Instructors

Sarah Hairston Berkley

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Ms. Hairston began her early ballet training at Charleston Ballet Theatre under Don and Patty Cantwell. At the age of 9, she continued her training in Columbia, South Carolina under the direction of Ann Brodie at the Calvert Brodie School of Dance. At 16, Ms. Hairston went on to attend and graduate from North Carolina School of the Arts. Upon graduation, Ms. Hairston joined Boston Ballet II and in 2001 joined Cincinnati Ballet as a Corps de Ballet member. Ms. Hairston was promoted to Soloist in 2006 and later to Principal in 2010 after a successful debut as Princess Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty.

Throughout her performance career, she held featured roles in the breadth of classical repertoire including Myrtha and Giselle in Giselle, Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, the Lilac Fairy, Carabosse and Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, Snow Queen and the Sugarplum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, among others. In addition to the classics, Ms. Hairston’s Balanchine repertoire includes the Siren in Prodigal Son, the Second Movement in Symphony in C, Emeralds in Jewels, Dark Angel in Serenade and “The Man I Love” in Who Cares?.

Ms. Hairston has also performed in work by such notable choreographers as Adam Hougland, Luca Vegetti, Jessica Lang, Amy Seiwert, Val Caniparoli and Yuri Possokhov. She danced with Cincinnati Opera for many seasons and choreographed its productions of Don Giovanni in 2013 and Die Fledermaus in 2016. In 2017, she choreographed The Music Man for Indiana University.

Since 2006, Ms. Hairston has been an instructor in Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy and became their Academy Director from 2016- 2023. In 2023, Ms. Hairston opened The Hairston School of Dance.

Oliver Arana

Oliver Arana, was born in Lima, Peru and began his career as a principal dancer with the Ballet Municipal De Lima under the direction of Lucy Telge. He went on to work with Vicente Nebrada, at the National Ballet De Caracas of Venezuela. He was invited to join the Ballet Classico De Camara, under the direction of Nina Novak, where had the honor of alternating principal roles with Fernando Bujones and Carlos Acosta, and touring all of South America and parts of Europe. After coming to the United States in 1993, he joined The Bay Ballet Theatre as a principal dancer, under the direction of Christopher Flemming. He continued his career with the Cleveland San Jose Ballet– and in 1998, Mr. Arana joined The Cincinnati Ballet under the direction of Victoria Morgan.

Oliver Arana, Teacher and Director at NCYB 2006 – 2018 Awards and Achievements, YAGP Outstanding Teacher Award, YAGP Senior Grand Prix Denver, YAGP Youth Grand Prix Chicago, YAGP Many top 12 through the years, Cincinnati Overture Winners and finalists, World Ballet Competition Silver, Bronze medalist, NCYB students now dancing professionally at Norwegian National Ballet, Boston Ballet, Royal Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet MamLuft&Co. Dance. Students have received scholarships to Royal Ballet School London, Ballet West Academy, National Ballet of Canada, Indiana University, Houston Ballet II, American Ballet Theatre (JKO School), Munich Ballet Academy, University of South Carolina, Orlando Ballet School, Princess Grace Academy of Classical Dance, The Kirov Academy, Chautauqua, Boston Ballet School, Pacific Northwest Ballet School and Joffrey Ballet New York. Students have been accepted to La Scala Ballet Academy Milan, San Francisco Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School.

Gema Diaz

Gema Diaz, born in Pinar del Rio, Cuba and raised in Havana, discovered her passion for dance at a tender age of three. From that moment, she embarked on a remarkable journey that would shape her into a celebrated dancer and an inspiring instructor. With unwavering dedication and extraordinary talent, Diaz honed her skills through rigorous training at The National Ballet School in Havana and The Vocational Ballet School in Santa Clara, immersing herself in the rich traditions of Cuban ballet.

Her exceptional abilities did not go unnoticed, and Diaz soon found herself dancing with the prestigious Ballet Nacional de Cuba for three transformative years. In 1999, she earned a well-deserved silver medal in the renowned International Ballet Competition of Cuba, solidifying her status as an accomplished artist. Diaz’s talents were in high demand, and she embarked on captivating tours that took her to stages across the globe, leaving audiences awe-inspired by her grace and artistry.

