Junior and Senior Company

Dancers ages 13 and up with ballet experience audition for the Company simultaneously with a role in The Nutcracker. Company dancers are required to maintain participation in ballet classes and must attend the Company class prior to rehearsals on Saturday afternoons.  Company dancers are required to complete service hours to benefit the company. All company members participate in Champaign Urbana Ballet’s spring production.

Soloist

Kevin Burnside

Senior Company

Lauren Frost

Irina Cheng ~ Elijah Ochs

Alexander Hynes ~ Isaac Lee ~ Zoey Rypka ~ Farah Willenbrock

Amalia Bollero ~ Ilana Cohen ~ Oscar Lewis ~ Addison McClure

Ashlynn Brown ~ Janie Lee ~ Kiera McCoy ~ Lorenzo Pantano
Emma Rypka ~ Emily Shunk ~ Clara Wood

Junior Company

Beatrice Ebel ~ Elizabeth Hall ~ Cale Helfer ~ Hanna Laible-Seif
Grace Williams-Kim ~ Eleanor Kraatz ~ Rosy Odum ~ Ava Teague

Apprentices

Children age 10-12 with ballet experience audition for the Apprentice program. Apprentice dancers are required to maintain participation in ballet classes and also must attend the Apprentice class prior to rehearsals on Saturday afternoons. Apprentice dancers are encouraged to give volunteer hours back to the company. Apprentice dancers may participate in Champaign Urbana Ballet’s spring production.

Leyla Cohen ~ Cate Feinen ~ Sydney Ochs

Daisy Grace Lewis ~ Claudia Lundsgaard
Aubrie Murray ~ Janaki Raj-Underhill ~ Lily B. Rice
Alice Schleicher ~ Mia Sherman ~ James Smith ~ Samantha Walden

Trainees

Children ages 8-10 are eligible for nomination into the Trainee program, which is a preparatory step to the Apprentice program. Trainees are selected for the program in the fall of the year and attend weekly seminars throughout the spring.  Trainees participate in a 45-minute seminar for 10 consecutive Saturday mornings beginning the 2nd weekend of January.  Members of the Senior Company guide young dancers through the Trainee program, which culminates at the end of the year with the Student Production. Trainees are invited to participate alongside Apprentice and Company dancers in this entirely student led production -- from choreography to costumes. Trainees build strong peer relationships in a fun and supportive environment. Trainees are expected to maintain participation ballet classes and may be invited to participate in Champaign Urbana Ballet’s spring production.

Alumni