Moving on to bigger things

Other dancers who trained in the Inland Northwest now performing with professional ballet companies include:

“Grant Dettling, Spokane, trained with Ballet Arts Academy and Lynne Williams School of Ballet in Spokane. He danced with Washington Ballet in Washington, D.C., Kansas City Ballet, Texas Ballet Theatre in Fort Worth and with Ohio Ballet in Akron, Ohio.

“Amanda Diehl, Spokane, trained at the Dance Center and Academy of Dance. In 2000, she joined the Louisville Ballet, where she dances as a member of the corps de ballet.

“ Giselle Doepker, Spokane, trained at Ballet Arts Academy, and joined Ballet Arizona in 2000. She plans to join a ballet company in Dresden, Germany, in late summer.

“ Nathan Driftmeyer, Spokane, trained at Ballet Arts Academy, and danced with Orlando Ballet until May.

“Brooke Klinger, Coeur d’Alene, trained at Ballet School of Coeur d’Alene and is a founding member of Aspen Santa Fe Ballet in Aspen, Colo.

“Jodie Thomas, St. Maries, trained at Lynne Williams School of Ballet, joined the Pacific Northwest Ballet in Seattle in 1995 and became a soloist in 2000.

“In addition, according to Ceci Klein of Ballet School of Coeur d’Alene, two of her former students have signed contracts to join the corps de ballet at professional companies in August. Brandy Horne will dance with Hubbard Street Ballet in Chicago, and Andrea Cooper will dance with Oregon Ballet Theatre in Portland.

On the Web: To watch a clip of Emily Grizzell’s performance as Juliet in the Royal Winnipeg Ballet’s “Romeo and Juliet,” go to www.spokesmanreview.com.