Natalie Cannon Zundel has strong roots with BAHBT. 2023 marks Ms. Zundel's 14th season serving on BAHBT's Artistic Staff. It has been an honor and privilege working with the dancers, artistic staff and the entire BAHBT family. Being a small part of the enrichment of the Bay Area community for the last decade has been an absolute joy! Her roots with BABHT go far beyond the last decade. She performed with the company from a young age, became one of their first full-time professional Artists in Residence and came full circle after serving for six years as BAHBT's Ballet Mistress before becoming the Associate Artistic Director in June of 2016. Ms. Zundel has over fifteen years of teaching experience in the greater Houston area, most of which were spent under the direction of friend, mentor and BAHBT’s founder, Lynette Mason Gregg. In 2001, Ms. Zundel received BAHBT’s Helen Mason Scholarship Award: a full scholarship to study in New York City. She also received scholarships and training from The Kirov Academy in Washington D.C. and American Ballet Theater in New York. While dancing with BAHBT, she performed coveted roles including Clara and the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Katrina in Alan Hineline’s The Legend of Sleepy Hollow, and her favorite role, Giselle. In 2003, she began choreographing professionally for BAHBT with a piece entitled Vienna Waltz. It was given special recognition at the Southwest Regional Dance America Festival. Ms. Zundel has enjoyed creating and staging full-length ballets for BAHBT: Dracula, Edward Scissorhands, Coppélia, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, Swan Lake, La Sylphide, and Giselle. She and Artistic Director, Nelson Madrigal, have also choreographed and created two abbreviated ballets for BAHBT: Snow White and Cinderella, which were designed to bring the performing arts into area schools. She is honored to be a part of this company, organization and legacy. In addition to Ms. Zundel’s work with BAHBT, she also serves as Feijóo Ballet School’s Associate Artistic Director. She received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fitness and Human Performance from the University of Houston - Clear Lake. She and husband Ryan have three beautiful daughters, Madeline Renee, Penelope Anne, and Stella Luise. She would like to thank her family for their endless love and support, personally and professionally.

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