Orange County, CA

Anna Wassman-Cox founded the Onco-Ballet Foundation as a 501(c)3 non-profit organization, to give directly back to the cancer community with the belief that ballet has the ability to heal and bring us together. As a 2x young breast cancer survivor and former professional ballet dancer, she saw how ballet brought me joy and was helpful in facilitating healing and self expression as it played a huge role in her personal cancer recovery. In the coming years, she plans to expand the Onco-Ballet Foundation across the US to offer Onco-Ballet™ classes in all states at major hospitals, dance studios, ballet companies, at cancer focused conferences, through partnerships, with local Onco-Ballet™ chapters and more.

Orange County, CA

Sarah Rostoker performed corps de ballet roles with Pennsylvania Ballet and Ballet Austin (as a Ballet Austin Trainee). Sarah completed a two-year Pedagogy Internship teacher training program with the Ballet Austin Academy, and has choreographed original pieces on Ballet Austin Trainee dancers in collaboration with Pollyanna Theatre Company. Sarah trained with Principal Dancers Suzanne Farrell (New York City Ballet) and Dede Barfield (Pennsylvania Ballet). Sarah studied Vaganova & Balanchine techniques at The Rock School, Kaatsbaan, Joffrey Ballet School NYC, Richmond Ballet, Orlando Ballet, Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and at international ballet intensives in Estonia. After navigating time in a wheelchair (due to Dysautonomia), Sarah is passionate about making ballet accessible and inclusive.

Orange County, CA

Karlee Meadows is a dancer/marketing professional with a diverse background in performance, choreography, and show direction. She earned her B.A. in Dance Performance from Chapman University, as a scholarship student.Her performance career flourished at the Disneyland Resort, where she captivated audiences for 13 years as a Dance and Character Performer. Beyond the stage, Karlee has shared her expertise as the Show Director, Choreographer and Event Producer for the Miss City of Orange Pageant and Entertainment Event production at the Disneyland Resort. During her recent treatment for Non-Hodgkin's Lymphoma, Karlee discovered the profound impact of maintaining physical activity on both her physical and mental well-being, further solidifying her belief in the transformative power of dance.

Orange County, CA

Aimee Murcia is an occupational therapist who grew up dancing ballet and performing in musical theater through college. She performed in Sesame Street Live in high school. While attending various dance conferences she enjoyed learning some belly dance, Bollywood, salsa, and capoeira. When she lived in Hawaii, she practiced Tahitian dance with friends and was a semi professional tandem surfer. She has a martial arts background in Kenpo Karate and Tai Chi. In 2025 she was diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins Lymphoma and Onco-Ballet provided her safe space to improve physically and mentally during her healing journey. Her love of movement and passion to help people motivated her to continue to share Onco-Ballet with others.

Orange County, CA

Michelle is a former professional dancer turned certified Holistic Wellness Coach, 500-hour yoga instructor, and personal trainer. Trained in ballet, modern, jazz, African, and hip-hop, Michelle began her dance journey later in life, studying at Cal State Fullerton before dancing professionally in San Francisco and internationally in France and Canada. She choreographed and performed with companies like Paco Gomez, Jose Ramon Dance Collective, and Cali Dance. Inspired by her own journey through self-doubt, Michelle is passionate about empowering others to break free from limiting beliefs and experience the freedom of movement. She believes it's never too late to danc. Michelle’s work is deeply influenced by generous choreographers and mentors, Marie de la Palme, Christine Baltes, and Augusta Moore, who bravely fought cancer. Their courage and enduring legacy continue to inspire Michelle to help others move well, embrace wellness and dance with joy.

Orange County, CA

Madison is a professional ballet dancer and dance educator with over 15 years of experience. She has performed on a variety of stages dancing with the Inland Pacific Ballet (Principal), Houston Ballet (Corps de Ballet), and Anaheim Ballet and performing at galas and festivals across the country. She has danced styles ranging from classical and character to modern and contemporary. Madison was first introduced to teaching as a Teacher's Assistant at Houston Ballet Academy. Since then, she has gained extensive experience and acclaim as an instructor and coach. She is currently ranked the #1 Dance Coach on CoachUp and has also served as a movement specialist and coach for a wide array of athletes including gymnasts, basketball players, and figure skaters.

Orange County, CA

Candice has a love of people and a passion for teaching dance. Candice’s tenure in teaching dance spans more than 40 years starting as the supervisor for the City of Anaheim Dance Program, as well an instructor in ballet and jazz. Her teaching experience ranges from age 3 through adult in various genres. Candice has an Associate of Arts Degree in Dance from Santa Ana Community College, and a Bachelor of Arts degree and secondary teaching credential in physical education with an emphasis in dance from California State University at Long Beach. Candice was honored to have been selected as a professional cheerleader entertainer for the Los Angeles Rams for three consecutive years. Although Candice is not a cancer survivor, her significant other, Anthony, is. Candice’s goal is to assist cancer survivors feel the freedom of movement, peace and purpose through dance.

Orange County, CA

Estee is a passionate dance educator and studio owner with a strong commitment to nurturing the art of dance. She graduated Summa Cum Laude from California State University, Long Beach, earning a BA in Dance Science and an MA in Dance. Estee was also recognized as a President’s Scholar and served as a President’s Ambassador. Prior to higher education, Estee trained for ten years at Dancer’s Edge in Visalia, CA. Estee directed the Burbank High School Dance Program from 2010 to 2014 and currently leads the Laguna Beach High School Dance Department. In 2020, she founded Fringe Dance Studio in Mission Viejo, offering recreational and competitive dance training. Fringe’s mission includes using dance as a medium for healing, partnering with Onco-Ballet to offer ballet classes for the cancer community. Estee is also a breast cancer survivor, wife, and mother.

