Breathless: Wings of Beauty Performers

Katina Kumar was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she began her training with Berks Ballet Theatre. She remained a company performer with them through her senior year in high school, receiving lead roles in the conservatory’s classical and contemporary performances; and, she was awarded scholarships of excellence in contemporary and classical performance at Regional Dance America. After graduating Valedictorian of her high school class, Katina went on to receive her B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Adelphi University in New York. At Adelphi, Katina trained closely under Frank Augustyn in classical ballet and many styles of modern. Katina was privileged to perform in a variety of repertoire including, solos from "La Esmeralda," "Napoli," and "Don Quixote," Martha Graham repertoire, original choreography of Adelheid B. Strelick, William Briscoe, and many more! Throughout her collegiate years, Katina danced professionally with companies such as Eglevsky Ballet and was a principal guest artist with American Theater Dance Workshop and Glen Cove Ballet. In 2017, upon graduating summa cum laude, Katina became a founding company artist with Magnum Opus located in Madison, Wisconsin. While dancing with the company, Katina trained to become a licensed Progressing Ballet Technique instructor and in the Leap ‘n’ Learn curriculum. During Summer 2018, she became certified in Adaptive Dance through Boston Ballet. As a teacher of over 11 years and having experience working with the special needs, elderly and infirmed, as well as underprivileged communities, Katina’s priority is to inspire and encourage each and every one of her students. Katina was named Director of Ballet at HappyFeet Dance School and Performance located in Plano, Texas, where she teaches ballet, pointe, variations, lyrical, contemporary, and more to students of all ages from toddler through adult. Katina has choreographed and directed several full length ballets with HappyFeet, including her premieres of "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz". She also does private coaching and choreography along with yoga, barre, and Pilates. While in Texas, Katina has had the wonderful opportunity to guest as a soloist with HappyFeet Dance School, Festival Ballet of North Texas, and Toby’s School of Dance. Formerly, she was a founding company member of Ballet North Texas and a company member with imPULSE dance project, 6 O’Clock Dance Theatre, and performed as a professional artist with Zion Dance Project. In 2024, Katina received the esteemed Director of Ballet Company position at McKinney Dance Studio. Katina Kumar is humbled to be founder, owner, Artistic Director, Co-Executive Director as well as company dancer of Ballet Papillon based out of DFW Texas. By beginning her own nonprofit professional ballet company, Katina is able to share her passion for the art of movement, the beauty of expression, and the gift of community and compassion with her dancers, staff, and audience members alike!

Abigail Pontius is from South Central Pennsylvania where she enrolled in her first dance class at age 6. She began her professional training at Pennsylvania Regional Ballet when she was 13. In 2020, Abigail continued her training at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts where she earned a B.F.A. in Ballet. During her four years there, she had the opportunity to perform in George Balanchine’s Serenade, John Taras’ Firebird, Endalyn T. Outlaw’s (née Taylor) Shostakovich Suite, and Ilya Kozadayev’s new production of The Nutcracker. She was part of original choreographic works including The Gardens That Were Watered For Us by Sidra Bell and Emote by Abdur-Rahim Jackson. While at UNCSA, Abigail also performed in excerpts of repertory works such as Don Quixote, Paquita, and Merce Cunningham’s Pond Way. She is thrilled to be kicking off her professional career with Ballet Papillon for the 2024-2025 season!

Anne Oberman, from St. Louis, MO, is a dancer and Pilates instructor. She earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet at Texas Christian University's School for Classical & Contemporary Dance, where she performed in classical and contemporary works by faculty and guest artists. In her senior year, Anne was also a trainee with Avant Chamber Ballet, a Dallas-based company that blends live music and dance. She has appeared in their productions of "Dracula", "The Nutcracker", and original works by Artistic Director Katie Puder and guest choreographers. Prior to enrolling at TCU, Anne was a resident student at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and a member of the Saint Louis Ballet Company’s trainee program. She has trained with renowned ballet companies and schools across the country, such as Alonzo King LINES Ballet, the Radio City Rockettes, Ballet Met, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. Anne is passionate about sharing her love of movement and wellness with others. She completed TCU’s Pilates Teacher Training Program and is currently an instructor for Cowboys Fit, a partnership with the Dallas Cowboys. She has also been a private and group Pilates instructor at The Pilates Center of Fort Worth. This is Anne’s first season with Ballet Papillon, and she is excited to begin her professional dance career.

Born in Aurora, Colorado, Blanca moved to California and fell in love with ballet when she began dancing at age 5. At age 10, while living in Guadalajara, México, she started her professional dance career at EMB with Héctor Hernández and trained under Lucia Sato, Byron and Yoko Van Reijsen. She also studied contemporary, music, and theater. With Doris Topete Dance Academy, she learned different repertoire like Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Bayaderé and Emerald. Blanca also performed Moncayo’s Huapango, a Mexican masterpiece. With Balanz Ballet Academy, under Guadalupe Leyva, Blanca attended various competitions winning silver medals, becoming a finalist, and receiving scholarships to Chicago and New York. Additionally, she has danced in all Guadalajara theaters, including Degollado Theater, PALCCO and Diana Theater while performing in Nutcracker, Christmas in Tutu, Coppélia, The Four Seasons Of Vivaldi, and Cinderella. Since 2019, Blanca has taught ballet at different levels and dances in productions including Phantom of the Opera, Candlelight concerts, and Nutcracker season in Guadalajara.

