Summer Faculty

SWBT’s faculty are the most sought-after instructors in the valley. They bring their wide range of expertise and experiences to share with our aspiring dancers. Scroll down to read more about each faculty member and the expertise they bring to SWBT’s dancers. 

Crystal Fullmer – Classes & Intensives

With 25 years of teaching experience at universities, private studios and conservatories, Crystal Fullmer brings a wealth of knowledge into the classroom and rehearsal process.

Her early training started with Jacquie Kunzman, Nina Vasilieff Raimondo, and Frank Bays at a small classical studio in Oregon, while later she studied with Greg Halloran and Lorraine Person at University of Idaho, and Donna Jewell, Mary Anne Santos Newhall, and Eva Encinias-Sandoval at University of New Mexico.

Crystal owned and directed her own dance studio in eastern Washington for a few years, and has also been on faculty with Washington State University, Central Washington University, Alma College, and University of Idaho. She is currently an adjunct with the Dance Department of Grand Canyon University.

Her former students have been accepted to dance programs at Cornish College of the Arts, University of Utah, LINES Ballet at Dominican University, The Hartt School, Western Washington University, University of Idaho, University of Arizona, and University of New Mexico. Some have also danced professionally with Ballet 5:8, State Street Ballet, Ballet Idaho, ArtLab J, and Third Coast Dance Company. 

Natalie Ramirez – Intensives

Natalie Ramirez began dancing at Inland Pacific Ballet Academy in Montclair, California, under the direction of Victoria Koenig and Jill Voznick.

In 2016, Natalie moved to Massachusetts to train as a pre-professional program student at the Boston Ballet School. She then joined the School of Ballet Arizona’s pre-professional program in 2018. In addition, Natalie furthered her training by attending the following summer intensives under scholarship: Pacific Northwest Ballet, School of American Ballet, Boston Ballet School, and the School of Ballet Arizona. In 2019, she was accepted into Ballet Arizona’s Studio Company. Natalie then joined the company in 2020 and has since performed in various classical and contemporary roles, such as in Second to Last, Within the Golden Hour, In Creases, Pas de Sept, and Les Patineurs. In addition, she’s performed in George Balanchine’s Serenade, Stravinsky Violin Concerto, Bourrée Fantasque, and Slaughter on Tenth Avenue.

Sydney Walker – Classes & Intensives

Sydney Walker started classical ballet at the age of four and completed several Royal Academy of Dance examinations with Arizona Youth Ballet under the instruction of Kelly Moul.  She earned exceptional marks in her classical performance and musicality, receiving one of the highest total grades in her studio in 2013. RAD, a worldwide classical ballet syllabus program, inspired her passion for character dance and its strong technique.  After ten years, she joined Southwest Ballet Theatre and has thrived dancing in their professional performances.  Her favorite roles include the Wicked Witch in The Wizard of Oz, Pretty Bird in Tarzan, the Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, and a Czardas soloist in Coppélia.

Sydney has over five years of teaching and choreography experience. She enjoys her administration role at SWBT as it connects her with the staff and families while they collaborate in performance production.

On the side, she plays piano recreationally with her 15 years of piano experience.  She hopes to continue teaching and dancing in the future.

Sydney is certified in adaptive dance by the Boston Ballet Company, Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT), and has earned an Associate in Arts Degree.

Jessica Berroth – Classes & Intensives

Jessica Berroth began dancing at the early age of 3 after she saw her first ballet. It was love at first sight. Her formal ballet training began at Deane Dance Center in Sacramento CA under the instruction of the late Barbara Crocket. She then continued her training at The School of Ballet Arizona with Truman Finney and Dina Vasilieva Dyakova. Other notable instructors include Alexander Vetrov (Bolshoi Ballet Master), Paul Mejia, Slawomir Wozniak, and Daniel Baudendistel. Jessica attended summer intensives at Boston Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet and State Street Ballet with scholarship.

Jessica began her professional career in 2008 with Terpsicore Dance Company where she had the privilege to perform as a soloist in an original neoclassical ballet by Ian Poulis and works with choreographer Kevin Jenkins. After a year of travel and dance in Italy, Jessica continued to perform with Terpsicore Dance Company until their close in 2016. She has since guested with Convergence Ballet and Southwest Ballet Theatre, her favorite role being Carabosse from Sleeping Beauty, which she performed while 5 months pregnant.

Jessica has been teaching pre professional ballet for the last 8 years and is the proud mother of 3 beautiful children.

Lisa Gray Young – Intensives

Lisa Gray Young, a Phoenix native, grew up studying various genres of dance, as well as acting, voice, piano, and flute. After graduating from South Mountain Center for the Arts High School, Young went to Arizona State University, graduating with honors and earning a B.F.A. in Choreography/Performance.

