Rebecca Van Briggle – Owner and Artistic Director – Instructor
Rebecca VanBriggle (Miss Becky) received her training at the Jordan College of Dance Non-collegiate Division of Butler University. She started ballet lessons at the age of 4 and was chosen by the Bolshoi Ballet to perform with them along with her teacher Jack Copeland in the ballet, “Ballet School” when the company toured the US in 1969. As a young student, “Angel” as Rebecca was nicknamed by the Bolshoi performers, performed frequently with the Butler Ballet under George Verdak. Other teachers include ballet teachers: Peggy Dorsey, Collette Kaufman, Rebecca Rutt, Avril Johns and Linda Kelso (tap), Dean Jones (jazz), Rob Jenkins (ballroom), Michelle Buchannan (modern).
Miss Becky opened her first studio Rebecca’s School of Dance on the west side of Indianapolis and also taught at Tippy Toes School of Dance where she was instrumental in helping to establish the Indianapolis Youth Ballet Company. Upon moving to Noblesville, Miss Becky established Ballerinas Academy of Dance and has thoroughly enjoyed her newfound dance family. Her students have been accepted to collegiate dance major programs and world class summer intensives, become successful teachers, award winning choreographers and members of professional dance companies. Miss Becky’s desire to train well rounded dancers, has led to a diverse and challenging program for students at Ballerinas.
Being part of her students life journey and seeing them develope into contributing members of society, whether or not they continue dancing after leaving Ballerinas, is what brings her the most joy. Having so many students who have been successful in their pursuit of a career in dance and seeing them live thier dance dreams, is icing on the cake!
Caroline Van Briggle – Assistant Director – Instructor
Caroline VanBriggle began her ballet training at the age of 5 with Miss Laura in High Park, Vermont. Her first performing role was portraying a wood nymph in “Firebird”. Upon moving to the Indianapolis area, Caroline began training as an Assistant with Miss Becky in 1999 at the age of 14.
In 2003, Caroline took on the role of Assistant for Miss Becky’s preschool and kindergarten level classes. “Miss Caroline” loved what she was doing so much that her goal soon became that of becoming a teacher.
Caroline has performed many roles with the Indianapolis Youth Ballet Company in Swan Lake, Cinderella, La Fille Mal Gardee, and Coppelia along with many original works while at Rebecca’s School of Dance.
Caroline excels in drawing the best out of her young students. She is a favorite of both students and parents. Caroline also serves as an Assistant Artistic Director / Competition Director and is indispensable to Miss Becky in many areas. She helps with recital preparation in all aspects, is responsible for music editing and preparation for performances and mainly performs her most important role in helping Miss Becky stay organized throughout the year!
April Harmeson – Director of Preschool, Combo, and Teacher in Training Programs – Instructor
Miss April began her dance training at the age of 15 with Rebecca’s School of Dance. “I have always loved dance. Ever since I was a little girl I have been fascinated with ballet,” states April. “I now love seeing little girls learn to dance. They gain a confidence within themselves that is just precious. It makes them feel pretty and special, princess-like. I enjoy watching the little friendships that grow between the girls during class. Their coordination improves, their attention spans grow, and they learn how to be a part of a group and follow directions. Plus they gain a love for dance.”
April is married and has two daughters, Casey and Jessica. Jessica is a dancer and a child with special needs. April’s experience with her child’s intense therapy schedule has opened her eyes to a need for these children to be able to participate in activities that are fun and yet encourage them to build strength. Dance is ideal for teaching balance, control and building strength. As a result she offers a dance class for children with special needs, and it is something that is very dear to her heart. April is much loved by parents and students alike.
April began her teaching career at Tippy Toes School Of Dance where she taught for three years. She is currently teaching Preschool and Combo 1 classes at Ballerinas.
She also is serving at this time as our studio Registrar, our Preschool/Combo Program Director and our Teacher in Training Director. For many of our parents April is the first impression they receive about our school. Miss Becky is confident that you will appreciate her kind and informative responses to your questions and inquiries.
