Jennifer Grace, an accomplished ballet dancer, began her captivating journey in the scenic landscapes of Bozeman, Montana. Her passion for ballet blossomed under the tutelage of The Dance Center until she was 13, followed by intensive training at The Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow, Russia, and further refinement at the Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy upon returning to the United States.
In July of 2013, Jennifer joined the notable Tulsa Ballet Second Company, marking the beginning of a remarkable ascent in her career. Her talent and dedication were quickly recognized, leading to her swift rise through the ranks, she was promoted to Corps de Ballet within months. Her debut season showcased her extraordinary talent, portraying iconic roles such as Hermia and Titania in Christopher Wheeldon's "A Midsummer Night's Dream" and captivating audiences as Aurora in "Sleeping Beauty.”
Jennifer's artistry continued to flourish, earning her the position of Soloist in 2017. Her performances epitomized grace, precision, and an undeniable stage presence. In 2020, she embarked on a new and pivotal chapter, joining the esteemed Colorado Ballet as a Soloist. Her arrival marked a significant milestone in her career, further solidifying her reputation as a distinguished and versatile dancer. Her exceptional talent and dedication swiftly led to her elevation to the prestigious role of Principal Dancer in October 2021, solidifying her as a luminous figure in the ballet realm.
Among Jennifer Grace's unforgettable performances are her portrayals of iconic roles such as Odette/Odile in "Swan Lake," Giselle and Myrtha in "Giselle," Juliet in Derek Deane's "Romeo and Juliet," Marguerite in Val Caniparoli’s "Lady of the Camellias," and the enchanting Cinderella in Ben Stevenson's "Cinderella."
Offstage, Jennifer remains dedicated to mentoring young dancers, sharing her expertise, and nurturing the next generation of ballet talent. She began teaching adult ballet in Tulsa and conducted summer intensives with The Dance Center in 2019 and 2021 and Evergreen School of Ballet in 2023. Her commitment to imparting knowledge and expertise extends beyond borders, as she currently serves as Guest Faculty with The Boston Ballet Summer Intensive since 2022, inspiring and guiding young dancers in their pursuit of excellence. Her unwavering commitment to her craft, coupled with her vibrant spirit, establishes her as an iconic presence both on and off the stage. Miss Jennifer teaches ESB's more advanced students.
Jennifer Grace
ESB Artist-in-Residence
Colorado Ballet Principal Dancer
Gabby Giles
Gabby Giles is from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and began her training with Philadelphia Dance
Theater under the direction of Joy Delaney Capponi. Gabby continued her dance training at the
University of Cincinnati College Conservatory of Music where she received a BFA in ballet and
an English minor. While in college, she danced with the Richmond Ballet for two years as a
trainee and performed classics such as Serenade, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. She was
also a company member of Kim Robards Dance. Gabby has worked with artists such as Pablo
Francisco Ruvalcaba, Colin Connor, Malcolm Burn, Jerri Kumery, Jasmine Grace and Deirdre
Carberry during her professional career. Gabby is currently dancing with 3rd Law
Dance/Theater as of Fall 2023. Miss Gabby teaches Ballet and Contemporary at the Evergreen
School of Ballet. She is Assistant Director of ESB's stage productions.
August Jones
August began teaching at ESB in 2022 and has always loved expressing themselves through dance and sharing their love of dance with their students. August also teaches at the Peak Academy of Dance. They have studied ballet, tap, jazz, modern, lyrical, and aerial, and are an active member of NHSDA. August spent the Summer of 2023 as a Student Supervisor at the Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive. Autumn teaches tap and ballet at ESB.
John Nash & Hillary Roland
John & Hillary teach Capoeira at the Evergreen School of Ballet.
Vern Lazar
Born and raised in Mesa, Arizona, Vern Lazar began dancing at the age of three. Lazar attended Desert Ridge High School where she was the treasurer and choreographer for the dance team, Pulse. Outside of school, she attended Artistic Motion Dance as an assistant dance teacher and senior company member, which involved rigorous training in tap, jazz, ballet, contemporary, lyrical, and modern. In May 2023, Lazar graduated as an honors student from Colorado State University with a BA in Dance and Journalism and Media Communications. Currently, Lazar is a dancer for Vitality [The Company] and teaches and choreographs around the Denver area. She wants to continue in her dance performance and teaching career and is excited for all that the professional world has to offer. Miss Vern will be teaching Hip-hop, Ballet, and Contemporary at ESB and for our After School Enrichment program at Evergreen Country Day School.
Kelly Russell
Hi There! My name is Kelly Russell, aka ‘Ms. Kelly’, and I have been sharing my absolute love of dance for over 20 years! I started out dancing at the age of 3, danced all the way through school and went on to earn a dance scholarship to the University of Texas in Austin. I have danced professionally in companies throughout Texas and Colorado, but teaching and sharing my passion for dance, is my FAVORITE! I enjoy exploring all types of movement and dance, but have a real connection to Creative Movement, Ballet, Modern, and Jazz. I have been teaching for over 20 years in studios, schools and preschools throughout Texas and Colorado, and enjoy working with all ages, from 2 years old to adults. When I am not in the studio, you can be sure I am dancing, singing, and playing at home with my own 2 kids. I am so thrilled to be here and can’t wait to dance with you! Ms. Kelly teaches After School Enrichment at Evergreen Country Day School and Parmalee Elementary.
Dani Hicks
I teach dance, art, and theater classes to kids and adults. I have taught in the Denver area through Denver Public Schools and local companies like Golden Dance Arts for over twenty years. Bringing my excitement about dance to class is a joy of mine and I hope kids leave my class enthusiastic about dance.
Brieanna Olson
Brieanna Mary Olson was raised in Colorado Springs, Colorado and trained under the direction of German and Valentina Zamuel and Mark and Sandra Carlson. Brieanna Mary has been awarded numerous scholarships including The Denver Ballet Guild Young Dancers Competition, Esther Geoffery Young Dancers Scholarship Competition twice and Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). Brieanna won the Grand Prix Award at the regional competition in Denver, Colorado, and continued on to the YAGP New York finals where she was an accomplished two-time top twelve finalist. Brieanna Mary has also received numerous scholarships with The Washington Ballet School and had the privilege to perform in Septime Weber’s The Nutcracker. Brieanna was the Cricket in Debbie Allen’s Pepito’s Story.
Brieanna's professional career was with Ballet San Jose where she danced under the direction of Dennis Nahat, Wes Chapman, and José Manuel Carreño – all former principals with American Ballet Theatre. Brieanna has performed in many soloist and principal roles including Maria in Nahat’s The Nutcracker and Swan Lake. Bruch Violin Concerto No. 1 choreographed by Clark Tippet and Paquita. Including works by George Balanchine’s Square Dance, Allegro Brilliante, Serenade and Who Cares?. As well as Anthony Tudor’s Continuo, Ben Stevenson’s Cinderella, Jerome Robbins Interplay and Dwight Rhoden’s Evermore.