Meet Our Directors
Catie Wells- RCB School Director
Catie's lifelong love of ballet began when she saw The Nutcracker at the Fox Theater in Atlanta. She began ballet classes at age 6 and has gone on to perform with several pre-professional ballet companies (Northeast Atlanta Ballet Ensemble, The Madison Studio in Macon, GA, Festival Ballet in Atlanta), professional companies (Arizona Opera and Huntsville Ballet) as well as musical theatre productions in Alabama, Georgia and Arizona. She continues to refine her ballet technique and artistry with Broche Ballet, an online ballet school for adults. She attended the International Adult Ballet Festival in 2024 and 2025, winning 1st place in her solo division and "Belle of the Ballet" award for best costume, and plans to attend in 2026. Catie currently teaches Ballet, Pre/Beginning Pointe, Beginning Teen Ballet, and Adult Ballet for Absolute Beginners.
Ethan Mazak- RCB Company Director
Ethan’s dance career began at the age of seven, sparked by a fascination with the power, precision, and storytelling required to bring roles to life on stage. He received his early training at Ballet Chicago under Daniel Duell, a former principal dancer with New York City Ballet and protégé of George Balanchine. Ethan further refined his technique and artistry through training and summer intensives with Boston Ballet, as well as studies and performance experiences across Mississippi, Florida, Chicago, Boston, and Louisiana.
Throughout his career, Ethan has performed with companies across the South and Northeast, danced professionally as a company member with Alabama Ballet, and served as a principal dancer with Huntsville Ballet. As a teacher and director, he is deeply passionate about cultivating artistry, discipline, and excellence in ballet. His work emphasizes strong technique, musicality, and meaningful storytelling while fostering a supportive environment where dancers can grow in both skill and confidence.
Ethan recently directed his first full-length ballet production, A Midsummer Night’s Dream by William Shakespeare, a milestone he is proud to share with his dancers and community. Outside of the studio, he enjoys video gaming and longboarding.
*All RCB staff has undergone a background check and Safe Sport training.
Meet Our Instructors
Alicia Wright- Ballet, Pointe, Conditioning
Alicia Wright has been dancing since age 3 when she began her dance journey in the very building where AYBT is now located. She began training under David Herriott and Keren Gibb Hilliard at Huntsville Ballet School in 2000 and danced with the Huntsville Ballet Company throughout high school. After graduating from the University of Alabama with a bachelor’s and master’s of science in nursing she continued training with David Herriott and Keren Gibb Hilliard at Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre. She has performed leading roles with AYBT as Orchid, Snow Queen, and Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, Aurora and Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty, Odile and Odette in Swan Lake, Cinderella, and Snow White. In 2014, Alicia was awarded AYBT’s Dancer of the Year Award of Excellence and has also been awarded as AYBT's Volunteer of the Year. She holds several Wing’s Awards nominations and her choreography was a finalist in the Panoply Choreography Competition. She is employed as an RN with Hospice Family Care.
Karen Alewine- Contemporary, Ballet, Tap, Jazz, Pointe
Karen discovered her love for dance while training as a child at Performing Dance Arts in Huntsville, Alabama. After graduating from high school, she pursued her passion at Coker College, where she earned a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in Movement Analysis and Therapies, along with a minor in Business Administration. During her time at Coker, she performed with the Coker Repertory Dance Company and attended the American College Dance Festival on multiple occasions, gaining exposure to a wide range of dance styles and learning from some of the nation’s leading dance educators.
Karen has performed throughout the United States with companies including Columbia Classical Ballet and the Wanda Project. This year marks her 29th year of teaching dance, a career that has allowed her to inspire students across South Carolina, Alabama, and Colorado. Her experience includes directing the dance program at Xtreme Athletics in Alabama and coaching the dance team at the South Carolina Governor’s School for Science and Mathematics.
Karen is passionate about glorifying God through movement and helping dancers build long, healthy careers. That passion led her to focus her studies on injury prevention and rehabilitation. She earned her Pilates mat certification in 2006 and completed her comprehensive Pilates certification in 2019, enabling her to teach on all Pilates apparatus. She continues to grow in her knowledge and training so she can provide students with a safe, encouraging environment where they can experience the joy of movement.
