LDF Ballet Academy

Just WOW!!

Thankfully for amazing public in Korea 🙏🏻🙌🏻
With amazing team 🙌🏻❤️

Tomorrow 2 shows program B

Photo from stage rehearsal
Photographer .productions

We are so proud of LDF Faculty Member Samantha Koon for being selected to teach and choreograph for the 2022 Ballet Under the Stars!!!

Exciting Week at LDF!! Nutcracker Lead Parts Audition Thursday, August 11th 5:00-8:30.

So proud of Amelia and Lilly!!! First pair of pointe shoes!!!

We are so excited to welcome back Rose Bolar to our LDF Summer Intensive!! Rose is a faculty member of the LDF Ballet Academy throughout the year!! Rose’s high standards in classical details as well as her ability to help students find their artistry and style makes her an outstanding teacher!! Rose will be teaching ballet, pointe, and ballet repertoire.

Kentucky native. Rose trained with Wilmore Christian Ballet before training with the Kentucky Ballet Theatre. Rose has attended summer intensives at Next Generation Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet on scholarship and was invited to join their trainee program at both schools. Her junior year of high school, she was one of the 24 students accepted into the Kentucky Governor’s School for the Arts for dance. After graduating, Rose joined the company at Kentucky Ballet Theatre as a trainee. She has performed variations from Paquita, Pharoh’s Daughter, Le Corsaire, Raymonda, The Nutcracker, Coppelia, and Sleeping Beauty as well as danced in the Corp de Ballet in Carmen, Dracula, The Little Mermaid and others. While at Kentucky Ballet Theatre, she was trained to teach the Cuban method of ballet under Rafaela Risco. Rose has been a staff member with Lexington Dance Factory for two years and is excited to continue with the academy this summer.

We are excited to welcome Lauren Harshbarger to our LDF Summer Intensive. Lauren was LDF Ballet Academy's first "Clara!" Lauren's natural talent as a student was matched with her work ethic, dedication and gifted level of learning!! Lauren will be teaching ballet and ballet repertoire.
Lauren Harshbarger has been a dance teacher at Lexington Dance Factory for five years now. She is from Lexington and is currently working on her Doctorate of Physical Therapy at the University of Kentucky. Lauren graduated in December 2020 from the University of Kentucky College of Health Sciences with a Human Health Sciences major on the Pre-Physical Therapy track with a minor in dance. She was also honored to graduate from the Lewis Honors College. Lauren began dancing at age 3 and danced with LDF all the way through high school. She is a Dance Masters of America Certified Active Member. Some of her favorite roles she performed with LDF were as Clara in LDF’s first production of the Nutcracker, Princess Annalise in the Princess and the Pauper, Princess Fallon in the 12 Dancing Princesses, and Snow Queen, Arabian Lead, and Rose Doll in the Nutcracker.

We are excited to welcome Joshua Andrew Stayton to our LDF Ballet Academy Intensive!! Mr. Stayton has been our guest teacher this spring at LDF. His knowledge, attention to details and respect for the art of ballet is admirable!! Mr. Stayton will be teaching ballet, mens class and partnering.
Originally from Cincinnati, Joshua began his training at the School for Creative and Performing Arts. He then continued with the Orlando Ballet School (Peter Stark) and Houston Ballet II (Claudio Muñoz). Joshua has been a Demi-Soloist Sarasota Ballet as well as a soloist with Tulsa Ballet. This is his second season with Cincinnati Ballet. Some of his repertoire includes leading roles in The Green Table (Joos), Onegin( Cranko), Strictly Gershwin (Deane), Concerto (MacMillian), Mirror Walkers (Sir Wright), Age of Innocence (Liang), Bolero (Fonte), Midsummer (Wheeldon), One/end/One (Elo), Sleeping Beauty (Angelini), Romeo & Juliet (Liang), Extremely Close (Cerrudo), and more. Joshua has performed internationally in Hungary, Italy, Finland, Spain and Switzerland. He has also had the opportunity to choreograph for Tulsa Ballet’s second company, DeLa Dance Company, SCPA’s Dance Ensemble and for Helsinki IBC 2016.

