BALLET PRESQUE ISLE
in residence at Sovereign Ballet
Ballet Presque Isle is dedicated to advancing the art of ballet in the Erie community through professional-level technique, artistry, and engagement. Our mission is to inspire and educate through performances, outreach programs, and collaborations. By offering daytime availability for promotional events, educational initiatives, and performances, we aim to enrich the cultural landscape of Erie while fostering an appreciation for ballet as an art form. Ballet Presque Isle also partners with organizations seeking skilled dancers to bring their creative visions to life, emphasizing professionalism, artistry, and community connection in everything we do.
Ballet Presque Isle is in the process of filing for 501(c)(3) nonprofit status.
Carrie Burns-Frase began her training at the Erie Civic Ballet School under Arlene Hay. She spent summers dancing in the Chautauqua Dance Festival Company under the direction of Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux and Violette Verdy. She attended Goucher College in Baltimore, MD where she earned a Bachelor of Arts degree and was honored with the Rosenberg Scholarship and Phi Beta Kappa Award in dance. After graduating, she danced professionally for ten years. The first seven were with the Lake Erie Ballet under the direction of Robert Steele, Jeff Satinoff, and Robert Vicary. Her repertoire included many solo and principal roles ranging from classical to contemporary and modern. The next three years she worked as a freelance artist performing locally and out of state. After an eleven-year break from the stage to begin her family, Carrie decided to return to it. In 2010 she brought herself back to condition to take on the challenging role of Sugar Plum Fairy in Lake Erie Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker at the age of 43. She performed the role that year and again in 2011 at the historic Warner Theater with the Erie Philharmonic Orchestra. Her accomplishment was a matter of great local interest and was documented in Erie Times Newspaper as the comeback of the year. Carrie began teaching ballet in 1992 and has 25 plus years of experience in the classroom with students. She has held teaching positions at the Lake Erie Ballet, Bayfront Ballet, Northcoast Ballet, Mercyhurst University, Westminster Ice Skating Association, Central High School, Erie Dance Theater, and Patterson School of Ballet. Carrie has contributed with choreographing, setting, rehearsing and mounting many dance productions from classical to contemporary. She has enjoyed great fulfillment working with a long list of students in private ballet lessons and personal coaching sessions. Many of these students have gone on to perform major roles and to dance professionally. Carrie also enjoys choreographing and performing liturgical pieces in church. Carrie and her husband are the proud parents of two daughters.
Arie Frase began her training at the Lake Erie Ballet School at the age of three. She continued her training with Patterson School of Ballet and then Sovereign Ballet until she graduated from high school in 2023. Arie has attended summer dance intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Forte Wayne Ballet, and Dallas Ballet Conservatory. Her dance education is comprised of a strong base of classical ballet in addition to other genres including modern, contemporary, tap, acro, character and partnering.
Arie’s performance experience ranges from ballet to contemporary. Some highlights include “Snow Corps,” “Flower Corps,” “Chinese,” “Seraph,” “Marzipan,” “Dream Clara,” and “Snow Queen.” In 2023, Arie performed the role of “Clara” in “Gem City Nutcracker,” a film created for television by WQLN. She has also performed soloist roles in “Coppelia” and “Swan Lake” as well as many choreographic works in other genres. In March of 2023, Arie competed at the New York City Dance Alliance in Buffalo, NY where she won two platinum awards for a duet and a group piece she performed with Tap Essentials.
Arie’s performance experience ranges from ballet to contemporary. Some highlights include “Snow Corps,” “Flower Corps,” “Chinese,” “Seraph,” “Marzipan,” “Dream Clara,” and “Snow Queen.” In 2023, Arie performed the role of “Clara” in “Gem City Nutcracker,” a film created for television by WQLN. She has also performed soloist roles in “Coppelia” and “Swan Lake” as well as many choreographic works in other genres. In March of 2023, Arie competed at the New York City Dance Alliance in Buffalo, NY where she won two platinum awards for a duet and a group piece she performed with Tap Essentials.
