Molly Buchmann  (Co-Artistic Director) is co-owner of The Dancers’ Workshop, co-artistic director of BRBT, and retired Head of Dance for the LSU Department of Theatre where she developed the current dance minor program. She has choreographed over 60 musicals for professional, community and university theatres as well as ballet and modern works for BRBT, LSU, Western Oklahoma Ballet, and San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet. Her choreography has been recognized by a Choreographic Fellowship from the State of Louisiana and by gala recognition from Regional Dance America Southwest for her works set on both BRBT and San Antonio Metropolitan Ballet. She holds a master’s degree in dance and taught choreography, dance history and dance performance at LSU. In 2001 she received an LSU Tiger Athletic Foundation Award for Outstanding Undergraduate Teaching. For the State Department of Education, she has written dance and fine arts curriculum guides and served as a dance clinician for teachers throughout the state. She has studied and performed with ProDanza Italia and, along with Ms. Mathews, received the Mayor-President’s Award for Excellence in the Arts. She is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher who has successfully completed all levels of the ABT National Training Curriculum through the ABT Teacher Training Institute.

Sharon Mathews (Co-Artistic Director) is co-artistic director of BRBT and co-owner of The Dancers’ Workshop. From 1976 to August 2014, she served as Director of Dance for Baton Rouge Magnet High School. She holds a BS in Education and an MS in Dance from LSU. She has been named Outstanding Dance Educator in the state by the Louisiana Association of Health, Physical Education, Recreation and Dance. She is a member of the Board of Directors of Regional Dance America Southwest, the Superintendent’s Task Force for Arts in Education and the State Arts Contents Standards Committee and has written curriculum guides for dance at the state and parish levels. She was resident choreographer for the BR Opera and has choreographed for the Gilbert and Sullivan Society, LSU Opera, LSU Theatre and Theatre Baton Rouge. Choreography includes Carmen and The King and I for LSU and Oklahoma! and West Side Story for Theatre Baton Rouge. In 2003 she was inducted into the University High School Hall of Distinction and Baton Rouge Magnet High School Hall of Fame. She is an ABT Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT Teacher Training Institute in Primary through Level 7 and Partnering of the ABT National Training Curriculum.

Baleigh Alleman, now in her 13^th year of dancing, has been with BRBT for four years and most recently appeared in the Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou  as Doll, Marzipan, Snow soloist, and the “Waltz of the Flowers”  She has studied at numerous summer intensive programs, receiving scholarships to Sarasota Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, the Rock School, among others.  She will be furthering her training next year at Milwaukee Ballet’s Rolando Yanes Pre-Professional Program in pursuit of a professional career in dance.  Baleigh is graduating as an AP Scholar and Honors graduate with a 4.56 GPA from University View Academy.

Lena Laroussi has been dancing with BRBT and the Dancers’ Workshop for 15 years, performing in multiple roles in the Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou such as Doll, Marzipan, and Spanish and has performed memorably in Taylor Mitchell’s “Tittle Tattle Ya Ya” and “Red Beans and Ricely Yours”.  Speaking many languages, she is graduating from St. Joseph’s Academy with various AP credits and an International Baccalaureate certificate.  Lena was secretary and co-president for her high school and also writes and records music.  Next year, she will be attending Louisiana State University with a major in Mass Communications and a minor in Dance.

Hanna Ray has been dancing with the Dancers’ Workshop and BRBT for 10 years and performed in eight seasons of the Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou, most recently in the Snow scene.  Hanna has toured with the Youth Ballet for four years and has attended summer intensives at Nashville Ballet and the Next Generation Ballet in Tampa.  In addition to dance, she was a competitive gymnast at Elite Gymnastics with coach Johnny Moyal and is currently loving her work with children at Broadmoor Presbyterian Early Childhood Center.  In the gifted program, Hanna is graduating from University View Academy with honors and completed AP classes.  Next year she will be attending Louisiana State University, majoring in Early Childhood Education with a minor in Dance.

Rachel Stanger has been a student of the Dancers’ Workshop for 6 years, performing in nine seasons of Nutcracker, numerous spring concerts, and this past year, Ballet for Every Body.  She will be studying art at Vassar College next year and has been invited to audition for the school’s performing company. Rachel is a Dean’s List student with a 4.3 GPA at Dunham High School and is also an AP Scholar with honors and was offered over $300,000 total in academic scholarships! Rachel has also enjoyed playing volleyball with her school and dancing in and helping to choreograph school plays.

Caroline Weise, in her 16^th year of dance, has joined BRBT for two years after moving from Lake Charles, LA.  She was featured in the 2021 Nutcracker as Marzipan, Snow, and Waltz of the Flowers and performed in both Chillingham 1 & 2, and Hear Me, See Me at RDASW Festival.  Caroline is graduating with honors and the Bilingual Seal of Literacy in French from St. Joseph’s Academy.  Next year, she will attend the University of Arkansas, majoring in architecture with a minor in French, after receiving the Arkansas Alumni Association Scholarship and the Arkansan Non-Resident Scholarship.  BRBT also appreciates Caroline’s hard work as co-chair of the very successful Clara’s Closet Scholarship of 2022.