We are so excited to welcome Samantha Koon to our ballet intensive this year!! We are so blessed to have Samantha on the faculty of LDFBA. Samantha has shown beautiful creativity, knowledge and care for our students. Dancers will learn by simply watching her as she dances!! Samantha will be teaching ballet, pointe, and contemporary.
Ms. Samantha Koon was born in TN, and since the age of 3 months, raised all over the US growing up and now resides in Lexington, KY.
Samantha has always had a love for teaching and choreographing and has done both for places such as GSA Kentucky, Kentucky Ballet Theatre, Lexington Dance Factory, Wi******er Christian Ballet, Lexington Catholic Dance Team, and most recently, the Ballet Under the Stars productions.
She has been dancing since she was 10 years old. She has studied and been invited to study at numerous ballet schools across the country, such as American Ballet Theatre, Indianapolis Ballet, Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre and the Wilmington Ballet. Upon graduating she joined Kentucky Ballet Theatre for one season as a company member and has never looked back since becoming a full-time teacher/choreographer.
Along with teaching and choreographing, she has found joy in working as a photographer, music editor, and video editor. This has opened many doors for her and hopes to do more in the future!

We are so excited to welcome back Melanie Biggs to our LDF Ballet Intensive this year. Director of SS&P business and festival, LDFBA Faculty Member and the mother of 3 fantastic dancers...she is one busy lady!! Melanie's direct, warm teaching style and work ethic cannot be matched!! We are thrilled to have her teach ballet conditioning and contemporary at our Intensive!!!
Melanie Biggs
Ms. Melanie Biggs was born and raised in Northeastern Kentucky and now resides in Lexington, KY. She has a BA in Communications and Psychology with a minor in Elementary Education from George Mason University. She has been dancing since age 4 and studied at Tammy Jo’s Studio, in Greenup, Ky, under the teaching of Ms. Leah Copley Summers & Tammy Jo Edge. Melanie is a former competitive and performing dancer with a variety of experiences, including both individual and competitive team exposures. Her High School Dance Team – Greenup Co. - won the Nationals Dance Team Title in 1992. Melanie previously taught dance at LDF and sadly, due to health concerns, was unable to continue teaching full time as of 2017. In 2019 and 2020, Melanie taught dance at a local homeschool coop to a smaller group of students. She has been homeschooling for 11 years and is currently teaching 7th grade to her 13-year-old duaghter Lauren. Eric, 14, attends SCAPA as a ballet major and Isaac, 16, attends Frederick Douglas HS. All 3 of them dance at LDF and aspire to dance professionally.
Melanie focuses on the perspective that as a dancer, performer, and artist it is imperative that one trains properly and safely, while also having fun! She believes conditioning is a critical part of a dancer’s regimen and part of that is working on increasing confidence and answering the question – ‘Why do you dance?’ During the lockdown period during Covid-19, Ms. Melanie adapted and redefined a new way to both motivate and encourage our children to dance and condition and SS&P emerged! She reintroduced her Conditioning Class for dancers and is now available both virtually and in person! Melanie also designed her Foot Work Class to help strengthen and increase flexibility in the feet, toes, ankle, and calves. Stretch, Strengthen and Plie is a solution to the much-needed interaction, instruction, and feedback your dancer needs, gaining strength and flexibility - in the body and mind - in the comfort of your home, on the go or in the studio. She is also teaching classes in central and northeastern Kentucky.
Ms. Melanie expanded SS&P and offered the 1st annual Dance Festival in the spring of 2021 in Lexington, KY. She hosted the 2nd annual Dance Festival in May of 2022, offering a variety of master classes, guest artists, competition, and a showcase performance with almost 300 dancers from Beckley, WVA, Huntington, WVA, Wi******er, KY, Frankfort, KY and Lexington, KY.

