Dancers

Desirae Anslover began her dance training at Elite Dance Studio in 2001. She joined Ballet Repertory Theatre in 2006 and danced principal roles such as Clara, Sugar Plum and Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker, Svanhilda in Coppelia, Alice in Alice in Wonderland by Alex Ossadnik and the title role in Celia Dale’s Cinderella. This is Desirae’s first season with New Mexico Ballet Co. and she is looking forward to working with such a wonderful company.
Delaney Aragon (Apprentice)-Bio Coming Soon!
Mackenzie Aragon (Apprentice)-Bio Coming Soon!
Kayla Armgardt-Bio Coming Soon!
Baylee Brown, 16, is currently a junior at La Cueva High School. She began dancing at age three at Fishback Studio of Dance, and has since trained at Dance Theater Southwest, Ballet Lubbock, Alwin School of Dance, Keshet, Sandra’s School of Dance and New Mexico Ballet Company, dancing under the direction of Patricia Dickinson, Benigna Sanchez Duty, Jennifer Boren, Yvonne Racz Key, Deanna Encinias, Karen Alwin, Wendy Miner, Jolie Sutton-Simballa, Suzanne Johnston and Wendy Rubin. She has danced in New Mexico Ballet Company’s The Nutcracker Ballet for five years and last year’s Pucci Sports. She has also performed in Ballet Lubbock’s The Nutcracker Ballet and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. During the summer of 2011, she attended The Jillana School summer intensive program in Taos, New Mexico. Last summer she attended Anaheim Ballet’s summer intensive program. Baylee would like to thank NMBC for allowing her to pursue her love of dance.
Danée Marie Bustos (Apprentice), age 15, is currently a sophomore at Belen High School. She began dancing when she was just 3 years old at Renée Antoinette’s School of Dance. Danée has trained with the New Mexico Ballet Company for several years under the direction of Jolie Sutton-Simballa and Wendy Rubin. This past summer, Danée attended The Jillana School summer intensive program in Taos, New Mexico. Danée has performed in several of the New Mexico Ballet Company productions of The Nutcracker as well as Moscow Ballet’s Great Russian Nutcracker. Danée would like to thank Jolie Sutton-Simballa and Wendy Rubin for the wonderful opportunities and encouragement they have provided to her.
Ashlee Carrasco-Bio Coming Soon!
Stephanie Dyke-Bio Coming Soon!
Natalie Harris has grown up in Albuquerque and began her training at the age of 13 at Dance Theatre of the Southwest. At the age of 18 she received an apprenticeship with Ballet Quad Cities where she danced soloist roles in contemporary and classical works. She then received a full scholarship to the Joffrey Ballet School Trainee program in New York City where she studied for 4 years. During that time she was chosen to be a part of the Joffrey Ballet School Performance Company where she performed pieces choreographed by Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet), Brian McSween (Joffrey Ballet) and Davis Robertson (Joffrey Ballet). Natalie is delighted to join New Mexico Ballet Company for their 2012/2013 season.
Kyle Linzer began his study of dance as a senior in high school after being prompted to do so by his martial arts instructor. (It’s never too late to start!) His training includes classical ballet, modern, jazz, pas de deux, character dance and yoga under the direction of such schools as The University of the Arts in Philadelphia, the Dance Space, the Dance Foundation, the Dance Academy, the College of Santa Fe and Prince Ballet in Santa Fe, the Arrowhead Manor School of Dance in California, and UNM in Albuquerque. In addition to teaching and performing dance in Albuquerque and Rio Rancho, Kyle stays in shape by also teaching Yoga and Pilates classes at Cleveland High School, Defined Fitness, and the Placitas Fire station, as well as internationally for various resorts in the Caribbean.
Jacob Maes-Bio Coming Soon!
Abigail Nairn (Apprentice) is 13 and in the eighth grade at Bosque School. She began her dance training at Fishback Studio of the Dance and, at age 10, she started performing with their competition team. Recently, Abby began training with Karen Alwin at Alwin School of the Dance and with Jolie Sutton-Simballa and Wendy Rubin at New Mexico Ballet Company. Last summer, Abby studied at Ballet Chicago with Patricia Blair, Daniel Duell, William Miglino, Ted Seymour, and Megan Wright.
