EDUCATIONAL PROGRAMMING Dance The Story: The Nutcracker Fiona Flamingo Wild Symphony Educational Concert with SLSO Assemblé EveryBODY Dance Dance The Story: Sleeping Beauty Chocolat llama llama and friends Children Ballet's & Educational Demos Ballet 314 produces up to 45 educational programs per season and as of 2023 has reached 9,000 students virtually and in person. View Events Fiona Flamingo Storytime SLPL Fiona Flamingo Storytime SLPL Sleeping Beauty Storytime SLPL Fiona Flamingo Storytime SLPL 1/4 Ages: Pre-K “Storytime” Events We present a story with creative movement elements; these events are an introduction into how dance can tell a story, DTS: The Nutcracker Sheldon Concert Hall DTS: Sleeping Beauty Sheldon Concert Hall 1/5 Ages: K-3 “Dance the Story” Educational Performances We provide an interactive experience that integrates storytelling through dance and music; these performances are an introduction to full-length ballets. Chocolat Rossman School Chocolat Kirkwood Performing Arts Center Llama Llama & Friends Foundry Arts Center Chocolat Rossman School 1/5 Ages: K-3 & families Full Length Children’s Ballet Performances Usually a child's first experience to seeing a full length-ballet. Includes audience integration with a post-show dance demonstration. Nutcracker Camp SLPL Chocolat Camp SLPL 1/3 Ages: K-2 Camp Events We present a story through reading, tactile crafts, and creative movement choreography in a 5-day summer camp setting. Dance Party with SLSO Touhill Performing Arts Center A Zoo Called Earth Touhill Performing Arts Center 1/5 All Ages Community Partnerships We partner with other local arts organizations to participate in their educational programs or create original educational family concerts such as Dance Party with SLSO. For bookings contact us at support@ballet314.org Program Collaborators

DANCER WELLNESS INITIATIVE Join us in fostering a healthier dance community! Ballet 314 is teaming up with Athletico, Clayton Chiropractic and Restore to provide specialized athlete-specific physical therapy, chiropractic care, mental health and nutritional coaching for our company dancers. Your donation helps prioritize the mental and physical well-being of our talented professional dancers. Learn More Learn More Learn More

Maura Caldwell-Thompson Corps de Ballet 314 Director / Board Member A‬‭ St.‬‭ Louis‬‭ native,‬‭ Maura‬‭ Caldwell-Thompson‬‭ has‬‭ been‬‭ a‬‭ dedicated‬‭ dance‬‭ educator‬‭ and choreographer‬‭ for‬‭ over‬‭ two‬‭ decades.‬‭ She‬‭ is‬‭ currently‬‭ an‬‭ adjunct‬‭ professor‬‭ in‬‭ the‬‭ Department‬‭ of‬ Dance‬‭ at‬‭ Webster‬‭ University‬‭ where‬‭ she‬‭ earned‬‭ her‬‭ bachelors‬‭ and‬‭ masters‬‭ degrees.‬‭ Her‬ training‬‭ also‬‭ includes‬‭ local‬‭ studios‬‭ here‬‭ in‬‭ St.‬‭ Louis,‬‭ summer‬‭ intensives‬‭ with‬‭ Balanchine‬ instructor‬‭ Barbara‬‭ Elias,‬‭ and‬‭ professional‬‭ dance‬‭ experience‬‭ with‬‭ MADCO.‬ ‭ At‬‭ Ballet‬‭ 314,‬‭ she‬‭ has‬‭ taken‬‭ on‬‭ significant‬‭ leadership‬‭ roles,‬‭ including‬‭ serving‬‭ as‬‭ the‬‭ director‬‭ of‬ the‬‭ Corps‬‭ de‬‭ Ballet‬‭ 314,‬‭ the‬‭ executive‬‭ board‬‭ secretary,‬‭ and‬‭ the‬‭ community‬‭ cast‬‭ coordinator‬‭ for‬ The‬‭ Nutcracker‬‭ for‬‭ the‬‭ past‬‭ five‬‭ years.‬‭ With‬‭ a‬‭ Master’s‬‭ in‬‭ Clinical‬‭ Counseling‬‭ and‬‭ certifications‬ in‬‭ yoga‬‭ and‬‭ Pilates,‬‭ Maura‬‭ believes‬‭ in‬‭ the‬‭ mind-body‬‭ connection.‬‭ This‬‭ passion‬‭ for‬‭ dancer‬ wellness‬‭ led‬‭ her‬‭ to‬‭ co-found‬‭ Restore‬‭ Nutrition‬‭ and‬‭ Therapy,‬‭ a‬‭ practice‬‭ focused‬‭ on‬‭ helping‬‭ artists‬ and‬‭ athletes‬‭ achieve‬‭ a‬‭ balanced‬‭ relationship‬‭ with‬‭ food‬‭ and‬‭ body.‬ Return

