About
Faculty
Ballet Theatre of Phoenix faculty is comprised of experienced dance-educators who have immersed themselves in the art of dance. Our teachers continue to educate themselves and grow as artists in order to maintain the highest standard of excellence in dance education. Ballet Theatre of Phoenix teachers are dedicated to passing on the generations of tradition and knowledge that have made ballet the enduring and captivating art that it is. All of our staff bring professional performing and choreographic experience, as well world-class training with an emphasis on pedagogy.
Leadership
Jennifer Cafarella Betts
School Owner, Adult Ballet
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Jennifer Cafarella Betts, BS Business Administration (Rivier College), MFA Dance (University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee), Founder and Artistic Director of Convergence Ballet, is a passionate educator, choreographer and dancer who is certified in the ABT National Training Curriculum Primary-Level 5, Progressing Ballet Technique, and Power Pilates Mat. Her teaching methodologies are rooted in somatic exploration and neuro diversity. Her research background allows for individual analysis and a custom training program for each student to become the best dancer they can be. In 2016, Cafarella Betts founded Ballet Theatre of Phoenix and since then, has molded the culture that defines the school. She is dedicated to understanding more about the brain and body connection, therefore updating a traditional method and creating a training program for each dancer to reach their highest potential.
Cafarella Betts’ approach to dance pedagogy is influenced by her experiences at Walnut Hill School for the Arts where she trained under Sydelle Gomberg, the School of Ballet Arizona, and SUNY Purchase. Her professional career has taken her as far as Ballet de Cali in Colombia, Granite State Ballet where she performed soloist roles in the Nutcracker and Cinderella, Portland Ballet as a summer guest artist, and Jose Mateo’s Ballet Theatre. Her observations of the ever-changing movement patterns developed by technological advances, motivates her to explore and strengthen developmental movement for healthier dancers. She regularly presents her findings at the National Dance Educator’s Organization on creating better pedagogical practices through a neuro athletic lens within the scope of Classical Ballet. She has served on the faculties at School of Ballet Arizona, Arizona School for the Arts, Mesa Community College, Scottsdale School of Ballet and Plumb Performing Arts Center.
Props & Sets
Stasia Mobbs
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Mrs. Stasia Mobbs is an executive leader, creative strategist, and cultural consultant recognized for integrating artistic vision with business intelligence. She serves as CEO of Made by Mrs. Mobbs, Director of Mural Mural on the Wall, and Vice President of Sales and Marketing for Fly Company Music Group, providing executive leadership across brand development, strategic marketing, creative direction, and organizational management. Grounded in a legacy of world-renowned artists and creative entrepreneurs, Stasia operates at the intersection of culture, education, and enterprise.
Her work reflects a deep understanding that sustainable businesses are built through intentional leadership, creative innovation, and human-centered strategy. As an advocate for education and the arts, she believes the two are inseparable drivers of economic growth, cultural relevance, and long-term impact.
With over 20 years of experience in education—including early childhood, collegiate instruction, and homeschool environments—Stasia brings a systems-based approach to leadership, talent development, and program design. Her background in education informs her consulting and management style, emphasizing clarity, scalability, and measurable outcomes.
In addition to her work in education, Stasia offers extensive expertise in sales, marketing, networking, and brand positioning. She is known for consulting on event curation, creative production, prop design, and digital community building, including pioneering and growing an engaged adult ballet community that expanded access to the arts while strengthening brand visibility and audience loyalty.
As a speaker, consultant, and executive partner, Stasia Mobbs is sought after for her ability to translate creative vision into actionable strategy. Her leadership philosophy balances innovation with structure—making her a trusted authority in executive management, creative entrepreneurship, lifestyle branding, and culture-driven business solutions.
Meet the Teachers
Molly Ahler
Adult & Primary Ballet
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Molly Ahler was born in South Korea and raised in Tempe, Arizona. At the age of ten, she began her training with Nadja Langenhorst at Jeanne’s School of Dance. During her pre-professional training, Molly was a part of Yen Li Chen’s The Nutcracker dancing the role of Snow Queen and Dew Drop. She also briefly danced with the pre-professional company, Ballet Etudes. Her training then continued at the University of Arizona where she received her BFA. Molly was awarded scholarships for summer programs at American Ballet Theatre, Milwaukee Ballet, and BalletMet. She has been fortunate to perform in various classical repertoires such as La Bayadere, Serenade, Swan Lake, and Jardin Animé.
Upon her graduation, Ms. Ahler received a contract with Florida Dance Theatre where she has had the distinguished privileges of performing in New York City at the APAP conference at the Lincoln Center and The Battery Dance Festival at Battery Park. During her years of teaching, Ms. Ahler has taught Master Classes and Summer Intensives in both Florida and Arizona. Molly is extremely humbled by the many roles she has been able to perform while with FDT. Such roles include Juliet in Romeo and Juliet, The Sugar Plum Fairy, Snow Queen, Dew Drop, Arabian in The Nutcracker, Kitri in Don Quixote pas de deux, Lucy in Dracula, the lead dancer in Jerry Opdenaker’s See, Here, Speak and Sharon Wong’s The Duet. Ms. Ahler has especially enjoyed dancing in heavily acting roles during her time at Florida Dance Theatre, especially Tinkerbell in Peter Pan, Veruca Salt in The Golden Ticket, an evil Step-Sister in Cinderella, and the Scarecrow in The Wizard of Oz.
