Kirsten Nagiba began ballet lessons in Boston at age 5. She studied with Boston Ballet and later performed with New York City Ballet in Saratoga Springs for three consecutive summers. Kirsten joined Boston Ballet II in 1984 at age 16, where she also performed with the main company as an apprentice. From 1986–1988, Kirsten danced with the Omaha Ballet Company. In 1988, she joined Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, where she spent nine years performing numerous corps de ballets, solos, and principal roles. With a 20-year performing career encompassing a wide range of roles, choreographers, and styles, Kirsten's goal is to pass on her knowledge and experience to her VBTS students.

Jen Daniels has had the honor and privilege of calling herself a dancer for a lifetime. Her ballet training began at the age of seven with a small regional ballet company in Pennsylvania, Berks Ballet Theatre, which afforded her a vast array of performance opportunities, from traditional roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and La Sylphide to more contemporary roles in experimental choreography and Balanchine ballets such as Jewels.

Jen studied at Burklyn Ballet Theatre, Richmond Ballet, the Washington School of Ballet, and in St.Petersburg, Russia, at the Institute of Culture. She also learned from ballet masters such as David Howard, Alexander Godunov, and Mary Day.

Jen has had a few professional lives, first as a trained facilitator in conflict transformation, peacebuilding, and cross-cultural communication, which brought her to New Mexico, New Haven, CT, and as far away as the Russian Far East and Siberia.

She is also a licensed landscape architect and has practiced in Jackson, Wyoming, and most recently in Washington, DC, for the Smithsonian's National Zoological Park and Conservation Biology Institute.

In the summer of 2018, Jen, her husband, and their three teenage children relocated to the mountains of Vermont to launch a hemp company, Meristem Farms, which brought them to the soils of the Northeast Kingdom.

Recently, she and her family moved to Colchester, where they are enjoying their proximity to Lake Champlain. Jen looks forward to bringing creativity, music, and rich pedagogy to the studio as a catalyst for sparking a love of dance in the youngest of dancers.

Kylie Victoria Edwards started her ballet training under Alex and Kirsten Nagiba at VBTS in 1999, dancing all the way up to VBT’s Company. In 2012, she moved to New York to train under Valentina Kozlova at VKDCNY while attending "The Professional Children’s School" in New York City. She completed her Vaganova training throughout high school at SLK Ballet under Sara Knight, as well as under Irina and Maxim Dvorovenko. Upon graduating in 2016, Kylie received a contract with the City Ballet of San Diego. She danced there for two seasons, performing works such as Balanchine’s La Source and Serenade and Betsey Wistrich’s Firebird, Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, and Raymonda. In 2018, Kylie turned from ballet to Broadway. She moved back to NYC, signed with the CESD Talent Agency, and began studying voice and acting under Tyler Knauf and Julia Crockett (NYU Tisch). In the summer of 2019, Kylie made her national tour debut by joining the cast of "Anastasia." https://anastasiathemusical.com/cast-and-creative/#tour

While theater is at a standstill, Kylie is finding joy in dancing and teaching in her hometown while taking classes for a Dance Physical Therapy degree at LEAP via St. Mary’s College of California.

Credits Include Broadway First National Tour of “Anastasia” (Ensemble, Maria Romanov, Marfa, u/s Odette in Swan Lake)
TV/Film: Emmy Award Winning Series “The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel” Season 2, Costar role (Doris)
Upcoming: Steven Spielberg “West Side Story” Movie Revival (Special Ability Dancer) ~ coming out December 2020.

Michele Fodero began her ballet training in New Hampshire under the direction of Barbara Mullen and the Royal Academy of Dance from London, England. She spent summers away at the Boston Ballet, the Hartford Ballet, the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, and the Banff School of Fine Arts. Her professional career, with the Hartford Ballet and the Fort Worth Ballet, gave her opportunities to perform works by many different choreographers, such as Balanchine, Bournonville, Hartford Ballet’s artistic director Michael Uthoff, and Fort Worth Ballet’s artistic director Anthony Salatino. Michele’s teaching career began while she was still performing in Texas, teaching classes with the Professional School of the FWB, and continued upon her return to New England with her former ballet school, where she instructed and led students through examinations in the curriculum of the Royal Academy of Dance. While teaching, Michele took and successfully completed her Advanced RAD exam, becoming an Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance.

