TRAVIS BRADLEY (Dancer) has performed many memorable roles such as Oberon in A Midsummer Night's Dream, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet, The Prince in Beauty and the Beast, the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz, and many significant parts in Trey McIntyre ballets such as The Naughty Boy, The Barramundi, Grace and Pork Songs. Travis previously danced with The Houston Ballet, the Richmond Ballet, The Harid Conservatory and The Houston Ballet Academy. While dancing with The Houston Ballet Academy, Travis received the Michael Wasmund Award for his love and dedication for the art of dance. Travis also has worked with many noted choreographers such as Ben Stevenson, Stanton Welch, Trey McIntyre, Julia Adam and Mark Godden. He recently appeared with fellow Ballet Memphis member Crystal Brothers at Ballet Builders� in New York City. When he's not dancing, Travis enjoys photography and spending time with friends. He was chosen by RSVP magazine to appear as one of their most beautiful people of Memphis in 2007. Travis is from Mechanicsville, Va., and joined the company in 2004. Sponsors: Mr. and Mrs. Gary Christie and Lauren Christie; Karen Spacek and Billy Solmson

KENDALL BRITT (Dancer) has danced the roles of Puck in Mark Godden's A Midsummer Night's Dream and the Lion in Steven McMahon's Wizard of Oz; and soloist performances in Julia Adam's Seven Threads and A Curtain of Green. Before joining Ballet Memphis, he attended Ballet Academy East, also on full scholarship, and Fiorello H. LaGuardia High School of Performing Arts, both in New York City. A 2006 National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts youngARTS merit scholarship recipient, Kendall has performed in the Nutcracker at Pacific Northwest Ballet School and with Dances Patrelle in New York City. He also has performed in Graduation Ball at Ballet Academy East, and in The Sleeping Beauty and Diamonds from George Balanchine's Jewels with Pacific Northwest Ballet. Kendall is from New York City and joined the company in 2006. Sponsor: Mariangela Romano-Schardt; Faith and Leonard Kaye

CRYSTAL BROTHERS (Dancer) joined Ballet Memphis 13 years ago. She has danced the title roles in many Ballet Memphis productions including The Little Mermaid, Beauty and the Beast, Paquita, Firebird, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Giselle and as Tatiana in A Midsummer Night's Dream. She has danced in works by many noted choreographers including Mark Godden, Joseph Jefferies, Julia Adam, Thaddeus Davis and Trey McIntyre. Crystal was named Outstanding Artist in Dance by the Tennessee Arts Commission and is the first Ballet Memphis recipient of the award. Crystal also was named by Pointe magazine as one of the top eight dancers to watch in the world. She teaches all levels of ballet and is a certified STOTT PILATES® instructor for the Pilates Centre of Ballet Memphis. Crystal is from Yuma, Ariz. Sponsors: Mrs. Peggy Gunther; Drs. Teresa Brooks and Thane Duncan

RAFAEL FERRERAS (Dancer) received his ballet training in his hometown of New York with Dance Theatre of Harlem and the Joffrey Ballet. Memphis audiences know him for his smoldering performances in Trey McIntyre's Memphis, Touched, Lonesome and The Barramundi. He also has danced title roles in Dracula, Nutcracker, Firebird and Mark Godden's Tender Loin for Connections: Food.  He has danced with Tulsa Ballet, Hartford Ballet, New Jersey Ballet, Elisa Monte Dance and the Metropolitan Opera Ballet.Rafael is from the Bronx, N.Y., and joined the company in 2001. Sponsors: Mariangela Romano-Schardt; Dr. Gail Minard and Mr. Don Spears
 

STEPHANIE MEI HOM (Dancer) joined Ballet Memphis following her training at the Houston Ballet Academy. Stephanie has danced many notable roles including Helena in Mark Godden's A Midsummer Night's Dream, Clara from Karl Condon's Nutcracker and Cygnets from Swan Lake. She also was featured in Trey McIntyre's In Dreams, The Barramundi, Seconds Before the Ground, and The Naughty Boy; in Garrett Ammon's Short Trip Home and Sliding Down; in Mark Godden's Angels in the Architecture; and Julia Adam's Seven Threads. Stephanie teaches adult ballet for Ballet Memphis School and is a certified STOTT PILATES® instructor for the Pilates Centre of Ballet Memphis. She is from Walnut, Calif., and joined the company in 2000. Sponsors: Jessica and William Frederick; Drs. Teresa Brooks and Thane Duncan; Dr. Eric Gardner
 

