Hannah (Joplin) Locke
Hannah Locke is from Chattanooga, TN, where she began her training with Anna and Barry VanCura at VanCura Ballet Conservatory. She attended University of North Carolina School of the Arts for High School (UNCSA) on scholarship under the direction of Ethan Stiefel. She spent summers at Ballet Tennessee, Joffrey Midwest, American Ballet Theatre, Kaatsbaan, and Boston Ballet. Upon graduation from UNCSA, she received a full scholarship to Richmond Ballet’s summer intensive where she began her professional career as a trainee. Locke comes to NOVA from Ballet Tennessee, where she served as Principal Dancer and Ballet Administrator under the direction of Anna Baker-VanCura. There, she performed many roles including Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, and Aurora in Sleeping Beauty. She has been featured in original choreography by Fredrick Davis, Catherine Gaudreau, Brian Gephart, Lindsay Pierce, and Barry VanCura. Locke has also performed as a guest artist with The Pop-up Project Chattanooga. Focusing on nutrition, she earned an Associate of Science Degree, cum laude, from Chattanooga State. Locke currently dances professionally with Manassas Ballet Theatre. This is her first season as an instructor and choreographer with Russell School of Ballet and The Fairfax Ballet Company.