Gloria Tuohy

Founding Artistic Director/CEO

Mrs. Tuohy’s career has spanned over 60 years of professional dance, teaching and artistic direction. Her experiences have brought her to England, Europe and the United States with students of IBT. She was trained the prestigious French Cecchetti classical ballet syllabus in England; dancing at the Volska Ballet Company as a young adult in London. She moved to America in 1973 and opened Imperial Dance Studio with 6 students in her basement in1978. In 1997, she founded Indiana Ballet Theatre (IBT) as a 501(c)(3) non-profit ballet and contemporary dance company, and then incorporated in 1998 when merging the school of dance and the company later that year. Mrs. Tuohy has designed and sewn costumes and alongside fellow associate artistic directors throughout the years has choreographed nine full length original ballets that have been staged over 50 times during the 42 years the organization has existed. Of these, 20 years were at the Star Plaza Theatre.

From 6 students in the basement to building an IBT team that has helped reach and teach over 9,000 students and reach 600,000 audience members throughout the years, to successful schools in DeMotte, Merrillville and Valparaiso, and a growing ballet and contemporary company. Mrs. Tuohy says, “It was all from the dreams of the children.”

Amanda Tuohy, CDE

Artistic Director

Sophiana Botich

Rehearsal Assistant/Choreography, Dew Drop

Sophiana Botich, received a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance with a Contemporary emphasis from Lindenwood University in 2022. As an undergraduate, she performed in Lindenwood’s dance concerts and the American College Dance Association Conference in addition to setting original works. Prior to attending Lindenwood, Sophiana trained with Terrence Marling, John Magnus, Elain Bauer-Brown, Ethan Kirschbaum, and with other faculty at Hubbard Street Dance Chicago, The Ruth Page Civic Ballet, and Portland Festival Ballet. As an alumna of Indiana Ballet Theater, Sophiana has performed in Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, and the Nutcracker in a variety of roles, in addition to teaching, assisting with rehearsals and classes, and setting original works on the company. Sophiana currently resides in Lake County, Indiana and is the Coordinator of Programs and Education for Phi Sigma Sigma where she supports collegiate chapters’ recruitment efforts.

Lindsay Wilson

Stage Manager, Rehearsal Assistant

Lindsay has been a dedicated dancer with the IBT for 20 years, performing in several lead roles in various performances. She began dancing at the age of four and in addition to IBT intensives, she has trained over the summers with several renowned institutions, including Faubourg Ballet School, Milwaukee Ballet, and Joffrey Ballet. Lindsay is passionate about teaching and inspiring the next generation of dancers in IBT’s youth programs. She has completed certification in the Revolutionary Principles of Movements Dance Teacher Training Program and is a proud member of the Chicago National Association of Dance Masters (CNADM). Beyond her work as a dancer and teacher, Lindsay also serves as a stage manager for IBT’s productions, ensuring that each performance runs seamlessly behind the scenes. The discipline, focus, and commitment she has developed through dance have also been integral to her work in the healthcare field. Lindsay’s multifaceted career demonstrates how the principles of dance extend beyond the studio, influencing all aspects of her life.

Evan Howard

The Nutcracker

Evan Howard is a freelance dancer based in Chicago, IL., and grew up training with DC’s Washington School of Ballet. While a student, they performed with the Washington Ballet Company, including originating the role of the Nutcracker Prince in their 2007 colonial reimagining. They received a BFA in dance from New York University where they worked with Lucinda Childs on the premier of her “Lollapalooza” in 2011, and while in New York, they also had the opportunity to restage multiple historic works with the Charles Weidman Foundation.  Upon moving to Chicago they joined Cerqua Rivera Dance Theatre, where they were a company member for 4 years. Though they retired from dancing full time, they love to return to their classical roots in productions with IBT.

Mark-David Bloodgood

Snow Prince, Arabian Lead

Mr. Bloodgood, currently a dancer with Ballet Project OC, and a former principal dancer with the Saint Louis Ballet, is a national guest artist and instructor with over a decade of industry experience stemming from the Pacific Northwest Ballet through to Huntsville Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Milwaukee Ballet II, BalletMet II and Indianapolis Ballet. Dancing extensively in both opera and film, he holds a full Pilates certification from Balanced Body & ballet certification through American Ballet Theater.

Amber Rae Mack

Snow Queen, Lead Arabian

Dance alum of Northern Illinois University, Amber joined Indiana Ballet Theatre in 2005, is IBT’s Costume Mistress, and has performed feature roles in Nutcracker, Coppelia, Cinderella, The Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, Thumbelina, and Kaliedoscope. Amber is also a registered nurse and IBT rehearsal/audition assistant & substitute teacher. Formerly an integral dancer, costume mistress and director at Central New Jersey Ballet Theatre, she currently owns the costume company “Amber Rae Mack Designs.”

Kristy Victor

Snow Queen

An energetic instructor and rehearsal assistant working with IBT company, this talented performer began her dance studies at the age of 3 with IBT and continued on to study and complete her ISTD advanced-level examinations, with distinction, in London, England. IBT Ballets include Cinderella, Firebird, Gaite Parisienne, Sleeping Beauty, Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Coppelia, Peter Pan, Kaliedoscope, and Standing Room Only. Kristy is Executive Director at Northwest Cancer Centers, and owner of Refresh Med spa.

