Junior Company
The Junior Company is an invitation-only company for middle school dancers in 6th, 7th, and 8th grade. Junior Company prepares dancers to become confident, versatile performers and responsible collaborators, ready for company life in Teen Jazz.
As with the main company, dancers have the opportunity to work with several choreographers, learning pieces across a range of movement styles to present in performance. Junior Company performances are geared towards a younger audience and designed to be an educational and participatory experience. Our goal is not only to expose our audience to dance, but to engage their minds with critical thinking, enhance their observational skills, and invite them to participate in movement.
As with the main company, dancers have the opportunity to work with several choreographers, learning pieces across a range of movement styles to present in performance. Junior Company performances are geared towards a younger audience and designed to be an educational and participatory experience. Our goal is not only to expose our audience to dance, but to engage their minds with critical thinking, enhance their observational skills, and invite them to participate in movement.
2025-2026 Company Members
Rosa DeAngelis, (she/they) a 6th grader, is beginning her first year with Junior Company. They have been dancing since preschool and especially loved last year’s jazz class and costume. A favorite studio memory is when their class watched West Side Story together. Rosa loves creating choreography and also enjoys baking in her free time.
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Charlotte Goodwin (she/her), a 7th grader, is beginning her first year with Junior Company. She has been dancing since she was 3 and loves ballet, which she has been studying for 9 years. A favorite studio memory is performing in The Quiltmaker’s Gift with Nora Chase-Tatko, who was also her ballet assistant for several years. Charlotte’s favorite piece last year was jazz, especially because it was Abby’s last year teaching. She loves that dance is fun and that it brings her together with dancers from other schools. Outside of dance, Charlotte enjoys writing, drawing, and composing.
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Bella Gormly (she/her) is a 7th grader in her second year with Junior Company. She has been dancing for eight years and especially loves Junior Company classes because she gets to learn new things and connect with new people. Hip hop is another favorite because of its upbeat style. Bella’s favorite performance memory is last year’s joint piece with Teen Jazz, where she loved the chance to collaborate. Along with dance, Bella enjoys drawing, playing piano and flute, figure skating, and participating in Girl Scouts.
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Donnavie Lemon (she/her) is a 7th grader in her first year with the Junior Company. She started dancing at age 3, took a break, and then returned to dance at age 10. She loves all styles of dance and especially enjoyed performing ballet last year. Dance makes her feel free and gives her space to move in ways that feel natural and expressive. She also loves gymnastics, and both activities complement each other. Donnavie is excited to grow as both a dancer and performer this year as part of the Company.
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Simon Levin (he/him) is an 8th grader in his second year with the Junior Company. He has been dancing for 4 years and especially enjoys hip hop for its energy and activity. One of his favorite studio memories is performing in the Junior HipHop 3/4 piece, when everyone backstage was cheering them on. That dance was also a favorite to perform because of the fun music and choreography. He loves the sense of community that dance creates. Outside the studio, Simon enjoys spending time with friends and doing tech for stage productions.
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Ruthie Noyes (she/her) is an 8th grader in her third year with Junior Company. She has been dancing for 10 years and especially enjoys modern and contemporary because of the choice, variety, and fluidity in the styles. Ruthie assists Jr. Modern 1/2 and especially loved her contemporary piece by Marisa Hall last year, which was challenging but rewarding. Outside of dance, she enjoys volleyball, traveling, and spending time with friends.
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Julia Nunnelley (she/her) is in 6th grade and excited to be in her first year with Junior Company. She has been dancing for eight years and especially enjoys ballet because of the challenge and the strength it builds. Last year, she loved performing her ballet duet with her friend and fellow Company member, Cora. Julia looks forward to assisting classes in the future. Dance is her favorite way to express herself, and outside of the studio she enjoys rollerblading, singing, crafting, and water skiing.
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Eliana Ory (she/her) is a 7th grader in her second year with Junior Company. She has been dancing since age five and especially enjoys hip hop because of the freedom to experiment and play with movement. One favorite studio memory comes from first grade, when she accidentally went home with her classmate’s jazz shoes instead of her own. Eliana enjoys dance as a fun way to express herself and also plays softball.
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Genevieve Pelkey (she/her), an 8th grader, is in her third year with Junior Company. She has been dancing since she was three years old and especially enjoys the challenge of ballet and hip hop. Genevieve assists Pre-Primary Ballet and loves helping younger dancers learn. One of her funniest memories from the studio was struggling to take off a costume top that wouldn’t stretch - her friends pulled so hard to help that she fell over!
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Izzy Rodriguez (she/her) is a 7th grader in her first year with the Junior Company. She has been dancing for 8 years and loves both hip hop, which brings out her power, and ballet, which gives her grace. She assists in Primary Ballet. One of her favorite studio memories is from jazz last year when the whole class hugged their teacher Abby after she announced she was leaving. Her favorite piece to perform was hip hop because it closed the show with high energy and fun choreography. For Izzy, dance is about expression - letting everything else go and focusing on the movement. Outside of dance, she enjoys archery.
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Cora Westervelt (she/her) is in 6th grade and excited for her first year with Junior Company. She has been dancing since she was three and especially loves ballet for its hard work, challenge, and fun. One of her favorite memories was performing in the Hubbard Park show after COVID, where her class danced as birds. Last year, she especially loved her jazz piece set to “Team” by Lorde because of the fun costumes and powerful choreography. Dance allows her to express herself, and outside of the studio, she enjoys drawing.
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Photos by Sylvan Williams