Hannah Nairn (Apprentice) is 15 and currently a sophomore at Bosque School. At age four, Hannah began dancing at Fishbacks Studio of the Dance and later competed on their competition team. After discovering her love for ballet, Hannah began training at Alwin School of the Dance and at New Mexico Ballet Company. Hannah has also had the privilege of studying with Catherine Batcheller and Sabir Yapparov at The Cincinnatti Ballet and with Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair at Ballet Chicago
Kira Petersen grew up in Minnesota where she studied for 10 years with Lakeville City Ballet. After graduating high school, she moved to New York City where she was on scholarship with the Joffrey Ballet School Trainee Program. During that time she had the opportunity to work with critically acclaimed dancers and choreographers such as Leslie Brown (American Ballet Theatre), Jill Johnson (Frankfurt Ballett), Daniel Ulbricht (New York City Ballet), and Francesca Corkle (Joffrey Ballet). During her last year at Joffrey, she was chosen to be a member of the Joffrey Ballet School Performance Company where she performed soloist roles choreographed by Matthew Prescott (Morphoses), Julie Bour (Ballet Preljocaj), and Davis Robertson (Joffrey Ballet). She then returned to Twin Cities Ballet where she guested in principle roles for their 2011/2012 season. Kira is thrilled to be a part of the New Mexico Ballet Company.
Tatiana Poth (Apprentice) began her serious training in classical ballet and the Cecchetti method under the direction of Karen Alwin, Deanna Encinias, Wendy Miner and Faye Warren at Alwin School of the Dance. She danced for the Moscow Ballet’s Nutcracker at age 9. She is a 5 year member of the Performers Ballet & Jazz Company and has performed soloist roles in Christmas Joy. She placed Top 10 overall in the 2010 World Ballet Competition. Tatiana competes annually in Youth America Grand Prix and performed at New York City Center in the 10th Anniversary YAGP Gala’s Grand De File, choreographed by Carlos Dos Santos. She has worked with Layla Amis, Lee Wei Chao, Luis Fuentes, Jillana, Stephanie Saland, Adam Sklute, Mel Tomlinson, Christopher Vo, Sasha Yaparov, and many others. This is Tatiana’s second season with New Mexico Ballet Company and is thankful to be a part of their 40th anniversary season.
Tracy Ritter began her training at La Mesa Dance Academy with Cecelia Jaramillo where she studied ballet, jazz and tap. She then trained with Suzanne Johnston at the University of New Mexico. Tracy has received many performance opportunities and several lead roles such as Lead Merliton in The Nutcracker, a Bride of Dracula in Dracula and Concerto Barocco choreographed by George Balanchine. Tracy performed in West Side Story and Thoroughly Modern Millie with Musical Theatre Southwest and recently started dancing with Soiree Entertainment. She currently teaches for La Mesa Dance Academy and NDI-New Mexico. This is her ninth season dancing with NMBC.
Robbie Rodriguez has been dancing for the past eighteen years training in jazz, hip-hop, lyrical/contemporary, ballet, and tap with Elite Dance Studio where he is an instructor as well as a company member. He has had the opportunity to perform in many lead roles and soloist positions in Elite Productions as well as been a guest artist for various studios throughout Albuquerque. In addition to performing, Robbie has a passion for teaching and choreographing. His award winning choreography can been seen in various productions, master classes, and competition pieces throughout New Mexico. He is also a guest choreographer and judge for Cathy Roe Productions and Showbiz National Talent Competition. This is Robbie’s first year with NMBC and he is very grateful for the opportunity to be a part of such a talented company.
