Meet the Étoile Team & Judges

Caitlin Sloan, founder & CEO of The Brainy Ballerina, is a Dance Educator and Career Mentor based in Madison, WI. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri. Caitlin danced professionally for nearly a decade with companies including Ballet Tucson and Mareck Dance (formerly Missouri Contemporary Ballet). She has served as Director of The School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet and is currently on faculty at the School of Madison Ballet. In 2019, Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. Through 1-1 career mentorship, workshops and digital resources, her mission is to help dancers gain the skills necessary to build a smart and sustainable career in the dance industry.

Brian Grant began dancing at age 14 when he joined Rockford Dance Company on scholarship in 1996, under the direction of Artistic Director Margaret Faust. His professional career would begin as an Apprentice with the Louisville Ballet after completing his B.F.A. In Theater Arts with an emphasis in Dance Performance from Northern Illinois University, where he graduated Cum Laude, and would join Louisville Ballet as an Apprentice in 2005. Mr. Grant was very fortunate to have performed a variety of roles, including The Funny Boy in Robert North's “Troy Game”, Val Caniparoli's “Lambarena”, Rochefort in Andre Prokovsky's “The Three Musketeers” and Russian Lead in Caniparoli's “Brown-Forman's The Nutcracker”. Mr. Grant continued his career with Dayton Ballet in 2012, under the direction of Karen Russo Burke. While at Dayton Ballet, Mr. Grant performed roles in Gerald Arpino's “Confetti”, Jessica Lang's “From Foreign Lands and Peoples”, Dermot Burke's “Fete de Courtiers”, Bess Imber's “Inner Geist” and Arabian and Soldier Doll in Karen Russo Burke's “The Nutcracker”. Some of Mr. Grant's favorite roles he’s performed include: Ali the Slave in “Le Corsaire”, Basilio in “Don Quixote” and Von Rothbart in Ballet Pontecorvo's “Swan Lake” and Acteon in “Diana and Acteon Pas de Deux”. In 2016, Mr. Grant had become the Adult and Complementary Dance Program Manager for the Louisville Ballet School, seeing the Adult Program, now called Mind Body Balance, flourish and double in size and create performance opportunities for Adult Dancers of Louisville, KY and the local Kentuckiana area. Mr. Grant has continued his freelance dancing career in various cities of the Midwestern and Southeastern U.S, working with such companies as Ballet Institute of Atlanta (GA), Ballet Americana (MI), New Albany School of Ballet in (MS) and Gem City Ballet (OH). Prior to his arrival in Chambersburg, Mr. Grant was the Assistant Artistic Director and Artist-In-Residence of Movement on Main Center for Dance in Zanesville, OH, as well as Artistic Director of his recently formed professional ballet company, Midwest Repertory Ballet, which debuted in 2021. Mr. Grant is an American Ballet Theater® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. Mr. Grant is also currently pursuing his Personal Fitness Training Certification, and wishes to specialize in Sports Conditioning, Corrective Exercise and Children’s Programming. Mr. Grant is very excited to have entered his 4th season with Chambersburg Ballet as Artistic Director, and he looks forward to bringing more Art and Joy to the Boroughs of Franklin County! Since becoming Artistic Director, Mr. Grant premiered many Full Length and one act Ballets, to include The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Stravinsky’s Firebird and Les Sylphides. He also looks to the near future in bringing his recently formed professional ballet company, Midwest Repertory Ballet to Pennsylvania and Ohio soon!

Jordan Drew began her dance training under the tutelage of the late Timothy M. Draper at the Draper Center for Dance Education in Rochester, New York. While training, she was awarded many prestigious honors, including the “Hope Award” and “Top 12 Finalist” at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York City. She won scholarships to both the American Ballet Theater Summer Intensive and the Paris Opera Ballet School. In 2008, she continued her training at Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Training Program, performing in King’s ballet “Long Flat Dry Plain” at the Monaco Dance Forum in Monte Carlo. Later, she went on to join the San Francisco-based contemporary ballet company dawsondancesf until 2017. Jordan continued her career for seven years portraying the principal character, Eleanor Rigby, in The Beatles LOVE by Cirque du Soleil in Las Vegas. She recently completed a year as a Visiting Assistant Professor at University of Nevada, Las Vegas, where she taught ballet and pointe and choreographed works for university performances. Today, she shares her expertise as a teacher, mentor, and judge, traveling across the country to teach master classes, adjudicate competitions, and inspire the next generation of dancers. She also serves as a Casting Partner for Cirque du Soleil, supporting the discovery and development of exceptional talent and helping connect artists with opportunities to grow and thrive in the industry.