We are thrilled to welcome Cookie Samsworth to our LDF Ballet Intensive this year. I have had the pleasure to see Cookie's beautiful choreography and her amazing rapport she has with students.
Cookie will be teaching ballet and contemporary!!
Cookie Samworth, Arts in Action’s Artistic Director; Masterpiece Dance Artistic Director; Master Ambition Touring Company, Choreographer & Artistic Director Cookie Samworth studied under master teachers for over 30 years and is dedicated to teaching the art of dance in excellence. Cookie began teaching for the Masterpiece dance program in 2001 with a teaching style that inspires and develops each student to their full potential. She began serving as artistic director in 2003. Cookie is known for her exceptional choreography in numerous genres of dance and productions. She has been awarded countless awards for choreography and given the title of Top Teacher at a variety of competition performances. The original works that she choreographs for individual, duo, trio, and groups are received with overwhelming accolades. She choreographed two original pieces to perform with Landau Eugene Murphy, 2012 winner of America’s Got Talent, which were performed live with Landau at the Clay Center Gala. Her performance credits include touring with the Nutcracker, appearing in Comic Relief with Radar of Mash, touring with the well-known Stars of Tomorrow, dancing in Times Square, New York with Project Dance, and performing on Daystar Television Network to name a few.

We are excited to welcome Danielle Dunmire this year to our LDF Ballet Intensive. Dani joined the LDFBA Faculty this past season and we are thrilled to have her teaching at our intensive!!!
Danielle Dunmire, a California native, started her formal dance training as a student in the prestigious Ballet San Jose School under the direction of Donna Delsini and Lise La Cour. Dani’s love for ballet continued to grow through watching and performing with Ballet San Jose's professional ballet company as well as attending summer intensives around the US including the American Academy of Ballet, Princeton Dance Theater (under the direction of Susan Jaffe), and Alonzo King's Lines Ballet. After performing as the lead in Ballet San Jose School’s production of The Little Mermaid when she was sixteen, Dani became a trainee with the professional company, Ballet San Jose, under the direction of Dennis Nahat. While there, Ms. Dunmire had the opportunity to perform corps roles in the Nutcracker, Giselle, Firebird, Swan Lake, A Mid Summer Night's Dream and Romeo and Juliet. After graduating from high school, Ms. Dunmire attended The University of California - Irvine where her passion for performing, teaching and entertaining grew. She graduated with a B.F.A. in Dance Performance and a minor in Business Management.
Following her diploma, Danielle Dunmire was a guest artist and teacher at many dance studios throughout the San Francisco Bay Area before becoming a dancer on Celebrity Cruises where she performed in production shows, was a magician’s assistant, and led weekly ballroom classes. After her time working on the ship, Dunmire toured with the Utah Ballroom Dance Company as the dance captain where she performed and taught across the United States. Dunmire ventured into the competitive ballroom scene, winning many competitions in the Theater Arts/Cabaret ballroom category. Danielle Dunmire now lives in Lexington, Kentucky where she continues to dance, perform and teach within the commercial and concert dance world as well as owns First Dance Lexington. You can also find Danielle Dunmire coaching the Frederick Douglass High School

We are so excited to have MaShawn Morton with us for the first time at our LDF Summer Intensive. MaShawn will be teaching Jazz, Musical Theatre, Contemporary and Hip Hop.
Bio:
MaShawn Morton originally from West Virginia. Studied Dance at Point Park University (BFA/Conservatory Of Performing Arts). He has worked on/in shows such as Spider-Man: Turn Off The Dark (B'way workshop), West Side Story (B'way/World Tour), Cinderella starring Lea Salonga (Original Cast Recording. “Jubilee” at Bally’s Las Vegas. “Jan Rouven’s Illusions” at Tropicana Las Vegas.

Inaugural casts for Princess Cruises (Majestic Princess; second cast Sky Princess) and Holland America Cruise Lines.

Regional Theater: Hairspray, The Wiz, West Side Story, The King and I, Grease, etc.

(Actors Equity Association)

Commercial work includes Ariana Grande, Mary J Blige, Heather Smalls, Taylor Dane and Britney Spears. He has worked extensively in NYC, LA, and Las Vegas!

Kind Regards,
MaShawn Morto

💕💕💕

We are so excited to welcome back Brienne Wiltsie Keener to our LDF Intensive 2022!!!! We have a few spots left!!! Please sign up on the link on our Flyer!!!

Brienne Wiltsie Keehner grew up in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and danced professionally with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s company for two seasons after training in both their high school and graduate training programs. Favorite memories of performing in her hometown include Swan Lake and Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs. Her love of being on stage then brought Brienne to Louisville, where she enjoyed performing with Louisville Ballet for two seasons (2009- 2011).

