Fort Bend Academy of Dance

We are excited about our upcoming season. Classes begin Monday, August 19! We would love to assist you in finding the perfect dance class for your dancer. Call us at 281-277-5735 or email us at [email protected].

Summer Intensive 2024
Meet our staff: Kayla Hyde

Kayla Hyde is a former student at Fort Bend Academy of Dance and a BalletForte alum. Ms. Hyde is a graduate from Sam Houston State University with a dance degree. Professionally, Kayla has danced throughout the Houston area most notably with NobleMotion Dance. Kayla can also be seen onstage in BalletForte’s “The Nutcracker” as Dr. Drosselmeyer. Ms. Hyde also shares her talents by instructing fitness classes and managing studios. Kayla directs Fort Bend Academy of Dance’s Jazz and Contemporary program which features her choreography.

Summer Intensive 2024
Meet our staff: Erin Duncan

Erin Duncan was born and trained in the Twin Cities area of Minnesota. She started her 10 year career with the Atlanta Ballet under Robert Barnett where she was so honored to dance Balanchine's Nutcracker, Stars and Stripes, Concerto Barocco, and Theme and Variations. During her career she has the privilege of working with such wonderful teachers Victoria Simon, Sir Fredric Franklin, Moscely Larkin, Ivan Nagy, Helen Starr, Robert Barnett and Alun Jones. Ms. Duncan's favorite roles to dance were Swanhilda (Coppelia), Princess Florine, (Swan Lake) Carlotta Grisi,(Pas de Quatre) Pesant pas Deux, (Giselle) and Les Corsair Pas de Deux. Ms. Duncan has choreographed pre-show performances for local youth with rave reviews in Lexington and has taught ballet throughout America and England. Ms. Duncan has been a part of Fort Bend Academy of Dance and BalletForte for 17 years!

Summer Intensive 2024
Meet our staff: Yuka Omori

Yuka Omori has extensive teaching, training and performing experiences. She has completed the Ecole Supérieure de Danse de Cannes Rosella Hightower professional dance classic division in Cannes, France. She has danced principal roles for companies such as the Oakland Ballet, Minnesota Dance Theatre, New Jersey Ballet and was selected to perform two film projects for The George Balanchine Foundation and the French Ministry of Culture. She also is a certified ballet teacher of American Ballet Theatre, Vaganova method, Progressing Ballet Technique and Pilates Mat for 13 years. She has the knowledge of Progressing Ballet Technique’s pre pointe exercises and teach those to prepare pointe students to gain strength and avoid injuries. She has completed Ballet Pro’s pointe fitting course in Birmingham, England in March, 2024.

The amazing and inspiring Stallings-Lippert! Thank you for sharing your experience and knowledge with us!

Summer Intensive 2024
Meet our faculty: Carla Stallings Lippert

Carla Stallings began her training with Marquerite Phares in Sacramento, CA. As a member of the Theater Ballet Association, a student company directed by Mrs. Phares, she attended the Pacific Regional Festival for many years. Through the Festival Carla was awarded scholarships to New York City Ballet’s School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre School. These led to her joining American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice. She soon entered the corps de ballet and was subsequently promoted to soloist. Carla went on to join Boston Ballet as a principal dancer. Her repertoire included the principal roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Sacre du Printemps, and many more. She also had the privilege of touring with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolph Nureyev, and Fernando Bujones and of working with the many up and coming choreographers that competed in the Boston Ballet’s International Choreographers Competition. Ms. Stallings-Lippert loves giving back to students through teaching, and has taught at schools and summer programs across the nation throughout her career. In addition to teaching at Severance Fresno Ballet School, Carla currently coordinates and teaches for American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive program in Tuscaloosa, AL, and is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher for Pre-Primary through Level VII. She also has co-directed the local Nutcracker for 10 years with over 100 students involved. Having danced with many great artists and performed a great many roles and variations in her career, Carla takes special joy in coaching dancers in the classical repertoire and helping them reach their personal best both artistically and technically.

The legendary and incomparable CROSS!

I hope everyone is coping with the situation the best they can. This challenge will be behind us all soon enough.

Update: The studio had a little flooding. The flooded bits have been cleaned up, but there's still work to do.

We will resume classes on Thursday, July 11. Thank you for your patience.

