The Align Ballet Method provides an elite faculty of highly trained professional dancers. 

Michael Cornell

Michael is the founder and CEO of the ALIGN Ballet Method. He studied classical ballet at the National Academy of the Arts, renowned for its illustrious community of students and faculty from all over the world. Upon graduation, he embarked on a 10-year long career with BalletMet, where he danced leading roles (including pieces designed for him by elite contemporary choreographers). After retiring from the stage, Michael relocated to Los Angeles. He quickly became a sought-after certified fitness coach, and created/produced one of the earliest workout podcasts available online and featured by The New York Times. By 2010, ALIGN 1 officially launched, integrating Michael’s professional background and vision to reach a vast (and underserved) market of adult beginners. The workshops exploded out of the gate, and ALIGN has since been featured by Health, Better Homes and Gardens, Pop Sugar, Angeleno, Daily Candy, KABC Los Angeles, Broadway News, Backstage, and Vogue. He has also taught on-camera segments for celebrities such as Pauly D (MTV’s Jersey Shore), the women of WWE (E!’s Total Divas), and YouTube sensation, Liza Koshy. Michael continues to cultivate the fusion of classical ballet with technological innovation, giving ALIGN students unparalleled access to premiere virtual and in-person training. From 2020 to 2022 Michael worked to build AlignBalletMethod.com into a powerful independently owned scaleable web app. Eventually the ALIGN site will power live classes and virtual training worldwide.

Ishaun Jackson-Moaney

Ishaun Jackson-Moaney (Baltimore, MD) is a 2023 graduate of Fordham University/ The Ailey School, holding a BFA in Dance. While growing up in Los Angeles, she began her dance training at The Lula Washington Dance Theatre. During high school, she trained at Align Ballet Method while attending the LA County High School for the Arts. Ishaun has been awarded scholarships for intensives at The Debbie Allen Dance Academy, Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alonzo King’s Lines Ballet, Jacob Jonas The Company, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet. During her senior year at The Ailey School, Ishaun guested with The Dance Theatre of Harlem to perform Geoffrey Holder’s “Dougla” for their New York City Center Vision Gala. 

Zoe Keijser

Following her early dance training in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Zoe studied extensively in the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet’s pre-professional program while simultaneously completing her high school education.
Zoe continued training and began her professional career in Vancouver BC where she danced for the Vancouver Opera and went on tour with the Goh Ballet. Zoe proceeded to dance as a member of the Connecticut Ballet Company. Having then moved to New York City, she completed multiple Fellowships with the Merce Cunningham Trust performing reconstructions of the Cunningham Company’s original works at City Center in New York. Upon relocation to California, Zoe danced with Pasadena Dance Theatre and ArtistsPlus Productions. In addition to her classes with Align Ballet, Zoe is currently an adjunct professor teaching ballet courses at Hussian College.

Gabrielle La Mura

Born and raised in New York City, Gabrielle trained at the American Ballet Theatre’s JKO School. She showcased her talents performing with ABT in nine distinct ballets at The Met, Lincoln Center, Guggenheim, and the Saks Fifth Avenue Window Unveiling. She marked her presence in the Broadway scene, making her debut in two world premieres: “Whipped Cream” and Alexei Ratmansky’s rendition of “Romeo and Juliet.” She has additionally trained at the Royal Ballet Summer Intensive in London & Ibstage in Spain. Transitioning to Los Angeles, Gabrielle graduated Cum Laude from USC and launched her own handbag line, W 78 ST. Her innovative creations gained recognition, being featured in esteemed publications like Vogue and made available for purchase on platforms such as Revolve.

Isabella Hoy

Isabella Hoy began dancing at the age of two at Alexandra Ballet where she received a lifetime scholarship. At the age of seven Isabella moved to Southern California and began training in the Vaganova method and Contemporary dance at Southland Ballet Academy. She then became a company member of Festival Ballet Theater where she performed in corps de ballet and lead roles. She has had the privilege of training with world renowned directors and choreographers from Royal Ballet, Bolshoi Ballet, Houston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theater, New York City Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. In the last few years Isabella has begun a career in acting and teaching ballet. 

Brittany Bennington

Brittany began her ballet training in Huntington Beach, CA. As a student, she traveled to San Francisco Ballet School to train in the advanced division. Her professional performing career began in San Diego with The City Ballet of San Diego. She later went on to perform with Los Angeles Ballet, Ballet Tucson, Madison Ballet, in addition to television and film. In addition to her professional performing experience, Brittany has been teaching ballet to students of all ages for approximately 9 years.

Linda Malik

Linda Malik, a writer and former professional ballet dancer based in Los Angeles, brings a rich artistic background to her teaching. Originally from Denmark, her training includes Vaganova and Bournonville, as well as Horton and Limón modern dance techniques. During her 12-year professional career, Linda performed with the Pantomime Theatre (Tivoli Ballet) in Copenhagen before joining the Danish Dance Theater, Denmark’s national contemporary dance company. Linda has pursued her passion for storytelling in the U.S., earning both a B.A. and M.A. in Writing for the Screen. Her projects range from children’s picture books to screenplays and animations, all influenced by her visual storytelling approach. Combining her love of dance and writing, Linda is living her dream by teaching ballet and creating stories, including a children’s book series inspired by her rescue cat, Willow.

bryne Graham

Bryne Graham McRee

Bryne Graham McRee is proud to be an inaugural member of Hollywood Ballet under the leadership of Petra Conti and Eris Nezha after performing with New Ballet in the Bay Area since 2019. In her career thus far she has performed soloist roles in ballets such as Paquita, Serenade, La Boutique Fantasque, Swan Lake, and a variety of new works. In addition to serving as Outreach Coordinator and ABT Affiliate Faculty at New Ballet, Bryn has been teaching adult ballet since the early days of the pandemic when she taught her first Zoom class. She has loved working with adults ever since as she finds their passion, work ethic, and love of the process to be inspiring. Bryn received her early training in her home town of Lawrence, Kansas from former Joffrey dancers Jerel and Krystyna Hilding before attending Kansas City Ballet School, Canada’s National Ballet School, and The Portland Ballet. She was a regular Align Ballet open class student while in college and in 2017 she earned her BA in Theatre from the USC School of Dramatic Arts.