HIDEKO KARASAWA (Dancer) joined Ballet Memphis following a full merit scholarship from the San Francisco Ballet School. She has competed in, and placed or won, many prestigious ballet competitions worldwide, including the Prix de Lausanne in Switzerland. While in San Francisco, she danced soloist roles such as pas de trois in Helgi Tomasson's Swan Lake, Clara in The Nutcracker and Airs de Ballet by Lew Christensen. During her first year with Ballet Memphis, Hideko danced Clara in the Nutcracker, pas de quatre in Little Mermaid, and in Trey McIntyre's Grace. Hideko is from Nagano, Japan. Sponsors: Gretchen and Steven Fitzpatrick; Mr. and Mrs. William Rudner

LEIGH LIJOI (Dancer) joined Ballet Memphis as an apprentice and is now dancing her first season as a full company member. She has been featured in Abou Lagraa's Everyone's One for Ballet Memphis' first AbunDANCE and has danced the role of Spanish woman and a parent in Nutcracker. In addition she has danced in George Balanchine's Who Cares?, Twyla Tharp's Baker's Dozen and Val Caniparoli's Lambaren. In 2005, she received a merit award from The National Foundation for Advancement in the Arts. Leigh is from West Chester, Ohio. Sponsors: Erin and Ray Schultz

STEVEN MCMAHON (Dancer & Choreographer) was born in Glasgow, Scotland, and came to the U.S. to study at the Ailey School in New York City. In 2001 Steven was named Scottish Young Achiever of the Year. After graduating in 2004 he joined Ballet Memphis. In the past five years Steven has danced many works in the company's repertory including featured roles in Julia Adam's A Curtain of Green and The Awakening as well as Trey McIntyre's powerful work In Dreams and Mark Godden's A Midsummer Night's Dream in which he danced the role of Bottom. He became choreographic associate  for Ballet Memphis in 2007, contributing several notable works including Carnival of the Animals, Wizard of Oz and Cinderella. This season's inaugural mainstage performance features a full evening of his work. Sponsors: Cecile and Fred Nowak; Mr. and Mrs. William Rudner

 
LILIANA MULBACH (Dancer) comes to Ballet Memphis from Oregon Ballet Theatre. She trained on full-merit scholarship at the School of Oregon Ballet Theatre, as well as the Pacific Artist Dance Center, the Faubourg School of Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. Liliana has danced notable roles in Christopher Stowell's Swan Lake, Balanchine's Nutcracker, Petipa's Paquita, Lars Lubovich's Rhapsody in Blue, and many others. This is her first season with Ballet Memphis. Sponsors: Janet and Art Seessel

JULIE NIEKRASZ (Dancer) is in her fifth season with Ballet Memphis. She has danced the role of Cinderella, Clara in Nutcracker, the Princess in Joseph Jefferies' Little Mermaid, and Hermia in Mark Godden's A Midsummer Night's Dream. She also has danced in Trey McIntyre's Reassuring Effects of Form and Poetry, The Barramundi, The Naughty Boy and Pork Songs. Julie represented Ballet Memphis this past summer as a member of the Sr. U.S. team at the International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland. Before joining Ballet Memphis, Julie trained at the School of Ballet Chicago under the direction of Daniel Duell and Patricia Blair and danced with Milwaukee Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet II and North Carolina Dance Theatre. Julie is a teacher in the Ballet Memphis School and is a volunteer at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital. She is from Arlington Heights, Ill. Sponsors: Deborah and Bob Craddock; Trish and Richard Spore

JONATHAN POWELL (Dancer) has danced the roles of the Nutcracker Prince and the Cavalier in the Nutcracker, Stepsister in Cinderella, and the role of the Writer in Mark Godden's A Midsummer Night's Dream. He has performed works by Trey McIntyre, including The Reassuring Effects of Form and Poetry, In Dreams, The Naughty Boy, The Barramundi, Pork Songs, and as one of the three Graces in Grace.  He grew up on both coasts and the Midwest, and joined the company in 2003. Sponsors: Ms. Dorothy Kirsch; Al and Janet Lyons

BRANDON RAMEY (Dancer) is in his first season with Ballet Memphis and comes to us from the San Francisco Ballet School, where he studied on full merit scholarship. Other training includes Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Boston Ballet School and the Dancing Arts Center. He has performed in Helgi Tomasson's The Nutcracker, in Lew Christiansen's Concerto Grosso, in Balanchine's Stars and Stripes, in Melinda Howe's Americana Highlights, and others.

