{"id":58,"date":"2012-02-29T00:31:06","date_gmt":"2012-02-29T00:31:06","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/briarwood.org\/ballet\/?page_id=58"},"modified":"2025-11-20T18:08:31","modified_gmt":"2025-11-21T00:08:31","slug":"staff","status":"publish","type":"page","link":"https:\/\/briarwood.org\/ballet\/staff\/","title":{"rendered":"Staff"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"\"PEGGY BARKER TOWNES
\nExecutive Director<\/a><\/h4>\n

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\u2019t 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.<\/p>\n

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\u2019re a Good Man, Charlie Brown, Pajama Game, My Fair Lady, Summer and Smoke, as well as several period piecessuch as Moliere\u2019s The Misanthrope and Sheridan\u2019s 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 \u2013 that of Mrs. Tim Townes \u2013 Peggy joined the faculty of Briarwood Ballet and began to focus more on directing and scriptwriting.<\/p>\n

In the 1990\u2019s while keeping up with four children and two stepchildren, she founded and directed a children\u2019s 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\u2019s 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\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n

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BRITTANY BISCHOFF
\nArtistic Director<\/a><\/h4>\n
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 \u201cBravo! Ballet.\u201d Brittany was chosen to work with world-renowned choreographer Christopher Wheeldon in the corps de ballet as the NYCB dancers performed George Balanchine\u2019s Who Cares?<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
While touring with the company, she taught master classes and performed extensively across the U.S. and internationally to 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. \u00a0She was appointed the Assistant Artistic Director from 2009-2011 and finished her dancing career in December 2011. She served as the Ballet Magnificat! School of the Arts Director for one year before moving to Birmingham, AL.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Brittany resides in the Birmingham area with her husband and three children and is so honored to be Artistic Director of Briarwood Ballet!<\/p>\n
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SUSIE LONG
\nSchool Principal<\/a><\/h4>\n
Susie trained at\u00a0Briarwood 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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!<\/p>\n
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LISA ALLEN
\nOffice Manage<\/a>r<\/a><\/h4>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Lisa has been in Christian dance administration for over 36 years starting with Ballet Magnificat! For nine years, she helped establish standard business practices and financial accountability as well as oversee the company\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
As she begins her 27th<\/sup> year at Briarwood Ballet, it is hard to list all the things that Lisa does. From general office oversight, financial record-keeping, and graphic design to the occasional costume assist, she wears lots of hats. However, her passion is coordinating Ballet Exaltation\u2019s international 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.<\/p>\n
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MEREDITH DOROUGH
\nImmanuel Director<\/h4>\n
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<\/em>. Joining the faculty in 1998, she continues to serve as an instructor, choreographer, and production manager. She became the Immanuel<\/em> Director in the fall of 2006, after an interim year in 2003.<\/p>\n
As a student, she was classically trained in ballet and traveled locally and internationally to perform as a member of Ballet Exaltation<\/em> from 1997-2002, along with dancing many roles in the school\u2019s annual, allegorical productions. While attending Samford University (2002-2005), Meredith continued performing with a number of groups – Samford theater department\u2019s dance production (2005), Miss Samford pageant (2002), and Samford\u2019s Step Sing (2004) – as well as joining Birmingham Ballet for one season (2004-2005), dancing the role of Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker.<\/p>\n
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<\/em>, she has choreographed and rehearsed a varied repertoire of classical and contemporary works, and produced the company’s annual dance concert.<\/p>\n
Meredith married her college sweetheart Ross in August 2005, and they have four children – Luke, Mia, Darci, and Cole.<\/p>\n
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\"\"CLAUDIA BUTLER<\/h4>\n
Claudia Butler immigrated from Germany to Huntsville, AL when her father joined Werner Von Braun and the NASA space flight endeavor of the 1960\u2019s.<\/p>\n
Claudia started dancing at the early age of 5 at Elekes Studio of Dance in Huntsville, and with her passion for ballet, she began student teaching while a young teen. Several trips to New York City gave Claudia the opportunity to further her education at Dance Masters of America conventions and to take classes at the American Ballet Theater.<\/p>\n
At age 12, gymnastics became an interest of hers, and in her later years of high school she began student coaching and choreographing floor routines for her competitive team all the while continuing her ballet training.<\/p>\n
Interests changed during college, and after receiving a Bachelor of Science in nursing, Claudia began her career as a nurse working at Brookwood Medical Center. During that time, Claudia and her husband , Raymond,\u00a0 began attending Briarwood Presbyterian Church. After meeting Barbara Barker, who had started a ballet ministry at the church, she was asked to come on board as a staff member and is now in her 32nd<\/sup> year.<\/p>\n
Claudia taught alongside Barbara Barker for many years and she gives Barbara all the credit for teaching her everything she needed to know about instructing young children in not only the art of ballet, but also how to use their God given ballet talents to honor and serve the Lord.<\/p>\n
Claudia has also worked as a staff choreographer for NarrowWay productions, MoTowne Productions, Briarwood High School theater department, Dance South Studios, as well as operating Butler Studios, LLC, where she has taught many dance genres, including beginner ballroom dancing with her husband.<\/p>\n
Claudia is the mother of 4 adult children. Other interests include leading a high school girls’ discipleship group, gardening, reading and spending time with her 8 grandchildren!
