Sergio Alvarez

Hometown: Manizales, Colombia

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2015

Training: Ballet MILUZKA (Manizales), Ballet Anna Pavlova (Bogotá), Jacob’s Pillow, Ballet Hispánico and The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia.

Previous Affiliations: The Roxey Ballet Company, Ballet Des Moines

Favorite Roles: Des Grieux (from Manon), Siegfried in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake, Frederick in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula.

Career Highlight: Performing in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake with my wife and fellow NBT Company Artist, Mirella Costa Neto. It was a magnificent role and the whole ballet was a dream to dance with my other half, plus my parents traveled from Colombia to see us perform.

Outside Interests: Exploring restaurants in Las Vegas and seeing live performances.

Leo Ameika

Hometown: Virginia Beach, Virginia

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2021

Training: Ballet Virginia, Ballet West Professional Training Division.

Favorite Roles: George Balanchine’s Western Symphony (4th Movement Lead), “Drosselmeyer” in Ballet West’s Nutcracker Showcase, “Franz” in Ballet Virginia’s Coppelia.

Career Highlight: Performing the role of the Nutcracker Prince as a guest dancer with Ballet Repertory Theatre of New Mexico.

Outside Interests: Singing, experimenting with makeup and reading.

Graham E. Barnes

Stanley Cannon

Lucas Castro

Mirella Costa Neto

Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2017

Training: Miami City Ballet School

Previous Affiliations: Dancer with the Sarasota Ballet.

Honors/Awards: Gold Medal At Festival de Dança de Joinville, YAGP Top 12, Finalist in the "Isolist" of the best young talent in Brazil.

Favorite Roles:George Balanchine’s Tarantella and Serenade (Waltz Girl), and “Svetlana” in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula.

Career Highlight: Performing Odette/Odile in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake with my husband, NBT Company Artist, Sergio Alvarez.

Jaime DeRocker

Hometown: Oneida, New York

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2017

Training: The Harid Conservatory

Previous Affiliations: Nederlands Dans Theatre Professional Summer Intensive, Festival Ballet Providence. Honors/Awards: 2009 Dancer of the Year Award - The Harid Conservatory.

Favorite Roles: Odette/Odile in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake, Dark Angel in Viktor Plotnikov’s Coma, Dancer in Nicolo Fonte’s Bolero.

Career Highlight: Performing the role of Odette/Odile in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake; and other various choreographic opportunities.

Outside Interests: Choreography; interior design, architecture, and art. Exploring new art installations and galleries around town.

Madeline Diehl

Hometown: State College, Pennsylvania

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2023

Training: Miami City Ballet School, Ribbon Mill Ballet (Leslie Hench), Performing Arts School of Central Pennsylvania

Previous Affiliations: Nashville Ballet - NB2 Trainee

Favorite Roles: George Balanchine’s Western Symphony (1st Movement), Jerome Robbins 2 & 3 Part Inventions.

Outside Interests: Penn State World Campus student studying Digital Journalism and Media, with an interest in Sports Journalism in the NHL or NFL.

Robert Fulton

Hometown: State College, Pennsylvania

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2019

Training: Allegheny Ballet Company, Houston Ballet (Professional Program), Trainee at Ballet West.

Honors/Awards> Penn State IdeaMakers Challenge 2021 - First place winner.

Favorite Roles: George Balanchine’s Four Temperaments (2nd theme) ,Gerald Arpino’s Viva Vivaldi (3rd movement), Bruce Marks The Lark Ascending (2nd Pas de deux).

Career Highlight: Growing as a professional by dancing in live-streamed shows throughout the pandemic with Ballet Project OC.

Outside Interests: Penn State World Campus Business Major and Founder of The Ballet Scout, a website for dancers to find auditions, training programs, and job opportunities.

Christina Ghiardi

Hometown: Morgantown, West Virginia

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2014

Training: The School of American Ballet, Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program.

Previous Affiliations: Boston Ballet II, Pennsylvania Ballet.

Favorite Roles: Myrtha in Giselle, Striptease Girl in George Balanchine’s Slaughter on 10th Avenue, Flora in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula.

Career Highlight: Performing George Balanchine’s Serenade at the London Coliseum while on tour with Boston Ballet.

Outside Interests: Choreography, teaching ballet and pilates, and hiking.

Rebecca Haftl

Hometown: Exton, Pennsylvania

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2022

Training: School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet School, Philadelphia Ballet School, Chester Valley Dance Academy.

Previous Affiliations: New Chamber Ballet, New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute, New York City Ballet, The Philadelphia Ballet.

Honors/Awards: The School of American Merit Scholarships, Princess Grace Foundation Scholarship nominee by Philadelphia Ballet School.

Favorite Roles: George Balanchine’s Symphony In C, (1st Movement Finale Demi), Donizetti Variations (Principal Variation), and The Sleeping Beauty (Garland Dance).

Career Highlight: Performing George Balanchine’s Scherzo à la Russe in New York City Ballet’s Spring Gala.

Outside Interests: Spending time with family and friends, traveling, reading, baking and thrifting.

Jack Grohmann

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2022

Training: Boston Ballet School under Peter Stark and Margaret Tracey, Indiana University, Miami City Ballet School, The Chautauqua Institution, and The School at Jacob's Pillow.

Favorite Roles: Robbie in Justin Peck's In Creases, The Waltz Boy in George Balanchine's Serenade, and Baryshnikov in Mark Morris' Drink to Me Only With Thine Eyes.

Career Highlight: Performing as the Cavalier in Michael Vernon's The Nutcracker.

