BTM - Key Persons
To contact the Board, telephone the main office at 410-224-5644 or email the Board President at btmboard@balletmaryland.org
Job Titles:
- Finance Manager
- Ballet Master
Amanda Cobb began her dance training in Managua, Nicaragua at Danza Estudio Attitude, where she performed multiple principal roles including Kitri in Don Quixote and Clara/Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker. In 2016 Amanda moved to New York City to attend the Joffrey Ballet School under scholarship. She joined New York Dance Project in the fall of 2017 where she performed works by Jerald Arpino, Gabrielle Lamb, Tyler Gilstrap, and Africa Guzman. In 2018 she danced with Texas Ballet Theatre's second company where she performed alongside the company in works by Ben Stevenson and Will Tuckett. She has also participated in many international dance festivals including in Italy, El Salvador, and Costa Rica. Amanda joined Ballet Theatre of Maryland as a Trainee in 2019 and was promoted to Demi Soloist in 2022. She is looking forward to her future career with Ballet Theatre of Maryland.
Job Titles:
- Community Engagement Coordinator
Brenna Mazzara, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, began her ballet training at the Pittsburgh Youth Ballet Company under the direction of Jean Gedeon. She continued her training at the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music where she graduated Summa Cum Laude with a BFA in Ballet Performance and a BA in International Relations. Throughout her education, she performed in numerous works by Alan Obuzor, David Hochoy, and George Balanchine including Serenade, Who Cares?, Western Symphony, Valse Fantasy, and Waltz of the Hours. Brenna has since performed as a guest artist with The Dayton Ballet where she performed a number of roles in Karen Russo Burke's The Nutcracker and Septime Webre's Swan Lake. Following her graduation, she joined Columbus Dance Theatre for the 2018/2019 season. Brenna then joined The Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an Apprentice in 2019 and was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2021. During her time at BTM, Brenna has danced featured roles in Swan Lake, The Little Mermaid, Dracula, and the Nutcracker.
Caroline Anderson, originally from Rising Sun Maryland, began her ballet training at the age of 3 and studied the Vaganova method under the direction of Anya Ivanova-Bojko, Pasha Kambalov, Kristina Kambalov, and Joan Beatson. She graduated from the School of First State Ballet Theatre in 2018. Caroline had the honor of performing in Viktor Plotnikov's Hope, which earned 1st place at the 2018 World Ballet Competition in Orlando, Florida, and placed in the top 12 at the 2018 Youth America Grand Prix Finals in New York. Caroline also has extensive training in musical theatre under the direction of Richard Mahoney, Chris Rose, and Kathy Cammett. Caroline joined Ballet Theatre of Maryland as a trainee in 2018, was promoted to Apprentice in 2019 and to Demi-Soloist in 2021. She is looking forward to the challenges and opportunities that the 2022/2023 season will bring!
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Conservatory Principal
Emily Carey is originally from Chesapeake, VA, and began her ballet training at Virginia Ballet Theatre. In high school, she continued training at Ballet Virginia under Janina Michalski Bove and Suzanne Lownsbury and was given the opportunity to student teach under Patricia Sorrell. After high school, she performed with Nashville Ballet's second company, NB2. At Nashville Ballet, she participated in children's outreach programs, leading the creative movements and story-time performances throughout the community. In 2012, Emily joined the Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an Apprentice and rose through the ranks to Principal dancer in 2017. She currently holds the position of Conservatory Principal and has had the pleasure of teaching the students of the Conservatory for nine years, as well as running student rehearsals for various company productions, including The Nutcracker.
Emily Carey is originally from Chesapeake, Virginia, where she began her dance training at Virginia Ballet Theatre and continued under Janina Michalski Bove and Suzanne Lownsbury at Ballet Virginia. She received additional training at Atlanta Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Houston Ballet. In 2010, Emily was accepted into Nashville Ballet's second company, NB2, where she performed in both company performances and community outreaches. Emily joined Ballet Theatre of Maryland in 2012 as an Apprentice, was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2013, Soloist in 2016, and to Principal in 2017. With BTM, she has performed many leading roles including a soloist in Antony Tudor's Continuo, Clara/The Sugar Plum Fairy in Dianna Cuatto's The Nutcracker, the Topaz Fairy in Cuatto's The Sleeping Beauty, a step-sister in Cuatto's Cinderella, Morgan Le Fay in Cuatto's Excalibur, Princess Samira in Cuatto's Aladdin, the title role in Cuatto's Snow White, Mina in Edward Stuart's Dracula, the Peasant Pas de Duex from Giselle, Swanhilda in Cuatto's Coppélia and the Pas de Duex from Paquita. Along with dancing in the company, Emily enjoys teaching company class and working with the dancers as a Rehearsal Assistant. She also serves as the Conservatory Principal and is on faculty for Ballet Theatre of Maryland's Conservatory of Dance.
Job Titles:
- Costume Seamstress and Designer
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Wardrobe Coordinator
Karissa Kralik was raised on Long Island, New York where she trained with Mme. Valia Seiskaya until 2010 in Vaganova based ballet and character techniques. She came in second place in the senior division of the American Ballet Competition in 2010. Karissa attended the University of the Arts in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Education with a Musical Theater Minor in 2014. There she continued her training under faculty including Christine Cox (BalletX), Eva Szabo, Andrew Pap, Anne White (PA Ballet), and Scott Jovovich (Joffrey Ballet). Karissa studied Modern techniques including Horton with Kim Bears-Bailey (Philadanco) and Graham with Jennifer Binford-Johnson (Martha Graham Dance Company), as well as varied styles of Jazz with Wayne St. David and Donald Lunsford (Philadanco). She enjoyed opportunities to perform works choreographed by Helen Simoneau and Douglas Becker (Frankfurt Ballet). Karissa joined Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an Apprentice in 2016, was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2017, Soloist in 2020, and to Principal in Fall of 2021. She has enjoyed dancing the title role in Giselle, Pearl in The Little Mermaid, Mina in Dracula, Hermia in A Midsummer Night's Dream and Aleksya in The Snow Queen. She is looking forward to her 7th season with BTM and to continue working with Nicole Kelsch.
