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CHOREOGRAPHERS
Meagan Helman
Artistic Director and Choreographer
Meagan Helman has been with The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) since 2015, first serving as a faculty member and later as School Director, Company Teacher, Ballet Mistress, and now as Artistic Director. She has a diverse array of professional experiences as a dancer and educator. Helman is an adjunct faculty member at Florida State University’s (FSU) School of Dance, where she has taught all levels of Ballet and Dance Technology courses, choreographed, and served as a rehearsal director. She performed professionally for over ten years as a principal dancer with Ballet Theatre of Maryland (BTM), where her repertoire included Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Coppélia, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Firebird, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Nutcracker, Carmen, and The Scarlet Letter, among other classical and contemporary works.
Helman served as the Ballet Mistress for BTM from 2009-2014, where she also choreographed and taught for the company and school. Her choreography has been performed by BTM, TTB, FSU, Delaware Dance Company, Goucher College, and the American College Dance Association. Helman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Goucher College and a Master of Arts degree in Dance from FSU. She also serves as the photographer for FSU’s School of Dance and the performance photographer for TTB. Her photographs have been published in Dance Magazine, Dance Studio Life, and Dance Teacher Magazine. She has served on the FSU Friends of Dance Leadership Council since 2017.
Helman is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Meagan Helman has been with The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) since 2015, first serving as a faculty member and later as School Director, Company Teacher, Ballet Mistress, and now as Artistic Director. She has a diverse array of professional experiences as a dancer and educator. Helman is an adjunct faculty member at Florida State University’s (FSU) School of Dance, where she has taught all levels of Ballet and Dance Technology courses, choreographed, and served as a rehearsal director. She performed professionally for over ten years as a principal dancer with Ballet Theatre of Maryland (BTM), where her repertoire included Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Coppélia, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Firebird, Beauty and the Beast, Aladdin, The Nutcracker, Carmen, and The Scarlet Letter, among other classical and contemporary works.
Helman served as the Ballet Mistress for BTM from 2009-2014, where she also choreographed and taught for the company and school. Her choreography has been performed by BTM, TTB, FSU, Delaware Dance Company, Goucher College, and the American College Dance Association. Helman holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Dance from Goucher College and a Master of Arts degree in Dance from FSU. She also serves as the photographer for FSU’s School of Dance and the performance photographer for TTB. Her photographs have been published in Dance Magazine, Dance Studio Life, and Dance Teacher Magazine. She has served on the FSU Friends of Dance Leadership Council since 2017.
Helman is an American Ballet Theatre® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Additional Choreographers for The Nutcracker
Katy E. Cashin
Artistic Associate
Katy E. Cashin is a freelance choreographer in New York City, creating works for White Horse Theater Company (WHTC) and The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB). Cashin’s WHTC productions include Tennessee William’s A Cavalier for Milady, Sam Shepard’s Eyes for Consuela, and WHTC Artistic Director Cyndy Marion’s world premiere, You Are Perfect, which was selected for the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival and restaged in Los Angeles, CA in 2018. Cashin has created ten original works for TTB, including Rhapsody, Retour, Focus, Mainframe, and Rebonds B. She created works for “First Look” presented by Brooklyn Ballet and South Georgia Ballet’s FUSE: Boots & Ballet.
Cashin received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance and Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Southern Methodist University, where she performed soloist roles in masterworks by George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, Arthur Mitchell, and Gerald Arpino. She trained with The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) under the direction of Joyce Fausone as well as under Christina Paolucci (New York Theatre Ballet), Sheila Humphreys (Royal Ballet), and Richard Sias (National Ballet of Canada). At TTB, Cashin performed several principal and soloist roles in full-length ballets such as The Nutcracker, Coppélia, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Beauty and the Beast. Cashin received her Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York City. Cashin is an ABT® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Katy E. Cashin is a freelance choreographer in New York City, creating works for White Horse Theater Company (WHTC) and The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB). Cashin’s WHTC productions include Tennessee William’s A Cavalier for Milady, Sam Shepard’s Eyes for Consuela, and WHTC Artistic Director Cyndy Marion’s world premiere, You Are Perfect, which was selected for the 2017 Toronto Fringe Festival and restaged in Los Angeles, CA in 2018. Cashin has created ten original works for TTB, including Rhapsody, Retour, Focus, Mainframe, and Rebonds B. She created works for “First Look” presented by Brooklyn Ballet and South Georgia Ballet’s FUSE: Boots & Ballet.
