Our Mission

Fenton Ballet Theatre is an organization committed to inspiring the community through classical ballet performance and exceptional dance training. We strive to maintain a disciplined environment with a focus on modesty using age-appropriate movement and material. Our goal is to reveal a child's true potential through developing a lifelong love of dance, movement, and appreciation of classical ballet.

“Dancing is my gift and my life... God gave me this gift to bring delight to others. I am haunted by the need to dance. It is the purest expression of every emotion, earthly and spiritual. It is happiness.”

— Anna Pavlova

Our Team

The best and brightest

Instructors

“The meaning of life is to find your gift; The purpose of life is to give it away.”

— Pablo Picasso

**Brooke Holvick**
Artistic Director
Ballet All Levels
PBT & Pilates

Brooke Holvick began her classical ballet training at the age of nine at the Brighton School of Ballet. Ms. Holvick continued her classical training under the direction of ballet master Thomas Morris at Alma College where she received her BFA in Theatre and Dance as well as departmental honors for her work in the dance department. As an Alma College Dance Company member, dancing on scholarship, she was given performance opportunities in numerous classical pieces as a soloist. Her repertoire includes *The Nutcracker, Swan Lake Act II, Aurora’s Wedding from The Sleeping Beauty, Pas de Quatre, Les Sylphides, Les Patineurs, Pas de Dix, La Bayadere,* among many others. Upon graduation, she returned to Brighton School of Ballet where she remained on staff until 2017. Her lifelong love of the arts and passion for ballet led to the formation of Fenton Ballet Theatre.
Ms. Holvick is an ABT® Certified Teacher, who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 5 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum. She is also a STOTT PILATES® Certified Instructor for Level 1 Matwork, Reformer, Cadillac, Chair, and Barrels. Ms. Holvick has also completed her certification in Progressing Ballet Technique, a revolutionary training program designed to enhance ballet technique and the overall strength of a dancer. Her goal is to bring the timeless beauty of ballet to Fenton and its surrounding areas, providing exceptional training in a professional environment.

**Abbie Kowalsky**
Office Manager

Abbie Kowalsky is from Milford Michigan, and has been dancing since the age of ten. She started her training at Modern Messages Dance Company doing ballet, jazz, lyrical, and contemporary. She was a member of her college dance team and continues to take ballet courses throughout her adult life.
Abbie has her degree in Fashion Merchandising, and has many years of experience as a retail manager. She loves her job at the studio where she handles day-to-day transactions, scheduling, and runs the Twirl Shop.

**Katie-Marie Cobb**
Hip Hop
Tap
Jazz
Primary Ballet

Katie-Marie began dancing at the age of 3 doing tap, jazz and ballet. As she got older, she found a new love for Hip Hop. Continuing competitive dance through high school, she knew dance was something that would always be a part of her. By the age of 20 she owned her own competitive dance studio winning choreography awards for Tap, Hip Hop, Jazz and Contemporary. She also received numerous creativity awards, and also taught sold out Zumba Fitness classes.
She is excited to continue to share her passion of dance through teaching and performing. One of her greatest joys is seeing young dancers fall in love with the art of dance, achieving their goals and working hard to become the best dancers they can be.

**Grace French**
Assistant Company Dir. Intermediate Ballet PBT Variations

Grace French was born and raised in Michigan and has been studying the art and sport of dance for over 21 years. She attended the University of Michigan where she studied dance and business and graduated with a Bachelor's of Business Administration. Her training includes ballet, pointe, modern, contemporary, lyrical, composition, and improvisation. Grace has over 13 years of experience choreographing for professional dance companies and students across the state, including pieces that were accepted into the Michigan Youth Arts Festival, and multiple pieces performed at the Power Center in Ann Arbor. Grace has been teaching dance since 2012, and before that was a teacher’s assistant at her studio. Her background is rooted in classical ballet, studying with the American Ballet Theatre, Joffrey Ballet, and the Rock School for Dance Education. She currently also teaches at Elite Dance Force in Canton, MI.
As the founder of the 501(c)3 non-profit The Army of Survivors, Grace is a globally recognized advocate, consultant, and speaker for athlete rights and trauma-informed coaching. She serves as an Advisory Board member for International Safe Sport, International Safeguards for Children in Sport, and has served on expert advisory committees for the International Olympic Committee, FIFA, and Apple. Grace is one of the recipients of the Arthur Ashe Courage Award at the 2018 ESPYs, a 2018 Glamour Women of the Year awardee, and a 2021 Liberty Bell Awardee from IGBA for her work in athlete rights.

