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PEGGY BARKER TOWNES
Executive Director

Peggy grew up dancing under the instruction of her mother, Barbara Barker. After Briarwood Ballet was founded in 1980, she was cast as the evil antagonist in literally every ballet (because Mrs. Barker didn’t want anyone else to have to dance such roles!) Towards the end of high school, however, Peggy discovered a love for musical theatre and shifted her focus toward that stage.

She received a theatre scholarship to Samford University where she had the privilege of studying under the wonderful Harold Hunt. During her college years Peggy performed with college, community, regional, and summer stock theatres, enjoying leading roles in many shows including The Sound of Music, Gigi, HMS Pinafore, You’re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Pajama Game, My Fair Lady, Summer and Smoke, as well as several period pieces such as Moliere’s The Misanthrope and Sheridan’s The Rivals. In 1986, she had her first opportunity to direct a show for which she was awarded the Bonnie Bolding Swearingen Award for Best Director. After discovering her very favorite role – that of Mrs. Tim Townes – Peggy joined the faculty of Briarwood Ballet and began to focus more on directing and scriptwriting.

In the 1990’s while keeping up with four children and two stepchildren, she founded and directed a children’s theatre program named NarrowWay Kids and then co-founded Mo-Towne Productions with her beloved friend Tammy Moore. In 2012, God made it clear that He was calling Peggy to step away from children’s theatre and accept the position of Executive Director of Briarwood Ballet. Although she accepted the job with fear and trembling, Peggy has delighted in the privilege of continuing her mother’s vision and legacy. Serving the Lord Jesus Christ alongside the best staff and faculty to train young dancers to use their gifts in worship of our Savior is an amazing calling.

BRITTANY BISCHOFF
Artistic Director

Brittany Bischoff was born and raised in Dallas, Texas. She trained at the Dallas Ballet Center and performed as a company member with the Dallas Ballet Company, dancing leading roles in Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Raymonda, and The Nutcracker. In 2001, Dallas Ballet Company hosted dancers from New York City Ballet for a special event aptly named Bravo! Ballet. Brittany was chosen to work with world-renowned choreographer Christopher Wheeldon in the corps de ballet as the NYCB dancers performed George Balanchine’s Who Cares?

Brittany spent summers studying at Boston Ballet and Ballet Magnificat!. Upon graduation in 2002, she was accepted into the Trainee Program at Ballet Magnificat! and joined the company in 2004, dancing under the leadership of Kathy Thibodeaux and Jiri Voborsky. She performed in A Christmas Festival, Freedom, Prodigal’s Journey, Savior, Ruth, Hiding Place, Christmas Dream, Before His Throne, Deliver Us, Unveiled Hope, Basic Instructions, and Snow Queen.

While touring with the company, she taught master classes and performed extensively across the U.S. and internationally in the Netherlands, Czech Republic, Honduras, Belize, Israel, Germany, Macedonia, Poland, France, Italy, Kosovo, Slovakia, and Canada. Brittany also taught at the annual Ballet Magnificat! Summer Dance Intensive.  She was appointed Assistant Artistic Director from 2009 to 2011. Upon finishing her dance career in December 2011, she served as Director of the Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts for one year before moving to Birmingham, AL.

Brittany started teaching at Briarwood Ballet in 2012 and served as the Interim Artistic Director for the 2023-24 season. Brittany is the director of Ballet Exaltation, and she has also enjoyed choreographing and teaching master classes for the dance department at Samford University.

Brittany resides in the Birmingham area with her husband and three children and is so honored to be Artistic Director of Briarwood Ballet!

SUSIE LONG
School Principal

Susie trained at Briarwood Ballet under Barbara Barker and Kenn Tolle. She was a member of the first Immanuel performing group under the direction of Rachel Radbill. Upon graduation, she attended Belhaven University in Jackson, MS, where she studied English and Dance and graduated magna cum laude.

