Jacob Bush

Fourth Season

Jacob grew up in Coon Rapids, Minnesota where he trained under Lise Houlton of the Minnesota Dance Theatre.  He later trained with the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education under Sharon Story, and the San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet under Susan Connally.  In Atlanta, Jacob has danced featured roles such as Jewels and Tom Thumb in Sleeping Beauty, Peter Pan in John McFall’s Peter Pan, Benvolio in Michael Pink’s Romeo & Juliet, and one of the Ballet Boys in Twyla Tharp’s In the Upper Room.  In his spare time, he indulges in reality TV shows on MTV and VH1, and thanks his family for their everlasting support.

Peng-Yu Chen

Fourth Season

A native of Taiwan, Peng-Yu Chen began training in Chinese Folk dance and gymnastics at the age of ten. She received her BFA from SUNY Purchase under Carol Walker and received the Chancellors Award for Student Excellence and the Presidents Award for Achievement. She has performed with the Kevin Wynn Collection and in the Metropolitan Opera Ballet’s production of The Rite of Spring choreographed by Doug Varone. She danced for American Repertory Ballet for three seasons where she performed works by Graham Lustig, Lauri Stallings, Val Caniparoli, Melissa Barak and Twyla Tharp. Peng was named by Dance Magazine as one of the “25 to Watch” in 2007, and she thanks her family and friends for all the support and love.

Christian Clark

Ninth Season

An Atlanta native, Christian began his training at the age of eight with the Atlanta School of Ballet under the direction of Robert Barnett. As a company member, Christian has performed the leading roles of Prince in Atlanta Ballet’s Nutcracker, Laertes in Stephen Mills’ Hamlet, Albrecht in Giselle, Siegfried in John McFall’s Swan Lake, the Prince in Sleeping Beauty, and the title role in Michael Pink’s Romeo & Juliet. Christian has been featured in Margo Sappington’s Shed Your Skin: The Indigo Girls Project, John McFall’s Jupiter, Christian Holder’s Transcendence, Lauri Stallings’ The Great Gatsby and big, and Christopher Hampson’s Sinfonietta Giacosa.  When not dancing, Christian enjoys playing music with the band The Midnight United with fellow dancers Nathan Griswold and Jesse Tyler.  Christian thanks the Centre for Dance Education, his family, and his lovely wife Naomi-Jane for their support.

Anne Tyler Harshbarger

Seventh Season

Anne began her training with Linda C. Chase in Valdosta, Georgia and later studied under Judith Hockaday, ISTD in Swindon, England. She attended high school at the North Carolina School of the Arts and spent summers with Joffrey Ballet School, School of American Ballet and Hungarian Academy. After Ben Stevenson invited her into the Houston Ballet, she danced world premieres by Ben Stevenson, Trey McIntyre, and Stanton Welch.  She has enjoyed working with choreographers such as Dominic Walsh, Julia Adam, Paul Taylor, Violette Verdy, James Kudelka and Ronald Hynd. Her featured roles with Atlanta Ballet include Lucy in Dracula, Princess Marya in Nutcracker, Wendy in Peter Pan, Summer Fairy in Cinderella, Shoo Pah Minor, Sinfonietta Giocosa, Kate in Madame Butterfly, and Myrtle in The Great Gatsby.  She is also a DJ in the Atlanta electronica scene and abroad.

Jonah Hooper

Twelfth season

A native of Blue Ridge, Georgia, Jonah began dancing at age twelve under the direction of Diane Callihan. He appeared as Quasimodo in Michael Pink’s The Hunchback of Notre Dame, Renfield in Dracula, Sharpless in Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly, and Jay Gatsby in John McFall & Lauri Stallings’ The Great Gatsby. He lives with his wife Maria and son Austin in Decatur. Jonah would like to thank his wife and family for all their support.

Yoomi Kim

Second Season

A native of South Korea, Yoomi Kim started ballet at the age of 7 at the Korea National Ballet Company Academy. She majored in ballet at Yewon School and Seoul Arts High School, and graduated summa cum laude. She trained mainly at Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Korea, and earned a Master's Degree of Dance Arts at Ewha Womens University. She received first prize in the Dance Association of Korea's 30th National Ballet Competition, and has performed Sleeping Beauty at the International Performing Arts Festival in Japan. Since moving to the US in 2006, Yoomi has performed in Giselle, Stars and Stripes, Sleeping Beauty, Hyperspace, Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, and Serenade. In the 2007-08 season, she had the opportunity to perform the title role in Cinderella.