**Alex Hlavaty** Int. Contemporary Adv. Contemporary

Alex Hlavaty graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance and a minor in Creative Writing from Western Michigan University in May, 2015. He also studied in New York City with Gibney Dance and in Montréal with O Vertigo and Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal before joining Eisenhower Dance Detroit. He is currently dancing in his eighth season with EDD where he has performed and taught master classes nationally and internationally. He has set excerpts of original EDD repertory on high school and university students at summer intensives, workshops, and master classes. Mr. Hlavaty is also an avid choreographer and writer. His choreography has been performed in festivals, intensives, and competitions. His two most recent works were created on EDD’s professional company. He also has poetry published in the literary journal *The Laureate, 14th Edition* and has written for *DancePlug* online as a resource for dance students, professionals, and educators. He is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT) - Junior, Senior, and Advanced programs, and strives to use PBT fundamentals to bring the best education to his students.

**Jamie Marino**
Intermediate Lyrical
Advanced Lyrical

Jamie Marino has been teaching dance for over twenty years both locally and nationally. Growing up at a local studio in Michigan, Jamie had the privilege to be able to both compete in competitions, and perform almost every part in the Nutcracker Ballet. At age sixteen Jamie booked her first professional dance job. She was a magician’s helper in a magic show at The Detroit Zoo. After completion of high school, she won a full scholarship to attend The Edge Performing Arts Center in Los Angeles. While in L.A., she performed in many shows as well as danced in a Coke commercial and did some print work. She moved to NYC at 21 to further her dance career. Jamie performed in an off Broadway show for most of her time in NYC. She also enjoyed being able to model dance costumes for Dance Spirit magazine. She worked on the Cosby Show, as well as performed in other short shows while in NYC. Jamie also had the privilege of performing in the modern dance company, Opus One while living in Philadelphia. Jamie has a deep love for dance and teaching and loves to pass on her love and knowledge to her students.

**Christi O’Neill**
Creative Movement
Primary Ballet
Tap and Jazz
Adult Tap

Christi O’Neill grew up in Clarkston Michigan where she began dancing at the age of five. In high school she was able to take workshop classes from notable dancers such as Joe Tremaine, Doug Caldwel, and Marcea Lane. Christi moved to Tucson, Arizona in 2001. During her time in Tucson, Christi taught beginner level dance and gymnastics classes at several studios and gyms. Christi is excited for her return back home to Michigan, and for the opportunity be part of Fenton Ballet Theatre. Christi enjoys teaching mommy and me, preschool, and beginner dancers. Helping to build a love of dance, enhance motor skills, and boost self-confidence in our youngest dancers is her passion.

**Christina Stefanic**
Intermediate Ballet
Advanced Ballet
Pointe
Jazz

Christina Stefanic started her dance training at the age of five at Pelio School of Dance in Flint, MI, where she studied ballet, tap, and jazz. She later joined Young People’s Ballet Theatre and danced there for eight years. Christina returned to Young People’s as a staff member in 2013 where she was a Rehearsal Director and the Company Manager. She performed solo and principal roles in ballets such as The Nutcracker, Coppelia, Beauty and the Beast, The Necklace, and Aladdin and 1.001 Nights. Christina has worked with many choreographers including: Dale Brannon, Ruth Midkiff, Judd Gibbs and Giusippe Canale. She has 12 years of experience teaching at a competitive dance school, and has judged at regional and national competitions across the US.
Christina holds a Bachelor’s of Science in education from the University of Michigan, and currently teaches 5th grade at Genesse STEM Academy. She also held a job as an expert pointe shoe fitter at the local dance store for 23 years. Christina loves teaching ballet, pointe, and jazz at Fenton Ballet Theatre where her daughter also attends.