Preparatory Division

Amanda Gerhardt

Amanda began ballet at the age of 10 at the Jackonsville Ballet Theatre in Jacksonville, Florida training with Mary Pauline Nasrallah and Dulce Anaya. She attended Douglas Anderson School of the Arts High School, and after 11th grade, she was accepted into Miami City Ballet’s Pre-Professional Division training two years under Carter Alexander and Geta Constantinescu. Amanda was coached by Edward Villella to perform Dark Angel in Balanchine’s Serenade for her first
Student Showcase. The following year’s showcase, she performed in Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante and as a soloist in Paquita. Amanda attended several summer intensives including Boston Ballet, ABT New York, and The School of American Ballet where she was selected to perform in the New York Choreographic Institute. She also attended Boston Ballet’s Choreographic Intensive where she performed works by Jorma Elo and Helen Pickett. The summer of 2013, Amanda attended Carolina Ballet’s Summer Intensive as a trainee and was hired for the Carolina Ballet’s company season. In 2014 Amanda was promoted as a corps member. Amanda has performed numerous works with Carolina Ballet including Balanchine’s: Rubies, Rondo alla Zingarese, Raymonda Variations, The Four Temperaments, and Valse Fantaisie; Robert Weiss’ Messiah, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Romeo and Juliet, The Double, Sleeping Beauty, Stravinsky, and Beethoven Symphony No. 9; Zalman Raphael’s Rachmaninoff Concerto No. 2, Bach Suite, Mozart, In the Grey, and La Mer; Lynn Taylor Corbett’s Dracula and Carmina Burana .

Ayla O’Day

Ayla O’Day began her ballet training at the age of 3. She trained at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under Marcia Dale Weary starting at age 13. In 2016, she became a trainee at Boston Ballet and in 2018, she became a trainee at Carolina Ballet. Throughout her time at Carolina Ballet, Ayla has performed roles in ballets choreographed by Robert Weiss, Zalman Raffael, George Balanchine, and Lynne Taylor-Corbett.

Courtney Schenberger

Courtney Schenberger began her formal training at age 8, at The Ayako School of Ballet in Okinawa, Japan. At age 10, she continued her training at Ballet Hawaii. While attending she competed at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) San Francisco and won 3rd place bronze in the Junior Women Classical category. She also competed at the World Ballet Competition where she achieved the 3rd highest score in the Pre-Professional category as well as receiving the Jury’s Award. At age 15, she attended the Washington School of Ballet’s professional training program and then the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA). Ms. Schenberger has also attended summer programs at The Washington School of Ballet, Ballet West Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Boston Ballet.

Barre

• Pliés
• Tendu
• Développé

In the Center

• Adagio
• Pirouette either from 5th or 4th
• Petite allegro