Atlanta Ballet 2 Dancers

Meet the Atlanta Ballet 2 Dancers

Pierce Bevans joined Atlanta Ballet 2 for the 25|26 Season, having trained in the Academy of the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education.

Caroline Giltner trained primarily in the Chicago area at Salt Creek Ballet, West Suburban Ballet, and Hinsdale Dance Academy. Most recently, she trained at the San Francisco Ballet School (SFBS). While at SFBS, she rehearsed with the company for performances of Helgi Tomasson’s Nutcracker and Sir Kenneth MacMillan’s Manon. Giltner competed at Youth America Grand Prix, where she was awarded top three in both Classical and Contemporary categories and competed as a finalist in 2022 and 2024 in Tampa and New York City. She has attended various summer intensives, including American Ballet Theatre in New York, San Francisco Ballet School, Joffrey Ballet Chicago, and in 2025 at both Tulsa Ballet and Philadelphia Ballet School as the Mary Ann Scholler Scholarship recipient.

Santiago Larronda began his ballet training at the age of 13. He completed two years of study at the Sofía Sajac Dance Conservatory and subsequently spent six years training at the Sodre, where he attended the National School of Artistic Formation and later joined the Sodre Youth Classical Ballet as a soloist. Larronda has performed notable roles in Carmen, including Torero and Don José, as well as the lead role in Tres Hologramas, choreographed by Martín Ithamusu, and the principal role in Tango Andrógino, created by María Inés Camu. At the Open Art competition, he was recognized as an Outstanding Participant and received the award for Best Contemporary Choreography, further elevating his artistic profile. This is his first season with Atlanta Ballet 2.

Isabela Oku, originally from São Paulo, Brazil, began her dance training at Studio de Danças Márcia Pee and, at age 12, was accepted into the Dance School of the Theatro Municipal of São Paulo (EDASP). She participated in several national and international competitions, including Premio Internazionale Danza (PID) in Rieti, Italy; Youth Grand Prix Brasil; and Valentina Kozlova International Competition. She attended American Ballet Theatre’s virtual summer intensive in 2021 during the pandemic and the Kaatsbaan summer intensive in 2022. In 2023, she was accepted into the Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education Academy program and moved to Atlanta. Last season, she had the privilege of performing the role of Young Marie in Yuri Possokhov’s The Nutcracker, and over the past two seasons performed Snowflakes and Flowers in the same production. Oku also performed in Coppélia by George Balanchine. Oku has been promoted to Atlanta Ballet 2 from the Centre for Dance Education Academy 6.

Eliza Soto was born in Glendale, California and began her formal ballet training at the Marat Daukeyev School of Classical Ballet. After relocating to Dallas, Texas, she studied at the Classical Training Program under the direction of Ashley Ellis and George Birkadze. At the Classical Training Program, Soto had the opportunity to perform in multiple full-length ballets, where she danced lead roles such as Gamzatti, Giselle, and Sugarplum Fairy. Soto competed at Youth America Grand Prix, where she was awarded first place in the Classical Category and competed as a Finalist in 2022 and 2023. The Youngarts Foundation also named Soto a "Finalist with Distinction," and she performed at Youngarts Week in Miami, Florida. There, she was awarded a scholarship from the foundation based on her performance and dedication to the arts. This is Soto's second season with Atlanta Ballet 2.

Kahlen Wright was born in Tokyo, Japan, and moved to Atlanta, Georgia at the age of 3 where she began training at the age of 4 in hip hop, jazz, tap, and contemporary. She joined Atlanta Ballet Centre for Dance Education in Academy 1 in 2016 and progressed through all six levels. During her time in the Academy, Wright was awarded a Decade 2 Dance scholarship. She worked with choreographer Yuri Possokhov on the world premiere of Atlanta Ballet’s The Nutcracker, performing as a party child and Fritz in the early years. From 2022 to 2024, Wright danced the role of Young Marie and, while in Academy 6, performed in the Snowflakes and Flowers scenes. She also performed student and corps roles in George Balanchine’s Coppélia and Johan Kobborg’s La Sylphide. Additionally, she participated in many ballets choreographed by Bruce Wells, including Cinderella, Beauty and the Beast, The Swan Princess, and Snow White.

Atlanta Ballet 2 photos by Kim Kenney.