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 3, 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.

Mitchell Chrisenberry — has been with Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre since 1979 where he first performed in the role of Rat King. Since then he has appeared in numerous ballets with Bay Area Houston Ballet & Theatre including Cinderella (Stepsister), Coppelia (Dr. Coppelius) and the Theater wing’s production of Oklahoma as Cord Elam. He also performed the title role in the world premier of Soili Arvola’s Dracula in 1998. Mitchell recently moved to Los Angeles to pursue a professional acting career. He is currently a background performer and has done several independent and student films including Emerson’s Effects, Cult Movie, Who Stole the Electric Car, and Jack Everyman which was shot in Houston. Mitchell has also appeared in such television shows as Monk, Parks and Recreation, and Cold Case as well as the movies Ironman and Pineapple Express. Before his move to LA, Mitchell has been associated with several theatres in the surrounding communities. He has performed in The Musical Comedy Murders of 1940 with the Art Park Players in Deer Park, 42nd Street and Li’l Abner with Mainland Theatre at College of the Mainland, Foxfire with Clear Creek Country Theatre in Nassau Bay, Pirates of Penzance with Harbour Playhouse in Dickinson and Brigadoon and Hello Dolly with the United Players in Friendswood. Mitchell is also a guest artist for RAFA’s Formal Productions of Peter Pan, Alice In Wonderland, and The Wizard of OZ.

Travis Dwain Baggett, Artist in Residence, began his professional dance training at the age of 9 with Misha Bart at RAFA. At 12, Travis was accepted at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC, where he continued training in the Russian Vaganova method of ballet. For four years at the Kirov, he trained with teachers such as Vladimir Djouloukhadze, and Yelena Vinogradova, and performed selected pieces from ballets such as Giselle, Die Puppenfee, The Little Humpbacked Horse, and La Fille Mal Garde. Travis then spent a year with the Houston Ballet, training with teachers such as Claudio Munoz and Stanton Welch. Travis has also performed with other companies and schools such as the Galveston Ballet, the Houston International Ballet Academy, Jacob’s Pillow, the Harid Conservatory, the Universal Ballet Association, and the Joffrey Ballet School. Currently Travis is studying Graphic Design at the University of Houston while dancing with BAHBT.

Kate Chappell, Principal, began her dance training at age 3 and has been with RAFA since age 4. She has performed in many BAHBT productions including Coppelia, On Edge, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, The Firebird, Carmen, and The Nutcracker for eleven consecutive seasons. She attended the International Vaganova Workshop in 2003; Houston Ballet intensive for two summers, American Ballet Theater summer intensive in Austin in 2008, received BAHBT’s Lunar Rendezvous Scholarship to train in New York City at the Joffrey Ballet School in 2007 and 2009, and most recently attended the American Ballet Theater summer intensive in Orange County, California. Kate is in RAFA’s Graded Division and has studied under Misha Bart, Milena Leben, and Luis Fuente. She is a senior at Clear Lake High School.

Kelly Eastwood, Principal, is entering her 5th year with the company. She has appeared in various productions including BAHBT’s Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands, The Sleeping Beauty, Retrospective, Coppelia, On Edge, From Russia with Love, Cinderella, Annie Jr., Dance Combustion, The Firebird, and Carmen as well as nine seasons of The Nutcracker. Kelly has participated in BAHBT’s International Vaganova Workshop and has attended two Regional Dance America Festivals. She studied classical ballet at South Carolina’s Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities under the direction of Stanislav Issaev. With a scholarship from Space Center Rotary Club, Kelly traveled to Belgium, Germany and The Netherlands this summer as a Rotary Youth Exchange student. Currently a junior, she attends Clear Horizons Early College High School and San Jacinto College, where she is a member of Phi Theta Kappa Honor Society. Kelly serves as an acolyte at Clear Lake United Methodist Church.