At Belhaven, Susie discovered her love for a variety of genres of dance in addition to classical ballet, especially modern dance. She enjoyed performing with the Belhaven Dance Ensemble, Theater Belhaven, and in various student works. Upon graduation, she performed with Front Porch Dance (Jackson, MS), Sanspointe Dance Company (Birmingham, AL), and toured to schools all over Alabama with The Dance Foundation’s school touring show, Math in Motion.

She served as the director of Dawson Ballet School at Dawson Memorial Baptist Church for eight years. While Susie has taught at Briarwood Ballet for many years, this year she joins our leadership team as Ballet School Principal.

When Susie isn’t teaching, she stays busy with her husband, Aaron, and their three boys. Susie is so thankful for the training and mentoring that she received at Briarwood Ballet and is thrilled to be a part of continuing that legacy of merging faith and dance!

LISA ALLEN
Office Manager

A native Mississippian and Ole Miss graduate, Lisa worked at the University of Mississippi Medical Center for thirteen years, where she honed her computer skills and studied basic computer graphic design.

Lisa has been in Christian dance administration for over 37 years starting with Ballet Magnificat! For nine years, she helped establish standard business practices and financial accountability as well as oversee the company’s graphic design work and publications. She was there for the early formation of their school and the summer intensive program. Over the years, in her capacity as an on-campus coordinator for the summer intensives, Lisa met quite a few Briarwood Ballet students.

Moving to Nashville in 1998, Lisa began her tenure as General Manager for Hosanna Sacred Arts. The next year she helped them transition to their new location in Birmingham. She acted in that capacity for over six years before stepping down to work exclusively with Briarwood Ballet.

It is hard to list all the things that Lisa does, from general office oversight and financial record-keeping and all things in between and beyond. However, her passion has been coordinating mission trips from inception to completion, including trips to Japan, Sweden, China, and Cuba. Seeing firsthand how dance can transcend language and culture to show the beauty and glory of God never gets old. And though you will never see her on stage, you will find her behind the scenes helping to make it all happen.

MEREDITH DOROUGH
Immanuel Director

Meredith Dorough, of Birmingham, Alabama, centered her dance training at Briarwood Ballet starting at the age of 8. She has served the school in many roles – starting as a student, teaching assistant, and member of Ballet Exaltation. Joining the faculty in 1998, she continues to serve as an instructor, choreographer, and production manager. She became the Immanuel Director in the fall of 2006, after an interim year in 2003.

As a student, she was classically trained in ballet and traveled locally and internationally to perform as a member of Ballet Exaltation from 1997-2002, along with dancing many roles in the school’s annual, allegorical productions. While attending Samford University (2002-2005), Meredith continued performing with a number of groups – Samford theater department’s dance production (2005), Miss Samford Pageant (2002), and Samford’s Step Sing (2004) – as well as joining Birmingham Ballet for one season (2004-2005), dancing the role of Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker.

Meredith received a Bachelor of Science, cum laude, in Exercise Science from Samford University in 2005 and enjoys incorporating her knowledge of anatomy and physiology into her teaching methods, along with injury recognition and prevention. In fact, her senior research project at Samford centered around predispositions to injury in the ballet dancer. She teaches classical ballet technique to dancers of many ages. Meredith also teaches beginner and intermediate pointe classes, along with beginner pointe shoe workshops. Her commitment to learning new teaching practices always pushes her towards continuing education. She has attended seminars for pedagogical studies, including ABT and RPM. As Director of Immanuel, she has choreographed and rehearsed a varied repertoire of classical and contemporary works, and produced the company’s annual dance concert.

Meredith married her college sweetheart Ross in August 2005, and they have four children – Luke, Mia, Darci, and Cole.

