How – and when – did you first come to JMBT?

I started with JMBT when I was three years old at their satellite studio in the South Shore Conservatory in Duxbury. I was originally in mommy & me music classes with my little sister, but after my mom noticed my clear enthrallment with the ballerinas at the end of the hallway, she enrolled me in classes. I’m proud to say I continued training with JMBT all the way through high school graduation.

What did you enjoy most about dancing at JMBT? Tell us about your favorite repertoire.

When I think back on my childhood and teenage years, nearly all of my favorite memories are at JMBT. I loved that I felt at home at JMBT. My best friends were my classmates at ballet and I loved how many opportunities we had to dance. YouthWorks was my favorite. I enjoyed learning and performing so much choreography. The neo classical repertoire ignited my love for ballets that are “plotless” versus the more traditional fairy tale ballets. I appreciate the guidance I had while discovering the type of artist that I wanted to become. Nutcracker of course is at the top of the list. My favorite memory has to be from when I was Clara. My sisters were in the production as a party girl and a mouse and Jose was rounding out his time as Drosselmeyer. I believe we had about 30 shows that season and I was at all of them, one cast Clara, one cast as Clara’s understudy and the third cast as an angel. I was living the dream. Performing a role I had idolized for years, most days of the week and watching the professionals hoping someday I could be doing it all as my job. When the curtain closed on that final show I was as sure as I ever had been that this is what I wanted to do with my life, so I began auditioning for summer intensives just a few weeks later.

(Credits: Norman Jean Roand and Dirk Reps)

After leaving JMBT, where did life take you?

After graduating from JMBT, I attended Indiana University, where I earned a Bachelor of Science in ballet performance and an Outside Field in marketing in three years. I danced with Virginia National Ballet for one season before moving a bit closer to home to join New England Ballet Theatre for their inaugural season. Shortly after beginning with NEBT I founded the affiliate school and served as the director of The School of New England Ballet Theatre, while continuing to dance professionally for the company for three seasons. In an effort to continue to grow as an artist I then entered the audition circuit where I landed a contract with American Contemporary Ballet in LA. I am now proudly in my third season with the company.

Do you think that your ballet/dance training at JMBT helped prepare you for your professional career? How so?

JMBT absolutely helped prepare me for my professional career. JMBT focused on nurturing the whole dancer. I learned about proper etiquette and behavior, and was used to long runs of shows. YouthWorks gave me the ability to learn large amounts of choreography quickly and growing up with a live accompaniment for classes taught me to respect the music. I wouldn’t have the career I’ve been blessed to have without Jose and his team providing me with the most well-rounded foundation. I still hear notes in my head from Jose nearly every day while taking class.

Do you have any advice you would like to give to current ballet students who want to pursue the same career as yours?

Well, everyone says to work hard but if you want a career in ballet, that’s a given. It’s also important that you work smart. Pay attention. Notice the musicality and the details the person at the front of the room is asking for, understand the ballets that are being rehearsed to the point that you could jump into any available spot if you’re just a cover. Most importantly, know your worth and find a place that values you for who you are. At best, this career is short and it’s most fulfilling to share your art in a community that supports and respects you.

Instagram: @victoria.manning.long

Company website: www.acbdances.com

The post Alumni Feature: Victoria Manning first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

How – and when – did you first come to JMBT?

I began taking classes with José on Mass Ave around 1989 and immediately connected with his teaching style – his energy, enthusiasm, and passion for both class and choreography were infectious. It was around that time that he invited me to join the Company. 

What did you enjoy most about dancing at JMBT? Tell us about your favorite repertoire.

What truly set the experience apart was José’s kindness and his genuine enthusiasm for nurturing his dancers while creating choreography that both suited and challenged each of us. My favorite ballet to perform was Schubert Adagio. I have such vivid memories of working late into the night with José and Todd Hall to bring that piece to live – the collaboration was so inspiring and enjoyable. I felt a profound connection to that particular work; it was definitely the most meaningful experience of my time with the Company.

