Owner and Artistic Director, Primary Instructor

Juliana Vorkink Martin began her dance training as a shy three year old in a pre-ballet class. She quickly fell in love with ballet and has spent over 20 years in the ballet industry. Juliana earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Ballet emphasizing in Teaching and Character Dance from the University of Utah's Ballet Program -- one of the premier collegiate ballet programs in the country.

Mrs. Martin is fully certified in American Ballet Theatre's National Training Curriculum, one of the most respected ballet pedagogy systems in the world, and has Affiliate Teacher status as an ambassador with ABT. She was also mentored by Raymond Lukens, the co-author of the curriculum, and was asked to present her classes at the curriculum's trainings for aspiring teachers. Juliana has successfully presented students from West Point Ballet for American Ballet Theatre's ballet examinations, with her students passing with merit and honors. Juliana is fully certified in 4Pointe, a revolutionary pointe training methodology. Ms. Martin has attended teacher trainings at Central Youth Pennsylvania Ballet with Marcia Dale Weary in Carlisle, PA. Juliana has trained dozens of dancers for Youth America Grand Prix, the world's largest ballet competition. Many of Mrs. Martin's former dancers have received scholarships and awards, moving on to professional or collegiate dance programs.

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Juliana is currently an adjunct professor in ballet at Utah Valley University, and has been Associate Instructor in ballet at the University of Utah's School of Dance as well as an adjunct faculty member at Brigham Young University’s Ballet Area. Juliana is an established classical and contemporary ballet choreographer, completing original story ballets such as Toads and Diamonds, Peter and the Wolf, Hansel and Gretel, The Wizard of Oz, and Cinderella. Juliana has completed teaching courses in Stott Pilates. She is also certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, a revolutionary cross-training program designed for ballet dancers. Mrs. Martin has completed teacher trainings with muvMethod. In 2020, Juliana was awarded Riverton City's Business Woman of the Year award for her achievements in business with West Point Ballet. She is also the founder of Utah Theatre Ballet, which is West Point Ballet's resident non-profit performance company.

Mrs. Martin is passionate about teaching ballet, but believes that each dancer is a person first, and a dancer second.

Associate Director of Performances, Ballet Instructor

Hannah Hurd earned her BFA in Ballet Teaching and Choreography from the University of Utah and is currently pursuing her MFA in Ballet at the University of Utah. She began dancing at a young age in Colorado Springs, Colorado, where she developed her passion for dance. In her early teens, she moved to Arizona and joined the pre-professional company Ballet Etudes. Throughout her training, Hannah performed numerous corps de ballet and soloist roles including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Coppélia, Giselle, Peter Pan, and Peter and the Wolf. At age 16, she performed the Can-Can with the Phoenix Symphony for a New Year’s Eve Gala.

She received her collegiate ballet training from former Ballet West dancer and coach Maureen Laird, renowned dance critic and coach Regina Zarhina, Calvin Kitten of The Joffrey Ballet, Ballet West's Maggie Write Tesch and numerous other distinguished artists. During her time at the University of Utah, Hannah performed and guested corps and soloist roles in productions of Cinderella, The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Les Sylphides and Paquita and choreographed numerous works for the University of Utah Ballet Showcase performances. 

Hannah is an ABT® Certified Affiliate Teacher who has successfully completed the Pre-Primary through Level 6, Level 7, and Partnering of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She also holds 4Pointe certifications in Pre-Pointe, Levels 1 and 2, and Rehab, and is certified in MUvmethod and Progressing Ballet Technique levels 1 and 2. She continues to pursue professional development and advanced dance education through training opportunities in repertoire staging, judging, choreography, coaching, and technique across multiple dance genres. Hannah is a frequent adjudicator for dance competitions and ballet auditions in the Salt Lake Valley.

Hannah is the Associate Director of Performances at West Point Ballet Academy, where she teaches pre-ballet through advanced ballet, pointe, and adult ballet. An experienced ballet and contemporary choreographer, she has created and restaged works for students and professional settings and regularly coaches dancers for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and other competitions.

Hannah is passionate about developing technically strong, versatile, and confident dancers. Her teaching emphasizes sound technique while fostering work ethic, artistry, collaboration, positivity, and personal growth.

