Stephanie Brent - Executive & Co-Artistic Director

Born in Oroville, California, Stephanie Brent started her dance career at age three with the Stars National Dance Team in Monterey, California. Ms. Stephanie danced competitively for six years where she collected multiple titles and awards. She went on to study under Ms. Lucy Cederleaf at the Dance Ballet 2 in Roseville, California. Ms, Stephanie continued her dance education at the Roseville Academy of Dance in Roseville, California. Her studies have included ballet, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, modern, tap, character dance, ballroom, musical theatre, and hip hop. She has performed in countless shows. Her favorites were Giselle, Wizard of Oz, and Swan Lake. She danced in The Nutcracker with the San Francisco Ballet and Sacramento Ballet. She also performed in Disneyland, California for several years. Ms. Stephanie has taught dance worldwide, including: Dance Gallery 2, Roseville, California; Yokota Dance Company, Tokyo, Japan; and in Germany where she was the studio director at the Grace Academy of Dance in Kaiserslautern, Germany. Ms. Stephanie has trained dancers that have gone on to So You Think You Can Dance, America’s Next Best Dance Crew, and have choreographed for World of Dance. She has a Bachelors of Arts in Liberal Studies with an emphasis on child development and English language acquisition and minors in child development and English as a second language, as well as, a Multiple Subject Teaching Credential from California State University Sacramento. Ms. Stephanie became the Executive/Co-Artistic Director of the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy in 2019 after being Academy Principal. As Director, the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy placed multiple times in the NUVO dance competition and sent students off to prestigious dance programs and colleges. Ms. Stephanie has choreographed many pieces that have been repeatedly performed in the Anchorage Ballet’s repertoire. She is the co-creator of the Dance with Me and Bitty Bear Ballet curriculum for the Academy and an active member of the DSOA Inner Circle.

Ryan Martin - Co-Artistic Director & Ballet Master

With a career expanding over 28 years, Mr. Ryan Martin has more than 25 years of experience as a professional ballet and contemporary dancer. He graduated from two prestigious ballet schools, the National Ballet of Canada and Mr. Ryan was the first American male dancer ever to be accepted into the Kirov School - now known as the Vaganova Ballet Academy. Ryan has danced with companies in Russia, Germany and the United States (Tulsa Ballet, Charleston Ballet Theatre, BalletMet, and Milwaukee Ballet) and worked closely with celebrated artists and choreographers. He has performed principal and solo roles in the classical repertoire as well as working with important choreographers of the 20th century. His own choreography is a reflection of his dynamic experiences and includes original works in both classical and contemporary styles. Mr. Ryan became the Co-Artistic Director and Ballet Master of the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy in 2020.

Tara Brooker - Assistant Director

Originally from Florida, Ms. Tara Brooker’s love of ballet started at age four. Ms. Tara studied ballet, jazz, and tap at The Dance Academy in Tampa, Florida. In addition, she was lucky to attend two high schools that offered excellent dance programs. She also studied ballet at Sell’s Broadway Company under Chris Sell. After high school, she was a teacher assistant in Riverview, Florida. Ms. Tara moved to Oklahoma in 2005 with her husband and two kids, where she continued her dance education and began teaching ballet.  She has performed in Chicago, Anchorage Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker and with The Gemini Dance Band for five years. She has studied under Courtland Weaver, Michelle Katcher, and many others. Since joining the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy in 2018, Ms. Tara has choreographed many pieces and is the co-creator of the Dance with Me and Bitty Bear Ballet curriculum for the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy. Ms. Tara is also an active member of the National Dance Education Organization.

Alice Bassler Sullivan - Ballet Mistress

Born and raised in Alaska, Alice Bassler Sullivan began her dance training in Anchorage, studying with Lynda Lorimer and Steve Primis. In 1975, Ms. Sullivan earned a BFA from the University of Utah Ballet Department, graduating magna cum laude, while performing with Ballet West. She danced with the First Chamber Dance Company, and five seasons with the Minnesota Ballet. Alice returned to Alaska in 1982 and led Alaska Dance Theatre in unprecedented achievements through June 2009 as its Founding Artistic Director. In recognition of her outstanding leadership within the community, Ms. Sullivan was named a finalist in the BP Women of Achievement Award and the Athena Awards. In 2010, Ms. Sullivan was awarded the Lorene Harrison Lifetime Achievement Award by the Mayor’s Arts Award. Sullivan was also honored with a Rasmuson Individual Artist award in 2013.

Amy Black - Children's Program Coordinator & Instructor

Originally from Oklahoma, Ms. Amy Black started studying ballet and jazz at the age of five. Ms. Amy has studied at the La Mesa Dance Academy, Dance Works of Enid, and the Broadway Bound Academy of Dance. She has done summer intensive with the Washington Ballet and the Paris Opera Ballet. She has trained under Trey Pickett, Cecelia Jarmillo, and Debby Alllen and has worked with the New Mexico Ballet Company and Ballet Repertoire Theatre of New Mexico. She began teaching ballet in 2017. She also trains as a figure skater. Ms. Amy relocated to Anchorage, Alaska in the spring of 2021 and is proud to be a part of Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy.

