Caroline Purcell Meinert- Artistic Director of Ballet Arts 

Caroline Purcell Meinert is a Jackson native and a Ballet Arts alumna. From the young age of four years old Caroline began dancing, wanting to be trained in all forms of dance offered at Pat Brown School of Dance. She was trained in ballet, pointe, modern, jazz, tap, hip hop, and musical theatre. She received other training with Joffery Ballet, American Ballet Theater, Orlando Ballet, Kirov Academy of Ballet, and the Radio City Rockettes. Wanting to immerse herself more in the art of dance, she attended the conservatory at the University of Missouri, Kansas City, where she received a bachelor of fine arts degree in dance performance and choreography in 2017.

While at UMKC Caroline was blessed to be a part of many professional opportunities as a dancer, such as her performance with the Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts in Kansas City. Caroline has performed many lead roles in ​The Nutcracker, Peter Pan, Paquita, Dorothy in the Emerald City, Sweet Lips, Pas de Quatre, ​Deanna Hiett’s ​3 Play 4 Play, ​Madison Cannon’s ​And Then There Were Five, ​Ronald Tice’s ​Mata Hari, ​and many more​.

Caroline has continued her love for dance by performing professionally, choreographing, and teaching. As a teacher Caroline trained dancers and choreographed pieces for the Youth American Grand Prix. There, her contemporary choreography qualified for the finals in NYC.

Caroline is humbled and grateful to be named the Artistic Director of Ballet Arts where she can be a part of their legacy and look forward to strengthening the company for many years to come.