Gavin Larsen is a dance writer, teacher, and former professional dancer. Born and raised in New York City, she received her dance training at the School of American Ballet before performing professionally with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Alberta Ballet, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet, and Oregon Ballet Theatre, from which she retired as a principal dancer in 2010. Over the course of her career, Ms. Larsen danced prominent roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Christopher Wheeldon, James Kudelka and Paul Taylor, among others, and originated roles in numerous ballets. Since retiring from the stage, she has been a regular contributor to Pointe and Dance Magazine and her writing has also appeared in Dance Teacher, Dance Spirit, Dance/USA’s In the Green Room, Oregon ArtsWatch, and the Dancing Times, as well as several literary journals, including Threepenny Review, Page & Spine, and The Maine Review. Ms. Larsen has taught and coached widely around the U.S. and been a guest teacher in Canada and Japan. Her two books, the memoir Being a Ballerina: The Power and Perfection of a Dancing Life, and Infinite Steps: Thirty-Three Dancers and Their Lives in Ballet (University Press of Florida), received critical praise for their candor and grace. She lives in Asheville, North Carolina.

Louise Taitz emigrated to the USA from South Africa and settled in the Chicago Northern suburbs in 2000. Ms.Taitz studied multiple dance genres at the Performing Arts High School in Johannesburg SA and also trained under the tutelage of Royal Academy Of Dance (RAD) Major examiners Reina Berman and Joyce Myroff, Louise was awarded the Advanced RAD Ballet Diploma. ​ After graduating Louise moved to London training at the Royal Ballet School prior to receiving a full time professional contract with the Israel Classical Ballet with whom she spent most of her professional career. ​ As the Artistic Director of On Your Toes Academy of Dance in Buffalo Grove Illinois Louise spends most of her time-in the studio working with students of all ages and levels. Students have attended YAGP Finals in New York and Tampa since 2016. Louise also travels around the country as a guest Master Ballet Teacher and consults studio owners on how to run a successful studio. Ms.Taitz has extensive judging experience in the USA as well as Israel, Japan and Portugal and has worked with Icon Dance Awards. Louise is on the faculty with Star systems and In10sity Dance. ​ Ms.Taitz is the US Representative for "Conservatorio International de Ballet e Danca Annarella Sanchez" and is responsible for hosting USA auditions to attend this prestigious summer school in Portugal. ​ Louise recently accepted the position of Artistic Advisor for Classical Arts Entertainment and provides studios the opportunity to perform alongside European Ballet Company on their National Tour. Louise is also the Studio Representative for Ballet Rosa, connecting studios to the company.

Keesha Beckford began her dance studies in Queens, New York, before graduating cum laude from Princeton University with an A.B. in American history and a minor in dance. She has performed the choreography of Milton Myers, Teri Lee and Oliver Steele, Danny Herman, Paige Cunningham-Caldarella, Amy Marshall, Michael Foley, and Lorn MacDougal, among others in the U.S. and abroad. Her teaching credits include Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, Columbia College Chicago, Dance Center Evanston, Charlotte Ballet, the UNC Charlotte dance department, and as a guest teacher for Thodos Dance Chicago. Beckford most recently served as the Youth Programs Manager at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago and has been the Dance Lab Program Liaison at the Grainger Academy since 2016.

Jayson Douglas, originally from Paterson, New Jersey, is a distinguished dancer and choreographer with extensive training from Dance World Academy, Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, The Ailey School, and Point Park University. He has performed with notable ballet companies, including Charlotte Ballet, Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre, Neville Dance Theatre in NYC and Company C Contemporary Ballet, where he was featured in Twyla Tharp’s “Surfer at the River Styx,” and Sarah Berges Dance in Paris. After dancing with James Sewell Ballet and touring in Cannes he finished his performance career dancing with Minnesota Dance Theatre under the direction of Lise Houlton. With a performance career spanning over 20 years, he also contributes as an instructor and choreographer, having held roles at Ashley Ballet Arts Academy, Midland State Ballet, and Sarah Berges Dance. Jayson is currently beginning his fourth season as the Artistic Director of Syracuse City Ballet after serving as the Artistic Executive Director for 2 seasons and he teaches master classes across the country along with being an educator.