ISABELLA ANDREWS

Isabella began her training at Briarwood Ballet when she was three years old. She spent her high school years dancing with Ballet Exaltation. She has performed internationally in Peru and Prague. Among her many performing opportunities across the United States, Isabella was selected to perform with Kevin Jenkins’ Ballet Counterpointe in San Diego, CA, and Lancaster, PA. In addition to her work with Kevin Jenkins, she has had the opportunity to work with other choreographers including Jiri Voborsky, JaMorris Rivers, Anna Foshee, and Kelsey Shelton. 

Isabella is currently in her senior year at Samford University. While finishing her degree, she is also dancing in Alabama Ballet’s Professional Day Program where she will have opportunities to perform alongside the professional company. Entering her third year of teaching, she is excited to pour her knowledge and passion for worship through dance into her students. 

LAURA BELL

Laura began her dance training at Briarwood Ballet at the age of 5.  Throughout her years of training she attended classes at Ballet Magnificat’s Summer Intensives and at the age of 13 she danced with the Royal Ballet’s program in London, England for the summer.  During her years of dancing, she enjoyed the performing opportunities but deep down knew that her love was for teaching.

Her teaching career began in September of 1995 when Laura was offered her first teaching opportunity by Barbara Barker.  She has been on staff at Briarwood Ballet since that time.  Laura also runs Praise Him Ballet at some local daycares for those who can’t get to classes at Briarwood Ballet.

 

 

BETH BISCHOFF

Beth Bischoff, from Oahu, Hawaii, began her classical ballet training at the age of 9 with Ballet Hawaii under the direction of Pamela Taylor-Tongg. Throughout her pre-professional training, she participated in ballet master classes taught by Michael Vernon, Maria Vegh, Alaine Haubert, and Finis Jhung and attended summer intensives with Ballet Magnificat! and the American Ballet Theater.  In 2003 Beth moved to Jackson, Mississippi to join Ballet Magnificat!’s trainee program and in 2004 became a Company Artist.  As a Company Artist, she traveled around the United States as well as the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Macedonia, Israel, Honduras, Belize, Slovakia, Germany, Canada, Poland, and the Netherlands, performing and teaching master classes and workshops.

In 2011, Beth married and moved to Birmingham, Alabama, where she was the Artistic Director and instructor at Westwood Ballet for six years. In 2019 she began teaching at Briarwood Ballet. Beth’s passion in teaching is for her students to see their uniqueness as beautiful and inspiring; to realize their full potential, not only as dancers but as loved children of God; and to know the freedom of a heart that is abandoned in worship to their Creator.  Beth lives in Leeds, Alabama, with her husband Eric and their four children.

CLAUDIA BUTLER

Born in Darmstadt, Germany, and raised in Huntsville, Alabama, Claudia and her family emigrated to the United States as her father pursued a career as an aerospace engineer, joining Werner von Braun and the NASA Space Flight endeavor of the 1960s. Claudia began dancing at the age of five at Elekes School of Dance in Huntsville. Her passion for ballet grew quickly, and as a young teenager she began student teaching. At age 12, gymnastics became another interest, and during her later high school years she began student coaching all while continuing her ballet training. Several trips to New York City allowed Claudia to further her training through Dance Masters of America conventions and classes at American Ballet Theatre. It was during those experiences that she discovered she probably wasn’t destined to become a professional ballerina, a discovery that many ballerinas make, but are still able to use the beautiful art form of ballet for personal growth, enjoyment, and most importantly- worship!

Her interest took a different direction during college, and after earning a Bachelor of Science in Nursing, Claudia began her nursing career at Brookwood Hospital. During that time, she and her husband, Raymond, began attending Briarwood Presbyterian Church. It was there that Claudia met Barbara Barker, who had established a ballet ministry at the church. Barbara soon learned of Claudia’s love for ballet and invited her to join the ministry as a staff member. Claudia had the privilege of teaching alongside Barbara for many years and gives Barbara much of the credit for teaching her everything she needed to know – not only about teaching young children the art of ballet but also encouraging these young hearts  to understand how to use their God-given talents to honor and serve the Lord.