Erika Bressler grew up in Southeastern Michigan. She began her dance education at age 5, training with the River Raisin Dance Academy and studying the Cecchetti method. She completed several Cecchetti levels, including earning the Intermediate Professional certification and performing in many full-length ballets. She danced the roles of Snow Queen and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker Ballet and Swanhilda in Coppelia. During their senior year of high school, Erika studied with the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre in their Pre-Professional program. They continued into PBT’s Graduate program where they learned repertoire from Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, and Terrance S. Orr’s The Nutcracker. Following training at PBT, Erika moved into a Trainee position with the Alonzo King LINES Ballet in San Francisco. At LINES, she was able to learn from former and current LINES Ballet company members while learning LINES repertoire. The 2024-2025 season marks Erika’s inaugural year with Ballet Papillon.

Grace Coleman, originally from Centennial, Colorado, received her BFA in Dance from NYU Tisch School of the Arts. Her passion for dance sparked at age 3 when she trained at Mpact Dance Academy and Denver School of the Arts. She was fortunate enough to spend 3 years as an Apprentice with Chadash Contemporary Dance Movement. Grace has performed works by Andrea Miller, Kyle Abraham, Peter Chu, Alexa Capareda, Christian Denice, Nicole Von Arx, Jenn Freeman, and Loni Landon. She spent her summers training with Colorado Ballet, Alonzo King Lines Ballet, Perry Mansfield, Arts Umbrella, and internationally at the Salzburg Experimental Academy of Dance in Austria. Grace has an esteemed passion for choreography and has showcased her work on Second Avenue Dance Company, New Century Dance Project, Moving Forward Dallas, Tisch School of the Arts, Mpact Dance Project, and Colorado Dance Initiative. She was also selected as a choreographic finalist for the Palm Desert Choreography Festival and SALT Dance SHAPE Choreography Festival. She also tours as an Assistant with Adrenaline and Revive Dance Convention. Grace is thrilled to be a part of Ballet Papillon's 2024-2025 season!

Haley began her dance training at Murphy Dance Studio in Albany, Georgia. While there, she was also a member of Ballet Theatre South, performing lead roles such as “Alice” in Alice in Wonderland, “Clara” in The Nutcracker, and “Jasmine” in Arabian Nights. She spent her summers attending the Joffrey Ballet School on full scholarship, Atlanta Ballet, and the Governor’s Honors Dance Program. After high school graduation, Haley moved to Plano, Texas, to join the Joffrey Ballet School as a Ballet Trainee where she currently resides as Student Body President and an ambassador of the school. Haley has had the privilege of performing several classical and neoclassical works including excerpts from Gisele, Raymonda, La Bayadere, Le Corsaire, Coppelia, and as “Arabian” and “Dewdrop” in The Nutcracker. In 2022 and 2023, she performed as a Guest Artist with Ballet Theatre South as the “Sugar Plum Fairy” in The Nutcracker. Upon graduation from the Joffrey Ballet School, Haley will hold a Ballet Certification, Haley is so excited to make the shift from student to professional by joining Ballet Papillon this season!

Helen Jardon began dancing at age 5 in her hometown of Nottingham, New Hampshire. She later attended Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory, graduating in 2021, having performed lead roles such as “Swanhilda” in Coppélia. After attending a postgraduate program at Oklahoma City Ballet, she joined Cincinnati Ballet as a trainee. While at Cincinnati Ballet, she joined the company for “Snow and Flowers” in Victoria Morgan’s Nutcracker as well as for soloist roles in their family series. Helen has also had multiple opportunities to choreograph. Her most recent choreographic work, “Orion”, debuted with the Cincinnati Ballet trainee program. In addition to choreography, Helen has a strong passion for teaching with a great desire to grow the next generation of artists. This is her first season with Ballet Papillon.

Jordan began dancing at Bingham Dance Center in Midland, TX, under Joy Swift with later Classical Ballet training at Coleman Academy under Judy Coleman and Susan Clark. She was invited to join Midland Festival Ballet’s performing company from 2003-2007 and danced in “Swan Lake,” “Peter and The Wolf,” “Cinderella,” and “Raymonda”. Jordan also danced numerous “The Nutcracker” roles including Clara. She attended Regional Dance America Southwest Festival and had the opportunity to work with John Magnus, George de la Peña, and Elaine Bauer. Jordan also danced at the San Angelo Civic Ballet (Ballet San Angelo) with director Meghann Bridgeman and performed numerous roles with them in the “Nutcracker,” including ‘Dew Drop Fairy’ and ‘Sugar Plum Fairy’, as well as lead roles in the Evening of Dance production and Student Spring Showcase. In Summer 2017, she continued training at Ballet San Angelo under Sandra Miller. Jordan has taught all forms of dance for over 12 years and continues to teach throughout DFW. She’s thrilled to continue with Ballet Papillon!

