We missed our dancers all summer, and here are some of the interesting things they were doing!

Kennedy Ballard and Iori Araya represented Ballet Memphis in Japan at the Ballet Ensemble Gala in Osaka. Iori was so proud to perform in her home country with other beautiful professional dancers from all over the world!

Iori also was a guest teacher at Northwest Florida Ballet for their annual 4 week summer intensives working alongside two former dancers of Ballet Memphis, Rafael Ferreras and Sergio Masero.

Darcy McLoughlin spent two weeks at Jacob's Pillow dancing with the Contemporary Ballet Performance Ensemble directed by renowned choreographer Annabelle Lopez Ochoa. She also spent 3 weeks in Orange County, California, dancing with the National Choreographers Initiative where she met new Ballet Memphis company member Sean Sessions.

Photo credit Chris Duggan, Courtesy of Jacobs Pillow

Cecily Khuner and Phoebe Magna danced with Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance this summer. Over a period of five weeks they rehearsed and performed Heather Maloy's Appalachian Phoenix, honoring the heroes of Hurricane Helene, and other works in both Winston-Salem and Asheville.

Phoebe also taught students at The Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts in Connecticut.

Emilia Sandoval went to Los Angeles to work with Mike Tyus & Co. in his Choreographic Lab and visited lots of friends while in California.

Photo by Jonathan Amado

Wyatt Pendleton starred in the Playhouse on the Square production of A Bronx Tale, got married to our amazing Pilates + Wellness manager Jessie Tretter, and then they both visited Dollywood together!

This summer Cassie Thoms worked with Penny Saunders and Jenny Barlow on a production of An American in Paris for The Ruth in Pleasant Grove, Utah. She really enjoyed exploring the musical theater side of the arts and working with both Penny and the cast as a dance captain for the rehearsal process.

Photo credit Brighton Sloan Photography