Greta B
​Greta is in her senior year and is homeschooled while also attending Kalamazoo Valley Community College. This is her fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has danced for a total of 13 years at Sue McQuarrie, Ballet Arts School of Dance, Tye Chua Dance and currently at The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. Greta has attended summer dance programs at Ballet Arts School of Dance and Grand Rapids Ballet. She has been a recipient of the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship. Greta has successfully passed five levels of Cecchetti. Outside of dance, she likes to travel with her family, spend time with her friends, is active in her church and enjoys doing DIY projects. Greta plans to earn her business degree at Western Michigan University.
Jillian B
Jillian has danced for a total of 15 years, attending Traci Phelps Studio, Ballet Academy, Ballet Arts School of Dance, Tye Chua Dance & The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. This is Jillian’s fourth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble and has attended Grand Rapids Ballet Senior Intensive and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive. Jillian is a Senior at Gull Lake High School and KRESA Career Connect Center and plans to attend a four-year school to pursue a career in Nursing. She volunteers as a Big in the Big Brothers, Big Sisters program, is the Social Media Manager for Gull Lake Athletics and is a member of NHS. Jillian has successfully passed four levels of Cecchetti and has made the High Honor Roll in school for the past four years. In her free time, she enjoys being with friends and family, listening to music and shopping.
Millie C
Millie is a Junior at Loy Norrix High School. This is her third year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has danced at YMCA, Ballet Arts School of Dance and Grand Rapids Ballet for a total of 12 years. She’s currently dancing at Grand Rapids Ballet School and The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. Millie has completed 4 levels of Cecchetti and received a scholarship in 2022 to attend the Cecchetti Council of America International Summer School. She has also been a recipient of the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks scholarship in 2023-26. She has attended the Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive and the Grand Rapids Ballet Senior Summer Intensive. Millie enjoys reading, going to the beach and hanging out with her family in her spare time.
Clara G
A sophomore at Portage Northern High School and KAMSC, Clara is in her second year with Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has danced for 10 years and is currently training at Grand Rapids Ballet School. Clara has attended summer dance intensives with Grand Rapids Ballet School and Ballet Arts School of Dance and successfully passed 3 levels of Cecchetti. She is a co-leader of the KAMSC Multicultural Student Organization and is involved with Students Demand Action and Ski Club. In her free time, Clara enjoys spending time on the water, traveling and time with friends.
Evan G
Evan is a junior at Loy Norrix High School and Advanced Musical Theatre EFA. This is her third year with Ballet Arts Ensemble. She danced at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 12 years and is currently training for her second year at Tye Chua Dance and first year at The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. Evan has attended summer programs at Blue Lake Fine Arts Camp, Cecchetti Council of America, Ballet Arts School of Dance, and also attended Musical Theatre Camp at Interlochen Summer Camp for three years. She is a member of the Student Senate and Advanced Treble Ensemble. Evan has performed in several local community productions and was a featured dancer in the Kalamazoo Civic’s production of Rogers and Hammerstein’s Cinderella. Her favorite free time activities are singing and playing guitar.
Maille H
Maille is a sophomore at Gull Lake High School and KAMSC. This is her second year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been dancing for 9 years and is currently training at Tye Chua and The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. Maille has attended an intensive at Grand Rapids Ballet for the past 3 years. She enjoys crocheting, painting, sewing and playing the violin, even winning an Art Award at school.
Rania J
A sophomore at Loy Norrix High School and KAMSC, Rania is in her second year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She danced at West Michigan Dance Center and Ballet Arts School of Dance totaling 11 years. She is currently dancing at Tye Chua Dance for the second year and The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. Rania attended the summer dance intensive at Grand Rapids Ballet the last two years. She successfully passed 3 levels of Cecchetti. Rania enjoys volunteering at her church and the SPCA. She also spends time traveling, reading, playing piano and playing with her cats.
