MEET OUR FACULTY
SYDNEY ADAMS
Sydney Adams grew up in Monte Rio, CA and began her ballet training at the Santa Rosa Ballet School. She continued at San Francisco Ballet School and San Francisco Dance Theater. At SFDT she became a company member and teacher at age 17. In 1980 she relocated to New York City and continued her training with David Howard on full scholarship. During that time she performed in ballets by Diane Coburn Bruning and Darrell Barnett, as well as dancing in The Nutcracker with Garden State Ballet. In 1984 she joined The Richmond Ballet and performed in works including The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Sundance’s and Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations.
Upon her return to NYC, Sydney accepted an NEA/Ford Foundation funded position as a Conservation Assistant for the Photograph and Lithograph Archives of the Dance Collection of The New York Library of the Performing Arts at Lincoln Center. She was also employed as a personal assistant to Jerome Robbins and his liaison to New York City Ballet and Broadway professionals. She managed his personal and professional business and administration of The Jerome Robbins Foundation.
Sydney relocated New Orleans, where her three children were born, and then to Mobile. She has been a faculty member at Mobile Ballet since 1996, teaching children, pre-professional and adult students. In addition, she was Dance Director, instructor and choreographer at Spring Hill College for 13 years. She choreographs solos for dancers for the DYW program, coaches for YAGP, and has served as a choreographer for the MCPSS High School Honors Dance Festival. Sydney has a Bachelor of Arts in Humanities from New College of California, San Francisco.
Sydney celebrated her 30th year with Mobile Ballet in 2026. She teaches Ballet at both Mobile and Eastern Shore studios, and leads our Adult Ballet program.
SOPHIA ASTORGA
Sophia Astorga was born in Santiago, Chile, and began her dance training at the age of four. Since joining Mobile Ballet in 2022, she has performed in numerous full-length classical and contemporary productions, including Peter Pan, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Phantom of the Opera, and A Midsummer Night’s Dream. She had the opportunity to perform “Clara” in 2025’s Nutcracker.
Sophia was awarded a 100% scholarship to attend the prestigious Rock School for Dance Education, where she completed an intensive five-week summer program to further expand her technical and artistic training. She is passionate about sharing her love of dance with the next generation. She strives to create a positive, encouraging classroom where students build confidence, discipline, and a lifelong appreciation for ballet while developing strong technical foundations.
Sophia will be joining the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2026-27 teaching Primary classes.
DANIEL BENAVIDES
Daniel Benavides brings nearly two decades of professional ballet experience to his teaching, having performed as a principal dancer with Orlando Ballet for twenty seasons in leading roles including Cavalier, Drosselmyer, Tybalt, Von Rothbart, The Beast, and Dracula. His distinguished career began with training at Anaheim Ballet and San Francisco Ballet School on full scholarships, followed by professional positions with Boston Ballet II and The Suzanne Farrell Ballet, including performances at the Edinburgh Festival. He has collaborated with renowned choreographers including Twyla Tharp, Jessica Lang, Lila York, Peter Chu, Bruce Marks, Michael Pink, and Robert Hill. Daniel has served as an educator, coach, choreographer, and rehearsal assistant at Orlando Ballet School, Xplosive Dance Academy, and Orlando Dance Conservatory. To further his expertise in the field, he earned a Bachelor of Arts in Liberal Arts for the Performing Arts through the L.E.A.P. Program at Saint Mary’s College of California with a focus on Arts Administration.
Daniel has performed as a guest artist in several Mobile Ballet productions, and joined Mobile Ballet as a faculty member and administrative assistant in the 2025-26 season. Daniel teaches Ballet at our Mobile studio.
NATALIE BLEVINS
Natalie Tindell Blevins is originally from Navarre Beach, Florida. She graduated Cum Laude at Troy University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. Throughout Natalie’s education in dance, she has had the opportunity to train with current and former members of Martha Graham Dance Company, Joffrey Ballet, Abraham.In.Motion, Ad Deum Dance Company, and Keigwin + Company. One of Natalie’s most significant accomplishments while at Troy was performing an excerpt of Kyle Abraham’s work titled The Watershed alongside A.I.M. dancers. After college, Natalie danced as a member of Sanspointe Dance Company, performing in concerts and teaching master classes around the state of Alabama. She relocated to Mobile in 2016 and taught dance as an elective for the Mobile County Public School System for two years.