Bianca Wajack 2nd season with Ballet 314 Born in Belize and raised in Southern California, Bianca studied at Southland Ballet Academy in Fountain Valley, CA. From the age of 3, she studied under the guidance of Salwa Rizkalla and then at age 14, being promoted to a trainee with Festival Ballet Theater. She had the privilege to perform solo and corps work in full length ballets such as Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Giselle and The Nutcracker as well as taking part in world premier contemporary repertoire set by Andrea Schermoly and Josie Walsh. Summers included training at SBA with director Christopher Powney from the Royal Ballet School UK, YAGP Founder Larissa Saveliev as well as training at the Joffrey Academy of Dance in Chicago, IL. Bianca went on to study at California State University Fullerton and graduated Magna Cum Laude with a BA in Dance. She trained under Muriel Joyce, Lisa D. Long, Debra Noble, and Alvin Rangel-Alvarado as well as various guest choreographers from throughout the country, which led to her participation in the Southern California American College Dance Association Festival. After graduating in May of 2023, she danced for a year with Anastasis Ballet Company, based in the San Francisco Bay Area. This will be Bianca's second season with Ballet 314, and she is incredibly appreciative of every opportunity and all the support Robert and Rachel provide her. Return

MISSOURI HISTORY MUSEUM: NUTCRACKER TICKET GIVEAWAY Ballet 314 is partnering with the Missouri History Museum and giving away 200 FREE seats to an exclusive preview performance of "The Nutcracker & The World’s Fair" on Thursday, December 11, at the Edison Theatre! To claim your free ticket, simply stop by the Missouri History Museum welcome desk and pick up a voucher. Each voucher can be redeemed for 1 free ticket and up to 10 companion tickets for just $15 each. Vouchers may be redeemed through November 30, 2025. Click the button below to claim your seat(s)! Have Questions? Contact Ballet 314 by emailing support@ballet314.org The Edison Box Office will NOT answer inquiries about this giveaway. Click Here To Claim Seats PERFORMANCE DETAILS Date & Time: Thursday, December 11 at 6:30pm *Doors open at 6:00pm. If you indicated accessibility needs in your ticket reservation, you are granted access to the theatre at 6:15pm. Location: Edison Theatre at Washington University | 6465 Forsyth Blvd, St. Louis, MO 63105, USA Run Time: Approx. 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission About The Ballet: Everyone’s favorite holiday classic, reimagined to take place right here, at the St. Louis 1904 World’s Fair! Community performers from across the Gateway City join Ballet 314’s professional company in this narrated story ballet, set to the familiar Tchaikovsky score. Seating: Ticket sales are general admission, and seating will be first come, first served. Please indicate if handicap or accessible seating is required at checkout. Reservation Policy: This offer is only redeemable for the event on Thursday, December 11th. Tickets are NOT transferable to any other performance date. Reservations are nonrefundable. Click Here To Claim Seats

Abigail (Abbie) Hinrichs Founding Company Member Abigail is a dancer, choreographer, and teacher native to St. Louis, Missouri. She graduated from the UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance with a BFA and dual emphasis in ballet and modern dance. Abigail was inspired to not only perform professionally, but to dive deeper into the world of performance art and collaborate as much as she could. Abigail has been teaching dance and Pilates for all ages throughout the St. Louis area for over 8 years. She currently serves as the Studio Manager at Central Studio and is so grateful for the opportunity to help others discover mental and physical healing through movement. Abigail has the honor of dancing, performing, and participating in community outreach with Karlovsky & Company Dance, Collective Motion (Central Studio's resident non-profit), and Ballet 314. Return

