Senior Dancers
Adelyn Aittama
Born: Ithaca, New York. Adelyn is currently 16 years old and has danced for 8 years. She’s been dancing at Ithaca Ballet for the past 6 years and is now a senior in the company. Adelyn attended Boston Ballet’s summer intensive in 2022 where she trained in many different styles of dance including ballroom, character and musical theatre. This past summer, 2023, she attended The Rock School of Dance for their summer program and learned from well known teachers such as Christine Shevchenko and Manish Chauhan. Notable roles include 1st Corps Snow, and side Candy Cane (The Nutcracker) and Pas De Trios (Swan Lake). Adelyn is a sophomore and will graduate from Ithaca High School in 2026.
Claire Kwak
Born: Seoul, South Korea. Claire has been dancing at Ithaca Ballet since age 8, and has been in the company for three years. Her favorite roles have been Party Teens, Rag Doll and Ballerina Doll in The Nutcracker; and Demi-soloist in Paquita. She will graduate Ithaca High School in 2025.
Joseph Gonzales
Abril Peralta
Born: Davis, California. Abril has been dancing since she was 5 years old, all at Ithaca Ballet. This is her third year as a company member. She attended Kaatsbaan Summer Intensive in 2023, and received training from Paloma Herrera and Maria Kowroski. Notable roles include Clara, Demi-soloist in Waltz of the Flowers, and Chocolate in the Nutcracker. Abril is a junior at Ithaca High School and will graduate in 2026.
Maria Sun
Born: Ithaca, NY. Maria has been dancing at the Ballet Center since she was seven years old. This is her fifth year in the company, and third year as a Senior Dancer. Notable roles include Clara, Candy Canes, Tea, and Marzipan in the Nutcracker. She will graduate from Ithaca High School in 2026.
Emi Asakura
Born: Ithaca, NY. Emi started dancing when she was 13, and has continued dancing since for 6 years. This is her third year in the Company and she is very excited for her first year as a Senior.
Emi’s notable roles include the Snake Bearer in the Little Circus, Corps in Giselle, Chocolate, Coffee Bearer, First Corps Snow, Waltz of the Flowers Corps in Nutcracker.
Emi graduated from New Roots Charter School in 2024.
Elliana Gibb
Born: Pensacola, Florida. Elliana had been dancing for 12 years, 6 of which were at Ballet Pensacola and the other 6 being at Ithaca Ballet. Elliana is a senior in the company and has been in the company since 2021. She has attended a handful of summer intensives including Kaatsbaan, where she received training from artistic director of American Ballet Theatre, Stella Abrera, Chautauqua Institution’s summer workshop, and Charlotte Ballet. Notable roles include Columbine, Demi-Soloist in Waltz of the Flowers, and Chocolate all in the Nutcracker. She will graduate from Ithaca High School in 2026.
Anna Fuchs
Anna is a graduating senior this year, having danced with Ithaca Ballet since she was six. This will be her fourth year in the company, and second as a senior dancer. Notable roles include First Corps Snow, King of the Elephants, and Waltz of the Flowers corps, from Nutcracker and Babar, respectively. When she has free time, Anna enjoys reading and musical theater. She’s so grateful that the Ithaca Ballet is such a big part of her life, and hopes you’ll come to see our next show!
Hazel O’Brien
Born in Ithaca, NY. Hazel has danced for 10 years, all of those years dancing at Ithaca Ballet. Hazel has been in the company since 2022. Along with dancing at Ithaca Ballet’s summer camp she has also spent time with The Burklyn Ballet Theater summer intensive. Hazel’s notable roles include Clara, and side Tea (The Nutcracker) and Celeste and Teen Babar (The Story of Babar). Hazel will graduate from Dryden High School in 2027.