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!
Margot Aknin | Photo by Alan Hubbard
MARGOT AKNIN Corps de Ballet
For Margot Aknin, joining Golden State Ballet is both a new beginning and a homecoming.
Originally from San Jose, California, Margot trained for ten years at Los Gatos Ballet under Marcie Ryken. After high school, she moved across the country to continue her training in the Graduate Program at Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School, studying under Marjorie Grundvig and Dennis Marshall.
During her time in Pittsburgh, Margot performed roles including the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker and Nikiya in La Bayadère, as well as performing with the main company in productions including Swan Lake, Don Quixote, The Nutcracker, La Bayadère, Sleeping Beauty, and Beauty and the Beast.
Her professional career has taken her through a wide range of companies and repertoire. Margot danced with BalletMet 2 in Columbus, Ohio, before joining Dayton Ballet, where she spent five seasons and performed principal roles including Daisy in Ron Cunningham’s The Great Gatsby, Odette in Septime Webre’s Swan Lake, and Lucy/Mina in Karen Russo Burke’s Dracula: Bloodlines. She then joined Newport Contemporary Ballet in Rhode Island, dancing principal and soloist roles for five seasons in works by choreographers including Danielle Genest, Miki Ohlsen, Nicolo Fonte, Amy Hall Garner, Takehiro Ueyama, and DaYoung Jung. Most recently, she appeared as a guest artist with Smuin Ballet in San Francisco.
After 14 years on the other side of the country, Margot says California was calling her home. Joining Golden State Ballet brings her back to her roots—and closer to her family—while also opening the door to a new artistic chapter.
“I’m going back to my roots with bigger classical ballets!” Margot says. After spending the last five seasons with a contemporary company, she’s excited to reconnect with the classical repertoire she has missed while continuing to explore the work of new choreographers.
She’s particularly looking forward to the challenge of George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante. Margot has danced only one Balanchine work before, during her trainee years, and is excited to continue expanding her experience with his choreography. She’s also eager to work with Cory Barnette and Troy Herring, whose work she describes as “stunning.”
Now in her 12th year as a professional dancer, Margot sees her time at GSB as another opportunity to keep growing.
“My goal this year is to continue to challenge and push myself outside of my comfort zone,” she says. “The fun thing is, what my comfort zone is is always changing and evolving!”
Away from the studio, Margot has a creative side that extends beyond dance. She enjoys graphic design and does part-time work in the field, and she loves cooking for her friends.
Most of all, Margot is thrilled to be back in California and is looking forward to experiencing San Diego’s beautiful theaters with Golden State Ballet. She’s also grateful to the audiences who make that experience possible.
“I would also like to thank our audience for supporting the arts and artists in their community.”
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.
Madison Bruns | Photo by @the.thief.of.time
MADISON BRUNS Apprentice
For Madison Bruns, her journey to Golden State Ballet has taken her across the country—and back toward home.
Born and raised in Reno, Nevada, Madison began dancing at age five, training at The Conservatory of Movement and A.V.A. Ballet Theater. At 14, she moved to Pennsylvania to join Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre’s pre-professional program, beginning a path that would take her from the West Coast to the East Coast and eventually back again.
In 2019, Madison moved to Washington, D.C., where she joined The Washington Ballet as a trainee under the direction of Julie Kent. During her time with the company, she performed in numerous productions, including George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Theme and Variations, and Serenade, as well as Julie Kent’s Sleeping Beauty, Swan Lake, and Giselle, and Septime Webre’s The Nutcracker. She also had the opportunity to perform alongside the main company at venues including the Kennedy Center and Wolf Trap.
Madison began her professional career in 2024 as an apprentice with Grand Rapids Ballet, where she spent two seasons performing works by choreographers including Septime Webre, Val Caniparoli, Justin Peck, James Sofranko, and Penny Saunders. Along the way, she also trained at institutions including San Francisco Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Ballet West, Orlando Ballet, and Chautauqua.
Now, after years of training and dancing around the country, Madison is excited to return to the West Coast and begin a new chapter with Golden State Ballet.
“I’ve always admired GSB as a beautiful, vibrant, rising company that I wanted to work with,” Madison says. “The company has a very fresh, bright energy that I was immediately drawn to, and I am so eager to now be a part of it!”
One of the things Madison is most looking forward to this season is getting to know her new colleagues and building the connections that come from working together in the studio and on stage. She describes her fellow dancers as her new “ballet family” and is excited for the opportunity to learn and grow alongside them.
As she begins this new chapter, Madison’s goal is to fully immerse herself in the creative process, collaborate closely with her directors and fellow artists, and bring vibrant energy to every performance.
Outside of ballet, Madison loves being active and spending time outdoors. Growing up near Lake Tahoe, she spent many weekends with her family enjoying the area, and she continues to gravitate toward activities like hiking, biking, skiing, camping, and pickleball. She also loves relaxing at the beach and has her sights set on learning to surf and improving her beach volleyball and golf skills.
After so many moves and new chapters, Madison is excited to settle into her new home on the West Coast, meet her new ballet family, and finally step into a ballet she has dreamed of performing for years.
“I am so thrilled to be joining GSB and can’t wait to share the stage with this incredible group.”
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!”
Scarlett Learned | Photo by @the.thief.of.time
SCARLETT LEARNED Apprentice
Originally from South Orange, New Jersey, Scarlett Learned began dancing at age six at Yvette’s Dance Studio in Cranford. In 2021, she moved to Pennsylvania to continue her training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, where she studied under Darla Hoover and Noelani Pantastico.
During her time at CPYB, Scarlett had the opportunity to perform in George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker, Walpurgisnacht, and Serenade, as well as original works by Alan Hineline. She also spent summers training at the School of American Ballet and Miami City Ballet.
After graduating in 2024, Scarlett returned to New Jersey to join New Jersey Ballet as a trainee under Maria Karowski. Over her two years with the company, she worked closely with the professional company and performed in productions including Swan Lake, Balanchine’s Serenade, Sleeping Beauty, and The Nutcracker.
For Scarlett, joining Golden State Ballet represents the beginning of an exciting new chapter. She was drawn to GSB’s diverse repertoire and positive atmosphere, and she’s looking forward to meeting new people, learning new ballets, and discovering a new city.
Among the works on the 2026–2027 season lineup, she’s especially excited to take on the Balanchine rep in March’s Never Here.
“I want to push my limits and explore new areas of my dancing,” Scarlett says of her goals for the season. “I want to expand my artistry, and allow myself to grow both as a person, and a dancer.”
When she’s not in the studio, Scarlett loves spending time outdoors, whether she’s camping, skiing, or hiking. She also enjoys photography, cooking, and seeing live music. And she won’t be making the move to California alone: her cat, Moose, is joining her for the adventure—and, according to Scarlett, he’s very excited to see California for the first time.
Scarlett is excited to join Golden State Ballet as an apprentice and begin her professional career with the company.
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.”
We’re thrilled to welcome Margot, Amélie, Madison, Annaliesa, Scarlett, and Nura to Golden State Ballet! Each brings a unique journey, perspective, and passion to our company, and we’re excited to see how their stories continue to unfold throughout the 2026–2027 season.
Now that you’ve gotten to know them a little better, we hope you’ll join us in welcoming our newest members of the GSB family—and experience their artistry for yourself on stage this season.