L a k e C i t i e s
Ballet Theatre
NANCY LOCH PHOTOGRAPHY
HISTORY OF
LAKECITIES BALLET THEATRE
Preserving the art of classical dance since 1984.
The evolution of LakeCities Ballet Theatre, a not-for-profit organization, has had many significant milestones. First chartered as Lewisville Dance Ensemble in 1984, the company’s purpose was to provide a performing outlet for local dancers and dance students. During the 1989-90 season, charter dance member, Kelly Kilburn Lannin assumed the position of Artistic Director and dedicated herself to taking the company to a professional level that would in turn bring recognition to the community through the arts. To celebrate the growth of the organization from a small ensemble to a ballet company with full-length productions, the company name was changed to LakeCities Ballet Theatre as it now encompassed dancers and audiences from not only Lewisville, but Flower Mound, Highland Village, Lake Dallas, Denton, Coppell and the surrounding areas of Lake Lewisville.
ARTISTIC STAFF
This extremely talented group of choreographers consistently remains committed to excellence in training, choreographing and staging of classical and contemporary works performed by LBT. In addition to LBT’s faculty, guest choreographers are frequently brought in to stage works for the company. LBT has performed the works of such well known choreographers as Jean Paul Comelin, Lisa Hess, Arlene Sugano, Shawn Stevens, Liuba Kozireva Paterson, Bill Martin-Viscount, Cherie Noble, and others. The success of LakeCities Ballet Theatre is directly related to the talent and dedication of these individuals.
Kelly Kilburn Lannin
Artistic Director
A versatile and motivational teacher who enjoys teaching all ages and levels of Classical Ballet. Her artistic integrity, high standards and dedicated students have attracted outstanding dance professionals to join the staff of Ballet Conservatory, the home studio of LakeCities Ballet Theatre, making its list of faculty members quite impressive. Originally from El Paso, Texas, Mrs. Lannin received her classical training at Ballet El Paso from director, Ingeborg Heuser, former ballerina of the Berlin Opera. With a strong passion and love for dance, she continued her dance education at Texas Woman’s University where she was the recipient of the Mary Agnes Murphy and the Anne Duggan Dance Scholarships. Mrs. Lannin performed heavily with Dance Repertory Theatre and the DRT Touring Ensemble while remaining a Dean’s List Student.
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After graduating with her Bachelor’s degree in dance in 1983, she began her teaching career in Lewisville. She continued to perform locally and was a charter member of LakeCities Ballet Theatre in 1984.
Sarah Rosenweig
LBT2 Artistic Director
Sarah began dancing at the age of 6 at the Ballet Conservatory under the direction of Janet Waters and Kelly Lannin. She was privileged to dance with LakeCities Ballet Theatre from 2002-2007 and performed various roles including Snow, Waltz of the Flowers Demi-Soloist, Spanish, Marzipan, and Ballerina Doll in the Nutcracker, “Dawn” in Coppelia, and had the honor of performing as “Aurelia” in the first production of Dracula. She attended summer workshops including American Ballet Theatre – Austin, and BYU’s Ballet Workshop in Provo, UT. Sarah received her BFA in Ballet Performance and Teaching from the University of Utah in 2011 and graduated on full scholarship as a member of the Ballet Program’s Performing Company, “Utah Ballet”. She was also a member of the University’s Character Dance Ensemble and had the opportunity to perform in Tokyo, Japan and Athens, Greece. Upon graduation, Sarah had the exciting chance to dance at Walt Disney World Resort in Orlando, FL as a Character Performer and Dancer, and appeared in parades and shows such as the Trolley Show, the Main Street Electrical Parade, Pixar Pals parade, Mickey’s Once Upon a Christmastime at Christmas parade, and Magic Kingdom’s Move It Shake It Celebrate It! show. After leaving Disney World in 2012, she returned to Salt Lake where she taught ballet, tap, and jazz at various studios in Utah. While in Salt Lake, she was honored to have the opportunity to dance in the Mormon Tabernacle Choir’s Christmas Concert, whose guest performance artists included David Archuleta, Natalie Cole, Laura Osnes, and Rolando Villazon. She also taught Ballet, Pointe, Tap, and Jazz at various studios. She is thrilled to be back in Texas with her husband, Max and their beautiful children, Asher and Evelyn.
Nancy Loch
LBT Artistic Advisor
In her 24th year with Ballet Conservatory from Philadelphia where she trained at the American Academy of Ballet and the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet. She also studied at ABT and with Finis Jhung while in New York and at the National Academy of Arts. While living in Chicago, she studied and performed regularly with Hubbard Street Dance Company and Gus Giordano. Ms. Loch graduated from the University of South Florida with a BA in Finance and a minor in Ballet.
