Alumni

Ballet Lubbock has launched the careers of professional dancers, choreographers, and teachers.

Ballet Lubbock is proud of all of our alums, including these men and women who have gone on to careers and notable endeavors in the field of dance:

	Annelise Blessen Annelise is a 2007 graduate of Ballet Lubbock, where she was a member of the Company for four years. She is the recipient of the 2007 Gugi Award, and attended the prestigious Ballet Department of the University of Utah. Currently, Annelise is pursuing a major in Spanish at Texas Tech University and is a member of Ballet Lubbock's Advisory Committee.
	Michael Burfield Michael is a 2009 graduate of Ballet Lubbock. After receiving offers from both the Pacific Northwest Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre, Michael accepted and recently completed a one year position in the Professional Division of Pacific Northwest Ballet. Michael is currently dancing with Ballet Austin
	Cara Copland Cara is a 1993 Ballet Lubbock graduate and danced with the New York City Ballet.
	Shelly Cummins Shelly, a 1985 Ballet Lubbock graduate, is a professional dancer in New York City, fusing ballet with eastern dance. Ms. Cummins has worked as a dance teaching artist for the New York City Ballet, and has taught dance therapy and yoga for children with special needs at New York Hospital Cornell Medical Center.
	Kristin Douthit Kristin is a 2005 graduate and winner of the Gugi Award. Graduated Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance in 2008 from Marymount Manhattan College where she performed works by David Parsons, Pedro Ruiz, and Molissa Fenley with the Marymount Manhattan College Dance Company. Kristin has been on the teaching staff at TexARTS and danced professionally in the Austin area. Recently, Kristin has been hired by Royal Carribbean as a dancer.
	Elizabeth Gillaspy Elizabeth is a professional ballet teacher, choreographer, and faculty member at the Texas Christian University Dance Department.
	Emily Hemmings Emily is a Ballet Lubbock graduate and 2008 Gugi award recipient. She performed professionally with the Louisville Ballet Company. Her summer workshops include The Rock School of Dance (Philadelphia), Complexions (New York City), and Louisville Ballet School. Emily is a theatre major at Texas Tech University, and is a member of the Ballet Lubbock School faculty.
	Kevin Hockenberry Kevin graduated from Ballet Lubbock in 2003 to continue his ballet training at the University of Utah, and later at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Marcia Dale Wearey. He has danced as an apprentice at Ballet Austin under Stephen Mills as well as Nashville Ballet II under Paul Vasterling. Kevin is now a company dancer at the Nevada Ballet Theatre under Artistic Director James Canfield.
	Whitney Robins Holley Whitney Robins Holley, a 2002 Ballet Lubbock graduate, began her training with Ballet Lubbock Founder Suzanne Aker and later danced under Yvonne Racz Key with the Ballet Lubbock Company. Ms. Holley attended the University of Utah as a ballet major and taught for Ballet Lubbock for three years. She has served as Ballet Mistress and teacher for Collin County Ballet Theater and is currently teaching with Contemporary Ballet Dallas.
	NaTalia Johnson NaTalia is a 2001 graduate of Ballet Lubbock. She performed principal in Debbie Allen’s Los Angeles production of PEARL. Presently Ms. Johnson is a company member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Ensemble Company, and recently revisited Lubbock to dance the lead role of Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker.
	Jeff Smith Jeff is a 2010 graduate of Ballet Lubbock having danced with the Company for three years. He has performed lead roles in several Texas Tech University Music/Theatre productions. He performed a lead role in Lubbock Moonlight Musicals' Guys and Dolls, as well as Lubbock Community Theatre's production of The Fantasticks. Jeff is currently in Pennsylvania performing with the Mt. Gretna Theatre Company.
	Kristi Schultz O'Brien Kristi performed with Jeune Ballet International de Cannes, Laura Dean Dancers and Musicians, Lucinda Childs Dance Company, and Wendy Peron Dance Company. Kristi currently performs traditional and contemporary flamenco with her group of dancers and musicians, Toma Que Toma, in Virginia.
	Laci Ratliff Laci is a 2005 graduate of Ballet Lubbock and recipient of the Gugi Award. Her full biography can be viewed here.
	Jennifer Lamberts Stanton Jennifer is a 1985 graduate of Ballet Lubbock. She has danced professionally with several companies including Hubbard Street (Chicago). Ms. Stanton has also performed in Broadway productions of Guys and Dolls and DREAM.
	Bashaun Williams Bashaun is a 2007 graduate of Ballet Lubbock. He is on scholarship at the prestigious Ballet Department of the University of Utah, where he is pursuing a major in ballet.
	Lori Wilson Lori is a 2006 alum of Ballet Lubbock and graduated from The Rock School of Dance (Philadelphia) in 2007. She attended the Chautauqua Summer Dance Intensive (New York) in 2007 where she performed with North Carolina Dance Theatre in Mark Diamond's world premiere of Maestoso. Lori has been a guest artist with the Huntsville Ballet (Alabama) and Evansville Dance Theatre (Illinois), and is currently performing with the St. Louis Ballet in ballets such as George Balanchine's Valse Fantasies and Allegro Brilliante, and Gen Horiuchi's Nutrcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, and Cinderella, among others.

NaTalia Johnson

Annelise Hill

Lori Wilson

Brogan Doss

Bashaun Williams

Emily Hemmings

Yvonne Racz Key