Katina Kumar was born and raised in Reading, Pennsylvania, where she began her training with Berks Ballet Theatre. She remained a company performer with them through her senior year in high school, receiving lead roles in the conservatory’s classical and contemporary performances; and, she was awarded scholarships of excellence in contemporary and classical performance at Regional Dance America. After graduating Valedictorian of her high school class, Katina went on to receive her B.F.A. in Dance Performance from Adelphi University in New York. At Adelphi, Katina trained closely under Frank Augustyn in classical ballet and many styles of modern. Katina was privileged to perform in a variety of repertoire including, solos from "La Esmeralda," "Napoli," and "Don Quixote," Martha Graham repertoire, original choreography of Adelheid B. Strelick, William Briscoe, and many more! Throughout her collegiate years, Katina danced professionally with companies such as Eglevsky Ballet and was a principal guest artist with American Theater Dance Workshop and Glen Cove Ballet. In 2017, upon graduating summa cum laude, Katina became a founding company artist with Magnum Opus located in Madison, Wisconsin. While dancing with the company, Katina trained to become a licensed Progressing Ballet Technique instructor and in the Leap ‘n’ Learn curriculum. During Summer 2018, she became certified in Adaptive Dance through Boston Ballet. As a teacher of over 11 years and having experience working with the special needs, elderly and infirmed, as well as underprivileged communities, Katina’s priority is to inspire and encourage each and every one of her students. Katina was named Director of Ballet at HappyFeet Dance School and Performance located in Plano, Texas, where she taught ballet, pointe, variations, lyrical, contemporary, and more to students of all ages from toddler through adult. Katina choreographed and directed several full length ballets with HappyFeet, including her premieres of "Alice in Wonderland" and "The Wizard of Oz". She also does private coaching and choreography along with yoga, barre, and Pilates. While in Texas, Katina has had the wonderful opportunity to guest as a soloist with HappyFeet Dance School, Festival Ballet of North Texas, and Toby’s School of Dance. Formerly, she was a founding company member of Ballet North Texas and a company member with imPULSE dance project, 6 O’Clock Dance Theatre, and performed as a professional artist with Zion Dance Project. In 2024, Katina received the esteemed Director of Ballet Company position at McKinney Dance Studio. Katina Kumar is humbled to be founder, owner, Artistic Director, Co-Executive Director as well as company dancer of Ballet Papillon based out of DFW Texas. By beginning her own nonprofit professional ballet company, Katina is able to share her passion for the art of movement, the beauty of expression, and the gift of community and compassion with her dancers, staff, and audience members alike! --- Production Credits, as a Choreographer, Ballet Papillon ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde; ENVOL: A Company Choreographers' Showcase; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free; APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux; LES QUATRE SAISONS: Brilliant, Bold, Blissful, and Breathtaking; EMERGE: The Radiant Reveal --- Production Credits, as a Choreographer, McKinney Dance Studio Ballet Company ~ METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux

Amelia joined Ballet Papillon as the Resident Stage Manager. After graduating summa cum laude and holding her BA in French along with Minor Concentrations in both English and Geology, Amelia found her way to The Last Frontier and into the world of the performing arts. For over 20 seasons Amelia has enjoyed being behind-the-scenes, as opposed to on the stage, as a contracted, theatrical artist in several backstage production roles across the performance realms of opera, dance, musical theatre, traditional plays, burlesque, and circus. Additionally, Amelia has explored opportunities in singular-venue front of house roles; facilitated guest services roles for one of the top arenas in the world; and, functioned within the customer service role of event staff team member for a central box office supporting a multi-venue performing arts facility’s patrons and resident companies alike. While working performance production contracts, Amelia spent a decade operationally supporting and ultimately relocating into an IT development team in the Lower 48 that deployed and maintained a scanning solution application for a multi-national supply chain logistics conglomerate. In her role as the project’s Sr. Business Application Analyst, Amelia was responsible for its oversight from initial conceptual discussions through to final, iterative global production releases which, at the time, were across 18 locations in nine countries on four continents. In wanting to pursue her passion for the performing arts on a full-time basis, Amelia elected to return to her alma mater and now holds her MA with a Theatre Concentration and Arts Administration & Arts Management Emphasis from Louisiana Tech University. Favorite production credits include: [LA Tech Univ] co-director/co-choreographer for "Vela Réveillez" and poet-playwright of "Transgressions"; [Dallas, TX] production stage manager for Tuzer Ballet’s "Nutcracker" (2022-2025), stage manager and uncredited associate lighting designer for the Dallas College, Mountain View production of "Godspell," projection operator for Leos Ensemble’s "Ten Arguments," and stage manager for IMPRINT Theatreworks’ "Puffs"; [Colorado Springs, CO] stage manager for two The Millibo Art Theatre "Circus of the Night" sessions; light board operator for "Noises Off!" and fly rail operator/deck crew for "Gypsy" with the Colorado Springs Fine Arts Center Theatre Company; [Anchorage, AK] individual show stage manager for multiple TBA Theatre/Three Wise Moose’s "Alaska Overnighters" installments and six memorable seasons with the Anchorage Opera. --- Production Credits ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free; APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux; LES QUATRE SAISONS: Brilliant, Bold, Blissful, and Breathtaking; EMERGE: The Radiant Reveal

