Lynette Mason Gregg, Founder, founded the Royal Academy of Fine Arts in 1972 with a desire to establish a professional training facility for aspiring dancers and to enrich the overall atmosphere of the community. Having been involved with dance since the age of three, she left the Houston area to continue her studies internationally. After a time in Europe and Asia, she established her first school in the Imperial Ballet of Tokyo, Japan. During this time, Lynette was also exposed to the world famous Kirov and Bolshoi Ballet companies. Prior to returning to Texas, she continued her studies in Washington D.C. and New York City. Lynette is certified by the South Texas Association of Teachers of Dance, which is a chapter of Dance Masters of America. Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre is an honor company member of Regional Dance America/Southwest. Lynette served as the past president of the RDA Southwest Region and the treasurer of RDA’s National Board. She formerly served as the Gulf Coast Regional Director to the Texas Assembly of Arts Councils and developed a ballet curriculum for San Jacinto College District where she served on the faculty for two years. In 1981 Lynette was named Outstanding Citizen of Deer Park by the Deer Park Chamber of Commerce. Ms. Mason Gregg has also served on the board of the Cultural Arts Council of Houston/Harris County, now known as The Houston Arts Alliance.

Dwain Travis, Artist in Residence, Dwain began professional dance training at age nine with Misha Bart at the Royal Academy of Fine Arts. At twelve, he was accepted to train at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC, where he continued his studies in Russian Vaganova ballet. For four years, he trained with teachers such as Vladimir Djouloukhadze, Anatoli Kucheruk, Angelina Armeiskaya, and Yelena Vinogradova. During this time, Dwain performed pieces from ballets such as The Nutcracker, Giselle, Die Puppenfee, The Little Humpbacked Horse, La Fille Mal Garde, and contemporary pieces by Amber Thornton, among many others. During his junior year of high school, Dwain moved back home and trained at Houston Ballet, with teachers such as Claudio Munoz and Stanton Welch. Here, he had the opportunity to perform in Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker at the Wortham Theatre, as well as several studio performances. Dwain has also performed with other companies and schools such as Galveston Ballet, League City Ballet, the Universal Ballet Association, Beaumont Ballet Theatre, the Harid Conservatory, the Joffrey Ballet School, and the Jacob’s Pillow Dance Festival. Recently, Dwain began exploring the world of choreography with his first piece, Dearly Departed, being selected to perform at the RDA/SW Dance Festival. From here he was selected to attend the 2010 Craft of Choreography conference at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts and was also awarded the RDA Choreography Connection Grant. Currently Dwain is attending college at the University of Houston while dancing with the Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre, under director Lynette Mason-Gregg and ballet master Luis Fuente..

Natasha Aksamentov, Principal, has studied ballet, tap and jazz at RAFA for the past 13 years and has completed five levels of the Vaganova program with Misha Bart. She has performed in a variety of BAHBT productions including Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Giselle, Coppelia, On Edge, Edward Scissorhands, Firebird, Carmen, Dance Combustion, Swan Lake, Fusion in Sync and nine seasons of The Nutcracker. This is Natasha’s 5th year in BAHBT. In 2007 and 2008, she traveled with the BAHBT scholarship group to study at the Joffrey School of Ballet. In 2009, Natasha was awarded the BAHBT Helen Mason Scholarship and was accepted at the American Ballet Theater Intensive in New York. She is currently a senior attending Clear Horizons Early College High School. Natasha is looking forward to a spectacular year and would like to thank Ms. Lynette and the RAFA staff for their ongoing support and encouragement of pursuing her dreams.

