award winning dance company Body Talk directed by Kim Willett for 11 years. While in Body Talk she performed at the 1999 Texas Inauguration and also appeared on the FOX Network. Aminya received scholarships from several training conventions such as L.A. Danceforce, Tremaine, L.A. Dance Magic, and Monsters of Hip Hop. She enjoys training in Los Angeles at the Edge Performing Arts Center with Bill Prudich, Adam Parsons, Mandy Moore, Malaya, Doug Caldwell, Tovaris, Erica Sobol and Tabitha & Napoleon, and many more talented choreographers. This year, she had the opportunity to teach at the 2012 Texas Dance Educators Association Convention. Aminya currently teaches dance and choreographs for several high schools in the Austin area, and private studios around the U.S. Aminya loves sharing her passion for dance and very excited to do so with the BCS.

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Arletta Howard-Logan, Ballet Instructor
On faculty since 1996, Arletta Howard-Logan enjoys making ballet available to both professional and nonprofessional dancers through her instruction in the Butler Community School. Ms. Howard-Logan co-owned Austin Dance Academy (ADA) from 1986 to 1996. In 1996, ADA merged with Ballet Austin Academy and joined the Ballet Austin Academy faculty. She began her relationship with Ballet Austin as a guest dancer in 1992.

During her career, Ms. Howard-Logan has focused on artistic direction, teaching, performing and choreographing for such establishments as Austin Ballet Theatre, Austin Conservatory of the Arts, San Angelo Civic Ballet and Northcross Mall's ice skaters. As a performer, she danced for institutions including Ballet Austin, Austin Ballet Theatre, Incarnate Word College Ballet in San Antonio, Corpus Christi Concert Ballet, Victoria Ballet Theatre and Beaumont Civic Ballet. Her professional experience as well as the education she received as an aspiring dance pupil helped to shape her distinctive approach to teaching dance. Ms. Howard-Logan trained with the Royal Academy of Dancing Majors, earning various awards and accolades for her ballet technique. She has also studied with Oklahoma City Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and several other schools and companies.

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Emily Igoe, Ballet Fit Instructor
Emily began her dance training  at age 10 In Durham, NC under the direction of Lindsay Tilley. At the age of 15, Emily moved away from home to study ballet at Virginia School of the Arts under the direction of Petrus Bosman and Tyrone Brooks.   Emily then trained and graduated high school form The University of North Carolina School of the Arts in Winston Salem, NC under the direction of Ethan Steifel. She has spent several summers training with  NC School of the Arts, Atlanta Ballet and Carolina Ballet.  While training, Emily has danced works by Melissa Hayden, Jennifer Medina, Armando Luna, Heather Maloy, Tyler Walters, and Jennifer Archibald  among many others. 

Emily graduated college from East Carolina University in Greenville, NC with a BFA in Dance.  While in college, Emily trained under the direction of Galina Panova, Timour Bourtasenkov, and Patty Weeks. She has performed in every East Carolina's main stage production and choreographed her own piece to be danced by other students.

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Kody Jauron, Contemporary Dance, Jazz Funk, & Videodance™ Instructor
Originally from Phoenix, Arizona, Kody began his classical ballet training with 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 Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, and Ballet Austin all on scholarship. Last season, Kody was privileged to dance alongside Ballet Austin II in Stephen Mills’ “Red Roses” and Thang Dao’s “Quiet Imprint,” among others.  This year will be his first season as a member of Ballet Austin II.

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Vivian Kaw, Hula Instructor
Ms. Kaw was born in Honolulu, Hawaii. She began taking hula lessons from her mother, a hula teacher. These lessons eventually grew into a deep love of Hawaiian dance and culture.

