Karin Averty was born in France, trained in 1973 at the Paris Opera Ballet school for six years, then she joined the company in 1979 at age 16. In July 1980, she won the Grand Prix in the junior category at the international ballet competition in Varna, earning international recognition in her career. In June 1983 she became a Premier Danseuse at the Paris Opera Ballet, where she performed leading roles in Rudolph Nureyev’s choreographies, such as Raymonda, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere. Karin danced as well as principal roles in works by renowned choreographer such as Frederick Ashton, George Balanchine, August, Bournonville, Nils Christe, Agnes de Mille, Michel Fokine, Martha Graham, James Kudelka, Pierre Lacotte, Harold Lander, Serge Lifar, Kenneth McMillan, John Neumeier, Vaslav Nijinsky, Bronislava, Nijinsky, Jerome Robbins, Leo Stats, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, Antony Tudor, Hans van Mannen. Karin was awarded the Prix du Public by the Paris Opera Ballet Friends Association (AROP). The following year, William Forsynth chose her to be in the original cast of Somewhere in the Middle. In August 1987–89 she became a principal dancer with the San Francisco Ballet under artistic Director Helgi Tomasson then returned to the Paris Opera Ballet, where she retired in 2005 dancing Juliet in Nureyev’s choreography, Romeo and Juliet. In 2003 Karin Received her teaching diploma, and the Prime Minister of France, honored her with the National Merit order as a Knight. Karin then started to teach in France, and travel to Japan, Korea, Canada and the United States as a freelance ballet coach. In 2012 Karin realized one of her dreams and relocated to New York City. Karin Has taught at Juilliard, ABT, Alvin Ailey, Ellison Ballet, Peridance, Boston Ballet, Ballet West, Rock School, Kansas City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, among other schools in the country. Karin is a freelance ballet, instructor and coach. She is a ballet faculty at Steps on Broadway and teaches open classes.

Nathan Bland's dance journey commenced in California, where he trained under the tutelage of Margret Lloyds Smallie and Sandy Thomas. His dance education further progressed with Melissa Bowman from the American Ballet Theatre while attending the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet. Nathan's professional career took off with the Kansas City Ballet, where he had the opportunity to perform in productions choreographed by notable figures such as George Balanchine, Todd Bolender, and Twyla Tharp.

With over a decade of professional experience, Nathan has graced stages across the United States and around the globe. His impressive repertoire includes performances with renowned companies such as Eugene Ballet/Ballet Idaho, Oklahoma City Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, LazarBallet NYC, and Rebecca Kelly Ballet. Additionally, he has collaborated with various New York City-based choreographers and made guest appearances throughout the country.

In 2010, Nathan joined The National Ballet Theatre of Croatia as a Soloist. He performed The Cavalier in The Nutcracker, Hilarion in Giselle, and other notable roles in Napoli by Bournonville and Valentina Turcu's Carmen. During his tenure, he also had the opportunity to perform in Italy, Germany, and across Croatia.

Upon his return to the United States, Nathan continued freelancing and worked with esteemed companies such as Owen/Cox Dance Group of Kansas City and SENSEDANCE of New York City. Nathan's connection with Berks Ballet Theatre began in 2006, and in 2012, he assumed the role of Owner and Director of Berks Ballet Theatre Conservatory of Dance. Teaching has always been a passion for Nathan, and he takes great pleasure in imparting his dance expertise to the next generation of performers.

Nathan's recent educational pursuits include studying the Revolutionary Principles of Movement under Ruth C. Petrinovic and Wes Chapman and The Cuban National Ballet Technique under Ramona de Saa. A firm believer in lifelong learning, Nathan continually seeks to enhance his knowledge, ensuring that his students receive the best opportunities in their dance education.

Kathryn Boren is a former professional ballerina and a NASM Certified Personal Trainer. Her ballet training began at age three in her hometown of Dallas, TX. After training at the prestigious Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of ABT, she performed with ABT II, Staatsballett Berlin, and Boston Ballet. She joined ABT in 2015 and danced there until she retired in October 2023.

Michael Crawford is from Takoma Park, Maryland. He began dancing with prestigious schools, including the Maryland Youth Ballet and Kirov Academy, with summer intensives at The Rock

School and San Francisco Ballet on full scholarships. In his senior year, he was accepted into the Kennedy Center’s

Mr. Crawford then moved on to the Washington Ballet where, in their top training program, he performed with the company under the direction of Septime Webre. Upon graduation, he went on to study and perform in the Professional Division of The Pacific Northwest Ballet under the direction of Kent Stowell and Francia Russell.

