Studio Company

Nahomi Alafita is originally from Xalapa, Veracruz, Mexico. When she was three years old, her parents noticed her dancing with steps resembling ballet. As a result, they decided to enroll her in a local academy, where she continued to train until the age of 13. At that point, she decided to pursue professional training and moved to study at the Escuela Superior de Música y Danza Clásica in Monterrey, Mexico, at 14. There, she obtained a degree in ballet.

Before completing her studies at Escuela Superior, she relocated to the United States to join the San Francisco Ballet School. During this time, she had the opportunity to participate in San Francisco Ballet company productions, like The Nutcracker.

In 2022, she continued her studies in Chicago at The Joffrey Academy of Dance as a Trainee. Some of her notable achievements include her participation in the production of The Nutcracker with the Joffrey Ballet Company, her performance of Soloists Variations in suites of the ballets Raymonda and Napoli with the Academy, and her involvement in the Joffrey Academy Trainee Teaching Endorsement program. Additionally, she was a choreographer for two consecutive years for the Young Moves performance.

This year, she took part in Ballet Arizona’s Summer Intensive program and is eager to join the Arizona Ballet School. Her favorite hobbies are reading and enjoying musical theatre.

Martina Azzolini is from Italy, where she started her ballet training at the early age of 3, and immediately fell in love with it.

Already at the age of 12, she knew she wanted to become a professional ballet dancer.

After few years of professional training, she then moved to Basel, Switzerland, in 2017 to attend the Ballettschule Theater Basel, where she then graduated 3 years later, in 2020.

During her time in Basel she had the opportunity to get in touch with Balanchine’s repertoire and style, contemporary and modern classes, in addition to Forsythe workshops, Heinz Spoerli’s Chäs and performed Kenneth MacMillan’s Soirées Musicales.

She later joins the Joffrey Academy of Dance Chicago’s Trainee Program in 2021, where she performed Gerald Arpino’s Viva Vivaldi, Yuri Possokhov’s Don Quixote in the role of Cupid, George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes and contemporary works.

After completing Joffrey’s Trainee Program in June 2023, she joins Ballet Arizona’s Summer Intensive.

Outside of ballet, Martina enjoys baking, reading, working out and spending time with friends. She is excited to be dancing with Ballet Arizona this Season!

Katelyn has been dancing since the age of 3 and completed a significant part of her training at Studio West Dance Academy in Olympia, WA, under the direction of Stephanie Wood Ennett. While attending SWDA, Katelyn had the opportunity to dance leading roles as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Tinker Bell in Peter Pan, along with numerous contemporary partnering performances. Katelyn moved to Arizona at age 15 to dance with David King and Ashley Baker at The Ballet Clinic. Katelyn trained at Houston Ballet Academy the following year, where she performed in The Nutcracker and Claudio Munoz’s Coppelia. Katelyn is now looking forward to dancing at Ballet Arizona.

Katelyn broadened her training with summer intensives such as SAB Young Dancer, ABT Virtual, Bolshoi Ballet NY, Nashville Ballet, Houston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, San Francisco Ballet, and Ballet Arizona.

Some so many teachers shaped Katelyn into the ballerina she is today. Still, without Stephanie Wood Ennett, Marianna Ramsour, and Gabriella Woolley’s unwavering support, she wouldn’t have this fantastic opportunity to pursue her dreams. Katelyn enjoys traveling, reading, and hanging out with her family and friends.

BriAnna Binzak was born in Minnesota where she began dancing at the age of three at a local studio. Then, at age seven, she moved with her family to Texas and joined the Quenedit Ballet School. When competing at Youth American Grand Prix she was recruited to attend Next Generation Ballet in Florida. During her time there, she performed many roles including Aurora, Odette, Dewdrop, Snow Queen, Medora, and second movement lead in Western Symphony. After four years there, she joined the Richmond Ballet as a trainee for two seasons. She is very excited to have joined the Studio Company at Ballet Arizona for the upcoming season.

BriAnna enjoys playing with her dogs, baking, and reading.

Giana Bragger started pre-professional ballet training at 9 years old with Manhattan Youth Ballet under the directorship of Erin Fogarty, Daniel Ulbrict, and Deborah Wingert. At the school, she had the opportunity to perform many classical and contemporary works, as well as numerous pieces by George Balanchine. Over the summers, she trained with Suzanne Farrell at Cedar Island, Bolshoi Ballet Academy NYC, Boston Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Miami City Ballet, School of Ballet Arizona, and American Ballet Theater JKO.

