PENN BALLET
The Board
Madeline Port
Executive Director
Joined Fall '23
Madeline is a sophomore in the VIPER dual degree program studying Chemistry and Materials Science and Engineering. She began dancing in her hometown of Richmond, VA at 3 years old. She trained at the School of Richmond Ballet in classical ballet, character dance, musical theater, and modern. She also attended ABT and Boston Ballet’s Summer Intensive programs. At SRB, she performed student roles in the professional company’s Sleeping Beauty and Romeo and Juliet as well as their Nutcracker. She also enjoyed performing in student productions, most recently as a swan in the Carnival of the Animals and the Enchanted Garden fairy in Sleeping Beauty. She has loved learning snowflakes, polichinelles, and coffee, and can’t wait to learn new repertoire with Penn Ballet!
Lisa Slattery
Finance Director
Joined Fall '23
Lisa is a junior in the College studying Neuroscience. She began ballet at age four, training at Emerald Ballet Academy in Bellevue, Washington and Akiko Ballet Academy in Tokyo, Japan. She has performed as the Sylph in La Sylphide, Arabian soloist in the Nutcracker, and many other roles in productions such as Paquita, Swan Lake, Don Quixote, and Cinderella. She has competed at the Youth America Grand Prix semi-finals in Seattle and the finals in New York City. She is excited to keep dancing as a member of Penn Ballet!
Ivy Jiang
Marketing Manager
Joined Fall '24
Ivy is a freshman in the M&T Program studying Electrical Engineering and Economics with a concentration in Finance. She is from Baton Rouge, Louisiana and began dancing ballet when she was four. Classically trained with Baton Rouge Ballet Theatre, she has enjoyed performing the Nutcracker yearly as well as other Storybook Ballets such as Cinderella or Rapunzel. Her favorite roles include Snow Queen and Spanish Chocolate. Ivy is excited to continue dancing ballet with Penn!
Taya Allardice
Social Chair
Joined Fall '24
Taya is a freshman in the College studying Political Science with a concentration in International Relations (and possibly a minor in History and Legal Studies!) from Cape Town, South Africa. She is classically trained and has been dancing since she was 3. She has predominantly trained at her ballet school Sue De Moyencourt’s School of Ballet where she completed her RAD exams, performed in yearly showcases, and competed in various local and international competitions. She joined the Cape Junior Ballet company at age 13 where she was exposed to various styles of dance. She’s continued her training through CJB’s and Jacqui Pells’ summer intensives. Taya is excited to continue making memories and lasting friendships on stage and in the studio.
Emily Hoff
Co-Performance Director
Joined Fall '24
Emily is a sophomore in the College from Boston, Massachusetts. She began dancing at age 3 at Boston Ballet School. At age 15, she moved to London to train full time at The Royal Ballet School. At age 17, she was hired at her first professional company and spent 6 years working full time as a professional ballet dancer. She worked professionally for San Francisco Ballet from 2017-2018, for Boston Ballet from 2018-2022, and for The Royal Danish Ballet in Copenhagen from 2022-2023. She is excited to be part of the Penn Ballet!
Emma Yao
Finance Manager
Joined Fall '23
Emma is a sophomore from Vancouver, Canada studying Physics with a concentration in Astronomy in the College. She began dancing ballet at the age of 8 with her hometown studio, Essence of Dance Inc. She joined the studio’s competitive dance program, Ignite Youth Company, where she performed classical and character ballet pieces at regional dance competitions, conventions, and charity shows. Emma then trained under Xing Liang at the Royal Principal Ballet Academy. She successfully completed RAD examinations up until the Advanced I level and competed at YAGP with variations from Sleeping Beauty and Don Quixote. Emma loves her Penn Ballet family and is excited to continue dancing with them throughout her time at college.
Oma Nwafor
Marketing Manager
Joined Fall '24
Oma is a freshman in the College studying Health and Societies. She first started dancing at 10, beginning ballet at Barriskill Dance Theater School after moving to Durham, NC. There, she trained in ballet and contemporary, performing various roles in the Nutcracker, Cinderella, and other productions. She was also a member of the Senior Company, where she learned and performed pieces from various choreographers in the Durham area. Oma is excited to continue dancing as a part of Penn Ballet!