Baileigh Litton – Assistant Competition Director – Instructor
Baileigh began dancing at the age of 2 in a studio on the south side of Indianapolis. She began taking classes from Miss Becky in 2008. While continuing to take classes at Ballerinas, in 2010 she began pre-professional training at the Indianapolis School of Ballet, studying under various teachers such as Victoria Lyras, Roberta Wong, Michelle Merrell, Mariel Greenlee, Scott Jovovich, and Karen Scalzitti-Kennedy. Baileigh has also attended many summer intensives, including Lauren Beirne Dance Works in Brooklyn, NY. She’s also had the privilege of taking master classes under renown artists Gillian Murphy, Louise Lester, Gailene Stock, and David Howard.
She has attended dance conventions and competitions throughout her dance career, such as Starpower, ISDC, Rainbow, Tremaine, NUVO and DanceMakers. Baileigh has also assisted classes with NHS Color Guard, has taught dance at preschools around the north side of Indianapolis, and at Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre’s summer intensive. She’s also performed at Disney World, Scottish Rite Cathedral, the Indianapolis Penrod Arts Fair, Clowes Memorial Hall, and the Indianapolis Artsgarden. Baileigh was also a Soloist with the Indianapolis Youth Ballet, and was most recently a Company Member with the Indianapolis based, Kenyetta Dance Company. She has performed leading roles in The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Cinderella, La Fille Mal Gardee, Coppelia, The Rose Adagio from Sleeping Beauty, Mary Poppins, and many other works.
While Baileigh has enjoyed every step of her dance journey, her biggest highlight has come from teaching and choreographing. Her students and choreography have won numerous awards throughout the years, including an Industry Dance Award for “Top Convention Performance” with her piece “Awakened” in 2018.
Christine Colquitt Thacker – Instructor
After earning a B.A. in Dance Pedagogy from Butler University, Indianapolis, IN, Christine Colquitt Thacker went on to perform with the Gregory Hancock Dance Theatre (GHDT) from 1998-2007. From 2003-2007 she was Assistant Director of the Company, as well as a Principal Dancer. She now serves as Dancer Emeritus, and as Faculty at GHDT.
Twice she toured Eastern Europe with GHDT. The tours included performances for Latvia’s Head of State at the 11th Annual International Baltic Ballet Festival, and performing the final pas de deux from “The Hunchback of Notre Dame”, with her partner Martin Casanova, at the Latvian National Opera House in Riga (photo). She was Guest Artist at the prestigious Riga Choreographic Institute, where she assisted in modern dance classes. Her career with GHDT includes 73 repertoire pieces. She originated the roles of Mary Magdalene in SuperHero, Esmeralda in The Hunchback of Notre Dame, The Cheshire Cat in Alice: Her Bizarre Adventures in Wonderland, among others.
Colquitt Thacker has been a regular performer with the Indianapolis Symphony Orchestra. She has performed alongside Grammy artist Sandi Patty, Tony Award Winner Beth Leaval, and Broadway Royalty such as Ann Hampton Callaway, Liz Callaway, Ted Keagan, and Nick Adams.
During her career she has performed under the direction of Bill T. Jones. Mercedes Ellington, Gregory Hancock, and Larry Carpenter White. She has been paired with Erlends Ziemenich (NYCB/BI), Olgucan Borova (Joffrey Ballet), Liang Fu (Cincinnati Ballet), Ivan Koslov (Eifman Ballet), Jacob Brent (CATS- “Mr. Mistofffelees” Broadway/London), along with many others. Her long standing and partnering artistic soulmate was partner, Martin Casanova.
Colquitt Thacker is a recipient of an Individual Artist Grant from the Indiana Arts Commission; a Creative Renewal Fellowship from the Arts Council of Indianapolis and Lilly Endowment; and a winner of the Center for Leadership Development Award for Excellent Achievement in Arts and Theater. She has worked as a Teaching Artist in Residence for Clowes Memorial Hall, Indianapolis. She has paired with Artistic Director of Martha Graham Company, Janet Eilber to teach dance outreach programs based on Graham’s “Lamentation”.
She is an Asst. Professor of Dance at Anderson University, and Faculty at the Academy of GHDT, Dancer Emeritus of GHDT, Carmel, IN. She is currently pursuing two Masters Degrees; Theology, and Masters in Teaching Artistry/Advanced Pedagogy.
Rachel Stoneking – Instructor
Rachel Stoneking received her MFA in contemporary dance in 2012 and BA in theater and medical anthropology in 2009 from Case Western Reserve University (CWRU). While at CWRU, Rachel had the pleasure of performing works by Martha Graham, Gary Galbraith, Karen Potter, James Hansen, Erick Hawkins, and Pascal Rioult.