Tara Lee

Fifteenth Season

Tara grew up in Connecticut, where she trained with Donna Bonasera of Connecticut Dance Theatre. After dancing with Joffrey II for two seasons, she joined Atlanta Ballet in 1995.  Tara also spent a year with Vancouver’s Ballet British Columbia, where she was featured in work by John Alleyne, Crystal Pite, Paul Taylor, Twyla Tharp, and Martha Graham.  In Atlanta, John McFall recently created a role for her in the duet That’s What I Like.  Principal roles include those in McFall’s Swan Lake and Peter Pan, Welch’s Madame Butterfly, Stevenson’s Cinderella and Three Preludes, Pink’s Romeo & Juliet and Dracula, Balanchine’s Serenade, Tharp’s In the Upper Room, and Stallings’ big.  She has also enjoyed working with Christopher Hampson, Margo Sappington, Julia Adam, and Diane Coburn Bruning.  Tara’s choreography has been performed by Atlanta Ballet, New Orleans Ballet Theatre, and Emory Dance Company.

Nadia Mara

Fifth Season

Nadia was born in Montevideo, Uruguay and started her ballet studies at the age of 5 attending the official Escuela Nacional de Danza under the direction of Sara Nieto, Monica Diaz and Margaret Graham. Nadia graduated in 2003 as the best dancer in school and was awarded with the Elena Smirnova Gold Medal granted by Argentina ballet critic Honorio Destaville. In the United States, Nadia started dancing with North Carolina Dance Theatre. At Atlanta Ballet under the direction of John McFall, she has performed Swan Lake, Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker, Michael Pink's Romeo & Juliet andBalanchine's Allegro Brillante, Stars and Stripes and Serenade. From 2006 to 2008 Nadia has performed title role in Giselle, Princess Florine in Sleeping Beauty, the World Première big with Antwan "Big Boi" Patton and recently in 2009, leading roles of Mina in Michael Pink's Dracula and Kitri in Minkus – Petipa’s Don Quixote.

Kristine Necessary

Ninth Season

An Atlanta native, Kristine began her serious dance training at Atlanta Ballet's Centre for Dance Education.  With Atlanta Ballet, Kristine has performed principal roles in John McFall's Swan Lake, Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker, Michael Pink’s Dracula, and George Balanchine's Allegro Brillante and Stars and Stripes. Her recent favorite roles include Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Giselle in Giselle, Juliet in Michael’s Pink’s Romeo & Juliet, and Kitri in John McFall’s Don Quixote. Kristine received her undergraduate degree from Georgia State University and is currently pursuing her Master’s in Education from Brenau University.  Kristine enjoys spending her time away from ballet with her amazing husband Matt.  She would like to thank her parents and two sisters for their continued love and support.

Tommy Panto

Debut Season

An Atlanta native, Tommy started dancing at the age of eleven and began his training with the New Mexico Ballet Company under the direction of Patricia Dickinson.  At the age of 15 he moved to the east to train in a full time setting with the Baltimore School for the Arts and the School of American Ballet.  After graduating Tommy moved to Los Angeles to study Business and Marketing in Fashion from UCLA and the Fashion Institute of Design and Merchandising, graduating with a degree in Fashion Marketing and Merchandising.  While in Los Angeles, she trained and studied with Marat Duakayev of the Kirov/Kirov Academy, and Patricia Neary of NYCB until his acceptance to Atlanta Ballet.  Last season he had the pleasure of  dancing Don Quixote in John McFall’s Don Quixote, the premier of John McFall’s Firebird, and Christopher Hampson’s Sinfonietta Giocosa.  Tommy would like to thank his family and friends for their love and support and looks forward to a long and exciting run with Atlanta Ballet.

Alessa Rogers

Third Season

Alessa graduated from North Carolina School for the Arts.  She spent one season with North Carolina Dance Theatre II, where she performed works by Salvatore Aiello, Dwight Rhoden, and Alvin Ailey.  She has been a guest artist for three summers at the Roanoke Island Festival in Manteo, North Carolina.  Alessa likes to read, learn, sit in airports, eat zucchini, and be silly.

