Sebastian West trained at Omaha Theater Ballet for 10 years under the tutelage of Robin Welch (and Deborah Carr as ballet mistress) and with Nebraska Dance under Stephanie Pearson for 3 years. Upon graduating high school, West attended Fordham University and received a Bachelor of Arts in Natural Science and Economics. West also trained at the Ailey School as a BFA student from 2010-2011 with Melanie Person and Tracey Inman as the school directors. He performed during the 2011 Ailey at the Apollo and danced Joyce Trisler’s rendition of The Four Temperaments re-staged by Regina Larkin. Upon moving back to Omaha this past year, West has been training at Omaha Academy of Ballet under Juliette Henning.

Sponsors: Lanthan & Louise Camblin and Roger & Jennie Wade

Fun Fact: Sebastian also spends his time tutoring at the Omaha Open Door Mission to help residents achieve their GEDs.

Sebastian has a BA in Natural Science from Fordham University.

His quote to live by is from his teacher Peter O’Brien, “You are only as good as your last performance.”

Touchet will never forget her 19th birthday. That was the day Victoria Morgan came to Pacific Northwest Ballet, to audition Touchet’s professional division. “Directors from everywhere auditioned us, but nobody ever picked me,” she says. “I remember thinking she wouldn’t like me anyway, so I told myself to just have fun, and after it was over, she said, ‘I’d like to talk to Janessa’.” Crossed wires with communicating Touchet’s acceptance of Morgan’s apprenticeship offer led to a planned spot with Memphis Ballet, but Morgan called one last time and Touchet was able to come to Cincinnati Ballet instead. “It was meant to be here. I started as an Apprentice and moved all the way through the ranks. I had always had my heart and mind set on Cincinnati Ballet.”

Professional History

Omaha Ballet Theater
Omaha Academy of Ballet
The Ailey School
Cincinnati Ballet: CBII

Favorite Roles

Melancholy in Joyce Trisler’s The Four Temperaments