Introduce Yourself to BalletMet 2
BalletMet 2 is a group of accomplished young artists on the cusp of a professional career as classically trained dancers. In addition to performing in BalletMet productions, they are the organization’s community ambassadors, sharing their talent and passion for dance in schools and area venues across our region.
Mila DeCola
MILA DECOLA grew up dancing in BalletMet’s Academy program, starting at age four. When she was fifteen, she joined the Trainee Program at BalletMet. While in this program she had the opportunity to perform in multiple productions alongside BalletMet’s company, including Gerard Charles’ The Nutcracker, Edwaard Liang’s Swan Lake, Alice, and Romeo and Juliet, as well as the most recent production of Sleeping Beauty. Mila has also performed in several of George Balanchine’s ballets with the Trainee Program; these include the Demi-soloist role in Walpurgisnacht, Second Violin in Concerto Barocco, the principal role in Divertimento No. 15, and Tarantella. In 2023, she enjoyed training at American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive in New York. Mila is very appreciative of all the opportunities BalletMet has given her and is excited to be joining BalletMet 2 for the 2025-26 season!
Graydon George
GRAYDON GEORGE was born in Kansas City, Missouri, and began his formal ballet training at Kansas City Ballet School at the age of 8. He continued his studies at Canada’s National Ballet School in Toronto, Ontario, graduating from the Professional Ballet Academic Program in 2022, training under Mavis Staines, Raymond Smith, Alexander Gorbatsevich, and James Kudelka. He furthered his training for a year in Canada’s National Ballet School’s Company Life Program. Performance highlights of his time at Canada’s National Ballet School include performing the lead man in excerpts of James Kudelka’s The Four Seasons, originating soloist roles in Robert Binet and Esie Mensah’s The Call for the Assemblee Internationale Dance Festival in 2023, and receiving the distinct honor of performing the lead role in Jera Wolfe’s Arise for the Fall for Dance North Festival.
In 2023, George joined the National Ballet of Canada as an apprentice. As an apprentice, he performed corps de ballet roles in productions like John Cranko’s Onegin, James Kudelka’s The Nutcracker, Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice in Wonderland, and Carlos Acosta’s Don Quixote. As an apprentice, he also participated in the National Ballet’s outreach program, YOU Dance, performing for 20,000+ children across the Greater Toronto Area. His YOU Dance repertoire includes Robert Binet’s Ever New, Alyssa Martin’s Sugar Water, Sir Peter Wright’s Giselle Pas de Deux, and Hanna Kiel’s Until You See Me, a contemporary solo created specially for him.
In 2024, George was invited to join the prestigious San Francisco Ballet School Trainee Program under Grace Holmes and Pascal Molat. His performance highlights as a trainee include being a part of the world premiere of Esteban Hernandez’s 1941 on tour in Ketchum, Idaho, for the Ballet Sun Valley Festival, performing David Justin’s A Boy and a Girl Pas de Deux in Golden Gate Park, and performing the principal couple in Lew Christensen’s Vivaldi Concerto Grosso on the SF War Memorial Opera House Stage for the SFBS Spring Festival. As an SFBS trainee, he also received the opportunity to perform corps de ballet roles in San Francisco Ballet company productions like Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon, Tamara Rojo’s Raymonda, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa’s Broken Wings, and Liam Scarlett’s Frankenstein.
He is beyond excited to continue his budding professional career with Ballet Met 2 for the 2025/26 season!
Phoebe Ing
PHOEBE ING was born in Columbus, Ohio, and began dancing at four years old with the BalletMet Academy. At age fifteen, she joined BalletMet’s Trainee Program and is grateful to have performed in several productions alongside the professional company. As a trainee, she had the opportunity to perform in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Divertimento No. 15, and Tarantella. Phoebe attended the Royal Danish Ballet Summer School in the summer of 2024 and received a full tuition scholarship to return in 2025. Phoebe is so excited to be joining BalletMet 2 for the 25/26 season.
Jett Lecamu
JETT LECAMU began his dance training at the age of six. At nine, he continued his training through the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA) Preparatory Program for five years before joining the UNCSA high school program in 2020. While at UNCSA, performance highlights included the roles of the Nutcracker Prince and Sugar Plum Cavalier in Ilya Kozadayev’s Nutcracker (2021, 2022), as well as the principal couple in Dean Endalyn Outlaw’s Shostakovich Suite (2023).
Under the mentorship of Ilya Kozadayev, Jett earned the silver medal at the World Ballet Competition finals in 2021. In 2022, with Kozadayev as his coach, he was selected as a candidate for the prestigious Prix de Lausanne. In 2023, he won first place in classical and contemporary categories at the Universal Ballet Competition regional.
Jett competed in the Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) representing UNCSA for three consecutive years. He earned multiple medals and advanced to the final round each year. In 2023, he was awarded the Grand Prix at the YAGP Winston-Salem regionals. That year, at YAGP Finals, Jett was part of the first place ensemble, coached by Mikhail Tchoupakov, and he was awarded a scholarship to the English National Ballet School (ENBS).
Jett trained at ENBS for two years, studying under David Yow and Juan Eymar. In 2024 and 2025, he performed as Prince Siegfried in My First Ballet: Swan Lake with English National Ballet (ENB) and ENBS, under the direction of Antonio Castilla (2024), and Lynne Charles (2025). He also performed in ENB’s new production of The Nutcracker (2024), choreographed by Aaron Watkin and Arielle Smith.
Jett graduated from ENBS in July 2025. He is eager for the opportunity to work with Remi Wörtmeyer and the extraordinary artists of BalletMet 2.
Isaac Orrante
GABRIEL ROUSH began his ballet training at his mother’s dance studio in North Carolina, where his passion for dance quickly became evident. In 2019, he was accepted into the prestigious high school program at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts (UNCSA), where he refined his craft under the guidance of esteemed instructors such as Misha Tchoupakov, Ilya Kozadayev, and Susan Jaffe. After graduating in 2022, Gabriel joined Charlotte Ballet as a Trainee. There, he further honed his technique and artistry with the mentorship of renowned teachers including Laszlo Berdo, Kati Mayo, and Patricia McBride. During his time at Charlotte Ballet, he had the privilege of performing in iconic works like George Balanchine’s Who Cares and Alejandro Cerrudo’s Lickety Split, In addition to his ballet achievements, Gabriel is an accomplished tap dancer, having received multiple awards for both his performances and choreography. Gabriel is excited to be back for his second season with BalletMet 2.
LAUREN WOODWARD was born in Denver, Colorado. She began her formal ballet training at the age of seven at Littleton Ballet Academy, under the direction of Alison and Bobbie Jaramillo. At age 14, she was offered a full tuition scholarship to attend the American Ballet Theatre JKO School, after having competed as a soloist at the 2019 Youth America Grand Prix finals. She continued her training there with Cynthia Harvey, Petrusjka Broholm, Stella Abrera, and Yan Chen, among other incredible teachers. During her time with the ABT school, she studied and performed choreography by Robert LaFosse and Alexei Ratmansky, as well as by Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson for the Complexions Contemporary Ballet 28th anniversary season gala. Lauren also attended summer programs at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, the School of American Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, and Oklahoma City Ballet. After graduating from the JKO school in the spring of 2023, Lauren joined BalletMet as a trainee for the 23/24 season, and returned in the 24/25 season as a second company member. She is honored to work alongside such inspiring artists each day!
BalletMet 2 shines a light on the dancers of the next generation—these talented young dancers are at a turning point of their professional career. See their gift for dancing at their performances throughout Columbus as well as in special roles in 25/26 Company productions!