Ms. Kaw currently studies hula with Kumu Hula Keli'i Chang's Halau Ho'ola Ka Mana O Hawai'i in Houston, TX. She has also studied with Kumu Hula Ellen Gay Delarosa (Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, HI), Kumu Hula Keith Awai (Polynesian Cultural Center, Laie, HI), Kumu Hula Lorraine Daniels (Honolulu, HI), Kumu Hula Paul Ho'omanawanuiikana'auao Apo (Honolulu, HI), and Joyce Flaugher (San Antonio, TX). She competed in the prestigious Merrie Monarch Hula Festival in April 2006 with Kumu Chang. She is a founding member of the Island Rhythms Hula Company in Austin, TX, and is its current Artistic Director.

Ms. Kaw is active in film, television, print, and runway in Austin, TX. She is also an avid salsa dancer.

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Jean Claude Lessou, West African Instructor
Jean-Claude was born and raised in Abidjan, Ivory Coast in West Africa.  He began dancing professionally at age 15, and performed with the Dante Theater Company for five years before touring the U.S. as principal dancer with Ballet Jolem.

He regularly performs and teaches at dance camps and festivals throughout the U.S.  He produced a special event for children at the Kennedy Center, performing masked dances from his own village.  During the past 10 years, he taught at Lisangua Ya Bato Dance and Drum Camp in Woodstock, New York and worked with students and faculty at Goddard College, Saint Michael’s College, Middlebury College and Norwich University in Vermont.

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Betsy Lindley, Cardio Blast Instructor

Betsy Lindley is a recent graduate of Texas State University where she received her degree in Theatre Arts. She grew up in an extremely active family who instilled in her a love for fitness from an early age. She has been teaching group exercise for over a year now and is certified through the Aerobics and Fitness Association of America. Betsy loves group classes the most and hopes to provide a safe, comfortable and FUN environment. As well as an instructor, she is also an actress and musician. Her love for music plays a huge role in her classes. You will find the music turned up and the energy level high!

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Alex Miller, Certified Pilates Instructor and Contemporary Dance Instructor
Alex is a Certified Pilates Instructor, having received her training through Balanced Body University. Alex has a BFA in Performing Arts with a concentration in Dance from the University of Louisiana at Lafayette, cum laude graduate. She has dance and performance experience. Her great personality combined with her knowledge of Pilates mat and reformer will and encourage and provide motivation for your workout. Aside from teaching Pilates, Alex has been performing with local choreographers in the Austin area, and teaches modern dance technique.

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Prakash Mohandas, Bollywood Dance Instructor
Prakash Mohandas is the founder of Agni Performing Arts based in Austin, TX. He is trained in Bollywood, Hip Hop and Jazz. He is also a filmmaker, entrepreneur, actor, and musician and is the founder of Agni Entertainment, film and theatre production company. His recent theatre project Lanka was a touring stage production that combined theatre, dance and martial arts. Prakash is currently working on a larger than life touring Bollywood musical based on a very popular Bollywood film.

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Kaitlyn Moise, Ballet & Ballet Fit Instructor & Kids Musical Theatre Instructor
Originally from Houston, Kaitlyn trained at North Carolina School of the Arts before moving to Austin to be a trainee with Ballet Austin in 2007. In May 2011 she graduated from St. Edward’s University with a Communications degree. She has attended several summer intensives including North Carolina Dance Theatre, Virginia School of the Arts, Miami City Ballet, and Ballet Austin. She most recently has jumped into the world of musical theater and performed in several musicals with St. Edward’s Mary Moody Northen Theatre, SummerStock Austin and Zilker Theatre. She is thrilled to be teaching at Ballet Austin's Butler Community School. 

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Elise Pekerak, Pilates & Fitness Instructor
Originally from the Chicago area, Elise began her ballet training with Judith Svalander in Crystal Lake, Illinois. In 2007 she was accepted into Ballet Austin's Trainee Program and moved to Austin to further her dance education. In 2009 Elise joined Ballet Austin II and has just finished her second season as a BAII apprentice and is thrilled to be returning this fall as a company member for the 2011/12 season.

