SSBYD Dancers
Audrey Messer
Company IV
Audrey Messer is a 16-year-old senior. She extends ample gratitude to her teachers over her 14 years at State Street Ballet Academy. She has attended SSBA’s junior intensives, State Street Ballet summer intensives, The Joffrey Academy of Dance, Chicago five-week Intensive, 2023 and 2024 Ballet Alliance Festival. Favorite roles: 2021 Clara in SSB’s Nutcracker; 2022 Happy Elf in SSBA’s Rudolph; 2023 Heidi in SSBA’s Rudolph; 2024 Paris Opera Soloist in SSBA’s Tina the Ballerina and is looking forward to being the Red Doll in SSBA’s Rudolph.
Chloe Nydam
Company IV
Chloe Nydam is a 17-year-old senior at San Marcos High School. She has been dancing at SSBA since age 4. Her favorite dance styles are contemporary and modern. This past summer, she attended the Joffrey West multi-genre summer intensive in Long Beach and had an incredible experience learning new styles and techniques such as Horton, ballroom, hip hop, and lyrical. She has attended The Ballet Alliance festival every year since her freshman year of high school. Other hobbies besides dance include reading, going to the beach, playing guitar, listening to music, and hanging out with friends. She is excited to be the lead penguin and spirit of winter in Rudolph this year and is looking forward to an amazing final year in SSBYD!
Marielle Janigian
Company IV
Marielle is 17 years old and a Senior at Santa Barbara High School. She is very excited to be dancing at the company level with SSBYD this year. This past summer Marielle had the delight of attending the State Street Ballet Summer Intensive. This year she will perform in Waltz of the Flowers in the Nutcracker, and as the lead Penguin in Rudolph. When she isn’t dancing, she enjoys traveling, listening to music, and spending time with her friends and family. Marielle is very grateful for the many opportunities that SSBA has given her and is looking forward to the 2023-2024 season.
Charlotte Haimerl
Company IV
Charlotte is 16 years old, and this is her 5th year in SSBYD. Prior to joining SSBYD, she had training at Ensemble Theatre Company and performed in several theater plays. Charlotte auditioned at The Ballet Alliance and was awarded a scholarship for Kansas City Ballet’s 5 week intensive in summer of 2024. She also has attended Ballet Austin and State Street Ballet summer intensives. Charlotte was chosen to perform the role of Clara in The Nutcracker at the Granada Theatre in 2023. This is also her third year as an emerging choreographer, and she is thrilled to be a part of the SSBYD family. Other than enjoying ballet, she loves traveling and spending quality time with friends, family and her dog Marley.
Mia DiMaggio
Company IV
Mia is 16 years old and homeschools through Heartland Charter School. She has been dancing since she was three, and this is her fifth year in SSBYD. She really enjoyed dancing the role of Rudolph last year and is looking forward to another great season.
Catalina Brace
Company IV
Catalina is a sophomore at Dos Pueblos High School and has been dancing since the age of 4, beginning her training at State Street Ballet Academy. Last year, Catalina had the opportunity to perform with the company at the TBA Festival in Spokane, Washington. She has also attended the State Street Ballet Summer Intensives from 2021 to 2023, and this summer, she attended the prestigious 4-week San Francisco Ballet Summer Intensive. Last season, she played the role of Princess Barbie in Rudolph, and this year, she is excited to make her debut as Clara in The Nutcracker. Looking ahead, Catalina is eager for the 2024-2025 dance season and is incredibly grateful for the opportunities and support she receives in her dance journey.
Loma Murdy
Company IV
Loma is 15 years old and a sophomore in high school. At 3 years old, we signed her up for ballet at State Street Ballet Academy, where she has been dancing ever since. Loma has loved performing in The Nutcracker, Rudolph, and other performances where she lights up on stage. She has met so many wonderful life-long friends, instructors, and mentors through dance. She is looking forward to her fourth-year dancing with SSBYD and continuing her passion for dance.
Penelope Welsh
Company IV
Sloan Brookshire
Company IV
This is Sloan’s fourth year in SSBYD and she is so excited. Over the summer she attended the State Street Ballet summer intensive and had a wonderful time. She is so grateful to be able to perform as Heidi in Rudolph and as a princess in the Nutcracker. When she isn’t dancing, she loves to musical theater, reading, baking, and spending time with her friends. She is looking forward to another amazing year with SSBYD!