Natalie joined the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2018, teaching Contemporary classes for the Mobile Ballet Academy and School.
LILLIE CONNER
Lillie Conner lives in Spanish Fort, Alabama and began her dance training at the age of three at Mobile Ballet’s Eastern Shore Studio in Daphne, Alabama. Lillie has danced at Mobile Ballet ever since and became a member of the Mobile Ballet Company in 2017. “I have always loved dance, ballet in particular, because of the artistry and movement it entails. My ballet experiences have added so much joy to my life. I have been given the opportunity to perform in many Mobile Ballet productions, including Ovation, The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Princess and the Frog, Peter Pan, and Swan Lake. I am excited for the opportunity to teach younger ballet students at Mobile Ballet, while continuing my ballet training and performing as a member of the Mobile Ballet Company”. Lillie graduated from the University of Mobile in 2025 with a B.S. in Pre-Health Biology.
Lillie teaches Primary and Pilates classes at Mobile Ballet.
SAVANNAH CRABTREE
Savannah Crabtree is from Destin, Florida. She grew up dancing and training at the Northwest Florida Ballet for 10 years. When she graduated from their high school, she joined their pre-professional program. In 2019, she joined the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s graduate program. She danced and performed with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theater’s company during their season in 2020. In addition, she received scholarships to summer intensives at Atlanta Ballet, Next Generation Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theater. She joined Ballet Pensacola in the corps de ballet in September 2021 and became a soloist in May 2022. Her repertoire includes Dorothy from The Wizard of Oz, Tinker Bell from Peter Pan, the snow queen in The Nutcracker and the doll from Fairy Doll.
In addition to teaching Ballet at our Mobile and Eastern Shore studios, Savannah also teaches at Mobile Ballet’s partner program at St. Paul’s Episcopal school in Mobile.
LEILA CRUTHIRDS
Leila Cruthirds grew up dancing in Mobile, performing with several schools in the area. She was a member of Carol Graham Dance Center’s competition company and performed with them for 5 years winning multiple awards on the local and national level. She also performed with Parapluie Dance Company. In college, she studied Ballet as a member of Loyola Ballet and performed with them for 3 years. While at Loyola New Orleans, she was also a member of the Loyola Dance Team. Upon graduation, Leila returned home to Mobile and began teaching at Carol Graham Dance Center. There she taught Ballet, Jazz, Tap, and Lyrical for 19 years. In addition to teaching, she has choreographed and performed in many Mardi Gras tableaux as well as McGill-Toolen’s fundraiser, “Dancing With the Stars.”
Leila joined the faculty of Mobile Ballet in 2021, and teaches Jazz and Tap at the Mobile studio.
KAREN DUREN
Karen Nunley Duren was raised in Knoxville, TN, where she was a member of the Tennessee Children’s Dance Ensemble, a professional modern dance company made up entirely of children, from 1982-1989. She attended Wake Forest University, studying under North Carolina School of the Arts faculty Dianne Markham and Brantley Shapiro, as well as guest artist Tom Truss of the Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. In 1991 she won a scholarship to the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance, studying there for two summers while completing her BA in Studio Art and Humanities at Wake Forest.
She began her teaching career in 1995 at Cheshire Academy in Connecticut, where she had the opportunity to study privately with Ernestine Stodelle, a founding member of the Doris Humphrey/Charles Weidman Company. Karen was honored to perform Humphrey’s 1930 solo “The Call/Breath of Fire,” reconstructed on her by Stodelle. She went on to study Merce Cunningham, Lester Horton, and Jose Limón techniques at Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival, then returned to Knoxville to pilot the dance department at Austin-East Performing Arts and Sciences Magnet High School, where she wrote curriculum, taught modern dance and dance history, directed the Dance Company, and chaired the Fine Arts Department.
