Dancers
Meet The Dancers
The Ballet Etude Company
Our resident company presents professional‑level performances for the community and offers apprentice and trainee positions for developing artists. Meet the current roster: artists, apprentices, and trainees who bring energy and excellence to the stage each season.
On stage you’ll see classical repertoire and original story ballets tailored for family audiences. Behind the scenes, rehearsals emphasize musicality, ensemble work, and clarity of style so productions feel cohesive and engaging for all ages.
Artistic Leadership
Artistic Director
Kiersten Lewis
Kiersten is the Artistic Director and Co-Founder of Ballet Etude Company and Academy. She began her ballet training at The Studio for the Performing Arts under the guidance of her parents, Jef and Karen Horne, both former professional dancers with Ballet El Paso. There, she studied ballet, pointe, jazz, and tap, performing in beloved classics such as The Nutcracker and The Firebird, as well as original works. Over the years, she danced many leading roles in The Nutcracker, including Marzipan, Arabian, Snow Queen, and Sugar Plum Fairy.
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Kiersten went on to earn her Bachelor of Fine Arts in Modern Dance from the University of Utah, where she trained extensively in performance, choreography, and teaching. She also studied Pilates and is a certified Progressing Ballet Technique instructor. Her passion for education and excellence in ballet instruction continues to fuel her desire to develop well-rounded, technically strong dancers.
Assistant Artistic Director, Co-Founder and Company Artist
Madissen Fujimoto
Madissen is the Assistant Artistic Director and co-founder of Ballet Etude Company and Academy. Her love for ballet began at age six and led her to train in Sacramento, California under esteemed teachers such as Marguerite Phares, Barbara Crockett, Alyson Deane, and Shirin Keyani-Rose. She attended Natomas Charter School's Performing and Fine Arts Academy, where she deepened her training and served as a teacher's assistant for Ms. Keyani-Rose. Madissen earned scholarships to attend summer intensives with Sacramento Ballet, Orlando Ballet, and Alonzo King's LINES Ballet, where she studied with master teachers including Ron Cunningham, Carinne Binda, Nolan T'Sani, Fernando Bujones, Peter Stark, and Alonzo King.
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​After graduating high school, she began teaching ballet in Sacramento before relocating with her family to Rexburg, Idaho-a rural city with no professional ballet opportunities at the time. Longing for the kind of high-quality training and performance experiences she had grown up with, Madissen began to dream of building something more. That dream became a reality in 2022 when she co-founded Ballet Etude in Rexburg, creating a home for serious ballet training and artistic development in a community she now calls home.
Company Artist
Company Artist
Erin Penny
Erin Penny is a classically trained dancer from Decatur, Texas, with over 16 years of experience in ballet and contemporary dance. Her early training began under the guidance of Karen Smith and Jessica Browning at Wise Ballet and Music Academy, where she developed a strong technical foundation and a deep passion for the art form. Erin has completed intensive programs with prestigious institutions including Texas Ballet Theater, Avant Chamber Ballet, and Denton Dance Conservatory, further refining her technique and artistic expression. She has performed with a variety of companies, including Denton City Contemporary Ballet, Open Sky Arts Collective, and most recently, Zion Dance Project, where she danced in the 2024-2025 season.
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In addition to her professional dance experience, Erin holds a Bachelor of Science in Nutrition from Texas Woman's University, a testament to her dedication to holistic health and performance wellness. Erin hopes to combine her academic background with her performance career to promote health and longevity in dancers. She is passionate about continuing to train and perform professionally while also educating the next generation of dancers, both in the studio and through her knowledge of dancer-specific nutrition. Erin is excited to begin her first season with Ballet Etude.
Company Artist
Sarah Winiecke
Sarah began dancing at the age of five with creative movement classes, and by eight she had begun her formal ballet training at the Idaho Falls School of Ballet under the direction of Deborah Bean. While studying there, she performed in numerous productions of The Nutcracker with Ballet Idaho and attended several summer intensives at Brigham Young University, where she also trained with guest artists from Ballet Idaho and Ballet West. After graduating from high school, Sarah continued her studies at Brigham Young University in Provo, majoring in dance with a ballet emphasis. During her time at BYU, she performed with both Ballet Showcase Company and Theatre Ballet, touring throughout Arizona, Idaho, and Utah. One of her most treasured roles from this period was dancing the part of Taglioni in Pas de Quatre.
