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

Thomas Proctor 3rd season with Ballet 314 Thomas Proctor is a professional Dancer and Choreographer in the St. Louis area. After dancing with the Ashleyliane Dance Company for 10 years as a Dancer and later as a Choreographer and Rehearsal Director, Thomas has recently begun branching out to work with other local artists. He has taught at several universities since recieving his M.F.A. in Dance at Washington University, and currently works at Grand Center Arts Academy teaching grades 6-12. Additionally Thomas is the Founder of the St. Louis Broadsword Academy, teaching historical Scottish fencing and Celtic martial arts. This past summer, Thomas earned his Associate Instructor Certification to teach 6 disciplines of Stage Combat through Dueling Arts International. Return

NEWS & MEDIA The Nutcracker & The World’s Fair | Trailer | Ballet 314 Play Video Facebook Twitter Pinterest Tumblr Copy Link Link Copied Now Playing The Nutcracker & The World’s Fair | Trailer | Ballet 314 00:33 Play Video Now Playing Beyond the Barre: Ep 1. Trailer 00:24 Play Video Now Playing Beyond the Barre: Ep 2. Trailer 00:24 Play Video Articles Read Article Ballet 314 tells the story of Salem through dance St. Louis Magazine Read Article Three local dance companies are driving innovation.... STL Magazine Read Interview Meet Rachel Bodi Voyage STL Magazine Inspiring Stories from St. Louis Read Article Guide to St. Louis Dance Companies STL Post Dispatch Read Blog Post Black History Month Spotlight On: Robert Poe St Louis Dance HQ Read Interview Meet Robert Poe Voyage STL Magazine Inspiring Stories from St. Louis View Interview Ballet 314 Presents: Angels & Demons Fox2News Read Blog Post Women's History Month Spotlight: Rachel Bodi STL Dance HQ Read Interview Meet Ballet 314 STLMade Conversations Reviews 12/30/2025 HQ Review: The Nutcracker and the World’s Fair In this clever retelling, choreographers and directors Rachel Bodi and Robert Poe incorporate an exciting chapter of St. Louis’ history into the ballet. The World’s Fair serves as an ideal backdrop for this magical story—a real-life event that engendered wonder and novelty, catapulting people of the time out of their everyday lives and connecting them with exciting new ideas and cultures. Read More 6/5/ 2024 HQ Review: The Accused ...To conclude, Ballet 314 did not provide a show with a general theme. Instead, they created a show to demonstrate the versatility of their dancers. The Lark Ascending showcases the dancers’ technical expertise, Envy of Angels their emotional quality of movement, and The Accused their acting capabilities. The night was truly about the dancers, and they delivered. Read More 5/18/2023 HQ Review: Ragtime This ballet doesn’t just expose its audiences to harsh realities...it immerses audiences in the raw emotions from these experiences from start to finish. Read More 10/26/2023 HQ Review: Fall Fête: Twisted Tales Fall Fête celebrated Ballet 314’s growth as a company and took the audiences’ breath away with gorgeous dancing and engaging stories behind the pieces performed. Read More

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

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 Subscription 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 On Sale in Fall '26 Group Reservations On Sale In Fall '26 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.

Jamila Scales 3rd season with Ballet 314 Jamila Scales began her dancing career at the young age of 6 years old performing in an elementary showcase in St. Louis; from this experience, she knew at the age of 6 dancing would be her career. Jamila went on to join Judy Best Dance & Talent Center competition team. While on this team she learned the fundamentals to many dance styles such as Ballet, Jazz, Pom Poms, and Hip Hop. Jamila danced with The Judy Best Talent Center for 12 years, during which she honed in on and polished her skill and talent. Once she became familiar with and mastered the basics, Jamila went on to Stephens College to foster more skills and embrace styles and specializations such as Ballet, Pointe, Modern Dance, Jump Rhythm Jazz, Synthetic Theater, and Musical Theater. Upon the completion of the previously mentioned styles and specialities, Jamila received her BFA degree in Dance from Stephens College in 2017. Return

Lauren (Wren) Hood 1st season with Ballet 314 Lauren (Wren) Hood was born in Santa Cruz, California, and began her training at age five with teachers Diane Cypher and Robert Kelly at the Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, “The Studio of Classical Ballet”. She also studied with Linda Lock, Edward Ellison, Peter Boal, Susan Bryant, Carrie West Suslov, and Maria Torija. She attended Ellison Ballet School intensives in New York, New York, three years in a row from 2013-2015 under the direction of Edward Ellison. Wren also trained in Seattle, Washington, with the Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2016 and in Houston, Texas, with the Houston Ballet in 2018. She participated in Regional Dance America from 2010-2017 and received Scholarships and Awards for her choreography at The Ballet Alliance in 2023. Wren left Ballet for five years and returned in 2024, where she trained in Columbus, Ohio, with BalletMet. She starts the 2025-2026 season as one of the newest company members of Ballet314 in Saint Louis, Missouri Return

Samuel Lawson 3rd season with Ballet 314 Sammy began his dance training in the Spring of 2020, graduating from Southeast Missouri State University in 2023 with a BSE in Secondary Education and minors in Dance and Music. During his time at SEMO, Sammy performed works by Alyssa Alger, Philip Edgecombe, Hilary Peterson, and Fernando Bujoñes while training in ballet, modern, aerial, and partnering. He started his professional career as a guest company member with Ballet 314 (2022-2024) performing as the Sugar Plum Cavalier, and in original works by Marcela Gómez Lugo and director Robert Poe. Additionally, Sammy was accepted as a trainee by the St. Louis Dance Theater for the 2023/2024 season where he performed under the direction of Brandon Fink, performing works by Maggie Dueker, Kirven Douthit-Boyd, Emmi Small, Robert Poe, Leonides Arpon, Yuka Oba-Muschiana, and original works by Brandon Fink. Sammy was offered a contract by the Whirlwind Dance Company where he performed rep by Joshua Manculich, Hannah Brixton, Johnson Litzler & Cody Szarko, Jules Rizzo, and Yinqi Wei & Maggie Liang. He's excited to return to the stage with Ballet 314! Return

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.

Alice Anders Production Manager Alice Anders began her technical theatre career while obtaining her Bachelor’s in Fine Arts in Dance from Southeast Missouri State University. There she studied lighting design for theatre and dance while working as a theatre electrician under faculty designer Christopher Haug. Upon graduation she relocated to St. Louis to dance as a trainee for Saint Louis Dance Theatre, while also teaching dance, and freelancing in lighting design and stage management. Alice is thrilled to return for her fourth season working with Resilience and second year as their Technical Director. In the greater STL dance community, Alice also serves as the Production Manager for Ballet 314, is an instructor and choreographer for the Belleville School of Ballet, and Lighting Solutions Specialist for Echo Electric. Return

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!