About the school
Alabama ballet school
Our mission
Alabama Ballet School provides exceptional ballet training in a nurturing and inclusive environment. Our mission is to inspire and educate students of all ages and backgrounds, fostering a love and appreciation for the art of ballet. Through our commitment to excellence in teaching and performance, we aim to develop dancers who are not only technically proficient but also artistically expressive and passionate about their craft. We believe in the transformative power of dance and strive to instill confidence, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for the arts in each of our students.
Christopher Stuart
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR
Christopher Stuart, originally from Sandy Hook, CT, was first introduced to the Arts by his grandmother, who frequently took him to see performances of all types of ballet and musical theatre. This was where Christopher first fell in love with the stage. He began his formal training with Steve Sirico, Angela D’valda Sirico, Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens, and now with a child of his own, he understands why the arts are so important to enriching our community, especially its children.
Natalie Hunt
Director of Operations
Natalie Hunt, currently holding the position of Director of Operations at the Alabama Ballet School, boasts a decade-long journey with the Alabama Ballet marked by versatility and unwavering dedication. She began her tenure as a company dancer, later assuming roles as the Community Cast Director and a respected member of our school faculty. Natalie’s profound passion for dance education shines through in her work and her commitment to the growth and development of our students. Her multifaceted experience and genuine enthusiasm for the art form make her an invaluable asset to our organization, ensuring that our students receive the highest quality of dance education and mentorship.
Isabella Cowles, ARAD RTS
Director of Curriculum
Isabella began her classical ballet training through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) and under the direction of Arlene Larson in Kalamazoo, Michigan. She has taken and earned Distinction on every RAD examination which led to her competing as a semi-finalist in the 2014 Genée International Ballet Competition, held in Antwerp, Belgium. In 2015, she earned her Solo Seal Award in Toronto, Canada, this being the highest recognized dance award in the RAD community. Isabella has been teaching ballet for nine years. Early in her teaching career, she earned her RAD Certificate in Ballet Teaching Studies upon completing a two-year program with intense syllabus and teaching mentorship. As a registered RAD teacher, Isabella is now honored to become the Director of Curriculum at the Alabama Ballet School.
alexandra upleger
school teacher & coach
Alexandra Upleger trained in Ohio under Ana Lobe until 2008 when she joined Nashville Ballet. She danced with the company until 2018, during which time she performed principal roles in Nashville’s Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Dracula, Peter Pan, Cinderella and Western Symphony. She also performed leading rolesin ballets by Christopher Bruce and Jiri Kylian and had the pleasure of working with Christopher Wheeldon, Brian Enos, Darrell Moultrie, Gina Patterson, James Sewell and Christopher Stuart.
Faculty
Katie Drozd
Kendia Bennett
Journy Wilkes Davis
Mary Bailey Campbell
Juan Rafael Castellanos
Annabel Fobert
Elijah Crispen
Dagny Ingle
Caitlin McAvoy Hardman
Patricia Bianco
Madison Ryan
Tara Penkowsky
David Odenwelder
Leigh Murphree
Claire Hutchinson
Elizabeth Gamble
Asha Gangolli