Production Credits ~ APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux; LES QUATRE SAISONS: Brilliant, Bold, Blissful, and Breathtaking; EMERGE: The Radiant Reveal

Production Credits as Rehearsal Director ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde; ENVOL: A Company Choreographers' Showcase; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free --- Production Credits, as a Choreographer ~ LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free

Production Credits ~ APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past

Production Credits as Rehearsal Director ~ APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past --- Production Credits, as a Choreographer ~ GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past ---

Production Credits ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free

An accomplished Entertainment Designer, based in Dallas, TX, Ms. Kemble has experience in multiple design disciplines. While her focus has primarily been Lighting Design, she is also a talented Set and Costume Designer. Ms. Kemble is a creative self-starter who is motivated to get the job done on time and on budget. She is technically-minded as well as design-capable. Ms. Kemble has experience solving complex design questions for multiple show formats. She has been privileged to work on complex projects both Internationally and in the United States. Ms. Kemble enjoys being part of a creative team and telling stories that elevate, inspire, and transform the communities in which we live. --- Production Credits ~ APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux; LES QUATRE SAISONS: Brilliant, Bold, Blissful, and Breathtaking; EMERGE: The Radiant Reveal

Denise is thrilled to be working with Ballet Papillon in their third season. With a Bachelor’s in Music and in Theatre, Denise enjoys being on the stage as well as working behind the scenes to do what she can to help others shine their brightest. She does have a history in ballet having taken a class when she was 5 years old and gave a stunning performance to the song, Good Ship Lollipop. Denise has done sound design for various productions in North Carolina, Connecticut, and DFW including Ballet Papillon’s “Unbroken”. --- Production Credits ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free; APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux; LES QUATRE SAISONS: Brilliant, Bold, Blissful, and Breathtaking; EMERGE: The Radiant Reveal

Abigail Hardy began her dance training at a young age developing skill in performance, choreography, and teaching. In her early training, Hardy studied through The Conservatory of Dance and Performing Arts in ballet, pointe, and jazz techniques. Her later years of training were taken through Belhaven University's renowned dance department, consisting of studies in ballet and modern performance as well as choreography. Hardy received her Bachelor of Fine Arts in dance from Belhaven University graduating with dance honors and receiving awards for outstanding service and artistic achievement. She has worked with teachers and choreographers from Complexions Contemporary Ballet, Houston Ballet, JoséLimón, Milwaukee Ballet, Dance Company Mooe, and The Royal Ballet. From 2013-2014, Hardy was a member of Bal Mahada Dance company on an international tour throughout South Korea. Hardy had the opportunity to perform in the Busan International Dance Festival and Alabama Dance Festival. She has traveled as a guest artist, choreographer and performer to France and Barbados. She is a member of the National Honors Society for Dance and an active artist of faith in the dance field. She performs as a free-lance dancer in project works and has been a dancer for the Chadash Contemporary Dance Movement since May of 2016. Now residing in Dallas, Texas, Hardy currently is Co-Director with her husband Vincent Hardy for the Zion Dance Project, a platform for believer artists to release the light of Christ in professional works, through video and performance. --- Production Credit ~ GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past

Production Credit ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde

Production Credit, Ballet Papillon ~ APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone --- Production Credits, XJ Student Performer ~ GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past

Production Credit ~ APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone ---

