Our Dancers

Peninsula Dance Theatre 2018-2019
Dancer Biographies Below

2018 - 2019 PDT Company Dancers

Dancer Biographies

Principal Dancers

Nicole Malloy

Nicole Malloy is a junior in high school and beginning her first year as a Principal Member with Peninsula Dance Theatre. She joined Bremerton Dance Center in 2006 and PDT in 2013. Her favorite past roles include Doll in The Nutcracker, Winter Fairy in Cinderella, and Amethyst in Sleeping Beauty. In her free time, Nicole enjoys volunteering at the humane society and spending time with friends. She would like to thank her parents and teachers for their endless support.

Hannah Matson

Hannah Matson is excited to start her sixth year with PDT as a Principal dancer. She is a Junior in High School. Some of her favorite roles include Spanish Chocolate in The Nutcracker and Sancho Panza in Don Quixote. When not dancing, Hannah enjoys spending time with her family at the lake and hanging out with friends.

Brennan Rood

Brennan Rood is a college student, at Olympic College. He has been dancing for 7 years and is excited for his second Principal year at PDT. Some of his favorite parts are Prince from Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, and Snow King and Mirliton from The Nutcracker. He also enjoyed being in PDT’s Choreography Showcase and Season Opener for the past 4 years. In the summer of 2015, Brennan attended ABT's Summer Intensive in Alabama, and he attended Long Beach Ballet’s summer intensive in the summer of 2016.

Elise Schroeder

Elise Schroeder lives in Bremerton and is in her senior year in high school. She has been dancing with Bremerton Dance Center for thirteen years and has started her seventh year of dancing with Peninsula Dance Theatre. Some of her favorite roles so far include Chinese Tea, and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Spanish Lady in Don Quixote, Anastasia in Cinderella, and dancing in multiple pieces in the annual, Choreography Showcase, which she received the chance to choreograph for the past two years. The past three summers, Elise has gotten the chance to attend Ballet Magnificat! for a four week summer intensive, with full tuition scholarships that she received at RDA Festivals, each year. She has also attended BDC's summer intensive. When she has free time she enjoys reading, writing, knitting, and being with her friends. This next year, she hopes to audition for the Ballet Magnificat! Trainee program in Jackson, Mississippi.

Caitlin Settle

Caitlin Settle is a Junior in highschool. This is her sixth year performing with Peninsula Dance Theatre and her first year as a Principal Member of the company. Some of her notable roles include the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Autumn Fairy in Cinderella, and Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. This season Caitlin will perform her tenth Nutcracker. She has spent summers training with American Ballet Theatre, Olympic Ballet Theatre, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Caitlin has attended four dance festivals hosted by Regional Dance America/Pacific. In addition to earning scholarships from Peninsula Dance Theatre for the mentioned summer programs, in 2018 she received a scholarship to attend Atlanta Ballet's summer intensive in 2019 through Regional Dance America/Pacific. Caitlin also enjoys working with both resident and guest choreographers for Choreography Showcase and performing in the spring ballet. Outside of dance Caitlin is involved in leadership activities at school and loves playing with her animals at home.

Jacob Soltero

Jacob Soltero is a junior in high school and beginning his third season with the company as a Principal. Although he had a late start in beginning dance at Peninsula Dance Theatre--at the age thirteen--Jacob has begun to make great strides in his dance career and has gained much experience throughout his years. He participated in the Regional Dance America National Festival that took place in Phoenix, Arizona, as well as the Regional Dance America Regional Festival in Spokane, Washington. Additionally, he was able to go to the American Ballet Theatre Intensive that took place in Austin, Texas, as well as going to the Pacific Northwest Ballet School Intensive on a full tuition scholarship given by the school and the Regional Dance America Festival. On his downtime, he enjoys playing his clarinet and talking with his friends. As a part of Peninsula Dance Theatre, he gained roles that stood out to him: Spanish Chocolate in The Nutcracker, Jester in Cinderella, and Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty. He has felt at home in the studio and loves all the people--the teachers and dancers--that he has the opportunity to work with. In supporting his dreams, he could never pursue dance without the help that he receives from his family, for they remain his biggest supporter through their love and light that they give him.