Outside the studio, Karen enjoys teaching Pilates, reading, and spending time playing games with her niece and nephew.
Paula Osmer- Ballet, Pointe, Modern
Paula Osmer loves to teach, inspire, and learn from her students. Her passion is to create new works while creating community. After beginning her dance training at a young age in Huntsville, Alabama, Paula continued her training at The University of Alabama. After receiving her Bachelor of Arts in dance, she began her professional career in the Washington, DC metro area. She performed with several companies and choreographers and taught ballet, jazz, and modern classes at several studios in the area.
After relocating to Huntsville, Paula began teaching for Alabama Youth Ballet in 2012 and held the position of outreach director for The Dance Connection from 2013 to 2017. In 2022, she was blessed to have the opportunity to set choreography for Ars Nova’s production of the Snow Maiden opera.
Since 2023, Paula has been a teaching artist for Arts Huntsville’s school program, Arts on the Move. Whether in the studio or the gym, Paula enjoys sharing her passion for the art of dance with others.
ChinaCat Burwell- Ballet, Pointe, Modern
Dance has been one of the biggest constants in my life. Starting at a young age, I fell in love with being able to express my emotions through movement. I joined Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre in 2014 as a student under David Herriot and Keren Gibbs. They taught me discipline, and helped to grow my confidence in and out of the studio. These early experiences furthered my passion for dance education, and in 2021, I graduated from Troy University with a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance. During my time at Troy, I developed in-depth choreography and instructor-focused skills, with the guidance of Dominique Angel and James Boyd. After a three-year break, I was eager to get back into dance, and returned to AYBT as a student. Now, I am excited to begin my career as a dance instructor at Rocket City Ballet. My hope is to use creative expression to help inspire others in the dance community.
Derrell Underwood- Hip-Hop
Derrell Underwood brings unmatched energy, creativity, and expertise to every class and performance. With years of experience across the dance industry, he has developed a dynamic and versatile style that blends strong technical foundations with the authenticity and expression that make hip-hop so impactful. His background as both a performer and educator allows him to connect with dancers of all ages and skill levels, creating an environment that is both challenging and encouraging.
Known for his engaging teaching style and infectious enthusiasm, Derrell inspires students to build confidence, develop their musicality, and push beyond their comfort zones. He emphasizes not only performance quality but also individuality, helping dancers discover their own unique voice through movement.
Whether he’s performing on stage, choreographing new work, or leading a packed studio class, Derrell’s passion for dance shines through in everything he does. His commitment to excellence, combined with his positive attitude and dedication to his students, makes him a valued mentor and an unforgettable presence in the studio.
Amanda Weiland- Music & Movement
Amanda Weiland is a pianist, singer, and educator. She has shared her love of music professionally for over 15 years, including six years as a public school music teacher. She has experience teaching a wide age range, having taught pre-K through eighth grade general music and pre-K through adult private lessons. She holds a Master of Music in Music Education- Kodály Emphasis from Silver Lake College and a Bachelor of Music Education (Vocal/Choral) from Auburn University. She is certified in all levels of Kodály, Conversational Solfege, and First Steps in Music, and she holds a Level 1 Piano Pedagogy Certificate from the Gorin Institute. Her goal is for her students to become lifelong music lovers and creators. When Mrs. Weiland isn’t teaching or playing, she enjoys dancing at AYBT and spending time with her husband, Matthew, and their dogs, Teddy and Pippa. She is thrilled to teach music and movement at RCB this fall.
Alaina Hoover- Ballet 1
Alaina Hoover began her ballet training at the age of 5 with The Columbus Ballet in Columbus, Georgia. During her tenure there she trained under the direction of Maria Hirsch and Beth Griffin who were replaced by David Herriott. During high school she moved to Huntsville where she trained under the direction Phillip Otto and Rachel Butler Otto at Huntsville Ballet. Eventually she moved to Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre under the direction of David Herriott, Keren Gibb-Hillard, and Caitlynn Quintela.
During her career, she attended summer programs at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet under the direction of Melinda Howe. She also attended a summer program at Orlando Ballet where she danced under the direction of Peter Stark, Lia Cirio, and Julie Kent.