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\"\"LAURA BELL<\/h4>\n
Laura began her dance training at Briarwood Ballet at the age of 5.\u00a0 Throughout her years of training she attended classes at Ballet Magnificat\u2019s Summer Intensives and at the age of 13 she danced with the Royal Ballet\u2019s program in London, England for the summer.\u00a0 During her years of dancing, she enjoyed the performing opportunities but deep down knew that her love was for teaching.<\/p>\n
Her teaching career began in September of 1995 when Laura was offered her first teaching opportunity by Barbara Barker.\u00a0 She has been on staff at Briarwood Ballet since that time.\u00a0 Laura also runs Praise Him Ballet at some local daycares for those who can\u2019t get to classes at Briarwood Ballet.<\/p>\n
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AMY WESLEY<\/h4>\n
Amy Wesley, of Gadsden, Alabama, studied as a young dancer at the Alabama School of Fine Arts in Birmingham.\u00a0 There she trained extensively under the direction of Dame Sonia Arova and\u00a0 Therese Laeger.\u00a0 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.\u00a0 She attended summer dance intensives with the American Ballet Theater and Ballet Magnificat!\u00a0 Upon graduation from ASFA, Amy received the \u201cPrix de Danse Award.\u201d\u00a0 In 2001 Amy joined Ballet Magnificat!, America\u2019s Premiere Christian Ballet Company, where she danced for the next 12 years.\u00a0 She worked under the artistic direction of Kathy Thibodeaux and Jiri Voborsky.<\/p>\n
While touring, Amy performed soloist roles in Basic Instructions, Christmas Dream, Christmas Festival, Saviour, Before His Throne, Snow Queen, and Prodigal\u2019s Journey.\u00a0 As well as performing in Deliver Us, Unveiled Hope, Ruth, Freedom, and Most Incredible Christmas.\u00a0 Amy was honored to have performed both the roles of Corrie and Betsie ten Boom in Ballet Magnificat!\u2019s The Hiding Place.\u00a0 Amy served as \u201cAssistant Artistic Director\u201d for Ballet Magnificat!\u2019s Omega Company from 2011-2013.\u00a0 Touring with the company, she danced throughout the U.S., Canada, Central America, Africa, the Middle East, and across Europe.<\/p>\n
Amy\u2019s teaching experience spans master classes on her travels with Ballet Magnificat! and in their summer dance intensives from 2004-2013.\u00a0 She taught at Westwood Ballet from 2013-2015.\u00a0 Amy has enjoyed teaching in both the Enrichment and Intensive divisions of Briarwood Ballet since 2013.<\/p>\n
Amy loves to see the beauty of God\u2019s kingdom on the earth and to be a part of sharing His hope through the means of dance!\u00a0 She is married to composer J. Adam Wesley and together they are raising four Wesley children.<\/p>\n
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\"\"KELSEY SHELTON<\/h4>\n
Kelsey began her dance training at The Dance Company, Inc. as a competitive dancer competing in lyrical, jazz, tap, and musical theatre. From 2008-2012, she attended the University of Alabama where she graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Dance. During her time at UA, Kelsey began a deeper training in ballet technique, pointe work, and partnering.<\/p>\n
In 2012, Kelsey joined Atlanta Ballet as a trainee and later became an apprentice from 2013-2015. She danced numerous lead roles such as Marya in John McFall\u2019s \u201cThe Nutcracker\u201d, The Rose in Annabelle Lopez Ochoa\u2019s \u201cRequium for a Rose\u201d, and Lead Soloist in Gina Patterson\u2019s \u201cQuietly Walking\u201d. Kelsey was also featured in many contemporary and ballet works including Ohad Naharin\u2019s \u201cSecus\u201d, Jorma Elo\u2019s \u201cFirst Flash\u201d, and Alexander Eckman\u2019s \u201cCacti\u201d.<\/p>\n
She moved to Birmingham in 2015 and began teaching at Briarwood Ballet. Kelsey has served as rehearsal assistant for Ballet Exaltation where she enjoyed choreographing contemporary ballet works for their repertoire. In addition, she is an adjunct professor in the dance department at Samford University. Her choreography has been featured at Alabama Dance Festival, in both Ballet Exaltation and Immanuel\u2019s repertoire, and Samford Dance Company\u2019s 2024 annual concert. Kelsey seeks to encourage her students to break through boundaries in their dancing while maintaining strong technique, beautiful artistry, and freedom of worship!<\/p>\n
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\"\"LEESA JACQUES<\/h4>\n
