Our Dancers

Peninsula Dance Theatre 2018-2019
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.

Nicole Malloy

Nicole Malloy is a senior in high school and a principle dancer at Peninsula Dance Theatre. Some of her favorite past roles include Spanish Chocolate and Doll in The Nutcracker and Amethyst in Sleeping Beauty. Nicole has attended Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s and Peninsula Dance Theatre’s summer intensives in the past. In her spare time, Nicole enjoys hiking, baking, and spending time with friends.

Hannah Matson

Hannah Matson is a senior in high school and a principal dancer for Peninsula Dance Theatre. One of her favorite parts she’s danced is Snow Queen in PDT’s annual Nutcracker. She also enjoys choreographing, and has had numerous opportunities to showcase her work at both the PDT Showcase and The Ballet Alliance in Spokane, Washington. She received a full tuition scholarship at The Ballet Alliance as a choreographer to attend their summer intensive. Outside of dance, she is involved in DECA as an officer and store manager. She plans on attending college to pursue business. In the future she hopes to continue to be involved in the dance community by choreographing. She wants to thank her family and her teachers for their support.

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.

Caitlin Settle

Caitlin Settle is a Senior in high school. Some of her notable roles include the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Autumn Fairy in Cinderella, and Princess Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, and Giselle in Giselle. She has spent summers training with American Ballet Theatre, Olympic Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and Atlanta Ballet. Caitlin has received scholarships for both Peninsula Dance Theatre and The Ballet Alliance to attend such programs. She has attend Regional Dance America and Ballet Alliance festivals since 2015. Caitlin has choreographed for Choreography Showcase and performs in the annual spring ballet. Outside of dance Caitlin is involved in leadership activities at school and loves playing with her animals at home.

Grace Smith

Grace Smith is currently a senior in high school. Grace began dancing at Bainbridge Dance Center at the age of 4. She continued her ballet training with Olympic Ballet School form 2014-2018 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 then joined PDT as a performing member in 2018. Her favorite roles with PDT include Arabian Princess in The Nutcracker and Myrtha in Giselle. She has attended summer intensives at Cornish College of the Arts, Olympic Ballet School, Walnut Hill School for the Arts, Bossov Ballet Theatre, The University of Utah and Joffrey Academy of Dance Chicago. Grace is excited to start her second season with Peninsula Dance Theatre as a principal dancer and is grateful for the support from her family and teachers.

Jacob Soltero

Jacob Soltero is a senior in high school and this will be his fourth year with Peninsula Dance Theater and second year as a Principal. Jacob is excited about what the future entails, especially for dance. He has been honored with the opportunity to train at numerous intensives at prestigious schools-- such as San Francisco Ballet School and Pacific Northwest Ballet School-- on full-tuition scholarships. Additionally, he has gone to many Ballet Alliance festivals with the company-- in both Spokane, WA and Phoenix, AZ-- where he performed both emerging works and Residential Choreography that helped him to earn the opportunity to participate in the Honor Ballet classes. His favorite roles have been Snow King and Spanish in The Nutcracker, Peasant Pas de Deux in Giselle, and Blue Bird in The Sleeping Beauty. He greatly appreciates the opportunities he has received in being a part of the company, for, without their help, his dance life would have never been the same. Also, he would like to thank his family for their support and love they give both him and his art.

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!