There has been no greater privilege than knowing Barbara and experiencing the profound influence she had, not only on Claudia personally, but on the countless lives she touched. Claudia faithfully attended Barbara’s ballet Bible study for more than 10 years, an experience that deeply shaped her understanding of the ministry of dance.

After more than 30 years of teaching at Briarwood Ballet, Claudia is trying to retire but just can’t seem to let go! The joy and fulfillment she finds in teaching children ballet keep her young at heart and eager to continue.

Her favorite Bible passage is Proverbs 3: 5-6, and she considers it one of her greatest privileges at Briarwood Ballet to teach her students the truths and promises found in these verses. Outside of ballet, Claudia enjoys serving as a children’s leader with Community Bible Study, teaching beginner ballroom dancing alongside her husband, gardening, and reading.a

JACY CONTRERAS

Jacy Contreras is originally from Brighton, Michigan and began her ballet training at the age of 5 at Brighton School of Ballet. She finished her high school years under Denise Paavola at Young People’s Ballet Theatre and joined Cincinnati Ballet as a trainee after graduating high school in 2018. In 2021, she joined Charlotte Ballet’s trainee program and was promoted to second company halfway through the season. After two years with Charlotte Ballet, she became an apprentice with Grand Rapids Ballet from 2023-2024 before ultimately becoming a company member with Alabama Ballet in 2024. Jacy’s favorite roles include Tinker Bell in Christopher Stuart’s Peter Pan, Dew Drop in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Five Girls in George Balanchine’s Who Cares, and Bluebird in Matthew Hart’s Sleeping Beauty. She has had the opportunity to work with Patricia McBride, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Christopher Stuart, Alejandro Cerrudo, Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux, Rena Butler, Helen Pickett, Stephanie Powell, and Andrew McNicol. Additionally, she was invited to the Contemporary Ballet Program at Jacob’s Pillow where she received the Professional Advancement Award in Dance and was featured in a world premiere choreographed by Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. aa

TUCKER EDWARDS

Tucker was born and raised in Spokane, Washington, where he started his ballet training under Dodie Askegard and continued with Sara Donally at Spokane Ballet Studio. During this time, Tucker attended summer intensives at American Ballet Theatre, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, Ballet Arizona, Ballet West, and Pacific Northwest Ballet all on scholarship.

In 2018, he was accepted as a trainee at Ballet West on full scholarship. While at Ballet West, he trained under Adam Sklute, Jeff Rogers, Calvin Kitten, and Peter Lebreton-Merz. During this time, Tucker performed in works by Gerald Arpino, Peter Lebreton-Merz, and Pamela Robinson-Harris as well as performing alongside the main company in Swan Lake and Giselle. While a trainee, he guested with North Star Ballet in Fairbanks, Alaska where he performed leading roles in The Nutcracker and Cinderella. After completing the two-year trainee program at Ballet West, Tucker joined Alabama Ballet as an apprentice in 2020. In 2021, he was promoted to company dancer. Some of Tucker’s favorite ballets to perform in during his time with the company were George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, Roger VanFleteren’s Coppelia, Dennis Nahat’s Blue Suede Shoes, as well as performing the Act 2 pas de deux from Le Corsaire as a guest dancer with fellow Briarwood Ballet faculty member Jenna Graham.

In June 2023, Tucker retired from professional ballet and began teaching at Briarwood Ballet. Since then, he has enjoyed leading the Men’s Program at the school and teaching in a Christ-centered environment. He is the rehearsal assistant for Ballet Exaltation and enjoys choreographing on his students while passing down his knowledge of dance with the next generation of dancers at Briarwood Ballet.

SARAH ESCOBAR

Sarah was born and raised in Columbus, Mississippi, where she began her dance training at the age of five. She continued to dance her way through her homeschooling years, attending the Ballet Magnificat! Summer Dance Intensive as a teen. 

