Lilla B
Lilla is a junior at Loy Norrix High School and attends Kalamazoo Area Math
and Science Center (KAMSC). Lilla has been dancing at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 13
years, and this will be her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been a recipient of the W.
Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship, and has attended Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensive,
Cincinnati Ballet summer intensive, and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive. In
addition to dancing, Lilla is also a member of the Loy Norrix Orchestra and the Varsity Golf
team. She has received High Honors (2022, 2023, 2024) and the Outstanding Research Award
(2023).
Greta B
Greta is in her sophomore year and is homeschooled. This is her second year in
Ballet Arts Ensemble and has danced at Sure McQuarrie (3 years) and Ballet Arts School of
Dance (8 years). Greta has attended summer dance programs at Ballet Arts School of Dance and
Grand Rapids Ballet. She was also a recipient of the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship
in 2024. Greta has successfully passed four levels of Cecchetti and outside of dance, she likes to
travel with her family, and spend time with her friends.
Jillian B
Jillian has danced at Traci Phelps Studio (3 years), Ballet Academy (1 year), and Ballet Arts School of Dance (10 years). This is Jillian’s second year in Ballet Arts Ensemble and has attended Grand Rapids Ballet Senior Intensive and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive. Jillian is a sophomore at Gull Lake High School and volunteers as a Big in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program. Jillian has successfully passed four levels of Cecchetti and has made the High Honor Roll in school for the past four years.
Millie C
Millie is a freshman at Loy Norrix High School. This is her first year in Ballet Arts Ensemble and has danced at YMCA (1 year) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (10 years). Millie received a scholarship in 2022 to attend the Cecchetti Council of America International Summer School and was a recipient of the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship in 2023 for Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive and in 2024 for the Grand Rapids Ballet Senior Summer Intensive. In school, Millie was a member of the National Junior Honor Society in seventh and eighth grade. Millie enjoys art, baking, and babysitting in her spare time.
Claire D
A junior at Gobles High School, Claire is in her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been dancing at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 13 years and has attended summer dance programs at Ballet Arts School of Dance and Grand Rapids Ballet Senior Summer Intensive. Claire has received the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship for the past four years. In addition to ballet, she also studies contemporary dance and has passed three levels of Cecchetti. Outside of dance, she is on the Student Council, Student Leadership Team, and National Honors Society. Claire has also received awards for High Honor Roll (2022, 2023, 2024) and multiple “Most Outstanding” academic awards (2023, 2024).
Anna G
A junior at Kalamazoo Central High School, Anna is in her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Anna has danced at YMCA (4 years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (9 years). She has received the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship for the past four years, and the Irving S. Gilmore Student Arts Scholarship for the past two years. Anna has worked on her school’s yearbook, is a member of the Kalamazoo United Women’s golf team and is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish in the hopes of earning her seal of biliteracy.
Evan G
Evan is a freshman at Loy Norrix High School and in her first year with Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been dancing at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 12 years. Evan has attended summer programs at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Cecchetti Council of America, Ballet Arts School of Dance, and has attended three-week sessions at Interlochen Summer Camp for the last two years. Evan likes to perform musical theater as well as dance.
Eva H
A senior at Kalamazoo Christian High School, Eva is in her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has danced at Traci Phelps Studio (6 years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (8 years). In addition to attending Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensives, she has also attended summer dance intensives at Grand Rapids Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet. Eva was a recipient of the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship in 2024. Outside of dance, Eva is a part of her school’s choir and Chamber Singers.
Kira K
A senior at Paw Paw High School, Kira has been dancing at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 15 years. This is her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Kira has received the W. Dale & Geraldine Crooks scholarship in both 2022 and 2023. She has attended the Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensive and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive. Kira is a dual enrollment student, a member of the National Honor Society, Honors Band, Marching Band, and Concert Band which she has been the flute section leader for two years. She has also been on the Academic Honor Roll of Highest Honors since 2018 and has passed four levels of Cecchetti. When not dancing, Kira enjoys reading, crocheting, and cross-stitching.