James Ackermann - Instructor & Stage Manager

Originally from Albuquerque, New Mexico, Mr. James Ackermann has been dancing since he was five years old. He started his dance study in Ballet, Jazz, and Tap, later adding Musical Theatre, Hip Hop, and Contemporary to his repertoire. Mr. James has trained under Ms. Celia Aramillo and Ms. Jennifer Boren, and developed a strong sense of technique while dancing in companies like Festival Ballet. Musical Theatre is his passion and he has been featured in shows such as Footloose, West Side Story, and Chorus Line. Mr. James started teaching multiple genres of dance in 2010 and has performed in over 70 Musicals, he is excited to pass his passion on to the next generation.

Maisy DeBerry -  Instructor

Maisy is a born Alaskan and has trained in a variety of styles including ballet, contemporary, modern, and jazz. She spent her early teens training at a competitive dance studio in Utah, where she competed at numerous competitions and conventions. While living in Utah she developed a passion for ballet and had the opportunity to perform in multiple ballets including ‘The Sleeping Beauty,’ ‘Cinderella,’ and ‘The Nutcracker.’ Maisy spent her final two years of highschool back in Alaska, training and performing with Alaska Dance Theatre and Identity Dance Collective. Maisy began her collegiate training at Cornish College of the Arts where she focused on ballet and modern dance styles. She later transferred to Colorado Mesa University where she completed her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with an emphasis in dance pedagogy. After university Maisy relocated to Salt Lake City where she performed with Salt Lake City Ballet Co., Wasatch Contemporary Dance Co., and was a company dancer and featured choreographer with The Allure Creative. While in Utah she taught and choreographed at Vision Dance Center where her students went on to win numerous awards in a variety of local and national competitions. Maisy has been teaching dance since she was 15. Her love for teaching has only grown and she could not imagine spending a career doing anything else. She believes that everyone deserves access to high quality dance education. Her classes are rooted in building strength and technical precision while fostering a love for movement in a positive environment. Maisy has recently moved back to Alaska and is thrilled to be teaching and sharing her love of dance with the students at ACBA.

Shannon Wellmann - Instructor & Soloist

Ms. Shannon Wellmann is a born and raised Alaskan. The Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy has been her second home since the age of three. She has had instruction in the Vaganova ballet technique from Mr. Ryan Martin and Ms. Holly Steadman. She splits her ballet education between Anchorage and New York City. Ms. Shannon has also been trained in the French ballet technique under the direction of Mr. Francois Perron at the French Academie of Ballet. She has studied contemporary dance and choreography from Mr. Juan Rodriguez, Instructor for the Broadway Dance Center and the Juilliard School.  She has completed several summer intensives, including: American Ballet Theatre and America’s National Ballet Company. She has studied under Mr. Sascha Radetsky, Mr. Ethan Brown, and Ms. Hollie Wright. Shannon has danced in many Anchorage Ballet productions. She has been cast in several featured roles in the Nutcracker, including the Snow Queen, Caribou Doll, Soldier Doll, and the Chinese Empress. She was featured as a soloist in Chopiniana in 2021. Her many other performances have included Aurora and the Northern Lights, Stars and Stripes, and Coppelia.

Hannah Jeffords - Instructor

Ms. Hannah Jeffords was born in Mississippi, but spent most of her school years and dance education in St. Augustine, Florida. She started dancing at the young age of 3 and has performed in multiple musical theatre productions while studying at The St. Augustine Academy of the Performing Arts but she spent most of her time dancing with the St. Augustine Dance Academy, under the instruction of Ms. Tasha Wells. There she studied Ballet, Pointe, Contemporary, Tap, Competition Dance, and Jazz. Hannah started her teaching journey as an assistant in high school and realized her passion for teaching children movement and life skills through the art of dance. Since the summer of 2019, she has taught Tap, Jazz, and Contemporary to students ranging from 3 years old to adults and while continuing her own dance education. Ms. Hannah strives to foster classrooms that are safe environments for students to have fun, enhance body awareness, and study the beauty of dance. 

Charlotte Letner - Instructor

Born in Tennessee, Charlotte Letner is a graduate of Chugiak High School. Her education includes the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School Professional Division Teachers’ Program Intensive. She has undergone extensive education under Holly Steadman and Stephanie Brent at the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy in the levels of Dance with Me, Creative Movement, Bitty Bear Ballet, and Pre Ballet. Ms. Charlotte is a specialist in early childhood education. Since 2003, Ms. Charlotte has worked in the early childhood education field as  a Lead Preschool Teacher at the Sunshine Schools and as a private childcare provider. She joined the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy in 2017.

