Riley Sharp

Riley Sharp began her ballet training at Ballet Tech of Ohio at age 4. While there she studied with director Claudia Rudolf Barrett, as well as Cincinnati Ballet dancers Cervilio Amador, Sergey Pakharev, and Gema Diaz. Over the years, she has studied modern with Ka-Ron Brown Lehman, and contemporary with Kathy Meyer. She spent one year as an Apprentice with De La Dance Company, and spent her senior year of high school studying at the Hairston School of Dance with Sarah Hairston (former principal, Cincinnati Ballet) and Oliver Arana. Her repertoire includes: Kitri (Don Quixote) Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop, and Snow Queen (Nutcracker), Alice (Alice in Danceland), Gamzatti (La Bayadere), Paquita, and others. She has also received multiple summer intensive scholarships for Ballet Met, Kansas City Ballet and Bolshoi Ballet, and attended The Art of Classical Ballet intensive. In the past few years, she has had the opportunity to choreograph several contemporary pieces for solo and ensemble performances. She has placed at YAGP in both the classical and contemporary divisions, including being a YAGP finalist. She won 1st Place at both the NFMC Ballet and NFMC Contemporary competitions in both the Junior and Senior levels. She was also selected as a dance model for the Pas de Deux Dance Photography Conference in Chicago. Riley is thrilled to begin her second with Kentucky Ballet Theatre!