LOUISVILLE BALLET STUDIO COMPANY
ABOUT
The Louisville Ballet Studio Company is a program designed to provide professional-caliber training in technique and artistry in preparation for a professional career in classical ballet and versatility in various derivative styles. Our goal is to further an aspiring dancer’s education and aid in the aspirations of gaining professional employment by providing the opportunity to experience work in a fully professional company environment.
The Studio Company program offers up to four years of training — forming levels 7, 8, 9 and 10 — and is a post-secondary extension of the Pre-Professional Program at The Louisville Ballet School. These emerging artists are truly the bridge between the School and Company.
To be considered for the Louisville Ballet Studio Company, a dancer should attend a company audition. For more information, or for performance bookings, please contact Jill Marlow Krutzkamp at [email protected].
PROGRAM TRACKS
Louisville Ballet is proud to offer two unique paths for Studio Company dancers: a degree-track in partnership with Bellarmine University, offering a B.A. in Arts Administration (Dance concentration), and a traditional, non-degree track. All Studio Company dancers receive the same high-quality training and performance opportunities regardless of which track they choose.
Click the button below to learn more about the two options for training and education.
AUDITIONS
There are three ways to audition for the Studio Company:
- Attend the Company and Studio Company audition on March 1.
- Attend any NSIA audition.
- Submit a video audition.
ARTISTS
Level 10
Julia Enwright
Emmaline Fontanilla
Ezra Paisley
Sameer Rhodes
Natalie Schreiner
Marissa Soluri
Gaven Stevens
Level 9
Joe Henn
Sarah Hutchison
Ava Dhira Metzger
Guinevere Nelson
Kirsten Smerud
Abigail Wyrrick
Level 8
Athena King
Eva Pregont
Milo Sapien
Ella White
Level 7
Samuel Blincoe
Barbara Booth
Ava Carroll
Madison Dunham
Addison Koerner
ARTISTIC TEAM
Jill Marlow Krutzkamp began her professional ballet career at the age of 20 at Cincinnati Ballet for their 2002-2003 season. The following year she accepted a Corps de Ballet contract with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and danced the roles of Sugar Plum Fairy, Hermia in George Balanchine’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Balanchine’s Divertimento No. 15, and featured contemporary roles.
Jill returned to Cincinnati Ballet to dance her next eight seasons as a company staple, inspiring wide-ranging Cincinnati audiences. Her notable classical roles included Titania in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Juliet in Victoria Morgan’s Romeo and Juliet ‘Balcony Pas de Deux,’ and Pas de Trois in Swan Lake and Giselle. There she also performed the Waltz female in Balanchine’s Serenade and in Balanchine ballets including Theme and Variations and Chaconne (with Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center).
She joined the Kansas City Ballet in 2011 and danced lead roles in Carmina Burana, Lynn Taylor Corbett’s Mercury, Jerome Robbins’ Fancy Free, the principal in Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante, Four Temperaments, and the Sugar Plum Fairy. Her contemporary roles flourished and she danced works by Trey McIntyre, Adam Hougland, Twyla Tharp, Ma Cong, Val Caniparoli, Jessica Lang, Luca Veggetti, and Jody Gates. She performed as a guest artist in Michigan, Ohio, West Virginia, New York, California, Alaska, Florida, Tennessee, Colorado, and at ballet festivals around the country.
As General Manager and Co-Founder of the Kansas City Dance Festival (now known as Moving Arts) from 2013-2021, she co-opened a Performance Rehab Physical Therapy/Pilates clinic, specializing in dance medicine in Kansas City. She served as adjunct instructor for the dance division of UMKC conservatory and has taught and managed at Nephesh Pilates in Sacramento, California. In 2020, Jill founded Movehealthier, a Pilates & Wellness business.
Most recently, Krutzkamp served as Director of the Second Company at Sacramento Ballet, where she oversaw all artistic and operational aspects of the program. During her tenure, she expanded the Second Company from 13 to 30 dancers, achieving geographic diversity across 19 states and three continents. She curated, choreographed, restaged, and produced performances for public audiences and education programs while leading dancer training, rehearsals, community engagements, and events.
Krutzkamp also designed and executed outreach initiatives at prominent venues including the Crocker Art Museum, Sacramento Zoo, and regional schools, strengthening community engagement and organizational visibility. Her leadership reflects a strong commitment to developing adaptable, confident artists prepared for the demands of professional ballet careers.
