Danse Etoile Ballet

The dancer believes that his art has something to say which cannot be expressed in words or in any other way than by dancing… ” Doris Humphrey 1937
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Marie-Jose Payannet - Artistic Director
 

  

 

The Company

 

Natalie Roubique

 

 Originally from Colorado, Natalie has trained at Ballet Nouveau Colorado, and the Academy of Colorado Ballet. She also performed with Dance Art Studio's performing group 'Fusion.'
Natalie spent two years in Joffrey Ballet School's trainee program in New York City under the direction of John Magnus. The summer of 2010 she trained with The City Ballet and Milwakee Ballet. She has danced in Danse Etoile's "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Impression" . Last season, she was a memorable Sallie in "The Nightmare before Christmas Eve", and the title role of "Pinocchio".
She is happy to train and perform again with Danse Etoile Ballet for her third season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tess Victoria

 

 Tess Victoria took her first dance class a the age of two and has been chasseing through life ever since! She has trained in many styles of dance including ballroom, modern, jazz, lyrical, hip-hop and tap, but her heart belongs to ballet. She is thrilled to be in her third season with Danse Etoile, and is sure to grow in her love of dance with Marie-Jose as her mentor! She was in Danse Etoile productions of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Impression" . She was a memorable Jack in the recent production of "The Nightmare Before Christmas Eve", and danced many feature roles in "Pinnochio". She has competed in the Youth Grand Prix. Tess has recently become a familiar face to many Deaf kids by performing as a shadow interpreter in Seussical (bird girls), Just So (giraffe) and, Schoolhouse Rock(Tom) at the Arvada Center. Tess trained with the Boston Ballet pre-professional intensive for 5 weeks this past summer.
When not dancing, Tess can be found behind a boat on a wakeboard, defying gravity on the trampoline, or enjoying time with her wonderful family, and many pets.
"Dance with your heart and give everything you have." ~Tess Victoria

 

 

 

 

MacKenzie Ramsey

 

MacKenzie began dance at age 3 in Houston, TX then poursue her training at Reverence Academy if Dance in Colorado. She joined Danse Etoile in 2009 to focus on her ballet technique. She was featured in "The Nightmare before Christmas Eve" and was the malicious cat in "Pinocchio". She is also a member of her school’s honor choir and drama club.  She is delighted to be in her second season with Danse Etoile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

  

 

Meagan Knox

 

Meagan is a student at Peak to Peak in Lafayette. She began dancing when she was 3 years old at the Lafayette Rec Center, then took classes in ballet, jazz and hip hop at the Louisville Dance Company. At age 5 she moved to Ballet Nouveau Colorado where she performed in the Nutcracker for three seasons. Meagan joined Danse Etoile in January of 2008. In March and May 2009, she performed as a guest artist in Danse Etoile’s Triplettes of Belville and in last season's productions of "How the Grinch Stole Christmas" and "Impressions". She danced the difficult and emotional part of the "The Little Match Girl" in December 2010 and danced many featured parts in "Pinocchio." Beside her love for dance, Meagan plays flute at Peak to Peak and at Rocky Mountain Center for Music and Arts. She has been accepted in the advanced level of Atlanta Ballet intensive and other summer intensives around the country. Meagan is excited to be dancing with Danse Etoile for her 4th season. 

 

 

 

Rachel Dreher

 

Rachel lives in Louisville, Colorado, and attends Fairview High School. She started dancing when she was six years old, and has been dancing ever since. She loves ballet the most, but has also done a little jazz, lyrical and tap. Last summer, she attended the Boston Ballet Summer Dance Program in Newton. Up until last year, she danced with Reverence Academy of Dance, but switched to Danse Etoile Ballet this year. She loves Danse Etoile ballet, and all the people there. In addition to ballet, she is in her high school choir, and does musicals with Center Stage Theater Company.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 Amanda Greening


Amanda Greening began dancing at age 6, taking hip-hop classes and performed with Motion Underground in 2004-2005. In 2009, she trained at Lemon Sponge Cake Contemporary Ballet. Amanda also performed with Monarch HS Color Guard at marching band competitions for a few seasons. She performed as a guest artist in Danse Etoile's "The Little Match Girl, The Nightmare Before Christmas Eve" and "Pinocchio". She considers it a blessing to train and perform with Danse Etoile Ballet.


