Company

Name: Grace Armour

Company Position: Junior Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI: Joined Ballet RI in 2024 as a Junior Apprentice

Hometown: Shrewsbury, MA

Training/Education: Classical Training Program at the Dallas Conservatory, The Hanover Theatre Conservatory

Favorite Quote: “You may not control all the events that happen to you, but you can decide not to be reduced by them.” Maya Angelou

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why:

I love a ballet or role that develops a real camaraderie between the dancers, one of my favorite ballets to perform has been the Pas de Six from Napoli. I think this role was so enjoyable because the music and choreography is so playful; it allowed my fellow dancers and I to mirror that energy in our movement and make creative choices that fostered a genuine friendship that was visible to our audience. Another role that I greatly enjoyed was the Little Swan pas de quatre; very similarly, this piece is very technically demanding but learning to work as a team of four dancers was a not just a great challenge and learning experience, but an opportunity to create a bond between artists that was so rewarding.

Accomplishment you are most proud of: Beginning my professional career with Ballet RI this season!

Fun Fact about yourself: I crochet legwarmers and other ballet warmup wear!

Follow Grace on Instagram @grace.armourr

Name: Jackson Calhoun

Company Position: Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI: 2024

Hometown: Winston-Salem, NC

Training/Education: UNCSA Dance

Favorite Quote: “When I let go of what I am, I become what I might be.”

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why:
My favorite ballet is Ghost Dances by Christopher Bruce. The breath from the artists of folk group Inti-Illimani, fill the pipe flutes like the wind that blows through an abandoned house, eerie, yet a beautiful memorie of the life that once filled its walls. Telling the reality of normal people getting caught up in the violence of political oppression, Ghost Dances exposes the wicked underbelly of this world while reminding us just how precious life is.

Accomplishment you are most proud of: In 2023 I became a professional choreographer, it is always something I have done and deeply enjoyed.

Fun Fact about yourself: I love art, visual, musical and performative, it is the expression of the human soul that gets me right!

Follow Jackson on Instagram @jacksonbleu

 

 

Name:  Meghan Rice

Company Position:  Junior Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI:  2024 as a Junior Apprentice.

Hometown:  Coral Springs, FL

Training/Education: Houston Ballet Academy, Joffrey Ballet Academy Chicago, English National Ballet Trainee

Favorite Quote: “Do one thing everyday that scares you” ~Eleanor Roosevelt

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why: 

My absolute favorite ballet is Giselle. I love how feminism is portrayed throughout the entire ballet as strong but still graceful—exactly how I depict ballet itself. It is an emotional ballet full of light-hearted moments as well as some very dramatic and dark scenes. I especially love Giselle’s solo in Act 1, which shows such a childlike joy, making it so exciting to dance. It is an extremely technically demanding ballet, and I would love the opportunity to perform it someday.

Accomplishment you are most proud of:  Beginning ballet at 12 and yet still pushing myself to build the ballet career of my dreams.

Fun Fact about yourself:  I used to be an avid surfer. I also love to write, and I am currently writing a murder mystery novel!

 

Follow Meghan on Instagram @meghanrice_

 

 

 

Name: Maya Hui Sprague

Company Position: Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI: Joined Ballet RI in 2024 as an Apprentice.

Hometown: San Francisco, CA

Training/Education: San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet Graduate Program, and Kansas City Ballet Second Company. And coaching from DTC/SF and Yuko Katsumi.

Favorite Quote: “It is only perfection in the foundations that can lead to mastery of the whole…’Talent is Work,’” Galina Ulanova

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why: My favorite ballet is Giselle because I have always found it choreographically genius in its comparison between life and death, each character is complex but understandable to the viewer, Adolph Adam’s score is moving, and the Act II pas de deux balances romance and tragedy and life and death perfectly. My favorite role I have performed is the corps de ballet of George Balanchine’s Emeralds because as the curtain went up with Garbriel Fauré’s score, I felt something I can only describe as transcendent.

Accomplishment you are most proud of: Performing alongside the San Francisco Ballet in Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker and Swan Lake, with the Boston Ballet in Petipa/Ashton’s The Sleeping Beauty, and with Kansas City Ballet in Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll and Hyde, Devon Carney’s The Nutcracker and Peter Pan, and George Balanchine’s Emeralds. Receiving my first professional contract with Ballet Rhode Island.

Fun Fact about yourself: I enjoy cooking and watching sunsets!

Follow Maya on Instagram @mayahsprague

Name:  Anjali Hern

Company Position:  Junior Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI:  Joined Ballet RI in 2023 as a trainee. Promoted to Junior Apprentice in 2024.

Hometown: Valencia, CA

Training/Education: Marat Daukayev School of Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre Graduate Program

Favorite Quote:  “There is always a light, if only we’re brave enough to see it. If only we’re brave enough to be it.” – Amanda Gorman

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why:  I loved dancing Godmother Maidens in Yury Yanowsky’s Cinderella. The quick footwork and playful energy of the role challenged me to become a more dynamic dancer. I also enjoyed learning the Act 3 pas de deux from Don Quixote. I love any role that involves a bit of acting, so embodying Kitri’s spunk and sass was a lot of fun.