Anna Rigby, Principal, is excited to be entering her 3rd year with the company after two years with the Preludes. She has danced in various BAHBT productions including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Retrospective, Edward Scissorhands, Swan Lake, Dance Combustion, Little Shop of Horrors, Footloose, RAFA on Broadway, Annie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and six seasons of The Nutcracker, her favorite roles being Clara, Spanish, and Arabian. She has been dancing at RAFA since 2004 and five levels of the Vaganova program with Misha Bart. The summer of 2007 Anna studied in New York City with the scholarship program and was accepted into the School of American Ballet where she studied under Katrina Killian, Sheryl Ware, Andrei Kramarevsky, and Susan Pillare. Anna is a sophomore at Clear Creek High School. She is involved in the choir program at Creek, and looks forward to singing in the chamber choir next year.

Aaron Wiggins, Principal, has been dancing with RAFA since the age of 4. He is now on his fifth season with BAHBT. Some of Aaron’s favorite roles include Puss in Boots, Snow King, Russian, and Bird. He also has performed many shows with RAFA’s Broadway Studio Workshops such as Into the Woods, The Music Man, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and Little Shop of Horrors. Aaron is a junior at Clear Springs High School. Right after he completes his high school education he is going to move to New York City to attend his dream college, NYU. After college he wants to become a professional ballet or contemporary dancer. Aaron would like to thank Ms. Lynette for all the help she has given him not only in his artistic development but also in development as a person.

Natasha Aksamentov, Soloist, has studied ballet, tap, and jazz at RAFA for the past 12 years. She has performed in a variety of BAHBT productions during these years including The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Giselle, Coppelia, On Edge, Edward Scissorhands, Firebird, Carmen, Dance Combustion and seven seasons of The Nutcracker. This is Natasha’s third year in the company. In the ’07 and ’08 summers, she traveled to New York City with the scholarship group to study at the Joffrey Ballet School. In the ’08-’09 scholarship year, Natasha was awarded the BAHBT Helen Mason scholarship to study at the American Ballet Theater in New York City. Natasha is currently a sophomore at Clear Horizons Early College High School. She would like to thank the RAFA faculty and staff for their knowledge and ongoing support.

Ellen Gaudet, Soloist, is excited to be entering her third year in the company. Ellen has been training at RAFA since 2000 and enjoyed five levels of the Vaganova program with Misha Bart. She has performed in many RAFA and BAHBT productions, including Sleeping Beauty, The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, Coppelia, Giselle, Cinderella, On Edge, Retrospective, Edward Scissorhands, Swan Lake, and eight seasons of The Nutcracker, in roles ranging from a rat to Clara. Ellen has traveled to New York City with the scholarship group for the past two summers where she studied at the School of American Ballet and Broadway Dance Center. Ellen is a sophomore at Clear Creek High School and would like to thank her family and Ms. Lynette for everything they have helped her to achieve.

Max Isaacson, Soloist, began his dance training at RAFA at the age of 7. This is his second year with the company. Max has danced in many BAHBT productions including Swan Lake, 30th Year BAHBT: A Retrospective, Cinderella, On Edge, The Sleeping Beauty, and six seasons of The Nutcracker. Max has spent the last two summers at the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. He is currently training under Luis Fuente. Max is aspiring to become a professional ballet dancer and would like to thank his wonderful parents for their constant support and Lynette Mason Gregg for opening many wonderful opportunities.

Jessica Jewell–Elliott, Soloist, has been dancing since the age of 3, and has danced at RAFA since the age of 7. She has trained with many instructors including Misha Bart, Milena Leben, and Louis Fuente. This is Jessica’s 3rd year in the BAHBT Company. She has been in multiple BAHBT productions including Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia, Swan Lake, Cinderella, The Nutcracker, On Edge, and Giselle. This past summer she was selected for the scholarship trip to New York and enjoyed the opportunity to dance at Broadway Dance Center. Jessica is so grateful for the opportunities she has been given at BAHBT and is so excited for this next year. She would also like to thank her parents and family for supporting her dance ambitions.

Elizabeth Lane, Soloist, started her dance training in Singapore, at the age of 7, under Ruby Kavanagh. At the age of 11 she transferred to RAFA and has enjoyed studying there since. This is her third season to perform with BAHBT. Elizabeth has performed in The Nutcracker for five seasons. In addition, she has appeared in BAHBT’s Cinderella, The Retrospective, Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Firebird. She has also appeared in the BSW productions of Fiddler on the Roof and 42nd Street. Elizabeth is a home schooled Senior and has recently been accepted into Eta Sigma Alpha National Home School Honor Society.

