JULIE BLACKSTEN

BFA in Dance, Owner/Director

Julie's background and expertise in dance is unmatched, as well as her love for her students.

Julie's training began at the age of 3 with Dance Master Paul Michael, with whom she credits her first love of dance. After his passing, she was fortunate to begin ballet training with Mary Margaret Holt at eight years old. Later, her studies in New York City were one of the highlights of her dance career. There, she studied with the Joffrey Ballet School at the advanced level and with David Howard. Julie has also studied with numerous other well-known teachers such as Richard England, Bruce Wells, Francoise Martinet, Ann Reinking, Marjorie Tallchief, Syvie Suillem, and Brian Loftus.

Julie holds a BFA in Dance, Ballet Pedagogy emphasis from the University of Oklahoma, where she is currently a Dance Partners member and remains closely connected. After receiving her degree, she returned to the OU School of Dance in their graduate program. While in the bachelor's and master's programs, she was featured in both the Oklahoma Festival Ballet and Modern Dance programs and both companies. She trained with legendary instructors Miguel Terekhov, Yvonne Chouteau, Mary Margaret Holt, Ko Yukihir, and others.

To continue her dance instructor education, Julie attends ballet teacher conferences, including Pacific Northwest Ballet, David Howard's Teacher seminars for numerous years, the American Academy of Ballet Teachers Training program, and others.

By invitation, Julie traveled to London during the 2012 Olympics and again in 2014 and 2019 to Lincoln Center in New York City, where her dancers performed. In 2016, Julie was invited to teach and choreograph ballet in Vizitsa, Greece, for the Music and Dance Festival.

Julie has been a ballet adjudicator many times for the Oklahoma Arts Institute at Quartz Mountain and has been an instructor/choreographer for the NAC Artist in Residence program. Memberships include the International Dance Entrepreneurs Association and Wingman for Dance.

OUR Teachers

**Emelyn Arthur**

Emelyn has been teaching at CBA since 2017. She started dancing at Classical Ballet Academy at the age of four, and it became her life. She has studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, and lyrical and was on the CBA competition team for two years. As a member of Norman Dance Theatre, she has performed in the Nutcracker at schools and other local venues and traveled to London to perform during festivities coinciding with the summer Olympics of 2012. She also most recently traveled with several other CBA dancers to perform at the 12th Anniversary Performing Arts Educators Invitational at Lincoln Center in New York City. Emelyn enjoyed being on the NHS Pom squad for four years. She enjoyed putting together music and choreography on occasion for halftime performances, serving as a dance technique advisor for the squad, and being a member of the Pom competition team. She has also been active in CBA’s Pointe to the Future program as a member, Treasurer, and President, and participated in CBA’s Dance Instructor Apprentice Program. Emelyn truly enjoys working with kids of all ages through activities like the Pointe to the Future Halloween Dance Clinics, NHS Pom Clinics, and as a co-teacher for the first-grade class at her church. Emelyn is currently the Choreography Director for Alpha Phi’s OU Sooner Scandals. She is so very excited to have the opportunity to share her love of dance with some of CBA’s youngest students this year!

Julia Ferreira

Originally from Birmingham, AL, Julia Ferreira is currently a Junior double major at the University of Oklahoma. She is studying musical theater and communication. Theater is Julia’s passion, and she has plans to eventually move to New York and pursue a Broadway career. Some of her favorites credits include: Margarita & Maria u/s, West Side Story (Porthouse Theater); Ensemble & Dance Captain, The Wild Party (University Theater); Vivienne, Legally Blonde (Virginia Samford Theater); Acrobat & Adult Ensemble, Matilda (Red Mountain Theater).

CBA Jennifer Franks.jpg — Jennifer Franks

Jennifer is a graduate from Sam Houston State University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and earned her Master of Fine Arts in Modern Dance in 2008 from the University of Oklahoma. While at OU, she was a graduate teaching assistance for various dance history and modern classes. She was a member of Contemporary Dance Oklahoma and received the Scott Salmon Modern Dance Choreography award. She has completed significant research in various dance forms including American Modern Dance techniques, Polynesian dance, African dance and early Ballet history. She has worked locally with the Cimarron Circuit Opera Company's Kids Opera Camp, choreographing the Mikado and Rudigore.
Most recently, Jennifer completed her JD at the University of Oklahoma, College of Law, and was sworn in by the Supreme Court of Oklahoma in April of 2017. She is married and the proud mother of 3 boys.
Jennifer has taught at Classical Ballet Academy since 2008 and looks forward to another wonderful year!

