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Lou Ann Young
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 Saul¹s 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 WHO¹S WHO Among America¹s 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.

Kory Browder
Assistant Artistic
Director
Kory Lynn Browder
is a
graduate of Ball State University, with a Bachelor's Degree in Dance Performance
and has an extensive career as both teacher and performer. During her college
career, Kory was a member of Ball State Dance Theatre and Anderson Young
Ballet Theatre, performing lead roles in many productions including
The Nutcracker,
Sleeping Beauty,
Swan Lake and
Nosferatu: A Vampire Ballet.
She furthered her training and studies with many notable teachers such as
Trinette Singleton, Bill Evans, Alan Sener, Kennet Oberly, and her long time
mentor, Lou Ann Young. Upon graduation, Kory continued her professional career
aboard the
MS Sensation
with Carnival Cruise Lines performing in
Sauvage and
Sensational Journey.
She has taught master and audition classes at Ball State University,
choreographed for AYBT and Ball State University Singers, and has worked with
other companies and schools in the Chicago land area. In 2005, Kory’s
choreography for her ballet work “Vivace” was recognized and performed by AYBT
at Midwest Regional Dance America Festival in St. Louis. She has recently
extended her choreographic abilities with Taylor University and their 2007
production of “Thoroughly Modern Millie”. Kory has taught at Anderson Young
Ballet Theatre & Academy since Spring of 2000, where she has since served as
Assistant Director for AYBT.

Jennifer Weatherburn-Thiemet
Costume
Mistress/Instructor All Divisions
Jennifer Weatherburn-Thiemet is a former principal dancer with
AYBT with extended studies at National Ballet of Canada. 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 16th season with
AYBT academy.

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.

Kennet Oberly
Kennet Oberly is
currently Ballet Master at Columbus Ballet Theatre and has had an
extensive career as a teacher, performer and choreographer. Having
trained at Harkness Ballet School in New York, he danced with the
Stuttgart Ballet, Maurice Bejaty’s Ballet of the twentieth Century,
Houston Ballet, Boston Ballet, and Denmark’s Tivoli Pantomime Theatre
from 1988-1991. He served as Artistic Director of Ballet Iowa
following six years there as resident choreographer and ballet master.
He was also a ballet master with the Finish National Ballet, and has
worked as a guest artist throughout North America and Europe with such
companies as the Estonian National Ballet and France’s Ballet du Nord.
For three years, 1993-1996, Mr. Oberly was Artistic Director of the
Wolcott Children’s Ballet in northern Vermont, a non-profit
organization that provides pre-professional dance training to children
regardless of financial means.

Betsy New
Preschool/Youth Instructor
Elizabeth
(Betsy) New, is a graduate in Dance Performance from Ball State. Betsy was a principal dancer with AYBT performing lead roles in
Nutcracker, Giselle, Blue Bird and many more. She performed the lead in
Coppelia this past year at Ball State as well as the lead in The
Tempest. Betsy will pursue a professional career starting next spring.

Alison Williams
Alison C. Williams, is from West Lafayette, IN.
She trained at the Lafayette Ballet School for 14 years and was part of the
Lafayette Ballet Company for 5 years. Alison is a graduate from Ball State
University with a degree in Dance Performance. She was in the Ball State Dance
Theatre from her sophomore to senior year. During her time at Ball State,
Alison performed twice with the Anderson Young Ballet Theatre¹s Nutcracker. She
performed the lead in
Paquita and many
others while at Ball State.
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