Originally from Michigan, Tanya holds a B.A. from Mercyhurst University in Erie, PA. She danced with several professional companies across the country before settling in New York City to work as a freelance artist. She has performed principal & soloist roles in countless classical ballets & original contemporary works throughout her twenty-plus-year career in NYC. Tanya has experience as the Creative Director and Co-Founder/Producer of a touring company that performed in Denver & Vail, Colorado, and premiered its first full-length performance in NYC in June of 2024. She is also the founder and creator of the patented Bulletproof Ballerina cross-training system. Through fitness, nutrition, & lifestyle coaching, she works with dancers to help them reach their true potential as artists. She loves traveling to teach master classes and was an Adjunct Professor at Johns Hopkins University – Peabody Institute for a body conditioning course for the BFA Dance program. More information at BulletproofBallerina.com.

Brittany was born and raised in Jamestown, NY, where she received her early dance training with Monika Alch at the Chautauqua Regional Youth Ballet. She went on to continue her training at the SUNY Purchase Conservatory of Dance, where she received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In 2013 she joined Jose Mateo Ballet Theatre as an apprentice, and was promoted to a full company member the following year. During her five seasons with the company she danced featured roles in Mateo’s original works including House of Ballet, Covens, Over and Over, Affairs, and The Nutcracker. After many years of teaching in and around Boston, Brittany took the role of Ballet Director at The Greater Boston School of Dance in 2022.

An artistic visionary and leader, Elizabeth Molak-Huebner is the founder of the Classical Dance Center, Classical Dance Academy along with a partner of Corona Dance Academy. Her training began with her parents, and she continued at the San Francisco Ballet, receiving a merit scholarship. She was then invited to the Joffrey Ballet School in New York City on full scholarship and soon after was offered a contract with the Joffrey II Dancers and then subsequently the Joffrey Ballet. She was featured in a wide range of ballets, including Sir Fredrick Ashtons "Monotones II" along with various ballets created for her by Joffrey Ballet Artistic Director, Gerald Arpino. She was honored to be part of the exclusive Joffrey Ballet piece, "Quartertones for Mr. B.", paying tribute to George Balanchine following his passing. After her professional ballet career, she began to share her love of dance with the next generation. From Academy level to Collegiate level, she started to focus on offering her students a well-rounded education at her ballet-based academies. Her vision is centered around building strong technique and artistry in the classroom, along with the opportunity to be on stage and perform. She was delighted to be recognized for her artistic efforts with numerous awards at the Youth America Grand Prix, including Outstanding Teacher and School Awards. Her choreography has been performed across the US and the World! Elizabeth is known by her peers as a "Teacher’s teacher" along with her ability to instruct a wide range of levels and ages. While continuing to educate of students, she also founded her own dance costume company, American Classic Costumes as head designer, costuming the half time shows for over seven years for the Bowl Games of America through World Strides. Elizabeth was recently honored during the CDA Summer Gala 2024 at the Irvine Barclay Theatre highlighting her three decades of instructing, inspiring and choreographing for future generations

Kathryn Jacques began her training at Towson University’s Children’s Dance Division. She later attended the university on scholarship and graduated with Honors with a B.F.A in Dance Performance. Kathryn spent summers studying at Baltimore Ballet and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and has performed professionally with the Baltimore Ballet, Harford Ballet Company, Eclipse Performing Dance Company, as part of the Harlem Globetrotters halftime show, and with independent choreographers. She has been accepted into programs for Richmond Ballet, Ballet Austin, Ballet Theater of Maryland, and Nashville Ballet and received Honorable Mention as a Semi- Finalist for the Maryland Distinguished Scholar of the Arts. After retiring from the stage, Kathryn transitioned into TV and film acting where she has appeared in local and national commercials, PSAs, TV shows, and films including Season 6 of House of Cards as a featured "Ballerina", Merritt Athletic Clubs' fitness commercials, Veep, and various shows on the ID Discovery Network. She was the lead actress in the nationally recognized documentary "Don't Talk About the Baby" and starred in the independent feature film "Soul Fray" which premiered at the 2016 Cannes Film Festival in France before its international release. For over a decade, Kathryn has taught all levels of ballet, pointe and contemporary throughout northern Maryland and southern Pennsylvania, with a primary focus on elementary and intermediate dancers. Her students have attended many summer and year-round training programs including School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theater, The Rock School, Washington Ballet School, and Hubbard Street, have received professional contracts with Nashville Ballet, Richmond Ballet, Joffery Ballet and New England Ballet Theatre and have been accepted into numerous high school training programs and top-ranked college dance majors, often with scholarships. Many students have received awards at regional dance competitions/ conventions including multiple awards for technical excellence as well as scholarship and overall awards at the National Ballet, Universal Ballet, and Etoile Dance Competitions, and have competed at the Youth America Grand Prix. She attended the 2024 Teacher's Workshop at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and has guest taught and choreographed at various dance programs around Maryland, Virginia, DC and Pennsylvania, and with the MDEA K-12 program. Kathryn is currently on faculty at Rage Box Dance Center, Mid Atlantic Youth Ballet, and Notre Dame Preparatory. She has also judged for the Etoile Dance Competition 2025 and 2026 seasons.

