Ballet Lubbock: Art in Motion, Life in Motion

The Ballet Lubbock Company: Member Bios

Michael Burfield

High school sophomore, home-schooled student

Michael began his training with Ballet Lubbock at age 8. He trained with Edward Truitt (in Canyon, TX) at age 11, returning to Ballet Lubbock in 2005. This is his second year as a Company member. Past summer workshops include Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Austin, West Texas A&M University and Joffrey Ballet in NYC, all on full artistic merit scholarships. For Summer 2008, Michael has been accepted on full artistic merit scholarship to Carolina Ballet, and is one of only ten students invited to study as a trainee for their summer company.

Tatiana DeLawyer

Honors senior at Lubbock High School

This is Tatiana’s first year in the Company. Summer workshops include Kansas City Ballet. In summer 2008, Tatiana will attend the Technique in Taos teachers' workshop under the instruction of Jillana Balanchine, before beginning her college career at Texas Tech University.

Emily Hemmings

Honors senior at Coronado High School

This is Emily’s third year as a Company member. Summer workshops include The ROCK School of Ballet (Philadelphia) and Louisville Ballet. Emily has also performed recently with Lubbock Moonlight Musicals, as Liesl in The Sound of Music and as Ado Annie in Oklahoma! In summer of 2008, she will return to the Louisville Ballet workshop.

Carleigh Latham

Eighth grade home-schooled student

This is Carleigh's second year as a Company member. She has spent her summers in private lessons, open classes and last summer at the Ballet Academy of Texas Summer Intensive. In 2008 Carleigh will attend the summer intensive hosted by Ballet Austin.

Anne Ramirez

High school junior, home-schooled student

This is Anne’s third year in the Company. Most recent summer workshops include the Jillana Balanchine Intensive in Taos, NM. She is also a pre-ballet instructor at Ballet Lubbock. Anne has performed recently with Lubbock Moonlight Musicals, in Oklahoma! and as Martha in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. In 2008 she will attend the Technique in Taos (NM) workshop for teachers, lead by Jillana Balanchine.

	Stephen Anaya Dance major, Texas Tech University Stephen began his dance training at the West Virginia School of Ballet under the direction of Carolou Russell. He also studied at the Antietam Ballet Theater. Mr. Anaya has danced lead roles in several ballets including The Nutcracker, Giselle and Sleeping Beauty. He has performed the pas de deux from Balanchine ballets such as Stars and Stripes, Apollo, and Theme and Variations. He has performed the following Balanchine ballets: Four Temperaments and excerpts from Jewels and Union Jack.

Gemma Arioli Sophomore at Frenship High School This is Gemma's first year with Ballet Lubbock and its Company. She has recently relocated to Lubbock from Belgium, where she studied ballet with Piotra Nadzeir at Balletomania in Brussels. Summer workshops include the Group of Eight in St. Cyprien, South France.

	Bonnie Blue Honors freshman at All Saints Episcopal School This is Bonnie's second year as a Company member. Past summer workshops include Ballet Austin's summer intensive and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. For Summer 2008, Bonnie has been accepted at both The Kaatsbaan International Dance Center (New York) and The ROCK School of Ballet (Philadelphia), where she has received a full artistic merit scholarship.

Michael Burfield High school sophomore, home-schooled student Michael began his training with Ballet Lubbock at age 8. He trained with Edward Truitt (in Canyon, TX) at age 11, returning to Ballet Lubbock in 2005. This is his second year as a Company member. Past summer workshops include Kansas City Ballet, Ballet Austin, West Texas A&M University and Joffrey Ballet in NYC, all on full artistic merit scholarships. For Summer 2008, Michael has been accepted on full artistic merit scholarship to Carolina Ballet, and is one of only ten students invited to study as a trainee for their summer company.

	Katerina DeLawyer Honors eighth grade student, O.L. Slaton Junior High This is Katerina's first year in the Company. Past summer workshops include Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and in summer 2008, she will attend The Kaatsbaan International Dance Center (New York).

Tatiana DeLawyer Honors senior at Lubbock High School This is Tatiana’s first year in the Company. Summer workshops include Kansas City Ballet. In summer 2008, Tatiana will attend the Technique in Taos teachers' workshop under the instruction of Jillana Balanchine, before beginning her college career at Texas Tech University.

	Brogan Doss Honors senior at Monterey High School This is Brogan’s third year as a Company member. Summer workshops include the School of American Ballet (NYC) and The ROCK School of Ballet (Philadelphia), with an artistic merit scholarship.

Emily Hemmings Honors senior at Coronado High School This is Emily’s third year as a Company member. Summer workshops include The ROCK School of Ballet (Philadelphia) and Louisville Ballet. Emily has also performed recently with Lubbock Moonlight Musicals, as Liesl in The Sound of Music and as Ado Annie in Oklahoma! In summer of 2008, she will return to the Louisville Ballet workshop.

	Carleigh Latham Eighth grade home-schooled student This is Carleigh's second year as a Company member. She has spent her summers in private lessons, open classes and last summer at the Ballet Academy of Texas Summer Intensive. In 2008 Carleigh will attend the summer intensive hosted by Ballet Austin.

Anne Ramirez High school junior, home-schooled student This is Anne’s third year in the Company. Most recent summer workshops include the Jillana Balanchine Intensive in Taos, NM. She is also a pre-ballet instructor at Ballet Lubbock. Anne has performed recently with Lubbock Moonlight Musicals, in Oklahoma! and as Martha in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers. In 2008 she will attend the Technique in Taos (NM) workshop for teachers, lead by Jillana Balanchine.

	Cheyenne Richardson Honors eighth grade student at Cooper Junior High School This is Cheyenne's first year in the Company. Summer workshops include The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in Connecticut. In 2008 Cheyenne will attend the Bossov Ballet Theatre's summer workshop in Maine.

Joseph Rodriguez Vocal Performance Major, Texas Tech University This is Joseph’s second year in the Company. He has performed in Susannah and H.M.S. Pinafore as a part of the Young Artist Program in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Summer workshops include Ballet Austin on a full artistic merit scholarship.

	Jeff Smith Music Major/Theatre Minor, Texas Tech University This is Jeff's first year as a Company member. He performed in the TTU Music Theatre production of Grease and in Lubbock Moonlight Musical’s production of Seven Brides for Seven Brothers where he was featured as a dancer.