-01.png)
Lesley Rausch
Faculty
Technique, Pointe, Variations Coaching & Pilates
​
Lesley Rausch is originally from Columbus, Ohio, where she trained with Shir Lee Wu at Columbus Youth Ballet before attending Pacific Northwest Ballet School. She also studied at the School of American Ballet and the International Dance School in Jackson, Mississippi. Lesley joined Pacific Northwest Ballet in 2001, was promoted to soloist in 2007, and became a principal dancer in 2011, retiring in 2023.
​
She has performed leading roles in major works by George Balanchine, including Agon, Apollo, Serenade, and The Nutcracker®; Jerome Robbins’ Afternoon of a Faun, Fancy Free, and The Concert; and Alexei Ratmansky’s Concerto DSCH and Don Quixote. Her repertoire also includes works by Forsythe, Kylian, Tharp, Duato, Wheeldon, and Crystal Pite, among others. She originated roles in new creations by Caniparoli, Kyle Davis, Gaines, Liang, Millepied, Stroman, and Suddarth.
​
Lesley has guested with Ballet Hawaii, Nevada Ballet Theatre, Nantucket Atheneum Dance Festival, and the Chicago Dancing Festival. She was a finalist in the 1998 Concours International de Danse de Paris.
​
In addition to performing, Lesley has taught at schools nationwide including Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Ballet Hawaii, Montana Ballet Company, and Evergreen City Ballet. She served on faculty at Pacific Northwest Ballet School from 2017–2023. Lesley is a Stott Certified Pilates Instructor and holds certifications in Tai Ji Quan: Moving for Better Balance and Madeline Black’s Integrated Movement Series.
Emily Helman Berry
Faculty
Technique, Pointe, Variations, ​Rehearsal Assistant & Stager
​
Emily was born and raised in Southern California, where she trained at The Maple Conservatory of Dance before being accepted to The School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City. During her three years at SAB, she performed in the school’s 50th Anniversary Live at Lincoln Center broadcast, appeared in three Workshop Performances, and was selected to choreograph for SAB’s student choreography projects. She also served as a student teacher under the mentorship of Katrina Killian and Sheryl Ware, helping introduce younger students to the foundations of classical ballet.
​
Upon graduation, Emily was invited by Margaret Tracey to join Boston Ballet as a trainee. She went on to perform professionally with Boston Ballet, Sarasota Ballet, and José Mateo Ballet Theatre, dancing a range of classical and contemporary works.
​
Emily began teaching ballet while still a student, and her passion for education has led her to teach at Randazzo Ballet Studio, New Tampa Dance Theatre, and Ballet Project OC. During the pandemic, she co-founded Ballet Project OC alongside her sister, helping to create performance opportunities and mentorship for young artists navigating an uncertain time in the dance world.
​
Now based in Seattle, Emily works as a professional freelance dancer, teacher, and choreographer, continuing to share her artistry both onstage and in the studio. Her teaching combines precision, musicality, and a deep love for the evolving nature of ballet.
Jessica Hamblen-Klepper
Faculty
Modern Dance
​
Jessica Hamblen-Klepper joins Adage Ballet Academy with over two decades of experience as a teacher, choreographer, and director in both ballet and modern dance. She began her classical training at the Atlanta School of Ballet under Robert Barnett and Andrea Pell, and also studied with Maniya Barredo, Gaynor Grange, and Stanislav Issaev. Her modern training began in Atlanta as well, studying Horton technique with Carl Ratcliffe — an original member of the Lester Horton company — and Alex Pelham.
As a young dancer, she performed in works such as George Balanchine’s The Nutcracker and David Lichine’s Graduation Ball. In 2000, she earned her BFA in Dance from Cornish College of the Arts in Seattle, WA. There, her formative mentors included Kitty Daniels, Pat Hon, Wade Madsen, Magali Messac, Terry Sparks, Llory Wilson, and Deborah Wolf.
Ms. Hamblen-Klepper served as a teacher and director at the Maple Valley School of Ballet from 2002–2025. Her choreography has been presented by Olympic Ballet Theatre, Chimera Dance Theater, Kentlake High School Drama, and summer and mainstage programs at both Maple Valley Ballet and Atlanta School of Ballet.
Her teaching philosophy centers on honoring the individuality of each dancer while meeting the technical demands of the form. She encourages her students to pursue strength, curiosity, and expression through movement. At Adage, she will lead our modern dance curriculum and expand the expressive and technical range of our dancers across all tiers.
