Gallery of Emotions

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Artistic Liaison · Masterclass Ballet Teacher

Ballet Master at Ballet Dortmund (Germany) and judge at the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP). As Artistic Liaison of the Thalhe Festival, Alysson bridges the connection between the festival and the broader dance community, participants, professionals, and the audience alike. He will also lead a ballet masterclass with the excellence and experience of a world-class educator.

Repertory Variation  · Masterclass Ballet Teacher

Former soloist with renowned companies such as Les Ballets Jazz de Montréal and Het Nationale Ballet (Netherlands), Patrícia Strauss brings a wealth of stage and teaching experience to the Thalhe Festival. As a repertory coach and masterclass ballet teacher, she will guide participants through the nuances of classical variations, combining technical precision with artistic depth. Her dynamic approach empowers dancers to explore character, emotion, and performance quality in every movement.

Official Ambassador of Thalhe Festival in Brazil

In recognition of her dedication to promoting adult ballet, inspiring dancers of all ages, and breaking barriers in dance, we are honored to appoint Lu Fernandez as the Official Ambassador of Thalhe Festival in Brazil.

We believe in the transformative power of dance, and with Lu's commitment and passion, we are getting closer to bringing this beautiful festival to Brazil. 

Our vision goes even further: we aim to expand Thalhe Festival worldwide, making it a global symbol of diversity, inclusion, and love for dance.

Official  Event Photographer 

Carol is an adult ballerina who has been sharing her experiences online for over 15 years. A multi-entrepreneur in the dance industry, she is completing a Master’s degree in Design and Visual Culture in Lisbon. Her brand “Meia Ponta” was first launched as a blog in March 2009 and became one of the pioneering platforms to address adult ballet in Brazil. Today, it has grown into a multifaceted ballet brand – with an active presence on Instagram, courses, unforgettable experiences such as the mp Ballet Tour and successful collaborations.

Official Concert Pianist | Accompanist | Music Educator

Zaruhi Baroyan, a native of Yerevan, Armenia, is a highly accomplished pianist and accompanist

with a career spanning Europe and the United States. A graduate of the Tchaikovsky Music

School of Yerevan and the Komitas State Conservatory, she holds bachelor’s, master’s, and PhD

degrees in music. She began her professional journey as an accompanist with the Armenia State

Opera and Ballet Theater and has won numerous awards in international music and ballet

competitions since 1988.

In 1999, she was invited to the United States by Columbia Artists to perform in a nationwide tour

of Andrew Lloyd Webber’s music alongside American star Michael Bolton. Since 2004, she has

served as the company pianist for the Sarasota Ballet of Florida, collaborating with world-

renowned artists including Marcelo Gomes, Diana Vishneva, Johan Kobborg, Alina Cojocaru,

José Manuel Carreño, and many more.

Her extensive credits include work with the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), Ringling

International Arts Festival, Kirov Academy of Ballet, Salzburg Landestheater, and the Barbieri-

Carreño Dance Festival. She has shared the stage with legendary figures such as Itzhak Perlman,

Mikhail Baryshnikov, and Joshua Bell.

Stage Manager 

Born in Marlborough, Connecticut, Brooke began her formal ballet training at the age of 12 under Yseult Leger, a founding member of The Sarasota Ballet. After receiving a merit scholarship to support her summer studies, she continued her training at The Sarasota Ballet Academy in Sarasota, Florida, under the direction of Adrian Ciobanu. While there, she studied with esteemed faculty including Pavel Fomin, Isabel Dubrocq, Ludmila Lopukhova, and Darya Fedotova. 

While training at the academy, she was invited to perform with The Sarasota Ballet in productions of Eva Peron: A Dance Portrait, Coppélia, Don Quixote, and La Boutique Fantasque (as Mary).

She continued her dance education at SUNY Purchase College, where she performed at New York City’s Joyce Theater as part of Dancers Responding to AIDS and danced with the Purchase Dance Corps in numerous BFA and MFA choreographic works.

After returning to Connecticut in 2010, she studied with renowned ballet master Alexei Tchernichov and performed with Hartford City Ballet and CONNetic Dance. In addition to her work as a dancer, she has expanded into being a company teacher and stage manager—coordinating productions, running rehearsals, and managing backstage operations for both classical and contemporary performances for Azara Ballet since 2023.

As an instructor, she has taught at studios including Revelle Academy, Starz Choice Dance Academy, ReFlex, and the International Ballet of Florida, specializing in the Vaganova syllabus. She further deepened her pedagogical training by attending teacher intensives with the Open World Dance Foundation in 2016 and 2020, studying under Ekaterina Shchelkanova and Professor Mme. Ludmila Safronova of the Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia.

Singer

With a voice full of soul and sincerity, Madison Bradley brings a warm and heartfelt presence to the stage. 

Her performances create an intimate and moving experience, reminding us of the power of music to connect and inspire.

Naturally captivating, Madison weaves stories through her singing that touch the heart and celebrate the beauty of human connection. 

At the Thalhe Festival, her artistry will add a special dimension to the celebration of dance, music, and community.