In 2011 she was awarded “The Cleveland Arts Prize: Kathryn Karipides Scholarship,” which allowed her to attend the Gaga Intensive at the Batsheva Company Studios in Tel Aviv, Israel. While there, she was given the opportunity to take classes under numerous company members, as well as the company’s House Choreographer and founder of the Gaga movement language, Ohad Naharin. Additional awards throughout her time at CWRU took Rachel to New York City, where she studied at the Martha Graham School of Contemporary Dance and elsewhere under artists such as Jim May, Lisa Viola, Andrea Miller, and Pascal Rioult. In 2010, Rachel worked as a stagecraft apprentice at the American Dance Festival, where she was able to work directly with renowned artists such as Monica Bill Barnes, Kate Weare, and Pilobolus Dance Theater.
As evidenced by her most recent piece entitled “Vox Motus” where her dancers represented the layering of avant-garde a cappella voices, Rachel’s creative work often focuses on exploring the shape of sound. Her varied technical background has allowed her to explore movement rooted in the strength and structure of the Graham technique while also accessing the fluidity often found in release-based techniques.
Prior to moving to Indiana to work as an Assistant Professor of Dance at Anderson University, Rachel’s professional career developed in and around Cleveland, Ohio. She has performed as a guest artist with Elu Dance Company and as both a choreographer and performer for Cleveland Public Theater’s Cleveland Dance Exchange. Additionally, Rachel served a semester teaching at the University of Akron and seven years teaching as a part-time lecturer at CWRU, where in 2012 she received the Kathryn Karipides Award for Excellence in Teaching.
MFA, Case Western Reserve University
BA, Case Western Reserve University
Teachers in Training
Mya Adams
Ava Stiefel
Hannah Cutler
Sophie Millspaugh
Mackenzie Browning
Allie Groothoff
Sophia Faulstich
Bridget Ballard
Lauren Harrison
Vivian Gerschoffer
Kinley Storer
Clover Stice
Eve Billingsley
Grace Rogers
Elizabeth Tong
Addi Holsten
Averie Bowen
Khloe Mullins
Hadley Brown
Elli Thacker
Guest Teachers and Choreographers
Jessica Taylor – Competition Choreographer – Guest Teacher
Jessica started dancing at the age of 9 in a small studio in Noblesville, IN. She was trained in classical ballet from the age of 9 until she graduated from high school at the age of 17. She then went on to study dance at Anderson University as a Dance Performance major. While in school, she was trained in Vaganova, Cecchetti, and ABT (American Ballet Theatre) for ballet; Graham and Horton/Limon-base for Modern techniques, as well as Musical Theatre, various styles of Jazz, dance composition and dance improvisation. She has choreographed for the student-run, fall dance concert her Sophomore, Junior, and Senior years of college and even had her work presented at ACDA (American Collegiate Dance Association) her Junior year. She has a strong interest in Dance for Camera and is intrigued by how one can use multi-media to enhance dance.
Morgan Rust – Guest Teacher
Ms. Morgan Rust began training with the faculty of Indiana Ballet Conservatory at the age of 8. Before the pandemic hit, she was living in DC while dancing on full scholarship as a Trainee with The Washington Ballet. She is currently training remotely with TWB as they prepare for the next season, and is grateful for the opportunity to be part of the Ballerinas Academy family!
This past year, Ms. Rust was chosen as a finalist to compete at the prestigious Helsinki International Ballet Competition. This world event has been put on hold until safe travel is once again implemented. During her time as a student, Ms. Rust received 1st-3rd Place Awards for 8 consecutive years at the YAGP Semi-finals and was invited to the NY Finals multiple times. At 15 years old, after winning Gold and Silver medals at ADC|IBC, she was offered 2 Trainee contracts. Ms. Rust opted instead to further her schooling at The Washington School of Ballet, as it was a unique opportunity to train with Julie Kent, Xiomara Reyes, and Rinat Imaev, as well as get unprecedented performing opportunities in some of her dream repertory. In addition, she has consistently been mentored and coached by Irina Dvorovenko and Maxim Beloserkovsky, former principal dancers of ABT.