Cashin received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree in dance performance and Bachelor of Arts degree in history from Southern Methodist University, where she performed soloist roles in masterworks by George Balanchine, Maurice Béjart, Arthur Mitchell, and Gerald Arpino. She trained with The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) under the direction of Joyce Fausone as well as under Christina Paolucci (New York Theatre Ballet), Sheila Humphreys (Royal Ballet), and Richard Sias (National Ballet of Canada). At TTB, Cashin performed several principal and soloist roles in full-length ballets such as The Nutcracker, Coppélia, Cinderella, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Beauty and the Beast. Cashin received her Master of Public Administration degree from Columbia University’s School of International and Public Affairs in New York City. Cashin is an ABT® Certified Teacher who has successfully completed the ABT® Teacher Training Intensive in Pre-Primary through Level 3 of the ABT® National Training Curriculum.
Dr. Kathryn Karrh Cashin (1957-2023)
Kathryn (KK) Karrh Cashin, PhD, was a beloved former dancer of The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) and long-time Resident Choreographer, best known for the brilliant choreography of our production of The Nutcracker.
In addition to The Nutcracker, KK is known for numerous chamber works, most notably Boléro. Her full-length ballets include Beauty and the Beast, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppélia, Cinderella, and The Sleeping Beauty. She also choreographed several children’s ballets and shared her artistry with Florida State Opera, choreographing over 20 works, including The Mikado, Eugene Onegin, Orpheus in the Underworld, and Romeo and Juliet.
The Tallahassee Ballet will always be indebted to the countless hours, creative passion, high standards, and unwavering support of Dr. Kathryn Karrh Cashin. Her commitment to TTB was beyond reproach and her kindness had no bounds. Her choreography and influence will be seen in our performances and in our hearts for as long as TTB exists.
In addition to The Nutcracker, KK is known for numerous chamber works, most notably Boléro. Her full-length ballets include Beauty and the Beast, A Midsummer Night’s Dream, Coppélia, Cinderella, and The Sleeping Beauty. She also choreographed several children’s ballets and shared her artistry with Florida State Opera, choreographing over 20 works, including The Mikado, Eugene Onegin, Orpheus in the Underworld, and Romeo and Juliet.
The Tallahassee Ballet will always be indebted to the countless hours, creative passion, high standards, and unwavering support of Dr. Kathryn Karrh Cashin. Her commitment to TTB was beyond reproach and her kindness had no bounds. Her choreography and influence will be seen in our performances and in our hearts for as long as TTB exists.
Joyceann Bell Fausone
Joyceann Bell Fausone received her Bachelor of Science degree in Dance Education from the University of Georgia and her Master of Fine Arts degree in Dance from Florida State University (FSU). Before joining the dance faculty of the FSU School of Dance, she served as the Artistic/Administrative Director for The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) for over twenty years.
During her tenure at TTB she produced several full-length ballets including TTB’s first Nutcracker in 1986 and the first Evening of Music and Dance program in 1990 under the music direction of Frank Kowalsky. During her tenure she also initiated several community outreach programs including DanceChance, the Ireland Cultural Exchange, and the Special School Performance Series for Leon County Schools.
Fausone’s professional development in teaching and pedagogy include teacher courses at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and a Seminar in Music and Dance in Marktoberdorf, Germany, as well as studying the Cecchetti method in Italy with Raymond Lukens and Franco De Vita.
Transitioning to FSU in 2004, Fausone received the Nancy Smith Award from the Florida Dance Association for Lifetime Achievement in the field of dance. Her position as the Coordinator of Special Programs and Events for the FSU School of Dance and the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography encompassed overseeing the teaching of the graduate students in the General Studies non-major dance program, organizing the annual Suzanne Farrell Young Dancer’s Workshop, and creating and directing the annual Summer Intensive Dance Workshop. As needed, Fausone also taught advanced ballet technique and pointe classes. Following her sabbatical in Paris, she initiated the first FSU “Dance in Paris” program in 2012 as part of the FSU International Study Abroad Program and served as both Program Director and faculty for five years.
Fausone retired in July 2016.
During her tenure at TTB she produced several full-length ballets including TTB’s first Nutcracker in 1986 and the first Evening of Music and Dance program in 1990 under the music direction of Frank Kowalsky. During her tenure she also initiated several community outreach programs including DanceChance, the Ireland Cultural Exchange, and the Special School Performance Series for Leon County Schools.
Fausone’s professional development in teaching and pedagogy include teacher courses at the Royal Winnipeg Ballet, the National Ballet of Canada, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and a Seminar in Music and Dance in Marktoberdorf, Germany, as well as studying the Cecchetti method in Italy with Raymond Lukens and Franco De Vita.