JANE REHM (Dancer) trained at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School and San Francisco Ballet School before joining Ballet Memphis. Since then, she has danced leading roles in Trey McIntyre's Grace and In Dreams, and in Julia Adam's Crossing and The Awakening. She also has enjoyed performing in Garrett Ammon's Short Trip Home and Mediate, and in Mark Godden's Angels in the Architecture. In addition, she has created several new choreographic works for Ballet Memphis and the Ballet Memphis Junior Company. She is from Perrysburg, Ohio, and joined the company in 2001. Sponsors: Drs. Cathy (Chapman) and George Woodbury

RACHEL SHUMAKE (Dancer) joined Ballet Memphis as the pinnacle to her dance instruction with the Ballet Memphis School. She has performed in Trey Mcintyre's Touched and Grace, Julia Adam's Seven Threads and Mark Godden's A Midsummer Night's Dream. Last season Rachel was featured in Steven McMahon's Off Kilter and as the Dew Drop Fairy in the Nutcracker.  Rachel is a teaching artist for Ballet Memphis' Educational Enrichment program and is a certified instructor at the Pilates Centre of Ballet Memphis. She is from Olive Branch, Miss., and joined the company in 2002. Sponsors: Carla and James Plunkett
 

SCOTT SPIVEY (Dancer) joined Ballet Memphis in 2007. Since joining Ballet Memphis, Scott has appeared in Trey McIntyre's Grace and Pork Songs, Julia Adam's Seven Threads, Allegro Brillante, and the Nutcracker Prince in Nutcracker. Scott represented Ballet Memphis this past summer as a member of the Sr. U.S. team at the International Ballet Competition in Helsinki, Finland. In 2004 Scott won the best male dancer at the American Ballet Competition and received an invitation to Victor Ullate Ballet in Madrid, Spain, where he danced for six months. Scott danced with Orlando Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet before joining Ballet Memphis. He has danced the Pink Boy in Gerald Arpino's Confetti and received acclaim for his solo in Lacrymosa, both danced with the Joffrey. Sponsors: Martha Ann and Weldon Phelps

STACIE WILLIAMS (Dancer) joined Ballet Memphis in 2008. She has danced in several original works created for Ballet Memphis, including Momentum, AbunDANCE and Connections: Food. Stacie received her training at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, under the direction of David Holladay and Patricia Wilde. She also attended the School of American Ballet, San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet and Houston Ballet Academy. While attending Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, she performed with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in Giselle, A Midsummer Night's Dream, The Nutcracker, The Wilde Years, and with the Pittsburgh Symphony. In 2002, at the age of 17, Stacie joined Dance Theatre of Harlem's Dancing Through Barriers ensemble and became a company member the following year, touring nationally and internationally. In 2005, Stacie joined Ballet NY, where she performed roles in Balanchine's Who Cares?, Jodi Gates' Now and Again, Stanton Welch's Orange and Thaddeus Davis' Capricious Chase and Fervent Nights. Stacie holds a B.S. in organizational administration and is a certified yoga teacher. Sponsors: Drs. M. Teresa Brooks and Thane Duncan

LAUREN BODENHEIMER (Trainee) is a recent graduate of the Ballet Memphis School and has danced in a number of Ballet Memphis professional and Junior Company productions including Nutcracker, Steven McMahon's Cinderella and Nicole Corea's Resolute, among others. She also has studied at the Oxford Ballet School and has done summer intensives at the Harid Conservatory, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Orange County Ballet and The Rock School. This is Lauren's first season as a trainee with Ballet Memphis.

CLAIRE ANN RIEBE (Trainee) was most recently at the Milwaukee Ballet Company following her training with the Milwaukee Ballet School. She has done summer intensives at Houston Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet and the Joffrey Ballet Workshop. She has performed in Sleeping Beauty, La Bayadere, Nutcracker, Don Quixote and many others. This is Claire's first season with Ballet Memphis.

MARY JANE WARD (Trainee) comes to Ballet Memphis from Ballet West in Salt Lake City. She trained at the North Carolina School of the Arts, at Eagle Performing Arts Center and at the Eugene School of Ballet. Notable performances include The Tempest, Stars and Stripes, Giselle, Scheherezade and The Nutcracker, among others. This is her first season with Ballet Memphis.

Dancer and trainee sponsorships are still available. Please call Roger Johnson, Director of Development for Ballet Memphis, at (901) 737-7322 for more information.