Marta M
Marta is a freshman at Loy Norrix High School and Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center, and in her first year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been dancing at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 9 years. Marta has attended the Cecchetti Council of America International Summer School and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive. Marta was the recipient of the Cecchetti Council of America International Summer School Scholarship in 2023. In school, Marta was the Vice President of the National Junior Honor Society (2023, 2024), WEB Leader (2023, 2024), Jeter’s Leaders Class of 2028, and completed ATYP (Academically Talented Youth Program). For her school’s musicals Marta was the Lead Female in Camp Rock Musical (2023) and Into the Woods (2022). Marta also takes piano lessons with Dr. Tina Gorter at Crescendo Academy of Music, for which she received an EFA grant in 2024. Marta was also in the Collaborative Piano Club at Maple Street and Collaborative Piano Lessons with Dr. Tina Gorter through Fontana Chamber Arts.
Anna G
A junior at Kalamazoo Central High School, Anna is in her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Anna has danced at YMCA (4 years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (9 years). She has received the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship for the past four years, and the Irving S. Gilmore Student Arts Scholarship for the past two years. Anna has worked on her school’s yearbook, is a member of the Kalamazoo United Women’s golf team and is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish in the hopes of earning her seal of biliteracy.
Abbey M
Abbey is a homeschool student who is in her sophomore year of high school. She has been dancing at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 12 years. In addition to successfully passing four levels of Cecchetti, Abbey is a dual-enrollment student, a part of the homeschool ski team, studies music at West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts, studies art at Design Street Art Studies, and rock climbing. Abbey has attended the Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensive in both 2023 and 2024. When not dancing, Abbey enjoys spending time at her family’s cottage, creating art, and playing with her dog, Blue.
Banning P
A sophomore at Portage Northern High School, Banning is in her third year with Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has danced at Magnify Dance Center (7 years), Grand Rapids Ballet (3 years), and Tye Chua Dance (4 years). Banning has attended summer dance intensives with Magnify Summer Program, Modas Summer Dance, Grand Rapids Ballet, and Boston Ballet. She is originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico and has been playing the piano for four years. Banning enjoys creative activities and design, as well as being a lover of animals.
Cecilia P
Cecilia is a freshman at Loy Norrix High School, and this is her first year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been dancing at Ballet Arts School of Dance for nine years. Cecilia is a part of Jeter’s Leaders, Kalamazoo Youth Action Council, a Special Olympics volunteer, President of the National Junior Honors Society, WEB Leader, Kalamazoo Area of Math and Science (KAMSC), and ATYP Honors English. She has been on the High Honor Roll all throughout middle school and has received the Maple Street Falcon of the Month Award (2024), and Communities In Schools Youth Leader Award (2024).
Maggie S
Maggie is a Sophomore at Loy Norrix High School, and this is her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has danced at Excel Dance Center (1 year), Family Center for the Arts (4 years), and Ballet Arts School of Dance (6 years). Maggie has received the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship and has attended Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensive and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive. Maggie is a member of the Loy Norrix Varsity Golf team and has received the Blue and Gold Award (2023), and Academic High Honors (2020, 2021, 2022, 2023, 2024).
Rain S
Rain is in her sophomore year at Loy Norrix High School and in her second year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been dancing at Ballet Arts School of Dance for ten years and has taken summer dance intensives at Grand Rapids Ballet. Rain is the treasurer of Confident S.O.L.E., an organization on teaching young women to love themselves and their community. She is biliterate in Spanish and she is involved in her church where she is a part of the dance ministry.
Isabelle T
Isabelle is a senior at Portage Northern High School and Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center (KAMSC). She has danced at the Academy of Dance Arts for two years, and at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 12 years. This will be Isabelle’s fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Isabelle has received scholarships from W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks, Education for the Arts (EFA), Cecchetti Council of America, and Kalamazoo Chinese Academy Performing Arts. In 2024, Isabelle received 2nd place in the American Chemistry Society Competition Scholarship. Isabelle has passed six levels of Cecchetti, has played the flute since sixth grade, and was a member of the Portage Northern Color Guard in 2021.
