Originally from just outside of London, England, Rachel developed a love for ballet as a young child. In her early twenties, she moved to the United States, living in Virginia and Hawaii before settling in the Bay Area in 2006. While raising her two children—now 18 and 16—she became an active member of the local community and a familiar face within Benicia.

 

Rachel’s connection to Benicia Ballet began when her daughter Riley started dancing at the age of five. Over the years, both of her children took part in classes and performances, with annual Nutcracker and Spring productions becoming beloved family traditions.

 

In 2024, Rachel officially joined the Benicia Ballet team as our Studio Administrator. She oversees registration and tuition and provides essential administrative support to our staff and families. While working at the front desk or behind the scenes she plays a vital role in the daily operations of the studio. 

 

Rachel takes great joy in watching students of all ages grow in confidence, skill, and their love of dance—and she is excited for this newest chapter in the life of our studio.

Carla was born to dance being the daughter of a professional dancer and teacher with three Aunts that had dance schools  as well. Being trained in all forms of dance and gymnastics, with an emphasis on ballet, Carla pursued dance as her major at Butler and Indiana Universities as well as Ohio State. Moving to New York to pursue a dance career Carla was quickly hired by Bob Fosse to perform the part of Liz in the original production of Chicago on Broadway alongside Gwen Verdon, Chita Rivera, And Jerry Orbach. She was cast in the first national tour of Chicago playing Liz, and under studying the role of Roxy Hart. Carla also performed on Broadway in Don’t Step on my Olive Branch, and The 5 o’clock girl. Carla had the good fortune to perform in A Chorus Line at the Royal Drury Lane Theatre,London, playing the role of Sheila. National touring credits include, Sugar babies, Gigi, Al Jolson tonight, Showboat, No No Nanette, Kiss me Kate, Whoopee, Hans Christian Anderson, Mame, Funny Girl ,and Crazy for you at Seattle Repertory. Favorite job was promoting travel to New York City with the I Love New York campaign, traveling all over Europe with a Broadway revevue. While living 15 years in New York, Carla had the opportunity to train with some of the greats, such as, Bob Fosse, Anne Reinking, Luigi, in jazz, David Howard, Finis Jung, And Anton Dolin in ballet, Brenda Buffalino, Gregory Hines, And Savion Glover in tap.

Being a firm believer in continued education, Carla travels several times a year to New York and Los Angeles to train and enhance her knowledge.

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Moving to Benicia 28 years ago, Carla quickly became involved sharing her passion and love of dance, teaching at Stage  One Dance, implementing the curriculum there with competitive tap, acrobatic arts and musical theater, as well as jazz and ballet. Being trained and certified in Pilates over the past 20 years, Carla brings the fundamentals of Pilates to all of her dance classes, sharing the importance of proper alignment and technique with her students. One of Carla’s greatest joys is sharing her love of the art of dance, watching and helping young dancers grow and mature Into beautiful, well postured young dancers. Carla‘s greatest and proudest production Is her daughter Juliet Farnsworth.

Tina found her love of dance at a very young age. She began her formal ballet training in her mom’s studio at the age of three. As a young child, she spent her summers in New York City performing with Jackie Gleason.

 

She also studied ballet, tap and acrobatics at the June Taylor Dance Studio. Upon moving to California, she continued her studies with her mom at Stamps School of Classical Ballet in Albany while attending summer courses at San Francisco Ballet School. She’s had the privilege of taking classes with accomplished teachers and dancers including Harold Christensen, Roberta Meyer, Sally Streets, Tilly Abbe and Carmalita Maracci, among others.

 

She began teaching at the age of fifteen in her mom’s dance studio and found her passion. Upon her mom’s retirement, she took over the responsibility as owner and artistic director of Stamps School of Classical Ballet. As artistic director, she taught classes in classical ballet, tap, acrobatics and many other forms of dance for 21 years. She resumed her career at Susie Harper School of Dance as ballet director for 20 years while guest teaching locally.  She has been with Benicia Ballet since 2018 and loving every minute.

Nikaela has been dancing since the age of three (when she saw her sister take a dance class and told her mom “that’s what I want to do”) and she hasn’t stopped. Since that day her love for dance and movement has continued to grow and deepen. Choreographing has been a life-long love, being first performed in her high school’s dance productions. After creating a contemporary dance in her first show, she wanted to show her diversity and created a very upbeat jazz routine the following year.  

 

After high school, Nikaela continued to study dance at a local studio, finally earning spots on their hip hop, pom and jazz competition teams, all of which made it to the world competition in Florida and placed in the top ten! 