Kati Hanlon Mayo pas de deux with Todd Hall at JMBT (Credits: Richard Israel)

After leaving JMBT, where did life take you?

About three years after joining JMBT, I had the opportunity to join North Carolina Dance Theatre (now Charlotte Ballet). José was incredibly kind in allowing me to return and guest with JMBT after my first season away. I went on to dance as a principal artist with Charlotte Ballet for 16 seasons.

Anything else you would like to add?

I think about this often now, as I coach and work with young dancers. José trusted me, he saw potential in me before I fully saw it in myself. He gave me the opportunity to perform Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty long before I felt completely confident in my ability to do so. But his belief in me pushed me forward, helping me develop the strength, stamina, and most importantly the self-belief needed to take on such a challenging role. The only way dancers truly grow in confidence is when someone takes a chance on them – and José did exactly that for me.

The post Alumni Feature: Kati Hanlon Mayo first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

How – and when – did you first come to JMBT?

I joined JMBT in 1996 when my older daughter (Abby) first performed as a mouse. I started as a stage door dad but quickly and literally rose to the heights of playing Mother Ginger. The exhausted existing two Mother Ginger dads were looking for a sucker (volunteer) to take some of the load off them (we had dozens of shows back then). They asked if I had ever walked on stilts. No surprise, I hadn’t. Undeterred, they gave me a pair of stilts anyway and told me to take them home and learn. Thus began my 22-year “career” as Mother Ginger, continuing through the years of both daughters’ performances (Abby and Melissa) and beyond.

Outside of The Nutcracker, after a 50-year career as a writer and editor at newspapers, magazines, and websites around the world, I am currently a freelance editor and media consultant. Between the consulting and editing, I am also getting back into my jazz blog (GlobalRhythms.net). I am also trying to find a new home for the 30-year-old early childhood development nonprofit program I started in 1996 offering sports and arts programming. (hotshotssoccer.org).

What did you enjoy most about being part of JMBT’s production of The Nutcracker?

The camaraderie, the fun of performing on stage, and the chance to bring joy to both my little Polichinelles and our audiences. After months of rehearsing with the Polichinelles, we became like a sports team, bonded by shared experiences and a dedication to performing exquisitely. I treasured sharing high fives after each performance and awarding my handmade “Polichinelle Necklaces” to each girl after the last show.

It was also a heck of a lot of fun to be such an outrageous character. My Polichinelles and I got to take the stage after the rather sedate scenes that open Act 2. We instantly got the audiences all excited, smiling, and physically involved by getting them to clap along with the music. We were the fun part of Act Two.

John Wilpers performing as Mother Ginger in The Nutcracker

Do you have any favorite memories from your time at JMBT you would like to share?

Here is one of my most forefront memories: As I exited the stage door after my very first show, I was confronted by what looked like an angry mob. All of the Polichinelles’ moms had waited for me and in unison and with not a little derision, they asked me: “Have you EVER done this before?!” I stammered and weakly replied, “No”. They all replied with undisguised derision, “It looked like it!” I assured them I would get better and not endanger their daughters! They harrumphed and stalked away, clearly unconvinced!!

Another great memory that I have is José’s comments about my Mother Ginger makeup: The Mother Ginger character is SUCH an odd duck: A 12-foot-tall woman with a dress the size of a circus tent that disgorged 12 teeny dancers. So, I figured it only made sense for her make-up to be equally bold, colorful, and outrageous: Luminescent rouge, vibrant super-sized fire-engine-red lipstick, a liberal sprinkling of sparkles, a Rudolph the Red Nose Reindeer shiny nose, giant glittery earrings, etc. On the night when I thought I’d really nailed the peak Momma G “look”, Jose Mateo came up to me and quietly (and delightfully cleverly) suggested I dial it back: “John,” he said, “I would like the audience to think that all of the Polichinelles had the same father”.

The post Alumni Feature: John Wilpers first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

JMBT was really a second home to me. It was one of the places I spent the most time and felt the most comfortable growing up and I am grateful to have had that.

How – and when – did you first come to JMBT?