Transitioning to FSU in 2004, Fausone received the Nancy Smith Award from the Florida Dance Association for Lifetime Achievement in the field of dance. Her position as the Coordinator of Special Programs and Events for the FSU School of Dance and the Maggie Allesee National Center for Choreography encompassed overseeing the teaching of the graduate students in the General Studies non-major dance program, organizing the annual Suzanne Farrell Young Dancer’s Workshop, and creating and directing the annual Summer Intensive Dance Workshop. As needed, Fausone also taught advanced ballet technique and pointe classes. Following her sabbatical in Paris, she initiated the first FSU “Dance in Paris” program in 2012 as part of the FSU International Study Abroad Program and served as both Program Director and faculty for five years.
Fausone retired in July 2016.
Additional Choreographers for 2026 An Evening of Music & Dance
Jasmine Monet Burelsmith
Jasmine Monet Burelsmith (she/her) is a proud first-generation college student and alum of Florida State University (FSU) with a BFA in Dance. Ms. Burelsmith has had the opportunity to create and share several works in Florida, Oklahoma, Mississippi, Texas, New York City, and Seoul, South Korea. She previously danced with The Tallahassee Ballet in the 2021-2022 and 2023-2024 seasons as a corps de ballet member. Administratively, she has supported arts organizations such as Artist Seeking Transcendence, EnPointe Management, and Battery Dance. Ms. Burelsmith has continued her education by completing the Disney College Program, the 2024 Beth Morrison Project’s Producer Academy, and the 2025 Tessitura Career Accelerator Program. She is currently based in Orlando, FL, as a performer for Walt Disney World and a teaching artist with the Orlando Ballet.
Sam Sole
Sam Sole grew up in Tallahassee, Florida, and began her professional career with The Tallahassee Ballet while earning a Bachelor of Arts in Studio Art and Art History from Florida State University. As a Soloist with The Tallahassee Ballet, she performed roles including Paquita, the Silver Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Snow Queen, and Lead Coffee in The Nutcracker, under the direction of Tyrone Brooks.
After graduation, Sole joined Chattanooga Ballet as a company dancer, instructor, and graphic designer. During her many seasons with the company, she performed principal roles including Giselle, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She also performed roles in contemporary works by choreographers including Andrew Parker, Alia Kache, Joellen Wojtowicz, Christopher Stuart, and Brian McSween. Her time with Chattanooga Ballet provided meaningful opportunities to develop as a choreographer, including creating works for the company’s Dancer Choreographic Showcase and choreographing outreach works for the company’s education and community programs.
During the pandemic, Sole moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she danced, taught, and choreographed with The Asheville Ballet for three seasons. During her time there, she had the opportunity to set original choreography on the company’s dancers before returning to Chattanooga Ballet as its Education Program Manager. In this role, she continued to develop her artistic and educational practice through teaching, rehearsal, curriculum development, and student mentorship.
Sole currently serves as The Tallahassee Ballet's Ballet Mistress and Co-Director of the Youth Company, where she has the opportunity to choreograph for both the Youth Company and professional dancers.
In addition to her work in dance, Sole is a freelance graphic designer and visual artist. Her background in studio art and art history continues to inform her choreographic process, with a particular interest in the relationship between movement, visual composition, musicality, and storytelling.
After graduation, Sole joined Chattanooga Ballet as a company dancer, instructor, and graphic designer. During her many seasons with the company, she performed principal roles including Giselle, Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty, and Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. She also performed roles in contemporary works by choreographers including Andrew Parker, Alia Kache, Joellen Wojtowicz, Christopher Stuart, and Brian McSween. Her time with Chattanooga Ballet provided meaningful opportunities to develop as a choreographer, including creating works for the company’s Dancer Choreographic Showcase and choreographing outreach works for the company’s education and community programs.
During the pandemic, Sole moved to Asheville, North Carolina, where she danced, taught, and choreographed with The Asheville Ballet for three seasons. During her time there, she had the opportunity to set original choreography on the company’s dancers before returning to Chattanooga Ballet as its Education Program Manager. In this role, she continued to develop her artistic and educational practice through teaching, rehearsal, curriculum development, and student mentorship.
Sole currently serves as The Tallahassee Ballet's Ballet Mistress and Co-Director of the Youth Company, where she has the opportunity to choreograph for both the Youth Company and professional dancers.
In addition to her work in dance, Sole is a freelance graphic designer and visual artist. Her background in studio art and art history continues to inform her choreographic process, with a particular interest in the relationship between movement, visual composition, musicality, and storytelling.
Sophia Lutinski
Sophia Lutinski, originally from Fredericksburg, Virginia, has been a part of The Tallahassee Ballet (TTB) since 2021 and is currently performing as a Lead Company Artist. Her repertoire with the company showcases a wide range of classical and contemporary roles, including standout performances as Swanhilda in Coppelia, Snow Queen in The Nutcracker, Autumn Fairy in Cinderella, and the Violente Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty. She has also performed leading roles in contemporary works such as Rare Bird, Solitude, and Kythirian Dances under the direction of choreographers including Meagan Helman, Holly Borrelli, and Katy Cashin.
