Isaac Lee, Guest Instructor
Isaac Lee first started dance at age 5 under Kim Burson at Dance Arts and performed in CU Ballet’s The Nutcracker since age 7. At age 12 he transitioned to Champaign Ballet Academy, the official school of CU Ballet, and under the director of Deanna Doty Warfel, performed in their productions of Coppélia, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty as Blue Bird, Swan Lake as Pas de Trois, and The Nutcracker as Cavalier. He attended Summer Intensive programs at Indiana Ballet Conservatory and Ellison Ballet. Lee also regularly taught academy classes as well as staged choreography, and was the 2020 recipient of the Bonnie Ziegler Award for Leadership. After graduating, he became a Trainee at Nashville Ballet for two seasons before being promoted to Second Company. While there he was coached by Anaïs Chalendard, worked with esteemed contemporary choreographers Charlotte Boye-Christensen and Maria Konrad, and performed in Paul Vasterling’s The Firebird, Peter Pan, and Cinderella. Isaac went on to join Grand Rapids Ballet as an Apprentice, dancing soloist roles in Val Caniparoli’s The Nutcracker and choreographing for their Jumpstart Program. He is currently a Company Artist with Charlottesville Ballet, as well as a regular instructor for their academy.