In 2014, Sarah graduated magna cum laude with a BA in Dance and a minor in Theatre from the University of Alabama. While attending the university, Sarah performed works by faculty members and guest artists as a company member of Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre. She also performed with Dance Alabama! and Tuscaloosa Community Dancers, and her choreography was featured in Dance Alabama! and The Dance Collection. Following graduation, Sarah danced with Sanspointe Dance Company and worked as a Teaching Artist at The Dance Foundation.

Sarah’s passion has always been to use dance as an offering of worship to the Lord and to teach others to do the same. From 2014-2017 Sarah worked as the ballet teacher at Riverwood Classical School in Tuscaloosa, Alabama as well as teaching at Prairie Oak Christian School for the Arts in Columbus, Mississippi.

Following marriage and the births of her children, Sarah has worked as a freelance dance instructor and homeschooling mother. Sarah resides in Birmingham with her husband and their three children. She is excited to join the staff of Briarwood Ballet this fall.

JENNA GRAHAM

Originally from Oklahoma City, Jenna grew up dancing at a local ballet school directed by Lisa Webb. She spent summers furthering her training at Tulsa Ballet, Ellison Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, the Kirov Academy of Washington, D.C., Kansas City Ballet, and SLK Ballet. In 2012, she moved to New York City to study at SLK Ballet, a Vaganova-based ballet school under the direction of Sara Knight.

A contract with Alabama Ballet brought Jenna to Birmingham in 2014. Some of her favorite roles with Alabama Ballet include: Dew Drop Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Russian Corps in Balanchine’s Serenade, Flower Girl in Don Quixote, Temperament Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and Daisy in Dennis Nahat’s Blue Suede Shoes.

After a nine-year career with the company, Jenna retired from her contract in June of 2023. In December of 2023, Jenna performed the roles of Snow Queen and Sugarplum Fairy as a guest professional artist with Jacksonville Community Nutcracker in Florida and Magic City Nutcracker in Birmingham. Jenna holds a comprehensive certification through Peak Pilates and has been teaching at Aero Joe Pilates and several ballet schools in the Birmingham area since 2016.

She joined the Briarwood Ballet faculty in 2021, and considers it a gift from the Lord to be able to teach the next generation of dancers how to dance to the best of their ability to the glory of God.

EMILY HENRIQUES

Emily Henriques began her dance training with Briarwood Ballet, eventually becoming a member of their student company Ballet Exaltation. In 2016, she had the honor of touring Cuba with Ballet Exaltation, performing in three major cities. Emily then attended Belhaven University in Jackson, MS, graduating with a BFA in dance and a BA in psychology. There she trained in ballet, modern, non-traditional partnering, pointe, jazz, improvisation, and contact improvisation.

She also had the opportunity to study kinesiology, pedagogy, nutrition, composition, dance history, lighting design, and stage management. She performed contemporary works by Steve Rooks (Graham Company), Jiri Voborsky (Ballet Magnificat!), Laura Morton (Milwaukee Ballet), Gabriel Spieller (Bruce Wood Dance), etc., and studied under Ravenna Tucker Wagnon (Royal Ballet), Randall Flinn (Ad Deum), Whitney Dufrene (Doug Varone and Dancers), etc. For her psychology degree’s final thesis project, Emily researched and presented on fixed and growth mindsets in dancers, as she is passionate about understanding how dancers’ mental health impacts their performance.

Outside of Belhaven, Emily taught ballet at Lindsey Claire Dance Company and enjoyed performance opportunities at the American College Dance Association and with various companies and artists in Mississippi. In 2022, Emily attended the American Dance Festival as a production intern, where she trained in Counter Technique under Rosanna Tavarez and Joy Davis and was selected to stage manage a piece for the renowned Shen Wei (choreographer of the Beijing Olympics).

Emily currently dances with Sanspointe, a contemporary dance company in Birmingham, AL. This is Emily’s fourth year at Briarwood Ballet as a teacher, social media manager, and lighting designer, and she is excited to continue pouring into her students.

