Ballet is more than an art form—it’s a way to enrich the mind, body, and spirit, making a real impact on everyday life. Whether you’re looking for activities outside of school, a way to relieve stress, or simply something to boost confidence, ballet has you covered. Here’s a look at how ballet can benefit you in ways that go beyond the studio and bring positive changes to your daily life.
1. Improved Posture and Balance
Ballet encourages a strong, upright posture and precise control over your body, which can significantly improve your balance and stability. Good posture isn’t just aesthetically pleasing; it also helps to reduce strain on muscles and joints, alleviating back and neck pain. Whether you’re sitting in class, or carrying groceries, having better posture and balance can make everyday tasks easier.
2. Strength and Flexibility
Ballet dancers are some of the most flexible athletes, and practicing ballet will gently push you toward increased flexibility. This can translate into an improved range of motion, reducing the likelihood of injuries (while playing sports) and helping you stay active as you age. Ballet also builds strength, particularly in your core and lower body, making everyday movements like bending, lifting, and even sitting more comfortable.
3. Enhanced Focus and Discipline
Ballet demands intense concentration and focus on technique, timing, and movement. The practice of dedicating yourself to learning and perfecting each step instills discipline, which can be applied to other areas of your life. Whether it’s staying on task at school or achieving personal goals, the focus and self-discipline cultivated in ballet can help improve productivity and success.
4. Stress Relief and Emotional Well-being
Engaging in ballet allows you to immerse yourself in music and movement, creating a sense of calm and an escape from daily stressors. Like other forms of exercise, ballet releases endorphins, which boost mood and reduce anxiety. Ballet can also be a form of self-expression, offering a way to process emotions in a healthy, constructive way.
5. Confidence and Body Awareness
Practicing ballet can lead to a newfound appreciation for your body and its capabilities. Each class builds confidence as you see progress, no matter how small. This increased body awareness and self-assurance often carry over into other aspects of life, helping you to walk into any room with your head held high.
6. Social Connection
Ballet classes offer the chance to meet new people with similar interests. These connections often lead to meaningful friendships and a sense of community. Being part of a community like this can positively impact mental health and create a support network that extends beyond the studio.
At Sierra Nevada Ballet, we believe that ballet and the performing arts hold incredible power to transform lives, especially in developing children. In partnership with Steinway Piano Gallery and Music School, Sierra School of Performing Arts, and Healthy Performers of Nevada, we’re excited to announce a vision of a dedicated arts center where dance, theater, visual arts, and music come together under one roof. Imagine a place where you can explore various forms of art, make new friends, and transform your daily life through the power of ballet and the performing arts.
Join Us Today!
Don’t miss your chance to be a part of this exciting movement. Whether you’re a beginner or a seasoned dancer, we welcome you to join us at Sierra Nevada Ballet. Experience the everyday benefits of ballet and see how it can enhance your life.
Alexander Cain Biber (Principal Dancer/ Ballet Master/ Choreographer in Residence/Teacher) grew up in a performing arts family and has loved theater and performing from an early age. He began his ballet training, at the age of 14, with Rosine Bena at Western Nevada Performing Arts Center – studying ballet, jazz, tap, and musical theater. In 2003, Alexander became an apprentice with Sierra Nevada Ballet and was promoted to the first company in 2006, to soloist in 2008, and to Principal in 2012.
Jennifer Lightfoot-Johnson (Grant Writer and Development Consultant) comes to SNB with 16 years of experience, both professionally and as a volunteer, in grant writing and working in the nonprofit sector.
Jennifer Boyle August (Guest Teacher/Choreographer) discovered her love of dance in Reno, Nev. During her time at Reno High School, Jennifer took a Modern class at TMCC, with instruction in Graham, Luigi, and Horton dance technique. While Jennifer was educated in other areas of dance, she felt these styles spoke to her more than anything else. After graduating from Reno High School, she moved to Boston to study dance with Joan Palladino at Dean College where she received her Associate’s Degree in Dance. She was then hand-selected by Judith Jamison to study at Alvin Ailey Summer Dance Intensive program in New York City.
Sara Weir (Demi Soloist) was born in Provo, Utah, and started ballet at age three. She trained in dance with Trisha Wilstead at Rocky Mountain Dance and then trained with Brittany Squires and Heather Gray at Jaquiline’s School of Ballet. She performed professionally with Showcase and Theater Ballet at Brigham Young University, Utah Regional Ballet, and Sacramento Ballet.
