Yelena Holt

Owner and Artistic Director

Yelena Holt has been an educator and dance instructor in Nevada County since 1980. With a background in dramatic and musical theater, classical ballet from Crockett School of Dance and Sacramento Ballet, and a State of California Credential in English Literature from the University of California, Berkeley, Mrs. Holt has nurtured Nevada County’s young dancers in achieving exemplary skills, not only in dance but in all walks of their lives. Mrs. Holt has initiated and developed three public high school dance programs: Dixon High School from 1975 to 1980; Bear River High School from 1989 to 1995; and Nevada Union High School from 1994 to 2010.  She was also the owner of Nevada County Ballet School from 1982 to 1986. After her retirement from public school education in 2010, Mrs. Holt saw a need to direct the training in the dance arts for both younger and older students. With 45 years of experience in developing dancers, Yelena Holt, through Holt Ballet Conservatory, continues to guide Nevada County aspiring dance artists in the training and opportunities they need in order to become beautiful dancers and empowered people. Holt Ballet Conservatory not only trains young people in the magical skills of dance technique, but also creates opportunities for the trained dancers to showcase their talents.

Yelena Holt has placed more than 60 Nevada Country dancers in some of the nation’s more competitive and highly acclaimed dance conservatories, universities and colleges, and pre-professional programs.

Nora Heiber

As a founding member of Alonzo King LINES Ballet, Nora Heiber danced for the company for 12 years, after which she served as a Board Trustee for 10 years. As part of the teaching staff of the LINES BFA and Training Programs, Nora teaches a workshop entitled “Creating a Life of Dance,” in which she strives to bestow upon her students such tools as proactive problem solving, confidence-building, and energy management, for the purpose of enjoying a thriving professional career. In addition, Nora serves the arts community as the national Dance Executive for the American Guild of Musical Artists, where she represents dancers, choristers, solo singers, and production staff of the opera and ballet. Nora was also a tenured member of the San Francisco Opera for 18 years and is a founding member of the San Francisco GYROTONIC where she has been teaching GYROTONIC methodology since 1988. As a Master Trainer in all of the equipment, Nora has provided training to many GYROTONIC trainers currently teaching all over the world. Currently, Nora and her husband Cliff reside on a 20-acre farm in Penn Valley, dedicated to providing a peaceful environment that is in accordance with natural laws for the pursuit of conscious living. We are proud, at Holt Ballet, to welcome Ms. Heiber to our guest staff.

Matt Carney

Matt Carney is thankful for this thing called dance and for all of the teachers who have helped him along the way. He began dancing professionally with the Modern American Dance Company (MADCO) in his hometown of St. Louis, MO and later joined the Wylliams/Henry Contemporary Dance Company based in Kansas City. Mr. Carney has had the privilege to perform works by dance luminaries Sir Fredrick Ashton, George Balanchine, Erick Hawkins, Doris Humphrey, Robert Cohen and Donald McKayle, and looks forward to passing this folklore down to any students who will listen. Matt moved to San Diego in 2008, working as a company member with Malashock Dance, San Diego Dance Theater, and San Diego Ballet where he currently serves as Executive Director.  He was on faculty at Coronado School of the Arts for 11 years and often guest teaching at the San Diego School for the Creative and Performing Arts. Matt holds a B.F.A. in Dance Performance from the Conservatory of Music and Dance at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, and received his Masters in Public Administration from the School of Public Affairs at San Diego State University.

Carolyn Wilson

Carolyn Wilson trained with the Alameda School of Dance, Alameda Chamber Ballet, with Elena Solovieva, Tatiana Legat, Laura Young and with the faculty of the Boston Ballet. She performed with the Nevada Ballet Theatre and with the Alameda Civic Ballet ,and was their ballet mistress as well. After her performing career, she focused on teaching and passing her many accomplishments and skills on to the next generation of dancers. She has taught for the Valley Dance Theatre, and also functioned as their “Cleaner,” working with all levels of dancers through one-on-one coaching and private lessons. Carolyn graduated from California State University, Hayward, with a degree in Business Administration with an emphasis on Marketing. She furthered her education by becoming a Certified Wedding Consultant, leaning on her ballet training and performing experiences to produce high-end weddings throughout California. Carolyn recently joined the teaching staff at Holt Ballet Conservatory after she and her family made the leap to the CA foothills in 2022.

Jesse Beck

Jesse Beck trained at the Tisch School of Dance at New York University where he obtained his BFA in Dance, as well as completed a double major in Politics. He is the recipient of the Edward Weisik Scholarship, as well as the Camille Cosby Memorial Scholarship. He performed in works by Gus Solomons Jr., Sean Green, Tiffany Billings, James Martin Dance, Brook Notery. Was a principal dancer with Lane & Co. Dance, and premiered in the 30th Fall Season of Dances Patrelle—a dynamic, professional ballet company.