She has performed, taught, and choreographed for a myriad of dance companies, theaters, schools, studios, and churches around the Valley, including Center Dance Ensemble (dancing the principle role of “Gerda” in The Snow Queen, ’98-’00), The Movement Source, Inc., Dance Arizona Repertory Theater, Stageworks, MesaYoutheatre, East Valley Children’s Theatre, Greasepaint Youtheatre, The Mesa Arts Center (co-founded/co-directed Step to This Dance Company), Grand Canyon University, Mesa Community College, Phoenix College, and Paradise Valley Community College.

She has received numerous ariZoni Theater Awards of Excellence nominations for her choreography in the theater community and has won twice for her work in The Orphan Train and The Jungle Book, both with MesaYoutheatre.

Young currently also teaches children and teens at Dance Theater West.

Bernadette Gaxiola – Intensives

Bernadette Gaxiola began her dance training at age of 6 in Flamenco, Classical Spanish, Spanish Folk, Mexican Folk with Laura Moya/AZ. She began her professional carrier at the age of 13 with Laura Moya Hispanic Dance Company. Her studies also took her nationally and abroad to Spain, which includes flamenco artists Luis Montero, Oscar Nieto, Julia Lopez, La Meida, La Conja, Carola Zertuche, Yolanda Heredia, Isabel Bayón, Antonio “El Pipa”, Antonio Granjero, and Pastora Galvan, among many others.

Performance credits also include ‘ Zona Flamenca, Flamenco Ole/Antonio Granjero (PA), Ballet Etudes (AZ), Calo Flamenco Ballet de Martin Gaxiola. She has toured the throughout the US and debuted her Solo Solea’ por Buleria’s at the Hecksher Theatre at El Museo de Barrio, just to name a few. She founded Gitanitos del Sol student dance company and Zona Flamenca, also became director of Flamenco at Pepin Spanish restaurant. In 2016, she debuted her production at Arcosanti , Flamenco Meets Vivaldi. To name a few of her works include “Metropolis”/Ballet under the Stars, the Arizona Music Festivals, Orpheum Theatre, Herberger, presented her first Flamenco ensemble at YAGP 2019/ NY.

Teaching credits include School of Ballet Arizona, Scottsdale Dance Academy, Arizona School for the Arts, and is currently on staff at Master Ballet Academy. Now, she instructs/choreographs/performs and remains committed to her goal of inspiring future generations of dancers through the artistic expression of Flamenco. She is an AVP for a national insurance brokerage, and in her spare time, she enjoys Salsa Dancing with her husband and spending time with her children and extended family.

Melissa Marshall – Classes

Melissa Marshall started her dance training at the age of three, in Albany, New York. At the age of six, she began more serious ballet training with the Albany Berkshire Ballet under the direction of Madeline Cantarella Culpo. She performed in many ballets including Midsummer Night’s Dream, Cinderella, and the Nutcracker.

Melissa performed and travelled with the ABB company throughout the East coast and Canada performing several roles in the Nutcracker. She attended Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet for two summer programs under the direction of Marcia Dale Weary in 1995 and 1996. In 1997, she put her ballet career on hold to pursue a career in physical therapy at Springfield College, Massachusetts. She received a Bachelor of Science degree in 2001, and Master of Science degree in Physical Therapy in 2002.

Melissa worked as a licensed physical therapist in the state of New Mexico, in the school-age, early intervention, in-home pediatric, and geriatric settings for eight years. She moved to Rocky Point, Sonora, Mexico, in 2010, where she resumed dancing and began teaching with Destiny Dance Academy. In 2017, Melissa opened Elegante School of Dance and Therapeutic Center where she choreographed and taught ballet, pointe, tap, jazz, hip hop, acrobatics, yoga, toning and conditioning as well as provided physical therapy services and therapeutic massages to children and adults. In late 2017, Melissa moved to Goodyear, and became a licensed physical therapist in AZ, working with children with disabilities. In 2018, Melissa began dancing and performing with Southwest Ballet Theatre. She currently teaches, assists and performs with SWBT.

Melissa has a passion for uniting her physical therapy and dance backgrounds to serve children with special needs in the ballet studio. She is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).

Pamela Reyes – Classes

Pamela Reyes, a talented ballet dancer, was raised in Yuma, Arizona. Her journey in the world of dance began at the age of 9 when she enrolled at Yuma Ballet Academy, under the esteemed direction of Kathleen Sinclair and Jon Cristofori. At the academy, Pamela dedicated herself to mastering ballet, pointe work, and the Horton technique. During her training, Pamela was a proud member of Ballet Yuma, a pre professional company affiliated with The Ballet Alliance. This experience provided her with valuable performance opportunities and enriched her understanding of the art form.

Following her high school graduation, Pamela briefly ventured into other fields to explore different paths. However, her passion for ballet eventually led her back to the dance world. She embarked on a new role as a ballet instructor, teaching pre-ballet, beginning ballet, and adult classes.

Pamela Reyes’s ballet journey is a testament to her dedication and love for the art. Her training, performances, and teaching experiences have shaped her into a well-rounded dancer and instructor, inspiring others to embrace the beauty and grace of ballet.