Shiny Shen
Co-Performance Director
Joined Fall '22
Shiny is a junior studying bioengineering and an avid bunhead since age four. She is classically trained under Lauren Lorentz de Haas and Kate Currin at Triangle Youth Ballet (TYB), as well as under the late Wei Ni (previously of Carolina Ballet). She attended UNCSA’s Classical Ballet Intensive and had performed in Regional Dance America’s annual festivals for four years. Her favorite roles include Arabian Coffee and Sugar Plum Fairy in TYB’s The Nutcracker. Outside of rehearsals, you can find Shiny either manically sewing or chowing down on sushi with her PB family!
Natasha Yao
Marketing Director
Joined Fall '23
Natasha is a sophomore in the College studying International Relations. She started ballet at the age of 5 and trained at Jean M. Wong School of Ballet in Hong Kong and the Olivia Willoughby School of Dance in England. She has performed in a variety of full length productions with the Hong Kong Ballet and JMW Ballet, such as the Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire and more. She performed as the Nutcracker Princess in her school’s adapted version of the Nutcracker as a high school senior. She also has experience in modern contemporary dance from performing with the Avant Garde Dance UK and dancing under Peter Anderson, former artistic programme designer for the National Icelandic Dance Company. Natasha is excited to continue dancing with Penn Ballet!
Sofia Murra Vicario
Costume Chair
Joined Fall '22
Sofia has danced ballet for over 15 years. She danced in Cibolo City Ballet for over 5 years under Danae Quevedo. She has participated in productions of The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Fairy Doll, Coppélia, Graduation Ball, and Midsummer Night’s Dream. She is currently a sophomore in the College majoring in Chemistry and thrilled to be a part of Penn Ballet. ​
Juliet Bright
Joined Fall '21
Juliet is a senior studying Behavioral Economics and Finance major at Wharton with a lifelong passion for dance. She began dancing at age 2 with ballet and tap, and in 4th grade, she enrolled in an arts-focused school, expanding her training to include modern, jazz, and especially ballet. She studied at the Ballet Conservatory of Asheville in North Carolina under Gavin Larsen and Nadia Iozzo. In high school, Juliet was also a member of her school’s Dance Team, where she had numerous opportunities to choreograph. She’s thrilled to continue dancing in college as part of the Penn Ballet family!
Nao Erlitzki
Joined Spring '25
Noa is an MD/PhD candidate in the Perelman School of Medicine's Medical Scientist Training Program. She is pursuing her PhD in the lab of Rahul Kohli, MD, PhD, where her research focuses on the biochemistry, clinical implications, and biotechnological applications of DNA-modifying enzymes. Noa began dancing ballet at the age of 11 in her hometown, training under Natalia Shevchenko. After high school, she was accepted to the Perm State Choreographic College in Russia, where she studied in the class of Lydia Grigorevna Ulanova, and also trained briefly at the Novosibirsk State Ballet Academy. After having taken an extended break, Noa is enjoying her return to ballet after so many years and is excited to be part of the Penn Ballet!
Rose Homentosky
Joined Fall '22
Rose is a senior in the College, studying Philosophy, Politics, and Economics with a minor in Legal Studies and History. She has been dancing since the age of 5, when she started with ballet, tap, and jazz. She studied at The Ballet Barre Studio in NJ, focusing on ballet and modern. She attended The American Academy of Ballet Summer Program for two years and performed as a point soloist in ballet numbers at her studio’s recital. This is her third show with the Penn Ballet company and loves practicing and performing with all of the amazing dancers in the company family.
Fiona Larsson
Joined Fall '21
Fiona is a senior in the School of Nursing. She began ballet seventeen years ago, and grew up in Portland, Maine, training at Portland School of Ballet. In high school she was a member of their Pre-Professional Division training under Sabir Yapporov, and performed with the Portland Ballet Company. She has danced in numerous productions including the Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Don Quixote. This is her third year with Penn Ballet. ​
Cynthia Zhang
Joined Spring '25
I'm a paragraph. Click here to add your own text and edit me. It's easy.