Karen has taught English at St. Paul’s Episcopal Upper School since 2013. She holds an Urban Specialist Certificate in education from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville, and a Master of Arts in Teaching from Spring Hill College.
Karen will be joining the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2026-27 teaching Adult Contemporary classes.
ANGIE DUSSOUY
Angie Dussouy began her dance training at a young age in Louisiana. She graduated with a BFA in Dance Education from the University of Southern Mississippi in 2001. Angie has taught dance at various schools and after school programs throughout Mississippi, Georgia, and Alabama. She was a performer for Macon Moving Dance Theater in Macon, GA for several years. Angie has also performed and taken classes at venues such as American College Dance Association, Jane Comfort Dance Company of New York, and Liz Lerman Dance Exchange. In addition, she has received professional development at the National Dance Education Organization (NDEO) national conferences, National High School Dance Festival, Alabama Dance Festival, Mississippi Dance Festival, and Whole Schools summer institute. In 2006 she started the dance program at Davidson High School in Mobile County. Many of her Davidson students have gone on to pursue successful careers in dance. Angie was also selected to serve on the committee to rewrite the Alabama K12 Dance Course of Study in 2017. She is a board member for the Alabama Dance Council and recently received her master’s degree in Kinesiology.
Angie joined the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2018, and teaches Contemporary classes at our Eastern Shore studio.
KATIE NOLETTO FELIS
Katie Noletto Felis began her dance training at age 3 at Sheffield School of the Dance under the direction of her grandmother, Mary Lou Sheffield Noletto, and her aunts, Theresa Noletto-Hutchins and Celi Noletto-Shinn. Discovering a passion for ballet and performance, she trained at Mobile Ballet and was accepted into their pre-professional company in 1995. From 1995 to 2007, she performed with Sheffield School of the Dance and Mobile Ballet. She was awarded scholarships from PDTA-Hoctor to attend the Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive in New York City from 1997-1999. Additional summer training included American Dance Center in Saratoga Springs, NY, American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive in Tuscaloosa, AL, and American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive in NYC. In 2007 she graduated Summa Cum Laude from Spring Hill College’s Honors Program with a BS in Elementary Education and began a Master of Fine Arts program at the School of Dance at Florida State University. While at FSU, she was a performing member of Dance Repertory Theatre, and an instructor at Wildwood Ballet in Tallahassee. Since receiving her Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance in December 2010, she has taught dance at several schools in Missouri and Arizona, has performed with Treeline Dance Works in Phoenix, AZ and Sanspointe in Birmingham, AL, and has choreographed for Faulkner State Community College and the University of South Alabama. Katie is also a tutor with Read Write and is greatly involved with the Mobile Bay Walk to End Alzheimer’s.
In addition to teaching Ballet at our Mobile studio, Katie also teaches Ballet and leads Mobile Ballet’s partner program at St. Paul’s Episcopal school in Mobile.
MARIANNA HANCERI
Marianna Hanceri received her BFA in Ballet & Modern Dance at Texas Christian University. She then lived in New York City where she studied dance for 10 years at the Alvin Ailey Dance Center, Paul Taylor Studio, Martha Graham, Jose Limon, and the Broadway Dance Center. She also taught at several studios including Broadway Dance Studio, and performed frequently with various companies. Marianna has continued to teach dance since moving to Mobile in 1991, where she founded and taught at Midtown Dance Studio for 8 years, and taught at Ashland Place Ballet for 25 years and at St. Paul’s School for 12 years. Marianna taught at Mobile Ballet from 2017 to 2022, and returned to the faculty in 2025.
Marianna teaches Homeschool Primary at our Mobile studio.