James Monroe Števko

Sugar Plum Cavalier

James is a NY-based actor, dancer and choreographer. Having grown up in Chicago, he came to dance late in life after entering college to study music education as a trumpet player. After three short years of dance training he went on to Milwaukee Ballet. His other credits include: The Metropolitan Opera, The Radio City Christmas Spectacular, The Lyric Opera of Chicago, and work with Broadway directors. His acting debut was made in the award-winning Fiddler on the Roof in Yiddish as Mendl, a role that launched him into choreography, staging the show’s original Broadway choreography. He has been featured in Denník N, Nový Čas, and The Slovak Spectator, Dance Informa, and Dance Teacher Magazine. jmstevko.com

Avery Katsouros

Snow Queen, Sugar Plum Fairy

Avery is a Junior in High School, a member of the National Honor Society of Dance Arts, and has danced at Indiana Ballet Theater since the age of three. She has attended intensives at A&A Ballet, Butler Ballet, Philadelphia Ballet, Colorado Ballet, Visceral Dance Chicago, BalletMet, and performed IBT leads: Sugar Plum, Snow Queen, Red Rose, Ruby Fairy, Red Riding Hood, Clara, Dew Drop, and Angel Fairy. Her favorite memory is from Sleeping Beauty (2025): “Everyone was so supportive and Ruby Fairy was a dream role of mine!” Avery is also an athletic trainer for her high school, and planning to dance in college.

Lily Ullrich

Sugar Plum Fairy

Lily Leonard

Clara

Lily is a senior in high school and a member of the IBT Chapter of the National Honors Society in the Dance Arts. Lily’s ballet training began at Dance Academy of Libertyville and has been training with Indiana Ballet Theater since the age of 13. Lead roles for IBT include Coppelia, Puss N Boots, and Clara. She is also performing as Snow Corps, Chinese Divertissment, and Waltz in the upcoming shows. Lily is a member of band and the National Honors Society. In college, she plans to continue dancing while majoring in Cellular and Molecular Biology with a focus in pre-med.

Kinley Mack

Clara

Kinley is a middle school student, and has danced at IBT since she began. Also dancing at CNJBT, the Rock School of Dance, and Oklahoma City Ballet, she has performed Clara, Snow Princess, Young Clara, Fritz, and Harlequin Doll. She feels ballet is her favorite and a funny memory is: “Mrs. T swimming in the hotel pool with us at CNADM.” She is an awardee of National Dance Arts Barbara Swanson Memorial Scholarship, member of the National Junior Honor Society, the National Honor Society in Dance Arts, and feels she is a “self-taught contortionist.”

Sophia Wilson

Clara

Sophia is a member of the IBT’s NDEO Chapter of the National Honors Society of Dance Arts, and a homeschooled sophomore. She has trained at Indiana Ballet Theater since she was seven years old. Sophia enjoys ballet and modern dance, performing annually in Kaliedoscope contemporary dance concert, and has trained in a wide variety of styles & forms. The elegant IBT gala is an event she looks forward to each year!

Jolie Garduno

Clara

Jolie is a middle school student who has trained at IBT all her dancing years. This summer, she trained at the Royal Ballet School in London, CNADM Ballet Forum, and formerly, with Joffrey Summer Intensive, Chicago. Lead IBT roles have been Clara, Harlequin, Golden Fairy, Young Clara, in Kaliedoscope, and she is both a National Junior Honor Society student, and IBT Honors Society of Dance Arts dancer (NDEO). Scholarships include Marjorie Duckett Merit Scholarship, Barbara Swanson Scholarship, CNADM Merit Scholarship, Dancing Angels Scholarship & CNADM Ballet Forum HM. Jolie is excited to be performing on her birthday, opening night of the Nutcracker!

Joseph Hutto

Drosselmeyer

Joseph started dancing at 13 in Augusta, Georgia. He studied commercial dance at Martinez-Evans Dance Studio, dance as art at John S. Davidson Fine Arts Magnet School in high school. In college, obtained a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in Dance from the University of Georgia while performing as a member of the pre-professional modern dance company CORE concert dance, and dancing in a jazz dance company, DanceFX.  He trained during this time in circus and Aerial Arts by former Cirque Du Soliel performers The Gemini Twins. Joseph furthered his studies in dance with a Master of Fine Arts degree from the University of Illinois, where he experimented with avant-garde and experimental performance art, creating award-winning works. In Chicago, he joined Mordine & Company for several seasons, performed in several notable works with contemporary Chicago dance artists and taught classes for various schools and dance companies over the years in many styles.

Leah Mitchell

Rat King, Angel Fairy

Leah has been dancing for 13 years, with her path leading to participation in Pre-Pro repertoire and training at CNADM, after many years competitively performing around the Midwest. Outside of dance she engages in drama club and high school theatrical performances, plays with her dogs, and spends quality time with her family and friends. Leah expresses thankfulness for her family, friends, and the IBT staff for her continued growth in the arts.

Grace Griffith

Rat King, Angel Fairy

Grace, a senior in high school, has danced for 15 years, and has been an IBT member for over four years, after training with the Civic Ballet in Portage, IN for 11 years. She has previously enjoyed performing roles such as Harlequin Doll, Spanish, Waltz of the Flowers, and as a Snowflake. Grace participates in Kaliedoscope, and in performing for the larger NWI community area. Outside of dance, Grace participates in robotics, bowling, unified sports, and orchestra. She would like to thank her family for always being her biggest supporters, as well as to thank the IBT staff for creating amazing shows and performance opportunities.