Alexandra "Sasha" Gutman, originally from Austin, Texas, is an award-winning choreographer and a graduate of the Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia. She began her competition dance training at age 7 in Texas and later studied at the Indiana Ballet Conservatory and Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, working with prominent teachers such as Alexei Tchernichov, Eleanor D'antuono, Victoria Mazzarelli, Joan Kunsch, Tim Melody, Kirk Peterson, and Denise Limoli. At 16, she was selected to join the Bolshoi Ballet Academy and, after completing her first year, was invited to skip two years and advanced to the graduating class. After graduating early, she returned to the U.S. to teach classical and character dance at the Akhmedova Ballet Academy and competed in multiple ballet competitions, winning top awards including 2nd place at Playa Del Carmen International Ballet Competition '20, 1st place for both Classical and Contemporary categories at National Ballet Competition '21, and 3rd place at Washington DC Grand Prix '21. Alexandra has danced professionally with City Ballet of San Diego, and the International Classical Ballet of Ukraine, touring France, Germany and Switzerland. She has performed as a guest through Southern California and Texas. She has performed many iconic roles, including Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Odile in Swan Lake, and Myrta in Giselle. A passionate teacher since 2016, she has earned recognition for her choreography at regional, national, and international levels. Currently based in California, Alexandra continues to dance, teach, judge and is very excited to join the Etoile Dance competition.

Michael Patterson is the Artistic Director of the Patterson School of Ballet located in Erie, PA and is a former professional danseur with the Pennsylvania Ballet, now known as the Philadelphia Ballet. While at the Pennsylvania Ballet, Mr. Patterson danced many roles in works by George Balanchine, including The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Slaughter on 10th Avenue, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Western Symphony, Prodigal Son, and Agon to name a few. Other classics include Dracula, Cinderella, Taming of the Shrew, Giselle, and Le Fille Mal Gardee and Lew Christensen’s Con Amore. He has also danced many roles by contemporary choreographers such as Trey McIntyre, Twyla Tharp, Jerome Robbins, Val Caniparoli, Matthew Neenan, and Christopher Wheeldon. Highlights from his professional career include the creation of the work Cellophane for Mr. Patterson by Brian Sanders, which was featured in the benefit performance, Shut Up & Dance. While a member of Pennsylvania Ballet Mr. Patterson had the opportunity to work with and perform Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake at the Edinburgh International Arts Festival in collaboration with the Tchaikovsky Symphony Orchestra of Moscow Radio where the Lord Provost honored them. Mr. Patterson’s students have been accepted to many prestigious ballet schools nationally and internationally, including the School of American Ballet (SAB), and have danced with or are currently dancing with New York City Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, BalletMet, Joffrey Ballet, Washington Ballet, American Repertory Ballet, Minnesota Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Pennsylvania Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Netherlands Dans Theater. In 2010, Mr. Patterson was also the choreographer for the short film, “The Dance Lesson” by Chinonye Chukwu which was awarded a Princess Grace Award.

Returning to the United States after touring Europe as Ballet Mistress with "Rock The Ballet” of Sweetbird Productions, Deborah Engerman took on the role of Director of Maryland Classical Dance Academy, along with teaching at Charm City Ballet, Dance Conservatory of Maryland, and Susquehanna Dance Center. After deciding to leave her Directorship position, she has returned to focus primarily on her love of teaching. Mrs. Engerman trained early in life with the Baltimore Ballet under Wendy Robinson in the RAD (Royal Academy of Dance) tradition, passing her graded exams. Her classical studies also include training with Petrus Bosman, David Keener, and Christine Hennessy. Later, while pursuing her BA in International Policy at Dickinson College, she continued her study of classical ballet with the teachers of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Her dance training also includes Vaganova Technique, French Methodology, and the Dance Education Program at Towson University. Mrs. Engerman has staged ballets to include the Nutcracker and Swan Lake, Act II. Dancers trained by Mrs. Engerman have earned professional contracts and danced with Universal Ballet, ABT, Complexions, The Washington Ballet, The Vienna Opera Ballet, the Boston Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Ballet Inc, Texture Ballet, Hubbard Street, and on Broadway. She has also been a coach to dancers succeeding at numerous international ballet competitions, such as The Prix de Lausanne, the Varna IBC, The Youth America Grand Prix, and including a student who took the Junior Gold Medal at the 1998 Jackson USA International Ballet Competition. In August 2023, Mrs. Engerman published her first book, Let’s Talk About Fifth: Teaching Ballet in the Twenty-First Century. She is currently happy to continue training dancers in MD and PA while living with her husband and two dogs in South Central PA.