This year marks a decade of teaching in The Louisville Ballet School (2011-present). She feels incredibly fortunate to work with the Pre-Professional students and the Louisville Ballet Youth Ensemble. Brienne also became a certified Pilates instructor since moving to Kentucky, and whether teaching or practicing, she loves being involved in Louisville’s Pilates community.

Brienne returned to dancing professionally during Louisville Ballet's 2018-2019 Season under the artistic direction of Robert Curran. She has treasured every minute of being back on stage, and is especially grateful for the opportunity to take on the role of Odette in Robert Curran's Swan Lake, Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade, and the Principal Lady in Jerome Robbins' In G Major.

We are so excited to welcome back Michael Crawford to our LDF Summer Dance Intensive!! Michael will be teaching ballet, partnering, Mens Class, Musical Teatre and Contemporary!!!

Michael began dancing with prestigious schools, including the Maryland Youth Ballet and Kirov Academy, with summer intensives at The Rock School and San Francisco Ballet on full scholarships. In his senior year, he was accepted into the Kennedy Center’s Master Class Series, where he trained and performed with top international companies. Mr. Crawford then moved on to the Washington Ballet where, in their top training program, where he performed with the company under the direction of Septime Webre. Upon graduation, he went on to study and perform in the Professional Division of The Pacific Northwest Ballet under the direction of Kent Stowell and Francia Russell. After Pacific Northwest Ballet, he danced with Dance Theatre of Harlem, Jose Mateo Ballet, Ballet Memphis, American Repertory Ballet, Connecticut Ballet, and Oakland Ballet. At these companies, he performed several ballets as a principal artist. He has been privileged to work alongside top productions, such as “Guys and Dolls," "West Side Story," "Show Boat," and other musical performances at The Kennedy Center, as well as touring many other international stages. He has also worked as a principal guesting with The Washington National Opera, Adam Miller Dance Project, Kinetic Dance Works, and Brooklyn Ballet. While signed with New York Model Management, Mr. Crawford had the honor to internationally campaign. He has walked in several seasons of NYC Fashion Week. He also appeared in the feature film "Step Up" and can be seen on television in ABC’s production of “Forever.” Michael is also an award-winning teacher and choreographer. He has been teaching and choreographing nationally and internationally for over 10 years. He has coached many prize-winning students for competitions, such as Youth America Grand Prix, NYC Dance Alliance, and The Dance Awards.

Some fun photos from the Monday Night Photo Shoot!! Great job photographer Samantha Koon and Models Abigail Henz, Jacob Henz, Sakura Yamash*ta, Shelby Allman, Brooklyn Masharbash, Chloe McFarland, and Katie Getding!!

We are so excited to have Mr. Jerry Rose with us for our LDF Summer Intensive! Mr. Rose will be teaching ballet, partnering, Men’s class and Creative Movement!! He is a true Master in his profession and we are honored to have him with us!!! Message us for LDF Intensive information!!!

We have the most amazing faculty for our 2022 intensive. We are so honored to have Jerry Rose Beckley Dance Theatre, National Master Teacher, Michael Crawford, Broadway Dance Center, National Master Teacher, Brienne Wiltsie Keehner from Louisville Ballet, Joshua Andrew Stayton Cincinnati Ballet, MaShawn Morton, Marshall University, Cookie Cantrell Samworth Arts in Action, Sarah Elizabeth Henderson, Former Director of Gloria Deo Performing Arts, Rose Bolar, Danielle Dunmire, Lauren Harshbarger, Melanie Jo Biggs, Samantha Koon LDF Ballet Academy,and Physical Therapist Ellen Ward!! Don’t miss out on this amazing week!!! Please follow the directions on the flyer to sign up!! Please message me if you would like more information. 😀

Saturday morning conditioning with Ms. Melanie.

Congratulations Sakura Yamash*ta for Scoring the Highest at both SS&P and MADI Competition!!! Congratulations to Jamie Harvener for his amazing choreography " The Girl and the Geese!!"