LEESA JACQUES

Leesa attended the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg, South Africa, with academic performance achieved in anatomy and music appreciation. Throughout her arts training, Leesa had master classes from well-known accredited local and international teachers and companies such as the Alvin Ailey American Dance Company and PACT Ballet Company.

On average, she trained six days a week in Cecchetti classical ballet, pointe, pas de deux, Lestor Horton, Graham, and Cunningham contemporary as well as Spanish dance. In addition, she spent extended hours in formal training in the Royal Academy of Dance curriculum with yearly certification in ballet, pointe, and character dance.

She excelled in contemporary dance and was accredited with a nomination for “Most Promising Dancer” by the country’s leading dance awards. She later achieved a distinction in contemporary dance. Leesa was afforded opportunities to take dance in Russia and London.

Upon her training completion, she was accepted into such well-known dance institutions as The Rambert College of London, The Alvin Ailey College of Dance, The University of North Carolina, PACT Ballet Company, and The North West Arts Council Dance Company.

Leesa joined the North West Arts Council dance company, performing nationally and internationally and in many televised events worldwide. She performed many roles in ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and freestyle. She danced the leading role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker performed with the National Orchestra.

Upon leaving the dance company, Leesa taught at the American International School, Tenterden Children’s Home, Kohl Academy of Performing Arts, and eventually Briarwood Ballet, which she feels has been her most rewarding practice to date. “Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the Lord that will stand.” Proverbs 19:21

EMMA NEUGENT

Emma grew up training at Briarwood Ballet, where she spent her high school years as a member of their student company, Immanuel. During her time with Immanuel, she had the opportunity to work with guest choreographer Bria Greenwood and perform her original choreography. Emma currently attends Samford University, where she is pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a minor in Communications. At Samford, she trains in ballet, modern, contemporary, jazz, and hip-hop and is a member of Samford Dance Company. This past spring, Emma also had the opportunity to perform in the Samford Theatre Department’s production of Rodgers and Hammerstein’s Oklahoma!, where she worked with guest choreographer Scarlette Walker and was cast as one of the two Dream Ballet Laureys.

Emma has several years of experience as a teacher’s assistant and has taught summer dance camps at Briarwood Ballet. As she begins her first year of teaching, she is incredibly excited to be part of the ministry that the Lord has used in her life for so many years. She looks forward to sharing her love of dance with her students and teaching them the beauty of worshiping their Father through dance.

JESSICA NICHOLSON

Jessica Nicholson received her ballet training at the Akhmedova Ballet Academy in Silver Spring, Maryland, under the direction of Jacqueline Akhmedova. During her training, she earned numerous accolades, including first place at the Tanzolymp Dance Competition in Germany, second place in the Classical category at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) Texas Regional, and the opportunity to compete in the YAGP New York City Finals each year she attended.

After graduating in 2017, Jessica began her professional career with a small ballet company in Charleston, South Carolina, under the direction of Alexandre Proia. In 2018, she joined Ballet Magnificat!’s Events Company, touring throughout the United States for a year and performing internationally in Cuba and Mexico. In 2019, Jessica joined Alabama Ballet, where she danced for seven seasons. Some of her favorite roles and experiences included the Sugar Plum Fairy in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, the “Ring of Fire” duet in Christopher Stuart’s Under the Lights, “The Swan” in Paul Vasterling’s Carmina Burana, and performing in James’ Whiteside’s TWIGS. Jessica retired from the stage in May of 2026.

Alongside her professional performing career, Jessica has taught ballet at various schools for more than ten years. Her love for the Lord and the arts has inspired her to invest in the next generation of dancers, helping aspiring artists develop their technique, confidence, and passion in an environment where excellence in the arts is ultimately meant to glorify God.

