Senior Dancers
Adelyn Aittama
Born: Syracuse, New York. Adelyn has been dancing with Ithaca Ballet for 11 years, joining Ithaca Ballet’s company in 2021 and is now currently a senior dancer. She has attended a handful of summer intensives including Boston Ballet in 2022 where she trained in many different styles of dance such as ballroom, character and musical theatre, then summer of, 2023, she attended The Rock School of Dance and learned from well-known teachers such as Christine Shevchenko and Manish Chauhan. Notable roles include Diamond Fairy, and Golden Vine fairy (sleeping beauty) Harley Quinn, side Candy Cane, and Lead Tea, (The Nutcracker) and Pas De Trios (Swan Lake). Adelyn will graduate Ithaca High School in 2026.
Hazel O’Brien
Born in Ithaca, NY. Hazel has danced for 11 years 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, Demi Waltz, 1st Core Snow (The Nutcracker), Celeste and Teen Babar (The Story of Babar), and Hansel (Hansel and Gretel). Hazel will graduate from Dryden High School in 2027.
Honour Shantaya
Born: Ithaca, New York. Honour has been dancing for 12 years. This is her second second year as a company dancer at Ithaca Ballet. While living in Cincinnati, for 3 years she danced with Princess Ballet under the direction of Gordon Havens. There she also trained with Kristi Lowe-Murphy who is a hand picked trainee by Mikhail Baryshnikov.She is so grateful to all of my teachers along the way! Some of my notable roles are Ballerina Doll and Second Corps Snow (The Nutcracker) the Dutchess and Waltz Corps ( Sleeping Beauty). Honour is a sophomore in High School and will graduate in 2027.
Samantha Swart
Born: Ithaca, NY. Samantha has been dancing at Ithaca Ballet since she was 8 years old. This is her 3rd year in the company. Previous roles include Waltz in Sleeping Beauty, Snow corps, and Demi Angel in the Nutcracker. Samantha will graduate high school in 2028.
Elliana Gibb
Born: Pensacola, Florida. Elliana had been dancing for 13 years, 6 of which were at Ballet Pensacola and the other 7 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 Snow Queen in the Nutcracker. She will graduate from Ithaca High School in 2026.
Abril Peralta
Born: Davis, California. Abril has been dancing at the Ithaca Ballet since she was 5 years old. This is her fourth year as a company member. She attended Kaatsbaan Summer Intensive in 2023, and received training from Paloma Herrera and Maria Kowroski. Notable roles include Columbine, Demi-soloist in Waltz of the Flowers, and Chocolate in the Nutcracker. Abril is currently a senior 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 sixth year in the company, and fourth 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.
Avery Waters
Born: Columbus, Ohio. Avery has been dancing for 13 years. 2 with the Houston Ballet, 5 with Ithaca Ballet, and all 6 others at assorted studios. This is her fourth year as a company member. She has also spent time with the Burklyn Ballet Summer Intensive. Notable roles include Clara in the Nutcracker, Peasant Core, and Little Red Riding Hood in Sleeping Beauty, and Entourage in The Little Mermaid. Avery will graduate Lansing High School in 2026.