Leesa attended\u00a0the National School of the Arts in Johannesburg, South Africa, with\u00a0academic performance achieved in anatomy and music appreciation. Throughout her arts training\u00a0Leesa 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.<\/p>\n
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\u00a0dance.<\/p>\n
She excelled in contemporary\u00a0dance and was accredited with a nomination for \u201cMost Promising Dancer\u201d\u00a0by the country’s leading dance awards. She later achieved a distinction in contemporary dance.\u00a0Leesa was afforded opportunities to take dance in Russia and London.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
Leesa joined the North West Arts Council dance company, performing nationally and internationally, and in many televised events across the world. 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.<\/p>\n
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<\/p>\n
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\"\"BETH BISCHOFF<\/h4>\n
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.\u00a0 In 2003 Beth moved to Jackson, Mississippi to join Ballet Magnificat!\u2019s trainee program and in 2004 became a Company Artist.\u00a0 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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s 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.\u00a0 Beth lives in Leeds, Alabama, with her husband Eric and their four children.<\/p>\n
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\"\"MARGARET ANNE OWENS<\/h4>\n
Margaret Anne has the great privilege of being a third-generation Briarwood Ballet teacher.\u00a0 Since the age of three, she has been twirling through Briarwood\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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 \u201cLeap and Learn\u201d curriculum for preschool and early elementary-aged dancers.<\/p>\n
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 <\/em>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.\u00a0 These truths and the prayers of Margaret Anne\u2019s mom and grandmother have been some of God\u2019s 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.<\/p>\n
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\"\"JENNA GRAHAM<\/h4>\n
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 Vagonova based ballet school under the direction of Sara Knight.<\/p>\n
A contract with Alabama Ballet brought Jenna to Birmingham in 2014. Some of her favorite roles with Alabama Ballet include: Dew Drop Fairy in Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker, Russian Corps in Balanchine\u2019s Serenade, Flower Girl in Don Quixote, Temperament Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, and Daisy in Dennis Nahat\u2019s Blue Suede Shoes.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\"\"EMILY HENRIQUES<\/h4>\n
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.<\/p>\n
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\u2019s final thesis project, Emily researched and presented on fixed and growth mindsets in dancers, as she is passionate about understanding how dancers\u2019 mental health impacts their performance.<\/p>\n
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).<\/p>\n
Emily currently dances with Sanspointe, a contemporary dance company in Birmingham, AL. This is Emily\u2019s fourth year at Briarwood Ballet as a teacher, social media manager, and lighting designer, and she is excited to continue pouring into her students.<\/p>\n
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\"\"TUCKER EDWARDS<\/h4>\n
Tucker was born and raised in Spokane, Washington, where he started his ballet training under Dodie Askegard and continued on 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.<\/span><\/p>\n
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. He also performed in works by Gerald Arpino, Peter Lebreton-Merz, and Pamela Robinson as well as performing alongside the main company in Swan Lake and Giselle. During this time 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 his favorite roles with the company were in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Agnes de Mille’s Rodeo, Roger VanFleteren’s Coppelia, and Le Corsaire Act 2 pas de deux.<\/span><\/p>\n
In June 2023, Tucker retired from professional ballet and joined the Briarwood Ballet faculty that same summer. This year he is serving as the rehearsal assistant for Ballet Exaltation.\u00a0<\/span>He enjoys teaching and choreographing in a Christ-centered environment and loves to pass down his knowledge with the next generation of dancers at Briarwood Ballet.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n