Kelly Ruggiero studied on full scholarship, receiving her BFA from the University of Arizona. While attending the U of A, she was featured in Lise Houlton’s Sidetracks, Melissa Lowe’s English Suite, Michael William’s Dreaming, and James Clouser’s Swan Lake, as Odette. Upon graduating , Kelly joined David Taylor Dance Theatre. Her repertoire includes Sugar Plum and Clara in The Nutcracker, Juliet in David Taylor’s Romeo and Juliet Rocks!, James Wallace’s The Storm, and Tom Ruud’s Mobile. After three seasons with DTDT, Kelly joined Nevada Ballet Theatre, where she performed Who Cares?, Serenade, Rubies, Peter Anastos’s Cinderella, as well as James Canfield’s Giselle. Kelly was offered the esteemed opportunity to perform Canfield’s Equinoxe at the Kennedy Center. While dancing with NBT, she also performed with Cirque du Soleil in their annual Choreographer’s Showcase. Kelly performed two seasons with Sandra Organ Dance Company in Houston and most recently joined New Mexico Ballet Company last fall.
Abigail Ryckman, 16, is currently a junior at the Albuquerque Academy. She started dancing at the age of 7, training with Jennifer Boren, Jolie Sutton-Simballa, Patricia Dickenson-Wells, Suzanne Johnston, Candy Simmons-Smith, Tracy Ritter, and Wendy Rubin. Abigail has performed in the past eight NMBC productions of The Nutcracker, as well as many other NMBC productions. She has also trained with Rodney Gustafson of State Street Ballet, David Wilcox of Long Beach Ambassadors to China, Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair of Ballet Chicago. Abby is honored to be dancing the role of Clara for the second time.
Antionette Segura-Bio Coming Soon!
Connie Spiegel-Bio Coming Soon!
Tomas Tafoya has been training at Sandra’s School of Dance for 11 years and has performed on their nationally recognized competitive team for 10 years. In addition to training, he also teaches hip hop at Sandra’s. He has gone to numerous dance competitions throughout the country receiving awards for, most entertaining, best theatrical performance, and overall high score. The dance team was also ranked in the top 50 of The Federation Dance Competitions for the past two years, the only team to do so in the state of New Mexico. As an individual, he won a scholarship to The Millennium Dance Complex in California and was in the movie “Lemonade Mouth”. He has received a varsity letter in dance while attending St. Pius X High school. He was on the Honor Roll for four years and also has lettered in community service for completing 120 hours of proud service to his community.
Maura Talley, 18, is an Albuquerque native and currently a senior at the Public Academy for Performing Arts. She began her dance training at Lana’s School of Dance and has continued her training in all dance forms at Dance Arts Center, Marshall Performing Arts, Dance Theatre Southwest, and The New Mexico Ballet Company. Maura has won numerous awards for her performances, choreography, top honors at many regional and national competitions, also being named Miss Senior Ultimate Dance. She performed her third year with Cathy Roe’s National Producer’s Dream Company this summer and was a protégé for Cathy. Maura’s other performances have included Moscow Ballet’s The Nutcracker, Petrushka with David Chavez and the NMSO, Disneyland Parades, White Christmas with ALT, and many Tap Jams. This is Maura’s 6th year performing with The NMBC and she looks forward to many more wonderful experiences with the company.
Kimberly White began her early dance training at La Mesa Dance Academy, Dance Theatre Southwest and the University of New Mexico. She attended summer programs at the Jillana School, Joffrey New York, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. She was then invited into the Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet Training Program. During her time with the LINES Ballet Training Program she performed works by Maurya Kerr, Robert Moses, Yannis Adoniou and Karah Abiog. Kimberly is a member of the San Francisco based dance company, tinypistol.
Jaclyn Younger, born and raised in Albuquerque, began her dance training with Ballet Repertory Theatre of New Mexico at the age of three. She performed in BRT’s The Nutcracker beginning in 2004 and danced roles such as Doll, Spanish, Chinese, Russian, and Waltz of the Flowers Demi Soloist. Additionally, Jaclyn performed in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Swan Lake, Coppélia, Beauty & the Beast, Elementals, Alive!, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Mythical Wonders, Literally Dance, and was featured as the Yellow Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. She also performed with BRT’s junior company on numerous occasions. In 2010, she attended The Joffrey Workshop Texas, where she studied classical ballet, modern, and character. This summer she studied at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York on merit scholarship. Jaclyn’s constant inspiration and love for dance comes from her late grandmother, Helen. This is her first season with New Mexico Ballet Company.

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