MARGARET ANNE OWENS

Margaret Anne has the great privilege of being a third-generation Briarwood Ballet teacher.  Since the age of three, she has been twirling through Briarwood’s studios, exploring (and testing) the mercies of her Creator and Savior. During high school, Margaret Anne danced with Ballet Exaltation for several years while also pursuing a path in Musical Theatre.

In 2009, she moved to Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she studied Acting and Dance at Point Park University and trained in many different forms of dance. Some of her favorites include Musical Theatre Jazz (under the late Ron Tassone who performed in the movies of Hello Dolly and West Side Story), Graham Technique Modern Dance, and Contemporary. Upon graduation, Margaret Anne returned to Briarwood Ballet as a teacher until she met her husband, married, and moved with him to Houston and then Nashville. There she started a small ballet program through Covenant Conservatory, worked as the Director of Lower School Dance at Christ Presbyterian Academy, and taught ballet, jazz, hip hop, and tap for Fellowship School of Dance. In 2017 she was certified in the “Leap and Learn” curriculum for preschool and early elementary-aged dancers.

In 2020 her family moved back home to Birmingham, and she rejoined the Briarwood Ballet team. She now lives next door to her boss, mentor, prayer warrior, and favorite mother, Peggy Townes. Her own daughters are now twirling through the Briarwood Ballet studios and are still being taught through the legacy of their great-grandmother, Barbara Barker, to pursue excellence for the glory of God.  These truths and the prayers of Margaret Anne’s mom and grandmother have been some of God’s greatest tools in her testimony. Her deepest desire is to share the eternal gift she received in the studios of Briarwood Ballet with the next generation of young dancers.

BRENNA SUMNER

Brenna began dancing in Auburn-Opelika, Alabama, at the age of three, receiving her early training at Auburn Ballet School in the Vaganova syllabus. She continued to expand her dance experience with East Alabama Community Ballet, Montgomery Civic Youth Ballet, and Alabama Youth Ballet Company.

For five years Brenna studied the Russian method of ballet under the direction of Stevan Grebel, a former student of Alexander Pushkin, who also taught Rudolf Nureyev and Mikhail Baryshnikov. At Stevan Grebel’s studio, she also had the opportunity to train with Dmitri Roudnev, a former Bolshoi soloist, and Tatiana Ledovskikh, a former Bolshoi soloist and Alabama Ballet principal.

At the age of 15, Brenna began working as a professional guest artist with various companies and individual artists. At 17, she was selected as an apprentice with the Montgomery Ballet Professional Company. She spent two years with the company, advancing to soloist and understudying principal roles. During her time there, she had the opportunity to perform in numerous classical and contemporary works.

Brenna has donated her talents to benefit charitable organizations throughout Central and East Alabama, including the Boys & Girls Club, after-school programs, and nursing homes. In 2015, she founded the Brenna Ballet Institute, which began as a free community service project designed to bring ballet to children from families in need. The program has since grown, allowing her to teach students of all ages and skill levels while continuing to provide scholarships to help them achieve their dreams. She has also directed numerous community performances throughout Auburn and Opelika, involving all of her students regardless of age or ability.

Brenna has been blessed with the opportunity to teach children with learning disabilities, including autism and ADHD, as well as children with physical disabilities. Throughout her years of teaching, she has demonstrated that anyone and everyone can—and should—dance.

SUE TOLLE

Susan Miller Tolle grew up in Kennett Square and Warminster, Pennsylvania. She began dancing at age 5 with Joyce Potter, studied with Melanie Schultz in junior high school, and continued her serious training with Jean Williams, guest teachers from Pennsylvania Ballet, and master classes with David Howard, Finis Jhung, Virginia Barnett, and Duncan Noble.