Elise had utilized Pilates as a part of her ballet training and as a means of injury prevention and rehabilitation, but after moving to Austin Elise found a passion for Pilates, fitness and wellness. In 2009, Elise studied with Ann Arnoult and became certified in the D.K. Body Balancing Method of Pilates mat instruction. She is also certified with Balanced Body Pilates. When not dancing, she enjoys running, kickboxing, Pilates reformer classes, and teaching swim lessons. Elise looks forward to working with clients in the Pilates Center, and motivating people through her fitness and conditioning classes to achieve results and improve wellness through movement...all while having fun!

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Madison Piner, The Broadway Kids Camp Director
Madison Piner has been studying dance at the Ballet Austin Academy and Butler Community School for 12 years including classes in ballet, jazz, tap and musical theatre. She also studied voice with Dr. Michael McKelvey and was a member of Performers Workshop. Some of her past musical theatre production credits include Music Man and Carousel with TexARTS, Thoroughly Modern Millie, Assassins, Sweet Charity, The Producers, and Little Shop of Horrors with Summerstock Austin, and The Sound of Music, The Wizard of Oz and Celebrate! with Austin Musical Theatre.

Maddie has served as dance captain for numerous musical theatre productions, taught jazz at Ballet Austin's Summer Intensive program, directed The Broadway Kids Spring Break camp, and has assisted for many Ballet Austin camps and classes. While at Cedar Park High School, Maddie performed the roles of Judy in White Christmas, Truly Scrumptious in Chitty Chitty Bang Bang, and Lady Macbeth in Macbeth, for which she was awarded Best Actress in the UIL Zone competition. Maddie currently attends Oklahoma City University where she is a dance performance major.

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Joshua Piper, Pianist Cooordinator
In his role as Pianist Coordinator for Ballet Austin, Joshua Piper accompanies dance classes and manages accompanist schedules for the Ballet Austin Company, Ballet Austin Academy, and the Butler Community School. In addition to working for Ballet Austin, Joshua is also the pianist for the Tosca Tango Orchestra, works with the Vintage 15 jazz big band, is staff organist and pianist for Asbury United Methodist Church, plays for Royal Academy of Dance exams, and teaches a small group of piano students ranging from children to adults. A dog-lover and avid runner, in 2011 Joshua completed the Austin Marathon, and one can often find him running along the Town Lake Trail, or at the Auditorium Shores Dog Park with Samantha, his corgi-mix. He holds a BA in Piano Performance from Bethel College in North Newton, Kansas.

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Magdalena Riley, Ballet Instructor
Magdalena Riley was born in Leszno, Poland fifteen minutes after her fraternal twin sister, Maria. She grew up in Baltimore where she started training at the Peabody Conservatory which offered the RAD curriculum and at the Baltimore School for the Arts. At Peabody and BSA she had the good fortune of studying under many talented and dedicated teachers and also had the opportunity to perform in many original and restaged works by the likes of Gus Solomons Jr., Lisa De Rebiere, David Grenke, Hinton Battle, Anton Wilson, Ron Cunningham, Jon Clifford, and David Parsons to name a few. After a year spent at NYU's Tisch School of the Arts she gave up dancing for a bit and eventually earned a BA in at the New College of Florida where she focused on American literature and philosophy. She also picked up her Ballet studies with Pavel Fomin at the Sarasota Ballet. Magdalena spent eight years in San Francisco taking class with wonderful teachers such as Augusta Moore, Arturo Fernandez, and Summer Lee Rhatigan. While there she performed in the work of Robert Moses, Yannis Andoniou and Arturo Fernandez, and spent two home seasons performing with Alonzo King's Lines Ballet. She started teaching upon relocating to Austin and deeply enjoys sharing her knowledge and experience with students of all ages.

