Artistic Director

Katie Puder is the founder of Avant Chamber Ballet and serves as its Artistic Director and primary choreographer. She has created over 30 ballets with ACB and collaborated and choreographed with Rapides Symphony Orchestra, International Music Festival in San Antonio, American Baroque Opera Company, Orchestra of New Spain, Abilene Ballet Theater, Verdigris Ensemble and many more.

She started dance with Wichita Falls Ballet Theater and moved to Fort Worth to continue training where she studied with Maria Terezia Balogh and Paul Mejia. She was a member of Metropolitan Classical Ballet for six years and danced in classics such as Raymonda, La Bayadere, Paquita, Don Quixote, and Spartacus as well as a dozen Balanchine ballets including Agon, Four Temperaments and Bugaku. In 2007, she moved to Athens, Greece and studied ballet and contemporary dance at D.A.N.C.C.E.

In 2012 she founded Avant Chamber Ballet and has developed it into a professional company known for exciting new commissions and live music as well as the industry-leading Women’s Choreography Project. Under her leadership, ACB has garnered national attention as an example of a modern ballet company that reflects the future of the art form.

Director of Training

A native of Arkansas, Madelaine Boyce began her ballet training at the Academy of Ballet Arkansas, and later Ballet Memphis School. At the age of 14 she moved to Philadelphia to train at Pennsylvania Ballet’s Rock School and was a part of their year round academic training program.

In 2004 Madelaine began studying with former New York City Ballet dancer Paul Mejia, and former Bolshoi Ballet principal dancer and current Bolshoi Ballet Master, Alexander Vetrov, at Metropolitan Classical Ballet in Arlington, Texas, joining the main company as an apprentice a year later. While dancing with Metropolitan Classical Ballet Madelaine danced roles in many classical ballets including La Bayadere, Raymonda, and Paquita, as well as Balanchine ballets such as The Four Temperaments, Concerto Barocco, and Square Dance.

In 2007 Madelaine joined Madison Ballet in Wisconsin under the direction of W. Earle Smith. For 5 seasons she performed in many ballets, teaching for the School of Madison Ballet and its outreach program, Movement In Your World, where she taught thousands of students throughout Dane County.

Madelaine returned to Texas in 2012 and is a founding member of Avant Chamber Ballet. She has originated many roles in ballets choreographed by ACB Artistic Director Katie Puder, including Alice in Alice in Wonderland and Teenage Scrooge in A Ballet Christmas Carol. While with the company Madelaine performed Principal and Soloist roles in Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie and Walpurgisnacht Ballet.

Madelaine has been on faculty with the Avant Chamber Ballet trainee program since its inception, and became Associate Director of Trainees in 2023. She was previously choreographer and Assistant Director of the Plano Metropolitan Ballet where she choreographed numerous works for the student based company. Madelaine is also a certified Pilates instructor through Romana’s Pilates International.

Shawn Stevens is originally from Houston, Texas. At age 14, she attended Walnut Hill School of Performing Arts under the direction of Sydelle Gomberg. She continued her training at the School of American Ballet. In 1982, she was chosen by George Balanchine to join the ‪New York City Ballet (NYCB). During her time with the company, she performed principal roles in Balanchine's ballets, including Symphony in Three Movements, The Four Temperaments, and Symphony in C. She also danced in the original cast and performed principal roles in Brahms/Handel, choreographed by Twyla Tharp and Jerome Robbins. ‬‬‬‬‬‬ Stevens has worked with many other choreographers, such as Peter Martins, William Forsythe, Edward Villella, Ib Andersen, and Joseph Duell. During the 10 years she performed with NYCB, she danced in the TV programs Live from ‪Lincoln Center with NYCB and Dance in America. She has also appeared as a principal dancer with the New York City Opera in Cinderella. In 1991, Stevens joined Twyla Tharp Dance, where she performed for five years. With Tharp's company, she performed repertoire works as well as new works as a principal. She was asked to dance in the Cutting Up tour with Tharp and Mikhail Baryshnikov. Stevens’ film credits include I'll Do Anything and In the Upper Room, both choreographed by Tharp. Stevens was personally invited to perform in Tharp’s hit Broadway musical Movin' Out. She has been teaching ballet at several schools, universities, and companies throughout the United States. She is approved by The George Balanchine Trust to restage George Balanchine works and also stages works by Tharp through the Twyla Tharp Dance Foundation.

