Our Staff

Emily Darlage

ARTISTIC DIRECTOR + SENIOR INSTRUCTOR

Miss Emily started dancing at The Children’s Ballet, where she studied ballet and pointe under Deni Jacks, Robyn Wenrich, Edward Moffat, and Heidi Eads Jones. During her study at The Children’s Ballet, she discovered her love of teaching by working as a teaching assistant and student teacher.

She continued dancing at Anderson University, graduating summa cum laude with departmental awards and honors with a BA in dance business. While at Anderson, she studied a variety of styles under Oybek Tashpulatov, George Salinas, Debra Silveus, Shauna Steele, Doug King, and Kenny Shepard. Emily has worked with Lynn Peterson (Syren Modern Dance), Sharon Wong (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), Jillian Godwin (Dance Kaleidoscope), and Mocha Dance Project.

Her choreographic works have been awarded and featured: “Forever Night” received an Allen Choreography Award, “Compter Sur” was presented at the American College Dance Festival in 2014, and “Lux et Gravitas,” “This Tea/This Chair/This Place,” “Civil Blood, Sweet Sorrow,” and “Amber Waves” were performed at Indy Fringe 2016-2019. Emily was a member of Phoenix Rising Dance Company in 2016-17. She co-founded Crossroads Dance Indy in 2015 and served as a company member and choreographer until 2020. She is currently a company artist with Ballet iNitiative. She has served as a Director of The Children’s Ballet since 2015.

Emily is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique junior, senior, and advanced programs and is a member of the National Dance Education Organization. She shares her passion for dance, storytelling, and the arts through dancing, choreographing, and teaching.

Vanessa Hays

Creative Director

Vanessa began her dance training in 2007 at The Children’s Ballet in Danville, Indiana. Here she received training in ballet, pointe, and modern. While there, she was a student teacher and choreographed for the end of the year shows. This inspired her to continue her dance journey by attending Anderson University after her high school graduation. Her technique expanded to include tap, jazz, dance composition, and improvisation.

While at Anderson, she participated in numerous shows and worked with fantastic teachers like Christine Thacker, Debra Silveus, Doug King, and more. She also had the opportunity to dance with Gregory Hancock Dance Theater in the premiere of EXODUS and danced as an intern in their production of Violin Under the Bed. She graduated in December 2019 with a Bachelor of Arts in Dance Business.

Lise Hearn

INSTRUCTOR

​Ms. Hearn holds a BA (magna cum laude) in Dance from the International University of San Diego, CA. Her dance training began with Gail Grant and continued at Indiana University, Bloomington receiving a scholarship under the direction of Nicolas Beriozoff. She also studied with such notables as Rosella Hightower and Jose Ferran in Cannes, France; Christine Du Boulay and Richard Ellis in Chicago.

Lise has danced with the Feld Ballet NY, Colorado Ballet, Dayton Ballet, Nevada Dance Theatre, and Ruth Page Ballet. Some of her leading roles occurred in such favorite ballets as Raymonda, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Sleeping Beauty, Graduation Ball, Petrouchka, Midsummer Night’s Dream, Serenade, Giselle, Nutcracker, Sacre du Printemps, Carmina Burana and Pas de Quatre. She also can be seen in the television production of Die Fliedermaus, directed by Larry Long.

Lise received a series of scholarships for Performance and for the Teachings of the Russian Syllabus from the International Ballet Seminar. She has given Master Classes for several teacher organizations; Northern Arizona University, Flagstaff, AZ; St. Mary’s College, Notre Dame, IN; and Regis-Loretto Heights College, Denver, CO. Before arriving in Indianapolis, she was on faculty, teaching ballet and character, at the University of Nevada-Las Vegas and was the certified Pilates Instructor of Rehabilitation for Cirque du Soleil.

Lexie Aherns

INSTRUCTOR

Miss Lexie discovered her love for performing as a child while training as a competitive figure skater in the San Francisco Bay Area. It wasn’t until 2008 she began her dance training. She later studied pre-professionally under the direction of Jayne Zaban. She received comprehensive training in ballet, pointe, contemporary, modern, and jazz. She also performed as part of her high school’s dance ensemble, her studio’s senior company, and various opportunities around the Peninsula. In addition to her regular studio’s curriculum, she attended the summer program at the American Ballet Theatre JKO School in New York where she studied under Franco DeVito, Melissa Bowman, Ethan Brown, Lupe Serrano, and more.
 