Sandrine Mattei is a French-born dance artist and dance educator . She received her classical training on full scholarship at the “Conservatoire National de Musique et de Danse” in Nice, France, under the direction of Mademoiselle Janine Monin, where she completed her formal studies with a Baccalaureate in Art, Literature, and Language. As a young dancer, Sandrine earned top placements in national competitions run by the CND (Confédération Nationale de Danse), before continuing her training under Béjart Ballet Lausanne former Etoile Rita Poelvoorde. At 16, she was invited to study at the Royal Ballet of Flanders School in Antwerp under the direction of Robert Denvers. She began her professional career with the “ Ballet National de l’Opéra de Bordeaux” under the direction of Charles Jude before freelancing with diverse companies throughout Europe. Her work later expanded when she joined Cirque du Soleil as a soloist and aerialist in the two-time Grammy Award-winning production of The Beatles LOVE. Later on Sandrine was offered the principal role of The Black Widow in Mystère by Cirque du Soleil. Sandrine served as Dance Captain and Artist Coach for the company, Dance Spirit Magazine published a feature article on her leadership in”Leading the cast of LOVE”. Sandrine’s commercial credits include guest performances on America’s Got Talent Finale, the Latin Grammy’s , MusiCares Person of the Year Grammy Tribute honoring Sir Paul McCartney, the GLAAD Awards, the NHL Awards, and other national live broadcasts. She has collaborated with choreographers such as Sonya Tayeh, Mandy Moore, Daniel Ezralow, and NappyTabs, and has worked with high-profile directors including Franco Dragone, James Cameron in the “World’s Away” 3D movie. Sandrine studied Horton Pedagogy through the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater Teacher Conferences under Ana Marie Forsythe as part of her continued professional development. Sandrine is on faculty at OCSA (Orange County School of the Arts), where she teaches in both the Commercial Dance and Ballet & Contemporary Dance Conservatories. She also coaches at several respected studios across Orange County and serves as an advisory board member for The Laguna Beach Cultural Arts Center. Her students have placed at YAGP, UBC, CDC, and earned scholarships to institutions such as The Ailey School, the Paris Opera Ballet School, Princess Grace Academy, Rosella Hightower Pole National Superieur…

Karen Mareck Grundy is a choreographer, dance educator, and Pilates instructor dedicated to helping dancers and movers of all levels connect to their bodies, artistry, and authentic expression. Born and raised in Las Vegas, Karen began dancing at the age of three. By eight, she was training in modern dance with Ronnie Greenblatt, who studied under Martha Graham. Her extensive classical ballet and jazz training came under the direction of Inez Mourning and Belinda DeBecker, while her love for contemporary ballet flourished under L.J. Ballard, with whom she worked as both dancer and assistant choreographer. Karen performed professionally for 11 years in Las Vegas as a featured and lead dancer, appearing in television and stage productions, and working under Ron Lewis—renowned director and choreographer for Liza Minnelli. She also served as an assistant to choreographer Tiger Martina and continues to teach master classes across the country. In 2000, Karen was recruited to Columbia, Missouri, to teach at Columbia Performing Arts Centre, where she trained dancers who went on to attend prestigious institutions and companies including The Juilliard School, The Lines School, Dance Kaleidoscope, Cedar Lake Contemporary Ballet, and Broadway. In 2006, Karen founded Missouri Contemporary Ballet, realizing her vision of creating a professional company rooted in passion, collaboration, and innovation. After nearly two decades leading the organization as Artistic and Executive Director, she continues her creative journey through teaching, choreographing, and sharing her expertise in Pilates, helping others discover strength, balance, and artistry both in and out of the studio.