Juliann McAloon started her dance training in Cornwall, NY at Dance Design School. While at Dance Design she completed her Royal Academy of Dance Exams and earned her Solo Seal award in Toronto, Canada. Juliann has attended many ballet summer intensives such as The Rock School, Boston Ballet, and New York State Summer School of the Arts on scholarships. She earned a Bachelor’s of Science in Ballet and an Outside Field in Exercise Science at Indiana University. While at the university, she trained under Violette Verdy and Michael Vernon. She was also given the opportunity to be coached one on one by world renowned dancers and artists such as Cynthia Gregory, Victoria Simon, Helen Starr, and Mimi Paul. Juliann has danced a variety of lead roles in ballets ranging from Twyla Tharp’s Sweet Fields and Agnes de Milles Rodeo, to Balanchine’s Serenade, Valse Fantasie, Four Temperaments, Raymonda Variations, and Who Cares?. Juliann danced with Sarasota Ballet from 2010-2012 before moving to Dallas to dance for ACB. Juliann was a principal dancer for ACB for eight seasons and retired in 2020.

Guest Faculty

Michele grew up in Dallas, Texas. She began her training with Ann Etgen and Bill Atkinson at the Dallas Metropolitan Ballet. At the age of sixteen she moved to New York City to attend the School of American Ballet on full scholarship. Two years later, she became a member of the New York City Ballet. In her twelve year career at New York City Ballet, Michele had the opportunity to perform many soloist and principal roles including: Balanchine’s “Apollo”,” Rubies”, “Agon”, “Symphony in Three Movements”,” A Midsummer Night’s Dream”, “Stars and Stripes” to name a few. Michele also originated many roles including Jerome Robbins’ “West Side Story Suite”, Peter Martins’” Echo”, Christopher Wheeldons’” Slavonic Dances”, and David Parsons’ Touch”. In 2000, Michele joined Texas Ballet Theater under Ben Stevenson. While at TBT, she performed several principal roles including Ben Stevenson’s “Copellia”, “Four Last Songs”,” Dracula”, and “Peer Gynt” along with Balanchine’s “Allegro Brilliante” and “The Four Temperaments”. Michele has also made several guest artist appearances including “Tchaikovsky pas de Deux”, “Who Cares”, “Barber Violin Concerto”,” Carmina Burana”, “Rubies” later joining Bruce Wood Dance Company where she was also Company Manager.

Jennifer Mabus is a Dallas-based choreographer, performer, and educator whose work blends dance, kinesthetic empathy, and immersive theater. She has performed with renowned choreographers and companies including Robert Battle’s Battleworks, Amy Marshall Dance Company, Heidi Latsky, Takehiro Ueyama, Bruce Wood Dance Project, NobleMotion Dance, and Dark Circles Contemporary Dance. Her choreography has been presented at national festivals and commissioned by companies such as Bruce Wood Dance Dallas, Avant Chamber Ballet, Houston Contemporary Dance, METdance, and Contemporary Ballet Dallas, as well as by the Foundation for Modern Music and Windsync ensemble. She has served on the faculties of Texas Christian University, UT Dallas, University of St. Thomas (founding program chair), Booker T Washington HSPVA, Interlochen Arts Academy, Texas Ballet Theater, Houston’s HSPVA, and Sam Houston State University. She has been an artist in residence with Arts Mission Oak Cliff, Agora Artists, Dance Source Houston, Noble Motion Dance and Rice University. 