Sophie Navarro
Company IV
Sophie has been dancing with State Street Ballet Academy since she was 3 years old, and this will be her fourth year in SSBYD. This year Sophie is looking forward to being Donner in Rudolph, and an Angel in The Nutcracker. When she isn’t dancing Sophie enjoys crocheting, and spending time with her friends and family.
Vivian Smith
Company IV
Vivian Smith is a 16-year-old junior at San Marcos High School. She has danced at State Street Ballet Academy since she was 4 years old. This is her 4th year of being in SSBYD. Vivian is excited to dance the role of Charlie in the Box in this year’s Rudolph! Her favorite role so far has been dancing the role of Clarice in the previous Rudolph show in 2023. She has attended SSBA’s junior intensives and the State Street Ballet Intensive in 2022. When not dancing you can find Vivian studying or spending quality time with family, friends, or her cat Luna.
Aubrey Vowels
Company III
Aubrey Vowels is in ninth grade. She has been dancing with State Street Ballet Academy since she was 4 years old. Over her 10 years with State Street Ballet Academy, Aubrey’s favorite roles have been battle toys, little angels, lantern dancers, and party boys. When Aubrey isn’t dancing, she enjoys reading, writing, and volunteering with National Charity League. During the winter she enjoys skiing and in the summer, she spends time wakeboarding on Lake Nacimiento. She is looking forward to being a party girl in the Nutcracker and is excited to be a snowshoe hare in Rudolph.
Chanel von Yurt
Company III
Chanel von Yurt, 13 years old, loves performing, especially dancing and singing. She has been at SSBA since she was just under 2 years and trained in ballet, jazz, tap, contemporary, and musical theatre. This is her third year in the SSBYD and is honored to perform as Clara this year in the State Street Ballet Nutcracker! Chanel is happiest dancing and performing in front of an audience. Chanel had the privilege of performing Teen Aurora in Sleeping Beauty at the Granada Theatre, danced in Rudolph, The Nutcracker, the spring performances and SSBYD summer camps and State Street Ballet Summer Intensive. Chanel is grateful to her teachers for their continued guidance and instruction as she looks forward to a future in dance.
Cooper Kuzminski
Company III
Cooper is a 13-year-old dancer at State Street ballet Academy. She has been dancing there since three years old, and has never stopped loving it. This year, Cooper is excited to be able to dance as Yukon in Rudolph, and a party girl and angel nutcracker. She also takes jazz and contemporary class and loves those as well. In her free time, Cooper loves to read, draw, and cook. She’s a seventh grader at Glade Valley junior high and taking classes there. She loves animals and has a pet dog name Lena Loo and a cat named Jupiter. She can’t wait to be in Company 3 this year!
Lillian Kanard
Company III
Lillian is in 8th grade and has been dancing with State Street Ballet Academy since moving to Santa Barbara in 2017. This year, she is excited to perform in The Nutcracker as a party girl and an angel and in Rudolph as a snowshoe hare. In addition to dance, Lillian enjoys playing the viola with SB Strings, participating in Cotillon with her friends, and playing with her adorable dog, Hazel.
Lillian Milazzo
Company III
Lillian is enjoying 8th grade at Santa Barbara Middle School and Company 3 with SSBYD. This year she is excited to be a party girl in the Nutcracker and an Ice Fairy as well as Reindeer in Rudolph. She has been dancing with SSBA for almost 4 years and is starting her second year with SSBYD. She is so grateful for the teaching and community at State Street Ballet and can’t wait for another year!
Lucia Deslippe
Company III
Lucia is 14 years old and in the 8th Grade. She has been dancing since she was just 3 yrs old. This is her 2nd year with SSBYD and her 5th year at SSBA. She enjoys dancing many different styles of dance including Ballet, Jazz, Contemporary, and Tap. Lucia is looking forward to performing her long-awaited roll as a party girl in the Nutcracker this year. When she isn’t dancing or choreographing, you can find her reading, sewing, crocheting, playing cello in her honors orchestra, Girl Scouts, and volunteering at the local bunny shelter. She wishes everyone a wonderful dance season.
Mireille Brenninkmeyer
Company III
Minnie is a freshman at Dos Pueblo’s high school. She has been dancing at SSBA since she was 4 years old. She is happiest when she is dancing and thrilled to continue her dance education. Being a dancer with SSBA has given her lifelong skills of discipline, leadership, teamwork and an appreciation for the arts. She is excited for this season’s performances.