Chelsea Sanders, Soloist, a fourth year BAHBT company member has performed in many spectacular ballets such as Swan Lake, Carmen, and The Nutcracker. She loves performing such roles as Arabian, Spanish, Russian, and our beloved Clara. Chelsea studied at the Joffrey Ballet and Broadway Dance Center in NYC for two summers with the Helen Mason Scholarship Group. Chelsea has performed in numerous musicals at RAFA, TUTS, and most recently CCCT where she played lead roles, choreographed, and assisted in directing Singin’ in the Rain and Bye Bye Birdie. She thanks our directors and master teacher for providing a training program that enables dancers to be prepared and allowing her to submit her piece “Lifted up to the Lord” to the Southwest Regional Dance Association for adjudication to perform at its annual festival.

Megan Collins, Corps de Ballet, began dancing at the age of 4, with Judy and Becky Mann at Mann Dance Academy in New Mexico. Among her teachers are Misha Bart, Luis Fuente, Finis Jhung, Milena Leben, John Magnus, Beverly Spell, and Dontee Kiehn. Her performing credentials include RAFA’s Peter Pan and Alice in Wonderland; BAHBT’s Retrospective, Sleeping Beauty, Edward Scissorhands, Dance Combustion, Swan Lake, and two seasons of The Nutcracker. Her choreography has been awarded “Special Recognition” twice at RAFA’s annual Choreography Exhibition. She has attended intensives with The International Ballet School, Regional Dance America, Alvin Ailey, and The Ballet Studio. Megan, a junior at Pearland High School, is also in the National Honor Society.

Ellona Delac, Corps de Ballet, began dancing with RAFA at age 8 and is entering her third year with the company. She participated in the BAHBT productions Carmen & Firebird, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake and six seasons of The Nutcracker. Ellona has appeared in RAFA’s musical productions of Seussical, King & I, Annie Get Your Gun, RAFA on Broadway, and Guys and Dolls Jr. She has been the recipient of three choreography awards. Ellona performed in Houston Grand Opera’s The Little Prince. She has studied in New York City with the Radio City Rockettes and Broadway Dance Center. She’d like to thank all of her teachers at RAFA for their support and great instruction.

Madeline Gladu, Corps de Ballet, started her dance training at Houston Metropolitan Dance Center at the age of 4 until the age of 7. She then moved to Hawaii with her family and studied at Hawaii State Ballet for two years. At age 9 she moved back to Texas and has been dancing at RAFA for five years and BAHBT for four years. She has performed with BAHBT as Clara in The Nutcracker as well as other roles and has performed in BAHBT’s productions of Sleeping Beauty, Retrospective, Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands, Dance Combustion, Firebird & Carmen, and RAFA’s formal and informal Demonstrations. Madeline is now a sophomore at Clear Lake High School.

Rose Hale, Corps de Ballet, began dance and gymnastics at age 3. BAHBT performance credits include seven seasons of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Giselle, On Edge, Coppelia, From Russia with Love, Cinderella, The Best of BAHBT: A Retrospective, Sleeping Beauty and Edward Scissorhands. Musical Theatre Performances include A Touch of New York, A Touch of Broadway, Annie, Jr., Gypsy (as Baby Louise), The Music Man, Jr., and 42nd Street. She has attended Joffrey Ballet School and Broadway Dance Center in New York and traveled to France in summer 2007 to attend Academie Americaine De Danse De Paris. Rose was the recipient of RAFA’s most improved student and BAHBT’s Grand Espirit de Corps awards in 2006.

Kelsey Kincaid, Corps de Ballet, began dance at the age of 3, this is now her fifth year with RAFA. In 2007, Kelsey was a recipient of the BAHBT scholarship trip to New York where she trained at Broadway Dance Center, Alvin Ailey, and STEPS on Broadway. Kelsey has had the privilege to study under instructors such as Mia Michaels, Slam, John Magnus, and Luis Fuente. She also performs in the La Porte High School’s musicals annually. Kelsey would like to deeply thank Mrs. Lynette for all the wonderful opportunities she has made available to her.

