carla gleason

ada office manager

Carla Gleason began her ballet studies at the age of three in Brazil and continued to fulfill her love of dancing at multiple studios both in Brazil and the United States.  At the age of 11 she entered Classical Ballet Theatre in Northern Virginia under the direction of Cynthia Donavin (former dancer of the: the Washington Ballet, Washington Opera, Louisville Ballet, Milwakee Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet among others).  Carla began the Pre-professional program at CBT at the age of 13 and studied under acclaimed choreographer Nell Hacker, Alisher Suboruv (former dancer with the Bolshoi Ballet academy and Moscow Ballet), Sally Hart (former dancer with Joffrey Ballet), and Julie Miles (founding member of the Washington Ballet).  During her training at CBT Carla continued her ballet training at numerous summer intensive programs which included Colorado Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Palos Verdes Ballet and the Richmond Ballet Trainee Intensive.  During her studies at CBT, she had the privilege of performing Jean Paul Comelin’s Daughters of Mourning, Colorado Ballet’s Sleeping Beauty, Nell Hacker’sNutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella and Peter and the Wolf.  During her senior year in high school, Carla danced for the Manassas Ballet Company where she performed in several pieces including Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.

In 2012, Carla received her B.S. with an emphasis in Sports Medicine Exercise Science and a Minor in Dance from Belhaven University.  During her years at Belhaven University, she studied dance under the artistic direction of Cynthia Newland and had the privilege of working with instructors Caleb Mitchell (former dancer with the Houston Ballet), Erin Scheiwe Rockwell, Stephen Wynne (dancer with Joffrey Ballet, as well as several companies in Europe including Scapino Ballet in the Netherlands, CH Tanz Theater in Switzerland, and Tanz-Forum, the Metropolitan Opera House in Cologne) and Britta Wynne (former company member with the Music Theater im Revier in Gelsenkirchen, the Freiburger Tanz Theatre, and the Tanz-Forum at the Metropolitan Opera House in Cologne, Germany). Carla had the opportunity to perform various works by instructors Laura Morton (former dancer with Milwaukee Ballet, Delia Stewart Dance Company, Houston Metropolitan Dance Company and Ad Deum Dance Company), Ravenna Tucker (former principal dancer of the Royal Ballet and Birmingham Royal Ballet) and guest choreographer Robert Wesner.  Carla is grateful to have studied under such renowned expertise and mentorship which has highly influenced who she is as a dancer today.

After graduation Carla pursued a career in Physical Therapy, aligning with her love of body movement and helping others.  She worked at Physiotherapy Associates in Northern Virginia where she assisted Therapists with patients and managed the billing department.   As a newcomer to Austin, Carla is excited to be returning to her first love of dance and pursuing it full time. Carla is excited to be a staff member at Alisa’s Dance Academy and thrilled to be able to share her passion as a company member with The Dance Project.