Noelle Dogic
Company III
Noelle is 13 years old and an 8th grader at Goleta Vally junior high. This is Noelle’s 7th year dancing with SSBA and her third year in SSBYD. Noelle is looking forward to dancing the role of an Ice fairy in Rudolph and a Party Girl in the Nutcracker. This year Noelle is looking forward to going to Festival in Spokane! Outside of dance Noelle loves to read, bake, and do water and snow skiing. Noelle is grateful and excited for another fun year of improving her dancing!
Seraphina du Bourdieu
Company III
Seraphina Du Bourdieu is an 8th grader at Crane Country Day School and has been dancing since before she could walk and will continue to learn and grow in dance for many years to come. This year she is excited to be dancing the role of Clarice in Rudolph and being a party girl and an angel in the Nutcracker. She also can’t wait for the Emerging Celebration and the Spring Show. This will be her first time attending festival and she is excited for this wonderful experience that she has been waiting for. Aside from dance, she enjoys writing, crafting, singing and being with her friends and family. She is happy that she is spending another year dancing with this amazing group of people.
Sophia Poytress
Company III
Sophia is 13 years old and an 8th grader at Goleta Valley Junior High School. She has been dancing with State Street Ballet Academy since she was 6 and has done the State Street Ballet Summer Intensive for the past two years. She is very excited this year to be the role of Rudolph and in the Nutcracker as a party girl. When Sophia is not dancing, she enjoys reading, spending time with friends, and traveling with family. Sophia is looking forward to a great 3rd year of SSBYD!
Ariella Soleil Pipes
Company II
Ariella is 14 years old. Ariella has been dancing for almost 3 years. She is excited for her future in dance and plans to continue it throughout her teenage years. Her favorite role she’s danced is being an Angel in the Nutcracker. She looks forward to being in this year’s Rudolph. When she’s not dancing, she likes to draw, read, and spend time with her friends and family.
Chloe Navarro
Company II
Chloe is in her 10th year dancing at State Street Ballet Academy and her second year in SSBYD. She is very excited to be a in Rudolph and the Nutcracker this year. When Chloe is not dancing, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and her dog Mavis.
Kaitlyn Hewitt
Company II
Kaitlyn is 13 years old and goes to La Colina Jr high. She had been dancing with SSBA for 4 years, and dancing since she was 4. She’s excited to be a party boy, and reindeer at play this year, and her favorite role she’s danced was battle toys. She also loves her assisting class. When she’s not dancing, she enjoys hanging out with friends and family.
Marcella Ashlock
Company II
Marcella is 13 years old and is an eighth grader at La Colina Junior High. She has been dancing with SSBA since she was 4 years old and is excited for her second year with SSBYD. One of Marcella’s favorite roles so far has been a battle toy in The Nutcracker. This year Marcella is looking forward to being a reindeer at play in Rudolph and a party boy in The Nutcracker. When Marcella is not dancing, she enjoys going to the beach and hanging out with her family and friends.
Amanda Kabaretti
Company II
Amanda is 12 years old and a seventh grader at La Colina Jr. High. She has been dancing at State Street Ballet Academy since the age of 4 training in many styles including Ballet, Tap, Jazz, and Contemporary. She has had the privilege to perform with the professionals of SSB as “The Young Girl” in Sleeping Beauty, “A Town Girl” in Appalachian Spring, “The Changeling Child” in A Midsummer’s Night Dream, an owl in Cinderella, and a page in Firebird. This year she will be a party boy in Nutcracker and a reindeer in Rudolph. She is very excited to be part of Company II in SSBYD and is looking forward to a great year of dancing.
Bronwyn Waterfall
Company II
Mariam Mussman
Company II
Mariam Mussman is twelve years old and homeschools through Heartland Charter. She has been with SSBA for four and a half years and is excited to be in her first year of SSBYD. This year she is looking forward to playing the part of an elf and a reindeer in Rudolph and a Party Boy with her little party dog, Bo-Beau, in the Nutcracker. When she isn’t dancing, Mariam enjoys creating artwork, singing, writing, learning different languages (including French, Hebrew and Spanish) and spending time with her parents and her little sister, Orelya.
Abrah Crooks
Company I
Katharina Probstel
Company I
Kayla Malengo
Company I
Kayla is 13 years old and attends La Colina Junior High. She loves dancing, and is excited for her first year in SSBYD. She’s also excited to be a battle toy in Nutcracker, and a ice skater, misfit toy, and the winter storm in Rudolph. When she’s not dancing, she enjoys being with friends and family.