BETSY HARVILL
Betsy Ray Harvill was born and raised in Thibodaux, Louisiana, and began her ballet training in 1982 at age 4. Her training began at Giacobee Academy of Dance in Metairie, LA. Soon after she began instruction under Andrea Necaise of the Washington Ballet and Acadia Classical Ballet Co. Under Ballet Scholarship, Harvill attended Belhaven College in Jackson, Mississippi, where she continued her ballet training and graduated with a B.S. in psychology and Minor in dance. While earning a master’s degree at the University of Southern Mississippi, Harvill continued classical ballet classes under Boris Subotich of the Kirov Ballet. Betsy worked as a LCSW in Virginia while teaching ballet classes in the evenings. Later, Harvill moved to Mississippi where she taught Creative Movement, Classical Ballet, liturgical dance, and Pointe at a family-owned studio.
Betsy is joining the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2026-27, teaching Primary and Ballet at our Mobile studio.
ELIZABETH MCGINLEY
Elizabeth McGinley is a native of Mobile and has been dancing since the age of three. During grade school and high school she competed with the Carol Graham Dance Company affectionately known as the ‘C-Gees.” While competing she was awarded several group top awards, judge’s choice awards and special recognition in overall performance in tap and jazz. Elizabeth continued studying dance at the University of South Alabama where she performed the lead for 2 seasons. Right after high school she began teaching ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical and hip hop at Carol Graham Dance Center. She also has been choreographer for many local theater plays, Mardi Gras tableaus, and for McGill-Toolen’s “Dancing with the Stars.” Her knowledge of dance has also allowed her to be a judge for several local dance teams and competitions.
Elizabeth has been teaching dance for over 20 years, and joined Mobile Ballet in 2022. “I’m honored to be a part of the Mobile Ballet family. I have grown up in Mobile and have fond memories of watching the performances they have put on over the years. I’m excited to be a part of this prestigious tradition here in Mobile.”
Elizabeth teaches Jazz and Tap at our Eastern Shore studio.
MIYA MOBLEY
Miya Mobley comes from a military family, eventually settling in Fort Walton Beach FL.. For six years she attended Northwest Florida Ballet Academy. At the age of 13 she was accepted into Next Generation Ballet School at the Patel Conservatory in Tampa, FL, where for three years, she trained under Peter Stark, Ivonne Lemus, and Philip Neal. She performed roles such as a Wili in Giselle, Cupid in Don Quixote, and Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations. She also competed in YAGP, ADCIBC, and NASL where she won several awards including Top 12 in her divisions, Traditional Excellence Award, and second place overall for NASL. In 2017, after attending Houston Ballet’s Summer intensive, she was accepted into Houston Ballet Academy’s year-round program. She trained with a professional company, athletic trainers, strength coaches, and many excellent teachers. She performed a variety of choreography including Stanton Welch’s The Nutcracker, Ladies, and La Bayadare Kingdom of the Shades. After struggling with an injury in 2019, Miya decided to take a step back from ballet to heal and explore other trades, and she became a licensed esthetician and nail artist while continuing to self-train through Pilates and local ballet classes. Miya is passionate about guiding Mobile Ballet dancers in everything from structured techniques, building strength, and injury prevention.
Miya teaches Ballet at our Mobile and Eastern Shore studios, as well as Mobile Ballet’s partner program at St. Paul’s Episcopal school in Mobile.
KRIS NOBLES
Kris Nobles started his training at the Debbie Allen Dance Academy in 2001. By 2006 Kris won the Tanzolymp Danz Festival in Berlin, Germany competing in the classical ballet category. During the following year Mr. Nobles performed solo and received a bronze medal from His Royal Highness, Prince Edward who is the youngest son of Queen Elizabeth ll. Kris was honored to receive an award from H.R.H. Prince and former governor of California Arnold Schwarzenegger for participating in the “Duke of Edinburgh’s Young Americans Challenge” which was the first given in the United States. In 2008, he was asked by H.R.H, Prince Edward again to perform for his visit to California to celebrate the second annual “Young Americans Challenge”. During that same year, Kris was featured in Paramount Pictures “Dance Flick” as a principal dancer. After DADA, Kris continued his studies in classical ballet at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts under the direction of American Ballet Theatre’s principal dancer, Ethan Stiefel. During that time he performed leading roles in Ethan Stiefiel’s “Nutcracker”, George Balanchine’s “Symphonia Concertante”, Jerome Robbin’s “Fanfare”, and Larry Keigwin’s “Kingdom” just to name a few. Afterward he joined Complexions and performed with the company from 2011 until 2014. Kris is featured in Hal Blanfields’ book “I Am Dance” and has played the title role in Debbie Allen’s “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker” numerous times. He is also featured on the Netflix documentary “Dance Dreams and “The Hot Chocolate Nutcracker”. Mr. Nobles loves giving back and sharing knowledge that was given to him by instructing students of all ages at Debbie Allen’s summer intensive programs in Atlanta and Detroit.
