Professional Apprenticeship
New Ballet established the paid trainee program in 2005 as an opportunity for student artists to further their training after high school on the professional level. The program was formalized in 2020 and became known as the Teaching and Performing Artist Apprenticeship program. Apprentices participate in the program full-time or part-time. Funded professional development includes training with the American Ballet Theater Teacher Training Program, Dance Education Laboratory and the National Dance Institute. New Ballet is dedicated to providing apprentices with the training they need to succeed as future performers and teaching artists, whether they remain in Memphis or ascend to the world’s great stages! Past participants include New Ballet alums Breana Moore, Ron K. Brown Evidence, A Dance Company; Maxx Reed Spiderman Turn off the Dark; and Charles “Lil Buck” Riley (Wikipedia).
Each year, apprentices build their skills in dance performance, instruction, choreography, costuming, and professional skills. Apprentices train alongside New Ballet Teaching Artists and with guest artists and choreographers. Other opportunities include certification training with national curricula experts, participation in national conferences, membership in professional arts associations, and more.
TPAAs contribute 20 to 30 hours per week in classes and rehearsals on salary, rising to full-time status as teaching and performing artists at New Ballet within four years. Apprentices also perform in all New Ballet mainstage productions and are involved in the regular programming as assistant instructors for New Ballet classes and Pathways residency programs. residency programs. Previous apprentices have also had the privilege to perform at the Kennedy Center for Performing Arts, the Association of Performing Arts Professionals, and the National Museum of African American history. They regularly lead school performances throughout Shelby County.
If you want to join New Ballet’s Teaching and Performing Artist Apprenticeship Program, visit our Careers page or email us at careers@newballet.org.
Meet our current apprentices:
Lauryn Adair
Teaching and Performing Artist ApprenticeLeaving a positive impact on students through the art of dance is what inspires Lauryn to teach at New Ballet. She strives to create a safe space for children to move freely and creatively and finish a class with a sense of confidence. Teaching dance to the next generation of creatives in her hometown of Memphis makes it even more personally rewarding to Lauryn.
As an apprentice, Lauryn leads creative movement classes at the studio, as well as at Dunbar Elementary School and Grace St. Luke’s. She says creative movement is her favorite dance genre because of its fluidity to discover new ways to move the body.
Lauryn is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Arts in theater with a concentration in dance at the University of Memphis.
Makayla Balfour (she/her)
Teaching and Performing Artist ApprenticeA native of Brandon, Mississippi, Makayla joins New Ballet with 19 years of experience in dance training, performance and education. In 2022, she was a dance educator at the Youth Actors Guild in Southaven, Mississippi, and at the Center of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida, where she taught hip-hop, ballet and jazz for its Summer Intensive. At New Ballet, she teaches hip-hop at the studio and in Memphis-Shelby County Schools through our Pathways program. Makayla is currently enrolled at the University of Memphis where she is anticipated to graduate in Fall 2023 with a Bachelor of Fine Arts. Her education honors include the U of M’s Dean’s List, Black Scholar Unlimited nominee and Distinguished Young Women award recipient. She is a member of the U of M Rising Health Professionals, a club to help young students in the medical field give back to the community, and regularly returns to Brandon to volunteer at The Black Rose Theatre Company. At New Ballet, she hopes to reach as many young dancers as possible to keep them on the right path and show that even if they do not pursue dance as a career, the art form has many benefits applicable to everyday life.
Jeremy Bowers (he/him)
Performing Artist ApprenticeJeremy’s love for dance began in the 3rd grade with an interest in animation and dubstep dance styles. He first learned about the dance culture of Memphis Jookin through experience in his North Memphis neighborhood. Jeremy was introduced to New Ballet Ensemble & School in the 6th grade when he participated in CityDance. Through CityDance, he learned how to work with choreographers and was given the opportunity to perform in his first production. Jeremy returned to New Ballet in the 11th grade and began serious training in ballet, hip hop and various other dance styles. He has been a part of many of New Ballet’s productions such as, NutRemix, Springloaded, The Dying Swan and in school productions of Peter and the Wolf, Anansi and the Sky God, ¡Jose! and more. He graduated from high school in 2019 and has continued his dance training with New Ballet as a Teaching and Performing Artist Apprentice while attending the University of Memphis.
Asher Bruce (he/they)
Teaching and Performing Artist Apprentice, Pathways Program, Studio TechniqueAlexander Sherrod Bruce, also known as Asher Bruce, began his dance training at the age of 3,
becoming a student at New Ballet Ensemble & School at the age of 8. Asher’s skill set includes ballet, modern, contemporary, hip-hop, West African Dance, and flamenco. He has been featured in New Ballet productions such as NutRemix™, Memphis Renaissance, Springloaded and iJose!, as well as in local productions such as The Princess and the Pea (Theatre Memphis), Where the Wild Things Are (Bruce Institute of Higher Learning) and Mahalia (Hattiloo Theater). Asher also has experience in choreographing dances for his high school productions, Takeover Dance Krew, and summer dance camps. Asher is currently dancing as a teaching and performing artist apprentice at New Ballet Ensemble and School.
Rhaniyah Chism (she/her)
Teaching and Performing Artist Apprentice, Pathways Program and Hip HopLittle Rock native Rhaniyah Chism began studying dance at the age of 4 with the Centre of Dance Arts with Michael Tidwell, where she studied ballet, jazz and tap. She attended Parkview Arts and Science Magnet School with a concentration in dance while working as a fitness instructor at WOW Fitness where she led classes in hip-hop, Zumba, kids fitness and yoga. Her experience also includes studying and performing under Robin Sanders of Outloud Artistry. Rhaniyah is currently pursuing a Bachelor of Fine Arts from the University of Memphis in theater with a concentration in dance.
Sam Martin (he/him)
Teaching Assistant and Costume ManagerSam joined the New Ballet family with eight years of dance training and 14 years of experience in the performing arts. Hailing from Lebanon, Tennessee, his training began in musical theater. He is currently a junior at the University of Memphis studying a double major in dance and film. Sam teaches and assists with tap classes at the New Ballet studios and ballet and creative movement at our Pathways partner schools. Contemporary is his favorite style of dance as it can take the appearance of many forms to express unique and experimental ideas. Through his work at New Ballet, he hopes to create a fun learning environment for others to explore why dance matters to them.
Lily Reynolds
Teaching and Performing Artist ApprenticeLily is a Memphis native with 16 years of dance experience with a concentration in ballet. During her training at New Ballet, she served on the student board. Driven to empower the next generation of young dancers, she joined the New Ballet staff as a performing artist and Level 3 teaching assistant. In her role as a mentor, Lily hopes to inspire younger girls to prosper in dance.
DeAndre Underwood
Teaching and Performing Artist ApprenticeDeAndre Underwood entered New Ballet Ensemble & School as a student after participating in our Streets Ministries partnership, “NBEDanceLab” (supported by the Women’s Foundation). After graduating from Booker T. Washington High School, DeAndre attended Coahoma Community College on a band scholarship. Moving home to Memphis, he began performing in the annual NutRemix and some school performances before joining the Professional Apprenticeship Program in January 2024. His turn in the opening of NutRemix this past season (2023) as an advocate for ArtsEducation earned the very first applause of the evening as he led a sign over his head reading, “Dance for Every Child”. We are proud to welcome this talented and caring young artist into the organization as an emerging professional!