JMBT was really a second home to me. It was one of the places I spent the most time and felt the most comfortable growing up and I am grateful to have had that.

Do you think that your ballet/dance training at JMBT helped prepare you for your professional career? How so?

I think so. My ballet training was so ingrained in my life growing up, it’s hard to parse out, but I think it trained me to have high expectations of myself and to be self-motivated in my work. I think it taught me to approach things with a growth oriented mindset of always striving to improve.

Katie performing at Boston Center for the Arts in 2024 (Olivia Moon Photography)

After graduating from/leaving JMBT where did life take you?

I went to Connecticut College for my undergraduate studies where my understanding of dance and my own relationship to it really expanded. While I didn’t pursue a degree in dance, I danced actively there and learned a lot about modern dance and improvisation, among other aspects of the field. After college I spent a few years teaching dance (at JMBT among other places!) and yoga and collaborating and performing modern dance professionally around Boston and New England. I then went back to school and got my masters at Lesley in Clinical Mental Health Counseling and Dance Movement Therapy where I gained the skills to do the work I’ve been doing for the last 10 years. I also continue to collaborate and dance professionally with a few local choreographers and spend most of my time outside of work with my now three year old daughter – who loves to have dance parties around the house and occasionally tags along to rehearsals with me.

Do you have any advice you would like to give to current ballet students who want to pursue the same career as yours?

I would encourage young dancers to consider that dancing and performing professionally, while wonderful goals for some, are not the only path to “success” or to a career in dance. I would encourage young dancers interested in a career in dance to think about what it is about this art form that they love and to let that inform what career path within dance may be the best fit for them. There are many ways to keep dance an active part of one’s life!

The post Alumni Feature: Katie McGrail first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

Stay curious and do what you enjoy, even if it is hard!

Board member (since March 2025) and JMBT alumna Natalie Ferris first came to José Mateo Ballet Theatre in 2003 as a Level 1 student in the Young Dancers Program (YDP). Today, Natalie lives in California where she works at Apple as a biophotonics scientist -a field that bridges physics, biology, and cutting-edge optical technology. When asked about joining the Board, Natalie shared that she was inspired by the JMBT’s emphasis on community and her desire to support that commitment as an alumni of the School. 

How – and when – did you first come to JMBT?

I started at JMBT in 2003 in the YDP program in Level I. I had been asking to do ballet for years and JMBT’s emphasis on a well-rounded education and community was important for my family.

What did you enjoy most about dancing at JMBT?

First and foremost were the friendships I made with other students. Learning alongside and performing with the same people every day forged some really close bonds. I also always felt incredibly supported by faculty, other parents, and my peers, making it a great place to learn. I felt safe pushing myself, which allowed me to grow not only as a dancer, but also as an individual. 

Natalie performing as Clara in JMBT’s The Nutcracker

After graduating from/leaving JMBT where did life take you?

After high school I went to Dickinson College where I danced at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, performed with Dickinson’s Dance Theatre Group, and majored in Physics. After graduating, I came back to Boston to do a PhD in Biophysics at Harvard. During that time taking open classes at JMBT was really important for my mental health. The challenge of ballet has always helped center me; it is a great work out and it forces me to be truly in the moment. 

I now live in California working as a biophotonics scientist and I still take open classes as frequently as I can. I also recently started to teach ballet classes to adults and am finding it incredibly rewarding to be able to give back to a community that has given so much to me over the years.

Do you have any favorite memories from your time at JMBT you would like to share!

My best friends were my classmates in YDP and Youth Works (one of them was even the maid of honor at my wedding!). It is really the little moments of friendship that stick with me; sitting on the floor of the dressing room between rehearsals playing card games, dashing across Mt. Auburn street to get Berry Line before our parents arrived to pick us up after class, attending summer intensive auditions together, supporting each other’s accomplishments, and performing together in The Nutcracker and at the Dance for World Community Festival are just a few highlights that stand out.

The post Alumni Feature: Natalie Ferris first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

I want to do things that make a difference and bring joy—all in the spirit of love.