Director of Contemporary Dance, Ballet Instructor

Sharlee began her dance training in Salt Lake City, Utah and went on to graduate with a BA in dance performance from Brigham Young University. While pursuing her college degree, Peay performed with ballet and contemporary companies, touring performances in Idaho, Colorado, India, and China. While pursuing her college degree, Sharlee received several awards including Rookie of the Year, Outstanding Female Performer, and All-Around Excellence in Performance, Academics, Leadership and Choreography. She was also honored to graduate magna cum laude and be on full tuition scholarship for both dance and academics through the duration of her college education; which included the 
prestigious Leona Holbrook Scholarship,
Phyllis C. Jacobson Scholarship, and Abrelia Clarissa Hinckley Scholarship.

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Sharlee began her professional career, immediately following graduation, with SALT Contemporary Dance in June 2014. As a performer she has studied with and performed works by Peter Chu (chuthis), Jermaine Spivey (Kidd Pivot), Modern Dance Guru Donald McKayle, Alex Ketley (The Foundry), Loni Landon, Joni McDonald, Ching Ching Wong, and Ihsan Rustem amongst others. Peay has also had the opportunity to work with Summer Lee Rhatigan at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance where she studied Ballet, improvisation, contemporary and Ohad Naharin's "gaga" technique and repertoire with Bobby Jene Smith and Tom Weinberger (Batsheva).

​Sharlee began teaching at the age of 14 and has taught throughout Utah at various studios teaching ballet and contemporary and setting work on students across the valley. Including work for full length ballets, Nutcrackers, and YAGP. Her 15 years of teaching have brought her to love the unique study, investigation, exploration and hard work that can be found in the studio space. She was recently honored to be a featured choreographer for SALT Contemporary Dance "LINK" Festival in 2019. Sharlee co-founded Oquirrh West Project in May of 2017 where she danced with, choreographed for, and acted as Associate Artistic Director for two seasons. As the current Artistic Director and resident choreographer for the project, she looks forward to continuing her research and exploration.

Ballet Instructor

Kalise began her training with Tatiana Baksheava. At 15 she participated in YAGP and qualified for New York. She then attended North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship where she graduated from high school with an emphasis in ballet. While at NCSA she was selected to study and perform in Budapest, Hungary.

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She earned her BFA and MFA from the University of Utah where she was a recipient of the William F. Christensen scholarship and a member of Utah Ballet. She performed various soloist roles including; Paquita, Swan Lake, Les Sylphides, Pas de Quatre, Don Quixote, multiple contemporary ballets and toured/performed in Seoul, South Korea. Kalise has had the opportunity to work with renowned choreographers, some of which include; Alonzo King, Thaddeus Davis, Lucas Crandall, Donald McKayle, Giaconda Barbuto, and Robert Moses. She has studied and performed with the Lines Professional Workshop, North West Professional Dance Project, Mormon Tabernacle Choir Christmas Concert, Utah Contemporary Ballet, Utah Opera (Aida), and Utah Ballet. She taught at Brigham Young University as a full-time faculty member. She choreographed Hansel and Gretel and Cendrillon for the Utah Lyric Opera and thoroughly enjoyed collaborating with various artists in the process. She is certified in mUvmethod yoga and Progressing Ballet Technique. She loves teaching ballet, coaching dancers for YAGP and teaching yoga. She has taught various levels and masterclasses throughout the valley.

Ballet Instructor

Faith Hymas has been dancing since she was three years old. She trained at Rocky Mountain Dance where she found a love and passion for ballet, but also trained in jazz, hip-hop, and contemporary. She loves to perform and has had the opportunity to perform as a soloist in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Snow White, and The Sleeping Beauty. Faith attended Utah Valley University where she had the opportunity to train and perform with Repertory Ballet Ensemble. While on the company, she performed in Les Sylphides, Hansel and Gretel, and many other pieces from guest and resident choreographers. She also had the opportunity to learn Arpino’s The Italian Suite from Cameron Basden, former ballet master of Joffery Ballet. After attending Utah Valley University for five years, Faith graduated with a bachelor’s degree in ballet and a minor in business management. One of her favorite things about dance is the ability to challenge herself daily and continually learn. Faith also loves to teach ballet, jazz, and contemporary to all levels and ages. She recently graduated from UVU with a BFA in ballet and a minor in business management. Since graduating, Faith has been teaching at a few dance studios where she teaches students the art of ballet that she loves so much.

