About Us

VISION

Pegasus Contemporary Ballet aspires to be a national leader in its field; contributing world-class performances to the cultural landscape in Dallas and beyond. As innovators and artists, we will continue the legacy of ballet, expressing it as a meaningful and living art form.

MISSION

Pegasus Contemporary Ballet’s mission is to use the classical foundation of ballet to express contemporary perspectives, engage diverse audiences, and enrich the human experience. We use contemporary ballet to create innovative performances, interdisciplinary collaborations, and exciting new works.

In addition to performances and collaborations, our education and outreach programs will provide inspiring opportunities for artistic exploration and expression across a broad spectrum of participants. We cherish opportunities to strengthen our community through partnerships, classes, and events that touch lives with contemporary ballet.

Diversity makes us stronger and more thoughtful artists, creators, presenters, and custodians of our art form. Discrimination and injustice are not tolerated in our workplace or in the artistic process of our work. Promoting a space for a multitude of diverse voices to create and engage with art, particularly in the field of ballet, is at the core of what we value. This includes all skin colors, ethnicities, religions, cultural backgrounds, sexual orientations, and gender identities. We expect our community to hold us to these values and encourage open dialogue about how we can continue to listen, evolve, support, and engage with BIPOC and LGBTQ+ artists, audiences, and communities.

Our Commitment to Artists: We affirm our commitment to treat our artists with respect and integrity. We believe that a profession in the arts deserves an environment of creativity, encouragement, honesty, and authenticity. We encourage all who work with the company to embrace these values without fear of consequence or vulnerability. We believe that this ethos creates higher quality artistic output and performances.

Dancers

Lacy Brent

Lacy Brent was born in Dallas, TX, and began training in dance at the age of three. She received her training from Ozsoy School of Ballet under Ceyhun Ozsoy, and The Dallas Conservatory under Jaqueline Porter. She is a graduate of Booker T. Washington HS for The Performing and Visual Arts, a former apprentice with Ballet Dallas, and a member of Beckles Dancing Company. She has received the Winor Family Scholarship from Dance Council of North Texas Scholarship. Lacy’s repertoire includes Serenade by George Balanchine, Happy Little Things by Aszure Barton, Tower by Andy Noble, Antillas Afrocubana by La Mora Perez, and works by Nicholas Van Young.

Courtlyn Hanson

Born in Dallas, Texas, Courtlyn Hanson began her training at the age of three
at the Ballet Academy of Texas under the direction of Lisa Sagle. Hanson was
awarded the Gloria Ziaks/Caryn Halpern Ballet Scholarship, the Fred Kelly
Scholarship, and the Natalia Skelton Tutu Memorial Scholarship through the
Dance Council of North Texas, making it possible for her to attend ABT’s New
York Summer Intensive four years in a row. The following year Hanson
became an American Ballet Theatre National Training Scholar. In 2013
Hanson joined the ABT Studio Company after placing in the Top 5
at the YAGP NYC Finals at Lincoln Center. She joined American Ballet Theatre
as an apprentice in 2014 and became a member of the corps de ballet in June
2015. Her repertoire includes several roles in all of the full-length ballets produced by American Ballet Theater, as well as soloist roles performed at The Metropolitan Opera House in New York City.

Kiera Mays

Born and raised in Birmingham, Alabama, Kiera Mays studied at the Alabama Ballet School, graduating with Distinction in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus. Throughout her youth, she spent her summers training at Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Complexions Contemporary Ballet, and Texas Ballet Theatre summer intensives. Kiera moved to Dallas to further her academic and dance education at Southern Methodist University where she studied Graham, Balanchine, and Fosse techniques. Kiera graduated Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Performance, a Bachelor of Arts in English, and a minor in Musical Theatre. During her time in college, Kiera performed at the Winspear Opera House in Dwight Rhoden’s Stellar Matter, as well as multiple works at the Bob Hope Theatre, including a principal role in Carter Alexander’s Luisant and soloist in Cherylyn Lavignon’s Seize en Jeu. Kiera is ecstatic to begin her professional career as a founding dancer with Pegasus Contemporary Ballet.