Kris has been a guest artist and guest instructor for Mobile Ballet, and joined the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2023-2024 teaching Ballet and Contemporary classes.
ALICIA REDING
Alicia Reding, a Mobile native, began her training at the age of three at Gale’s Studio of Dance. She continued her classical ballet training with Lori Bilbrey-Vaghefi at Dunbar Creative and Performing Arts Magnet School. In high school, she began assisting in dance classes, which sparked her passion for teaching. She attended the University of South Alabama and was a member of the USA Prowlers dance team. After graduating with a B.S. in Elementary Education and earning a master’s degree and National Board Certification, Alicia now teaches first grade at Saraland Early Education Center.
For over 25 years, Alicia has taught ballet, tap, and jazz, joining Mobile Ballet in 2008. She blends her experience and knowledge of early childhood education to help young dancers learn the fundamentals of classical ballet.
Alicia teaches Ballet at our Mobile studio.
AVA REDING
Ava Reding, a native of Mobile, began dancing at the age of two with her mother, Alicia Reding, at Mobile Bay Dance Academy. At age three, she began her classical ballet training with Mobile Ballet. As a student, Ava has had the opportunity to perform roles in The Nutcracker, The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, and Peter Pan. In 2022, Ava became a member of the Mobile Ballet Company. Since then, she has performed in many productions including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Princess and the Frog, Phantom of the Opera, and Cinderella. As a company member, she has also been involved in educational outreach programs for local schools and children’s organizations. She has been accepted into multiple summer training programs and has attended summer intensives with American Ballet Theatre (ABT) and Alabama Ballet.
Ava currently performs as a Lead Corps De Ballet dancer in Mobile Ballet’s Senior Company. She has been a class assistant for 2 years and recently taught for our primary summer dance camp. She is looking forward to joining the 2026-2027 faculty teaching Primary classes, and is excited to inspire young dancers by sharing her love for dance.
HEATHER RODGERS
Heather Rodgers has been involved, as a dancer parent, with Mobile Ballet for 7 years. She currently serves as Mobile Ballet’s Eastern Shore Administrative Assistant, but her true passion is staying physically fit and helping others stay fit, without putting unnecessary strain on the body. She fell in love with methods used in Pilates years ago and decided to begin her teaching journey. Heather holds certifications in Pilates, Barre, and Pilates Reformer, and her goal is to teach Pilates in a way that is fun, effective and safe. Heather joined the Mobile Ballet Faculty in 2025 enjoys helping dancers to keep their bodies strong and healthy while pursuing their ballet training goals.
Heather teaches Pilates at our Eastern Shore studio.
JESSICA TREHERNE
Jessica Treherne began her ballet training with Judy Daniel at Upper Falls Dance Academy and Michelle White at Harford Dance Theatre. She continued her training at Baltimore School for the Arts, and Central PA Youth Ballet. Jessica has also studied at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre and San Francisco Ballet. She is a graduate of the UNC School of the Arts, where she trained under world-renowned teachers Melissa Hayden, Warren Conover and Gyula Pandi. Jessica has performed in works by John Clifford, Wes Chapman, Paul Vasterling, Fernando Bujones, Hinton Battle, Susan McCullough, Marius Petipa, August Bournonville and George Balanchine, among others. In 1999 she was invited to appear with the Hungarian National Ballet in Budapest.