Michele hopes to develop her students both physically and artistically in the beautiful art of dance and feels confident that they will be able to use their years at VBTS to successfully launch themselves into a career in dance, if so desired, or any career they choose, as well as becoming lifelong supporters of the arts. Michele lives in Jericho with her husband John and children Anna and John.

Sarah Glick was born in Maryland and received her dance training from Harford Dance Theater, Baltimore School for the Arts, and the Kirov Academy of Ballet. She attended summer programs at The Kirov Academy, The School of American Ballet, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, Jacob's Pillow, and American Ballet Theater. At 18, she joined Boston Ballet II and performed corps roles in The Nutcracker, La Bayadere, and The Sleeping Beauty. She also danced with the Sarasota Ballet, performing roles in Coppelia, The Nutcracker, and Carmina Burana. Sarah also danced with a contemporary ballet company in NYC called Ballet Deviare. Sarah has taught ballet at the Joy of Dance Center in Maryland. She has been with VBTS since 2011 and enjoys teaching and choreographing for students of all ages!

Ashley began her dancing career when she was two years old at Stowe Dance Academy. She trained under Helena Sullivan for sixteen years in the styles of ballet, pointe, jazz, lyrical, modern and tap. During her years as a student, she danced competitively with TRIP Dance Company for nine years. She spent three consecutive summers, 2012–2014, training with American Ballet Theater School across the country in New York, Alabama, and California. She has trained at Alvin Ailey, Steps on Broadway, and Broadway Dance Center. Ultimately, Ashley was drawn to science and healthcare, so she pursued a career in professional nursing. She obtained her bachelors of science in nursing at the University of Vermont, College of Nursing and Health Sciences. She works as an RN in Central Vermont specializing in emergency medicine. She spends her free time with her two dogs and continues her passion of dancing through teaching the younger generations. 

Alaina grew up in Oregon and moved away from home at the age of 13 to pursue her career in ballet. She danced as a principal and soloist with both the Pacific Northwest Ballet and San Francisco Ballet companies. During her career, she performed principal roles in Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, and many works by Balanchine, including Serenade, The Four Temperaments, Symphony in C, Agon, Concerto Barocco, Theme and Variations, La Valse, Allegro Brillante, Square Dance, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Brahms Schoenberg Quartet, Duo Concertant, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Taranta, Who Cares, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Chaconne, Western Symphony, and Ballo de Regina. She also danced leading roles in ballets by Helgi Tomasson, Kent Stowell, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, Rudi Van Dantzig, James Kudelka, David Bentley, Val Caniparoli, Lew Christensen, and Michael Smuin.

She’s a principal Pilates instructor, has started her own business, and has run five marathons, which she thinks is plenty. Alaina and her husband, John, have raised three incredible children and live in Charlotte, Vermont.

Anna Schmoker began her ballet training at VBTS in 1993 and studied under the instruction of Alex and Kirsten Nagiba. She attended the North Carolina School of the Arts in the ballet program and went on to dance with the Kansas City Ballet from 2008–2010. She graduated from the Institute of Culinary Education's Pastry Arts and Restaurant Management program in New York City in 2011 and worked as a pastry chef at Sugar and Plum in Paramus, New Jersey. After obtaining her certification as a registered Kripalu Yoga teacher from the Kripalu Center for Yoga and Health, she teaches yoga and ballet in Vermont while studying chemistry at the University of Vermont.

Katherine Neff Stevens was born and raised in Stowe, Vermont, where she began her dance training at the age of 3 with Helena Sullivan at the Stowe Dance Academy. Katherine studied at Stowe for 15 years, receiving training in the styles of ballet, jazz, hip-hop, and tap. After high school, she continued her dance training at the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, where she received her B.F.A. in modern dance performance and a minor in photography. She has attended several prestigious summer intensives, including the Alvin Ailey Pre-Professional Program in New York City, the Point Park Summer Intensive in Pittsburgh, and Movement Research's MELT in New York City. After college, Katherine moved to Boulder, Colorado, to study at the Dr. Ida Rolf Institute, where she received her Rolfing certification. She has also received an advanced certification in SourcePoint Therapy. Katherine began her teaching career nearly two decades ago and is dedicated to providing students with an inclusive and supportive environment in which to explore the performing arts.

