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.

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.

Claire Connor is an honor student at Zachary High School, taking honors and dual enrollment courses.  She has danced for 12 years, including five years with the Dancers’ Workshop and BRBT.  She has performed in six years of “The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou”, several spring concerts, and toured with the Youth Ballet.  Claire has also been a part of a national championship winning competition team, the Zachary High School Talented Theatre program, and served as the flute section leader in marching and concert band.  During high school, Claire participated in All Parish Honor Band, school plays, YAGP, Beta Club, and National Honor Society.  Claire enjoys making jewelry and has won several visual arts competitions for her creations.  In the fall, Claire will be attending the University of Louisiana at Monroe majoring in Psychology and will participate in the University’s marching band.

Kate Harris has danced with the Dancers’ Workshop and BRBT since she was four years old.  She has performed in “The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou” 10 times with some of her most recent roles being Spanish, Doll, and Lead Marzipan.  She has been a company member throughout high school and one of her favorite memories was performing in “Inspirata” at RDASW Festival.  Kate has received scholarships for numerous summer intensives, spending summers at both Sarasota Ballet and Louisville Ballet.  Kate is graduating from Baton Rouge Magnet High School with over a 4.0 GPA and will be attending LSU in the fall of 2024 with plans to study Environmental Science on a pre-law track.

Torrie Hedges began dancing when she was six years old and has been part of the BRBT company for the past three years.  She has performed in six seasons of “The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou”, several spring concerts , and toured with the Youth Ballet.  She has been a part of Ballet for Every Body for the past three years, competed in YAGP, and attended summer intensives at Louisville Ballet and Next Generation Ballet.  Torrie has completed 40 credit hours of dual enrollment courses, completing her first year of college while still in high school.  In the fall, Torrie will be attending Franciscan Missionaries of Our Lady University with aspirations of becoming a doctor of physical therapy.

Ivy Jiang has danced in “The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou” since the age of eight, most recently in the roles of Doll, Snow soloist, Spanish, and Lead Marzipan.  She is graduating from Episcopal High School where she is president of both the Engineering & Makers Club and the Fashion & Sewing Club.  She also runs track and has placed eight times in the state’s top three.  Ivy is also proud to have been a co-coordinator for Clara’s Closet, a Nutcracker Scholarship fund.  In the fall, Ivy will be attending the University of Pennsylvania and studying under the Jerome Fisher Program in Management and Technology with a double major in Finance and Electrical Engineering.

Jennifer Lin has danced with the Dancers’ Workshop and BRBT for 12 years, performing the roles of Spanish, Lead Marzipan, and Azalea Fairy in “The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou”.  This past year she acted as co-coordinator of Clara’s Closet, a Nutcracker scholarship fund.  Jennifer is a graduate of Baton Rouge Magnet High School, where she is member of the Chinese Student Association and a member of the studio dance company.  She has been recognized as a National Merit Scholar, U.S. Presidential Scholar Candidate, and an AP Scholar with Distinction.  In the fall, Jennifer will be attending Rice University, majoring in Statistics and minoring in Global Health Technologies/

Sophia St. Martin is graduating from University View Academy with honors and has completed 27 hours of dual enrollment courses.  She has danced for 13 years, including eight years with Dancers’ Workshop and BRBT.  Sophia has performed in 10 seasons of “The Nutcracker – A Tale from the Bayou”, several spring concerts, and toured with the Youth Ballet for five years.  She has also attended summer study at Nashville Ballet.  In high school, Sophia has participated in Beta Club and served as the club’s secretary.  In the fall, Sophia will be attending Southeastern Louisiana University majoring in Early Childhood Education.