Every year for over 18 years, Jesse returns to Nevada Union High School, where he began his training, to teach master classes and set various choreographic works on the dancers. Jesse’s choreographic works have been shown in California and New York.  

Jesse began training in Grass Valley, California at Nevada City School of the Arts. He went on to study with Nevada Union Theatrical Dance before attending college at Chapman University as a dance major and then transferring to NYU. 

Sommer Huntley

Formally trained through the Royal Academy of Dance (RAD) instruction, Sommer brings a deep love for storytelling and expressive movement to every aspect of her work. Sommer was inspired to pursue dance at a young age, captivated by artists such as Mikail Baryshnikov, Bob Fosse, and Michael Jackson. With a performance history that includes collaborations with dance companies and professional experience in instruction, production, and choreography, she is dedicated to nurturing both technique and artistic voice. Sommer is honored and overjoyed to be part of the Holt Ballet Conservatory family, where she can continue to share her passion for dance and creative expression with students, staff and their families.

Sophie Humphers

Sophie Humphers was born and raised in Nevada County. She was trained in Vaganova and Cunningham techniques at Joffrey Ballet School in New York City. Sophie attended summer programs at Alonzo King LINES ballet and William Forsythe’s ART of in Zurich, Switzerland. Sophie received her Bachelor’s degree from the University of California, Los Angeles, where she studied dance along with her academic endeavors. She has been teaching dance and acro for the last 5 years in New York and California.  

Luna Quaglia

Luna Quaglia (20 years old) has been dancing for thirteen years, eleven of those years with Holt Ballet Conservatory. Well versed in Classical Ballet and Contemporary Ballet, as well as Hip Hop, Ms Quaglia is currently extending her areas of expertise into choreography, making her an expert in several areas of dance. She has worked with the Sacramento Ballet’s second company since 2024 and is looking forward to beginning a new phase in her dance career. She is very excited to return to her roots for HBC’s Summer Intensive 2026 as a guest choreographer.

Kaylee Nicholls

Miss Nicholls, 16 years old, is a current advanced student at Holt Ballet and is an apprentice teacher. She has assisted in the Pre Ballet class for 3 years, substitutes for resident staff, and has a class of beginning ballet students in Summer Intensive 2026. She has performed Clara, Rose, Arabian, and Sugar Plum Fairy from Clara and the Nutcracker, as well as Cupid from Don Quixote, and Dormouse from Alice in Wonderland. She also plays the title role of Titania in 2026 A Midsummer Night’s Dream. Her goal, after high school, is to have a career as a professional dancer and pursue college studies online. 

MaryAnne Dulmage

MaryAnne Dulmage has studied and/or taught Ballet since she took her first class as a young child, where she found her lifelong passion. She focused on the Cecchetti method as a child and later studied with teachers in other styles (Sheila Rozanne, Stanley Holden, Richard Gibson and others). Eventually opening Dance Unlimited with Karen Taylor in Simi Valley, CA, she found the rewards of sharing her love of dance with students. When her husband was transferred to the San Francisco area she took over Millbrae Dance Academy on the S.F. peninsula. MaryAnne taught all levels of Ballet, master classes, choreographed, and oversaw dance productions throughout the year. More recently, she and her husband Larry built a home in Nevada City, and she is now delighted to have the opportunity to continue teaching and coaching with Holt Ballet.

Guest Artists in Performance

Christopher Selbie

Christopher began his dance studies with Yelena Holt at Nevada Union High School. He went on to graduate from the University of Arizona School of Dance with a BFA in dance performance. He danced in Denver, Colorado, with David Taylor Dance Theatre, Zikr, and the Dawson/Wallace Dance Project, and he
has performed many leading roles with Holt Ballet Conservatory. Christopher now lives and dances in Grass Valley, CA, and runs a Structural Integration practice.

Logan Hollmer

Logan, originally from the Bay Area, discovered his passion for dance at a young age. After moving to Nevada County during his formative years, he embarked on a remarkable dance journey with Holt Ballet. Logan has performed with various institutions throughout this career including Holt Ballet, The Rock, and the San Francisco City Ballet. With a lifelong dedication to the art of dance, Logan believes in the power of dance to convey raw emotion through movement.

Devan Burton

Devan Burton (17), has danced at Holt Ballet for 12 years. Currently attending USC with a pre-med major and a dance minor, Miss Burton dreams of becoming a doctor, but is keeping ballet, her roots, in her life. Devan is grateful for ballet as it has shaped her passion, discipline, and love for movement.

Olivia Latendresse

As a performer, Ms. Olivia Latendresse has taken on numerous leading roles in the classical repertoire, including Myrtha in Giselle, the Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker, the Lilac Fairy in Sleeping Beauty, and Odette/Odile in Swan Lake, and has toured professionally throughout the Okanagan region of British Columbia.