Maureen Nealon
Company I
Maureen is in 6th grade at Peabody Elementary School. She has been dancing with SSBA since she was 5 years old and this is her first year in the SSBYD. Maureen participated in the Joffrey Sun Valley Ballet program this past summer. She is looking forward to her future in dance and all the opportunities SSBYD has given her.
Mila Messer
Company I
Mila Messer has been dancing with SSBA for 10 years. She has done the SSBA junior intensives and ballet boot camp. In 2020, she was cast as little Aurora in State Street Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty. Mila dances ballet, tap, contemporary and jazz. She enjoys her teachers and friends she has made at this studio.
Molly King
Company I
Molly is 12 years old. She is a 7th grader at La Colina Jr. High. She has been dancing at State Street Ballet Academy since she was five years old. She loves all forms of dance including ballet, jazz, and contemporary. Molly is excited to be returning to the Nutcracker this year as a Battle Toy and to continue her development as a dancer through SSBYD. Outside of dance, Molly loves reading, hanging out with friends, listening to Taylor Swift and spending time with her younger brothers.
Sloane Estavillo
Company I
Sloane is thirteen years old and in seventh grade. She started dancing at age three and is now in her second year with State Street Ballet Academy. Sloane is looking forward to her roles as a Battle Toy in The Nutcracker and an Ice Skater in Rudolph. In addition to dancing, she enjoys acting, reading a good book, and camping in the woods.
Svea Johnson
Company I
Svea is 12 years old and a 7th grader at Goleta Valley Junior High. She has been dancing since age 3 and with State Street Ballet since she was 10. This is her first year in SSBYD! Svea has had the privilege of dancing as an angel, solider, misfit toy, and snowperson. She is looking forward to dancing as an ice skater in Rudolph and battle-toy in this year’s Nutcracker. When she is not dancing, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and family, cuddling with her dog Walter, and going to the beach!
Annabelle Henderson
Company I
Annabelle is an eleven-year-old sixth grader at Laguna Blanca School. She started ballet when she was 3 and has been dancing with SSBA for four years. Annabelle is so excited to be in SSBYD and can’t wait to be an ice skater in this year’s production of Rudolph! When Annabelle isn’t dancing, she enjoys reading, writing, baking, and spending time with her friends and family.
Audrey Ashlock
Company I
Audrey is 11 years old and is a 6th grader at Washington Elementary School. She has been dancing with SSBA since she was 2 years old and is excited for her first year with SSBYD. One of Audrey’s favorite roles was being a Lantern Dancer in the Nutcracker. This year she is looking forward to being an Ice Skater in Rudolph. When Audrey is not dancing, she enjoys hanging out with her friends and going to the beach.
Hannah Klemann
Company I
Hannah Klemann is 11 years old and has danced with the State Street Ballet Academy since she was five. Now in the 6th grade at Isla Vista Elementary School, Hannah is excited about her first year with the State Street Ballet Young Dancers. She looks forward to playing a soldier in The Nutcracker. Outside the dance studio, Hannah plays Mrs. Potts in her school’s production of Beauty and the Beast Junior, practices piano, and participates in math club.
Makenzie Bloom
Company I
Makenzie is 12 years old and in 6th grade. She moved to Santa Barbara from Colorado in 2020 and was thrilled to begin dancing at State Street Ballet Academy. This year, she is very excited to perform as a soldier in The Nutcracker and an ice skater in Rudolph. When she is not dancing, Makenzie enjoys singing, playing piano, and competing in tennis tournaments. She also loves reading, skiing, and having fun with her family.
Margot Sanchez
Company I
Margot is 12 years old and is in 7th grade at La Colina Junior High. She has been dancing with SSBA since she was 3. This is her 10th year dancing at State Street Ballet and her first year in SSBYD. She enjoys dancing in many styles including ballet, jazz, contemporary, and musical theatre. Margot has been in many shows with SSBA including “Tina the Ballerina,” “Alice in Wonderland,” “Rudolph,” “Thumbelina,” and “The Nutcracker.” She is excited to be a skater in “Rudolph” and a soldier in “The Nutcracker.” She is looking forward to her future in dance!
Sunny Siemens
Company I
Sunny is 11 years old and is currently a sixth grader at Crane Country Day School. She has been dancing with State Street Ballet since she was 2 years old. Sunny is very excited to be a soldier in the Nutcracker and an Ice Skater in Rudolph this year. When she isn’t dancing, she enjoys reading, traveling with her family, and spending time with friends. Sunny is so excited to be a part of SSBYD!