Lou Ann Young
Executive Artistic Director

Lou Ann earned her B.A. at Butler University and has extended training at the National Ballet School, Toronto, Canada. She has been on the Faculty of Ball State University since 1987, on the faculty of IU Summer Music School and master teacher of ballet at the Academy and seminars throughout the mid-west. Her credits include Artistic Director/Founder and Choreographer of Anderson Young Ballet Theatre, thirty-three seasons. Artistic Director of Ball State Dance Theatre, sixteen seasons; Anderson University Musicals, twenty-six years; Highland High School, sixteen years; Professional Dancer, eight years and Ball State Summer Theatre, three years. Trained in Cecchetti and Russian Techniques, she was a student of Margaret Saul's for over twenty-five years and is dedicated to her teachings and principles. Lou Ann was the recipient of the Deans Teaching Award for 1998 from the College of Fine Arts Ball State & presented the commencement speech for College of Fine Arts 1999. Nominated to WHO'S WHO Among America's Teachers for 2000, 2005 & 2006. Lou Ann serves as Past President of Mid-States Regional Dance America and is one of the Directors-at-Large on the RDA National Board. Ms. Young also is a member of Ballet Corps Internationale and works to promote dance with the American College Dance Festival.

Jennifer Weatherburn-Thiemet
Co-Artistic Director
Instructor, All Divisions

Jennifer Weatherburn-Thiemet is a former principal dancer with AYBT with extended studies at National Ballet of Canada where she trained intensely in the Cecchetti Syllabus. She has studied with such master teachers as Alexandra Danilova, Margaret Saul, Jurgen Schneider, George Verdak, Gus Girordano & Luigi. She has performed with Walt Disney Productions, Indianapolis Ballet Theatre and was a principal dancer with Lexington Ballet. During her dance career, she performed the leads in such ballets as The Nutcracker, Giselle, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Raymonda, and Romeo and Juliet. Her musical theater productions include, West Side Story, Sugar, Bye Bye Birdie, The King and I, South Pacific, The Sound of Music, and productions with American Cabaret Theatre. She was the winner of the Margaret Sear Rosenblith and Carey Rose Winski scholarship awards, and was accepted to Interlochen Music camp.

Jennifer’s teaching credentials include Anderson Young Ballet Theatre Academy, School of Lexington Ballet, School for the Performing Arts of Kentucky, and National Academy. Jennifer is looking forward to teaching her 19th season with AYBT academy.

Catherine Sparks-Petraits
Co-Artistic Director
Instructor, All Divisions

Catherine Petraits is a graduate of Ball State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Dance Performance in 1991.  She taught and was Assistant Artistic Director for AYBT from 1992-200.  In 1999 she was awarded the “Emerging Choreographer’s” Award from RDA for her piece, This is Me set on AYBT’s company.  With 32 years of dance training, Catherine danced eight of those years as a professional.  She was an apprentice and then resident guest artist with Dance Kaleidoscope from 1993-2000.  She also performed with American Cabaret Theater from 1992-1996 and Civic Theater in 2002.  One of Catherine’s other talents, besides dancing and choreography, is costumer. She was Assistant Costumer of Dance Kaleidoscope in 1992-1994.  Other companies she has designed for were Ball State University, Jordan Academy of Dance at Butler University, and Dance Kaleidoscope.  Catherine has continually done costuming for AYBT since 1992.

Audra Sokol
Instructor/Choreographer

Audra Sokol, BA Ball State-MFA Iowa University, is a former dancer with AYBT & BSDT and will be here at the academy. She received the highest choreography award for the third time at  RDA Festival here in Anderson. AYBT will be performing the number performed on the Gala and a new choreography just finished on Oct. 7 at the Paramount Theatre. We are very proud of Audra and so thankful to have her teaching on the faculty.

Michael Worcel
Master Instructor/Choreographer

Michael is an honors graduate in dance from Butler University. He has performed   professionally in dinner theatres, summer stock and on cruise ships in such shows as A Chorus Line, West Side Story, Can Can, Cabaret, Seven Brides for Seven Brothers and George M., to name a few. He also spent eighteen months with the Broadway national tour of 42nd Street. His choreography credits include revues for theme parks, cruise ships and musicals for Beef & Boards Dinner Theatre. He has directed and choreographed for summer stock and has spent a season performing with Dance Kaleidoscope. Michael has over twenty-three years teaching experience and is on the Dance Faculty at Ball State University. He has received awards from the Kennedy Centre and Regional Dance   America for his choreography plus choreographed and directed ³Le Voyage². He will be directing/choreographing the fall musical at Ball State plus preparing new choreography for AYBT & BSDT¹s seasons.

Betsy New
Instructor, Youth Division

Betsy is a graduate of Ball State University with a BA in Dance Performance.  She was a member of Ball State Dance Theatre for four years, and while at Ball State, she performed the Blue Bird variation and the lead in an excerpt from The Tempest.  She also performed the role of Swanhilda in Coppelia, BSDT's first full-length ballet, in 2006.  Betsy began her training at AYBT Academy and was a principle dancer for AYBT, performing lead roles in The Nutcracker, Giselle, and The Red Shoes.  During her time at AYBT she received several awards including the Klus-Saul Memorial Scholarship and a scholarship from Paine Webber.  Betsy is continuing to pursue a professional career in dance arts.  She has assisted and taught at AYBT Academy for eight years.

Hannah Smith
Instructor, Preschool & Youth Division

Hannah Smith is a Ball State student double majoring in dance and early childhood education.  She is a current member of Ball State Dance Theater.  She has 16 years of dance experience and 5 years of assisting and teaching.  Hannah received her dance training from Anderson Young Ballet Theatre, under the direction of LouAnn Young.  She has studied many techniques including tap, jazz, ballet, pointe, pas de deux, and modern.  As a member and principal dancer of AYBT, she performed in such ballets as The Nutcracker, Giselle, Raymonda Pas De Dix, and The Sleeping Beauty.  Over the years, Hannah has received the Kim Reahm-McCormick Scholarship, along with the Paine Webber Scholarship.  She has studied with numerous teachers; some include Kennet Oberly, Alan Sener, George De La Pena, Mary Corsaro, and Lance Hendrix.