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Following graduation, Sarah taught ballet in Utah County for eight years while beginning her family with her husband. Six years ago, she moved to Rexburg and returned to ballet through the Rexburg Arts Center's adult program after a ten-year break to raise her four children. Although the return was challenging, she describes it as one of the most rewarding experiences of her life. During this time, she performed as the Snow Queen and Dew Drop Fairy in The Nutcracker and as Lise in La Fille Mal Gardée. She especially cherishes the opportunity to share the stage with her children and even convinced her husband to join her as a party parent in a recent Nutcracker production with IFSB. Most recently, Sarah danced the title role in Peter Pan with Ballet Etude. She also teaches ballet at BYU-Idaho, where she loves passing on her passion for the art form to her students. For Sarah, every class and performance feels like a gift, and she is deeply grateful for the opportunities to continue teaching, training, and performing. She is thrilled to be dancing with Ballet Etude again this season.
Company Artist
Olivia Seedall
Olivia Seedall received her ballet training under the direction of Deborah Bean at the Idaho Falls School of Ballet, where she studied for 14 years. During that time, she performed with the Idaho Falls Symphony in The Nutcracker and Excerpts from the Swan Lake Suite. She also appeared with Eugene Ballet in their touring production of The Nutcracker. At the Idaho Falls School of Ballet, Olivia was featured in leading roles such as a Stepsister in Cinderella, Alice in Alice in Wonderland, and the Snow Queen in The Nutcracker. In addition to her performance experience, Olivia has participated in scholarship programs such as Distinguished Young Women, earning talent scholarships from her ballet variations. She is excited to begin her second season with Ballet Etude in Rexburg while also attending BYU-Idaho to further her education.
Company Artist
Sariah Adair
Sariah was born and raised in Dallas, Texas, where she began her dance training at a young age. She studied for 15 years at Texas Ballet Theater School, receiving instruction in ballet, contemporary, and various other styles. She went on to continue her training and education at Brigham Young University-Idaho, earning a Bachelor of Dance degree in 2024. Now in her second season with Ballet Etude, Sariah is grateful for the opportunity to continue developing her technique and artistry and looks forward to another rewarding season with the company.
Company Artist
Bethany Fuller
Bethany began her ballet training at Ballet Arts in Rexburg, Idaho at the age of 13. Just one year later, she was selected to perform as a local participant in Ballet Jörgen's Anne of Green Gables during the company's United States tour, an experience that further fueled her passion for dance. She has also participated in the Youth America Grand Prix Semi-Finals and attended prestigious summer intensives at Jacqueline's School of Ballet, Master Ballet Academy, and Ballet Idaho. Bethany pursued her training through the dance program at Brigham Young University-Idaho, beginning as a high school student and continuing her studies after graduation. She is a proud member of Ballet Etude, where she has refined her artistry and technique through featured roles such as Snow White, the Sugarplum Fairy, and Wendy in the company's productions of Snow White, The Nutcracker (Divertissements), and Peter Pan. In addition to performing, Bethany serves on the faculty of Ballet Etude Academy. She completed the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet (CPYB) Teacher Training workshop in 2024, where she deepened her knowledge of ballet pedagogy. She is passionate about sharing her training and experiences with her students and looks forward to continuing to grow as both a teacher and performer with Ballet Etude in the upcoming season.
Company Artist
Rosie Pedersen
Originally from Spokane, Washington, Rosie Pedersen was classically trained in ballet by Brooke Nicholson. She also received training from the New Ballet School led by Dhalia Rawson, and The Portland Ballet led by Nancy Davis. Rosie completed her training as a trainee at Avant Chamber Ballet where she was fortunate enough to work with Jock Soto, Shawn Stevens, Michelle Gifford, and Katie Puder. While dancing, she completed her Bachelors of Arts in Dance Pedagogy from Brigham Young University - Idaho. In 2024, Rosie began dancing with Ballet Etude as a company artist, performing in new works choreographed by Kiersten Lewis and Madissen Fujimoto. While at college, Rosie was able to choreograph on fellow students. Her piece, Night Book, was performed in 2025. She hopes to keep choreographing in the future and shaping her artistic voice through dance.