Carlee Bertero (Soloist/ Teacher) was born in northern Nevada and began studying dance at an early age at Fascinating Rhythm School of Performing Arts in Reno. Carlee was invited to join the Sierra Nevada Ballet Apprentice program in 2012; was raised to the first company in 2013; to featured corps member in 2016, to Demi-Soloist in 2017, and to Soloist in 2021. She has performed in many SNB story ballets such as Peanutcracker-The Story In A Nutshell, Giselle, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Romeo and Juliet, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty-A Fairy’s Tale, A Midsummer Nights Dream- A Steam Punk Ballet, and Twelfth Night-A Ballet Noir. She has performed as a featured dancer with SNB annually in Dancing By The River as part of Reno’s Artown Festival and in SNB’s annual Brew Brats and Ballet in Reno and Carson City.
Domingo Rubio (Second Permanent Guest Artist/Guest Teacher) is SNB’s second Permanent Guest Artist as of May 2005. He has danced professionally for some 30 years. Domingo has danced with the Joffrey Ballet and Ballet Hispanico and was featured in the Robert Altman film, The Company. Rubio danced the role of Maxfield Parrish in SNB’s, A Painter’s Love Story and is a featured artist in SNB’s Dancing By the River and annual ballet classics.
Sam Weber (First Permanent Guest Artist/ Guest Teacher) is SNB’s first Permanent Guest Artist and is a founding member of the Company. He was one of the first permanent guest artists of The Reno Ballet under the direction of Rosine Bena. Weber danced with the Joffery Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Peninsula Ballet Theatre, and The Jazz Tap Ensemble. Besides being a fine ballet dancer, Weber is considered one of the greatest tap dancers in the world. He is known as “the fastest feet in tap.”
Gina Nelson (SNB Company Coordinator for Carson City and SNB Board Member) is originally from Napa Valley, Calif., and a long-time supporter of the arts and arts education. Gina worked as a crisis prevention specialist in a day treatment elementary school and was a counselor/teacher in a non-public school for at-risk boys.
Steven M. Porter (SNB Board President/SNB CEO) is a long-time devotee of the arts. Originally from the East Coast, Steve was raised with love and devotion to all the arts.
Cathy Mercer (SNB Company Coordinator for Reno/Managing Director/Board Member) grew up in Carson City and is a former dancer with a long-time devotion to the art form.
Ananda Bena-Weber (Associate Director, Dance Artist/ Ballerina/Principal/Teacher) is a principal dancer and NY award-winning artist and the Associate Director of the Sierra Nevada Ballet and a founding member. She has danced professionally as a soloist with the Reno Ballet when it was formed in 1994/95 and 1996. She danced with Perspectives Dance Theatre and Fascinating Rhythm Productions. She has appeared as a featured soloist with Sam Weber performing in Morton Gould’s “Concerto for Tap Dancer and Orchestra” throughout the SF Bay Area. She has appeared in principal roles in several original dance works such as Take Me To The River and Blue Rondo, and classics such as Les Sylphides, Romeo and Juliet, and Paquita.
Rosine Bena (Founder and Artistic Director/Master Teacher)
Sophia Riella (Trainee) was born in Truckee, Calif. She started ballet at the age of two with Sherrie Petersen, Sierra Ballet School and continued there for six years while also studying Irish and Scottish Dance with Lindsey Marccaci in Lake Tahoe and at Truckee Dance Factory doing competition dance. She has also studied classical music, composing, and piano with Elaine Courtney and has studied voice with Stephanie McMoy.
Erin Garman (First Year Company) began dancing at the age of 12 at Scene Stealers Theatre Arts where she trained in jazz, tap, lyrical, musical theatre, and ballet. She later began training with Fascinating Rhythm School of Performing Arts where she continued training in many styles and at Sierra Nevada Ballet Academy where she first met Rosine Bena, and started getting more serious about ballet, also dancing with Spiral Ballet.
Maya Macias (Trainee) was born in Houston, Texas into a military family. While her family was stationed in Memphis, Tennessee, at age two and a half years old, Maya began studying dance at the Children’s Ballet Theater because she wanted to go to “ballerina school. “ Maya continued her ballet training at Space Coast Ballet and when she was six years old, she began performing with Space Coast Ballet in the Nutcracker.
Olivia Mann (SNB Summer Demi Soloist) began studying at the age of four at Dallas Metropolitan Ballet, and the Dallas Ballet Center and later trained at Booker T. Washington for the Performing and Visual Arts.
Heather Rodriguez (Trainee) started dancing at nine years old in Corpus Christi, Texas. She continued studying Ballet, Contemporary, and Jazz throughout her childhood with Corpus Christi Concert Ballet.