A community of teachers and leaders

SMB is guided by an experienced group of faculty, whom have enjoyed successful careers as dancers with major companies.

By building and nurturing a student-teacher relationship based in trust and respect, as well as employing faculty that share their passions in an inspiring way to students, we create the optimal conditions for impactful creative learning.

With the expertise of our faculty members, students receive a uniquely professional experience that allows each to develop to their own highest level of individual achievement. With a strong focus on discipline and respect, SMB prepares students for accomplishments in dance and beyond.

 

School of Madison Ballet Faculty

 

CAITLIN SLOAN

Trainee Division | School Division | Open Division

Caitlin Sloan is a dance educator, career mentor and former professional dancer. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from Grand Valley State University and Graduate Certificate in Nonprofit Management from the University of Missouri.

Caitlin has been a dance educator for over a decade, most notably serving as Director of the School of Missouri Contemporary Ballet during which time founded the Missouri Contemporary Ballet Youth Ensemble, aimed at giving advanced students professional performance opportunities.

Following a 9-year professional career dancing with companies including Ballet Tucson and Missouri Contemporary Ballet. Caitlin founded The Brainy Ballerina in 2019, a virtual resource providing support and guidance for aspiring ballet dancers. Through 1-1 career mentorship, studio workshops and digital resources, dancers gain the skills necessary to build a smart and sustainable career in the dance industry.

CAITLIN SLOAN

Trainee Division | School Division | Open Division

ASHLEY PAIGE ROMINES

Trainee Division | School Division

Ashley Paige Romines began her dance training at age ten in Sevierville, Tennessee, and at age sixteen continued to pre-professional ballet training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. She then studied on scholarship at the University of Oklahoma and graduated summa cum laude with a BFA in ballet pedagogy.

Ashley Paige performed professionally for three seasons with Northern Ballet Theatre in New Hampshire and taught at several ballet schools throughout the northeast. During her training and professional career, Ashley Paige had the honor to learn from such inspiring teachers as Marcia Dale Weary, Darla Hoover, Mary Margaret Holt, Donn Edwards, Dennis Marshall, Melinda Howe, Leslie Hench, Laurie Jones, Denise Vale, Jeremy Lindberg, Karyn Edison, and many others.

After her performance career, Ashley Paige focused on her teaching, choreography, and ballet administration career. In 2007, Ashley Paige joined Springfield Ballet as the Artistic & School Director, where she spent twelve seasons through 2019. During her tenure and upon her return to the organization from 2021-2025, she choreographed and staged the annual production of The Nutcracker as well as several original full-length and one-act classical and contemporary ballets. Additionally, she attended Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Teacher’s Workshop, with the late Marcia Dale Weary, which is instrumental in her approach and philosophy for training dancers from toddlers to pre-professionals.

While Ashley Paige lived in the Denver area from 2019-2021, she was on faculty at Littleton Ballet Academy, Colorado Ballet Academy, and Colorado Conservatory of Dance. She continues to serve as guest faculty at Littleton Ballet Academy as well as at Springfield Ballet. Having now relocated to the Madison area in 2025, she is excited to share her “passion for dance, poise for life” with the dancers!

ASHLEY PAIGE ROMINES

Trainee Division | School Division

LAUREN THOMPSON

Upper Division

Born and raised in Honolulu, Hawaii, Lauren Thompson began her training at Ballet Hawaii and Honolulu Classical Ballet before leaving home to further her studies at Ballet West Academy’s Professional Training Division and Trainee Program, and Nashville Ballet II. She has attended summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Boca Ballet Theatre, and Nashville Ballet. She began her professional career with The Bray Ballet where she danced for three seasons, performing lead roles in The Nutcracker and Dracula.