Layla Brent - Teaching Apprentice & Soloist

Originally from California, Ms. Layla Brent started her dancing journey at age five at the Grace Studio of Dance in Kaiserslautern, Germany under the Direction of Ms. Jenny Doyle and Mr. Sobir Utabaev. She relocated to Anchorage and the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy at age seven where she joined the Pre-Professional Program at age 10. She has studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Musical Theatre, Contemporary, Lyrical, Tap, and Character Dance. Ms. Layla has trained under Mr. Ryan Martin, Ms. Holly Steadman, Ms. Stephanie Brent, Ms. Michelle Katcher, Mr. Colby Damon, Ms. Victoria Jaini, and Mr. James Kirby Rodgers. She attended Sacramento Ballet Senior Summer Intensive in 2022, 2023, and 1014 under the direction of Mr. Jorge Laico and Mr. Anthony Krutzkamp on a merit scholarship. Ms. Layla has performed in Anchorage Ballet’s productions of Coppelia, Chopiniana, Dracula, The Ugly Duckling, Sleeping Beauty Fairies as the Lilac Fairy, and in The Nutcracker as the Dew Drop, a Harlequin Doll, and Chocolate Dance. Ms. Layla dances for DanceWest under the direction of Ms. Irenerose Castillo, has competed at Youth America Grand Prix Semi - Finals twice, once in San Francisco and once in Seattle, and has placed several times at NUVO Anchorage. In 2021, she was awarded NUVO Junior Break Out Artist. From 2018 - 2022, Ms. Layla was a Teaching Assistant at the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy and has completed the Teacher Training Program. She also has a Teaching Certification from the International Dance Teacher Association, a Certification in Toddler and Preschool Dance from Once Upon a Ballet, and is a proud member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts,.

Kinley Kohler - Teaching Apprentice & Soloist

Ms. Kinley Kohler is from Anchorage, Alaska and started her dancing journey at age two at Children's Dance Theatre in Anchorage under the direction of Ms. Thereasa Rhinehart. At the age of five, Ms. Kinley began her formal dance education at the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy where she joined the Pre-Professional Program at age 10. She has trained under Mr. Ryan Martin, Ms. Holly Steadman, Ms. Stephanie Brent, and Ms. Michelle Katcher. She has studied Ballet, Jazz, Modern, Hip Hop, Latin Dance, Contemporary, Tap, and Character Dance. She has performed in Anchorage Ballet’s productions of Coppelia, Carnival of the Animals, Chopiniana, Stars and Stripes, The Ugly Duckling, Swan Lake and in The Nutcracker as the Dew Drop, a Harlequin Doll, and Dragon Soloist. She has competed at Youth America Grand Prix Semi - Finals three times and has placed several times at NUVO Anchorage. Ms. Kinley attended Los Angeles Ballet Summer Intensive in 2022 under the direction of Ms. Colleen Neary and Mr. Thordal Christensen and Kansas City Ballet Summer Intensive in 2023 and 2024. Ms. Kinley dances for DanceWest under the direction of Ms. Irenerose Castillo and also teaches adaptive ballet with Special Olympics Alaska. From 2020 - 2023, Ms. Kinley  was a Teaching Assistant at the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy and has completed the Teacher Training Program.

Emmaliese Jones- Teaching Apprentice & Soloist

Born and raised in Anchorage, Alaska, Ms. Emmaliese Jones began her dance journey at the age of three with the Alaska Dance Theatre. Over the years, she has cultivated her skills in a wide variety of styles, including modern, hip hop, and lyrical. Currently, she is refining her ballet technique at Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy, bringing a rich and diverse background to her training. Ms. Emmaliese has danced at several prestigious institutions, including Alaska Dance Theatre, Anchorage Music and Dance, and most recently, the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy. She has performed in prominent roles such as Mother Ginger in Anchorage Ballet's production of The Nutcracker and the Queen’s Assistant in Anchorage Ballet’s production of Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland. She also dances for Dance West under the direction of Ms. Irenerose Castillo. She is an enthusiastic member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts and Emmaliese believes that “without the bad times, we wouldn’t appreciate the good times,” a mindset that drives her passion and dedication to the art of dance.

Lia Zender - Teaching Apprentice & Soloist

Hailing from Anchorage, Alaska, Ms. Lia Zender began her dance training at the age of four with Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy, specializing in classical ballet, contemporary, and modern dance. She has studied under the guidance of Mr. Ryan Martin and Ms. Stephanie Brent and Ms. Michelle Katcher. Ms. Lia has performed several notable roles in Anchorage Ballet’s productions, including the Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland, the Chinese Doll in Fairy Doll, and Spanish Coffee in The Nutcracker. Ms. Lia also dances for Dance West under the direction of Ms. Irenerose Castillo, plays the cello,  and is a proud member of the National Honor Society for Dance Arts, continually honing her craft and sharing her love of dance with the community.