Nicole Lide, Corps de Ballet, began dancing at the age of 5 training in ballet, jazz, tap, and later in modern, and lyrical. She has studied with various studios and instructors and participated in Ballet Magnificat’s and Dance Ad Deum’s summer intensives receiving instruction from Kathy Thibodeaux, Sol Nazario, Jiri Sabastian, and Randall Flinn. At age 14, Nicole began dancing with RAFA and BAHBT. Now entering her second season with BAHBT, she has participated in the productions of Dance Combustion, The Nutcracker, The Firebird, and Carmen. Grateful for all she has learned in the past year with RAFA and BAHBT, Nicole is excited about this year! Nicole is a sophomore at Clear Creek High School.

Kristina Olguin, Corps de Ballet, has been dancing with RAFA for nine years studying ballet, tap, and jazz with various instructors. She previously studied Vaganova under the direction of Misha Bart. This year will be her third year as a BAHBT company member. Kristina has performed in BAHBT’s productions of The Nutcracker for seven seasons, On Edge, The Sleeping Beauty, BAHBT’s Retrospective, Edward Scissorhands, Swan Lake, Dance Combustion, and Firebird/Carmen. She has also performed in RAFA’s productions of Alice in Wonderland, The Wizard of Oz, and Peter Pan. She is currently a sophomore at Clear Horizons Early College High School.

DeAnna Rivers, Corps de Ballet, began dancing at the age of 3, at Bay Area Christian Performing Arts Center, BACPAC, under the instruction of Melissa Sponholz, Artistic Director. While at BACPAC, DeAnna participated for three seasons in the Christmas production of Clara’s Gift, dancing in roles from party girl to angel. She is excited about entering her second year at RAFA and her first year with BAHBT. DeAnna performed in BAHBT’s production of The Nutcracker last season. She has also attended workshops with Dance Revolution in Dallas, Texas and most recently, attended Joffrey Ballet School’s Summer Intensive in New York. DeAnna is a home-schooled junior.

Alessandra Scotto, Corps de Ballet, began dancing at RAFA at the age of 5 and is in her third season with BAHBT. Alessandra has performed in five years of BAHBT’s The Nutcracker, as well as other productions, which include On Edge, Coppelia, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Retrospective, Edward Scissorhands, Swan Lake, Firebird, Carmen. She has performed in three musical theater productions as well, The Music Man Jr., 42nd Street and Fiddler on the Roof. She was a 2008-2009 scholarship recipient and spent four weeks in New York dancing this past summer. She is currently a junior at Lutheran South Academy and gives thanks to all those who have encouraged her to get this far.

Julie Whitmore, Corps de Ballet, began dancing at the age of 3 at Dance Tree for three years before coming to RAFA where she has remained for nine years. She is now entering her second year with the company. Julie has been part of The Nutcracker for eight seasons and participated in BAHBT’s other productions of Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and The Firebird and Carmen. She has also performed on Gala for the Regional Dance America festival. Julie is now a 9th grader at Clear Lake High School.

Christine Gouldin, Apprentice, has studied at RAFA since the age of 6 studying ballet, tap, jazz, and musical theatre. She has performed in BAHBT’s The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and The Retrospective. This is her 5th year as a Prelude and her first year as a BAHBT company member. She has studied at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Christine is a sophomore at Clear Lake High School.

Lauren Greiner, Apprentice, began her dance career at the age of 3. She continued her dance instruction at RAFA where she has been for 12 years studying ballet, jazz, tap, pointe, modern, musical theatre, and character. Lauren has performed in The Nutcracker for eight years, where she has reprised the role of rat, paige, regiment and party girl. She has been in ballets such as Edward Scizzorhands, Swan Lake and Sleeping Beauty. She was awarded a position with the 2008-2009 scholarship group and studied for four weeks at the Joffrey ballet in NYC. Lauren has been a member of BAHBT’s Preludes since 2006. She looks forward to continuing her future in dance.

