Peninsula Dance Theatre 2014 - 2015
Dancer Biographies Below
2014 - 2015 PDT Company Dancers
Dancer Biographies
Principal Dancers
Sophie Robertson
Sophie
Robertson joined Peninsula Dance Theatre in 2011 and feels
fortunate to be a principal company member. She started ballet and other dance
styles at the age of three in Gig Harbor. Since dancing with PDT, some of her
favorite roles include Cinderella in Cinderella, Grissi in Pas de Quatre,
Prayer in Coppelia, Demi Wili in Giselle, and Snow Queen and Sugar Plum
Fairy in The Nutcracker. She is
thankful for being able to dance with the company at Regional Dance America
Festivals, and in addition, has had the opportunity to attend New York City
Dance Alliance’s Nationals with a full scholarship as a Regional Outstanding
Dancer Runner-up. Summer Intensives she has attended include Houston Ballet,
NYCDA, Boston Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, American Ballet Theatre, and
PDT. Sophie is a senior in high school and her dreams are to continue her
academics and receive a university BFA in dance. She enjoys Ultimate, Skiing,
and other sports. Her many thanks go to PDT and her teachers for furthering her
goals and her friends for their support.
Ryan Marshall
Ryan Marshall has been performing on and off with PDT since 1997. Ryan is a Sheet Metal Mechanic at PSNS, having graduated from his apprenticeship in 2008. A few of his favorite past roles include Cavalier, Snow King, and Herr Drosselmeyer in The Nutcracker, as well as, Hungarian Prince in Swan Lake, Prince Désiré in Sleeping Beauty, and Albrecht in Giselle.
Rachael Spear
Rachael is a senior in high school and has been dancing for 14 years. She is thrilled to be back for her last season with Peninsula Dance Theatre! This marks her seventh year in the company and second year as a principal company member. Some of her favorite roles have been Clara in The Nutcracker and the Spring Fairy in Cinderella. Recently, she spent her summer in New York City studying at the American Ballet Theatre and Manhattan Youth Ballet. While she isn't at dance, Rachael is a Teen Mentor at Green Mountain Elementary, involved in the school yearbook, and is involved in the leadership program at school.
Ceilidh Countryman
Ceilidh Countryman a senior in High School, is happy to return as a principal member of Peninsula Dance Theatre. So far her favorite roles at PDT have been the Arabian Princess in The Nutcracker and Summer Fairy in Cinderella. She began dancing at age three with Liberty Bay Danceworks, and started dancing with Bremerton Dance Center at age eight. Ceilidh has been to three of Regional Dance America’s festivals, and has studied at Summer Dance Lab and three of American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensives. When not dancing, she enjoys reading, singing for her school’s choirs, and spending time with friends and family.
Hayley Maddox
Hayley Maddox started dancing in 1997 at Bremerton Dance Center. She joined Peninsula Dance Theater in 2003. She has participated in countless productions with PDT and has traveled with them to multiple Festivals (RDA) in the US. Some of her favorite rolls she has danced include Snow Queen and Spanish Pas from The Nutcracker, Rosilne in Romeo and Juliet, Pigtail girl in Graduation Ball, and Giselle in Giselle. Outside of the company, Hayley is also a dance instructor for Bremerton Dance Center, and a pre-school teacher/ day care lady for the YMCA.
Zan Montieth
Zan Montieth is a Senior in high school and is currently attending classes at OC
through the running start program. He began dancing at age ten at Carol
Lawrence School of Dance in New York before coming to Bremerton Dance
Center where he has been dancing for the last four years. In his time with
Peninsula Dance Theater he has co-choreographed two pieces for season opener. This
last summer Zan attended a five-week summer intensive in Princeton. He looks
forward to another great year performing with PDT.
Lydia Caldwell
Lydia
Caldwell is
a seventeen year old junior in high school and has been
dancing since age four. Lydia began dancing at Bremerton Dance Center at age
six and has been a member of PDT for the past five years. She is excited and
honored to be dancing as a Principal Member this season and performing in her
eleventh Nutcracker. Over the past summers, Lydia has attended intensives at
Columbia Dance Center, Mid-Columbia Ballet, and Bremerton Dance Center with
scholarships from PDT. In her spare time Lydia enjoys baking, reading, spending
(even more) time with her "dance family", and laughing. Her favorite
past roles include Doll in The Nutcracker and Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle. Lydia
would like to thank her family, friends, teachers, coaches, and most of all her
parents for their endless support and encouragement.
Hailey Somerday
Hailey
Somerday is a junior in high
school. She has been dancing at BDC since she was three years old. This year
she is a principal member with PDT. One of her favorite roles she has had so
far is Clara in The Nutcracker. Hailey has attended Mid-Columbia Ballet summer
intensive along with BDC's summer intensive. While not dancing, Hailey enjoys
spending time with her friends and summers at Lake Roosevelt. Hailey would like
to thank all of her teachers and her mom and dad for their continued love and
support.
Brodrick Todd
Brodrick Todd was born in Renton and raised in Bremerton. He left his senior year of high school and joined Ballet Idaho in Boise, when he was offered a contract after attending their summer intensive in 2011. During his two years there, he performed in such ballets as Nutcracker, City Symphony, Romeo & Juliet, Carmen, Don Quixote, Firebird, Cinderella and Circus. Brodrick’s prior dance training started at PDT, under the direction of Lawan Morrison. During his time at PDT he performed a variety of roles such asCavalier, Chinese, Fritz, Puss-in-Boots, and Benvolio. He is very excited to be back in Bremerton, which he calls home.
Performing Members
Michelle Ascencio
Michelle
Asencio has lived in Bremerton her whole life, and is
currently a junior at Bremerton High School. She has been dancing for twelve
years, and is beginning her sixth year as a member of Peninsula Dance
Theatre. Michelle has performed in many PDT productions including Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Romeo and
Juliet, Coppelia, Giselle, The Nutcracker, and her favorite, the annual Choreography Showcase. She has traveled
with the company to Regional Dance America's festivals in Montreal, Phoenix,
and Spokane. This past summer, Michelle attended Regional Dance America’s
phenomenal two week National Choreography Intensive at Utah Valley University,
her favorite experience yet. Outside of dance, Michelle enjoys
photography, traveling, maintaining high grades, and playing her flute in her
school's marching and concert bands
Phoebe Russell
Phoebe Russell lives in Bremerton and is currently in her Sophomore year in High School. This is her thirteenth year of dancing and her fourth year of being in the company. Her favorite parts so far have been: Snow Corp in The Nutcracker and a Ballroom Guest in Cinderella. When she is not dancing she enjoys reading, and spending time with family and friends.