In 2005, Diaz took a momentous leap in her career and joined the esteemed Cincinnati Ballet. It was there that she discovered a profound sense of fulfillment in the constant exploration of new choreography. Diaz expressed, “There is always something new to dance. Dance is the best way I can express myself. It’s very rewarding when it gets to people.” Her performances radiated with passion and authenticity, captivating both critics and spectators alike. She dedicated ten remarkable years to Cincinnati Ballet, leaving an indelible mark before her retirement in 2015.

However, Diaz’s contribution to the world of dance did not end with her own performances. Recognizing the transformative power of dance education, she embraced her role as an instructor with great enthusiasm. Diaz shared her expertise and love for ballet through teaching engagements at notable institutions such as The Cincinnati Ballet Company and Academy, The School of Creative and Performing Arts, The University of Cincinnati (CCM), Ballet Tech Ohio, Broadway Bound Dance Academy, Kentucky Ballet Theatre, TU Dance, AVO Ballet, Harmony Healing Arts, Le Jeune Dance, and many others.

With each step she takes and each student she inspires, Gema Diaz’s impact on the world of dance continues to grow. Her unwavering dedication to her craft, combined with her vibrant spirit, makes her an exemplary figure in both performance and education. Through her timeless artistry and commitment to sharing her knowledge, Gema Diaz leaves an indelible mark on the world of ballet, forever enriching the lives of those who have the privilege to witness her grace and passion.

Sasha Hart

Sasha Hart holds a B.S degree in dance performance from Indiana University. She also holds a dance pedagogy degree from the Hochscule fur Musik, making her a certified instructor for children through adults. She has studied dance at Butler University, Pennsylvania Ballet, The Joffrey School under Robert Joffrey and The School of American Ballet under George Balanchine and performed in many ballets including The Nutcracker, Giselle, Petrouchka, and Graduation Ball. She danced professionally with The Bavarian State Theater in Munich and The Augsburg State Theater also performing in numerous classical and modem ballets including Coppelia, Don Quixote, Cinderella, Abraxus, Undine as well as over fifty operas and operettas.

Her teaching experience includes heading her own dance department at The Country School in North Hollywood, California, teaching at the Pasadena Civic Ballet Center, The Assistance League of Southern California, and The Hochscule fur Musik in Munich, Germany. Locally she teaches ballet at her own school, The Sasha Hart School of Ballet as well as Xavier University, Uptown Arts, and the Otto M. Budig Academy of Cincinnati Ballet.

Miriam Mesa- Pelly

Ms. Miriam Mesa-Pelly began her ballet studies in 1962 with a full scholarship to attend the National School of the Arts in Havana, Cuba. In 1970, Ms. Miriam graduated with Honors and soon after joined the world-renowned National Ballet of Cuba (NBC) as a member of the corps de ballet.

During her career with the National Ballet of Cuba, Ms. Mesa-Pelly rose through the ranks, quickly becoming a First Soloist.

While at the National Ballet of Cuba, Ms. Mesa-Pelly also attended The Cuban Superior Institute of Arts. She graduated in 1992 with Honors and a Bachelor’s degree in Scenic Arts specializing in Ballet. After retiring as a First Soloist from the NBC in 1994, she began teaching ballet technique, pointe work, and repertoire at the internationally-recognized Cuban National Ballet School in Havana, Cuba. She has trained multiple dancers to participate in national and international competitions where some of them have received gold and silver medals. ��In 1998, Ms. Mesa-Pelly began teaching at the National Center for the Arts (CNA) in Mexico City, Mexico, where she taught both male and female ballet technique, pointe, and repertoire.

Ms. Mesa-Pelly then worked at The Art of Classical Ballet in Pompano Beach, USA and then at the Fomento Artistico Cordobes Ballet School in Cordoba, Mexico. Ms. Mesa-Pelly was a ballet faculty member at the South Carolina Governor’s School of Arts and Humanities from 2013 to 2025.

