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.