A Lifetime of Leadership, Love, and Dance

Since joining José Mateo Ballet Theatre’s Board of Trustees in 2010, Erline Belton has been a steadfast advocate for the organization’s mission to make ballet accessible and community-centered. She first met José through the Barr Foundation when he was part of its inaugural class of Fellows. I was so impressed by José and his values, she recalls. 

She retired as the founder and CEO of Lyceum Group, an organization development firm, following a career in corporate America as a Senior Vice President of Human Resources working internationally across 31 countries. Beyond corporate life, she’s authored two books (“Your Voice Matters” and “A Journey That Matters, Your Personal Living Legacy”), held faculty appointments at UMass, Tufts University, and Harvard, and served on numerous nonprofit and corporate boards – including as Vice Chair of the Red Cross of Boston, the Museum of African American History, and a decade-long tenure on board of Applebee’s International Inc. Notably, she worked closely with the CDC to develop workplace policies during the AIDS epidemic – an effort that helped change how organizations cared for their employees. 

But behind this distinguished resume is a personal story – about a connection to dance. As a child (8-9 years old), Erline studied ballet. Yet after being harshly discouraged by a teacher – “You’re impossible. You’ll never be a dancer.” -she stopped dancing. And then, at 50 years old, she joined a dance group in Roxbury, MA and began dancing again. She recalls that her dance teacher, Fred, created a dance for her to “A Woman’s Work” that they performed many times together. Here I was, doing a solo, when most of my life I spent thinking I couldn’t dance.

Erline’s return to dance helped shape her commitment to JMBT’s mission. Ballet and dance should be available to everybody, she emphasizes. Dance brings people together – it’s laughter, connection, community. Reflecting on José Mateo Ballet Theatre’s impact, she adds, It’s a little company with a big vision. It brings communities together around dance and reminds people that ballet is accessible to all. We’re building spaces where people can find love and community through art.That sense of purpose drives her continued board service. I want to support the organization in any way I can. To help keep that magic alive, to bring people together, and to keep my voice present in something that matters.

The post Board Profile: Erline Belton first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

Listen to your teachers, Listen to the music, Listen to your heart…it will reveal your passion and help you follow even the most difficult paths to excellence!

How – and when – did you first come to JMBT?

I first came to JMBT as a student in the Young Dancers Program back when the studios were on Mass Ave in Boston. I was an Angel in the first production of José Mateo’s The Nutcracker! I continued my ballet training at JMBT through high school and was on track to attend Barnard College when I saw the company perform their spring production. I was inspired! With the full support of my mother, who saw the opportunity to dance in a company as a unique opportunity, I deferred college in order to try dancing professionally. I became an apprentice in the company, and then a full company member. After a decade of dancing in the company, Mr. Mateo invited me to join the faculty at JMBT. For some years I was dancing full time and teaching in the YDP and Adult Open Class Program. Then I added Nutcracker Children’s Cast Coordinator to my list of responsibilities at JMBT. Over the years I have worn many hats at JMBT!

What did you enjoy most about dancing at JMBT?

The thing I enjoyed most about dancing at JMBT was the thrill of performing original choreography, especially world premieres of José Mateo’s choreography!  I always considered myself lucky to have witnessed and been a part of the creative process for these most special ballets.  

Molly in class with Amy Chan

Do you have any favorite memories from your time at JMBT you would like to share!

It’s difficult choosing a favorite memory of JMBT, when you’ve been involved with the organization for as long as I have.  However, a very special time for me was rehearsing and performing the fall production, Hallowed Dances in 2001.  This rep show included Mr. Mateo’s Isle of the Dead, one of the ballets that had inspired me as a student all those years before watching from the audience!  It was only the second rep show produced in the new Sanctuary Theatre after Resurgence (another amazing memory!)  And I was honored to perform one of the Three Sisters alongside Meg, my best dance friend since I was 18 years old!  What a special series of shows those were.

Do you think that your ballet/dance training at JMBT has helped prepare you for your professional career?