In her senior year, Giana also trained privately with Christine Shevchenko to prepare for competitions such as ADC IBC and the World Ballet Competition Finals.
After graduating from Manhattan Youth Ballet in June 2023, she spent a year studying privately with Leslie Browne and built a schedule of classes at Steps on Broadway. She also guested with Chevalier Ballet and was chosen to dance in John Clifford’s documentary entitled “Balanchine’s Protege.”

In addition to ballet, Giana loves to draw, journal, cook, do yoga and pilates, and listen to music. She is very excited to be dancing alongside Ballet Arizona!

Originally from Northern Virginia, Emerson Butler began ballet training at The Washington School of Ballet at age five and furthered her ballet studies with Lilla Séber at Séber Method Academy in Washington, D.C. At fourteen, she was invited to join the HARID Conservatory in Boca Raton, FL on full scholarship where she studied for two years.

Emerson continued her training on scholarship at Ellison Ballet in New York City under Evgenia Singur performing excerpts from Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, and Leonid Lavrovsky’s Classical Symphony.

In 2023, Emerson joined the Joffrey Academy Conservatory in Chicago on scholarship under Karin Ellis-Wentz performing Gerald Arpino’s Viva Vivaldi, 1st Odalisque from Le Corsaire, and an original contemporary work by Xavier Núñez in the Joffrey Ballet 14th Annual Winning Works.

She spent summers training at the Royal Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, School of American Ballet, and on scholarship at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Sarasota Ballet, Ellison Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, and HARID Conservatory.

Emerson is excited to join the Ballet Arizona Studio Company for the 2024-2025 season!

Abigail Carpenter is from Wichita, KS. She started training at 6 years old and quickly discovered her passion and love for ballet.

Abigail attended summer intensives with Modas Dance in 2019, Ballet Austin in 2021, Colorado Ballet Academy in 2022 and 2023, Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2023, and The School of Ballet Arizona in 2024. She previously trained with Colorado Ballet Academy's Pre-Professional Division for two years from 2022 to 2024.

Abigail also enjoys reading, art, graphic design, and creativity. She is looking forward to the repertoire and experiences of being part of Ballet Arizona's Studio Company. She is so excited and grateful for the opportunity to dance and grow with Ballet Arizona this season!

Kasey Fox is from Denver, Colorado and began her classical ballet training at Colorado Ballet Academy at the age of 15. Previously a competition dancer, she then went on to train in the pre-professional program for three years at Colorado Ballet Academy. Kasey also attended summer intensives at Boston Ballet and Pacific Northwest Ballet on scholarship.

In her free time Kasey enjoys reading, baking, hiking, and spending time with friends and family!

This is Kasey’s first season with Ballet Arizona and she is looking forward to working closely with both the company and the school!

Scarlett Rae Fulton is from Roanoke Virginia, where she started her ballet training at the age of five with Southwest Virginia Ballet. Discovering ballet was her true passion, Scarlett moved to Carlisle Pennsylvania, at the young age of twelve, to study under the beloved Marcia Dale Weary at CPYB (Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet). During her high school years, Scarlett trained with Miami City Ballet School’s Pre-Professional Division under the direction of Arantxa Ochoa. Throughout her time at MCBS, Scarlett performed in many ballets including one of her favorites, The Four Temperaments, by George Balanchine, where she was coached by Balanchine trust member, Paul Boos, to perform the First Theme and Phlegmatic. Scarlett also had the opportunity to work with internationally recognized choreographer, Amy Hall Garner, on her new ballet, Rita Finds Home, performing a lead role. Additionally, Scarlett worked numerous times with Miami City Ballet School’s resident choreographer, Durante Verzola. After graduating from MCBS, Scarlett accepted a scholarship to dance with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s Post Graduate Program. While in Pittsburgh, Scarlett performed in several performances and worked with New York City Ballet’s Zappora Karz on the role of Dark Angel in Balanchine’s Serenade. While in Pittsburgh she also worked as a dance teacher’s assistant with Hope Academy, a non-profit organization in partnership with PBT. Throughout Scarlett’s time at MCB & PBT, she was granted the opportunities to choreograph her own pieces for the pre-professional dancers and graduates, where she was recognized for her strong leadership skills and creativity.

Scarlett has spent her summers training at, The School of American Ballet, The Royal Danish Ballet, Princess Grace Academy, International Master Classes in Prague, Chautauqua, American Ballet Theatre , Ballet West, and Joffrey Ballet. 

