Company Artist

Company

 

Cate Feinen ~ Eleanor Kraatz ~ Leo Lewis ~ Emma Rypka
Lorenzo Pantano ~ Ava Teague ~ Grace Williams Kim

Annika Drasgow ~ Daisy Grace Lewis ~ Claudia Lundsgaard
Janaki Raj-Underhill ~ Elizabeth Seong ~ Wes Shunk

Shanley Davis ~ Irine Kim ~ Lydia Stevens
Emma Tong ~ Samantha Walden

Victoria Mahaffey ~ Rosy Odum
Quincy Payton ~ Christina Rao ~ Mia Sherman

 

Junior Company

 

Channon Goodrum ~ Jett Lewin ~ Belle Lewis
Sameena Raj-Underhill ~ Eleanor Rypka ~ Fletcher Sowers

 

Apprentice

 

Nora Anderson ~ Mia Beeton ~ Nora Croop ~ Lenora Donohue ~ Lillian Hinds
Emma Lan ~ Kate Lippert ~ Rachel Riha ~ Elise Yang

Connor Croop ~ Alaina Davis ~ Gabriela Mackay ~ Ellery Messer
Hazel Powell ~ Jeannette Saenz ~ Tate Sowers ~ Seth Stevens ~ Isabel Tanner-Lane

 

Company and Apprentices

Dancers ages 10 through 30 with ballet experience attend the Company or Apprentice audition class for casting in The Nutcracker, as well as placement in the Company. Company and Apprentice dancers are required to maintain participation in ballet classes and must attend the Company class prior to rehearsals on Saturday afternoons. Company dancers are required to complete service hours to benefit the company. Apprentice dancers are encouraged to give volunteer hours back to the Company. All company members are expected to participate in Champaign Urbana Ballet’s spring production, and Apprentices are expected to participate in the spring production if roles are available.

 

Trainees

Children ages 8+ are eligible for nomination into the Trainee program. The nomination is at the discretion of the Artistic Director. The Trainee program is a preparatory step into the Apprentice program and consists of a 45-minute Saturday workshop during the winter and spring months. Trainees successfully completing the program are eligible for participation in Champaign Urbana Ballet’s Student Production.

 

Bonnie Ziegler Award

 

The Bonnie Ziegler award, established in 2007, is presented to a dancer in recognition of outstanding leadership, commitment to excellence, and helpful and positive attitude. Recipients include:

 

Oscar Lewis, 2024 ~ Elijah Ochs, 2023 ~ Farah Willenbrock, 2022
Hanna Laible-Seif, 2021 ~ Isaac Lee, 2019 ~ Irina Cheng, 2018
Angie Song, 2017 ~ Nick Hittle, 2015 ~ Maeva O'Brien, 2013
Erica Johnston, 2010 ~ Olivia Cangellaris, 2007

 

Alumni