Ellona Delac, Principal, began dancing with RAFA at age eight and is now entering her fifth year with the company. She participated in many BAHBT productions including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Carmen, Firebird, Dracula, and eight seasons of The Nutcracker. Ellona appeared in RAFA’s musical productions of Seussical, Annie, RAFA on Broadway, and Guys and Dolls Jr. She studied in New York City with the Radio City Rockettes, Alvin Ailey and Steps. She has been the recipient of four choreography awards at RAFA. Ellona enjoys singing and has performed in Houston Grand Opera’s The Little Prince. This year she will be a freshman at University of St. Thomas and is very excited. Ellona would like to thank Ms. Lynette for her knowledge and guidance, Luis Fuente and RAFA staff for their support and encouragement, and her family and friends for all their love and support for getting her where she is today.

Ellen Gaudet, Principal, has studied ballet, tap, and jazz at RAFA for the last 11 years. This is Ellen’s fifth year as a company member, and she has performed in many BAHBT productions, including 10 seasons of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Coppelia, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Cinderella, On Edge, Retrospective, Dance Combustion, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Dracula, and Site Specific. She traveled to NYC on scholarships in 2008 and 2009 to study at the School of American Ballet and Broadway Dance Center. Ellen completed five levels of the Vaganova program with Mr. Misha Bart, and currently loves learning from Mr. Luis Fuente. Ellen is a very involved senior at Clear Creek High School and is the Editor-in-Chief of the school’s newspaper. She is blessed to be dancing again and is so grateful to her amazing family, Ms. Lynette, and friends for their unending support. She hopes to continue dancing through college while pursuing a career as a pediatrician.

Madeline Gladu, Principal, began dancing at the age of four at the Houston Metropolitan Dance Center, followed by training at Hawaii State Ballet, directed by John Landovsky. At the age of nine, she returned to Texas and joined RAFA, working with Misha Bart in the Vaganova class. After two years in Preludes, she advanced to the Corps de Ballet. Highlights of her time at BAHBT include performing the role of Clara in The Nutcracker. She has danced in BAHBT productions of The Sleeping Beauty, Retrospective, Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands, Dance Combustion, Firebird, Carmen, Cinderella, and her favorite, Fusion in Sync. Currently a senior at Clear Lake High School, Madeline thanks her dance teachers, especially Luis Fuente, for their knowledge and patience, her family for their support, and her sister Amanda for her unending inspiration.

Julie Whitmore, Principal, has been dancing with RAFA for 11 years, and is now entering her fourth year with the company. Julie has been part of The Nutcracker for 10 seasons and participated in BAHBT’s other productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Firebird and Carmen, Fusion in Sync, Cinderella, and Dracula. She has also performed on Gala for the Regional Dance America festival. This past summer, she traveled to New York City with the BAHBT scholarship where she studied at American Ballet Theater, and previously studied at STEPS. Julie is currently a junior at Clear Lake High School.

Kristen Michelle Kluber, Soloist, joined RAFA at age eight after five years of gymnastics. Kristen has performed in various BAHBT productions, including The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Retrospective, Dracula, and five consecutive seasons of The Nutcracker under Lynette Mason Gregg’s direction; Grease under Mr. Kevin Cahoon’s direction. Kristen was with the Preludes for five consecutive years. She has received four choreography awards and was RAFA’s 2008 Most Improved Student. She has attended summer intensive programs at RAFA, Ballet Austin and this past summer at American Ballet Theater’s Summer Intensive in Austin. Kristen is currently a sophomore at Clear Lake High School. She is very excited to be in BAHBT’s Company for her second year and would like to thank Ms. Lynette, family, and friends for all their support.

Nicole Lide, Soloist, began dancing at the age of five training in ballet, jazz, tap, and later in modern, and lyrical. She has studied with various studios and instructors as well as participated in summer intensives hosted by Ballet Magnificat!, Dance Ad Deum, and Houston Ballet receiving instruction from Kathy Thibodeaux, Sol Nazario, Jiri Sabastian, and Randall Flinn. At the age of 14, Nicole began dancing with RAFA and BAHBT. Now dancing her fourth season with BAHBT, she has participated in the productions of Dance Combustion, Firebird, Carmen, Fusion in Sync, Cinderella, Dracula, Site Specific, four seasons of The Nutcracker and RAFA’s Wizard of OZ. Grateful for all she has learned in the past year with RAFA and BAHBT, Nicole is excited about this year! Nicole has participated in the Lunar Rendezvous Festival as a court princess, is actively involved in her church, school, and community. Nicole is a senior and honor student at Clear Creek High School.