Abbey M
Abbey is a homeschool student who is in her senior year of high school, while also attending Kalamazoo Valley Community College. She danced at Ballet Arts School of Dance and Tye Chua Dance for 14 years and is currently dancing at The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. In addition to successfully passing five levels of Cecchetti, Abbey is a part of the homeschool ski team and studies music at West Michigan Homeschool Fine Arts. She received a Division 1 rating in French Horn and Piano at the Grand Rapids Solo Ensemble festival. When not dancing, Abbey enjoys spending time at her family’s cottage, painting, and running. She plans to spend one more year completing her Associates of Arts degree at KVCC then transferring to a four-year college to pursue a Bachelor's degree.
Lucy M
Lucy is a junior at Loy Norrix High School and Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center. She danced at Ballet Arts School of Dance for 7 years and is currently training at The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. Lucy has received an art scholarship for Blue Lake Arts Camp and has had art pieces highlighted in the KIA Kalamazoo Public School art shows for several years. She participated in Honors Choir and has played piano for 4 years. In her free time, she enjoys art, reading, cooking & baking, playing piano and spending time with her sisters.
Ruby R
Ruby is a sophomore at Portage Central High School. She has been dancing for 12 years and is currently studying at Ballet Kalamazoo and Excel Dance Centre. This is her second year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Ruby received the W. Dale & Geraldine Crooks scholarship from 2023-2026. She has attended the Grand Rapids Ballet & Ballet Kalamazoo summer intensives, as well as Eisenhower Dance UProoted. In school, Ruby participates in choir and Mustang Mentors, mentoring middle schoolers. In her free time, she enjoys babysitting, spending time with family and being outdoors.
Margaret S
Maggie is a senior at Loy Norrix High School and KRESA CTE. This is her sixth year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been dancing for 15 years at various studios including Excel Dance Center, Family Center for the Arts, Ballet Arts School of Dance & Tye Chua Dance. Maggie is currently training at The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has attended Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensives and Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensives. She is a member of the Loy Norrix Varsity Golf team and enjoys baking, babysitting and spending time with friends. Maggie plans to attend a four-year college to pursue a career in elementary education.
Tessa S
Tessa is an eighth-grader at Maple Street Magnet School for the Arts. This is her first year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has danced at studios including Excel Dance Centre, Ballet Arts School of Dance and Ballet Kalamazoo for 10 years. She is studying at Ballet Kalamazoo and The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble this season. Tessa plays volleyball and runs track and has performed in several musicals at school. She enjoys golfing, baking and spending time with her friends and sisters.
Daria S
Daria is an eighth-grader at Maple Street Middle School for the Arts. She has danced for 10 years at Ballet Arts School of Dance and is currently studying at The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. Daria plays the cello and has received the KRESA EFA Scholarship the last 3 years. She is a four-time US National Solo Ice Dance Finalist and also enjoys drawing in her free time.
Lia T
Lia is a senior at Loy Norrix High School and Kalamazoo Area Math and Science Center. This will be Lia’s second full year with Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has been dancing for 13 years at studios including Toledo Ballet, Ballet Arts School of Dance and Tye Chua Dance. She is currently studying at Tye Chua Dance and The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. Lia has attended the Grand Rapids Ballet Intensive and received grants from EFA and the W. Dale and Geraldine Crooks Scholarship. She is the Treasurer of the Loy Norrix National Honor Society, is a KAMSC Student Ambassador and received an award for Outstanding Research in Physics. Lia is a Black Belt in Okinawan Shuri Ryu Karate, becoming a Bronze and Silver Medalist in the Martial Arts World Games. She has played piano for 13 years, earning the Jonathon Cook Award for Composition. In her free time, she enjoys reading, going to the gym and spending time with family and friends. Lia plans to pursue a career in STEM after high school.
Marcella T
Marcella is a sophomore at Loy Norrix High School and KAMSC. This is her third year in Ballet Arts Ensemble. Marcella has danced for 13 years between Kalamazoo Ballet Academy, Ballet Arts School of Dance & Excel Dance Center. She is currently dancing at Tye Chua Dance and The Academy of Ballet Arts Ensemble. She has attended Ballet Arts School of Dance summer intensive, Blue Lake Fine Arts summer camp, Grand Rapids Ballet summer intensives and Joffrey Tap Intensive (NYC). Marcella is on the Kalamazoo United varsity ski team and earned an award for outstanding research at KAMSC. Outside of dance, she enjoys painting, skiing and spending time with family and friends.
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.