Apprentices
Apprentice
Talia Earl
At age 13 after viewing a live ballet class Talia Earl began to check out every book and DVD about ballet from her local library. At age 14, she attended her first class and fell in love. Talia has been training and performing ballet and various forms of dance, now for almost 10 years! She began ballet training at Black Mountain Center for the Arts where she was certified to grade 4 in the Cecchetti method. She later trained and performed with Louis Nunnery School of Ballet in Hickory, North Carolina. She went on to earn her bachelor's degree in dance pedagogy at BYUI specializing in Ballet. She is passionate about teaching and loves the process of training to achieve greater levels of excellence. This is Talia's first season with Ballet Etude. She plans to open her own ballet school and company back in her hometown in North Carolina.
Apprentice
Sarah Wilson
This is Sarah's first season performing with Ballet Etude. She trained at Colorado Conservatory of Dance for seven years, where she developed a love for both classical ballet and tap. Now a sophomore at BYU, Sarah is majoring in Dance with an emphasis in choreography and performance. Eager to build her career, Sarah is thrilled to perform with Ballet Etude for many years to come.
Apprentice
Paige Owens
Paige is excited to begin her first season as an apprentice with Ballet Etude. Her passion for dance was first sparked at the age of six after watching the ballet Barbie movies, which inspired her to begin training. She studied at Ballet Arts for eight years, where she performed a variety of roles, including her dream role as the Dewdrop Fairy in The Nutcracker. The following season, she had the opportunity to choreograph the Dewdrop variation, furthering her love for both performance and creativity in dance. Paige is grateful for the support of her family and friends and looks forward to continuing her growth with Ballet Etude.
Apprentice
Vilate Turner
Vilate has studied ballet for nine years, beginning her training at Elizabeth's Dance Expressions in Williston, North Dakota, near her hometown. She later continued her studies with the dance faculty at Brigham Young University-Idaho. This is her first season with Ballet Etude, and she looks forward to further developing her artistry while sharing her love of dance with the company and its community.
Apprentice
Nicole Winder
Nicole Winder has been dancing for 16 years, beginning her training in ballet and contemporary at Elite Studios in Shelley, Idaho. She is continuing her ballet studies at Brigham Young University-Idaho, where she is pursuing a bachelor’s degree in interdisciplinary studies with an emphasis in dance. She recently completed her second year of study. After graduation, Nicole aspires to continue dancing while also helping other dancers enhance their artistry through cross-training and recovery practices that support holistic development. This is her second season with Ballet Etude.
Apprentice
Ava Park
Ava Park began her ballet training at age seven and has studied at several studios in the area. She has been with Ballet Etude for nearly two years and plans to pursue dance in college. She is currently a high school senior and an apprentice with the Ballet Etude Company.
Trainees
Trainee
Camille Shaw
Camille has been dancing on and off since childhood, exploring a wide range of styles including ballet, contemporary, tap, ballroom and jazz. While dance has always been a hobby rather than a professional pursuit, it's a deeply meaningful part of her life. For the past two years, she has been training with Ballet Etude, where she continues to grow both technically and artistically. Camille is especially passionate about Ballet Etude's mission to make ballet accessible to everyone, and she's proud to be part of a community that values inclusion, creativity, and the joy of dance. She finds fulfillment in movement and is excited to keep learning, improving, and sharing her love of dance with others.
Trainee
McKinley Molina
McKinley has been dancing with Ballet Etude since 2022. As the Administrative Assistant, she helps support the day-to-day operations of the studio while also assisting in ballet classes. With a background as both an academy and company dancer, McKinley brings her love of ballet into both the office and the classroom. Her performance experience also includes working as a face character in Disneyland’s Entertainment Department, where she appeared in parades and throughout the park in meet and greets. McKinley is married and the proud mother of four children.
Trainee
Vivianna Malm
Vivianna has been dedicated exclusively to ballet for the past four years, training with Ballet Etude for the last two years. This is her first season as a Trainee with the company. She began dancing before her very first formal class, exploring various styles with several instructors before discovering her deep passion for ballet. Drawn to its elegance and discipline, Vivianna loves expressing artistry through movement. She plans to continue dancing throughout high school and college, carrying her love for the art form into every stage of life.
Trainee
Suzanne Jorgensen
Suzanne began her ballet journey at a young age, taking classes at Brindusa Moore Academy and Miss Tiffin's Ballet in Pocatello, Idaho. After moving to Rexburg, she joined Ballet Etude at the age of 13 and her love for dance grew even more. Suzanne enjoys the friendships she's made through ballet and finds joy in continually improving, challenging herself, and having fun along the way. She is dedicated to growing in her technique, especially in her work on pointe, and hopes to continue dancing with Ballet Etude for as long as she can.