Gail Calimaran
Joined Fall '21
Gail is a senior from Jackson, MS studying Chemistry and Health & Societies with a concentration in Race, Gender, and Health. She has been dancing at the age of four with Mississippi Metropolitan Ballet and has also trained in summer intensives at Louisiana Delta Ballet and Ballet Memphis. In addition to Penn Ballet, she also leads dance workshops in Philadelphia over the summer in contemporary dance with the Penn Summer Dance Series and dances and choreographs traditional Filipino dances for Penn Philippine Association’s annual show, Barrio. Gail is so grateful to be a part of the PB family and is honored to have been the previous Performance Director for two years. She is looking forward to spending one last year dancing with Penn Ballet!​​
Katie Fox
Joined Fall '24
Katie Fox is a sophomore from Long Island, New York, studying Finance in the Wharton School. With 16 years of dance experience, she has trained in ballet and modern dance at the Ohman School of Ballet and attended the Cincinnati Ballet summer intensive. Outside of ballet, you can find her tapping in Soundworks Tap Factory, or playing flute in the Penn Wind Ensemble. Katie is also involved with the Wharton Undergraduate Finance Club and the Wharton Management Club. Katie is extremely grateful to continue her passion for dance at Penn and is excited to make her debut in Penn Ballet. She started dancing at 3 years old and the Ohman School of Ballet (Commack, New York). Her favorite artists are Taylor Swift and Michael Jackson! She also loves seeing Broadway shows.
Lily Cate Hunter
Joined Fall '23
Lily Cate is a sophomore and a neuroscience major in the College on the premed track. She has danced ballet for 15 years, and grew up in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, dancing with Classical Ballet Centre. There, she debuted as the Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, as well as many solo roles in Swan Lake, Coppelia, and Sleeping Beauty. She cannot wait to perform in this year’s Nutcracker and is excited to continue her Penn Ballet journey.
Allison Liu
Joined Spring '25
Allison is a second-year dental student at Penn Dental. She began dancing at age 5 in her hometown of Princeton, New Jersey, and trained in classical ballet at Princeton Ballet School in the pre-professional division of American Repertory Ballet. She has attended summer intensives at PBS and Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre and has competed in various national and international ballet competitions. At Princeton Ballet School, she performed roles in a number of full-length ballets including the Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Coppelia and Giselle. Allison is also trained in Chinese classical, contemporary and folk dance and has performed internationally and on television. She is very excited to rediscover her passion for dance with the lovely group at Penn Ballet!
Rosie Daniels
Joined Fall '23
Rosie is a senior in the College studying math. She first started dancing at the age of 2 in ballet and has since danced in numerous styles, including contemporary, jazz, and character. From Michigan, much of her training took place at Grand Rapids Ballet where she performed in full-length productions and with the GRB professional ballet company. She has had the opportunity to dance in numerous ballets, including The Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Cinderella, and Snow White. She has trained at summer and year-round programs including those at Joffrey Ballet and Kirov Ballet, as well as in NYC and Moscow at the Bolshoi Ballet. Rosie is so happy to continue dancing with Penn Ballet!
Kaitlyn Green
Joined Fall '22
Kaitlyn has trained in classical ballet in both the Balanchine and Vaganova technique, modern, tap, and jazz at Berrend Dance Center under Patricia Berrend, Runqiao Du, Erin Du, Aaron Jackson, Dmitri Malikov, Roger Riggle and Erica Molina-Hudak among others for around 15 years. During her training she has had the opportunity to perform numerous solo and corps roles in Olney Ballet Theatre’s yearly production of the Nutcracker and Bel Cantanti Opera productions of Sadko and Die Schone Mullerin. She also studied various excerpts from Coppélia, Paquita, Sleeping Beauty, Raymond, and Concerto Barocco among others. She is currently a sophomore studying nursing and biochemistry at Penn and is so grateful to continue dancing in her third semester with Penn Ballet! ​
Caroline Johansen
Joined Fall '22
Caroline is a junior studying neuroscience who has been dancing for 16 years. She is classically trained under Scarlett Fiero-Carbone with the Saugerties Ballet Center. Caroline is also a principal dancer with Ulster Ballet Company, founded by Balanchine-taught Fred Douglas DeMayo, and has performed in their annual ‘Festival of Dance’ and ‘A Christmas Carol’, choreographed and led by former NYCB dancer Sara Miot. She is grateful to be able to lead a wonderful group of dancers and to continue performing with Penn Ballet, and she can’t wait for more PB memories to be made.
Lia MacLaughlin
Joined Fall '24
​Lia is a freshman from Tampa, Florida and a member of the Benjamin Franklin Scholars Program studying Environmental Science in the College. Lia has danced since she was two years old, with most of her dance experience coming from her time at her home studio: Theater Arts and Dance Alliance. She has training in many styles of dance, but ballet has always been her favorite. Lia has also attended the ABT Summer Intensive program twice. Outside of the studio, Lia is passionate about music, art and reading. She loves to travel, and hopes to spend some time abroad in college.