Born and raised in Baltimore, MD, Katy Schwarzweller began studying ballet at a young age. She left home in 2014 to train at The Rock School for Dance Education and soon after joined Ballet West’s trainee programs. While there, Katy had the opportunity to work with Balanchine repetiteurs, dance with the main company, and was featured in lead roles with the academy. In 2019, Katy joined the Second Company at Kansas City Ballet and performed in corps de ballet productions including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and was a featured soloist in Parrish Maynard’s “Vectors”. In 2021, Katy joined Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company, where she danced alongside the company in Violin Concerto, Les Patineurs, The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Serenade, and Bourrée Fantasque. Katy joined Ballet Frontier in 2022 and performed lead roles in Giselle, “Dew Drop” in The Nutcracker, Carmen, Endless by Lee Wei Chao, Paquita, Midsummer Night’s Eve, Romeo and Juliet, and The Sleeping Beauty. This is Katy’s inaugural season with Ballet Papillon, and she eagerly anticipates the future!

Lawrence's Dance journey began at Kelly's Dance Academy, then Mary Jo's Performing Arts Academy, in Tampa Florida and has now led him to Joffrey Ballet School, Texas. Lawrence has competed for 8 years and has performed a number of ballets. To date, his repertoire includes Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, Alice in Wonderland, and the Nutcracker. This season, Lawrence Carter will be finishing his senior year at JBS, TX, while also pursuing his professional dance career as a full-time artist with Ballet Papillon.

A Dallas, Texas native, Madeline started dance, age 3, at Royale Ballet Dance Academy under the direction of Angela Sham. She learned numerous styles of dance including ballet, jazz, lyrical, modern, contemporary, flamenco, and hip hop. At age 9, she added competitive hip hop with Fenton Fulgham into her schedule and excelled in a way she did not expect. Making captain of the team her first year was a huge accomplishment along with winning national competitions 3 years in a row. Madeline has performed and starred in ballets including The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty. She also performed the “Blue Bird” solo in the 2020 YAGP competition. Madeline has taught ballet, contemporary, and hip hop classes since the age of 16 at various studios across DFW; and, she is also RAD trained and has completed and passed all exams leading up to Advanced One. Madeline discovered her love of dance at a very young age and wants to share that love with anyone who crosses her path. Her mentors include Angela Sham, Hailey Von Schlehenried, and Kaley Jensen. She is so blessed and excited to be joining Ballet Papillon as a Company Dancer for the 2024-2025 season!

Born and raised in Saint Louis, Missouri, Madeline Wichmer trained at Saint Louis Ballet School and Dance Center of Kirkwood. Madeline later earned her Bachelor of Fine Arts at the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s Conservatory where she had the opportunity to dance “Helena” in David Justin’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream and the Pas de Deux from his Make Our Garden Grow, perform Les Sylphides, perform on national television in Michael Blake’s duet “Love Awaits”, and dance in the premier of Jae Man Joo’s Between Sky and Water. She also has danced professionally with Kansas City Ballet, under the direction of Devon Carney, and with Saint Louis Ballet, under the direction of Gen Horiuchi. Madeline recently danced with Ballet Frontier of Texas for two seasons, under the direction of Chung Lin and Enrica Tseng, where she performed in ballets including Carmen, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, and Romeo and Juliet. Madeline received additional training at summer intensives through Kansas City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, A&A Ballet, and the Big Muddy Dance Company.

Rachel Bocchi grew up in Lakewood, Washington, where she began her dance training at the age of two. She danced with Metropolitan Ballet of Tacoma under the direction of Damaris Caughlan for 13 years until continuing her dance education at The University of Alabama. Rachel received her BA in Dance and Advertising from the University of Alabama in 2024. During her time at the University of Alabama Theatre and Dance Department, Rachel performed various works in Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre, Dance Alabama, and The Dance Alabama Film Festival. She has been blessed with the opportunity to dance as a guest artist at Druid City School of Ballet and Corpo along with the opportunity to bring dance to under-served communities through the Dance Honor Society of Alabama. Rachel is so excited to be a part of Ballet Papillon.

Stephanie Eggers is from Kildeer, IL, and grew up training at Barrington Dance Academy as well as attending summer programs with Chicago Repertory Ballet, Ballet West, and Kaatsbaan Extreme Ballet. Stephanie graduated from the University of Oklahoma (OU) in 2022 with a BFA in Ballet Performance, BS in Biology with Honors, and a Minor in Psychology. While at OU, she performed in works including Falling Angels by Jiří Kylián, in Sleeping Beauty’s “Pas de Trois”, Near Light by Tommie-Waheed Evans, Viva Vivaldi by Gerald Arpino, Signature by Price Suddarth, the “Doll” role in Willam Christensen's The Nutcracker, and I Rise by Amy Hall Garner. She danced as a soloist in Ballet Vermont’s Farm to Ballet Project in 2021 and as a principal in 2022. Stephanie then danced with Ballet Quad Cities for two seasons and performed with Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance in Heather Maloy’s world premiere of her ballet Cleopatra.