Ballet Instructor

Courtney Olsen has been dancing since she was two years old. She trained at the Ashburn Academy of Dance in Ashburn, Virginia before pursuing her degree at Brigham Young University. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance Performance with a Ballet Emphasis from BYU. While in school she performed on the BYU Ballet Showcase Company and trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance. 

Courtney is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She is a Progressing Ballet Technique Certified Teacher and has also completed The Ballet Method certification.

Over the last 10 years, Courtney has taught at various dance studios in North Carolina, Ohio, Colorado, and Virginia. She is excited to be back in Utah and is thrilled to be teaching at West Point Ballet. 

Ballet Instructor

Meleah is thrilled to join the team as a dance teacher. Hailing from sunny Florida,

Meleah began her dance journey with early training in her home state at The Florida Ballet before moving to Utah. There, she earned a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet from The University of Utah, further honing her craft and passion.

With a vibrant enthusiasm for teaching and a dedication to nurturing creativity, Meleah is excited to inspire and guide students in their dance journey at West Point Ballet Academy.

Ballet Instructor

Jessica is a teacher, choreographer, and performer. She holds a BFA in Dance with an emphasis on ballet from Utah Valley University.

She has been an adjunct faculty member at both BYU and UVU and has set original works on Utah Metropolitan Ballet, BYU Theatre Ballet Studio Company, and UVU’s Repertory Ballet Ensemble.

Jessica has attended teacher training at Central Youth Pennsylvania Ballet with Marcia Dale Weary in Carlisle, PA, and is a Progressing Ballet Technique Certified Teacher.

Ballet Instructor

With over a decade of experience in performing arts education, I focus on mentoring students in not just ballet, but in all the challenges life throws at them! My expertise spans ballet technique, pointework, choreography, injury prevention, cross-training, and mentorship; equipping students with the necessary skills and confidence to achieve their fullest potential. 

Before transitioning to my role as a teaching artist, I trained and performed with prestigious ballet schools and companies, including Boston Ballet, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Cirque du Soleil, Texas Ballet Theater, The Rock School, Milwaukee Ballet, The Washington Ballet, and Scripps Ballet Theatre. During my professional career, I had the privilege of performing soloist and principal roles in classical, neoclassical, and contemporary works by world-renowned choreographers. 

 As a pre-professional youth ballet coach, I have designed, directed, and choreographed numerous productions, including The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Adventure to Neverland, Peter & the Wolf, and various neoclassical and contemporary pieces. I have also collaborated with Disney® on educational outreach programs and co-founded an all-boys ballet program in partnership with inner-city schools in San Diego County. I am also certified in ABT® National Training Curriculum (Primary-Level 3) and Progressive Ballet Technique®. I was most recently on faculty at The University of Utah School of Dance.  

In addition to my professional accomplishments, I am a passionate advocate for athletes with autoimmune conditions and chronic pain syndromes. Having thrived with Rheumatoid Arthritis and Fibromyalgia since adolescence, I shifted my focus from performing professionally to teaching. This journey has taught me to listen to my body, prioritize injury prevention and cross-training, and translate my passion for ballet into my teaching. 

My mission is to instill these qualities in every pre-professional student I mentor, fostering resilience, artistry, and a deeper understanding of the mechanics of ballet. While my autoimmune conditions presented challenges to my performing career, they have significantly enriched my teaching approach, allowing me to inspire and guide my students with empathy and insight.

Tumbling Coach

Sarah McClure trained in Idaho until she attended and graduated from Brigham Young University with a BA in dance. During her college career she trained at the San Francisco Conservatory of Dance and professionally danced for Wasatch Contemporary Dance Company. Sarah danced for Junction Dance Co in all styles. Sarah loves judging at dance competitions and doing choreography for dance studios, gymnastics floor routines, and musicals. She currently is working in physical therapy and is passionate about conditioning for dancers. She is very excited to inspire other dancers like judges did for her in the past.