Jesse Tyler

Third Season

Jesse began his training at The School of the North Carolina Dance Theatre at age nine under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Patricia McBride.  In 2003, he joined North Carolina Dance Theatre as an apprentice and then was promoted to the company in 2004, where he worked with world-renowned choreographers such as Alonzo King, Dwight Rhoden, and Mark Diamond.  Since 2006, he has performed as a guest artist with many companies in the southeast including The Florida Ballet and most recently, Atlanta Ballet, where he danced works by John McFall and Lauri Stallings. When not dancing, he spends his time as the singer and guitar player for a local band called The Midnight United.

Rachel Van Buskirk

Fourth Season

A native of Vancouver, Canada, Rachel trained with Li Yaming at Pacific DanceArts. With Atlanta Ballet, Rachel has performed in Dracula, Madame Butterfly, Swan Lake, Cinderella, and has been featured in Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote. She was also involved in the creation of The Great Gatsby, big, and Lauri Stalligs’ bekken/the drum also waltzes.  A recent highlight for her was performing with the band Ours in a live concert.  Outside of dance, Rachel enjoys reading and outdoor activities.  She sends her love to her family and thanks them for being awesome.

Brian Wallenberg

Thirteenth Season

Brian began his dance training in Victoria, Texas under Debbe Busby.  After training for a year, he was invited to attend Houston Ballet Academy under the direction of Ben Stevenson and Clara Cravey.  He has performed many soloist and principal roles with Atlanta Ballet.  Some of his favorite roles are Jonathon Harker in Michael Pink’s Dracula, Waltz Boy in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Roasted Swan in Fernand Nault’s Carmina Burana, and Peter Pan in John McFall’s Peter Pan.  Mr. Wallenberg’s hobbies include yoga, film editing, and technology.  He started a video production company (Saturnblu Productions) in 2007 with a focus on filming dance.

John Welker

Sixteenth Season

John began dancing at eleven with the persuasive encouragement of his sister.  He received his primary dance training at BalletMet Dance Academy, as well as additional training with the School of American Ballet, National Ballet Of Cuba, Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Vail Co.,and Point Park Conservatory.  Roles you may have seen him dance last season include Prince Seigfred in Swan Lake, Dracula in Michael Pink's Dracula, Principal Male In John McFall's world premiere of Firebird, roles in the world premiere of Darrell Moultrie's Boiling Point, and Basilio in Don Quixote.  He is currently enrolled as a Dance Major in Kennesaw State University’s College of the Arts.  John wishes to thank his wife, fellow artist Christine Winkler, for her support, encouragement, and love.

Christine Winkler

Sixteenth Season

A California native, Christine began her training in Sacramento with Barbara Crockett, and then furthering her studies with the San Francisco Ballet School on full scholarship.  Later, she joined Ballet West as a company member where she met husband John Welker.  Some memorable highlights since joining Atlanta Ballet in 1995 have been Juliet in Michael Pink’s Romeo & Juliet, Odette in John McFall’s Swan Lake, Mina in Michael Pink’s Dracula, Kitri in Don Quixote, Waltz Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Principal Woman in John McFall’s Firebird, Cio Cio San in Stanton Welch’s Madame Butterfly, and Daisy in John McFall and Lauri Stallings’ collaboration The Great Gatsby.  Christine has had the privilege of working with acclaimed choreographers such as Christopher Hampson, Lila York, and most recently Darrell Moultrie.  Guest appearances include American Repertory Ensemble, Chamber Dance Project, North Star Ballet, and New Orleans Ballet Theatre.  Christine would like to thank her husband and family for their continued love and support.

Cortney Funk

Cortney Funk began dancing at the age of 7. Her main focus was on tap, jazz, and lyrical until the age of 13, when she attended The Rock School of Ballet's Summer Program and fell in love. Since the age of 13 she has enjoyed her journey through the world of ballet and the challenges it brings. Cortney entered the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education as a pre-professional student in 2007 and began the 2008 season as a Fellowship dancer. Cortney has performed in works such as Raymonda, Serenade, big, Sinfonietta Giacosa, Swan Lake, and Marya in Atlanta Ballet's Nutcracker.

Yoko Kanomata

Yoko Kanomata was born in Japan and began her training at age six with Hitomi Takeuohi and Shigeki Sato at the Hitomi Ballet Schools.  After leaving Japan she continued her training with Li Yaming at Pacific Dance Arts in Vancouver, Canada.  During her training Yoko has won several prestigious awards for her dancing, most recently placing second in the Japan Ballet Competition.  Yoko has had the pleasure of performing in John McFall’s Peter Pan and Nutcracker.  Yoko is so thankful to be a part of Atlanta Ballet and looks forward to a great season.