Jessica is the recipient of several certificates of honor and distinction granted by England’s Royal Academy of Dance. She has performed professionally with Carolina Ballet, Nashville Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre Studio Company. Jessica has been on the faculty of the Cedar Lake Contemporary Dance Ensemble, Dance Conservatory of MD, Centrepointe Academy, EMC Performing Arts, and the School of the Washington Ballet. She served as the Artistic Director and Manager of Harford Dance Theatre for 10 years. Her students have gone on to perform with: Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Washington Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Louisville Ballet, BalletMet, National Ballet of Canada, Dutch National Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Carolina Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Georgia Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, and Los Angeles Ballet.
Jessica joined the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2024, and teaches Ballet at our Mobile and Eastern Shore studios.
LEENA VINCENZ-GAVIN
Leena Vincenz-Gavin began dancing at the age of five at Ballettschule Jaskola in Giessen, Germany. After moving to the Chicago area, she continued her dance training at Ca-Mar Dance School in Bloomingdale, Illinois. Leena spent her freshman year of high school studying abroad in South Korea, where she had the unique opportunity to train with Universal Ballet. As a senior, she was a member of the Sabrettes Dance Team, which won first place at the Illinois Drill Team Association State Championship. She also served as student choreographer for the musical Grease. Leena went on to earn a Bachelor of Arts in Elementary Education from North Central College, graduating magna cum laude with minors in Dance and German. While in college, she performed with the Cardinal Dance Company. She later taught ballet at Rising Star Dance Sport in Naperville, Illinois, and founded a church-based dance company that produced annual recitals at a local college auditorium. Leena has taught kindergarten, led nonprofit initiatives, and volunteered in ministry, bringing a deep love for children and families to her work. Leena teaches early childhood classes and directs Gather Kids Place.
Leena joined the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2025 to teach the new Mommy & Me Ballet classes, offering a joyful first dance experience for little ones and their grown-ups. She will also be teaching the Boys Dance Too class in 2026-27.
PAIGE WELLER
Paige Weller, a native of Baton Rouge, LA, received her classical training and performed with the Louisiana Ballet under Artistic Director, Phoebe Brantley. She received additional training during multiple Summer Programs at the School of American Ballet, studying under Alexandra Danilova, Antonia Tumkovsky and Suki Schorer. Paige also trained and performed with the Eglevsky Ballet under the direction of Melissa Hayden, Edward Villela and Michael Vernon. She received the Bravo Scholarship from University of South Florida’s College of Performing Arts where she studied under Gretchen Warren and Martin Friedman. Paige’s performance experience includes Serenade, La Sylphide, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Rodeo, Quadracycle, an original work by Gilbert Rome, and other original works by Martin Friedman, Gretchen Warren, Bette Winslow, and Phoebe Brantley; and most recently as Queen Florestan in Mobile Ballet’s 2017 production of Sleeping Beauty. Paige graduated from Florida State University with a B.S. in Interior Design. She lives in Fairhope where she and her husband, Bruce, have raised three daughters.
Paige joined the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2005, and teaches Ballet at our Eastern Shore studio.
RALEY ZAMPIERI
Raley Zampieri, a native of Foley, AL, began her early dance training at Green Acres School of Dance and Dare 2 Dance in Robertsdale, AL. She expanded her training at Mobile Ballet’s Eastern Shore studio under the instruction of Zoe Lombard-Todd. She also trained at Sheffield’s School of Dance where she won numerous awards at local dance conventions and competitions. She attended the University of South Alabama as a Primary and Special Education major and also joined The Prowlers, USA’s dance team. She was part of the Universal Dance Association staff, 2011-2012, where she taught hundreds of high school and college level dance teams UDA technique and choreography. In 2007 Raley received the acceptance call to dance with the Radio City Music Hall Rockettes. From 2007-2016 Raley had the opportunity to perform with the touring cast and New York City cast of the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, as well as many other TV, talk show and national broadcast appearances and performances. She had the honor of performing next to Heidi Klum on America’s Got Talent on The Great Stage of Radio City Music Hall.
Raley joined the Mobile Ballet faculty in 2006, and teaches Jazz at our Eastern Shore studio.