Taylor McCardle

Taylor is a current sophomore at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a degree in Ballet Performance, a minor in Arts Management and Entrepreneurship, and is also in the honors college. Growing up in Lexington, Kentucky she attended the School for the Creative and Performing Arts while also training at Diana Evans School of Dance in styles ranging from classical ballet to tap and musical theater and everything in between. She has been able to perform on stages all over the United States including the Joyce Theatre in New York City, and stages right here in Oklahoma for the OU Dance department.

Sydney Pierce

Sydney is an alum of Classical Ballet Academy and attended her first dance classes at the age of six. From there, she continued to train for twelve years in ballet, pointe, jazz, modern, lyrical, and hip-hop. Sydney was also a part of the CBA competition team for seven years and enjoyed this opportunity to perform several group, duet, and solo routines at local dance competitions. With Norman Dance Theatre, Sydney performed in the Nutcracker ballet each winter and traveled with this group to New York City in 2019 where they performed in the 12th Anniversary Performing Arts Educators Invitational at Lincoln Center. Sydney attended both the Oklahoma Summer Arts Institute and OU Summer Intensive where she further strengthened her studies in ballet and modern technique. She was a member of the Norman High Pom squad for all four years of high school and served as a team captain during her senior year. While on Pom, she enjoyed performing jazz and hip-hop halftime routines and competing at state pom competitions with her team. Sydney began her teaching experience at CBA’s Pointe to the Future Halloween Dance Clinics, and from there began assisting dance camps and working as a substitute teacher at the studio. She has continued dancing in college by being involved with OU Sooner Scandals. Now, Sydney is excited to return to the studio as a first-year instructor!

María Solera

María Solera, originally from Costa Rica, took her first steps in the world of ballet under the tutelage of dancers from the Bolshoi company at a school in her home country. After finishing high school, María traveled to Madrid to study and dance at the school of the renowned Spanish master and choreographer Víctor Ullate. Upon her return to Costa Rica, María danced with the Costa Rican Youth Ballet and the JF Contemporary Ballet. In these ensembles, she performed as a soloist and principal dancer in various roles from the classical ballet repertoire, as well as works by Costa Rican and Cuban choreographers.
María's passion for dance has also led her into the field of choreography. She has created a wide range of works, from small pieces and live music productions to full-length ballets, including an innovative version of *The Nutcracker*. María has over 15 years of experience teaching ballet at all levels. She is a certified instructor in Antigravity and Progressing Ballet Technique and holds a Bachelor's degree in Education and a Master of Fine Arts with an emphasis in Dance from the University of Oklahoma.

Sophie Wiski

Sophie is from Plano, Texas, She began dancing at the age of 3. She currently is a sophomore at the University of Oklahoma pursuing a degree in supply chain management. Sophie studied all styles of dance including ballet, tap, jazz, lyrical, contemporary, and hip-hop. While at her studio, Sophie performed roles in many of the studio's performances and also assisted with various classes and camps. In her senior year of high school, she joined the Golden Girls Drill Team at Plano East Senior High where she performed both on the football field and at drill team competitions. Sophie is excited to watch and help as dancers find their passion and hone their skills in all styles.

Larissa Yakunovich

Originally from Houston, Texas, Larissa Yakunovich is currently a Sophomore at The University of Oklahoma, where she continues her study of Ballet as a Ballet Performance Major with a double major in Biology. She started her formative training at Payne Academy of Performing Arts under Jim and Bridget Payne. She then continued her dance education at Vitacca School for Dance. While at OU, she has had the opportunity to learn and perform works by established choreographers such as George Balanchine, Yuří Kylián, and William Forsythe. Larissa is beyond excited to teach and share her passion for ballet with these students!

OUR STAFF

Cassie Autrey

Cassie started dancing at Classical Ballet Academy when she was 3 years old up until she was a senior in high school. Over 15 years she studied ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hiphop, modern and lyrical. She also did musical theatre from ages 8-18 at Lyric Theatre, Poteet Theatre and Sooner Theatre and was a part of the Norman High Pom squad. Cassie went to the University of Arkansas where she graduated with her Bachelor of Fine Arts. She now runs marketing and social media for Classical Ballet Academy. Cassie is a wife and mother of 2. Her daughter is 2 1/2 years old and loves ballet!

— George Balanchine

JULIE BLACKSTEN

OUR Teachers

OUR STAFF

Guest Instructors