AROVA Company Members 

Emily Cain began studying classical ballet at the age of three under Jean Gedeon's tutelage at Pittsburgh Youth Ballet. She advanced her studies in ballet, jazz and modern with Judy Williams Henry and her company of dancers. In 2007, Emily was accepted into the Conservatory of Performing Arts program at Point Park University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, where she studied under many great teachers and choreographers, including Nicolas Petrov and Jason McDole. Emily is honored and excited to begin her first season with AROVA.

Stefanie Caputo is originally from Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. She began her training under Pasha and Kristina Kambalov at First State Ballet Theatre in Wilmington, DE. She attended summer programs with Boston Ballet, American Ballet Theater, and Richmond Ballet. In 2002, she was one of the top 12 finalists in the senior division of the Youth America Grand Prix world finals in N.Y.C. She began her professional career with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre as a trainee. She continued her career with Ballet Theater of Maryland and was most recently an apprentice with the Alabama Ballet during the 2007- 2009 seasons. She is currently a student at UAB studying elementary education.

Caroline Fortson began her classical ballet training with Charlotte City Ballet Company under Melissa Hale Coyle and Lisa Leone. She is now an interior design major / art minor at Samford University where she recently received the award for Samford's Best Dancer in 2009-2010. She would like to thank her Savior Jesus Christ for the joy of dancing.

Jamie Kilgore Foust (Founding Company Member/Ballet Mistress) began her ballet training under the guidance of Margaret Galloway. Later she continued to train at the Alabama School of Fine Arts (ASFA) under Dame Sonia Arova, Thor Sutowski and Therese Laeger. As a student, Jamie had the opportunity to work professionally with the Alabama Ballet in productions of The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, and Romeo and Juliet. She also performed with the Alabama Dance Theatre as a soloist in La Bayadere, Cinderella, and Crystal Edge. She graduated from ASFA with the Prix D'Excellence de Danse Award in 1998 and immediately joined the San Diego Ballet. There she was best known for her role as lead Arabian in The Nutcracker and as a soloist in many of Javier Velasco's contemporary works. Jamie is an adjunct faculty member of the ASFA Dance Department (ASFA) and oversees ASFA's Preparatory Dance Program.

Carleton Meadows (Principle) began her dance training in Savannah, GA and later attended Virginia School of the Arts to further explore her passion for dance. After graduating from high school, Carleton danced with the Nashville Ballet for two years as a trainee member. She then moved to Birmingham, AL where she began her college career. Carleton recently graduated from Samford University, and is currently enrolled in University of Alabama at Birmingham's Clinical Nutrition Graduate Program and Dietetic Internship. This is her fifth season as a company member of the AROVA Contemporary Ballet.

Jamorris Rivers (Principle) is currently a student at UAB with an emphasis in biology. Previously he has performed with Alabama Ballet, Complexions Contemporary Ballet and Southern Danceworks. A licensed massage therapist, Jamorris specializes in Classical Thai Bodywork as well as Clinical massage.

Catherine Vancak was born in Calgary Alberta, Canada. She started her dance training at the School of Alberta Ballet. She trained in the professional division and continued into the University program in conjunction with the University of Calgary. After transferring to the University of Alabama to complete her degree in Dance with a minor in Food and Nutrition, she graduated in December 2010. At the University of Alabama she was given the opportunity to choreograph and produce dances for Dance Alabama. She danced with American Ballet Theatre, Complexions Ballet and the Alabama Repertory Dance Theatre. She danced with the Montgomery Ballet as a trainee after graduation.

Kaitlin Winborn began her ballet training on Hilton Head Island, South Carolina, where she was under the tutelage of John Carlyle and former American Ballet Theatre principal Karena Brock-Carlyle for over 15 years. In high school she also trained in jazz with Kathleen Watkins, former dance captain for the Broadway show "Fosse." After spending a year at the Orlando Ballet School, she continued her dance education at The University of Alabama, where she majored in dance and spent one year on the "Crimson Caberet" dance team. Currently, Kaitlin teaches Zumba and is a personal trainer. Kaitlin has lived in Birmingham for one year with her husband Wes and their miniature dachshund, Millie.

AROVA Apprentices

Muriel Capdepon began her classical training under Spring Garcia at the Capdepon Ballet School. In 2005 she was accepted into the ballet program at Loyola University where she studied Vaganova technique under Gayle Parmelee, Laura Zambrano, and Gilbert Rome. She then trained at the Giacobbe Ballet Academy and performed with the Delta Festival Ballet. Performances include appearances at the New Orleans Jazz and Heritage Festival, New Orleans Art Museum, and the Young Audiences of Louisiana Program. This is her first season as an apprentice with AROVA.