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\"\"ISABELLA ANDREWS<\/h4>\n
Isabella Andrews has trained at Briarwood Ballet since she was three years old. She spent her high school years dancing with Ballet Exaltation, their student ballet company. While a member of Exaltation, she served as a teaching assistant and taught dance camps during the summers at Briarwood. In 2023, she had the privilege of dancing internationally with Ballet Exaltation during a mission trip to Peru. During her time with Ballet Exaltation, Isabella has enjoyed opportunities to work with guest choreographers such as Kevin Jenkins and Jiri Voborsky. She considers this a great privilege as it has helped shape her as a dancer in so many ways.<\/p>\n
Isabella is currently in her junior year at Samford University. She is thrilled to be one of the first students to graduate with a dance degree from Samford, and is also a member of the Samford Dance Company. She continues to pour into her students and share her love of worshipping the Lord through dance.<\/p>\n
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\"\"MADDIE BACHOFER<\/h4>\n
Maddie spent two seasons as an Apprentice at the Alabama Ballet under the direction of Tracey Alvey (2022-2023) and Chris Stuart (2023-2024). Originally from Chicago, Illinois, she received her formal ballet training at Alma Dance School. There, she had the privilege of performing Snow Queen and Flowers lead in The Nutcracker, Mercedes in Don Quixote, and Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. She also received the Top 12 Award at the Youth American Grand Prix.<\/p>\n
In 2019 Maddie joined Nashville Ballet in their Trainee Program. While at Nashville Ballet, she performed in Paul Vasterling\u2019s The Nutcracker. In 2022, she joined Alabama Ballet as an apprentice where she performed in many notable productions such as George Balanchine\u2019s The Nutcracker\u00ae, Roger VanFleteren\u2019s Cinderella, Coppelia, Bonnie & Clyde, Giselle, as well as Frederick Lee Rocas\u2019 In The Stars.<\/p>\n
Maddie joined Briarwood Ballet\u2019s staff in Fall 2024.<\/p>\n
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\"\"CATHRYN JACKS<\/strong><\/h4>\n
Cathryn Jacks, a Birmingham native, began her dance training at the age of three with Briarwood Ballet and was a member of their student company, Ballet Exaltation, for three years. In 2019, she had the privilege of dancing internationally with Ballet Exaltation during a mission trip to Lima, Peru. <\/em>Cathryn then attended The University of Alabama, graduating summa cum laude in Spring 2025 with a Bachelor of Arts in both dance and psychology. While there, she trained in ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz dance. In addition to her technique training, she studied choreography, pedagogy, dance history, lighting and sound design, and anatomy and physiology for dancers. Cathryn also performed in a variety of productions, including Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre where she danced in contemporary works by The University of Alabama Theatre & Dance faculty, Dr. Fen Kennedy and Sarah Barry, as well as guest artist Daphne Marcelle Lee (Disney\u2019s The Lion King on Broadway in NYC). She also performed in original works by UA dance students in the Emerging Choreographers Showcase, Dance Alabama!, and the Dance Alabama Film Festival.<\/p>\n
In addition to performing, Cathryn choreographed and produced an original contemporary ballet piece entitled \u201cWe Shall Have Spring Again,\u201d which was featured in the Emerging Choreographers Showcase spring of 2025. Outside of the University, Cathryn taught ballet and creative movement at Druid City School of Ballet and taught and choreographed ballet and jazz dance at The Dance Centre.<\/p>\n
While Cathryn has spent the past four summers teaching at Briarwood Ballet\u2019s dance camps, this will be her first year serving as a year-round teacher at Briarwood Ballet. She is very grateful for the opportunity to return to the place where her love for dance and for the Lord was first cultivated and is excited to invest in the next generation of dancers both artistically and spiritually.<\/p>\n
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PEGGY BARKER TOWNES Executive Director Peggy grew up dancing under the instruction of her mother, Barbara Barker. 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