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Lisa del Rosario, Certified Feldenkrais® Instructor
Lisa del Rosario began her dance studies at the Margo Marshall School of Ballet and the Cleveland San Jose School of Ballet. She continued her training as a Heywood “Woody” McGriff Presidential Scholarship student at the University of Texas at Austin where she received her BFA in Dance. She also studied classical piano and violin for many years and in her later years Pilates, Yoga, Tai Chi, qigong, Droznin System, Vipassana Meditation, and the Feldenkrais Method® of movement education. She currently is a member of DA! Theatre Collective and Sheep Army/Elsewhere Dance Theatre, and also performs her own solo work, along with independent choreographers, locally, nationally, and internationally.  Lisa has taught and choreographed at the Dougherty Arts School, the McCallum High School Fine Arts Academy, Tapestry, and the Texas Arts Project at St. Stephen's Episcopal School. Lisa is thrilled to be in her eighth season teaching Pre-Ballet at Ballet Austin Academy and Feldenkrais® in the Butler Community School.

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Vincent Sandoval, Theatre Dance & Broadway Tap Instructor
Vincent Sandoval is originally from Houston,TX. He graduated from the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts and was awarded Most Outstanding Graduating Senior. He also earned his Arts Degree from Oklahoma City University and was also awarded Most Outstanding Graduating Senior. Vincent went on to pursue his professional career in New York City.

His performing credits include Radio City Christmas Spectacular, Spring Spectacular (Radio City Music Hall, Featured Dancer), Evita  & Singin’ In The Rain (Paper Mill Playhouse). He has also toured internationally in Crazy For You (European), Victor/Victoria ( First Broadway National) and Fosse (First Broadway National, Dance Captain).

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Kathryn Waggoner, Jazz, Contemporary, Hip Hop and Kids Dance Instructor
Kathryn Waggoner, originally from Houston,Texas began her dance training at the age of 5. While attending the University of Texas at Austin, Kathryn also pursued her professional dance career by receiving dance scholarships from Millennium Dance Complex and The Pulse on Tour in Los Angles. There she trained with the industry's top choreographers and performed in showcases in the city.

After receiving her degree in Liberal Arts and Communications from the University of Texas at Austin, Kathryn moved to New York City to work as a selected intern for PTC Productions aka The Pulse on Tour. Kathryn continued her commercial dance training while in New York, and also became immersed in the musical theater world.

Due to having worked with some of the top dancers in the country, Kathryn is constantly inspired to continue her own dance training while contributing what she loves most to her students.

She is incredibly excited to be back from NY and once again teaching at Ballet Austin's BCS. She looks forward to working with students of all ages and choreographing more works in Austin, Texas.

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Cassia Wilson, Kids Zone Instructor & Adult Ballet Instructor
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.

She also has a passion for teaching all ages, from preschoolers to adults, and looks forward to teaching in both the Academy and the Butler Community School.

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Terri Lynn Wright, Ballet Instructor
Ms. Wright received her early training with Barbara Carson and Stanley Hall in Austin, Texas. She studied with Robert Joffrey, Patricia Wilde, Kristen Ralov, Kirsten Simone, and Peter Appel during summers in the U.S. and Europe. Ms. Wright began her professional dance career in Wiesbaden, Germany, followed by ten years with the North Carolina Dance Theatre where she became principal dancer as well as an assistant to director Salvatore Aiello.

She enjoyed Dance Theatre's diverse repertoire that included works by choreographers such as Salvatore Aiello, Oscar Ariaz, George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Bill Evans, Lambros Lambrou, Luk de Layress, Robert Lindgren, Lar Lubovich, Susan McKee-McCullough, Elisa Monte, Vincente Nebrada, Marius Petipa, Helgi Tomasson, Mel Tomlinson, Norbert Vesak, Mauricio Wainrot and Alvin Ailey. Leading roles performed in Balanchine's Allegro Brillante, Scotch Symphony, Glinka Pas de Trois, Pas de Dix and Valse Fantasie were coached by Melissa Hayden and Marina Eglevsky.

Ms. Wright has taught master classes while touring with NCDT throughout the U.S. and Europe, for summer sessions at North Carolina School of the Arts, and was a guest teacher at the Arts Magnet School in Dallas. She continues to help care for works choreographed by the late Mr. Aiello.

As a teacher, Ms. Wright's methods evolve with Ballet Austin, the students' needs and the ever increasing demands put upon the professional dancer.

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