 

In college, Nikaela studied theatre, dance and economics. Here she was able to perform in musicals where she took on the title of dance captain. She has worked on both college and professional musicals as a choreographer and loves to work on the crew, especially as a stage manager. 

 

Nikaela’s life is dedicated to the arts and finding all the ways she can to keep the live arts performing!

 

Styles Nikaela teaches include: Hip Hop, Pom, Jazz, Contemporary, Tap, Acro, Breaking, Ballet and Pointe, Pre-Dance, as well as dances for weddings and flashmobs.

Ms. Morris began her dance education as a teenager right here at Benicia Ballet School under the direction of Jeanie Pors and Sally Babson. She was inspired to pursue her love of dance in college and had the privilege to study with Broadway performer Janie Scott, ballet and theatric choreographer Janet Van Swoll, and with Fred Mathews and Gary Masters of Jose Limon Dance Company.

 

While in school, Ms. Morris danced for Opera San Jose, SJSU’s resident musical theatre dance company “Company One”, and Visual Rhythm Dance Company. She received her Bachelor of Arts in Dance from San Jose State University and graduated as Outstanding Senior of her class. Ms. Morris went on to play “Ruth” in Seven Brides for Seven Brothers (West Valley Light Opera), “Winnie Tate” in Annie Get Your Gun (Saratoga Drama Group), and “Bianca” in Kiss Me Kate (Cabrillo Stage). Upon moving to Las Vegas, NV, Ms. Morris continued her career performing professionally in “Marriage Can Be Murder” (Fremont Street), as “Riff’s girlfriend” in West Side Story (Super Summer Theatre), and in Christmas spectaculars with Face Productions.

 

She has traveled around the country dancing and singing in various productions for “Legends in Concert”, including “Elvis Lives”. Ms. Morris also choreographed and performed in many liturgical experiences for her church in Las Vegas. She is very happy to be returning to the world of dance back where she began in Benicia! Dance is a part of her soul and she hopes to help dancers of all ages and levels reach their dance goals - whatever they may be. She also hopes to help dancers see the best in themselves and others through the powerful

beauty and peace dance can bring!

Maddie began her ballet training here at Benicia Ballet at age 4 and immediately fell in love with dancing. She soon began performing in Benicia Ballet Theatre's annual Nutracker and Spring productions and continued performing up through her recent high school graduation in 2021.

 

Throughout high school, Maddie spent her summers away at ballet summer intensives in New York and Texas, including programs with Bolshoi Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Joffrey Ballet School.

 

She is currently attending University of California, San Diego while continuing her involvement  with Benicia Ballet as Summer Program Director and teaching when possible. She is so thankful to be a part of the Benicia Ballet community! 

Jennifer was born and raised in Antioch, California, where she first found a passion for dance at 5 years old at Judy’s Dancers Elite. Her training started with ballet, but she soon found a greater love in jazz and tap. By the age of 9 Jennifer started competing jazz and tap routines in small groups and solos, and even performing in Disneyland and on a Royal Caribbean Cruise ship. In her early teens, her home studio closed. This change afforded Jennifer the opportunity to train with the Academy of Arts and Ballet, where she would continue to compete but also join “Ballet Celeste” and perform rolls in the Nutcracker, such as Snowflake, Flower and Arabian Tea. Jennifer found a new appreciation for ballet her previous studio could not provide. 

 

She began teaching at the age of fifteen for a small local studio as well as choreographing for her high school’s dance classes where she found her true passion for Lyrical dance.  After graduating high school,  Jennifer coached her high school's dance team, facilitating their daily training, performances and competitions while also teaching at Step 2 This Dance in Oakley. In 2018 Jennifer moved to Benicia and began teaching a variety of styles including, ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical and acro with Farnsworth Dance Academy. Collectively, she has been teaching for over 20 years.

 

When not on the dance floor, she was a certified Registered Behavior Technician for nearly 10 years, working primarily with non-verbal and highly aggressive children in preschools, elementary schools and in the student’s homes. In 2019, Jennifer gave up her position in the classroom to start her own family. She has two children Ainsley (6) and Jackson (10 months) who you will likely see around the studio.

Juliet Farnsworth-Henry is a New York-based performer, choreographer, and educator. She commenced her dance training at the age of six in Benicia, California. From the age of six to seventeen, she diligently pursued studio training and participated in various competitions throughout the Bay Area. Additionally, she was a member of the Tremaine performance company and attended national conventions.