My training at JMBT, especially directly under José Mateo for so many years, helped shape who I am as a dancer, teacher and choreographer.  Beyond the dance steps and performance experience, JMBT taught me discipline and decorum, hard work and humility, persistence and patience – I learned so many life lessons in the school and the company and even being on the faculty at JMBT.

What advice would you give to current ballet students who want to pursue a career the same career as yours?

The best advice I can give to current ballet students is to really listen.  Listen to your instructors, listen to the music, listen to your heart!  Ballet will teach you to listen to corrections and criticisms.  You mustn’t be frightened of that.  Listen, for you will hear the advice of generations of ballet dancers and teachers guiding you.  Listen to the music, for without it we as dancers would be nothing.  And listen to your heart, for it will reveal your passion and help you follow even the most difficult paths to excellence!

The post Alumni Feature: Molly Wheat first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

My career now is really a culmination of all of my training both through JMBT and when I went away for summers. JMBT was a great base for training in terms of learning to pick up combinations, ballet etiquette, professionalism, and basic lessons in life that I wouldn’t learn anywhere else. Without JMBT, I would not have been able to get into the other good summer programs I did and would not be where I am today!

What is life like now that you have graduated from JMBT?

I am currently a performer with Disney Cruise Line. My work life is very busy due to the nature of my job and is similar to my previous dance life at JMBT. When I am on the ship, I perform every day in the ship’s production (a broadway-style show) and in the outdoor deck stage shows, but also dance and act offstage entertain the guests.

Before being with Disney and after I graduated college, I danced in JMBT’s Nutcracker in 2023! JMBT will always be my home and I am proud to return back to the studios and take class.

What did you enjoy most about dancing at JMBT?

I loved the performing opportunities! I never realized how privileged we were as students at JMBT until I went away for the summers and met other students. Many other dancers I met from other studios only held a few Nutcracker shows and one recital at the end of the ballet school year. At JMBT, we got to perform at numerous stages and events, including about 25 Nutcracker shows a year.

At the time I was a student, the professional ballet company existed and we could look up to them which was really inspiring. We got to dance along side the professionals during Nutcracker season and watch their other ballet productions throughout the season. During the spring and summer season, we received more performance opportunities at Mayfair and Dance For World Community which was a really exciting time to show off our repertoire. It was also great to be involved in the local dance community.

Amy in class with faculty member Molly Wheat

Do you have any favorite memories from your time at JMBT you would like to share!

The Nutcracker is an experience like no other. It is such a huge traditional production to be a part of and is extremely rewarding. I loved performing on the various proscenium stages with the high quality lights, scrims, and backdrops. The parents would get involved as volunteers and we would get to know a lot of kids throughout our classes or students who came from other studios. I highly recommend every young dancer to participate in The Nutcracker!

What advice would you give to current ballet students who want to pursue a career the same career as yours?

Take other styles of dance. The dance world is changing and ballet is not enough. Ballet is great for foundational technique, but being adaptable is the greatest asset one can have in the industry.

My career now is really a culmination of all of my training both through JMBT and when I went away for summers. JMBT was a great base for training in terms of learning to pick up combinations, ballet etiquette, professionalism, and basic lessons in life that I wouldn’t learn anywhere else. Without JMBT, I would not have been able to get into the other good summer programs I did and would not be where I am today!

The post Alumni Feature: Amy Chan ’18 first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

At JMBT, I really enjoyed the friends I made. They were a huge reason I loved going to classes. I still keep in touch with quite a few of them. I remember going out for ice cream sometimes after classes in the summer or just stretching before barre with them and catching up on life.  

What is life like now that you have graduated from JMBT?

I recently spent three years in London getting my MA in photography and then working while traveling the world. Since then, I have been back in Boston from the spring. I have been freelancing around Boston, rediscovering its wonders and working at a gallery in SOWA.

Even though you are not a professional dancer, do you think that your ballet/dance training has helped prepare you for your professional career?