Mackenna Pieper

Xavier Mack

Danny Tran

Danny Tran started his Classical ballet training in 2016 at 17 years old at Los Gatos Ballet. He has since attended summer intensives, including San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Ballet West. Danny was invited to join Oklahoma City Ballet Studio Company in 2019/2020 and was offered an apprenticeship in 2020/2021.

Works that Danny has performed include:
Nutcracker: Russian, Spanish, Nutcracker Prince, Soldier Doll, Rat King, Corsaire Grand Pas de Deux, Diana y Acteon Pas de Deux, Coppelia Grand Pas de Deux, Nutcracker Grand Pas de Deux, Sleeping Beauty Grand Pas de Deux, Bluebird Pas de Deux, Alice in Wonderland (White Rabbit), Cinderella (Jester), Don Quixote (Basilio solo), Napoli Pas de Six Variation, Robert Mills: Firebird as The Prince and Monster, Vicente Nebrada: Percussions for Six Men, La Luna, Doble Corchea, Raul Salamanca’s: Bittersweet, Modular by Design. Kristin D’Addarios: Push and Pull, An Ounce of Surrender. Carrie Ruth Trumbo’s: Whistling in the Dark.

Danny also performed in Robert Mills productions of The Nutcracker, Romeo and Juliet, Little Mermaid, and Michael Pink’s Dracula

Artistic Leadership

Diana Crowder
ARTISTIC DIRECTOR AND FOUNDER

Diana is a graduate of Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto, where she was accepted to attend at the age of 13. At 18, she started her professional career with Tulsa Ballet and then joined Texas Ballet Theater for five seasons. Diana went on to pursue a varied and artistically fulfilling freelance career, dancing professionally for the National Choreographic Initiative in Irvine CA, Dances Patrelle in NYC, ARC Dance in Seattle, Ishida Dance in Austin, Dallas Neo-Classical Ballet, and Ballet Dallas, as well as several guest performances, projects, and ballet teaching throughout the Dallas area. Over the course of her career, she has performed works by Christopher Wheeldon, Twyla Tharp, Sir Kenneth MacMillan, George Balanchine, Glen Tetley, Ohad Naharin, and Ben Stevenson. Diana has also had the opportunity to create and perform world premiere works by Hailey von Schlehenried, Bruce McCormick, Durante Verzola, Carter Alexander, Kevin Jenkins, Silas Farley, Jonathan Watkins, Garret Smith, and Alex Ketley.

Carolyn Ruth Trumbo
ARTISTIC ASSOCIATE

Board of Directors

Patricia Baldwin
Kerri Di Benedetto
Julia Fielding
Steven Peters

WHY PEGASUS?

In 1934, the iconic 32 foot neon red Pegasus was raised on top of the Magnolia building downtown,  the tallest building in Dallas at the time. For decades, the Pegasus was a prominent beacon on the skyline, presiding over the growth and expansion of the city. It became a symbol of home for many Dallasites. Now, the image of Pegasus continues as a recognizable and beloved symbol of our culturally rich and vibrant city. Pegasus images can be found on city signs downtown, public artwork, local brand logos, and more. Read more here

Additionally, Pegasus is a mythological character from classical antiquity that is represented as a present-day Dallas icon. Much like the art form of contemporary ballet, which uses a classical foundation to create contemporary art. The intersection of classicism and creativity is at the heart of our passion.

In ancient mythology, Pegasus was an inspiration for the Muses. “At least two famous springs in Greece, both named Hippocrene (“Horse Spring”), were widely believed to have been issued forth by Pegasus’ hoof. The more famous one of the two was located on Mount Helicon, the sacred abode of the Muses; its waters, when drunk, enthused poets with inspiration and creativeness.” (Source)

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