Trainees

AvaRose Dillon

AvaRose Dillon began dancing at age 9 at the Studio School of Classical Ballet in her hometown of Santa Cruz, California, under Diane Cypher and Robert Kelley. At age 14 she moved to Texas to train at Texas Ballet Theater School, where she spent two seasons as a member of the Studio Training Company. During her time in the Studio Training Company, AvaRose enjoyed performing in many TBT productions including Ben Stevenson’s The Nutcracker and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, George Balanchine’s Serenade, and Tim O’Keefe’s Violin Concerto in D She has also attended summer intensives at San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and School of American Ballet, as well as at TBT. AvaRose is honored and excited to join TBT as a Trainee this season.

Kayla Fessler

A third-generation dancer from San Antonio, Texas, Kayla Fessler started ballet at age 6. At age 14 she moved to Houston Ballet Academy, where she trained on scholarship for four years. While at Houston Ballet Academy, Kayla trained under many instructors including Sally Rojas, Claudio Munoz, and Susan Bryant, and had the opportunity to perform world-renowned choreography. In 2020 she moved north to continue her training at Texas Ballet Theater School. Kayla joins the professional company this season as a Trainee.

Jordan Lovelace

Jordan Lovelace began dancing in his hometown of Dallas, Texas, at age 13. He has enjoyed performing in many ballets throughout his training, including Young Person’s Guide to the Orchestra by Stanton Welch. Jordan danced in Texas Ballet Theater School’s Studio Training Company before joining the professional company this season as a Trainee.

Jason McClung

A native of Pearland, Texas, Jason McClung began dancing when he was 8 years old. His training and performance experience have taken him across the country and around the world, including countries such as England, Estonia, and Latvia. Favorite roles include the Butterfly Pas de Deux in Atlanta Ballet

2’s Snow White and a Joyful Spirit in Otis Sallid’s In Came Bach. Jason joins the professional company this season as a Trainee.