For the safety of our students and staff, Fort Bend Academy of Dance will be closed Monday, July 8. Classes will resume Tuesday, July 9.

Mini Intensive 2024
Meet our Instructors: Jasmine Burelsmith

Originally from the greater Houston area, Ms. Burelsmith has been dancing since age three- beginning in ballet and branching to new movement practices ever since. She is an alum of Ft. Bend Academy of Dance and BalletForte. Ms. Burelsmith recently graduated from Florida State University (FSU) with a BFA in Dance and minors in Art History and General Business, where she trained with Jawole Willa Jo Zollar, Gwen Welliver, Kara Wilkes, Ilana Goldman, Tim Glenn, and many more.

While at FSU, she had the opportunity to create and share six works: Embracing Cultural Chaos (STP&A 2022 Conference), Grumble (FSU Days of Dance 2023, Open Doors North America 2023, & ACDA South Gala 2024), Off (FSU The Lab Vol. 6), Lil’ Derivative (FSU Days of Dance 2024), This Busted Dish (FSU Days of Dance 2024), & Quarter-life (FSU Senior Capstone 2024). Moreover, she is thankful to have danced with The Tallahassee Ballet in the 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 seasons for the corps de ballet and honored to have performed soloist roles. Beyond that, she had the opportunity to re-stage her work Dada on The Tallahassee Ballet as a part of their immersive art showcase, Intimate. Ms. Burelsmith also recently completed an administrative internship with Battery Dance while completing the FSU Arts in NYC Program and is looking forward to beginning the Disney College Program at Walt Disney World this Fall.

Mini Intensive 2024
Meet our Instructors: Gabrielle Mock
Gabrielle Mock is from Sugar Land, TX where she received her dance training at Fort Bend Academy of Dance. She was a member of BalletForte and was the 2021 Regional Dance America Southwest Outstanding Classical Soloist. Currently, she is pursuing a BFA in Dance Performance at Butler University. She has had the privilege of working under Marek Cholewa, Rosanna Ruffo, Susan McGuire, and Derek Reid in Butler Ballet productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, and MidWinter productions. She has received summer training at American Ballet Theatre, The Rock School for Dance Education, Philadelphia Ballet, Oklahoma City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, and Nevada Ballet Theatre. Gabrielle is looking forward to working with the dancers this summer!

BalletForte presents Don Quixote April 6 @ 7:00pm & April 7 @ 2:00pm at the Stafford Centre. Tickets start @ $17.50 with $10 tickets for students, seniors, and military. Get your tickets today at balletforte.org. 281-799-7554

Based on Cervantes' iconic Spanish novel, Don Quixote weaves a splendid tapestry of love, illusion, daring, and adventure. Gypsies, matadors, and windmills result in a profusion of excitement, humor, and family fun.

Out of an abundance of caution, Fort Bend Academy of Dance will be closed Monday (1/15/24) & Tuesday (1/16/24) due to potential severe weather. We will resume classes Wednesday (1/17/24).

Stay safe,

Fort Bend Academy of Dance

Summer Intensive 2023: What an amazing experience to absorb the artistry of Mr. Keith Cross.

Classes begin tomorrow! There's still time to enroll for the Fall!

We're excited to see our dancers back in the studio!

Fort Bend Academy of Dance Dance studio

We loved Yuka Omori's attention to details.

We loved having Fara Scuilli-Bowen share her passion for teaching!

We look forward to the upcoming season with you! 😄

Fort Bend Academy of Dance Dance studio

Mini Intensive - Day 2

Mini Intensive - Day 1

Classes are canceled this evening, 1/24/23, due to weather. Classes will resume tomorrow.

BalletForte presents The Nutcracker

December 9-11 @ The Stafford Centre

Purchase tickets @ www.balletforte.org

The holidays will soon be upon us, and what better way to celebrate the season than to experience BalletForte’s production of The Nutcracker. Join Clara as she encounters rowdy rats, menacing mice, stalwart soldiers, and the ballet’s namesake the notable Nutcracker.

BalletForte presents En Avante featuring new works by Artistic Director Michael Banigan as well as works from emerging choreographers.
Tickets on sale now.

For tickets: https://matchouston.org/events/2022/en-avant

Visit www.balletforte.org for more information, or call 281-799-7554