Carla Cordero Wuthrich grew up in a home filled with music and dance. She obtained her training at the School of American Ballet in New York City and at the American Ballet Academy under the direction of Carol Sumner. Carla became a member of the professional company at a young age, dancing soloist roles in Balanchine’s "Western Symphony, "Steadfast Tin Soldier, and "Valse Fantasie, to name a few.
 

Ms. Wuthrich then pursued an engineering degree at Cornell University. She continued to feed her passion for dance as director, choreographer, and dancer for the Cornell dance company. While working as an engineer for IBM in New York, she danced for two regional companies and was commissioned for her contemporary and classical choreography. She has had the opportunity to train as a student and teacher in classical ballet, modern, jazz, and character dance. One can find elements of the many disciplines of dance and engineering in her teaching and choreography.

In 1997, she moved to Vermont, worked with the University of Vermont’s dance program, and found a home at the Vermont Ballet Theater School. She lives in Hinesburg, VT, with her husband, Ryan, and her two young boys. She enjoys solving the multi-dimensional puzzles of music, movement, and space and strives to make something exciting and significant happen for those in the audience and those on stage.

Allie Zouck was born in Washington, D.C., and moved to Williston, Vermont, when she was 2 years old. She began her dance training at the age of four at the Vermont Ballet Theater School. She spent summers training at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and Boston Ballet summer intensive programs. Allie was a member of the Vermont Ballet Theater Co. for five years and enjoyed participating in VBT’s production of "The Nutcracker" and the annual Celebration of Dance. She graduated from Champlain Valley Union High School in 2020 and is studying biochemistry at the University of Vermont.

Maria was born in Buenos Aires, Argentina, where she began her ballet journey with Nelly Casella of the Teatro Colón. In 1983, her family moved to New York, where she continued training under the direction of Tom Adair, Hilda Morales, Vladimir Dokoudovsky, Helen McLennan, and Natasha Bar. At age 9, she was accepted into the advanced division at Joffrey Ballet School and spent her summers training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She attended the high school program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship.

During her years dancing, Maria performed in various productions of The Nutcracker, numerous Balanchine works including Serenade and Jewels, and she also danced soloist roles in Les Sylphides, Paquita, and Peter and the Wolf. She was fortunate to participate in intensive workshops with legendary artists Margot Fonteyn, Jacques D’Amboise, and Gelsey Kirkland.

In 2003, Maria moved to Vermont and has performed locally with many theatre companies including Stowe Theatre Guild, Essex Community Players, Lamoille County Players, and Lyric Theatre Company. She also danced as a soloist with Ballet Vermont for five seasons, and appeared as a featured dancer in several episodes of Vermont PBS children’s program, Mister Chris and Friends.

Currently, Maria lives in Shelburne with her husband and two kiddos (both VBTS students!), where she works as a freelance editor, writer, and voiceover actor. She is absolutely thrilled to be teaching the tiniest of dancers at VBTS.

Drew Neary a Philadelphia native, is happy to join the faculty of Vermont Ballet Theater and School. Having honed his skills at renowned institutions such as the Rock School, CPYB, and the School of American Ballet, Drew was able to pursue his passion on full scholarship. He embarked on a remarkable career, gracing the stage as a soloist with prestigious companies including Los Angeles Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Stadt Theater Leipzig, and Carolina Ballet. Drew's journey culminated as a principal dancer with Charlotte Ballet, while also leaving a mark as a guest artist with esteemed companies like Bejart Ballet Lausanne, Les Grands Ballet Canadiens, Royal Danish Ballet, Alvin Ailey, Complexions, and Stadt Theater Wurzburg. Throughout his career, he has portrayed principal and soloist roles in iconic works by master choreographers such as Balanchine, Robbins, Rhoden, King, Pickett, Touzeau, Thatcher, Bonnefoux, Weiss, Raffael, Portugal, Kilyian, Naharin, Inger, Skarpetowska, Seiwert, and many others. Following his retirement, Drew embarked on a fulfilling teaching career, sharing his expertise at institutions including the Rock School West, The Draper Center, Brandywine Ballet, and Ballet Wolcott. In addition to his dedication to dance, Drew is a licensed real estate agent and a certified Pilates teacher. He currently resides in Underhill, Vermont, with his husband, son, dog, and two cats, embracing a life filled with art, family, and new adventures.