Production Credit ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde

Production Credit ~ LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free

Jennifer Mabus has rich performance background, dancing for choreographers and companies such as Robert Battle (founding dancer of Battleworks, NYC), Amy Marshall Dance Company (NYC), Heidi Latsky (NYC), Takehiro Ueyama (NYC), Bruce Wood Dance Project (TX), Noble Motion Dance (TX), and Dark Circles Contemporary Dance (founding dancer, TX), among others. She has served on the dance faculties of Texas Christian University, UT Dallas, Sam Houston State University, Booker T. Washington HSPVA, Interlochen Arts Academy, Houston’s HSPVA, and she founded the dance program at the University of St. Thomas, Houston. Jennifer has presented choreography at regional and national festivals, and has been an artist in residence with Arts Mission Oak Cliff, Agora Artists, Dance Source Houston, Rice University, and Noble Motion Dance. She has been commissioned to create work for companies such as Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, Avant Chamber Ballet, Houston Contemporary Dance, METdance, Ballet Papillon, Contemporary Ballet Dallas, Muscle Memory Dance Theater, and Pilot Dance Project. She has collaborated in multi-media evenings in venues such as the Rothko Chapel, CAMH, Rec Room, the Blanton Museum, and the Miller Outdoor Theater. Jennifer recently created the Grackle Dance Collective to uplift the voices of diverse local dance artists while bringing performance out of the theater and into our communities. Mabus received her BFA in Dance from Southern Methodist University and her MFA from Sam Houston State University. She is also a yoga teacher, a cat lady, and an Argentine tango dancer who is studying Dance Movement Therapy. Production Credits ~ APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux

Nana Chen, founder of XJ Star Academy, graduated from the Performance Program of the Chinese Classical Dance Department at Beijing Dance Academy. She began her dance journey at the age of 5 and was admitted to the Academy's affiliated middle school at 11. At 17, she pursued her undergraduate degree at Beijing Dance Academy. With a deep passion for dance, Ms. Chen has dedicated her career to dance education after graduation, serving as an examiner for the Chinese Dance Examination Syllabus (CDES) and a judge for national dance competitions. She has conducted numerous academic seminars across China and participates in advanced teacher training programs at Beijing Dance Academy. Throughout her career, she has received multiple awards, including Outstanding Young Teacher in Beijing (2008) and first prizes in competitions such as the Taoli Cup and Hehua Cup. With 26 years of teaching experience, she covers a wide range of instruction, from early childhood education to preparing students for professional art school entrance exams. Ms. Chen has also contributed to dance textbooks and organized arts festivals for over 1,000 students in Beijing. An accomplished choreographer of Chinese dance dramas, she authored the original dance textbooks for XJ Star Academy’s U.S. campus to mark its 5th anniversary in 2023. Her students are pursuing dance careers worldwide, making her a true educator with global influence. --- Production Credit, Ballet Papillon ~ METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux --- Production Credits, XJ Student Performers ~ APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past

Production Credit ~ LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free

Production Credits, as a Choreographer ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free

Production Credits ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde ... "The Lion King"; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux

Production Credit ~ METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux

Production Credits ~ ENVOL: A Company Choreographers' Showcase; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free ... "Let Me Fall"

Production Credits ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free; APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux; LES QUATRE SAISONS: Brilliant, Bold, Blissful, and Breathtaking; EMERGE: The Radiant Reveal

Production Credits ~ METAMORPHOSIS: la Saison à la Seconde; LIMITLESS: Fear Set Free; APRÈS DEUX: Darkness Undone; GLIMMER THEN GONE: Constellations of the Past; METAMORPHOSIS: La Saison Après Deux; LES QUATRE SAISONS: Brilliant, Bold, Blissful, and Breathtaking; EMERGE: The Radiant Reveal

Ariel was born and raised in the DFW area. She danced from an early age, which led to a love of human movement. She graduated from the University of Oklahoma, where she received a B.S. in Health and Exercise Science before going on to earn her Doctor of Physical Therapy from the University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center in 2011. Additionally, she is a certified Pilates instructor through the Australian Physiotherapy and Pilates Institute. She utilizes Pilates-based exercises in rehabilitation programs, dance conditioning programs, and in the wellness space. She has a deep passion for helping dancers stay healthy, prevent and rehabilitate injuries, optimize performance, and achieve career longevity. She is a proud wife and mom to three children. In her spare time, she is either spending time with family, drinking coffee, doing Pilates, cooking, or being active in her church.

Dr. Gray is excited to be providing performing arts dance medicine for Ballet Papillon dancers this season. She is from Everett, WA and was trained at Pacific Northwest Ballet. She attended summer intensives around the country and went on to dance at Ballet Theater of Boston, Boston Ballet, Texas Ballet Theater, as well as guesting with smaller companies. She fnished her B.S. in Biology at UNT and worked with the Dance Department under her mentor, Arleen Sugano. After deciding her calling was providing healthcare to dancers and their families, she completed medical school at Rocky Vista University in CO and residency in Fort Worth TX. She continued to dance and still takes classes at Contemporary Ballet Dallas. Her D.O. degree in Family Medicine allows her to do broad spectrum primary care, sports medicine and Osteopathic Manipulative Treatments, as well as specialty integrative medicine, hormones, weight loss, and regenerative stem cell therapies. She married a Texan and has 2 busy kids, but loves being backstage at all the local shows as the “DFW Dance Doctor”!