Our Dancers

Peninsula Dance Theatre 2020/2021
Dancer Biographies Below

Dancer Biographies

Principal Dancers

Muriel

Muriel is a junior in high school and has been dancing with BDC for 13 years. This year will be her sixth year as a member of PDT. Muriel has enjoyed parts such as Ribbon Candy and Doll in The Nutcracker, Chinese Doll in Coppélia, Duck in Peter and the Wolf and many pieces in the annual Choreography Showcase. She has attended The Ballet Alliance Festival for 4 years and last summer she spent two weeks in Walla Walla for the SDL summer intensive. She has also been going to BDC’s summer intensive for 8 years.

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, and has enjoyed dancing such roles as Chinese Soloist and Mirliton Pas de Deux in The Nutcracker, Cavalier and Puss in Boots in Sleeping Beauty, Halarian in Giselle, 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.

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 junior in high school she is excited to start her year as a Principal 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, Doll, and the Mirliton soloist in The Nutcracker, and the White Cat in Sleeping Beauty and a Demi Willi in Giselle. 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. For the past three years she has been to Regional Dance America Pacific and last year attended The Ballet Alliance Festival and is looking forward to attending it for a second 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.

Brennan Rood

Brennan Rood is a college student, at Washington State University. He has been dancing for 8 years and is excited for his third Principal year at PDT. Some of his favorite parts are Prince Charming from Cinderella, Prince Desire from Sleeping Beauty, Albrecht from Giselle, and Snow King, Mirliton, and Cavalier from The Nutcracker. He also enjoyed being in PDT’s Choreography Showcase and Season Opener for the past 5 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.

Performing Members

Ginny Acker

Biography Coming

Sara Bell

Biography Coming

MaryClare Gehring

MaryClare Gehring is a ninth grader and has been dancing with BDC since 2015 and is now a performing member with PDT. During the summer she has attended a variety of programs including Olympic ballet Theaters summer intensive and Johansen Ballet Centre summer intensive. She has loved many roles such as Ribbon Candy and Clara in The Nutcracker and a Wili in Giselle. She is very thankful for all of her friends and family for supporting her.

Elise

Elise is a freshman in high school. She has been dancing with BDC for 11 years and PDT for 4. 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 The Ballet Alliance festival last year, and is looking forward to this year’s festival in Long Beach, California. Aside from dance Elise also enjoys singing in choir at her school, and loves playing the guitar while singing for her family.

Aiyanna Huttleston

Aiyanna Huttleston is an eighth grader in Middle School. She has been dancing with Bremerton Dance Center for four years. Aiyanna is excited to start her third year with Peninsula Dance Theatre. Some of her favorite roles have been Pinocchio in BDC’s recital Pinocchio, Snow Corps and Ribbon Candy in The Nutcracker, and wilis in Giselle. Aiyanna has enjoyed attending BDC’s summer intensive program and The Ballet Alliance. Before dancing with BDC, Aiyanna attended Ithaca Ballet, where she performed The Nutcracker and Cinderella. Aside from dancing, she enjoys skiing, hanging out with family and friends, and taking care of her chickens.

Gabrielle Muller

Biography Coming

Marisa Oishi

Biography Coming

Jessica Portrey

Jessica Portrey is a sophomore in high school. This is her first year as a Performing Member with Peninsula Dance Theater. She began dancing with Bremerton Dance Center nine years ago. She has performed in many productions such as School Tour, Season Opener, Nutcracker, Choreography Showcase and Spring Ballet. Her favorite roles have been Snow Corps and Arabian Harem in The Nutcracker. This summer she attended the Summer Dance Lab Intensive in Walla Walla for 5 weeks with a partial scholarship from the Dance Lab. Outside of dance, Jessica enjoys horseback riding and playing the flute.

Emmalynn Powell