Artistic Directors

Kristopher Estes-Brown

A Kansas City native, Kristopher Estes-Brown received his training at the American Dance Center and was also a member of the original American Youth Ballet. He then continued studying under the guidance of Yoko Ichino and David Nixon at the BalletMet Academy. Professionally, Mr. Estes-Brown has performed with Milwaukee Ballet, Eugene Ballet/Ballet Idaho, Sacramento Ballet, and Columbia City Ballet. He has been seen in numerous classical ballets including Don Quixote, La Bayadere, The Sleeping Beauty, and Swan Lake, as well as works by great choreographers such as George Balanchine, Cho San Gogh, Jean-Paul Comeline, Toni Pimble, and Kathy Posin. Some of his more notable roles include Blue Bird from The Sleeping Beauty, Slave from Le Corsaire and Cavalier from The Nutcracker. In addition to being an accomplished dancer, he has taught workshops in numerous dance academies including Deane Dance Center; the founding school of Sacramento Ballet, Madison Ballet School, Columbia Conservatory of Dance, Berkley City Ballet, Ball State University, and many more. His choreography has been very well received and performed on numerous Gala evenings in both the Pacific and Midwest Regions of Regional Dance America. In 2006, he had the honor of being a Projecteer at the Craft of Choreography Workshop. Mr. Estes-Brown has also choreographed several original pieces on both regional and professional companies including Crocket-Deane Ballet, Kansas Regional Ballet, and Contemporary Dance Theater. In the last two seasons alone, he has choreographed an impressive eighteen original pieces including the full-length ballets Cinderella, The Nutcracker, and Alice in Wonderland. Mr. Estes-Brown is also Co-Director of the American Youth Ballet with his wife Jennifer Tierney.

Jennifer Tierney

Originally from Sacramento, CA, Jennifer Tierney started her training on full scholarship with the Deane Dance Center; the founding school of the Sacramento Ballet. She then continued her training at Ballet West Conservatory in Salt Lake City. Ms. Tierney's twelve year professional career includes seasons spent with Milwaukee Ballet, Sacramento Ballet, Oakland Ballet, Columbia City Ballet, Kansas City Ballet and Madison Ballet. She has been seen in many Balanchine works; her favorites being Concerto Barocco, Theme and Variations, and Western Symphony. As a professional, Ms. Tierney has also enjoyed the opportunities to dance in full-length productions of Cinderella as “Cinderella” and the "Fairy Godmother" and Sleeping Beauty as the "Golden Vine Fairy" and "Princess Aurora". Highlights of her performing career have been the featured role created on her by Donald McKayle in his jazz tribute Ella, the role of “Wendy” in Peter Pan, the principal role in Scott Rink’s Sorcerer’s Apprentice and “Clara/Sugar Plum Fairy” Pas de Deux in the Nutcracker. Ms. Tierney is currently a part-time freelance artist performing all over the country as well as in town with Owen/Cox Dance Group. In summer '08 she participated in Crossroads Ballet Festival where she performed two lead roles; one as “Karen” in Matthew Powell's The Red Shoes. Ms. Tierney has taught in several training schools and collegiate programs around the country including UMKC Conservatory of Music and Dance, Crocket-Deane Ballet, Madison Ballet School and Columbia Conservatory of Dance. She is proud to say that she comes from the training of Barbara Crockett and Allyson Deane and is continuing their syllabus and training to her students. Also, her choreography has been accepted and performed at RDA in the Pacific Region. Ms. Tierney has been Co-Directing the American Dance Center school since 2007 with her husband Kristopher Estes-Brown.