She graduated Cum Laude from Calhoun Community College with a AAS in Physical Therapist Assistant. She is currently working as a Physical Therapist Assistant and holds a certification in Dry Needling. She uses this career to ensure proper movement mechanics and to assist with injury prevention.
Some of her favorite roles from Phillip Otto include Pirates in Peter Pan and a dancer in Stage Door Canteen. From Stephanie Braly, Vampire couple in Dracula. Her favorite Nutcracker roles include: Arabian, Snow Queen, and Spanish.
Bonnie Hardison- Irish Dance
Mrs. Bonnie Hardison began ballet lessons when she was 3 years old that continued for over 10 years, which instilled in her a lifelong passion for dance. While attending Agnes Scott College, in Decatur, GA, she studied jazz under Leon Von Brown of the Atlanta Ballet, along with tap and modern dance. Upon graduation, she expanded her dance training for several years, to include cabaret style and tribal belly dancing, traveling from coast to coast for studies. In 2009, Mrs. Bonnie expanded her dance training, yet again, to include Irish dancing within the bounds of the CLRG. This was the beginning of her competitive career in dance. She has won many awards, and a few adult championships, within the CLRG. In 2018, she further expanded her Irish dance training to include Rince ar an Sean Nòs (old style Irish dance). This style of dance is her current focus. In 2019, she placed top 2 in the region, qualifying top 15 in the world at the Fleadh Cheoil na Eireann (All Ireland World Championships) held in Drogheda, Ireland. In 2021, she placed top 3 at the Fleadhfest na Eireann held in Sligo, Ireland of that same year. In 2022, Mrs. Bonnie completed her first level of Sean Nòs teacher certification under Shannon Dunne, University of Notre Dame. Bonnie began teaching sean nos workshops in the spring of 2022. In 2023, she, again, placed top 2 in the region, qualifying top 16 in the world. She has studied under multiple Sean Nòs dancing teachers, including Siobhan Butler, Edwina Guckian, and Sharleen McCafferey, to name but a few. It has been her pleasure to perform locally, regionally, and in Ireland. Bonnie has been an instructor at with RCB since fall of 2022.
Marian Hoover- Dance Fun, Pre Ballet, Pointe
Marian Hoover is originally from Enola, Pennsylvania. She began ballet lessons at the age of 9 with The Columbus Ballet in Columbus, Georgia under the direction of Maria Hirsch and Beth Griffin and later under the direction of David Herriott. She also attended summer programs at Cental Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and Louisville Ballet.
While attending college, she trained and began teaching at Capital Area Dance Theatre in Enola under the direction of Holly Mora. She graduated from Harrisburg Area Community College with a degree in Business Management.
After graduating, she moved to Huntsville and began training and teaching with Huntsville Ballet under the direction of Phillip Otto and Rachel Butler-Otto. Later, she moved to Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre under the direction of David Herriott and Keren Gibb-Hillard.
Some of her favorite roles include Swanilda’s friend in Maria Hirsch’s Coppelia, Tango Dancer in David Herriott’s Charlie Chaplin, and in the Nutcracker the roles of Arabian, Sugar Plum, Snow Queen and Spanish.
Rebekah Frank- Adult Tap
Rebekah started taking jazz classes at age 7 and fell in love with dancing; she later added ballet, tap and lyrical to her repertoire. She studied under Melissa Barnett at Huntsville Dance Academy and was a member of the company. After graduation, she began teaching preschool classes at HDA and enjoyed teaching so much that she has continued for the last 20 years! Rebekah enjoys teaching beginners the most and primarily works with beginning ballet, tap and jazz students. She has been teaching at AYBT/RCB for 15 years and has enjoyed watching her students grow from beginners into refined dancers!
Aubrey Dewald- Liturgical
Hi, y’all! My name is Aubrey. I graduated from Wallace State Community College and currently work as a sonographer at Huntsville Hospital. I danced from the age of three through high school and now have the privilege of teaching the Liturgical Dance class here at the studio while also serving through dance at my church.
I am passionate about combining worship and movement, using dance as a meaningful form of expression and ministry. One of the things I love most about dance is its ability to communicate emotion, inspire others, and share the Gospel in a unique and powerful way. It is a joy to help students grow not only as dancers, but also in confidence, creativity, and self-expression.