After a semi- retirement due to COVID Mel has returned to teach ballet to the young. In her 22 year career at VBTS she has instilled the love of musicality and movement to her class. Her main focus for early childhood is skill based, exposure to the art of ballet, exploring creativity, and of course fun. Mel has performed and assisted in the VBTS Nutcracker and has been a student of VBTS instructors. She is very enthusiastic about returning to enjoy the VBTS families this season.

Isabelle Commichau was born in Jericho Vermont and has lived there all her life. She began her dance training with VBTS at the age of three but cried in each class, so she took a break for two years and tried again at the age of five. After starring as Jack from Jack and the Beanstalk in the summer program of 2010 she has never looked back. She made her way into the VBT company at age 13 and proudly danced in their annual show of The Nutcracker at The Flynn each year.

 During the summers when she wasn’t at VBT, she danced virtually with the San Francisco ballet during covid and spent her other summers studying with the Boston Ballet. She has worked as a substitute at VBT for the past year and a half in jazz, contemporary, and lyrical.

Isabelle just graduated from Mount Mansfield Union high school in 2023 and will be going to Reed College in Portland OR in the 2024-25 school year. During her year off she will be using the first half to live in the many countries of Europe and in the second half she is so excited to be teaching ballet as a full-time ballet instructor! She will mostly spend her time in the Shelburne studio, but you might see her around subbing in Essex!

Anna Gonzalez was born in Boynton Beach, Florida where she received her primary dance training at Southern Dance Theater under the direction of Julie Bravata, a former ABT dancer and ABT certified instructor. She was accepted at the Harid Conservatory for pre-professional training, attending and training in all styles during high school. She also participated in summer intensives at American Ballet Theater in New York, Next Generation Ballet in Tampa, and Milwaukee Ballet during these years. She danced with Milwaukee Ballet II for two years performing a variety of classical excerpts from Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Serenade as well as contemporary works. She also Performed in Michael Pink’s Nutcracker with Milwaukee Ballet. During Covid-19, she danced with Roanoke Ballet Theater in Roanoke, Virginia and was a substitute ballet teacher at the school. She moved to Gainesville, Florida to complete her B.A. degree in Sustainability Studies at the University of Florida while dancing with Dance Alive National Ballet in works like Carmina Burana, Nutcracker, and Swan Lake, as well as substitute teaching at the school. Following graduation, she found a job here in Vermont, and couldn’t leave dance behind. She is grateful to be able to teach and keep dance in her life at Vermont Ballet Theater. 

Risa grew up in Westchester, NY where she began her dance training at the age of two years old. She danced competitively at Street Beatz Dance studio from ages 7-18 where she trained in lyrical, jazz, ballet, acrobatics, contemporary, and hip hop. She participated in the Joffrey Ballet School’s intensive program and trained at Broadway Dance Center during her summers. After high school, Risa continued dancing at the University of Vermont in Orchesis Dance Company where she choreographed multiple pieces for their bi-annual showcase and held leadership positions including being the president of the company.

After graduating from the University of Vermont with a bachelor's degree in marketing and global business, Risa joined Slow Shapes Dance Company, a professional dance company rooted in contemporary dance, to continue her passion for dance as an adult. She works full-time in marketing, and is pursuing her Masters of Business Administration part-time. Risa is so excited to join VBTS this year and teach contemporary and jazz to students. 

Mary Hondal is a native of Burlington, VT, and received her BFA in dance performance with a Jazz concentration from Point Park University in April 2024. She has performed professionally with Entity Dance Company at the Junction Dance Festival, under the direction of Kristina Desjardins. She has trained at Giordano Dance Chicago, at The Bates Dance Festival, Point Park University International Summer Dance, with Rhonda Malkin of the Rockettes, and studied at Steps on Broadway and Broadway Dance Center. She also trained for several years at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater School. She has been teaching and choreographing since 2019 and was President of the contemporary dance club at Point Park. Aside from dance, she is Balanced Body Pilates certified and teaches reformer Pilates classes at The Body Lab VT. Outside of the studio, she enjoys reading, traveling, swimming, and spending time with her friends and family.