Performing Members

Muriel Acker

Muriel Acker is a sophomore in high school. She’s been dancing at Bremerton Dance Center for thirteen years, and has been a part of Peninsula Dance Theatre for five years. Some parts she’s enjoyed are the Chinese Doll in Coppélia, Waltz of the Flowers and Ribbon Candy in The Nutcracker, the Duck in Peter and the Wolf, and multiple pieces in the annual Choreography Showcase. Muriel has attended Bremerton Dance Centers Summer Intensive for eight years, and stayed two weeks at Walla Walla for the Summer Dance Lab intensive, with a scholarship from PDT. She has attended Regional Dance America’s Festival for the past three years.

Katrina Brocksome

Katrina Brocksome is a freshman in high school and is now beginning her first year as a Performing Member with Peninsula Dance Theatre. She began dancing at the age of two and has been dancing at Bremerton Dance Center for the past 5 years, joining their company in 2015. She has performed in various productions with PDT such as, Season Opener, Nutcracker, Choreography Showcase, and Spring Ballet. Her favorite roles and performances include, Snow Corps and Ribbon in The Nutcracker and the annual Choreography Showcase. She has attended two Regional Dance America/Pacific Festivals for the past two years. When she is not dancing, she enjoys studying, cooking, and spending time with family.

Malcolm Cisler

Malcolm Cisler began his training at Monona Academy of Dance under Jojean Retrum in Madison, Wisconsin. After he moved with his parents to Port Orchard, Mr. Cisler began dancing at BDC under Mallory Morrison, Diane Lau, Nicole and Jason Cisler. Mr. Cisler dances both ballet and tap. Mr. Cisler has enjoyed dancing such roles as Chinese Soloist and Mirliton Trio in The Nutcracker, Cavalier and Puss in Boots in Sleeping Beauty, and Peter in Peter and the Wolf. Outside of dance, Mr. Cisler spends most of his free time fencing at the Kitsap Fencing Center, and playing guitar.

Elise

Elise is an eighth grader in junior high. She has been dancing with BDC for 10 years and PDT for 3. Her favorite roles in past performances have been Clara in The Nutcracker, Peter Pan in BDC’s recital Peter Pan, and the Rainbow Fish in PDT’s School Tour The Rainbow Fish. She loved attended BDC’s 2016& 2017 summer intensive. She had so much fun going to her first Regional Dance America’s Festival last year. Aside from dance Elise also enjoys singing in choir at her school, and loves playing the guitar while singing for her family.

Ayla Nye

Ayla Nye began taking classes at Bremerton Dance Center in 2006, at the age of three. Since 2013 Ayla has been with Peninsula Dance Theatre. Now a sophomore in high school she is excited to start her year as a Performing Member with PDT. She has performed in many PDT production such as The Nutcracker, Choreography Showcase, Spring Ballet and the annual Season Opener. Some of her favorite roles include Clara and Doll in The Nutcracker, and The White Cat and Voice Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. Since the age of ten Ayla has attended Bremerton Dance Centers summer intensive and is thankful for the scholarship she received from PDT for this intensive. This past summer Ayla attended Summer Dance Lab a dance intensive in Washington. For the past three years she has been to Regional Dance America/Pacific and is looking forward to attending it for a fourth time this upcoming year. Outside of dance Ayla enjoys spending time with her friends and family. She is thankful for the love and support her family has shown throughout her many years of dancing.

Stephanie Ryder

Stephanie Ryder a sophomore and has been dancing since the age of three. She enjoys performing in PDT’s productions including her favorite roles: Chinese soloist, Snow & Waltz Corps in The Nutcracker; and Friends in Sleeping Beauty. A scholarship provided in part from PDT has allowed her to participate in summer intensives with Bremerton Dance Center and Tacoma City Ballet. Traveling to Phoenix and Spokane to attend RDA Festivals has been an enriching opportunity, and she’s looking forward to this year. During her free time, Stephanie participates in 4-H, National Honors Society, Key Club, photography, traveling and hanging out with friends. Thanks to all patrons of the arts!

Grace Smith

Grace Smith is a junior in high school. She started dancing at the age of 4 at Bainbridge Dance Center. For the past four years she has trained with Olympic Ballet School under Mara Vinson and Oleg Gorboulev; performing with Olympic Ballet Theatre in Coppélia, The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, Fall Program, Spring Program, Summer Gala, and their Beaux Arts Auction. She has attended summer intensives at Cornish College of the Arts, Olympic Ballet School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Bossov Ballet Theatre, and Joffrey Academy of Dance Chicago. She is very excited to join PDT this season!