Lauren joined Madison Ballet in 2021. Her repertoire with the company include title roles in Paquita and Act II of Giselle, and the Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, and the Rose in The Nutcracker. She has also performed soloist roles in Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, Heinz Poll’s Eight by Benny and Schubert Waltzes, and in works by Stephanie Martinez, Tom Mattingly, Meredith Rainey, and Alia Kache. She has been featured in the work of Madison Ballet Artistic Director Ja’ Malik, performing soloist and principal roles in both his existing repertoire and new works created on her. She has also performed as a guest artist with Hawaii Ballet Theatre, Honolulu Classical Ballet, and Mainstage Academy of Dance.

Alongside her performing career, Lauren is a passionate educator, teaching at the School of Madison Ballet and as a guest instructor throughout Wisconsin. She recently collaborated with Madison Ballet Special Projects to organize Summer Suite, a fundraiser for the School of Madison Ballet scholarship fund.

LAUREN THOMPSON

Upper Division

FERNANDA YAMAGUCHI

School Division | Upper Division

Originally from Brazil, Fernanda started her professional training at The Bolshoi Theater School in Brazil where she performed in Don Quixote, Giselle, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Raymonda, and the opera Prince Igor. In 2013, Fernanda received a scholarship to The Ailey School, where she graduated in 2016. 

In NYC, Fernanda performed with The Ailey School, Hudson Ballet Theatre, XAOC Contemporary Ballet, AZOTH Dance Theatre, Exit12 Dance Company, Abdul Latif- D2D/T, and as a guest dancer for Ballet Theatre Company in West Hartford, CT. She has performed featured roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Queen of Hearts in Alice in Wonderland, Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty and Fairy Godmother in Cinderella. 

This is Fernanda’s fifth season with Madison Ballet. 

FERNANDA YAMAGUCHI

School Division | Upper Division

CHARLOTTE JUNGE

Conditioning & Pre-Pointe

Originally from Houston, TX, Charlotte Junge began her training locally, and continued her focus on classical training at the Houston Ballet Academy and The Dallas Conservatory. While at Houston Ballet, she performed in premieres of The Nutcracker: Romeo and Juliet, and Giselle by Stanton Welch AM. At The Dallas Conservatory, she performed as Clara in The Nutcracker, and won numerous awards at YAGP. In 2018, Charlotte was accepted into Boston Ballet School's Professional Division. While a student there, she had the opportunity to study with esteemed faculty including Margaret Tracey, Miranda Weese, Kathleen Mitchell, Andrea Long, and Denise Lewis. In 2022, Charlotte graduated high school, finishing her 4th year with Boston Ballet School. In 2022, she created her first professional choreographic work on the company for the Innovation program. This will be Charlotte's 4th season with Madison Ballet.

CHARLOTTE JUNGE

Conditioning & Pre-Pointe

DANA SHELDON

Children’s Division

Born and raised in Dayton, Ohio, Dana Sheldon grew up dancing at the South Dayton School of Dance, where she was trained in classical ballet, contemporary dance, jazz, tap, and hip hop. In spring 2023, she graduated from the University of North Carolina School of the Arts with a BFA in Dance and a minor in Arts Entrepreneurship. 

At UNCSA, Dana had the opportunity to perform many lead roles in both classical and contemporary works by Endalyn Taylor, Claudia Schreier and many more. Dana joined Madison Ballet as an apprentice for the 23/24 season and was promoted to company artist in December 2024. Performing in both classical and contemporary works. Some of her favorites include the 1st Pas de Deux in Ja’ Malik’s Fragments of Hope, the principal female in Ja’ Malik’s Agapé, and Richard Walter’s duet Armistice. 

In addition to dancing and spending time with her cat, Little One, Dana also loves to teach and has a passion for nurturing the young dancers of tomorrow. She is very grateful to be on faculty with the School of Madison Ballet and to work with such amazing students.

She is beyond excited for this incredible season and everything to come!

DANA SHELDON

Children’s Division

 

Engaging and educating students of all abilities and identities

With classes for ages 18 months to adults, and tracks for both recreational and pre-professional focuses, there is a class for everyone at the School of Madison Ballet. We even provide drop-in and trial classes! Browse our offerings today and choose your next class or full session.

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