Sergio Alvarez

Hometown: Manizales, Colombia

Joined NBT: 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 in Manon, Siegfried in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake, Frederick in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula.

A 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 NBT: 2021

Training: Ballet Virginia, Ballet West Academy Trainee Program, and an associate’s degree in liberal arts from Tidewater Community College.

A Career Highlight: Performing as a Stepsister in Ben Stevenson's Cinderella, performing the Principal couple in George Balanchine's Allegro Brillante, and performing as Von Rothbart in Ben Stevenson's Swan Lake.

Outside Interests: Penn State University World Campus student studying Psychology. Published writer, recognized with a 2024 Nota Bene Literary Competition scholarship for his short story Pointe Shoes.

Graham E. Barnes

Hometown: Kingsport, Tennessee

Joined NBT: 2026

Training: The HARID Conservatory, and Kingsport Ballet.

Previous Affiliations: Nashville Ballet Company Apprentice and Second Company.

Honors/Awards: 2023 Jeannot B. Corrine Excellence in Dance Performance, 2023 Modern Dance Study Award, HARID Conservatory, 2021 Character Dance Award, HARID Conservatory, and 2019 & 2018 Second Place, YAGP Regionals.

Favorite Roles: Vincent Van Gogh in Vincent by Kingsport Ballet, Bach Drama by Durante Verzola, and Carlos Chavez in Dia de Los Muertos by Maria Konrad.

A Career Highlight: Working for two years with internationally acclaimed choreographer & teacher Maria Konrad, who was also my Second Company Director, where I had the privilege of originating roles and choreography and being mentored by her.

Outside Interests: Teaching, acting, and exploring new adventures.

Stanley Cannon

Hometown: Chicago, Illinois

Joined NBT: 2026

Training: Indiana University Jacobs School of Music, The Chautauqua Institution, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, Miami City Ballet School, Ballet Chicago, and The Hyde Park School of Dance.

Honors/Awards: Premier Young Artist, Indiana University, and Jacobs Bicentennial Scholars and Fellows Award, Indiana University.

Favorite Roles: First Movement Principal in Heatscape by Justin Peck, This Bitter Earth by Christopher Wheeldon, and Principal in George Balanchine's Allegro Brillante.

A Career Highlight: Performing the Waltz Boy in George Balanchine's Serenade under two of Balanchine's ballerinas, Kyra Nichols at IU in 2023, and Patricia McBride at Chautauqua Institution in 2025.

Outside Interests: Thrifting, enjoying nature, playing card games with friends, swimming in Lake Michigan, and taking pictures.

Lucas Castro

Hometown: Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Joined NBT: 2025

Training: Centro de Danca Rio and The Washington School of Ballet Previous Affiliations: Dance Theatre of Harlem, Utah Metropolitan Ballet and Ballet Dalal Achcar.

Honors and Awards: Jacob's Pillow advancement in Dance, Rechenberg Dancer Grant, and First Place CBDD-RJ.

Favorite Roles: Prince Desirè in Sleeping Beauty, Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Franz in Coppelia.

A Career Highlight: Performing Allegro Brillante at the Royal Theatre in Victoria, BC.

Outside Interests: Founder of Castro Ballet, a ballet school dedicated to breaking barriers and delivering world-class training, scholarships, and opportunities to underserved communities across the globe.

Mirella Costa Neto

Hometown: São Paulo, Brazil

Joined NBT: 2017

Training: Miami City Ballet School

Previous Affiliations: Dancer with the Sarasota Ballet.

Honors and 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 NBT: 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.

A Career Highlight: Performing the role of Odette/Odile in Ben Stevenson’s Swan Lake; and other 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 NBT: 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 and 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: Started at Allegheney Ballet Company, Professional Program 2 at Houston Ballet, Trainee at Ballet West

Awards: Penn State IdeaMakers Challenge 2021 First place winner.

Favorite Rolls: Balanchine’s 4 Temperaments 2nd theme, Gerald Arpino’s Viva Vivaldi 3rd movement, and 2nd Pas de deux in Bruce Marks' The Lark Ascending.

Career Highlight: Getting to grow as a professional by dancing live-streamed shows all 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 NBT: 2014

Training: The School of American Ballet, and 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.

Jack Grohmann

Hometown: Louisville, Kentucky

Joined NBT: 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. Graduated from Indiana University with an Outside Field in International Studies.

Rebecca Haftl

Hometown: Exton, Pennsylvania

Joined NBT: 2022

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

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

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

A Career Highlight: Rehearsing and performing Dew Drop from George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.

Outside Interests: Spending quality time with friends and family, reading, cooking/baking, hiking, and Pilates.

Camille Kellems

Hometown: Newport Beach, California

Joined NBT: 2019

Training: Maple Conservatory of Dance under Charles Maple & Indiana University Ballet Department, Class of 2019.

Previous Affiliations: Ballet Project OC, guesting as the Sugarplum in The Nutcracker for Great Lakes Dance in Sarnia, Canada.

A Career Highlight: Performing Wendy in Trey Mcintyre’s Peter Pan, especially given that I was the understudy, and found out I was going on shortly before the performance.

Outside Interests: Pilates, spin classes, hiking, trying new restaurants and hanging with friends.