Mabus is currently building Grackle Dance Collective, a collabortive dance company that aims to create performances that move between the intimate and the expansive—blending collaboration, immersive theater, and the transformative power of dance. Mabus holds a BFA from Southern Methodist University and an MFA from Sam Houston State University. She is also a yoga teacher, Argentine tango dancer, and dedicated “cat lady,” with a strong interest in Dance Movement Therapy.

Sierra Noelle Jones (she/her), a Maryland native, is a multifaceted artist and arts leader. She profoundly contributes to the performing arts through dancing, education, advocacy, choreography, and leadership. Sierra is deeply committed to transparency, integrity, and ethics, prioritizing these values to inspire compassion, duty of care, and excellence among artists and arts organizations alike. Her teaching philosophy is firmly rooted in maintaining both technical mastery and artistic integrity. Sierra's rigorous training began at institutions like Donna’s Dance A Company, The Dance Institute of Washington, Baltimore School for the Arts, and The Dance Theatre of Harlem’s Pre-Professional Residency Program. She is an honors graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where she earned a Bachelors of Fine Art in Dance & Choreography. Her professional career launched with Dallas Black Dance Theatre, followed by a debut with Houston Grand Opera. She boasts an extensive list of collaborations with major artistic organizations, including Broadway Dallas, The Dallas Opera, AT&T Performing Arts Center, and the Dallas Symphony Orchestra. Sierra has also performed and taught nationally and internationally. She is a recent graduate of the Business Council for the Arts' Leadership Arts Institute (LAI) and a proud member of both Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Incorporated, and the American Guild of Musical Artists (AGMA). Sierra is a proven leader. She served three years on the Auxiliary Board for the AT&T Performing Arts Center, including a term as Board Chair. Sierra is now thrilled to join the Dance Conservatory Faculty at Booker T. Washington HSPVA, bringing her wealth of experience and dedication to the next generation.

Brooke Wendle recently directed and choreographed a new show for Holland America Cruise Line entitled Love Opera and her choreography will be shown in December at Broadway Dance Lab. She returned to her home state of Texas this summer to choreograph Bloody Bloody Andrew Jackson at Casa Mañana Theater and was nominated for a Broadway World Regional Award for best choreography. Brooke directed and choreographed Adam Lambert’s Original High World Tour, worked as the associate director and specialty act designer for Franco Dragone’s Taboo at the Hard Rock Hotel in Macau, China and was the supervising choreographer for America’s Got Talent for four seasons. Brooke’s choreography has appeared on Orange Is the New Black, VH1’s Best in Music 2015, American Idol, the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade 2015, I Am Cait, Best Time Ever with Neil Patrick Harris, East Bound and Down on HBO, Dancing with the Stars, and The Carrie Diaries. Other credits include RENT in Shanghai, China, Rebel Bingo (NY and London), NBA Brooklynettes, Adam Lambert’s Glamnation World Tour, Flashdance the Musical (Dance Associate and Coach).

Her associate choreography credits include Cirque Du Soleil’s first Broadway venture Paramour, The Donna Summer Project 2016 (Signature Theater NYC),The Secret Life Of Walter Mitty starring Kristen Wiig and directed by Ben Stiller, Gossip Girl on the CW, Rescue Me on FX and Cirque Du Soleil’s Delirium (Dance Supervisor). Brooke is currently on faculty at The Joffrey Ballet School and has taught at Steps on Broadway, Broadway Dance Center, Edge Performing Arts Center, Peridance and Pepperdine University. As a performer, Brooke appeared on Broadway in Wicked the Musical, Elton John and Tim Rice’s Aida and the 2009 revival of Guys and Dolls. Brooke was a Radio City Music Hall Rockette, danced with Mia Michael’s Dance Company Reality At Work and performed with Britney Spears, P!nk, Christina Aguilera, and Enrique Iglesias. Brooke was also seen on the MTV Video Music Awards, the American Music Awards, Saturday Night Live and national commercials for E-Trade and Joe Boxer.