So proud of these students and their accomplishments this Spring!!!
LDFBA Student Recognition
MADI Awards
Sakura Yamash*ta $600 Cash Award Highest Score of the Adjudication “ MADI” Award $375 Scholarship to Ohio University Summer Dance Institute, Accepted to James Madison University Summer Intensive $450 Scholarship to Radford University Dance Intensive
Lauren Biggs: $2250 Scholarship Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive New York City $300 Scholarship to the Cosmopolitan Ballet at Julliard
Lillian Dedman $225 Scholarship The Academy of the Arts At January’s Summer Intensive
Ashlyn Douglas $225 Scholarship The Academy of the Arts At January’s Summer Intensive
Amya Dever$225 Scholarship The Academy of the Arts At January’s Summer Intensive
Chloe McFarland $100 Cash Award $300 Scholarship to Cosmopolitan Ballet Theatre at Julliard Acceptance to James Madison Summer Dance Intensive.
Madelyn Gambrel $100 Cash Award $200 Scholarship to James Madison University Dance Intensive $300 Scholarship to Cosmopolitan Ballet at Julliard
Brooklyn Masharbash Acceptance to Cosmopolitan at Julliard
Shelby Allman Accepted to the Cosmopolitan at Julliard
Kori Harris Accepted to the Cosmopolitan at Julliard
SS&P Awards
GRAND CHAMPION – Sakura Yamash*ta – GIRL AND THE GEESE - $500
BALLET SOLO – Taro Yamash*ta - GRAND PAS CLASSIQUE - $50
BALLET DUET – Sakura & Taro Yamash*ta - FLAMES OF PARIS - $60
BALLET TRIO/SMALL GROUP – Alaina Sandlin, Amelia Story, & Bonnie Speck - RAYMONDA ACT III Pas De Trios - $60
CONTEMPORARY SOLO – Taro Yamash*ta - REFLECTION - $50
CONTEMPORARY SMALL GROUP – Mia Tackett, Bonnie Speck, Amelia Story, & Anna Grace Bennett – CASTLE - $50
JAZZ/MUSIC THEATRE SOLO – Anna Grace Bennett – GLAMOROUS - $50
JAZZ/MUSIC THEATRE DUET – Bonnie Speck & Amelia Story - I WANNA DANCE WITH SOMEBODY - $60
JAZZ/MUSIC THEATRE SMALL GROUP – Margaret Hoch, Kiley Swentszel, & Adalyn Lee - SHE’S IN LOVE - $50
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SCHOLARSHIPS
Jo Jo Edmonds - $500 Scholarship to KBT Summer Intensive
Lilly Rhodes - $250 Scholarship to Beckley Dance Theatre Summer Boot Camp Intensive
Individual Awards
Congratulations Chloe McFarland for receiving the merit scholarship for the Cincinnati Ballet Intensive
Classroom Awards
Congratulations Marie Shoop for winning our Survivor Grand Prize!! Marie was awarded this because she performed her Spring Gala choreography with excellent memory and technique.
Congratulations Level 6 for winning the Gold Medal Award: This award is given to the level that memorizes and performs their Spring Gala choreography with clean techn

What an amazing night for our LDF Dancers at MADI!!! I will be honest I am not sure how many scholarships and awards our kids won!! I just kept hearing their names called for awards!!’ In the last two weekends at SS&P MADI our students have been awarded over $5000 in scholarships and cash prizes. Two major awards went to Sakura Yamash*ta for winning the highest score of the entire adjudication receiving the MADI AWARD $500 and 2 scholarships to Ohio University and Radford University and Lauren Biggs winning $2250 Scholarship to the Alvin Ailey Summer Intensive New York City. Stay tuned for the full list!! So proud of all our students!!

Woohoo!! Congratulations to our dancers that were chosen to perform in the MADI showcase!! So proud of all of our dancers for preparing pieces and taking part in this wonderful workshop.

Congratulations to our beautiful Sakura Yamash*ta for becoming the SS&P Grand Champion winning $500!!! We are so proud of you!!!💕💕💕

Love is in the air at LDF!!! Congratulations to our beautiful ballet teachers Danielle Dunmire and Samantha Koon for getting engaged to their wonderful husbands to be!! We love our Ballerina Brides at LDF and wish them the very best!!!! Let's show these ladies some LDF Love!!!!

So proud of the beautiful focus level of our academy students!!