MEET THE DANCERS

CHARLOTTE BALLET

The artists of the Charlotte Ballet are known for their high energy, precision and speed, as well as their ability to perform a versatile repertoire ranging from full-length classical ballets to innovative contemporary works. Charlotte Ballet’s breathtaking beauty, boundless energy and amazing athleticism have dazzled audiences and critics the world over.

8th Season NEW YORK

Raven Barkley

Raven, from Bronx, NY, began dancing at age 10 at Ballet Tech, the New York City Public School for Dance. She furthered her training at the Fiorello H…

4th Season MIAMI

Nadine Barton

Nadine, born in California, began her classical ballet training with Orlando Ballet and went on to study at Artistic Dance Center of Doral in Miami, Miami…

1st Season PENNSYLVANIA

Juan Castellanos

Juan’s dance training began in Dublin, Ireland, where he was born and continued in the U.S. at Metropolitan Ballet Academy…

1st Season PENNSYLVANIA

Luke Csordas

Luke Csordas grew up outside of Allentown, Pennsylvania where he was drawn to dance due to its ability to tell stories and ignite joy. He studied at the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance…

2nd Season CALIFORNIA

Isabella Franco

Isabella, born in Los Angeles, CA, began dancing at the age of 3 at the Marat Daukayev School of Ballet. She attended summer intensives on a merit scholarship at…

15th Season NORTH CAROLINA

Sarah Hayes Harkins

Sarah’s early training was in Asheville, NC, at the Asheville Center of Performing Arts, after which she attended North Carolina School of the Arts in the…

1st Season MARYLAND

Meredith Hwang

Meredith Hwang grew up in Potomac, Maryland, and trained at Metropolitan Ballet Theater and Academy. At age 16, she moved to Boston to train at…

9th Season NORTH CAROLINA

Ben Ingel

Ben is from Charlotte, NC and began his dance training at age 9 with Ginny Siano-Eck of Foothills Dance Conservatory in Seneca, SC and Pavel Gurevich of…

8th Season ILLINOIS

James Kopecky

Born and raised in the suburbs of Chicago, James grew up dancing at Dancenter North. He trained in ballet, jazz, tap, modern and musical theater. After high school…

8th Season MARYLAND

Sarah Lapointe

Sarah began her training in MD at the age of two, attending Mid-Atlantic Center for the Performing Arts until age 14. She studied at Baltimore School for the Arts…

4th Season IDAHO

Rees Launer

Rees began his dance training with Ballet Idaho and Idaho Regional Ballet at age 12. He attended Walnut Hill School for the Arts for three years and graduated cum laude in 2016…

1st Season TENNESSEE

Anna Mains

Anna Mains grew up in Nashville, Tennessee, and began her training at age 8 with Centennial Youth Ballet. From 2016-2018, she danced as a Trainee with…

7th Season MARYLAND

Maurice Mouzon Jr.

Maurice, a Baltimore native, says his first passions were football and baseball, but after being introduced to dance, he started his formal training at Baltimore School…

1st Season NEW YORK

Oliver Oguma

Oliver Oguma was born and raised in New York City. He grew up as a hip-hop dancer and Ford model before he began dancing ballet at the age of 8. He trained at The School of American Ballet, The Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School…

2nd Season OREGON

Emily Porter

Emily Porter began her ballet career on the Oregon Coast and then continued at Marin Dance Theatre in San Rafael, California, with instruction by Margaret Swarthout. She received Youth America Grand Prix awards and attended…

4th Season BRAZIL

Humberto Ramazzina

Humberto was born in São Paulo, Brazil and started his classical ballet training at age 8. In 2006, he danced at The Escolar de Ballet Ines Amaral. He danced at…

8th Season COLORADO

Amelia Sturt-Dilley

Amelia was raised in Colorado where she trained under Karen and David Samuelson. She received her high school education at the Walnut Hill School for…

3rd Season NEVADA

Andrés Trezevant

Andrés began his formal dance training at the Las Vegas Academy of the Arts and continued his training with the Nevada Youth Dancer’s Company. He has…

7th Season NEW JERSEY

Shaina Wire

Shaina, from Sussex County, NJ, started dancing at age 8 at Branchville Dance Centre. Shaina has attended summer intensives at The Nutmeg…

CHARLOTTE BALLET II

Charlotte Ballet II is a group of young professional artists affiliated with Charlotte Ballet. These dancers offer public presentations of their own repertoire as well as appear in performances with the main company. Charlotte Ballet II dancers perform an eclectic mix of choreography including some of their own work. They also appear in lecture demonstrations and residencies at public and private schools.

2nd Season California

Isabella Bertellotti

Isabella Bertellotti is from San Diego, California and began her ballet training at eight at Danceology Academy of Classical Ballet with…

1st Season NEW YORK

Izonna Chaires

Izonna, from Scotia, NY, began dancing at age 5 at Myers Ballet School in Schenectady, NY. At age 12, Izonna continued her training at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet school in Carlisle, PA, where she…

3rd Season PENNSYLVANIA

Tyler Diggs

Tyler, raised in the suburbs of Philadelphia, began his ballet training at age 7 at the Metropolitan Ballet Academy…

1st Season CALIFORNIA

Lorenzo Dunton

Growing up in La Verne, California, Lorenzo started his dance training at Inland Pacific Ballet Academy in Montclair, CA at the age of four. While training at IPBA he attended…

1st Season NORTH CAROLINA

Pierce Gallagher

Pierce Gallagher is from Waxhaw, North Carolina and began training at Charlotte Ballet Academy at the age of eight. During his time in the Academy he performed in works such as eight productions of…

1st Season NORTH CAROLINA

Karsen Gresham

Karsen is from Charlotte, NC and grew up dancing at Charlotte Ballet Academy and Havilah Dance Company. Karsen spent 14 years as a competition dancer training in all styles and genres. As an Academy student, Karsen performed…

1st Season MICHIGAN

Jacy Klein

Jacy Klein began her ballet training at the age of 5 at Brighton School of Ballet and finished her high school years at Young People’s Ballet Theatre…

2nd Season PENNSYLVANIA

Olivia Parsons

Olivia grew up in Yardley, Pennsylvania, a small town right outside Philadelphia. She began her dance training at age 7 attending…