In addition to dancing, Scarlett enjoys choreographing, pilates, yoga, journaling, photography, thrifting and continues to pursue her college degree.

Mary Jane is from Mesa, Arizona and has lived all around the valley. She grew up dancing on and off until, in 2015 she began her training with Ballet Etudes, performing with them until 2023. This is her first year with Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company.

Aside from dancing, Mary Jane loves reading, writing, and sewing, among other creative ventures.

Anna Kaestner is originally from St.Louis, Missouri where she studied at the Center of Creative Arts under the direction of Antonio and Kirven Douthit-Boyd. She danced in the Professional Program during the 22-23 school year before joining Studio Company for the 23-24 season.

Her favorite ballet is George Balanchine’s Jewels and her dream role has always been Juliet from Romeo and Juliet. She is excited to be a part of Ballet Arizona and has been given the opportunity to work alongside the company.

Outside of ballet, Anna enjoys playing with her golden retriever, Ruby, cooking, and sunset hikes.

Devin Lentz was raised in Phoenix Arizona. She has been doing ballet for 13 years now and started when she was 3. She has been a member of the School of Ballet Arizona for 5 years now.

In her free time Devin enjoys spending time with friends and family, playing with her cats, and baking.

Devin is most looking forward to the opportunities to perform with both the school and the company this season alongside other talented dancers.

Tatiana Marsalli is from Naples, Florida where she studied for nine years at a Vaganova-based studio, Naples Ballet. She has spent her summers training at Ballet Arizona, Sarasota Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Houston Ballet.

She is looking forward to learning the company’s rep for the season as well as performing in studio company and company productions.

Outside of dance she enjoys watercolor painting, baking for her friends and family, and staying active outdoors.

Natalie Nerat is from Madison, Wisconsin and moved to Denver, Colorado in 2021 to train at Colorado Ballet Academy. She has spent summers training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Boston Ballet and Ballet Arizona. In her free time Natalie enjoys spending time with her friends and family.

She is looking forward to continuing to challenge herself in technique and artistry and to dance in a professional company environment.

Ella van Oosterom is from Pennsylvania and began her ballet training at the Rock School West in Philadelphia when she was 4 years old. When she was 8, Ella continued her training at the School of Pennsylvania Ballet in Philadelphia. She fell in love with performing while dancing children’s roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker.

At thirteen, Ella continued her training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, where she performed as the principal ballerina in George Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie and many roles in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, including the Dewdrop Fairy. Additionally, she performed both original works and classical ballets by Alan Hineline.

Ella also spent her summers at the School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet School, and Miami City Ballet School.

In 2022, Ella was invited to train for the Miami City Ballet School academic year. She performed the roles of Choleric principal and Phlegmatic corps in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments and various ballets by Durante Verzola in the Workshop Performances. Ella also performed with Miami City Ballet in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Alexi Ratmansky’s Swan Lake, and George Balanchine’s and Jerome Robbin’s Firebird.

Outside of dancing, Ella enjoys working out and spending time with friends and family. She is looking forward to her first season with Ballet Arizona.

Akari Tagawa was born and raised in Kanagawa, Japan, where she began her training at the age of 5. She moved to The Rock School in Philadelphia at the age 16, she performed the role of Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. In 2022, she moved to The Washington School of Ballet, she performed the role of Clara in The Nutcracker. In the summer of 2023, she participated in The School of Ballet Arizona. She then joined the Studio Company. This is her first season as a Ballet Arizona Studio Company member.

Juliana was raised in Connecticut, where she first began her preliminary ballet training at The Hartt School, under former director Samantha Dunster and later Carol Roderick. In 2018, Juliana furthered her training by joining the Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory under the direction of Victoria Mazzarelli.

Juliana then moved to Sarasota, Florida in 2021 to join The Sarasota Ballet’s Trainee program under the direction of Christopher Hird and Dierdre Miles Burger. Here Juliana had the opportunity to work within the school while also getting to learn select company repertoire.

Most recently Juliana trained in the Professional Division at Nashville Ballet, under the direction and coaching of Anaïs Chalendard. Here, Juliana was also able to expand her contemporary training under the teaching of Maria Konrad.

She is now excitedly looking forward to the year ahead in Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company!

When she is not dancing Juliana loves spending time with her cat Cannoli, listening to classical music, and getting outside with friends!