Ballet Mistress
anna sulanke
Anna Sulanke grew up in Rogers Arkansas and received her early training from Peggie Wallis. Under the direction of Ms. Wallis Anna completed all Major Royal Academy of Dance Examinations and received the designation of Associate of the Royal Academy of Dance (ARAD). She also received various Gold and Gold with Distinction honors from the American Academy of Ballet Performance Awards.
After graduating from high school Anna attended the University of Oklahoma and danced with the Oklahoma Festival Ballet for 4 years under the direction of Mary Margret Holt. She danced many roles while attending the University, some of her favorites include Balanchine's Serenade and Divertimento No. 15, Ben Stevenson's Sentimantos, Agnes De Mille's Rodeo set by Paul Sutherland, and The Firebird, staged by the founding director of OU's Dance Program and former member of Ballet Russe; Miguel Terekhov. Anna graduated from The University of Oklahoma in 2009 with Honors and a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree in Classical Ballet Performance.
Upon graduation, Anna joined the Oklahoma City Ballet and danced with the Company for 3 years under the direction of Robert Mills. She loved performing each ballet while dancing with the Company, some of these included Giselle, The Phantom of the Opera, The Wizard of Oz, The Nutcracker and some of Mr. Mills original choreography. Anna also taught at various studios during her time in Oklahoma City and was a summer counselor and ballet liaison at both the Summer Wind Youth Ballet at the University of Oklahoma and Quartz Mountain's Summer Arts Institute.
After moving back to Northwest Arkansas, Anna accepted the position of Ballet Mistress for NWA Ballet Theater in 2016. She is thrilled to be home and proud to be part of such a beautiful company. In addition to serving as Ballet Mistress for the Company, Anna continues to pass on her love for classical ballet as a teacher at Northwest Arkansas Conservatory of Classical Ballet. Anna is always looking to further her education as a teacher and was recently certified in Progressing Ballet Technique (PBT).