With 25 years of teaching experience, Mrs. Loch continues to study each summer in New York or Chicago to bring the latest jazz techniques and styles to our school. Ms. Loch was Ballet Mistress for LakeCities Ballet Theatre, served on its Board of Directors and is now Assistant to the Director. A lady of many talents and outstanding dedication, Mrs. Loch enjoys designing and constructing costumes and dance photography. Mrs. Loch lives in Corinth with her husband, Jeff, and they have raised three wonderful sons, Andrew, Steven and Daniel.
Janet Waters
LBT Assistant Director
Began dancing in Lubbock under Eugene Bandzevicus and also studied with the legendary George Zoritch. She attended Texas Tech as a Dance Major where she performed Ballet, Modern and Jazz. She performed with the Conservatory of Classical Ballet and then with Pampa Civic Ballet before joining LakeCities Ballet Theatre as a Principal Dancer.
She has enjoyed roles such as “Snow Queen”, “Dew Drop” and “Arabian” in Nutcracker, “Cerito” and “Grisi” in Pas de Quatre, “Myrta” in Giselle and Spring Waters. She is also in her 16th year on faculty at BC where she is a popular instructor of Pre-Ballet, Ballet and Jazz. She and her husband, Tim, live in Double Oak with their lovely children, Asia, Jacob and Caleb. They are proud of their three adult children, Asia, Jacob, Caleb and her daughter-in-law, Faith.
Asia Waters
Resident Choreographer
Anastasia Waters (Fort Worth, Texas), received her early training at the Ballet Conservatory, and as a member of LakeCities Ballet Theatre. After high school, she went on to receive her BFA in modern dance at Texas Christian University (2010). At TCU, she was awarded the Jerry Bywaters Cochran Scholarship for excellence in modern dance and received the emerging choreographers award for her Senior Capstone choreography, “Bedtime Story” and “Omnipotence”. Anastasia has taught in a variety of dance schools including, The Ballet Conservatory, Fort Worth Ballet Center, Chamberlain School of Ballet, Dance Academy of Mansfield, as well as Innovative Dance. She has been commissioned to choreograph works on Fort Worth Academy of Fine Arts, the Arlington Heights High School Dance Department, Tarrant County College, and Chamberlain Performing Arts Company. After some years of freelance dancing and choreographing Anastasia founded the professional contemporary modern dance company, imPULSE dance project (2012) and is currently leading the company as the Artistic Director. As Artistic Director she has had choreography accepted into festivals such as The Out of the Loop Fringe Festival (2013), Brazos Contemporary Dance Festival (2015 and 2017), {254} Dance-Fest (2017, 2019), Dallas DanceFest (2017, 2018), and Fort Worth Fringe Festival. She also has produced over 10 dance projects that have featured countless world premieres in her time with imPULSE dance project. It is her life's passion to create and create with other passionate artists!
Shannon Beacham
Company Faculty/Resident Choreographer
After many evenings watching a boy’s creative movement class while his sister took ballet, Shannon Beacham moved from spectator to participant at the age of ten into the world of dance. His training began under the tutelage of Brent and Judy Klopfenstein. Shannon fell in love with classical ballet. After graduation, he was asked to guest with the then named, Fort Worth Dallas Ballet (FWDB), now called Texas Ballet Theater (TBT), and shortly thereafter joined as a company member. While with the company, Shannon worked with many world renowned choreographers and artistic staff including Bruce Marks of Boston Ballet, Bruce Simpson of Louisville Ballet, Stanton Welch of Houston Ballet, and Ben Stevenson O.B.E., current Artistic Director of TBT. During Shannon’s professional career he has performed in many ballets including George Balanchine’s Four Temperaments, Serenade, and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue; Stanton Welch’s Fingerprints; and Ben Stevenson’s Peer Gynt, Dracula, Cinderella, and Coppelia.
BOARD OF DIRECTORS
THE EXCELLENCE OF OUR VOLUNTEER BOARD
DRIVES OUR SUCCESS... THANK YOU!
LakeCities Ballet Theatre, a not-for-profit arts organization, is guided by a volunteer board of directors and executive committee. These individuals devote many hours to the planning, administration, and guidance of LBT.
Board of Directors
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Heike Cullum, President of the Board
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Jill McKay, Vice President
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Kelly Lannin, Artistic Director
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Kelly Van Den Handel, Treasurer
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Karen Westphal, Secretary
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Kristin Langford, Production Manager
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Chuck and Cindy Denton, Marketing and Development
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Madison Cambell
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Dr. Cecile Storrie
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Lucy Keith, Guild President
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Mary Neel, Emeritus
PRODUCTION STAFF
BEAUTY IS IN THE EYE OF OUR PRODUCTION STAFF
LBT is fortunate and thankful to have this select and diverse group of individuals with varying backgrounds, talents and skills who regularly come together to achieve the one single goal of producing the highest quality of productions. Each individual brings their unique talent to LBT to help in creating the beauty of a classical ballet, as well as the cutting edge feel of a contemporary work.
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Tom Rutherford, Art Director and two time Emmy award winner on PBS series, "Wishbone"
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Kristin Langford, Production Manager
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Carla Mowery, Head Costume Mistress