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.

Bethany Dean is a passionate vibrant dancer who has lived in LA the last five years training and performing.  She has trained in ballet internationally in Hong Kong, Thailand, as well as in the U.S.A. She’s trained in places such as Virginia’s Academy de Ballet, Musical theater training in New York’s at Steps on Broadway musical theater intensives. Her most recent training at the AMDA dance conservatory. Here in LA, she completed training in hip hop, jazz, modern, contemporary and ballet. Her most recent performances are for Cantan Los Fuegos, a flamenco dance company, and staring as the lead dancer in AKTs commercial. Bethany loves all forms of dance but her deepest training and love is Ballet. She is passionate about helping others find joy in the process learning dance. 

Jahna Frantziskonis

Born in Tucson AZ where she trained with Ballet Tucson. After attending summer programs at Pacific Northwest Ballet, American Ballet Theater (New York), and The School of American Ballet, Jahna returned to Seattle to train full time in the PNB school’s Professional Division, and joined the company in 2012. In 2015 Jahna joined the San Francisco Ballet and was subsequently promoted to soloist in 2017. She has danced principal roles in “Rubies” by George Balanchine, “Hedda Gabler” in “Ibsen’s House” by Val Caniparoli, “New Suite” and “Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude” by William Forsythe,  “Chamber Symphony” by Alexei Ratmansky, among others. Created principal roles by choreographers Alonzo King, and Myles Thatcher. Created featured roles by Twyla Tharp, Justin Peck, Edwaard Liang, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, among others. Did works by Jiri Kylian, Christopher Wheeldon, Mark Morris, Nacho Duato, Crystal Pite, among others. She has not only trained in classical ballet, but also tap, jazz, Fosse, and modern, Alexander Technique, and acting.

MADELINE HOUK

Madeline’s training began at the San Elijo Dance Academy in San Diego, California before she went on to the Walnut Hill School for the Arts. Her summer studies included the School of American Ballet, the San Francisco Ballet and the Pacific Northwest Ballet where she went on to be a PD on full scholarship. After a year of dancing with PNB  she accepted her first professional contract with the Los Angeles Ballet, where she danced for 7 consecutive seasons. While there she performed a wide range of classical and contemporary repertoire, most notably Bournonville’s “Napoli Pas de Six”, Balanchine’s “Third Theme” from The Four Temperaments, and “Dark Angel” from Balanchine’s “Serenade”. She also performed in Azsure Barton’s “Les Chambres de Jacque”, LAB’s “La Sylphide”, “Swan Lake” and many more.

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.

Stella SingYiun Ng

Originally from South Korea Stella holds an MFA in Dance from UCI after receiving a full scholarship. She completed the Royal Academy of Dance of London’s Advanced II Curriculum with high distinction, and went on to train at illustrious ballet schools in New York and California. Stella holds multiple first-place awards from international ballet competitions, and has danced professionally with Anaheim Ballet Company and Festival Ballet Theater. Stella has shared the stage with ballet stars Yuan Yuan Tan, Maria Kotchekova and danced as a guest artist along with Pacific Symphony at Segerstrom Concert Hall. A graduate of ABT’s National Training Curriculum, she has also worked as guest choreographer for Irvine High School. We are excited to have Stella as part of the Align program. Students of any skill level will benefit from her expertise and nurturing energy!

Alexandra Pullen

A former member of the corps de ballet with ABT and Colorado Ballet, Alexandra’s journey as a dancer started young. A gold-medalist in the classical division of the Youth American Grand Prix, she was also the recipient of several scholarships to premiere companies such as San Francisco Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, School of American Ballet and ABT. Since relocating to Los Angeles, Alexandra has explored other disciplines in the wellness sphere. In addition to earning her Yoga certification, she maintains the active blog/website Healthy Ballerina, where she shares her insights for mindful eating, nutrition and holistic health. Alexandra is currently signed with Block Talent Agency, and continues dancing in regular commercial appearances. Alexandra’s classical training combined with a well-balanced approach to fitness make her a wonderful asset to the Align team!

AIMEE OZEKI – As a California native, Aimee began her dance training with Riverside Ballet Arts. She went on to study with a variety of schools including American Ballet Theatre summer program, School of American Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Los Angeles Ballet, and under UCLA’s esteemed dance faculty. In addition she has performed with a multitude of dance companies including California Riverside Ballet, LA Unbound, Pacific Ballet Dance Theatre, City Ballet of Los Angeles, Amaterasu Dance Theatre, and NYC Dance Works.

Throughout her dance career, she has taught students of all levels. Aimee is thrilled to be joining Align Ballet. She believes classical ballet is for everyone and strives to help students reach their fullest potential.

Shadé St. Juste 

Began her early training as a ballet dancer in Miami, FL and was later introduced to jazz, modern, hip hop and contemporary. She’s a proud graduate of Miami’s top performing arts high school and has spent many summers attending dance competitions with her local studio. Shadé, continued her arts education by attending Alonzo King Lines Ballet BFA program & received numerous dance achievement awards, such as being a recipient for the Alvin Ailey Annual & Summer Intensive Student Fellowship program, NAACP ACT-SO gold medalist, NYCDA College Scholarship Recipient, and joining the National Honor Society for Dance Arts. Throughout her career she has been granted the opportunity to dance as a soloist for a dance company, on a cruise line, to teach at her local studios and dance conventions, participate in live performances with various artists and has completed  3 seasons as a Los Angeles “Laker Girl”. She is a highly sought artist in the competitive Hollywood commercial dance scene.

Susan Vishmid

Susan’s lifelong passion for dance began at age four, where she was a devoted student of the Westside School of Ballet. She continued pre-professional training at eminent art institutions around the U.S., and danced professionally with Pennsylvania Ballet, Santa Fe Opera, San Diego Opera, Chicago Festival Ballet, Napoles Ballet Theatre, California Contemporary Ballet, City of Angels Ballet, California Riverside Ballet, Key West Ballet, Coast City Ballet and San Gorgonio Ballet. A graduate of USC, Susan is also a certified yoga and Pilates instructor, as well as Artistic Director Director and Choreographer of Freaks With Lines, a Los Angeles-based contemporary ballet company. Her deep knowledge of anatomy and body mechanics set her teaching style apart. Align students love Susan’s detail-oriented and easy to follow instruction – perfect for ballet beginners and beyond!