After Pacific Northwest Ballet, he danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Jose Mateo Ballet, Ballet Memphis, American Repertory Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, and Oakland Ballet. At these companies, he performed several ballets as a principal artist.

Hope Easterbrook made her Broadway debut in "Hamilton" (2016) as the first replacement to the original cast, also fulfilling her dream of performing in "The Tony Awards". She has worked on various TV projects including James Cordon "Crosswalk Musicals". In 2018, Hope performed in the highly esteemed production of "In the Heights" at the Kennedy Center. Besides performing, Hope has worked as a choreographer for multiple projects including "The Ladies of Hip Hop Showcase" (2015), "Broadway Bares" (2014-2019) as well as music video projects for upcoming artists. She made her film debut in the Hamilton movie which aired on Disney+ on July 3rd 2020 alongside the original cast. She also founded her own non-profit," Dance4Hope", which facilitates dance classes to immigrant and refugee children along with other underprivileged youth living here in the U.S. She took Dance4Hope to Puerto Rico this summer as she created a Broadway musical theater camp for young artists on the island! She looks forward to becoming a more well rounded artist, creator, and entrepreneur!

Originally from Toronto, Karen received her undergraduate degree from Ryerson University. She moved to New York to study at The Ailey School where she fell in love with the Horton technique. Karen has taught at Ballet Hispanico, The Ailey Extension, The School at Columbia University, Horace Mann, New Dance Group and is currently a faculty member for the Steps Youth Program/Steps on Broadway, Marymount Manhattan College, Montclair State University and The Joffrey Ballet School. She has had the opportunity to guest teach and choreograph across the U.S. and abroad, including Canada, Mexico, Bolivia, Italy, Cyprus, and Israel and is a returning guest artist with OH Ballet Arts Academy (MD(, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, (PA), Techniche de Danza (Rome) and Earl Haig Performing Arts School (Toronto). Choreography commissions include: General Mischief Dance Theatre, The Harvard Ballet Company, Steps Repertory Ensemble, The Boston Tea Party Opera, Steffi Nossen, Marymount Manhattan College, Montclair State University. As artistic director of the xodus dance collective, her choreography has been showcased at such iconic concert dance venues as: American Dance Guild Festival, DUMBO Dance Festival, Movement Research at Judson Church, the Downtown Dance Festival, JPAC, Here Arts Center, The Ailey Theatre, The Queen Elizabeth Theatre in Toronto and the Inside/Out Festival at Jacob’s Pillow.

Arian Keddell is a native of Upstate NY and holds a B.A. in Dance with a concentration in Musical Theatre from Mercyhurst University.

Ms. Keddell began her career as a company member of Ballethnic Dance Company, and instructed at the school affiliated with the company. At the same time, she became ballet mistress at RISPA Performing Arts School in Georgia.

After leaving the company, she began to freelance and performed as a guest artist with Atlanta Ballet and joined a multi disciplinary artist collaborative group where she was a performer and board member. She has performed in a vast array of both classical and contemporary ballets as a concert dancer. Ms Keddell has also performed in a variety of cabarets, industrial shows and television appearances as a dancer, singer, and model. Additionally, she has instructed dance at schools, conventions and workshops across the country and internationally throughout her career.

She stepped away from performance for a time and became primary choreographer, dance instructor, associate director and associate artistic director to a musical theater school and ballet program in Upstate NY.

Ms. Keddell’s musical theater credits include regional shows and national and international tours of Jesus Christ Superstar Gospel, West Side Story, Guys and Dolls and CHICAGO. She is currently in the Broadway company of CHICAGO the Musical where she plays Mona.

You can follow Arian on Instagram where you can see clips of performances, and find links to articles she has written about diversity in dance and her return to the Broadway stage after the shutdown. Instagram: @ariankeddell

Photo by: Molly Batrowny

Hilary began her training at age 8 and was dancing professionally with the Indianapolis Ballet Theater by age 14. She spent her summers training at The School of American Ballet, The Joffrey Ballet School, The Rock School of The Pennsylvania Ballet, The Washington School of Ballet, and The Chautauqua School of Dance before joining the Metropolitan Opera Ballet in New York City.

As a student at SAB, Hilary appeared in Christopher Wheeldon's Le Voyage and participated in the New York City Ballet Education Department's Lecture Demonstration program, performing Peter Martin's Eight Easy Pieces, Balanchine's The Nutcracker, Cortege Hongrois and Puss n' Boots for local area school children under the direction of Suki Schorer.