Lexie is currently a company artist for Ballet INitiative and has performed demi-soloist and soloist roles including Marzipan and Snow in the Nutcracker and the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty. She looks forward to teaching the next generation of dancers in a positive, encouraging environment.

Hannah Ritzema

INSTRUCTOR

Miss Hannah grew up dancing in Zeeland, Michigan, but most recently graduated from Anderson University with a Dance Science degree. She is attending the University of Indianapolis to earn her Doctorate of Physical Therapy.

Lillian Grech

INSTRUCTOR

Miss Lillian is trained in Classical Ballet, Modern, Jazz, Contemporary, and Hip Hop. She has received training from principal dancers and soloists from the Cuban National Ballet, Louisville Ballet, Pittsburgh Ballet, as well as many other ballet, contemporary and modern companies. She was the Artistic Director of the Salem Dance Company, as well as a company member at Windfall. She is currently an artist with Ballet INitiative and in classes at IU. 

The roles that Lillian have done are: Sugar Plum Fairy, Demi-Flower, Snowflake, Marzipan, Arabian and the Chinese Variation, SnowSprite (Moscow Ballet) in The Nutcracker. as well as other roles as: Alice in Alice in Wonderland, Paquita and Coppelia Corps De Ballet. She has also performed in various other Ballet variations and hiphop, contemporary and modern pieces.

Hannah Wilhite

INSTRUCTOR

Miss Hannah is a Point Park University graduate with a dual concentration BA in Modern and Jazz dance. While at Point Park, she also continued her studies in Ballet, Pointe, anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. She has danced professionally as a company dancer with Sarasota Contemporary, Kanopy Dance Company, Ballet Theatre of Indiana, and Phoenix Rising Dance Company. She has also performed as a project-based dancer for Elizabeth Bergmann Projects, Motus Dance, Crossroads Dance Indy, and Ballet INitiative. Hannah loves teaching dance and sharing her passion for movement and others. 

Miss Emma

STUDENT INSTRUCTOR

Miss Hannah is a Point Park University graduate with a dual concentration BA in Modern and Jazz dance. While at Point Park, she also continued her studies in Ballet, Pointe, anatomy, physiology, and kinesiology. She has danced professionally as a company dancer with Sarasota Contemporary, Kanopy Dance Company, Ballet Theatre of Indiana, and Phoenix Rising Dance Company. She has also performed as a project-based dancer for Elizabeth Bergmann Projects, Motus Dance, Crossroads Dance Indy, and Ballet INitiative. Hannah loves teaching dance and sharing her passion for movement and others. 

2026-27 Board of Directors

Our Board of Directors includes individuals with a passion for the arts and experience in business development and arts organizations. Our board helps us navigate the challenges and opportunities of growth while remaining true to our mission. Interested in getting involved? Email tcbboard@thechildrensballet.com. 

  • Kelli Bowman, President
  • Hannah Schoening, Past President
  • Tierney Dininger
  • Abby Greci
  • Angie Montgomery
  • Carrie Miller, Treasurer
  • Heather Hoffman
  • Anastasia Berkley
  • Lauren Pierson
  • Jenny Wingler

SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS

We welcome donations of any amount. Because we are a 501(c)3 organization, all your donations to us are tax-deductible!

Donate

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OUR MISSION

We serve students of all ages from Hendricks County and surrounding areas.

We are dedicated to providing high-quality dance instruction while helping students develop self-discipline, dedication, positive self-esteem, and an appreciation for the art of dance.

We value and nurture each student’s unique gifts of talent and creativity in a safe studio environment in order to educate, enrich, and inspire.

Join our mission

2023-24 SEASON SPONSORS

 

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SUPPORT OUR STUDENTS

We welcome donations of any amount. Because we are a 501(c)3 organization, all your donations to us are tax-deductible!

Donate

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