Sophia Kussman~ Advanced Contemporary

Sophie Kussman is a dance artist and educator born and raised in North Central Missouri. She grew up dancing across the Midwest and earned a BFA in Dance and History of Art from The Ohio State University in 2023. During her time at OSU, Sophie’s training focused on contemporary, modern, and West African dance practices as well as dance education. Notable experiences include performing works by Daniel Roberts and Edward Taketa, and interning at the Wexner Center for the Arts in the Learning and Public Practice Department. Her thesis work, The Dancing Body as a Tool for Understanding, culminated in the performance piece Rock, Paper, Scissors—an exploration of how museum spaces can inform a choreographic process.

Currently based in Cincinnati, Ohio, Sophie’s work blends improvisation, pedagogy, and interdisciplinary practices to challenge perspectives and make dance accessible. She is an Arts Educator at Greenacres Foundation, where she develops and facilitates arts programming for the public, and teaches Modern dance technique at Mutual Arts Center. Additionally, she is training in the Curriculum in Motion® Method through Jacob’s Pillow— a dance integration method where choreographers work with community partners to investigate how dance can be used to honor a community’s questions and needs.

Sophie aims to cultivate community centered spaces that are informal yet informative – fostering safety, curiosity, critical thinking, and creative risk-taking. She strives to distill dance concepts into approachable tools, empowering students to reimagine how dance and movement can fit into everyday life.

Katie Bungeroth~ Musical Theatre, Jazz, Tap

Miriam Smith

Brinkli Cox

Kara Louis

Born and raised in Cincinnati, Kara Louis began her dance training at the age of five studying ballet, tap, and jazz. She continued her training while studying ballet more intensely at CCM, Ballet Tech Ohio, and Cincinnati Ballet’s Otto M. Budig Academy. Kara went on to Mercyhurst University as a dance major under the direction of Tauna Hunter where she received a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in Pedagogy and Choreography and a minor in Arts Administration. While studying at Mercyhurst University, Kara performed with the Lake Erie Ballet and SoMar Danceworks. Following graduation, Kara danced professionally for five seasons with the Radio City Christmas Spectacular as one of the world-famous Radio City Rockettes. As part of the “Christmas Across America” company, she had the opportunity to tour all over the United States and Canada. Kara is extremely proud to be a part of the history and tradition of this legendary precision dance line. Following her professional dance career, Kara has turned her focus to a passion for teaching and inspiring the next generation of dancers. She brings with her many years of teaching experience coupled with a desire to build a nurturing and encouraging environment in the studio in hopes to inspire her own students to reach for their dreams.

Grace Shivers

Grace began her ballet training at the Classical Ballet Centre in Summerville, SC with Terry-Ellen Shields at the age of 7. When Grace approached her high school years, Ms. Shields encouraged her to audition for North Carolina School of the Arts to polish her technique. Grace was accepted her sophomore year of high school and was coached by numerous notable teachers including Melissa Hayden, Kee Juan Han, Warren Conover, and Fanchon Cordell. Upon graduation, she had the opportunity to dance Russian Girl in Serenade at the Hollywood Bowl in Los Angeles. After high school, she enrolled in Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music as a ballet major and graduated with a degree in ballet and history. At Indiana University, she danced many leading roles included Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Russian Girl in Serenade, and Soloist and Pas de deux in Rubies. She worked closely with Violette Verdy and Michael Vernon during her time in Indiana. In 2010, after graduating from IU, Grace entered the second company at Cincinnati Ballet and was promoted into the company for the next year. After reaching the rank of the corps de ballet, Grace danced notable roles such as Rose in Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker, the Soloist in Trey McIntyre’s Wild Sweet Love, and Fall fairy in Victoria Morgan’s Cinderella. While at Cincinnati Ballet, Grace also danced in works choreographed by Adam Hougland, Amy Seiwert, Jessica Lang, Ohad Naharin, William Whitener, and Heather Britt. After her retirement, Grace worked as a ballet master to set Snow and Flowers in The Nutcracker and then went on to assist Suzette Webb with Cincinnati Ballet’s Family Series ballets which included Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, and Snow White. Grace loves to teach ballet and tries to bring the best from the different teachers and experiences she has gathered along her way. She is extremely excited to garner a new generation of dancers at the Hairston School of Dance.