Lilah Ackerman began her dance training in 2016 at Sovereign Ballet in Erie, Pennsylvania. She studied under Christina Maria and Carrie Frase. Lilah attended summer intensives at Magnum Opus in Madison, Wisconsin under the direction of Abigail Henninger in 2023 and 2024. Lilah’s performance experience includes many roles in Lake Erie Ballet Company’s production of “Erie’s NUTCRACKER Reimagined” including “Marzipan,” “Snow,” and “Flowers” in addition to “Coppelia” in 2023 and many other original works. In 2024, Lilah was excited to have the opportunity to perform the role of “Black Swan” in Sovereign Ballet’s school production of “Swan Lake.”
Mia Adelhardt began her early training at the Lake Erie Ballet School at the age of three. She continued her studies at Sovereign Ballet until she graduated from high school in 2023. She has attended summer dance intensives at Dallas Ballet Summer Conservatory and Ballet 5:8 in Chicago, Illinois. Mia’s training encompasses a strong foundation of ballet along with modern, contemporary, tap, acrobatics and acro partnering. Mia’s performance experience ranges from ballet to contemporary. Of note, she has performed the roles of “Bon-bon,” “Kissy Doll,” “Marzipan,” “Arabian Lead,” “Snow Queen,” “Snow Corps,” “Flower Corps,” and “Dream Clara” in “The Nutcracker.” In 2021 she performed the role of “Clara” in a film version of “The Nutcracker” that was released in digital format. Mia has also performed soloist roles in “Coppelia” and “Swan Lake” as well as many choreographic works in other genres. In March of 2023, Mia competed at the New York City Dance Alliance in Buffalo, NY where she won a platinum award for both a duet and a group piece she performed with Tap Essentials. Mia enjoys teaching dance at Sovereign Ballet and the Neighborhood Art House as well as choreographing in various genres.
Myah Frase began her training at the Lake Erie Ballet School at the age of three. She continued her training at Patterson School of Ballet and Sovereign Ballet until she graduated from high school in 2020. She has attended summer dance intensives at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, Nashville Ballet, Fort Wayne Ballet, and American Repertory Ballet. From 2022-2023, Myah spent a season with American Repertory Ballet as a trainee in Princeton, New Jersey, where she performed in ARB’s “Nutcracker” under Ethan Steifel and Princeton Ballet School’s “Don Quixote” as Cupid under Aydmara Cabrera. Myah’s other performance experience includes a range of roles in classical ballets such as “Paquita,” “Coppelia,” “Hansel and Gretel,” and “Swan Lake.” Of note, she has danced the roles of “Snow Corps,” “Marzipan,” “Kissy Doll,” “Sugar Plum Fairy,” Swanhilda’s “Friends,” “Swan Corps,” “Big Swan” and “Neapolitan Princess.” Myah has also performed many original works in a number of dance styles.
Myah has enjoyed teaching ballet since 2022. She has taught a variety of levels and ages, from children to adults. She enjoys choreographing as well and has performed liturgical pieces at local churches.
Myah has enjoyed teaching ballet since 2022. She has taught a variety of levels and ages, from children to adults. She enjoys choreographing as well and has performed liturgical pieces at local churches.
Kyla began her training at the age of 15 with Sovereign Ballet in Erie, Pennsylvania under the instruction of Christina Maria and Carrie Frase. She additionally trained with Orlando Dance Conservatory in Orlando, Florida under the direction of Aretuza Garner. Kyla attended summer intensive programs at Miami City Ballet, Magnum Opus Ballet, and Grand Rapids Ballet. In 2024-2025, she completed a trainee program with Chevalier Ballet in New York City. Kyla has performed corps, soloist and principal roles in classic productions such as “The Nutcracker,” “Sleeping Beauty,” “Coppelia,” “Giselle,” “Paquita,” and “Swan Lake.” Her repertoire also includes participation in a televised “Nutcracker” performance and a unique community immersion dance experience. Kyla is looking forward to her first season with BPI.