The Company

Adam Schnell (Artistic Director/CEO) was born in Northwestern Vermont and began his dance training with Manon Pellman, Judith Karstens, and Shelly Ishmail (former members of Les Grands Ballets Canadiens). He graduated from Walnut Hill School for the Arts as a ballet major in 1999. At Walnut Hill he was trained by Samuel Kurkjian, Michael Owen, Tamara King, and Diane Arvanites.

As a professional dancer he has performed with the Channel Islands Ballet, Omaha Theater Ballet, Sarasota Ballet of Florida, and Nevada Ballet Theater. He has performed as a guest artist with Southhold Dance Theater, Lone Star Ballet, and with the world famous Les Ballets Trockadero De Monte Carlo. In addition to soloist and principal roles in a large amount of the classical repertoire, he has performed in Neo-Classical and Contemporary works by choreographers such as George Balanchine, Peter Anastos, Yves De Boutellier, Paul Vasterling, and Robert North.

His dance and theater choreography has been seen all over the United States and he has served as resident choreographer for both the Omaha Theater Ballet and Sarasota Ballet of Florida. In 2009 he completed his BA from Empire State College with a double major in Arts Management and Dance Education. In 2014 he received his MS degree in Arts Administration from Drexel University. He has been teaching in the disciplines of both dance and theater for two decades and is a sought after master teacher throughout the country.

Since moving to Vero Beach in the fall of 2009, he has served as director of dance education for Riverside Theatre. In December 2010 his “The Nutcracker: In Swingtime!” premiered to sold out audiences and critical acclaim. In its seven year run, the production became a beloved holiday tradition. In 2012, he introduced The Riverside Dance Festival, a program designed to pair the working dance artists of today with the aspiring dancers of tomorrow. Mr. Schnell is the Founding Artistic Director of Ballet Vero Beach. Vero’s first, and the region’s only, professional ballet company. He has choreographed more than one third of the company’s repertoire including the much lauded Nutcracker on the Indian River.

Camilo A. Rodriguez (Ballet Master) was born in Mexico City and grew up in San Juan, Puerto Rico. He began his ballet training at Ballets de San Juan and Ballet Concierto de Puerto Rico. He continued his training on full scholarship in New York City at the prestigious Joffrey Ballet School.

As a professional dancer, he has appeared with the Eglevsky Ballet, and Virginia Ballet Theatre, and danced several seasons in Mark Morris’s version of The Nutcracker: The Hard Nut. Mr. Rodriguez also toured internationally with Ballets Grandiva and the world-famous Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo. In these all-male comedy ballet troupes, Mr. Rodriguez excelled in a parody of not only contemporary masterworks but also the great Imperial and Romantic Ballets of the last two centuries. His many triumphs include a command performance at “The Royal Variety Show” in the presence of His Royal Highness Prince Charles.

Mr. Rodriguez excels in the teaching of Ballet and Modern techniques and is also a well-respected certified Pilates Instructor. Mr. Rodriguez also serves as ballet master for Ballet Vero Beach. His performances with the company have earned widespread critical acclaim, and his choreographic achievements have helped shape Ballet Vero Beach’s artistic identity while pushing the art of dance forward.

Franco was born in the province of Villa Clara, Cuba. He studied at the Olga Alonso González Dance School and Vicentina de la Torre Academy of Arts in Camaguey. He joined Ballet de Camaguey in 2017, Teatrul de Balet Sibiu in Romania in 2019, and the National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in the Czech Republic in 2022. Franco has performed leading roles throughout his career, including the Prince and Arabian in The Nutcracker, Gilberto in Flames of Paris, Pas de Trois in Swan Lake, Pas de Deux in Paquita, Pas de Deux in the Flower Festival in Genzano, Conrad in Le Corsaire pas de trois, ‘Tchaikovsky’ in Tchaikovsky Tribute, Vronsky in Anna Karenina, ‘Death’ in Lady of the Camellias by Mehmet Balkan, Raymonda Suite, the Gypsy King and Espada in Don Quixote. He has also been featured in works by contemporary choreographer Alberto Méndez González. Franco is thrilled to be joining Ballet Vero Beach for his first season.