Artistic Director
Anthony Krutzkamp is the former Artistic and Executive Director of Sacramento Ballet, where he led a dynamic revitalization of the company. Under his leadership, Sacramento Ballet achieved record-breaking ticket sales, launched a groundbreaking Second Company, and awarded more than $125,000 annually in student scholarships. He expanded the repertoire to include works by George Balanchine, Alejandro Cerrudo, Penny Saunders, Ihsan Rustem, and others, while also creating acclaimed productions of Swan Lake and The Nutcracker.
In 2023, Krutzkamp brought the company to perform at the Bremerhaven International
Summer Gala in Germany, marking Sacramento Ballet as the only American troupe to participate. His tenure has also seen the development of the company’s first endowment and the production of a new Sacramento’s Nutcracker, reflecting his
blend of visionary leadership and financial acumen.
A former principal dancer with Cincinnati Ballet and Kansas City Ballet, Krutzkamp performed leading roles in both classical and contemporary works, from Romeo and Juliet to Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco. He co-founded the Kansas City Dance Festival and Moving Arts, fostering national and international collaborations, and directed Kansas City Ballet’s Second Company. Recognized as a visionary leader, Krutzkamp blended artistry, community engagement, and strategic growth to position Sacramento Ballet as a vibrant cultural force. A Kentucky native, he is also a husband and father of two girls.
Krutzkamp holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Management with high honors from Northeastern University and a certificate from Cornell University. His rare combination of artistic excellence, strategic planning, and community-centered leadership continues to shape the future of American ballet.
Senior Rehearsal Director
Born in Lexington, Kentucky, Mikelle Bruzina is a graduate of The Royal Winnipeg Ballet. In her fifteen years as a Louisville Ballet Company Artist, she performed soloist and principal roles and was recognized for her diversity in classical, modern, and contemporary ballets. As a dancer, stager, and rehearsal assistant, she has worked with choreographers such as Val Caniparoli, Mark Godden, Adam Hougland, Ronald Hynd, Lucas Jervies, Alun Jones, Ben Needham-Wood, Helen Pickett, Andre Prokovsky, Brandon Ragland, Domy Reiter-Soffer, Andrea Schermoly, Ching Ching Wong, and many others. Mikelle has choreographed works for Louisville Ballet including Gloria, Harmony of Contrasts, Life Rhythms, continuum, Sansei, and Tinjy Wits. She has also created ballets for Memphis Ballet, Boca Ballet Theatre, Lexington Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, and The Louisville Ballet School.
Mikelle began teaching in Japan in 1991 under the guidance of Emi Okajima. Having worked under the direction of Alun Jones, Bruce Simpson and Robert Curran, she carries a vast experience in teaching, staging and coaching in classical, modern and contemporary styles of dance.
Mikelle was Ballet Mistress for thirteen seasons, Artistic Director for two seasons, and is the former Co-Artistic Director of the Louisville Ballet Studio Company. This marks her 30th year with Louisville Ballet.
Principal Repetiteur + Senior Rehearsal Director
Originally from Baton Rouge, Helen Daigle began her training at Decatur School of Ballet in Decatur, Georgia. Upon her family’s return to Louisiana, she continued her training at Dancer’s Workshop under the tutelage of Molly Buchmann and Sharon Mathews. She has also studied at Joffrey Ballet School and School of American Ballet. She started performing with Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre junior and senior companies and began her professional career with Feld Ballets/New York. She has also danced with Ballet Hispanico and Miami City Ballet.
Helen joined Louisville Ballet in 1998 and enjoyed 20 wonderfully fulfilling seasons. She performed featured roles in a range of works including Lark Ascending, In the Glow of the Night, Who Cares?, Serenade, Lamberena, Scheherazade, Company B, Etesian and Cold Virtues. She has performed principal roles in full length ballets such as The Magic Flute, Don Quixote, Giselle, Nutcracker, Swan Lake, The Sleeping Beauty, La Sylphide and A Cinderella Story.
She has originated roles in ballets choreographed by Val Caniparoli, Amy Siewert, Helen Pickett and Adam Hougland. Helen has had the pleasure of staging Hougland’s Rite of Spring, Cold Virtues, and Fragile Stasis on companies such as Louisville Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, Tulsa Ballet, Kansas City Ballet and Smuin Ballet. She was thrilled to work as Adam Hougland’s rehearsal assistant as he created Ten Beautiful Objects for Louisville Ballet in 2013 and for his re-imagined Petrouchka in 2016.
Helen took on the role of Cast Manager for the Children’s Cast of Val Caniparoli’s The Brown-Forman Nutcracker and has been a member of the Louisville Ballet School Faculty since 2005, teaching students from age eight to adult. She has taught at summer intensives in Shreveport, Monroe, and Baton Rouge, Louisiana; Baltimore, Maryland; and Louisville, Kentucky. Helen was honored to be a part of the faculty for the RDA Southwest Dance Festival 2016.
