FACULTY

Lily Sargent is from Tallmadge Ohio and has enjoyed performing in performances such as Swan Lake, Nutcracker, George Balanchine’s Serenade and Margo Sappington’s Alice as a company member with Cleveland Ballet. Diagnosed with vestibular discrimination, auditory processing disorder, double vision, and a heart condition, Ms. Sargent has had a unique career and perspective that influences how she teaches and helps her students. She is the co-author for the curriculum Art Smarts: Developing Neurological Processing, Cognitive, Social, and Behavioral Skills through Dance, and hopes to inspire, connect and assist every student she works with. 

Mr. Baker previously taught for the School of Cleveland ballet for two years and is an acting company artist in the Cleveland Ballet. His first teaching experience came while still a student in the Brindusa-Moore Ballet Academy in Pocatello, Idaho at the age of seventeen where he would help his instructors as an aid for younger classes. Mr. Baker is excited to continue teaching, and has high hopes for our students.

Madison Campbell grew up in Des Moines, Iowa where she first started her ballet training with Emery and Melissa Uyehara and performed in numerous productions with Iowa Dance Theatre. She supplemented her training at summer intensives such as; Joffrey Midwest, San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet, School of American Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, and Nashville Ballet. After graduating early from high school, Madison studied with Miami City Ballet School, The School of Philadelphia Ballet, and Nashville Ballet where she performed in various company performances, toured locally and to the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C. and participated in several community outreach events. Madison started her professional career with Cleveland Ballet in 2016, and within the same year began teaching. She has worked with all levels of students from 2-22 yrs and loves the challenge each age brings. She has helped children learn roles in the beloved Nutcracker, aided in several school productions, organized outreach performances and programs, and been a guest instructor at various summer intensives. In addition to starting her teaching career; Ms. Campbell is continuing her education in Social Work and Family and Human Development. Madison loves watching all of her wonderful students grow to become young professionals in all aspects of their lives and believes dance creates a community unlike any other artform.

Katharine Cowan has been a company member with the Cleveland Ballet Company since 2019. She is an accomplished teacher specializing in ballet and contemporary dance. Katharine's love for dance began at the age of 3, and since then she has studied ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, jazz, musical theatre, and hip hop. Her extensive training includes prestigious institutions such as the Joffrey Ballet, Boston Ballet, Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Ballet Austin, Oregon Ballet Theatre, and Studio West Dance Academy. As a dedicated educator, Katharine has taught outreach programs in the greater Cleveland area, with the goal of spreading the joy of dance to diverse communities. Her performance repertoire includes lead roles like Giselle, Cinderella, Sugar Plum, and Caroline/Clara and features works by acclaimed choreographers such as George Balanchine, Gerald Arpino, Jerome and Laura Tisserand, Dawn Fay, Claudia Schreier, Gladisa Guadalupe, and Ilia Zhivoi. As a teacher, Katharine's goals as a teacher extend beyond technical mastery, aiming to instill a deep appreciation for the art form, promote personal discipline, cultivate creativity, and build confidence in her students. She hopes to develop a dynamic and supportive learning environment in her classroom that encourages individual expression and fosters a love for dance.

Erinn Crittenden is from Southern California, where she trained with Studio Elite, Inland Pacific Ballet Academy, and Maple Conservatory in many styles of dance including Ballet, Jazz and Modern. She moved to train with Pittsburgh Ballet Theater, where she took on a job at The Dancer’s Pointe store and learned how to fit pointe shoes and help dancers get their perfect first pair of shoes. She also spent time at Charlotte Ballet and performed duties as a classroom aide and instructor for their outreach program for a period of time. Since moving to Cleveland, Erinn has taught outreach classes in addition to preparatory ballet, ballet, pre-pointe, pointe, rehearsals, adult ballet, and more. Erinn finds genuine joy in being encouraging part of all of her student’s lives and cannot wait to continue to help build the next generation of healthy and successful dancers. 

Breanna Faith Justus trained in Orlando Ballet's and Atlanta Ballet’s Second Companies before joining Cleveland Ballet’s Main Company in 2023. Teaching is her second love next to dancing, and she taught full time at Gloria Deo School of the Arts, as well as had various teaching opportunities from Atlanta Ballet, Kentucky Ballet Theatre, and private coaching. She also is the founder and director of Iasasthai Ballet Summer Intensive, and was awarded The Salvation Army Volunteer of the Year Award for her outreach programs. She hopes to continue her career as a professional ballerina for many years, and to attend the Royal Ballet Teacher's Certification program upon her future retirement.

Emmanuel Martirosyan is from Yerevan, Armenia. He trained at the Yerevan State National Choreographic College in Armenia. At the age of 16, he was awarded an apprenticeship at the National Ballet Theatre of Armenia. In 2015, Emmanuel received a full scholarship from Joffrey Ballet School in New York City, which brought him to the United States. Mr. Martirosyan has been teaching since 2016 with credentials spanning throughout Ohio, New Jersey, Florida, Pennsylvania, Delaware, and New York. He is excited to join the faculty of The Academy of Cleveland Ballet to continue instilling the appreciation for ballet technique and performance in his students. 

Bruno Palheta is natural from Brazil, where he graduated from Centro de Dança Rio holding a Performing Arts Associate’s Degree and his versatile training spans ballet, contemporary, modern, jazz, and musical theater. Bruno has achieved recognition in various ballet competitions, including the Youth American Grand Prix and Valentina Kozlova International Competition and he is also an alumni of the Jacob’s Pillow Contemporary Ballet Program. Bruno has graced stages with different ballet companies such as The Washington Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and current artist with Cleveland Ballet. Throughout his career, Bruno has excelled in numerous principal and soloist roles, performing works by acclaimed international choreographers like George Balanchine, John Cranko, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Ilya Jivoy, Jennifer Archibald, and Margo Sappington.

Tiera Peters began dancing with the Cleveland Ballet in 2023, after graduating from the School of Cleveland Ballet’s Trainee Program in June 2023. She was born and raised in Rockland County, New York, receiving training at Ballet Rockland under the coaching of Rebecca Tew. She has taught ballet and creative movement to students of all ages through Ballet Rockland, North Rockland Central School District, Cleveland Ballet’s Community Outreach, and the Warrensville Heights Y.M.C.A. She is also a certified Indoor Cycling Instructor and brings her knowledge of kinesiology and physical fitness to the dance studio. She aims to cultivate a community of care and growth in the classroom that facilitates both artistic development and furthering oneself as a person.