DATE December 11-14, 2026 LOCATION Edison Theatre Everyone’s favorite holiday classic, reimagined to take place right here, at the St. Louis 1904 World’s Fair! 26/27 Season Coming Soon OVERVIEW Clara and her sisters eagerly prepare for bed on Christmas Eve. After discovering a special walnut trinket, the family is reminded of the magical Toymaker they met at The World’s Fair. Share in their journey as Clara, Louisa, and Marie dance through a dream filled with familiar sights, sweets, and sounds. What more surprises await on Christmas morning? Ballet 314 brings St. Louis’ favorite historical event and everyone’s most treasured holiday classic together in this unique re-telling of “The Nutcracker & the 1904 World’s Fair.” Based on the original story by E.T.A. Hoffman, re-imagined as “The Nutcracker & The World’s Fair” by Rachel Bodi & Robert Poe. PERFORMANCE DETAILS Sensory Friendly Morning Performance Evening & Matinee Performances with ASL Interpretations Run Time: Approx. 90 minutes with one 15-minute intermission TICKETS $45 for Adults | $30 for Senior/Student/Artist/WashU Staff | Groups of 20+ $25/each Sensory Friendly Performance $20 for Individual Tickets | Groups start at $7 ⚠️ Buyer Beware! Tickets purchased through the Washington University Box Office or online via AudienceView (also known as OvationTix) are the only approved tickets for this event. Purchases made through a third-party vendor such as StubHub, Ticketmaster, or MetroTix will NOT be valid for entry to the Theater. Single Tickets Group Reservations CLARA'S PICNIC A family favorite experience! After the show*, join the Sugarplum Doll and her friends for a special meet and greet and picnic refreshments fit for a day at the World's Fair. Every Clara's Picnic also includes a Nutcracker boutique coupon. Cost: $15 add on *Offered following Saturday and Sunday 1:00pm Performances. SENSORY FRIENDLY PERFORMANCES Designed for guests of all abilities, featuring live full length audio description by Mind's Eye, dimmed lights, moderate sound, and an interactive intermission.

AUDITIONS 26/27 Company Auditions Ballet 314 is not actively accepting audition applications for the 26/27 season. Any materials received will be kept on file for future consideration. While candidates are not guaranteed a response from the Artistic Director, we appreciate your interest in Ballet 314. General details about Ballet 314: listed for future reference - Ballet 314 has no 26/27 company positions available Ballet 314 is non-profit professional dance company. We look for classically and modern trained artists of all body types and gender expressions who excel at storytelling with a heart to serve the community. Keeping with our mission to showcase local talent, we actively seek dancers of color to help us more fully represent the spectrum of St Louis. Ballet 314 offers Resident Artists main stage and community performance opportunities between the months of August - June. Resident Artists are expected to participate in company class and rehearse 4 days per week. Subscribe to our newsletter to stay up to date with our company! Looking for local performance opportunities? Visit the Nutcracker Community Cast page for more information about our annual "The Nutcracker and The World's Fair" community auditions.