Leah Hale, Apprentice, and Principal Prelude, began dancing at age 4 with RAFA. BAHBT performance credits include a variety of roles in The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, 30th Year BAHBT; A Retrospective, Edward Scissorhands, and Swan Lake. She has also performed in Gypsy, A Touch of Broadway, Annie Jr., and Fiddler on the Roof among others. Leah has studied under Misha Bart in the Vaganova Professional Division and was the recipient of RAFA’s most improved student for 2004-2005. She attended American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive in Alabama in summer 2008 and this past summer she studied dance at the Kirov Academy of Ballet of Washington, D.C. in addition to RAFA’s Summer Intensive.

Erinn Marie Jaet, Apprentice, began her dance instruction with RAFA at the age of 3 and has had the privilege to train with notable faculty to include Luis Fuente, Amber Thornton, Paige Wheat, Milena Leben, and Irina Vakhromeeva. She is the recipient of RAFA’s 2008 Most Improved Student and consecutive choreography awards from 2007-2009. Under the direction of Lynette Mason Gregg, Erinn has performed in The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and The Retrospective, as well as eight seasons of The Nutcracker in roles ranging from the Naughty Gingerchild to Clara. In 2009, Erinn studied at Joffrey Ballet in NYC as a BAHBT scholarship recipient. Erinn is a freshman at Clear Lake High School.

Heather Johnston, Apprentice, began dancing with RAFA at the age of 4 studying ballet, tap, and jazz. Although in her first year as a BAHBT company member, she is in her third year of Preludes, where she is a Principal. Heather has performed in two seasons of The Nutcracker and continues to be passionate about dance and performing. This summer, Heather studied dance at Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. She is a 10th grade student at Friendswood High School, where she studies French and is a member of the Choir. Heather would like to thank her family and Ms. Lynette for the support and guidance over the years.

Casey Kline, Apprentice, began dancing at the age of 5 at RAFA. After one year, she moved to Alabama and then Louisiana where she continued studying dance until the fall of 2004, when she returned to Houston. She has been at RAFA since, studying under teachers such as Luis Fuente, Milena Leben, Carrie Lee Riggins, Dontee Kiehn, Irina Vakhromeeva, Amber Thornton, and Ayman Harper. Casey has participated in BAHBT’s The Nutcracker for five seasons, with roles ranging from “rat” and “regiment”, to “party girl”. She has also been a part of RAFA’s productions of Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, and Annie Jr.

Ashley Knight, Apprentice, 16, is currently attending San Jacinto College in order to pursue her Associate of Arts Degree as a Dance major. She previously attended the High School for the Performing and Visual Arts (HSPVA) in Houston. Ashley is very happy to have found a dance home at RAFA and BAHBT. Her dreams for the future include continuing her dance training through graduation in 2011, achieving her Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in dance, traveling the world with a contemporary ballet company and ultimately building a lifelong career in the field of dance.

Mary Shannon McFall, Apprentice, has been dancing since the age of 5, and has danced at RAFA since the age of 8. She has performed in BAHBT’s The Nutcracker for the last six years, and has also danced in BAHBT’s productions of Retrospective, The Sleeping Beauty, Edward Scissorhands, and Swan Lake. She has performed in several Broadway Studio Workshop productions including Fiddler on the Roof, Annie Get Your Gun, Annie, Thoroughly Modern Millie, and RAFA on Broadway. She was the 2008 recipient of the Prima Prelude award from RAFA. She is a home-schooled freshman. When she is not dancing, Mary Shannon enjoys playing the piano, drawing and painting.

Ashton Allie Reason, Apprentice, has been dancing since the age of 3 at RAFA. She is excited for her first season as a BAHBT company member as well as her fifth season as a Prelude. She has performed in many BAHBT productions such as Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Edward Scissorhands and is appearing in BAHBT’s The Nutcracker for her tenth consecutive year with roles ranging from the “Naughty Gingerchild” to Clara. She is very excited to be a recipient of a BAHBT scholarship this year and will be traveling to New York City this summer. Ashton is currently an 8th grader at Clear Creek Intermediate.

Rebeca Colmenares, Auxiliary, started her training at the age of 6 in Caracas, Venezuela at Pleyel Ballet Academy. When her family moved to Houston, Texas in 2003, she enrolled into RAFA in 2005. This is her fifth year at RAFA, and her 4th year as a company member. She has performed in various productions including The Nutcracker, and Peter Pan. She is thankful to Miss Lynette for all of her support.