Ms. Rust has recently enjoyed the process of creating art through choreography. She has created 2 pieces for The Washington School of Ballet and has been creating solo pieces for dancers to use during competition. She has also been asked to teach in Indiana for the past several years and is now expanding to Washington, DC and really enjoys teaching full classes as well as working one-on-one with aspiring dancers. Having been taught in the Vaganova method, she is also trained in other methodologies and understands the importance of quality training and attention to detail – not only for aesthetics, but for the safety and health of a dancer long term.
Emily Weddington – Guest Teacher
Emily began training at Ballerinas satelite studio in Sheridan IN with Jennifer Christy. She transferred to the Noblesville studio to continue her training. Emily was in our Teacher in Training Program for several years and began teaching her own classes in her senior year of highschool.
Emily begins the next chapter of her training at Anderson University where she will be double majoring in Dance Pedagogy and Biochemistry.
Chloe Andry – Guest Teacher – Choreographer
Eliza Welton – Guest Teacher
Eliza Welton is a Ballerinas alumni, she graduated in the year 2020. Eliza is currently attending Ball State University as a dance major, and is in her senior year. She specializes in contemporary, improvisation, ballet and modern dance.
Kate Barker – Guest Teacher – Choreographer
Kate began on her dance journey at the age of 3, igniting her passion at Ballerinas Academy of Dance under the tutelage of Becky VanBriggle, where she honed her craft for 12 years. Continuing her dance pursuit, Kate dedicated three more years at En Pointe Indiana Ballet, enriching her skills and artistry.
Her dedication to dance propelled her to secure two state championships in solo and duet routines as part of the Miller Girls Dance team during her tenure at Noblesville High School. She also competed with Ballerinas Academy of Dance, earning scholarships from Tremaine and NUVO, while also achieving top 24 and top 12 honors in ballet and contemporary at YAGP.
Continuing her academic and dance journey, Kate secured a full scholarship at Butler University. She maintained a 4.0 GPA throughout her first two semesters, securing a place on the Dean’s List in 2022 and 2023. Kate’s academic success was celebrated with the Best GPA Award in the Jordan Arts College for the first year students.
Beyond her studies, Kate generously imparts her knowledge, teaching younger dancers at Ballerina’s Academy of Dance, En Pointe, and choreography for competitions. Additionally, she’s an esteemed member of the Kappa Kappa Gamma sorority, actively contributing to campus life.
Currently enrolled in Butler’s Honors Program, Kate ambitiously pursues a Bachelor of Science in Dance Arts and Administration, fueled by her unwavering passion for dance and her aspiration to make an indelible mark in the dance world.
Valery Lantratov – Guest Teacher
Valery Lantratov has had a distinguished career as a dancer in the companies of Vladimir Vasiliev, Maya Plitsetskaya and Ekaterina Maximova and international tours with Rudolf Nureyev. Most recently he has made international headlines for his role as Czar Nicholas II in a production of the new ballet Rasputin, with Farouk Ruzimatov of the Mariinsky Theater (Kirov) and for successful international tours of Don Quixote and original choreography for the annual festival for the goddess Aphrodite in Cypruss. A graduate of the Moscow Academic Choreographic College, Lantratov was selected as a first soloist with the Moscow Stanislavski Ballet. With the theater he danced principal roles in such ballets as Don Quixote, Copellia and Romeo and Juliet. He has received accolades in the Russian and international press for his strong technique, personality and expressiveness. In 1993, Lantratov began working for the Kremlin Ballet. This same year, he formed the Russian National Ballet Foundation. He has toured as a solo guest artist in such countries as Japan, Germany, Italy, Greece, France, Portugal, Spain and the United States. The Russian National Ballet Foundation has toured in Europe, Asia, The Middle East and the United States. In 1997, Russian president Boris Yeltsin named Valery Lantratov “ People’s Artist of Russia,” the Russian Federation’s highest artistic honor.
Mr. Lantratov holds a teaching certificate Russia’s renowned National Academy of Theatrical Arts- GITIS.* For three years, Mr. Lantratov served as a guest instructor at the Boston Ballet. With his Russian National Ballet Foundation, Lantratov is able to realize his goal of introducing new audiences throughout the world to some of the finest classical works of Russia. “No matter what might happen between the countries in the world, dance can deliver peace, compassion and art—eternal values.”