Molly’s passion for teaching developed at age 14 as an assistant to her mentor and teacher, Nadja Langenhorst. At age 15 she began teaching at Jeanne’s School of Dance. Molly taught ballet and lyrical at Jeanne’s for 7 years. In her role as Academy Director of Florida Dance Theatre, Molly aimed to continue to share her passion and love for dance with the next generation of young artists. She is now the dance director at an Arts Magnet School for K-8. As a certified Progressing Ballet Technique Instructor, her methods incorporate a well-rounded approach to dance training while utilizing an educational foundation in kinesiology.
Antoinette Klimek
Adult & Level 3/4/5 Ballet
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Antoinette Klimek began her dance performance and education career in Chicago, IL. She was a faculty member at ARCC Ballet and Dance, where she was charged with leading syllabus and curriculum development for all the school’s ballet courses. She also developed and managed the studio’s work-study program for students in need of financial aid and mentored students wishing to pursue dance or theatre in college. While at ARCC, she worked professionally as a classical contemporary ballet dancers, notable with Geiger Dance Project, Elements Contemporary, and Ballet North.
In 2013, she moved to Phoenix, where she joined the faculty of the Yen Li Chen Ballet School and the Conservatory of Dance. In 2014, she was named the Conservatory’s Ballet Program Director. She continued her performance career with Phoenix companies such as Convergence Ballet and Center Dance Ensemble until her retirement from the stage in 2018. Her final role was the White Queen in Convergence Ballet’s first full-length Alice in Wonderland.
Antoinette is excited to return to Ballet Theatre of Phoenix as a faculty member and to have the opportunity to pass onto its students the many joys of dance, as well as its lessons that extend far beyond the classroom or stage.
Ava Maskin
Creative Movement
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Coming Soon!
Natalie Nerat
Creative Movement, Primary, Level 4/5 Ballet
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Natalie Nerat grew up in Madison, Wisconsin. She started dancing competitively at the age of three in ballet, contemporary, jazz, hip hop and modern. She found her love of ballet early on and attended Central Midwest Ballet in Madison, WI. At 17, she joined Colorado Ballet’s pre-professional program where she trained for two years. She then joined Ballet Arizona Studio Company in 2023 and performed with Ballet Arizona under the direction of Ib Anderson and Daniela Cardim. Her repertoire includes The Nutcracker and Swan Lake, Aswell as George Balanchine’s Serenade and Walpurgisnahct, among others. She has experience teaching ballet, contemporary and jazz for all ages. She is excited to share her love of dance with the next generation of dancers.
Kamryn Shape
Contemporary/Jazz
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Kamryn Shape began her career in dance at the age of three in Rapid City, South Dakota. She went on to graduate with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance Theater from the American Musical and Dramatic Academy (AMDA), Los Angeles.
Post-graduating, she continued her training in Los Angeles, New York, and Colorado with Axis Connect and Los Angeles Contemporary Dance Company. She eventually became a company member with the Boulder Jazz Dance Collective and has since moved to the Phoenix area to continue her career as a dancer.
Audrey Rodriguez
Primary Ballet
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Coming Soon!
Minghong Xu
Level 5 Ballet
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Minghong Xu is a professional dancer and ABT Certified Teacher with a strong background in both classical and contemporary ballet.
Minghong danced professionally with Virginia National Ballet (2019 – 2024) and Columbia Classical Ballet (2018 – 2019), performing lead and soloist roles in productions such as Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Aladdin, and Boléro. She received her foundational training and Liaoning Ballet School, a Prix de de Lausanne partner school, and later trained on scholarships at Joffrey Ballet School, American Ballet Theatre NYC Summer Intensive, and the Washington School of Ballet.
As an experienced instructor, Minghong has taught at Virginia National Ballet Company School and Hong Dance Studio, coaching youth beginners to pre-professional dancers. Her students have achieved top rankings in competitions such as Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) adn WBAC Grand Prix.
With a passion for inspiring the next generation of dancers, Minghong is committed to fostering strong technique, artistic expression, and deep appreciation for the art of ballet in every student she teaches.
Sarah Cleeland
Adult Tap & Senior Dance Class
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Originally from St. Louis, Sarah moved to Phoenix in 2019. Sarah got her BFAs in Dance and Musical Theatre from Rockford University in 2018, and has taught at Ballet Theatre of Phoenix, Inspire Entertainment, and Summer of Dance!
Sarah believes that theatre and dance are for everybody, and she works to create an inclusive, accessible environment in the classroom. She has performed at various theatres around The Valley, including Arizona Broadway Theatre, Hale Centre Theatre, Rebel Phoenix Theatre Collective, and Theater Works. Her favorite style of dance is tap, her favorite show (at the moment) is Hadestown, and her dream role is Ado Annie in Oklahoma!
When she isn’t performing or teaching, she loves to spend time with her husband and two dogs. Sarah is so excited to continue working with Ballet Theatre of Phoenix!
Gregory Bench
Accompanist, Tuesday Evenings
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Greg is a classically trained pianist and accomplished ballet accompanist. He has played for ballet schools in Northern Utah, Southern California, and Phoenix, and has accompanied numerous musicals, choral groups, weddings, and other events. He is fond of Romantic-era music and classical ballets, and when he is not playing the piano, he enjoys reading, cooking, yoga, and staying active. Join Greg Tuesday evenings from 6:30 – 8pm in our Intermediate Ballet Open Class!