Lia T
A sophomore at Loy Norrix High School and Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center (KAMSC), this is Lia’s second year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Dancing at YMCA Toledo (2 years), Toledo Ballet (2 years), and Ballet Arts School of Dance (7 years). Lia has attended Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensive and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive. She has been a recipient of the EFA Project Grant and the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship. At school, Lia is a part of the Loy Norrix High School’s 2027 Executive Board and has received Student of the Marking Period Award (2021, 2022, 2023, 2024), Blue and Gold Award (2023), and 9th Grade Medallion Award (2024). Lia also likes to play the piano and does karate.
Marcella T
Marcella is an eighth grader at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts. This is her first year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Marcella has danced with Kalamazoo Ballet Academy (1 year) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (9 years). She has attended Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive, Blue Lake Fine Arts summer camp, and both Junior and Senior Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensives. Marcella has been a member of the National Junior Honors Society since sixth grade, is the National Junior Honor Society president, a WEB leader, and on the High Honor Roll. Successfully passing two levels of Cecchetti, Marcella also enjoys tap dancing. Outside of dance, she enjoys reading, downhill skiing, and spending time with family.
Anna G
A junior at Kalamazoo Central High School, Anna is in her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Anna has danced at YMCA (4 years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (9 years). She has received the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship for the past four years, and the Irving S. Gilmore Student Arts Scholarship for the past two years. Anna has worked on her school’s yearbook, is a member of the Kalamazoo United Women’s golf team and is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish in the hopes of earning her seal of biliteracy.
Anna G
A junior at Kalamazoo Central High School, Anna is in her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Anna has danced at YMCA (4 years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (9 years). She has received the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship for the past four years, and the Irving S. Gilmore Student Arts Scholarship for the past two years. Anna has worked on her school’s yearbook, is a member of the Kalamazoo United Women’s golf team and is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish in the hopes of earning her seal of biliteracy.
Anna G
A junior at Kalamazoo Central High School, Anna is in her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Anna has danced at YMCA (4 years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (9 years). She has received the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship for the past four years, and the Irving S. Gilmore Student Arts Scholarship for the past two years. Anna has worked on her school’s yearbook, is a member of the Kalamazoo United Women’s golf team and is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish in the hopes of earning her seal of biliteracy.
Anna G
A junior at Kalamazoo Central High School, Anna is in her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Anna has danced at YMCA (4 years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (9 years). She has received the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship for the past four years, and the Irving S. Gilmore Student Arts Scholarship for the past two years. Anna has worked on her school’s yearbook, is a member of the Kalamazoo United Women’s golf team and is taking Advanced Placement (AP) Spanish in the hopes of earning her seal of biliteracy.
Mary W
Mary is a senior at Mattawan High School. This is Mary’s fifth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble, having danced at Excel Dance Center (2 years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (10 years). Mary has been the recipient of the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks Scholarship (2022) and the Education for the Arts (EFA) scholarship. She has attended Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensive and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive. Mary is currently enrolled in the Early Middle College Program, is a member of the National Honor Society, and has been on the Honor Roll (2021, 2022). Mary currently plans to go to college to be a Physician’s Assistant for OB-GYN. Outside of dance, Mary enjoys volunteering and spending time at the beach.
Hope Z
A senior at Kalamazoo Central High School, Hope is in her third year with Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has danced at West Michigan Dance Center (3years) and Ballet Arts School of Dance (10 years). Hope has attended summer dance intensives at Ballet Arts School of Dance and Grand Rapids Ballet. For the past three years, Hope was a recipient of the Education for the Arts scholarship, and for the past four years, a recipient of the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship. Outside of dance, Hope is a member of the National Honors Society and the Rotary Club. She also is taking Advanced Placement (AP) classes in school.