RD Staff
Director
Samantha Koon
Currently pursuing her certificate in Dance Teaching (Ballet) from the Royal Academy of Dance, Samantha stays busy as the Director of both Ballet Refreshed and Reflections Dance. Before graduating, she grew up attending schools and programs such as GSA Kentucky, American Ballet Theater, Louisville Ballet, Gregory Hancock Dance Theater, and Cincinnati Ballet. She has also been a recipient of fully-funded scholarships for the Aurora Bosch Intensive, Grand Premiere Invitational, Gregory Hancock Dance Theater Academy and Indianapolis Ballet Academy. Samantha is a Graduate and Ex-company member of Kentucky Ballet Theater, but with the twist of Covid-19, she pivoted to teaching full-time.
Her passion for the discipline extends beyond the regular season as she spends her summers as a Choreographer for Ballet Under the Stars. She also continues her dance education during the summer, honing her skills at renowned institutes like Steps on Broadway and the Ballet Arts Center for Dance, NYC.
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Samantha is excited to be back at WCB for her third year!
Lead Instructor
Danielle Ansiel
Danielle Ansiel was born in Glendale, California, and has always nurtured a passion for the art of dance. She began pursuing classical ballet at the age of eleven, and began contemporary class supplements a few years later. Since then, she has trained with Praise His Name with Dancing, Gloria Deo School of the Arts, and Kentucky Ballet Theatre (KBT). She competed at Youth American Grand Prix in 2022 and 2023. She graduated from KBT’s Academy in May of 2023, and is now currently dancing with KBT’s company as a student trainee. She is also an instructor for KBT Academy’s lower school.Danielle has a heart for using her gift of dance to glorify God through worship and evangelism. She is excited to begin teaching at WCB and impart this gift of dance to students!
Sakura Yamashita
Instructor
Bess Hammond
Jr Instructor
Alaina Sandlin
Jr Instructor
Hope Massey
Instructor
Chynah Thompson-Walters
Instructor
TBA
Jr Instructor