Accomplishment you are most proud of:  Signing my first contract with Ballet RI!

Fun Fact about yourself: I am half Cuban and speak some Spanish!

Follow Anjali on Instagram @anjalihern

 

Name:  Styles Dykes

Company Position:  Company Artist

Joined Ballet RI:  2024

Hometown: Rochester,NY

Training/Education: Odasz Dance Theatre 2018-2021, Tulsa Ballet Center for Dance Education 2021-2022

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why: Colas in La Fille Mal Gardee, it’s a role I’ve always wanted to dance and loved, I think it’s mostly for his charming and jaunty personality.

Accomplishment you are most proud of:  Dancing on stage in a Gala in Italy or getting my first professional contract after having only studied ballet for 3 years.

Fun Fact about yourself: I am left-handed!

Follow Styles on Instagram @styles_davine1

Name: Nia Grace Lessard

Company Position: Junior Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI:  Joined Ballet RI as a Junior Apprentice in 2023

Hometown: Framingham, MA

Training/Education: Pacific Northwest Ballet Professional Division

Favorite Quote: “It’s finished, it’s done. You can’t take loved away” -Nona the Ninth by Tamsyn Muir

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why:

I like to create a character for every ballet I perform, to make it extra fun and to add intention to the movement. My favorite is when I was in the corps de ballet for Swan Lake, I would imagine I was a lost princess dreaming of returning home. I would love to perform a role like Tatiana from Onegin, where the character is already written and I could really delve into her emotions on stage.

Accomplishment you are most proud of: I am most proud of who I am as an artist, in my authenticity, curiosity and love that I bring to the studio every day. I celebrate each tiny accomplishment, as they are all part of my growth to being the best dancer I can be.

Fun Fact about yourself: I collect vintage media! I have cassette tapes, 8-tracks, vinyl records, and about 75 VHS tapes that I watch on my VCR TV. I still have a recording of Mikhail Baryshnikov and Gelsey Kirkland in The Nutcracker that I watched as a kid!

Follow Nia on Instagram @niagracelessard

Name: Jayden Towers

Company Position: Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI: Joined Ballet RI in 2023 as a Junior Apprentice. Promoted to Apprentice in 2024.

Hometown: Coral Springs, FL

Training/Education: Fort Lauderdale Youth Ballet, The Harid Conservatory, Alberta Ballet School, and Ellison Ballet

Favorite Quote: “The best preparation for tomorrow is doing your best today.” ~H. Jackson Brown Jr.

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why:

I love roles where I can embody elegance and beauty, however I also enjoy portraying uncharacteristic roles. One of my favorites to perform last year was Doll in “The Nutcracker.” This character is comedic and has an engaging personality with boundless energy. I also loved performing in the cast of “Ode.” With the piece being contemporary based, I really enjoyed exploring different dynamics. The intense and rhythm-filled music was thrilling to dance to as well!

Accomplishment you are most proud of: Graduating from Ellison Ballet at 18 and receiving my first professional contract with Ballet RI straight out of high school!

Fun Fact about yourself: I love going to the beach early in the morning to watch the sunrise. There is something so relaxing and beautiful about it and it instantly makes my day better!

Follow Jayden on Instagram @jayden.towers

Name:  Alexa Kearnan

Company Position:  Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI:  I joined Ballet Rhode Island as a trainee in 2021, was promoted to a Junior Apprentice the 2023 season, and in 2024 promoted to Apprentice.

Hometown: Uxbridge, MA

Training/Education: Deane Dance Studio in Mendon, MA

 Favorite Quote: “Success is not the key to happiness. Happiness is the key to success. If you love what you are doing, you will be successful” – Schweitzer

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why:  I have been blessed to dance many different ballets during my time so far at Ballet RI. My favorites would include “Ode” choreographed by Kataryzyna Kozielska because the musicality and movement were challenging yet rewarding. Another would be “Death and the Maiden” by Yury Yanowsky because the movement was creative and I had an amazing time with the choreographic process. I was also Gwendolyn in “ Gwendolyn, the Graceful Pig” choreographed by Eugenia Zenovieva. I loved bringing this character to life.

Accomplishment you are most proud of:  I am proud of my growth technically and artistically here at Ballet RI.

Fun Fact about yourself:  I love to choreograph and was able to work on my first piece last season called “Golden Energy”. I hope to continue exploring my love for choreographing in the future.

Follow Alexa on Instagram @alexakearnan

 

Name:  Massiel Valderrama

Company Position:  Apprentice

Joined Ballet RI: 2023

Hometown: Lara, Venezuela

Training/Education: María Teresa Alford School

Favorite Quote: “If you want true change, walk differently”

Favorite Role or Ballet & Why:  Nikiya “Le bayadere” “Giselle” and Juliet “Romeo and Juliet” These three ballets represent a dream for me, the romanticism and drama of these stories combined with their technical level seem incredible to me.

Accomplishment you are most proud of:  That despite having emigrated from my country I was able to continue exercising my passion as a professional.

Fun Fact about yourself:  When I was a child I wanted to study “Petroleum Engineering” but here I am, living my life as a dancer!

Follow Massiel on Instagram @massiel1909