Sue performed with Germantown Dance Theater in Philadelphia for four years and participated in Northeast Regional Ballet Festivals. Following a serious injury, she pursued a career in arts administration. While serving as assistant tour manager for Boston Ballet, she continued taking ballet classes at Boston Ballet School with E. Virginia Williams, Sydney Leonard, and Bruce Marks. After moving to Indianapolis, she worked as Assistant Administrative Director for Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and later Dance Kaleidoscope. She also attended ballet classes at Butler University’s Jordan Academy of Dance (JCAD) with Rebecca Rutt, Collette Kaufman, Carl Kaufman, and Jack Copeland.

After briefly returning to performance and participating with Hosanna Sacred Arts, Sue had her first child and began teaching at Village Dance Studio. She quickly fell in love with teaching and joined the Jordan College Academy of Dance faculty under the direction and guidance of Rebecca Rutt. Her initial focus was on lower-level students ages 4 through 6, including field-trip dance experiences for preschools. She created a new program, “The Joy of Movement,” for 3-year-olds and eventually became a full-time faculty member teaching all levels. During her time at JCAD, she was instrumental in bringing movement programs to all 54 local elementary schools, served as Dance Docent at Clowes Concert Hall, worked as an interim adjunct professor in Butler University’s Dance Department, attended the Kennedy Center’s Artists as Educators program, and, upon Rebecca Rutt’s retirement, became Interim Director of JCAD.

Sue later became Director of Nashville Ballet School, where she inaugurated the school’s annual performance and conducted national auditions for their summer and apprentice programs. She worked closely with sports medicine professionals, occupational therapists, and physical therapists from Vanderbilt and Baptist Hospitals. Through that collaboration, she gained first-hand knowledge of dance injuries, prevention, recovery, and related health topics.

In 1999, Sue moved to Birmingham with her family and became School Administrator at Briarwood Ballet, a role she held for 9 years. Over many years, she has offered private lessons, consulting, and teacher workshops for ballet schools, including Ballet Magnificat and, more recently, Metropolitan Youth Ballet in Indiana.

Sue is the mother of 3 adult children and is a grandmother. She loves to worship, spend time with friends, write, read, and be around dogs and horses! Sue is so thankful to be back teaching at Briarwood Ballet. All for God’s glory!

AMY WESLEY

Amy Wesley, of Gadsden, Alabama, studied as a young dancer at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham. There she trained extensively under the direction of Dame Sonia Arova and  Therese Laeger. She studied the classics, performing principal and soloist roles in ballets such as Giselle, Swan Lake, Flower Festival, Sleeping Beauty, and Paquita. She also performed in original work by Jordan Morris of the Royal Winnipeg Ballet. She attended summer dance intensives with the American Ballet Theater and Ballet Magnificat! Upon graduation from ASFA, Amy received the “Prix de Danse Award.” In 2001 Amy joined Ballet Magnificat!, America’s premier Christian ballet company, where she danced for the next 12 years.  She worked under the artistic direction of Kathy Thibodeaux and Jiri Voborsky.

While touring, Amy performed soloist roles in Basic Instructions, Christmas Dream, Christmas Festival, Saviour, Before His Throne, Snow Queen, and Prodigal’s Journey. As well as performing in Deliver Us, Unveiled Hope, Ruth, Freedom, and Most Incredible Christmas. Amy was honored to have performed both the roles of Corrie and Betsie ten Boom in Ballet Magnificat!’s The Hiding Place. Amy served as Assistant Artistic Director for Ballet Magnificat!’s Omega Company from 2011-2013. Touring with the company, she danced throughout the U.S., Canada, Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and across Europe.

Amy’s teaching experience spans master classes on her travels with Ballet Magnificat! and in their summer dance intensives from 2004-2013. She taught at Westwood Ballet from 2013-2015. Amy has enjoyed teaching in both the Enrichment and Intensive divisions of Briarwood Ballet since 2013.

Amy loves to see the beauty of God’s kingdom on the earth and to be a part of sharing His hope through the means of dance! She is married to composer J. Adam Wesley and together they are raising four Wesley children.

 

 

 

 

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