Introducing Golden State Ballet’s New Dancers for the 2026–2027 Season
As Golden State Ballet prepares to begin its 2026–2027 season, we’re excited to welcome a new group of artists to the company. Coming from different parts of the country and a variety of training backgrounds, these dancers bring their own experiences, perspectives, and aspirations to GSB.
Over the coming weeks, you’ll have the chance to meet each of our newest company members on social media. But we wanted to go a little deeper. We asked our new dancers about where they trained, what brought them to Golden State Ballet, what they’re looking forward to this season, and who they are beyond the studio.
Meet the artists joining Golden State Ballet for the 2026–2027 season!
Amélie Freeman at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition | Photo by @littlecorgi_studio
AMÉLIE FREEMAN Corps de Ballet
For Amélie Freeman, joining Golden State Ballet marks both a professional and personal new beginning.
Originally from Cincinnati, Ohio, Amélie began dancing at age four and trained at Le Jeune Dance Academy before continuing her education at BalletMet Academy. Following two years in BalletMet’s Trainee Program, she spent two seasons with the company’s second company before joining BalletMet’s main company for one season.
During her time with BalletMet, Amélie performed works by choreographers including George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, Dwight Rhoden, Trey McIntyre, Edwaard Liang, and others. In 2026, she was also selected to compete at the Helsinki International Ballet Competition.
After 22 years in Ohio, Amélie felt ready for a change—and Southern California already had a special place in her family.
“My mom is a California native and my brother has been living here the past five years,” she explains. “It just made sense for me to end up here too.”
Joining GSB gives Amélie the opportunity to continue pursuing her goals as a professional dancer while also making room for the things she wants to explore outside of ballet.
“Golden State Ballet was able to offer me a quality of life that I never had in Ohio,” she says. “I still get to follow my goals of dancing professionally but I now have free time to explore new interests, be out in nature, and meet so many amazing people.”
That new chapter comes with an especially meaningful opportunity this season: dancing Justin Peck’s Paz de la Jolla.
Amélie grew up watching Ballet 422, the documentary that follows the creation and rehearsal process of Justin Peck’s Paz de la Jolla. Years later, she’ll be performing the work herself with Golden State Ballet.
“This just feels like such an incredible full circle moment,” she says. “If I could go back in time and tell myself, young Amélie wouldn’t believe me.”
As she begins her time with GSB, Amélie is also focused on building her confidence and reminding herself that she belongs in the room.
“My biggest goal is to work on my self confidence,” she says. “I would like to remind myself that everyone is here for a purpose and deserves to be in the room and be seen — and that should include myself, too.”
Outside the studio, Amélie has been getting into surfing, enjoys exploring new cafés and making matcha, and is also a knitter. She has a love for older music and vinyl records, with Jim Croce, Pink Floyd, Bob Dylan, and Simon & Garfunkel among her current favorites. She also works part time at An’s Hatmakers in Del Mar.
Nura Parikh | Photo by Cymone Van Marter
NURA PARIKH Apprentice
Originally from Denver, Colorado, Nura Parikh began her training at Colorado Ballet Academy before continuing her studies at the University of Arizona School of Dance, where she trained in ballet, contemporary, jazz, and modern. She later joined the Colorado Ballet Studio Company, performing with the company for three seasons.
Her repertoire includes Swan Lake, Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll and Hyde, Coppélia, Kenneth Tindall’s Casanova, Septime Webre’s Alice (In Wonderland), Christopher Wheeldon’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and several works by George Balanchine, including Serenade, Rubies, and Concerto Barocco.
For Nura, joining Golden State Ballet represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter on the West Coast.
“I have always loved Southern California,” Nura says. “Having followed Golden State Ballet’s journey over the past few years, I was excited to see the mixture of diverse repertoire and classical ballet that Golden State Ballet brings to its patrons in San Diego.”
She is particularly looking forward to dancing Justin Peck’s Paz de la Jolla, which she sees as a fitting introduction to both GSB and her new home. “It is an homage to the sunny and beautiful coast of Southern California, something I myself am excited to explore for the first time as well.”
As she begins her professional career with GSB, Nura hopes to hold onto one of the things that first drew her to dance: storytelling.
“One goal I have for myself as I begin my career with GSB is to always make sure I come back to the joy of storytelling through dance,” she says. “I live for those moments on stage where I can connect with the audience through storytelling.”
Away from the stage, Nura shares that she has a passion for teaching dance and practices yoga as a form of cross-training. And if you want to know the quickest way to win her over, look no further than her two-year-old Siamese Lynx Point cat, Momo, whom she calls her “greatest pride and joy.”
Annaliesa Gowe | Photo by @the.thief.of.time
ANNALIESA GOWE Apprentice
Born and raised in Charleston, South Carolina, Annaliesa Gowe trained pre-professionally at Dance Conservatory of Charleston with Lindy Mandrajieff Fabyanic, Stephen Hanna, and Deanna McBrearty. She continued her education at Indiana University, where she earned a Bachelor of Science in Ballet and studied with Kyra Nichols, Sarah Wroth, Michael Vernon, Sasha Janes, and Christian Classeans.
Now, Annaliesa is excited to make the move west and begin her professional career with Golden State Ballet.
“I am looking forward to living and working in sunny San Diego,” she says. “I have not spent much time on the West Coast and [I’m excited to] dance alongside the beautiful dancers of GSB!”
No stranger to Balanchine, Annaliesa is most excited for our winter triple bill, Never Here. “I am very grateful to have the opportunity to learn such incredible repertoire this season.”
As she begins this next chapter, Annaliesa isn’t setting just one goal for herself as a dancer. She hopes the experience will help her continue growing both inside and outside the studio.
“I hope to learn more about myself as not only a dancer but a human too,” she says. “All we can ask of ourselves each year is what we can improve upon, how we can get better, feel better and be grateful.”
Her creativity extends well beyond dance. Annaliesa runs a small jewelry business, where she gets to work with her hands and explore a different kind of artistry.
“I love to be creative in a different way than ballet and work with my hands to make pretty things,” she says.
And after growing up on the East Coast, she’s clearly ready for her new California adventure: “I am thrilled to be moving to San Diego to join GSB! What an incredible experience ahead!”
We’re thrilled to welcome Amélie, Nura, Annaliesa, and all of our newest dancers to Golden State Ballet. We can’t wait for you to meet them, see them in the studio, and watch them take the stage throughout our 2026–2027 season.
Stay tuned as we continue introducing the newest members of the GSB family—and make plans to see them in action this season.