She is happy to call Louisville home, where she lives with her husband Brad and their two children, Keiran and Iris, and is thrilled to continue working for Louisville Ballet as Principal Repetiteur + Senior Rehearsal Director.
GALLERY
FAQ
Is there an Artistic Director for the Studio Company?
Yes. As of January 1, 2026, Jill Marlow Krutzkamp serves as the Artistic Director of the Studio Company. Most recently, she was the Director of the Second Company at Sacramento Ballet. Jill is widely recognized for her combination of rigor and compassion, as well as her expertise in recruiting and training emerging dancers. Under her leadership, many dancers have gone on to perform leading roles in professional ballet companies, work as freelance professional dancers, or pursue prestigious Master/PhD collegiate programs. Jill is deeply committed to supporting dancers as individuals, guiding them to develop thoughtful, well-rounded perspectives as they prepare to enter the professional world.
What is the cost of tuition for Studio Company dancers?
Levels 7–9: Tuition-based
- Dancers pay $2,000 per year to Louisville Ballet
- Performance shoes are provided to Level 9 dancers
Level 10: Tuition-free
- Dancers receive a $200 stipend during performance weeks
- Performance shoes are provided
Tuition and stipend rates apply to all Studio Company dancers, regardless of which track they choose (traditional or Bellarmine University degree track).
If a dancer chooses the degree track with Bellarmine University, what is the cost of university tuition?
In addition to Louisville Ballet’s tuition (for levels 7-9), dancers on the degree track will pay school tuition directly to Bellarmine University at the following rates:
Discounted tuition for Louisville Ballet affiliates (2026–2027)
Full-time:
- $17,000 per year
- $8,120 tuition + $380 comprehensive fee per semester
- Includes the OnCourse textbook bundle
Part-time:
- $680 per credit hour
- $30 comprehensive fee per credit hour
What scholarships are available for Bellarmine University?
HOPE KY Scholarship: Covers 100% of tuition and most fees for eligible Kentucky residents after other aid
Trustee’s Scholarship: $1,500 for students who visit campus and file the FAFSA
KEES (Kentucky Educational Excellence Scholarship) Financial Aid (only eligible for students who graduated from an accredited High School in Kentucky)
Students apply for all academic financial aid through Bellarmine University.
Is there a rolling deadline for admission and registration at Bellarmine University?
Yes, Bellarmine University offers rolling admission and registration. Once you are accepted into Louisville Ballet’s Studio Company, you can apply to Bellarmine at any point during the year. The admission office is happy to work with non-traditional students and is committed to making the process flexible for each individual.
Can a first-year student enter at Level 10?
In extraordinary circumstances, a dancer may be considered for Level 10 in their first year. Admission to Level 10 in these cases is at the discretion of the Artistic Director, Anthony Krutzkamp, and the Studio Company Artistic Director.
Is The Louisville Ballet School accredited?
Although we are in the application process, The Louisville Ballet School is currently not accredited. Because of this, it is solely your responsibility to apply for and acquire the necessary VISA to join the Louisville Ballet Studio Company, which is the upper branch of The Louisville Ballet School.
How long is the Louisville Ballet Studio Company contract?
Generally, Studio Company dancers are contracted for 38-40 weeks. This is subject to change and may vary from season to season.
What is the daily schedule?
There is a morning technique class Monday-Friday (and an occasional Saturday and/or Sunday) plus up to six hours of classes and/or rehearsals with an hour lunch break in the middle of the day.
9:30-11 a.m. — Technique class
- Depending on the day, LBSC classes include combined gents and ladies classes, separate ladies and gents classes, and opportunities to take with company members consistently throughout the season. These classes are located at either 315 E. Main St. or at The Louisville Ballet School’s studios in the St. Matthews neighborhood (4121 Shelbyville Rd Suite 201, Louisville, KY 40207).
- These classes are taught by Studio Company Artistic Director, Jill Marlow Krutzkamp, Artistic Director of Louisville Ballet, Anthony Krutzkamp, and Louisville Ballet Artistic Staff and instructors.
11:15 a.m.-2 p.m. — Rehearsal
- This will consist of the repertoire that is being rehearsed for the current production, but can also include rehearsing pieces that will be done later in the season. Specialized Pointe class, Men’s classes, Pas De Deux, Contemporary, Modern, Pilates, Dance Specific Conditioning, Yoga, and Broadway Musical Theater classes also occur during this time frame.