Sabrina Carver, Corps de Ballet, an eighth grader at Space Center Intermediate and a member of NJHS, has studied dance since the age of three at RAFA. She has performed in BAHBT productions such as Cinderella, Grease, Dracula, Annie, and eight seasons of The Nutcracker in roles such as Little Party Girl, Naughty Gingerchild, and her most memorable role for the past three years, Clara. Sabrina is the recipient of the 2010 Prima Prelude award and has been awarded a BAHBT Scholarship. She has trained in New York at Joffrey Ballet School, Broadway Dance Center, and attended the 2010 American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in Austin. Sabrina is aspiring to become a professional dancer and would love to thank her family and her RAFA family for their love and support.

Elizabeth Fosdick, Corps de Ballet, began her training in ballet at age eight and jazz at age 11, working with ballet instructors Luis Fuente, Heather Steele, Melina Leben, Angela Lopez, Irena Vakhromeeva, and jazz teachers Kristina Burgess and Cara Shanks. She has performed in BAHBT’s Dracula, Cinderella, and The Nutcracker for four years. She recently attended an intensive at RAFA under ballet instructor Olga Kostrizky, and contemporary instructor Andrew Palermo as well as attending a Joffrey Ballet School’s jazz and contemporary intensive. She studied piano for 3 years starting at the age of eight and continues to play and compose music as well as drawing art.

Christine Gouldin, Corps de Ballet, is in her ninth season with BAHBT. She has performed in BAHBT’s The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Retrospective, Cinderella, and a special performance You Turned My Mourning into Dancing. She has attended RAFA since the age of six studying ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theatre and was a Prelude for five years. She studied at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Christine is a senior at Clear Lake High School and takes dual-credit courses with San Jacinto College. She performs as a Flair on the dance and drill team. Christine dreams of having a career in dance and a veterinarian degree.

Rebecca Herrod, Corps de Ballet, is very proud to be a member of BAHBT. She began her dance training at RAFA at age five and has had many wonderful teachers including Lynette Mason Gregg, Luis Fuente, Heather Steele, Natalie Zundel, Kristina Burgess and Cara Shanks. She has also been very fortunate to participate in Grease, Suessical, Footloose and Annie under the direction of Kevin Cahoon. She has participated in several BAHBT and Broadway Studio Workshop productions and eight seasons of The Nutcracker in various roles such as a Gingerchild, an Angel, a Rat and in the Regiment. Rebecca is a sophomore at Clear Creek HS and is a proud member of the Wildcat Band.

Mary Shannon McFall, Corps de Ballet, has been dancing since the age of five. She has performed in BAHBT’s The Nutcracker for the last eight years, and has also danced in BAHBT’s productions of Retrospective, The Sleeping Beauty, Edward Scissorhands, Swan Lake, Cinderella, Grease, and Dracula. She has performed in several Broadway Studio Workshop productions including Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get Your Gun, Annie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, RAFA on Broadway, and The Music Man (Mrs. Paroo). She was the 2008 recipient of the Prima Prelude award from RAFA, and went on the NYC Scholarship Trip in 2011. She is a homeschooled junior. When she is not dancing, Mary Shannon enjoys drawing and painting.

Avery Ballard, Apprentice, is thrilled to join the BAHBT Company! She has grown up performing and loves being on stage. Since she began at the age of five, Avery has trained exclusively with RAFA in dance and musical theater. She has appeared in BAHBT productions of The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Dracula, Grease, Gypsy (with Andrea McArdle) and most recently, Annie as the STAR-TO-BE. Avery has also performed in numerous RAFA Broadway Studio Workshops. Her favorite credits include Annie (Annie), Once Upon a Mattress (Princess Winifred), Seussical (Sour Kangaroo), Singing in the Rain (Lina Lamont) and The Sound of Music (Marta).

