Kathleen Bernier
Third Year Trainee

Kathleen’s passion for dance was discovered very early in her life.  At the age of 4, she was often seen dancing through the pain at the doctor’s office, while receiving intense IV treatments for a serious illness. Dance (and prayers) played huge roles in her healing, according to two of her doctors.

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Kathleen began her training in ballet, character, tap, jazz, musical theatre, and lyrical at South Beach Dance Academy at the age of 7. She soon realized her affinity for classical ballet, thanks to her beloved teacher, Barbara Hyland, who gave her ballet videos and dance magazines to embellish her experience. Later, Kathleen began studying with Janice Barringer, author of three editions of The Pointe Book and co-author of En Pointe with Thalia Mara. Kathleen expanded her horizon to include training with Natalia Glos and Mila Makaroff at Orlando Ballet School and with Rebecca Mitchell at Stetson University’s Community School of Dance. She eventually joined both European School of Performing Arts and The Perla Ballet, where she enjoyed the privilege of studying with internationally respected Zhanna Dubrovskaya for four years.

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Kathleen was accepted to summer intensive programs at Kaatsbaan International Extreme Ballet, School of Pennsylvania Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet, Ballet Arizona, Gelsey Kirkland Academy, The Rock School, Ballet West, Princeton Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre Collegiate and Orlando Ballet School, where she attended for 3 years. In 2018, she attended the Princeton Ballet School summer intensive on scholarship and was offered a trainee position for the 2018-19 season.

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Her performance highlights include:  Swanhilda, Coppelia; Le Corsaire pas de deux; Danse Macabre solo; The Four Seasons (Summer) contemporary solo; Gamzatti Variation, La Bayadere; Kitri’s Entrance, Don Quixote; The Talisman Variation; Sylvia Variation; Nutcracker Mirlitons trio; Nutcracker Sugar Plum Fairy; Paquita pas de deux; Hem Na Nkosi Bo contemporary solo; La Bayadere, Kingdom of Shades with UBT; and Quintessence with UBT.

 

Kathleen was homeschooled and later graduated summa cum laude with valedictory honors from James Madison High School.  She is a member of the International Honor Society, Delta Epsilon Tau.

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In the summer of 2019, Kathleen was invited to attend open company classes at United Ballet Theatre by founder and artistic director, Joseph Gatti, and was thrilled to have been offered a trainee position for the 2020-21 season. She is most grateful for the quality training she has received at UBT and is looking forward to an exciting 2022-23 season.