Anna Shaw is a fourth grader at The Lovett School and performed the role of Toy Soldier in her first Nutcracker. In addition to ballet, Anna enjoys competitive gymnastics, tap, cheerleading, playing the piano and clarinet. She loves arts and crafts, cats, and planting flowers in her Brookhaven garden.
Carraway Alewine is in second grade at Westminster. In addition to ballet, Carraway also enjoys lacrosse, tennis, piano, gymnastics, and softball. A self-proclaimed bookworm, Carraway read all six Harry Potter books in six months! She resides in Buckhead with her parents Jen and Ralph, her two goldadores Sibley and Sawyer, and her fish Moonbeam.
Eleanore Matsuoka, 8, has danced with Atlanta Ballet for three years. A student at Ashford Park Elementary, she also loves playing soccer with Tophat. Eleanore models with Forward Agency, appearing in campaigns for OshKosh and David’s Bridal.
Jane Wightwick, 13, is an Atlanta native who has been practicing ballet since she was 3 years old. At age 5, she joined the Atlanta Ballet. She attends The Galloway School where she also focuses her extracurricular activities on dance and volleyball. In her spare time, she enjoys crocheting.
Augusta Campbell is a fifth grader at The Lovett School and an Academy dancer with Atlanta Ballet’s Centre for Dance Education. Augusta has studied ballet for nine years and also enjoys basketball, piano, and crafting for her jewelry business with fellow dancer Emma Schaefer. She lives in Brookwood Hills.
Cora Williams started taking classes with Atlanta Ballet when she was 5 years old after taking classes at her preschool. In 2022, she was a bird in Atlanta Ballet’s Snow White. Her favorite styles of dance are ballet and contemporary. Her other hobbies include acting, singing, and swimming.
Emilia (Emmy) Cabrera made her Nutcracker debut in December. She is in her third year taking classes at Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education. She is a first grader at the Atlanta International School and loves to perform, ice skate, make arts and crafts, and play the piano in her free time.
Olivia Rose Gaffney is 7 years old. She and her twin brother Will attend the Atlanta Speech School, where she is in first grade. Rose has been dancing since she was 3 and her love for dancing has carried over to her passion for gymnastics. She prefers to live life upside down, cartwheeling and hand-standing her way around her home. She has worked so hard to become one of the top three gymnasts at every competition she has competed at as an Xcel Bronze Gymnast.
Isabella Gaffney is 11 years old. She attends Wesleyan and is in fifth grade. Bella started dancing at age 3 with dreams of dancing in the Nutcracker. She’s been blessed to be cast every year dancing the part of Chick, Mice, Soldier, and now Party Child. She’s currently in the Atlanta Ballet’s Academy II program and looking forward to dancing in Atlanta Ballet’s upcoming Swan Princess and Coppelia. Bella also sings in the honors chorus at Wesleyan and is a year-round swimmer for Swim Atlanta competing in both the State and Regional competitions.
Maverick Gesteelde-Diamant is 7 years old, and started ballet lessons when she was 2. Alongside her passion for ballet, she also enjoys showcasing her diverse artistic talents: drawing, designing, acting, and dancing. Her parents are Terius and Laylani Gesteelde-Diamant.
Ruby Dunham, 11, enjoys competitive gymnastics, art, nail design, and is a self-designated “Swiftie.” She’s performed in The Nutcracker for the last several years as a star gymnast. She resides in Brookhaven with her parents, older brother, two dogs, and cat.
Cate Mikita has been studying with the Atlanta Ballet for 6 years and lives in Brookhaven with her parents and two older brothers. This is her second year in the Nutcracker, and performing with professional dancers has been the highlight of her ballet experience. She also enjoys lacrosse, horseback riding, and art.
Maci Chin Yee joined Atlanta Ballet in their "Mommy and Me" class when she was 2 years old. She has performed in three Nutcrackers! Maci is in third Grade at Pace Academy, and outside of ballet she loves gymnastics and building legos. She aspires to one day be in the Academy and wants to be a ballerina and doctor when she grows up.