Hayley Butcher, Apprentice, began dance at age two at the Eugene School of Ballet in Eugene, Oregon. She has continued her dance training at RAFA for the past seven years. Hayley has performed in BAHBT productions of The Nutcracker, Grease, Cinderella and Dracula. She has also performed in numerous Broadway Studio Workshops with Suessical and Footloose among her favorites. She is excited for her first year as a BAHBT company member and her fourth year as a member of Preludes. Hayley is a freshman at Clear Brook High School and would like to thank Ms. Lynette, Ms. Heather, and Luis Fuente for their support and guidance.

Madalyn Grossman, Apprentice, began dancing at the age of two and has continued studying ballet, tap and jazz at RAFA since the age of five. Madalyn has enjoyed performing in various BAHBT productions including Cinderella, Dracula and nine seasons of The Nutcracker. She has performed in RAFA’s Wizard of Oz, Alice in Wonderland and Peter Pan. Madalyn was the recipient of the 2011 Prima Prelude award. Madalyn is excited to begin her first season as a BAHBT company member and to continue as a third year Prelude. She would like to thank RAFA and her family for all their love and support and thank God who makes all this possible.

Benjamin Monical, Apprentice, is proud to be joining both BAHBT and Preludes for his first season. He has studied for one year at RAFA and is excited to study under Luis Fuente. He has performed for nine seasons in BAHBT’s The Nutcracker. He has studied at dance intensives at RAFA and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Benjamin is a sophomore at Clear Lake High School and is working toward a career in ballet. He would like to thank Luis Fuente and Lynette Mason Gregg for their teaching and mentoring.

Isabella Vik, Apprentice, began training in ballet at the age of three and came to RAFA at age eight. She has been under teachers such as Misha Bart, Luis Fuente, Olga Kostritzky, Natalie Zundel, Milena Leben and Heather Steele. Isabella is aspiring to become a professional ballet dancer under the guidance of her teachers. Ballet has been a huge impact on her life making the company her second family. She is enjoying this seasons collection of performances! She would like to thank her teachers for all the love and support throughout the years and can’t wait to one day grow into a beautiful Swan or perhaps a Sugar Plum Fairy.

Janae Bonnen, Auxiliary, is excited for her first year in company, as well as her first year at RAFA. She previously studied for 11 years and assistant taught for five years at Bonnie Siscoe. She has performed in several musicals and dance concerts. Janae is also involved in choir, theatre and the annual musical at Friendswood High School, where she is a sophomore. She dreams of dancing professionally or performing on Broadway.

Jacqueline Kopra, Auxiliary, began her ballet training at the age of three and has studied at RAFA since age five. This is her second season as a BAHBT company member after three seasons with the Preludes. Jacqueline has performed in BAHBT’s Cinderella, Grease, Dracula, Site Specific, Annie, and three seasons of The Nutcracker, most recently as Clara. She has also performed in RAFA’s Alice in Wonderland, Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. She has attended summer intensives at Ballet Austin and the Joffrey Ballet School, including this past summer as a BAHBT Scholarship Recipient. Jacqueline is a sophomore at Clear Springs High School.

Gabriella McCauley, Auxiliary, has been dancing and acting since the age of three and with RAFA for 10 years. She has been in BAHBT’s production of The Nutcracker for the last three years. She is involved in choir, theatre and the community and hopes to be on Broadway. She is a junior at Clear Springs High School. When Bria is not acting or dancing, she is singing and talking to friends on the phone for hours.

Anna Rigby, Auxiliary, is entering her fourth season with the company. She is a senior at Clear Creek High School. Anna is the President of the Symphonic Chorale and a two year Mixed All State Choir Member. Some of her favorite BAHBT productions have included The Nutcracker, Grease, and Cinderella. She looks forward to attending college next fall and eventually graduating from law school!