Julio Alegria is a passionate dance and ballet teacher and mentor to young professional dancers.  His positive and “happy” attitude toward dance and life and his work ethic reflect on stage in both his own performances and in those of the students he instructs.  Mr. Alegria joined Brass City Ballet as Associate Artistic Director in September 2023.

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Julio was born and raised in Mexico City and received his training from the National Arts Center and the Centro de Educacion Artistico Frida Kahlo.  Upon moving to the United States, he entered the Joffrey Ballet School’s training program on scholarship and has also studied at the Boston Ballet School, The Banff Center for the Arts in Canada, Ballet Hispanico, Ballet Academy East, and Ballet Austin.  Among the famed instructors Mr. Alegria has studied with are Gelsey Kirkland, Eleanor D’Antuono, Cheryl Yeager, Darla Hoover, Nadege Hottier, Karina Elver, Elizabeth Walker, Eva Evdokimova, Reyna Perez, David Howard, Fabrice Herrault, Peter Frame, and Richard Bowman.

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Julio has danced for companies and choreographers in Mexico, Canada, Europe, and the United States, including Dance Theater of Harlem, Alabama Ballet, Les Ballet Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Gelsey Kirkland Studio Company, Eglevsky Ballet, Atlantic City Ballet, Merce Cunningham Trust, Ardentia, Bronx Opera Company, and Compañia Nacional de Danza (Mexico City).

Previously, Mr. Alegria served as Ballet Faculty Instructor & Rehearsal Master at Ballet Theatre of Scranton; Ballet Faculty Instructor at Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s Ballet Guild of the Lehigh Valley; Assistant Director at Scranton Civic Ballet; and Head Dance Instructor and Supervisor at Dwana Smallwood Performing Arts Center and the Brighter Choice Community School in Brooklyn.  Mr. Alegria also was Founder and Artistic and Executive Director of NEPA Ballet in the Poconos, Pennsylvania.

Alison Rose began ballet lessons at the age of six and continues to train as an adult. She studied many years with Balanchine dancer Dorothy Burdette and European soloist Marthe Krueger.  Her training continued at Hofstra University with Joffrey II ballet master Lance Westergard.  Other influential teachers have been Muriel Stuart, Karen Festog, Dan Sas, Linda Freyer, Dieter Riesle, and Mimi Wallace.  

In addition to many other roles, Alison has performed the lead roles of Clara, Snow Queen, and Sugar Plum Fairy in Danbury Music Centre’s Nutcracker. During her time as a member of the Danbury Ballet Company, she also performed in various other ballets, including Graduation Ball and Stars and Stripes.  Mrs. Rose enjoys all dance forms and has also studied jazz, lyrical, modern, tap, ballroom, and flamenco.

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Mrs. Rose is a CT state-certified teacher and has taught English in local secondary schools.  She has been teaching ballet for thirteen years to students ages 5 through adult at various studios in Connecticut, including Academy of Dance Arts, Sas School of Dance, Freyer Academy of Ballet, and Brass City Ballet.  

In addition to recital pieces, Mrs. Rose has choreographed several ballet productions, including The Nutcracker, Vivaldi’s Four Seasons, Danse Macabres, and Rodeo.

Mrs. Rose truly enjoys teaching and encourages all students to reach their full potential.  She believes the art of ballet can help instill self-discipline and foster a sense of achievement and confidence in her students that will carry over to other aspects of their lives.

Eleanor Barisser graduated from The Taft School and BCB in 2008. She earned her BA in Dance and French from Barnard College. She has performed with the Barnard Project at New York Live Arts, where she worked with choreographers such as Ori Fllomin, Kyle Abraham, Sidra Bell, Emery LeCrone, David Parker, and Karla Wolfangle.  She has recently appeared with The Bang Group in Nut/Cracked and was a selected choreographer in the West End Theater production of Soaking WET in New York City. She currently guest teaches at BCB and has choreographed two works for the BCB Company.

Bridget Knox is a Dance Instructor at The Westover School and is returning to Brass City Ballet for the 2026–2027 season as a Jazz Teacher.

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Bridget brings her passion for dance and experience working with students to the BCB studio, helping dancers develop confidence, musicality, movement quality, and performance skills.

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We are excited to welcome Bridget back to Brass City Ballet!​​

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Full biography coming soon.

Meghan Buchanan serves as Art Department Head and Director of Dance at The Westover School, where she brings her passion for dance and arts education to students. She is dedicated to fostering creativity, artistic expression, and a strong appreciation for the performing arts.

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Meghan is also a former BCB student and part of the Brass City Ballet community, sharing her experience and perspective as an educator and arts professional.

Full biography coming soon.

​Caitlyn Sullivan is a versatile and dedicated dancer and educator whose passion for movement and storytelling is at the heart of her artistic journey. She is a professional dancer with Ballet Hartford and a valued member of the Brass City Ballet faculty, where she enjoys helping students develop their technique, confidence, and artistry.

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Caitlyn received her foundational training at The Nutmeg Conservatory, studying with distinguished teachers including Victoria Mazzarelli, Timothy Melady, Joan Kunsch, Alexei Tchernichov, and Eleanor D'Antuono. She later joined Fort Wayne Ballet as a trainee under the direction of Karen Gibbons-Brown. Her training includes ballet, pointe, partnering, character dance, modern, jazz, musical theater, Pilates, and figure skating, with summer studies at American Ballet Theatre, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Ballet Rhode Island, Fort Wayne Ballet, The Nutmeg Conservatory, and the Maritime Conservatory for Performing Arts.

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As a performer, Caitlyn has danced featured roles including the Sugar Plum Fairy, Dewdrop Fairy, and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, as well as excerpts from The Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, The Nutcracker, and La Bayadère. She has also performed with Fort Wayne Ballet, Ekklesia Contemporary Ballet, and Dimensional Dance, and appeared in the Hallmark film Sugar Plum Twist.

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As a teacher, Caitlyn brings her professional experience and genuine passion for dance into the studio. She is committed to encouraging students to work hard, discover their individuality, and develop a lifelong appreciation for dance. She is also pursuing a Bachelor's degree through Southern New Hampshire University.