Katherine was born in Des Moines, Iowa, where she trained and performed with Iowa Dance Theatre. She graduated from the University of Utah, earning a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Ballet, and was a scholarship member of Utah Ballet, the school’s resident company. She previously danced with American Midwest Ballet. In 2014, Katherine joined Ballet Vero Beach. She has performed leading roles in works by George Balanchine, August Bournonville, Peter Anastos, Samuel Kurkjian, Adam Schnell, Ariel Grossman, Matthew Lovegood, Chloé Watson, and Camilo A. Rodriguez. She originated the role of The Sugar Plum Fairy in “Nutcracker on the Indian River” and Princess Aurora in “The Sleeping Princess”. She has performed as a guest artist across the United States and internationally in Seoul, South Korea, and Dubai, UAE. Ms. Eppink is currently pursuing a Master of Arts in Mass Communications from the University of Florida. Additionally, she serves as Dancer Representative on Ballet Vero Beach’s Board of Directors.

Ellie was born in High Wycombe, Great Britain. She trained with Julie Overton, Annie Coatalen and at the Elmhurst Ballet School, which offers a creative connection with Birmingham Royal Ballet. She joined Teatrul De Balet Sibiu in Sibiu, Romania in 2019 and National Moravian-Silesian Theatre in the Czech Republic in 2022. Professionally, Ellie has performed numerous leading roles, such as Mirliton and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, soloist in the Raymonda Suite, Lise in La Fille Mal Gardée, and Kitri’s Friend in Don Quixote. This is Ms. Hennequin’s first season with Ballet Vero Beach.

Lindsey was born in Omaha, Nebraska. She trained at Motion 41 Dance, Omaha Academy of Ballet, and Dedication Dance Co. She has performed as a member of American Midwest Ballet Junior Company and as part of the Omaha Dance Project. With Ballet Vero Beach, Lindsey has performed in works by Adam Schnell, Ariel Grossman, Samuel Kurkjian, and Matthew Lovegood.

 She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Human Services at Indian River State College as a part of Ballet Vero Beach’s Fellowship Initiative for Dancers.

Matthew Lovegood began his training in Pennsylvania with Sharon Filone at the Lake Erie Ballet School and Sandra Barnett at Little’s Dance Studio. He went on to study on full scholarship at North Carolina School of the Arts, Miami City Ballet School, and the Chautauqua Festival Dancers. Mr. Lovegood has danced professionally with Ohio Ballet, Les Ballets Trockadero de Monte Carlo, Lake Erie Ballet, and Omaha Theater Ballet. He has also performed as a Guest Artist with Hawaii Ballet Theatre, Neglia Ballet Artists, and Ballet Tucson. Vero Beach audiences have fallen in love with his precise and energetic dancing, including his nuanced interpretation of Uncle Drosselmeyer/Mother Mangrove in Nutcracker on the Indian River and Catalabutte in The Sleeping Princess. As a choreographer, Mr. Lovegood has premiered works with numerous schools and professional companies. Ballet Vero Beach is thrilled to have Mr. Lovegood’s works in our permanent repertory.

Abriella is from Satellite Beach, Florida where she trained at Dance Arts Centre. She has performed with Space Coast Ballet Company, Open World Dance Foundation, Joseph Gatti (United Ballet Theatre) and in the Riverside Dance Festival. With Ballet Vero Beach, Abriella has performed in works by Adam Schnell, Ariel Grossman, Samuel Kurkjian, and Matthew Lovegood.

 She is currently pursuing her Bachelor’s Degree in Business Administration at Indian River State College as a part of Ballet Vero Beach’s Fellowship Initiative for Dancers.

Marlyse was born in Havelock, North Carolina. She trained with Yuma Ballet, Dance Gallery of South Dakota, and Artistry Dance Studio. In 2023, she graduated from the Alberta Ballet School in Alberta, Canada. She is currently pursuing her Associate’s Degree in Business Administration at Indian River State College as a part of Ballet Vero Beach’s Fellowship Initiative for Dancers.

Jade is from Jakarta, Indonesia. She trained at Marlupi Dance Academy, The Ballet Academy of Indonesia, and Orlando Ballet School. She previously danced with Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida. Her repertoire includes roles in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, and Le Corsaire.

Darien grew up in Cape Cod, Massachusetts. He trained at Turning Pointe Dance Studio under the direction of Laura Faria Sciortino. He has been a member of BalletMet Academy’s Trainee Program and a second company member with Orlando Ballet 2. Darien has performed roles in ballets including The Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, Le Corsaire, Giselle, George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, La Bayadere, Napoli, Cinderella, Swan Lake, Michael Pink’s Dracula, Moulin Rouge The Ballet, and A Streetcar Named Desire. He has also performed in neo-classical works by Laura Faria Sciortino, Yves de Bouteiller, Edwaard Liang, Heath Gill, Natrea Blake, Justin Allen, Leiland Charles, Rachel Kreiling, Karen Wing, Tara Iacobucci, and Katie Grenier. This is his first season with Ballet Vero Beach.