2-3 p.m. — Lunch break
- There is a dancer lounge and kitchen area with fridge and microwave for all dancers to use.
3-6 p.m. — Rehearsal continued
How many dancers are in each level?
The number varies by season, but on average, there are between 5-8 dancers per level.
What performance opportunities are available to Studio Company dancers?
Studio Company dancers receive extensive performance experience throughout the season. New to the 2026-2027 Season, dancers will participate in two Studio Company-exclusive productions, including a fall choreographic workshop that highlights creativity and collaboration, and a spring repertoire showcase featuring a diverse range of classical and contemporary works.
Will Studio Company dancers perform with the main Company?
Yes. Studio Company dancers perform alongside the Louisville Ballet professional company in three full-length productions and one to two repertory programs, gaining invaluable exposure to professional rehearsal and performance standards. Please note that each season may vary from year to year.
How does this program prepare dancers for a professional career?
The expanded performance schedule provides consistent stage time, artistic growth, and direct integration into a professional ballet company. Under the leadership of Jill Marlow Krutzkamp, dancers develop the technical, artistic, and professional skills necessary to transition successfully into professional careers.
How many Studio Company dancers perform in main Company productions?
The number of Studio Company dancers cast in main company productions varies by production and is dependent on the specific roles and staffing needs of each work.
What other performances occur throughout the year?
The Studio Company participates in community engagement initiatives led by Louisville Ballet’s Community Engagement team, including adaptive learning events and school assemblies through the Moving Stories series. This children’s-focused program features over 30 fifteen-minute performances each April. Recent productions include Alice in Wonderland (2023-2024) and Charlotte’s Web (2024–2025), with The Wizard of Oz planned for the 2025–2026 season. These performances provide valuable stage experience while supporting artistic growth and confidence.
Is there a salary or benefits package?
The Studio Company is a position in the school, and you will need to provide your own health insurance. As a member of the Studio Company, you are eligible for consultations with the Louisville Ballet medical team which consists of orthopedic surgeons and physical therapists.
Do Studio Company dancers receive Workers' Compensation?
This is a huge achievement for Louisville Ballet, and we are proud of the care we provide for our dancers. Studio Company dancers are covered under Workers’ Compensation when performing with the company. Additionally, a supplementary coverage policy is in place for dancers while participating as Studio Company members.
Are performance shoes provided?
Performance footwear is provided for Level 9-10 dancers who are cast in a production. Dancers are responsible for supplying their own footwear for daily classes and rehearsals.
Does the Company hire dancers from the Studio Company?
This is dependent on the number of contracts that are available and can differ year to year. The Company regularly hires from the Studio Company, and several current Company members began their professional careers as Studio Company dancers.
Is room and board provided for Studio Company dancers?
Studio Company dancers are responsible for arranging their own housing and living expenses. Jill can provide guidance and resources to help dancers find suitable accommodations and support a successful experience in Louisville.
Dancers pursuing the degree track who are admitted to Bellarmine University will have access to the university student housing.
How can I find a roommate?
Once you have given your official acceptance of a position in the Louisville Ballet Studio Company, we will put you in touch with the other new and returning members of the Studio Company in a group chat forum which will allow you to connect with the other members and seek out roommates or other relevant information that you might be seeking.
Is attending for four years required?
The Studio Company program offers up to four years of education, mirroring typical post-secondary education. Dancers are placed in a level taking into account their age and technical/artistic proficiency/ability. While one could be in the program for as many as four years, it is not a requirement. We encourage all levels to actively audition at all levels.
Where do classes take place?
Classes are located at either the Company’s studios (315 E. Main St., Louisville, KY 40202) or at The Louisville Ballet School’s studios in the St. Matthews neighborhood (4121 Shelbyville Rd Suite 201, Louisville, KY 40207).
Can I have another job while being in the Studio Company?
There are a number of Studio Company dancers who hold employment outside of Louisville Ballet to sustain their cost of living.
Are Studio Company dancers selected from the Louisville Ballet Summer Intensive?
No, all Studio Company positions will be filled prior to the start of the Summer Intensive. However, it is highly encouraged for all incoming Studio Company dancers to attend the Louisville Ballet Summer Intensive to familiarize yourself with our culture, get to know the city of Louisville, and connect with other members of the Studio Company.
Are there still set classes?
Classes are no longer fixed or formulaic. Jill curates each class with intention, drawing directly from current industry trends and the qualities ballet company directors seek when hiring new dancers. Emphasis is placed on refined placement, versatility, and artistry through a diverse range of combinations, including advanced, company-level repertoire. These classes are designed to elevate dancers and seamlessly bridge the gap between student training and professional employment.