Cameron Kesten

Hometown: Bossier City, Louisiana

Joined NBT: 2023

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

Previous Affiliations: Ballet West Traineeship.

Favorite Roles: Puss-in-Boots in Ballet West's 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, PA

Joined NBT: 2022

Training: Ballet Theatre of Scranton, The Rock School for Dance Education in Philadelphia, and Charlotte Ballet Trainee.

A Career Highlight: Being coached by Patricia McBride on Fascinatin’ Rhythm in George Balanchine’s Who Cares? and DanceLab in 2024 when I went from an understudy in Hornet’s Nest to being given my own spot and eventually ending up the lead during performances.

Outside Interests: Teaching hot Pilates, traveling, spending time with friends and family, and reading.

Sarah Knutson

Hometown: Baltimore, Maryland

Joined NBT: 2025

Training: Peabody Dance, Baltimore School for the Arts, Miami City Ballet School, Indiana University, and Jacobs School of Music (Bachelor of Science) in Ballet with an Outside Field in Law and Public Policy.

Previous Affiliations: City Ballet of San Diego, and Avant Chamber Ballet.

Honors/Awards: First Place at the 2021 National Society of Arts and Letters National Competition in Dance, and Indiana University Premier Young Artist Scholarship recipient.

Favorite Roles: The Pas de Trois from Balanchine's Emeralds, the corps de ballet in Balanchine's Donizetti Variations, and the pas de deux from Sasha Janes' Chaconne.

A Career Highlight: Working with former New York City Ballet principal dancer Kyra Nichols on Balanchine's Allegro Brillante

Outside Interests: Going to the gym, finding new restaurants and coffee shops, and reading.

Paityn Lauzon

Hometown: Phoenix, Arizona

Joined NBT: 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, Eileen in Twyla Tharp’s Deuce Coupe.

Outside Interests: Hiking and stargazing with my telescope.

Betsy Lucas

Hometown: Hillsboro, Oregon

Joined NBT: 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 NBT: 2016

Training: Lamorinda Ballet Center, Orinda Ballet Academy and Company, Contra Costa Ballet, University of Cincinnati: College Conservatory of Music - BFA in Ballet, and The School at Jacob’s Pillow.

Previous Affiliations: Atlanta Ballet’s Fellowship Program.

Favorite Roles: Gerald Arpino’s Light Rain (Pas de Deux), principal dancer in Nicolo Fonte’s Carmina Burana, Fascinatin’ Rhythm solo in George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, and Trey McIntyre’s Blue Until June.

A Career Highlight: Making it to my 100th performance of The Nutcracker with NBT including all 100+ shows of Snow corps de ballet.

Outside Interests: Yoga, crochet, and spending time with my cat, Luna.

Jessica Ousterhout

Hometown: Alameda, California

Joined NBT: 2025

Training: San Francisco Ballet School, Indiana University, Bachelor of Science in Ballet and Math/Economics.

Previous Affiliations: Kansas City Ballet Second Company.

Favorite Roles: Principal girl in Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations, Nikiya in Phil Chan and Doug Fullington’s Star on the Rise (La Bayadere Reimagined), Red girl in Sasha Janes’ Rhapsodic Dances.

A Career Highlight: Being coached by Kyra Nichols as waltz girl in Balanchine’s Serenade.

Outside Interests: Traveling, baking, and spending time with my family and friends.

Julia Pasquale

Hometown: North Reading, Massachusetts

Joined NBT: 2023

Training: The School of American Ballet and Boston Ballet

Previous Affiliations: Performing with Boston Ballet and Ballet Project OC.

A Career Highlight: Performing as Juliet in James Canfield's Romeo and Juliet.

Mackenna Pieper

Hometown: Denton, Texas

Joined NBT: 2022

Training: Ballet Conservatory and Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division.

Previous Affiliations: Pegasus Contemporary Ballet, Lake Cities Ballet Theater, and Pacific Northwest Ballet.

Honors/Awards: First Place Classical Division YAGP.

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

Career Highlight: Performing Snow and Flowers in Pacific Northwest Ballet’s George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.

Shelby Rambo

Hometown: West Monroe, Louisiana

Joined NBT: 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: Painting, drawing and photography.

Bailey Roberts

Hometown: Portland, Texas

Joined NBT: 2025

Training: I have been dancing for just three and a half years. I started ballet at 21 with the Corpus Christi Ballet under the direction of Cristina Munro. I spent a year there and then did two years of a traineeship with the Oklahoma City Ballet under the direction of Racheal.

Previous Affiliations: Trainee with the Oklahoma City Ballet.

Honors/Awards: Full scholarship for both years as a trainee in Oklahoma City, and full scholarship to ABT’s collegiate summer intensive.

Favorite Roles: Smee in Jordan Morris’ Peter Pan, Corps de ballet in Ryan Jolicouer-Nye’s Carmina Burana, and the Poet in the Les Sylphides Pas de deux.

A Career Highlight: During my first year as a trainee at Oklahoma City Ballet, I was called up to be in the main company’s production of Ryan Jolicouer-Nye’s Carmina Burana. After being called in to understudy several positions, I ultimately found myself cast as the only Trainee in this main stage production.

Outside Interests - I own a photography business specializing in dance photography for the Las Vegas, Phoenix, and Oklahoma City areas.