Taylor Naturkas

Taylor Naturkas was born in Troy, MI and later grew up in Petoskey, MI where she began her ballet training at age four. She began dancing at the Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet under the direction of Heather Raue for 11 years. During this time, she attended summer programs with Suzanne Farrell (Cedars Islands), Chautauqua Institution, Charlotte Ballet, and Miami City Ballet. Following her summer at MCB School in 2018, she was invited to attend the year around program. Taylor spent two years training at MCB School, where she had many opportunities to dance with the company. In 2019 she performed the role of Dew Drop in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker®.

She joined Miami City Ballet as corps de ballet member in 2020, and was promoted to soloist in 2022.

Olivia Pearsall

Olivia Pearsall began dancing at the age of 3 and started her ballet training with Crooked Tree Arts Center School of Ballet at 7. She then moved away at 16 to further her training with the Miami City Ballet School Pre Professional Division. After gaining professional performance experience with Miami City Ballet, she received an offer with Kansas City Ballet Second Company which she happily accepted. After a successful season she returns to CTAC excited to share all the experience and knowledge that she has gained since being away. Her hope is to inspire and help further the training and education of The School of Ballets students.

Robin Pettersen 

Robin Pettersen is a freelance choreographer who also offers workshops in dance composition. She has a MFA from the University of Wisconsin-Madison and is emeritus faculty at the University of Wisconsin-Whitewater. Robin has completed visiting artist residencies at five different universities. Her choreography was chosen for the adjudicated Gala Concerts at American College Dance Association (ACDA) conferences in 2009, 2008, 2004 and 2000. Ms. Pettersen received the Wisconsin Dance Council Distinction Award in October of 2003.

Peter Sparling

Peter Sparling is the Rudolf Arnheim Distinguished University Professor Emeritus of Dance and an Arthur Thurnau Professor Emeritus at University of Michigan. A graduate of Interlochen and Juilliard, he danced with the companies of José Limón and Martha Graham and directed his own dance company in New York City and Ann Arbor. His videos have been screened globally. He is a published poet/essayist and has shown his paintings in five solo exhibits and various group shows.