Sarah Cerulo completed the Teaching and Performing Arts course at Bristol College of Dancing, UK in 2003, earning a Royal Academy of Dance teaching certificate as well as associate/diploma qualifications in modern and tap from the Imperial Society of Teachers of Dancing (ISTD). Before turning to full-time teaching, Cerulo had a ten-year professional career involving UK musical tours, hair/fashion shows, corporate events and TV/film including work with Tim Burton on “Charlie and the Chocolate Factory” at Pinewood Studios, London. Additionally, she had numerous contracts for major cruise lines where she served as Dance Captain in casts of fifteen-twenty performers. While an instructor at pre-vocational schools in the UK, Cerulo earned additional teaching qualifications including a Diploma in Dance Education from ISTD. She has choreographed for many competitions including the Janet Cram Awards. Her choreography is featured in many performances and ranges from jazz and tap to ballet. She has also choreographed full Ballet productions. Cerulo is now Ballet Faculty at Boston Ballet School teaching on the Classical Ballet program as well as Assistant Professor at Boston Conservatory at Berklee and teaches college students classical ballet, pointe, ballet pedagogy, cruise ship residency and also connects students to professional contracts with Royal Caribean Cruise lines. Cerulo has 25 years of professional experience both in the UK and USA. She has augmented this with further training in safe dance practice through courses with IADMS and SiDi. She is a certified PBT instructor and has completed an injury prevention course with Strength Motion Mind 11+. Passionate about dance science, Cerulo is a member of IADMS. Dedicated to her students and to her continued professional development, Cerulo loves to pass on her passion and education.

Timothy Lynch was born in Mineola, New York. He trained for 10 years at the School of American Ballet. In 1993, he joined Pacific Northwest Ballet. At PNB (1993-2003), Mr. Lynch performed featured roles in George Balanchine’s Agon, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and The Four Temperaments, along with works by Jerome Robbins, Kent Stowell, and Paul Taylor. He originated roles in works by Donald Byrd, Val Caniparoli, Mark Dendy, and Kent Stowell. Mr. Lynch’s rich performing experience also includes character roles such as Carabosse in Sleeping Beauty, Herr Drosselmeier in The Nutcracker, and Gamache in Don Quixote. His film credits include the role of Nick Bottom in the BBC Production of Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Mr. Lynch became co-director of PNB’s Outreach Youth Performing Group in 2001, along with teaching in PNB’s outreach and education Dance Chance program. Then in 2003, he was invited to join PNB School as a full-time faculty member, where he helped build and shape the men’s program for over 10 years. Mr. Lynch received his BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts in 2005, graduating Summa Cum Laude. In 2007 he founded Seattle Dance Project, a non-profit focused on community outreach and arts education. He directed and danced with Seattle Dance Project. In 2011 Mr. Lynch earned the KOMO Kids First Award for mentoring, and was awarded Educator of the Year 2012 from the Dance Educators Association of Washington. He was honored to receive a fellowship from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and holds a MFA in Dance with a focus on dance history, somatic studies, and pedagogy. Mr. Lynch served as the Academy Director for BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio from 2014-2016. Under his leadership he created a boys program, expanded the pre-professional trainee program, and rebranded the adult dance fitness program. Mr. Lynch’s deep conviction regarding the transformative qualities of yoga led him to complete his 200 hour Certification in 2016. Mr. Lynch along with his wife founded Lynch Dance Institute in San Diego, California in 2017. A superior training facility whose focus is on the whole dancer. Also that year, Mr. Lynch was personally invited to join the acclaimed faculty of the world-renowned Colburn School in Los Angeles by then-directors Jenifer Ringer and James Fayette both former NYCB principal dancers. He continues to teach today. After receiving an invitation in 2020, Mr. Lynch began teaching dance classes at California State University-Fullerton, and joined the international online teaching platform, Ballettogether.com.

Dustin Layton began his training with Sylvia Henington and continued with David Keary. He then trained at the School of American Ballet and Boston Ballet. Dustin began his professional career at Charlotte Ballet under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride, where he performed multiple leading roles. He then transitioned to musical theater, performing in various Broadway shows: The Phantom of the Opera, An American in Paris, Anastasia, and King Kong. Dustin has since set productions of An American in Paris in London’s West End, Tokyo, China & Geneva. Recently, Dustin was the assistant director/dance captain of Disney’s Frozen. As well as staging multiples works of Christopher Wheeldon’s, including Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, Within the Golden Hour, An American in Paris Ballet (ROH), Corybantic Games & The Christening Suite to name a few.