 The Apprentice Company

 

 

Christopher Darling

 

Christopher is from Wichita, Kansas. He began taking ballet as part of his figure skating training. Christopher was a competitive figure skater for the last 12 years and was a Regional Championships medalist and 7 time Sectional Championships competitor. He has performed in several professional ice skating shows and has been invited to perform as a special guest in many shows across Colorado and the U.S.. He is currently coaching figure skating at the Westminster Promenade Ice Centre. He is now returning to ballet for the further development of his technique and to aid in his choreographic skills for figure skating. Christopher enjoys choreographing programs for figure skaters and knows that ballet will help take his choreography to a higher level. "I am very thankful to Marie-Jose for allowing me to be a part of her dance company. I really enjoy working with her and all of her fabulous dancers at Danse Etoile!"

 

 

 

 

 

Olivia Neilands

 

Olivia Neilands is a sophomore at Peak to Peak  High School. She started dancing with Toledo Ballet at age 5. After a long hiatus, where she pursued softball and figure skating Olivia started dancing with Danse Etoile in 2007 as a means to improve her skating.  She has performed with Danse Etoile as a guest artist in "The Little Match Girl, The Nightmare Before Christmas Eve" and "Pinocchio". Olivia is very excited to join Danse Etoile’s apprentice company for the 2011-2012 season.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Kiera O'Neil

 

Kiera is the youngest member of the company. She started ballet with Marie-Jose and performed in Danse Etoile's How the Grinch Stole Christmas, Impressions, The Nightmare Before Christmas Eve and Pinocchio. Last summer, she trained for 2 weeks with The Jilliana School of Dance summer intensive in Taos. She is excited to join the company as an apprentice this year.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Carolyn Oliver

 

Carolyn Oliver waited, for some ridiculous reason, to begin dance until a later age. She sampled classes in 8th grade, and falling in love with it, danced with Dance Arts Studio’s performing groups 3D then Fusion for two years. She also dabbles in acting, which includes the role of Gwendolyn Fairfax in The Importance of Being Earnest as a sophomore. This year, an active junior at Broomfield High School, she is committed to their varsity pom squad and focusing her energies toward strengthening her ballet background with Marie-Jose and Danse Etoile.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Cooper Ramsey

 

Cooper loves to sing, write music and play the guitar. Cooper has had two years of ballroom dance. He is a Black Belt in Karate, a running back for the varsity football team at Centaurus High School in Lafayette and is also on the wrestling team.  Cooper loves to hang out with his friends and play video games. He performed as a guest artist in Danse Etoile's production of "Pinnochio." Cooper is delighted to join Danse Etoile as an apprentice company dancer and singer.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Rebecca Terry

 

Rebecca started ballet at the age of seven. She studied with Julia Walsh and with Belliston Ballet in Littleton. After a few years away from ballet, she began training with Danse Etoile Ballet in 2009 after seeing one their outreach program. When Rebecca isn’t dancing, she plays the piano. This is her second season performing with Danse Etoile. She performed as a guest artist in "Nightmare Before Christmas Eve, Little Match Girl", and "Pinocchio". Rebecca is happy to be dancing as an apprentice this year. She wants to thank Marie-Jose and her family for the privilege to be dancing with the company!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Character Artists

 

 

Cecile Kyriakos

 

Cécile is originally from Southern France.  She grew up between her love for words and the performing arts.  She earned her PhD in Francophone literature and Music from the University of Colorado at Boulder in 2009.  Cécile is a trained ballet dancer and mime (Decroux technique).  She also studied Argentine tango and flamenco since 1999.  She performed with Boulder Ballet, Maria Vazquez Flamenco Company.  In 2009, was her first appearance with Danse Étoile Ballet' s The Triplettes of Belville. In 2010, she performed in Danse Etoile's Impressions and gave birth to a lovely little girl named Sophia. She was a wonderful Gepetto in the 2011 world-premiere of Pinocchio. She is grateful to Danse Etoile to let her express her poetic way of life. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Stacey Gibbs

 

Native to Colorado, Stacey has spent most of her adult life studying liberal and performing arts.  Trained in directing, costume design/construction, scriptwriting, modern dance and creative movement.  Currently she is taking a scholastic hiatus to raise her daughter, and has been blessed with the opportunity to continue her study of dance.  Stacey's objective is to integrate her knowledge of liberal arts with the performing arts.  She is grateful to Marie-Jose Payannet for this opportunity and her deific tutelage.  Stacey's long term goal is to have her own practice in dance therapy.  She has also apprenticed' for Ascential Dance and has to give a holler out to Jen Fagan Archer for her support.  She performed in "The Little Match Girl", "The Nightmare before Christmas Eve", and was a very funny, high energy  "Octopus" in "Pinnochio."