Lorelei Bensel is seventeen years old and the daughter of Paul and Kim Bensel. 

  A Yuma High School senior, Lorelei has been dancing for 11 years and is in her

  sixth year as a Ballet Yuma company member.  She is proud of the fact that she

  was able to fulfill her commitment to the company throughout high school, and

  views performing at the RDA National Festival in 2007 as one of the high points.

  Lorelei has an interest in photography as well as theater, and after completing

  college, plans to pursue a career in the performing arts.

  The fifteen year old daughter of David and Wendy Frandsen, Brooke Frandsen

  has been a company member with Ballet Yuma for 5 years and has been dancing

  for 11 years. Currently in the 10th grade at Gila Ridge High School, Brooke

  performed at the RDA National Festival in 2007, where she received a scholarship

  to Utah Regional Ballet II.  Brooke’s goal is to become a professional dancer and

  choreographer.

  Mara Mejia is the fifteen year old daughter of Lorena Garcia and Jorge Mejia and

  is a freshman at Yuma Catholic High School.  Mara has been dancing for 10 years

  and is in her 3rd year as a Ballet Yuma company member.  She has gone to RDA

  festivals for 5 years, including the National Festival in 2007.  In addition to dance,

  Mara loves soccer, and her future plans include maintaining good grades

  throughout high school and going to college.

  A senior at Yuma Catholic High School, Keely Misenhimer is the daughter of

  Diana Crites and D. Page Misenhimer, Jr.  Keely is seventeen years old, has been

  dancing for 12 years, and is in her 7th year as a company member with Ballet

  Yuma.  She has received numerous scholarships including Atlanta Ballet,

  International Dance School, Craft of Choreography, and Utah Regional Ballet II.

  Performing at RDA National Festival on gala night was a highlight for Keely, who

  has been a member of her high school’s Honor Roll ‘A-Team’ for all 4 years, a

  member of the yearbook staff for 3, and editor of the yearbook for 2 years.  She

  plans to attend a 4-year university to study graphic design and continue her

  dance education.

  The fourteen year old daughter of George Owens and Dawn Shaw, Taylor

  Owens has been dancing for 10 years and a Ballet Yuma company member for 3.

  Taylor, a freshman at Gila Ridge High School, appeared as Clara in 2004 and

  2005.  She attended the RDA National Festival and received a scholarship to Craft

  of Choreography.  Taylor’s future plans include continuing to dance and becoming

  a physical therapist.

  Pamela Romero is the seventeen year old daughter of Maria and Rogelio

  Romero.  Pamela is in her 5th year as a company member with Ballet Yuma, has

  been dancing for 10 years, and is currently a junior at Yuma High School.  Pamela

  performed the role of Clara in 2002, and attended the RDA National Festival

  earlier this year.  She plans on graduating from high school and embarking on a

  college career.

  A Yuma Catholic High School sophomore, Hailey Savage is the fifteen year old

  daughter of Austin and Colette Savage.  Hailey has been dancing for 11 years

  and is in her 4th year as a Ballet Yuma company member.  She attended the RDA

  National Festival in 2007, is an honor roll student and an avid reader.  Hailey’s

  plans for the future include continuing to dance and attending a 4-year college.

  A senior at Cibola High School, seventeen year old Rebecca Sorenson is the

  daughter of Beth and Richard Sorenson.  Rebecca has been a company member

  with Ballet yuma for 7 years and has been dancing for 11.  She received the USAA

  Leadership Merit Award, and is in the top 10 of her graduating class.  Rebecca

  loves reading and poetry, is involved in student council, and active in her church. 

  She plans to work toward a career as a physical therapist, nutritionist, and/or

  athletic trainer, and would like to work with dancers and professional dance

  companies.

Apprentices

  Fourteen year old Chelsea Estes has been dancing for 10 years and this is her

  2nd as a company member with Ballet Yuma.   She is the daughter of Jim and Jill

  Estes and is in the 8th grade at Yuma Lutheran School.  Chelsea performed the

  role of Clara in 2005, and attended the RDA National Festival in 2007.  Her future

  plans include graduating from college and continuing to dance.

  A Sophomore at Yuma Catholic High School, fifteen year old Nicole Facio is the

  daughter of Wilma Carrasquillo and Joel Facio.  This is Nicole’s 3rd year as a

  company member with Ballet yuma and she has been dancing for 10.  Her

  interests include photography and future plans include college.

  The daughter of Kim and Maria Guthrie, Ariane Guthrie is fourteen years old and

  in the 8th grade at Fourth Avenue Junior High.  This is her 2nd year as a Ballet

  Yuma company member and she has been dancing for 10 years.  She has made

  honor roll for the past 4 years and is a 4-H Tobacco Prevention Peer Leader. 

  Ariane loves music and movies and her plans for the future include college.

  Nicolette Gutierrez is the thirteen year old daughter of Louis and Marilyn

  Gutierrez.  She is an 8th grade student at Gila Vista Junior High School, and has

  been dancing for 10 years.  This is Nicolette’s 2nd year as a Ballet Yuma company

  member.  She is on the honor roll at school, loves playing the viola, performing in

  The Nutcracker and playing sports.  Nicolette plans to become a principal dancer

  with a company, go to one of the best colleges around, and to be successful.

  Andrea Hennig, in her 2nd year as a Ballet Yuma company member, is the

  thirteen year old daughter of Adele and Steven Hennig.  She is an 8th grader at

  Castle Dome Middle School and has been dancing for 10 years.  She attended the

  RDA National Festival in 2007 and the Pacific Region Festival in 2006, and

  maintains honor roll status in school. Andrea also loves music, having studied

  violin, french horn, and trombone.  She has won awards in various science fairs as

  well as Solar House and Odyssey of the Mind competitions.  Andrea wants

  eventually to be a professional dancer and choreographer, and to own her own

  studio.

Junior Apprentices

  Currently in 7th grade at Crane Middle School, Alexis Gresham is the twelve year

  old daughter of Steve and Victoria Gresham. This is Alexis' 1st year as a Ballet

  Yuma company member and she has been dancing for 8 years altogether.  She

  maintains an A/B average in school and she loves reading, writing, art, and

  sports.  Aside from continuing to dance, her future goals include becoming an

  architect.

  Currently in the 7th grade at Gila Vista Junior High, Alexandria Pena is the twelve

  year old daughter of Patricia and German Pena.  She has been dancing for 9

  years and this is her 1st year as a company member.  Alexandria, who tries to

  keep her GPA above 3.5, has been playing the piano for 5 years and the violin for

  2.  Her interests include international travel and the study of diverse cultures.

  She plans on attending a university and majoring in criminal investigation.

  Marissa Rubio is the sixteen year old daughter of Lisa and Ernie Nogales & Jaime

  Gallegos.  A junior at Yuma High School, Marissa has been dancing for 3 years

  and this is her 1st as a Ballet Yuma company member.  She is a member of the

  dance and spirit clubs at Yuma High, where she also writes for the school

  newspaper and works on TV production.  Her plans include college and continuing

  to dance.