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In addition to her home studio training under esteemed Bay Area instructors, including her mother, Carla Farnsworth, Juliet also received training at renowned institutions such as Broadway Dance Center, Steps on Broadway, EDGE PAC, Millennium Dance Complex, and Alonzo King’s Ballet. 

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At the age of thirteen, Juliet embarked on her teaching and choreographing journey. She has garnered numerous accolades for her choreography, particularly for dance studios and theater companies. Juliet’s teaching and choreographic endeavors have extended across the Bay Area, including Broadway Dance Center. She takes pride in her ability to instruct and choreograph multiple dance disciplines and styles, as well as highlighting the strengths of the dancers and performers she collaborates with by tailoring their techniques to their specific talents  and capabilities. 

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From 2017 to 2025, Juliet co-owned and served as Artistic Director of Farnsworth Dance Academy in collaboration with her mother. Juliet’s unwavering commitment lies in conveying narratives through movement, whether it be through specific character pieces or simply translating musical compositions through dance. Sharing her love and passion for this beautiful art form is one of her greatest joys. It allows us to be our true selves and experience immense beauty and happiness. 

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She looks forward to working with the students of Benicia Ballet and continuing the Farnsworth Legacy through all her future endeavors. 

Ms. Risi started her dance training at age 5 and quickly joined Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle where she studied for 10 years. During that time she also studied with Suzanne Farrell at the Kennedy Center, Hartford Ballet, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet.  Ms. Risi was granted full scholarship at the University of Utah were she danced with Utah Ballet and Ballet West. During her college training in Utah she was also hired to perform in the 2002 Winter Olympics Medal Ceremonies.

Completing her BFA in Dance she continued to dance with City Ballet of San Diego for 7 years as a Soloist.  Professionally she performed soloist and principle roles in Balanchine's Apollo, Stars and Stripes, Serenade, Who Cares?, Four Temperaments, The Nutcracker, and Swan Lake. 

 

Alexis retired to mother two daughters, yet continues to support contemporary productions with Indelible Dance in New York City annually.

About 7 years ago, Alexis moved to Benicia and started teaching here at Benicia Ballet and loves being a part of our dance family and surrounding community.

Ariana Hart (Ari) is a versatile and well-rounded dancer born and raised in San Francisco, California, and currently based in the Bay Area. With a passion for creating and performing arts, she brings a unique energy to every performance and project. Ari began dancing at two years old, and has since trained in ballet, jazz, tap, lyrical, contemporary, modern, hip hop, heels, ballroom, Breakin’, pole, floorwork, partnering, and more.

 

Graduating from Boston Conservatory’s 1st Inaugural Commercial Dance Class May 2025, she has expanded her dreams and possibilities with the help of the training and performance opportunities at the Conservatory and Berklee College. She plans to move to New York City in 2026 where she’ll continue training, auditioning, and elevating her craft.

Sally was born and raised in Vallejo, CA. She began ballet at the age of 4, at Lodena’s School of Dance, and she dabbled in tap, jazz, and acrobatics Eventually, she made it to pointe! Sally wanted to dance like her sister, who is 3 years older than her.

 

Her dancing was interrupted at 13 years of age, as she decided to devote her time to becoming an equestrian. Sally came back to dance in her twenties, and danced ballet, but focused on jazz and modern dance, and in 1977, she moved to Benicia. In her thirties, Sally had an opportunity to travel to NY, and experience some ballet theatre, which changed her life forever and completely hooked her on ballet! Her children were teenagers at the time, and she began ballet classes several times a week, later adding modern dance, the dances of Isadora Duncan, and Flamenco, while continuing her ballet studies.

 

Sally began to perform the dances of Isadora Duncan with a small company, and began performing in homeless centers, prisons, and various places in the community. She was also part of a flamenco troupe that performed all over the bay area in 1992. Ballet is a part of Sally, and she enjoys sharing her love of dance with the students of Benicia Ballet Inc. and Benicia Ballet Theatre.

Gianna first began dancing at the age of two at Susie Harper School of Dance. There she had the opportunity to try many forms of dance including tap, acro, and ballet folklórico. However, her main focus was always ballet. 

 

Gianna began dancing at Benicia Ballet in 2015 when it merged with her former studio. She then had the privilege of participating in their theater’s annual Nutcracker and spring performances.  Over the next nine years, she performed in the company’s annual productions, taking on principal roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, Swanhilda in Coppélia, and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. Performing remains one of her greatest joys!

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Gianna is currently studying Business Administration at Sacramento State University. She continues to be an active member of the Benicia Ballet community, assisting with performances and occasionally teaching as a substitute. She is grateful for the opportunity to stay connected to the art form she loves and to support the next generation of dancers.