Montgomery Ballet Dancers

Rania Charalambidou is from Nicosia, Cyprus. She graduated Magnum Cum Laude with a BA in Dance Education and a Math minor from Marymount Manhattan College in New York City. She also trained at the Joffrey Ballet School and with Elena Kunikova at Steps on Broadway. Rania has been a company member with multiple companies in the U.S.A. such as Sarasota Ballet of Florida, Columbia City Ballet, Ballet San Antonio and Boulder Ballet. She is now dancing with Montgomery Ballet. Rania has danced soloist and principal roles in classics such as Adult Clara and Arabian Pas De Deux in the Nutcracker,…

Dionysios “Danny” Mitsios was raised in Jacksonville, FL, by Greek parents, and attended Jacksonville University (JU), where he graduated Magna Cum Laude in both Dance and Computer Information Systems. At JU, he was honored with the Dance Management, Most Improved Dancer, and Dance Contribution Awards. He also studied at Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, where he worked with renowned choreographer Moses Pendleton of Momix. Danny’s class was featured in the creation of Lunar Sea, which is now touring with Momix. He received the Service Award and attended Nutmeg on scholarship. Upon graduation, Danny began his professional performance career, joining esteemed companies such…

Leah-Marie Atten began her dance training at age 4 at South Carolina Christian Dance Theater. There she learned ballet along with contemporary and jazz and competed in the ballet competition Youth America Grand Prix. Upon graduating, Leah-Marie continued her training with The School of Carolina Ballet in Raleigh, NC. She has and attended summer intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Cincinnati Ballet. Leah-Marie is so excited to be joining the Montgomery Ballet this season!

Preston Cook, originally from Cleveland, Tennessee, brings more than 30 years of ballet experience to the stage. His dance journey began under the guidance of Heidi Longwith at Mountain Laurel Studios and flourished through consecutive summer intensives with Nashville Ballet (1998–2000), where he trained with esteemed instructors Elaine Thomas, Adam Sage, and Paul Vasterling. Rather than pursuing a full-time residency offer, Preston forged a unique academic partnership with his high school, earning accreditation for weekend ballet studies—a pioneering program that launched his professional debut in The Nutcracker and continues to benefit aspiring young artists to this day. In 2001, Preston…

Sarah Gregory, originally from Appleton, WI, and most recently from Saint Louis, MO, began her dance journey at The Dance Factory in Kimberly, WI. She later pursued intensive training at Saint Louis Ballet School in Chesterfield, MO, where she had the privilege of performing alongside the professional company of Saint Louis Ballet in acclaimed productions such as The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote. Sarah further refined her skills at prestigious summer programs with Cincinnati Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Saint Louis Ballet, and Webster University Dance Department. Upon graduating from high school, Sarah continued her dance education at Mercyhurst University in…

Biography coming soon!

Savannah Norwood hails from Southeastern Wisconsin and boasts an impressive background in both dance and physical therapy. Graduating Summa Cum Laude from the University of Saint Francis, she holds degrees in Dance and Physical Therapist Assistant Studies. Savannah is a licensed and actively practicing physical therapist assistant in the state of Alabama, with a particular focus on treating the dance population and neurological conditions. Her journey in dance began at the age of three at Lake Shore Dance in Port Washington, WI, where she received comprehensive training in various styles. She excelled as a member of their studio company and…

Abigail Petersen began her dance training at the age of three with Mobile Ballet. After relocating to Georgia, she continued her training for five years at Dance Arts. At age nine, Abigail moved to Arizona, where she trained at the Arizona Conservatory for Arts and Academics, Master Ballet Academy, and Ballet Arizona. She has performed in numerous productions of The Nutcracker, including roles with Phoenix Ballet/Master Ballet, IB Andersen’s The Nutcracker, and as a guest artist for The Arizona Nutcracker for three consecutive years. Her repertoire also includes classical ballets such as Cinderella, Don Quixote, Coppélia, Sleeping Beauty, and Swan…

Originally from Arroyo Grande, California, and most recently based in Austin, Texas, Naomi discovered her love for ballet at the age of four while training at Coastal Dance and Music Academy—and she’s never looked back. As a teenager, she continued her dance education at San Luis Obispo Movement Arts Center (SLOMAC), where she expanded her repertoire to include contemporary and modern dance. During this time, she worked with numerous guest artists and competed in prestigious competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix and California Dance Classics. While at SLOMAC, Naomi also discovered her passion for community engagement and wellness through…

Julia Tze was born in New York City with Canadian dual citizenship before moving to Ridgewood, New Jersey in her early childhood years. She began her training at Ridgewood Performing Arts Center in a variety of styles including ballet, pointe, contemporary, lyrical, jazz, musical theater, tap, and hip hop. She holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet and a minor in Marketing from the University of Cincinnati’s College-Conservatory of Music (CCM) where she graduated summa cum laude and from the University Honors Program in December of 2020. At CCM, she had the opportunity to dance principal roles in multiple…

She started her journey in the world of dance at the age of 6, and from the very beginning, she found herself enchanted by the art form. Her ability to grasp choreography swiftly became evident, and soon she was crafting her own pieces. After spending 7 years honing her skills in her childhood dance studio, her instructors recognized her potential and encouraged her to pursue more intensive training at Briarwood Ballet. Immersing herself in the intensive division at Briarwood, she danced with Ballet Exaltation, absorbing knowledge and refining her technique. Following her time at Briarwood, she ventured into the realm…

Madison Allen, has been dancing since she was two years old.  Madison has danced at the Center for Performing arts, and then spent seven years dancing in Prattville at CJ’s Dance Factory and the Prattville Ballet. Madison has been studying at Montgomery Ballet and is currently a trainee with the Montgomery Ballet Company. She has attended several summer intensives and has danced in five productions of the Nutcracker in roles ranging from characters in the party scene, Chinese Tea, Waltz of the Flowers, Waltz of the Snowflakes, and finally Clara. Madison placed 5th overall in the classical ballet category at…

Payton Allen’s passion for dance ignited at the tender age of two, embarking on a journey that has taken her through various stages and roles in the world of dance. She honed her skills at the Center for Performing Arts before dedicating seven formative years to CJ’s Dance Factory and the Prattville Ballet in Prattville. Throughout her dance career, Payton has graced the stage in five productions of The Nutcracker, showcasing her versatility in roles such as the Dew Drop Fairy. Driven by a commitment to excellence, Payton has sought to expand her horizons through summer intensives and dance competitions….