Lutinski holds both a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Florida State University (FSU). At FSU, she had the privilege of training with renowned artists including Suzanne Farrell, Kara Wilkes, Ilana Goldman, Meagan Helman, Caleb Mitchell, Donna Uchizono, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. While there, she performed in multiple notable works such as Divertimento No. 15 and Serenade by George Balanchine, both staged by Suzanne Farrell.
Lutinski made her choreographic debut in The Tallahassee Ballet’s 24-25 season with her piece Poppet. Since then she has set two more works on the company. Her choreographic explorations investigate passion, theatricality, attachment and companionship. They also explore the darker aspects of love — such as, obsession, dominance, delusion, and mania. Sophia is incredibly excited to explore a new choreographic process with her TTB family.
Lutinski holds both a Master of Arts and a Bachelor of Fine Arts in Dance from Florida State University (FSU). At FSU, she had the privilege of training with renowned artists including Suzanne Farrell, Kara Wilkes, Ilana Goldman, Meagan Helman, Caleb Mitchell, Donna Uchizono, and Jawole Willa Jo Zollar. While there, she performed in multiple notable works such as Divertimento No. 15 and Serenade by George Balanchine, both staged by Suzanne Farrell.
Lutinski made her choreographic debut in The Tallahassee Ballet’s 24-25 season with her piece Poppet. Since then she has set two more works on the company. Her choreographic explorations investigate passion, theatricality, attachment and companionship. They also explore the darker aspects of love — such as, obsession, dominance, delusion, and mania. Sophia is incredibly excited to explore a new choreographic process with her TTB family.
Ronald Duncan
Ronald Duncan started his dance journey in the first grade at Perrine Elementary in Miami, FL. He attended the prestigious magnet high school, New World School of the Arts, where he had many achievements, including being handpicked by Broadway and film veteran Debbie Allen to star in her production of Pepito's Story. He began his professional teaching in the eleventh grade of high school as the youngest resident director of Hip-Hop Kidz through his first two years of undergraduate studies at DePaul University in Chicago, IL. His formal dance training began with the Thomas Armor Youth Ballet, the Dance Theatre of Harlem, Alvin Ailey, Ballet Chicago, Hubbard Street Dance, and Steps on Broadway.
In the second year of his college studies, he played Jim Conly in the musical "Parade," for which he was nominated for a non-equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was unable to attend the award ceremonies because he had booked the musical Purlie with the Goodman Theatre, which sent him to Los Angeles, where he took a leave of absence from his studies. In 2004, Mr. Duncan was in a production of The King and I at the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago, which he had to abruptly leave because he had booked the Broadway production of Mamma Mia! From here, he spent the next 17 years working professionally in Broadway, Film, and regional shows: Dreamgirls, Motown, Disney's Aladdin, My Fair Lady, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; and in television shows: The Knick on Cinemax and Smash on NBC, directed by Steven Spielberg. He also earned a slot out of 2000 performers, of whom only 15 were selected to work alongside Robert Dinero and Ann Hathaway in the motion picture The Intern.
Throughout this exciting time, Ronald taught professional Musical Theatre, Modern Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Contemporary Ballet classes to students of all ages. His work had won dance awards for several dance schools across the East Coast before he decided to return to school to finish his education and pursue a master's degree.
He is fortunate and grateful for the opportunity to work with and share his gifts with The Tallahassee Ballet School family!
In the second year of his college studies, he played Jim Conly in the musical "Parade," for which he was nominated for a non-equity Joseph Jefferson Award for Best Supporting Actor. He was unable to attend the award ceremonies because he had booked the musical Purlie with the Goodman Theatre, which sent him to Los Angeles, where he took a leave of absence from his studies. In 2004, Mr. Duncan was in a production of The King and I at the Drury Lane Theatre in Chicago, which he had to abruptly leave because he had booked the Broadway production of Mamma Mia! From here, he spent the next 17 years working professionally in Broadway, Film, and regional shows: Dreamgirls, Motown, Disney's Aladdin, My Fair Lady, Hairspray, Joseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat; and in television shows: The Knick on Cinemax and Smash on NBC, directed by Steven Spielberg. He also earned a slot out of 2000 performers, of whom only 15 were selected to work alongside Robert Dinero and Ann Hathaway in the motion picture The Intern.
Throughout this exciting time, Ronald taught professional Musical Theatre, Modern Jazz, Hip-Hop, and Contemporary Ballet classes to students of all ages. His work had won dance awards for several dance schools across the East Coast before he decided to return to school to finish his education and pursue a master's degree.
He is fortunate and grateful for the opportunity to work with and share his gifts with The Tallahassee Ballet School family!
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