Outside Interests: Music, new restaurants, spending time with friends and family. Indiana University Graduate with an Outside Field in International Studies.

Camille Kellems

Hometown: Newport Beach, California

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2019.

Training: Classical Dance Center In Orange County, CA, Maple Conservatory of Dance, Indiana University's Jacobs School of Music (2015-2019).

Previous Affiliations: Ballet Project OC (August 2020 - September 2021)

Favorite Roles: A Matinee Lady in Jerome Robbins's The Concert, Principal Woman in George Balanchine's Valse Fantasie, Corps de Ballet in George Balanchine's Serenade.

Career Highlight: Performing as the Principal Woman in Jerome Robbins's Spring (from Four Seasons). The role was taught to me and coached by the woman who originated the role, former New York City Ballet Principal Dancer Kyra Nichols.

Outside Interests: Cycling or Pilates classes; new restaurants, exploring Las Vegas.

Cameron Kesten

Hometown: Bossier City, Louisiana

---

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2023

Training: Academy of City Ballet of Houston, Houston Ballet Academy.

Previous Affiliations: Ballet West Traineeship.

Favorite Roles: Puss-in-Boots in Ballet West and the Sleeping Beauty , Five Guys in George Balanchine's Who Cares?.

Career Highlight: Guest performing in Dracula with Nevada Ballet Theatre while training at Ballet West.

Outside Interests: Studying psychology at the University of Utah, watching and rating movies, playing board games and chilling with my cat Theo.

Selena Knowlton

Hometown: Clifford, Pennsylvania

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2022

Training: The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia; Ballet Theatre of Scranton.

Previous Affiliations: Charlotte Ballet II.

Favorite Roles: Cinderella, Sugar Plum Fairy, White Cat in The Sleeping Beauty.

Career Highlight: Being coached by Patricia McBride in Fascinatin’ Rhythm in Who Cares?

Outside Interests: Pilates, yoga, walking, and biking; currently pursuing an Associates Degree in Business Administration.

Sarah Knutson

Paityn Lauzon

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2022

Training: Arizona Dance Artistry, Indiana University, Bachelor of Science in Ballet and Astronomy/Astrophysics.

Honors/Awards: First place at the Arizona Chapter of the National Society of Arts and Letters Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition (ranked Top 5 nationally). Recognition as a Premier Young Artist and a Founders Scholar at Indiana University.

Favorite Roles: Waltz Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Giselle, Eileen in Twyla Tharp’s Deuce Coupe.

Outside Interests: Hiking and stargazing with my telescope.

Betsy Lucas

Hometown: Hillsboro, Oregon

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2010

Training: School of Oregon Ball Theatre Pre-Professional Division.

Favorite Roles: “Clara” in NBT’s production of The Nutcracker, choreographed by James Canfield, “Alice” in Septime Webre’s Alice (In Wonderland), “Svetlana” in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula.

Career Highlights: Being coached by Cynthia Gregory, performing the Grand Pas de deux in NBT’s The Nutcracker for the first time, and performing in the National Capezio Awards.

Outside Interests: Sewing and designing dancewear, gardening, home renovations, and cuddling with my rescue shepherd-mixes, Jax and Molly.

Brooke Lyness

Hometown: Moraga, California

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2016

Training: Lamorinda Ballet Center, Orinda Ballet Academy and Company, Contra Costa Ballet, University of Cincinnati: College Conservatory of Music, The School at Jacob’s Pillow, Miami City Ballet Summer Intensive.

Previous Affiliations: Atlanta Ballet: Fellowship Dancer (2014 -2016).

Favorite Roles: Light Rain (Pas de Deux), Nicolo Fonte’s Bolero, Matthew Neenan’s Until December.

Career Highlight: The first time I received flowers on stage (as a lead in Matthew Neenan’s Until December). As an Apprentice at the time, it was special to be chosen to dance in this World Premiere.

Outside Interests: Crocheting.

Jessica Ousterhout

Julia Pasquale

Hometown: North Reading, Massachusetts

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2023

Training: Northeast Youth Ballet, The School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet.

Previous Affiliations: New York City Ballet Choreographic Institute, NBT II, and Boston Ballet.

Favorite Roles: George Balanchine’s Serenade (Waltz Girl), Balanchine's Western Symphony (Corps de Ballet), and Balanchine's Concerto Barocco (Corps de Ballet).

Career Highlight: Performing Chaconne with Boston Ballet.

Outside Interests: Spending time with my family and friends, and walking around exploring new cities.

Mackenna Pieper

Hometown: Denton, Texas

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2022

Training: Ballet Conservatory and Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division.

Previous Affiliations: Pegasus Contemporary Ballet, LakeCities Ballet Theater, Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Honors/Awards: 1st Place Classical Division YAGP.

Favorite Roles: Nikiya in La Bayadere, Medora in Le Corsaire, Paquita Grand Pas de Deux.

Career Highlight: Performing Snow and Flowers in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s new Nutcracker choreographed by George Balanchine.

Shelby Rambo

Hometown: West Monroe, Louisiana

Joined Nevada Ballet Theatre in 2022

Training: Twin City Ballet Company; Linda Lavender School of Dance, West Monroe, LA.

Previous Affiliations: Sacramento Ballet Trainee Project, Ballet West Academy Professional Training Division.

Favorite Roles: Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, Song Fairy in Sacramento Ballet's Sleeping Beauty, and the Principal Dancer in Raymonda.

Career Highlight: Teaching ballet, pointe, variations, and jazz at the Ballet West 2022 Summer Intensive.

Outside Interests: Art (painting, drawing) and photography.

Bailey Roberts