Hilary danced principal roles in Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, under the tutelage of New York City Ballet principal dancers Patricia McBride and Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, and performed in Petipa's Giselle and Balanchine's Serenade, Western Symphony, La Source and Four Temperaments.

Hilary is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She is an accomplished instructor and is recognized for her uncompromising attention to detail and challenging her students to challenge themselves.

She holds a Bachelor of Arts in Literature and Writing from Columbia University where she graduated cum laude and lives in Montclair, NJ with her husband and three children.

Flavio Salazar is a native of Colombia, where he began his dance studies at the Instituto Colombiano de Ballet (Incolballet).

He joined Ballet de Cali, and also joined the faculty of Incolballet, having been certified by the National Ballet of Cuba to teach its methodology and pedagogy in ballet technique.

He studied at the Houston Ballet Academy as a full scholarship student and later joined Ballet Arizona.

Mr. Salazar was invited to join the American Ballet Theatre. During his thirteen years career with ABT, Mr. Salazar dance nearly every ballet in ABT`s repertoire before retiring from the company in July of 2006.

Mr. Salazar’s teaching experience extends from his early professional dancing years in Colombia, through his time at ABT. Presently, Mr. Salazar is an ABT Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Intensive in Primary through Level 7 of the ABT National training Curriculum, and a Certified Teacher in Methodology and Pedagogy in Ballet advised by the National Ballet of Cuba. He is currently teaching at ABT Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School, Ailey School, Adelphi University and Marymount Collages.

Andres Santiago is a a native Puerto Rican. Andres began his training as a contemporary ballet dancer in NYC in 1979 and has performed as a Principal Dancer in several dance companies such as Rod Rogers Dance Company, Rebecca Kelly Dance Company, and Nai Ni Chen Dance Company. He has performed in over 40 countries and was the choreographer for LaToya Jackson’s world tour. In 1996 he joined the Fred Astaire dance studios and quickly became a studio manager. Currently he competes in Ballroom with his students all over the United States.

Montclair High School's Class of 1994 alumnus, Chris White III is a percussionist, dancer, teacher and artist who has worked as a modern dance musician at Montclair State University, American Dance Festival, Timestorm podcast for Cocotazo Media, Drew University, Mason Gross School of Arts at Rutgers University, NJPAC, Peridance Center & Ballet Tech.

Chris has also accompanied Modern Dance Classes at Sharron Miller's Academy for the Performing Arts as well as at the Montclair Academy Of Dance and Laboratory of Music founded by Maya and Reggie Workman. In 2012 he played drum-set and percussion music arranged by Tigger Benford for choreographer Jay T. Jenkins at Mason Gross School of the Arts.

Chris has studied West African dance with Maquette Camera at the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre and classes in mime with Yass Hakoshima. In 2011 he performed in the successful Luna Stage Premiere, (West Orange, NJ), of "Mi Casa, Tu Casa" and played drums for the first and second run of the off-off Broadway production "The Beat" produced by Kamal Steele-Sinclair of from the cast of Stomp.

He has performed with Q-Tip (A Tribe Called Quest), Mos Def, mUMS, Wood Harris with his band “No Frills”. He appears on Tasneem Nanji's “Jungli” EP recording, “The War In Me”. In addition Chris has performed with tap dancer, Maurice Chestnut, drummer Rudy Walker and many others.

Alexandra Williamson was awarded the 2021 Meg Hunt Artist in Residency Grant at the Wrangell Mountains Center in McCarthy, Alaska, within the Wrangell St. Elias National Park. Alexandra also taught and performed at the 2021 Fairbanks Summer Arts Festival.

She is an alumni of the Dance BFA program at Montclair State University in New Jersey. Alexandra began dancing at age 9, studying traditional Irish Step Dancing. Alexandra then attended a performing arts high school (the Morris County Academy for Visual and Performing Arts). While a student at AVPA, Alexandra was encouraged to integrate contemporary and Irish dance together. She has studied at the Paul Taylor School, Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, and the Bates Dance Festival. Alexandra loves to perform and currently dances for companies in New York and New Jersey including: DiMauro Dance Company, Kristina Berger and Dancers, Jennifer Chin, and Darrah Carr Dance. Alexandra has performed on TV including the TODAY Show and Good Morning America. Recently she has been featured in comedian Zach Garner's music video, "The Exterminator" and the music video for Shunia, "Sa Re Sa Sa". Alexandra is on faculty at Hofstra University, the Joffrey Ballet School, and Steps on Broadway. Alexandra is also a guest artist at New York University, the Gallatin School.

Instagram: @alexandra_dances