My dance background has helped me immensely as it has given me a good instinct for when to capture motion. It has also given me a great ability for posing and directing dancers so they don’t look awkward or mistakenly not have pointed feet. I think having grown up a dancer, I have a bit of insight into a dancer’s mind, so it helps me interact with them in order to create better content. Plus, I know ballet terms!!

Do you have any advice you would give to students who want to pursue a career as a photographer?

To any who are interested in a professional photographer career, I’d just say practice. It’s the best way to learn, build a network, and create a portfolio. And if you’re looking to go into dance photography, dancers barely say no to photos if you need some practice in that area.

View this profile on Instagram

Boston Dance Photographer (@mickeywestphoto) • Instagram photos and videos

The arts are incredibly important and I would not be where I was without the immense support of the Boston dance community. I am eternally grateful to them. But now, arts nationwide need support more than ever. So much funding was just rescinded for programs and events where the money was already allocated. I will not let this pass by and will fight to protect the arts however I can.

Photo credit to the amazing Nicole Volpe.

Check out Mickey’s portfolio and website here.

The post Alumni Feature: Mickey West first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.

JMBT is a great school for aspiring ballet students who want to pursue a professional career since the program offers rigorous, technical classes, and especially YouthWorks for performance experience. Even though I am one of the youngest company artists at SCB, my performance resume is just as strong and varied!

What is a day in the life for you at SCB?

We perform 4 major ballets a season, with two to three other performances staged in between. I rehearse and train five days a week in the studio, with two days off. Unless we are in the midst of a performance, then days off are rare and hours can be quite long, especially on travel days. Our main theater is in Columbia, but we also perform throughout southeast SC and northeast GA.

What was the process to enter into a professional ballet company such as SCB?

In the winter before audition season, I rehearsed and filmed audition materials, compiled a resume and appropriate videos/photos to send to companies, then awaited responses for in-person auditions. The SCB audition was a company class followed by an interview with the Artistic Director, William Starrett. I was offered a contract at the end of the interview!

Did your training at JMBT help prepare you to be a professional dancer? How so?

I began dancing at JMBT at the Summer Intensive. Angie DeWolfe was my instructor and really pushed me while also giving me the confidence boost I needed at that time in my training. I appreciated learning different dance styles at the intensive as well – Indian and Flamenco.

This has actually been helpful in my first year at SCB as not many ballet dancers have that experience. At SCB, we perform a shortened ballet for school groups as educational outreach. This is often rehearsed around our main ballet, and students are certainly a unique audience! My time in YouthWorks provided this experience of performing a piece with only a few rehearsals and in front of varied audiences. But my last year at JMBT was the most preparing – one of my teachers was Boris Richir. His teaching style prepared me for company class, along with his corrections and notes. Understanding and quickly implementing corrections and notes is a valuable asset as a company artist!

What is one of the most important things that you took away from your training at JMBT?

The ability to adapt to different directors’ techniques. I had the opportunity to learn from many different teachers that all had different styles. Learning to adapt to each style and technique helped me in auditions where you need to quickly acclimate!

What did you enjoy most about dancing at JMBT? Do you have any favorite memories from your time at JMBT you would like to share!

I enjoyed the frequency of the YouthWorks performances as well as the opportunity to revisit pieces choreographed by Mr. Mateo. I appreciated the chance to really understand and feel confident about a piece. I also formed amazing friendships at JMBT that will truly last a lifetime – one of my favorite memories at JMBT was performing company pieces, specifically Pachelbel. Getting to perform at so many different events, formal and informal, with the same girls really bonded us and allowed us to fully understand and enjoy the piece to its fullest!

What advice would you give to current ballet students who want to pursue a career as a professional dancer?

Put in the work, push yourself, and you’ll see the progress. Ballet isn’t a sprint but a marathon where you’re constantly learning and growing. It’s okay to have a diverse experience; there’s no one singular path. Having different kinds of training in different styles actually helped me get as much performance experience as possible. Finally, make connections in the dance and ballet world; knowing the right people can also be a benefit.

Learn more about our Summer Intensive program! Register to audition today.

The post Alumni Feature: Emily Bartee ’24 first appeared on José Mateo Ballet Theatre.