Rachel Bodi Executive Director rachel@ballet314.org Biography Rachel Bodi is the co-founder and Executive Director at Ballet 314, and also a dance educator as adjunct faculty of dance at Missouri Baptist University, and pre-professional instructor of dance at Devine Performing Arts. Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Rachel trained at the Ballet Academy of Pittsburgh and pre-professional intensives (School of American Ballet, Chautauqua, Nashville Ballet, North Carolina Dance Theater- presently Charlotte Ballet), eventually launching her professional career in 2008. She has enjoyed performing and teaching in the St. Louis region for the past 14 years. Prior to founding Ballet 314 alongside Robert Poe, she enjoyed careers with Missouri Ballet Theatre (2011-2017), Common Thread Contemporary Ballet (2018), and Nashville Ballet 2 (2008-2011). She has appeared as a guest artist with Texture Contemporary Ballet (2011, 2012) and Winter Opera St. Louis (dancer, choreographer 2022, 2023, 2024). In addition to the Executive Director role at Ballet 314, Rachel performs as a Resident Artist, and acts as the company's Education Director. She has commissioned both full length classical and contemporary works for Ballet 314 including: co-writing and producing "The Nutcracker & the World's Fair," and her newest classical ballet work "Astra Planeta." Original educational dance programs include "Assemblé," "Fiona Flamingo," "llama llama & friends," and co-choreographing and adapting "Chocolat," a bilingual Spanish/English story ballet. Additional choreographic credits include collaborations with St. Louis Symphony Orchestra (Dance Party!, Wild Symphony, A Zoo Called Earth, Howl at Powell), Sheldon Concert Hall (Dance the Story: Sleeping Beauty, Dance the Story: The Nutcracker & the World's Fair), St. Louis Art Museum (Monet/Mitchell), and Winter Opera St. Louis (Holiday Extravaganza, The Gondaliers, Naughty Marietta). Rachel has choreographed pre-professional recitals, competitive, and concert dance works in her roles on staff at MBU and DPA. Additional performance credits include Jenny Drugg in "The Ride" independent film. (est. 2026 release). Through founding Ballet 314, Rachel aspires to continue fostering a deeper sense of community both within our organization and in the arts community as a whole, and to continue to provide accessible, inclusive, and diverse arts education programming. Back to Leadership

CONTACT Address Email 331 N. New Ballas Rd. P.O. Box 37032 St. Louis, MO 63141 support@ballet314.org Phone Number 314-669-5191 Do you wish to attend open company class? Email support@ballet314.org to receive access to our open class portal. You can also contact us by using this form: First Name Last Name Email Subject Leave us a message... Submit We will be in touch shortly! SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTER Enter your email here Subscribe Thanks for subscribing!

Megan Buckley Founding Company Member Megan Buckley, grew up in West County and graduated with Honors in Music from Marquette. She received formal dance training from Alexandra School of Ballet & Company/ honor company at Regional Dance America, earning multiple merit scholarships. She won 1st place at National Society of Arts & Letters-STL, furthered education at summer intensive workshops at ABT (NY, TX, AL), Kansas City Ballet under Todd Bolender scholarship, Joffrey (NY& Midwest), Nashville Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet and Glenda Brown’s Choreography Project. After graduating, Megan studied at Joffrey Ballet NY Trainee program, Nashville Ballet School under scholarship and then performed professionally with Milwaukee Ballet 2, Portland Ballet in Maine, Thodos Dance Chicago, Verb Ballets in Cleveland, Common Thread Contemporary Ballet, Collective Motion, Owen/Cox Dance Group in Kansas City, & as alum at Alexandra Ballet. She currently performs & choreographs for various productions in the STL area, and performs with Ballet 314 as a founding Resident Company Dancer. Favorite roles performed in her professional career include: “Sugar Plum Fairy”, “Clara”& “Snow Queen” in multiple productions of The Nutcracker across the country, choreography by Laura Alonso (of National Ballet of Cuba) as “Kitri” in Don Q ‘Grand Pas,’ Daniel Precup in Spartacus ‘Grand Pas,’ “Wendy Darling” in Peter Pan by Pamela Pribisco, and contemporary works by internationally recognized choreographers. She completed her 500 hour Comprehensive Core Dynamics Pilates Certification, and is passionate about educating the next (and current) generation of dancers as the owner of Studio Pointe Dance and Fitness. In her free time, Megan loves parks, traveling, any local foodie place & seeing live music! Return

Laura Roth 2nd season with Ballet 314 Laura, a native of Jacksonville, IL, started her career dancing with contemporary dance companies in St. Louis--four seasons with Common Thread Contemporary Dance Company and two seasons with Leverage Dance Theater. Throughout that time and continuing since, she has performed in and/or choreographed for freelance projects, working with Space Station Dance Residency, Masterworks Chorale, Spare Parts Dance Company, Washington University Master's students Mariko Kumanomido and Leah Korn, and more. She has also independently produced two dance concerts: To Fill Your Cup (2021) and ALONE TIME (2024). Laura teaches ballet and choreographs musicals at Gateway Center for Performing Arts and holds a BA in Dance from Southeast Missouri State University. Return