Job Titles:
- Principal
- Digital Content and Marketing Coordinator
Lauren Martinez began her ballet training at the Rowland/Ballard School of Ballet in Houston, Texas, and furthered her training at the University of Oklahoma where she obtained a dual degree in Ballet Performance and Advertising. While in school, Lauren guested at Tulsa Ballet and Unbound Ballet Project. Along with working alongside choreographers Trey McIntyre, Ilya Kozadayev, and Dominic Walsh, she has performed lead roles in renowned works by George Balanchine and Alejandro Cerrudo. In 2019, Lauren joined the Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an Apprentice, was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2020, and Principal in the fall of 2021. During her time at BTM, Lauren has performed featured roles in Swan Lake, The Nutcracker, Dracula, The Little Mermaid, and Giselle.
Lindsey Bell is originally from Maryland and began her training at White Marsh Ballet Academy under the instruction of Sandra Harris and Shari Bickel. While dancing with White Marsh, Lindsey also attended summer programs at Point Park University, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, South Carolina Summer Dance Conservatory, and Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater in New York. Upon graduating high school, Lindsey studied at the University of Oklahoma School of Dance where she was mentored by Mary Margaret Holt, Jeremy Lindberg, Clara Cravey, Steve Brule, and Ilya Kozadayev. At OU, Lindsey performed in ballets including La Bayadere, Raymonda, The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Pulcinella. While at OU, Lindsey also had the opportunity to perform in the musical, On The Town, and the opera, Don Giovanni, as well as choreograph for the Young Choreographer's Showcase on her fellow peers.
After graduating with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in 2015, Lindsey joined the Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an apprentice. She was promoted to soloist in 2017 and is now a Principal with the company as of 2019. With BTM, she has performed as the Diamond Fairy in Dianna Cuatto's The Sleeping Beauty, Hippolyta in Cuatto's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Gerda in Cuatto's The Snow Queen, the Evil Queen Regina in Cuatto's Snow White, the Spanish Princess, and a Big Swan in Swan Lake, and the title role in Cuatto's An American Southwest Carmen, Melusine in Cuatto's The Little Mermaid, Myrtha in Giselle, and Swanhilda in Coppelia. Lindsey has choreographed on the company dancers and premiered her works Mudita and Sanctuary in Chaos in BTM's Momentum performances in 2021 and 2022. Lindsey is now in her eighth season and is excited for what is in store this year!
Ms. Anne May Gutcher was born in Ontario, Canada and started taking ballet classes at the age of 5. Her family moved to Seattle, WA where she continued her training at Issaquah Dance Theatre and attended summer ballet intensives with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, International Ballet Academy, and Kirov Academy of Ballet, D.C. She graduated from the University of Utah with a B.F.A. in Ballet with a Teaching Emphasis and Ballet Teaching Certificate, along with a B.S. in Business Administration. While at the university, she performed with Utah Ballet, guested with Salt Lake City Ballet, and served as the Vice President of the Character Dance Ensemble, which trained and performed in L'viv, Ukraine, and the Basque Region of Spain.
She has performed featured roles in Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Le Corsaire, La Bayadère, Paquita, Raymonda, The Snow Queen, Aladdin, Alice in Wonderland, Snow White, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Balanchine's Walpurgisnacht, Balanchine's Stars, and Stripes, and The Nutcracker. She has also enjoyed working with classical and contemporary choreographers Michele Wiles, Jay Kim, James Ady, Melanie Buchanan, Melissa Gould, and Dianna Cuatto. Ms. Gutcher joined the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and the Conservatory's faculty in 2018.
Job Titles:
- Artistic Director
- Principal for the Ballet Theatre of Maryland Conservatory
Nicole Kelsch received her early training from Peter and Kristin Degnan at Ballet Northeast in Pennsylvania. She also received training from Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Austin, Pennsylvania Governor's School for the Arts, and Princeton Ballet. Nicole graduated from Point Park University in Pittsburgh, receiving her Bachelor of Arts in Ballet Performance in three years. Upon graduation, she danced professionally with Columbia City Ballet, Atlanta Festival Ballet, and Connecticut Ballet.
Rowan Treece began dancing at age three and at age seven was accepted into the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre, where she received her formative training from Damara Bennett. In her seven years with SOBT, Rowan appeared in over 90 performances of Oregon Ballet Theatre's production of George Balanchine's The Nutcracker in a variety of roles, including Marie and Chinese Tea. She attended summer intensives at SOBT and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.
At 14, Rowan joined the youth company of The Portland Ballet, with a merit scholarship for career track training, where she studied with Nancy Davis and Anne Mueller. While there, she performed in contemporary and character roles, as well as a Jewel Fairy in Sleeping Beauty and in John Clifford's The Firebird.
The following year, Rowan moved from Portland to Carlisle, PA to train year-round with Marcia Dale Weary, Melinda Howe, Alan Hineline, Darla Hoover, Nicolas Ade, Simon Ball, and the rest of the notable faculty of Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Additionally, she received private coaching from Christina Hampton, Artistic Director of Arizona Youth Ballet. In her final year at CPYB, she had the opportunity to choreograph a new work on her peers as part of the First Steps program.
Rowan is a published author and graduated from Stanford University Online High School as a National Merit Scholar. She came to Ballet Theatre of Maryland as an apprentice in 2020 and is very pleased to join the company as demi-soloist for the ‘22/'23 season.