Los Angeles, CA

Masha Cherezova is a choreographer and dancer based in L.A. She received her training in Southern California with ballet masters from Bolshoi and Mariinsky Theatres. Her professional dance career was based in Russia at the Novosibirsk Theatre of Opera and Ballet. In August 2022, Masha was unexpectedly diagnosed with Acute Myeloid Leukemia (AML), forcing her to leave Russia and return home to California to endure chemotherapy treatments. During treatment, Masha began creating gestural movement phrases with these early explorations culminating in her first choreographic piece, when the fog doesn’t leave. Currently, Masha choreographs and leads workshops around L.A. Her choreography has been performed in the L.A. Dance Project, the Carpenter Performing Arts Center, and the USC Glorya Kaufman School of Dance. In the fall of 2024, Masha choreographed a new work with Onco-Ballet Foundation, involving a flock of cancer patients and survivors. Masha is interested in breaking boundaries within traditional concert dance and sharing dance as a source of inspiration, to all ages and levels.

Long Beach, CA

Christina Jones Gorne was born and raised in Long Beach, California. She started ballet at the age of 4 years old at Long Beach Ballet. Throughout her dancing career she traveled for ballet, toured in China with her pre professional ballet company, performed in an opera, danced on television shows such as True Blood and Dexter, and ended up in a similar career path through her passion of fashion and fitness clothing where she was in sales for over 10 years. She is now a stay at home mom with her two gorgeous daughters Sarah and Julia. Christina’s mom, Bonnie, was a major part of her life. Christina was a caregiver to a true warrior who battled vigorously with her breast cancer diagnosis. Bonnie lost her battle in 2018 and Christina is proud to pay it forward and teach in love and honor of her mother.

Long Beach, CA

Born and raised in Los Angeles County, Kathryn knew from a very young age that dancing was her passion. At four years old, she began her training at Long Beach Ballet. She continued with this training for thirteen years, leading her to continue her training and studies of dance at California State University of Long Beach. After receiving a Bachelors of Arts in Dance and dancing professionally in the modern-contemporary dance world, she decided to pursue becoming an educator in dance. She has now been a certificated educator in dance and physical education for six years and has worked within the public education system for a total of eleven years. In addition to dance, she has a great passion for fitness and is a certified fitness instructor. Sharing her knowledge and love for dance and fitness is one of her greatest joys in life.

Stanford, CA

Trudy Kim is a Medical Humanities Research Fellow at the Stanford University School of Medicine, where she integrates dance and medicine to advance medical education and interventional research. She co-developed Physical Listening, a course that applies Laban Movement Analysis principles to help pre-med and medical students improve their non-verbal communication skills. Beyond education, Trudy explores the therapeutic applications of dance in clinical settings. She is currently investigating the impact of preoperative ballet interventions on lymphedema severity in breast cancer patients, aiming to improve post-surgical recovery through movement therapy. With over 20 years of classical ballet experience, Trudy danced all over the world and now teaches in the San Francisco Bay Area, advocating for the integration of dance into healthcare. She is passionate about bridging the performing arts and medicine, using movement as a tool for healing, communication, and patient care.

New York, NY

Aitana began her movement journey at Long Beach Ballet where she performed annually in spring productions and The Nutcracker. She traveled with the Long Beach Ballet Senior Company, competed in YAGP as an NYC Finalist, and was a Music Center Spotlight Program Honoree. After graduating from Fordham/Ailey with a BFA in Dance, she guested with Ballet Theatre Company, Axelrod Contemporary Ballet Theater, and performed with Buglisi Dance Theatre in Table of Silence. After suffering a serious injury, Aitana found comfort and strength in her Pilates practice. Aitana shares her love for Pilates with clients, hoping she can help them feel empowered by greater body awareness and mindfulness. In addition to teaching, she performs as a freelance dancer in NYC.

New York, NY

Ekaterina is passionate about healthy movement, mental well being, and the art of ballet. She was previously a student of the Ballet Austin Academy for 12 years and danced recreationally with the Texas Ballet group at the University of Texas at Austin. Currently located in New York City, she has enjoyed taking ballet, contemporary, and hip hop classes at Steps, BDC, Ailey, Peridance, and more! She has volunteered with Onco-Ballet since July 2024, helping with social media management, content creation, and fundraiser promotion. Working with the cancer community is a cause that hits close to home, and she is excited to share movement and joy with the group.

Chicago, IL

Martha Bayne is a Chicago-area writer, editor, dancer, aerialist, and organizer. After a dozen years of ballet and modern dance training as a young adult, she went into a long career in journalism and book publishing, but returned to a regular dance practice in 2023 after being diagnosed with and treated for breast cancer. Since then, she has been exploring the intersections of dance, aging, healing, and social justice through her newsletter, Range of Motion. In her professional life she is currently an acquisitions editor at the University of Illinois Press and the coeditor of the forthcoming anthology "Nothing Compares to You: What Sinead O'Connor Means to Us" (One Signal).

Seattle, WA

Liz’s love for ballet began at the age of three and carried her through college, where she found joy and discipline in movement. Though life took her in different directions after graduation, her passion for dance never faded. In 2021, with 10-month-old twin daughters at home, Liz was diagnosed with IDC breast cancer. Navigating treatment while caring for her young children was a challenge, but ballet became an unexpected source of healing. Her daughters’ budding interest in dance reignited her own, leading her back to the studio. Liz began teaching at Tutu School, sharing her love of ballet with young dancers, and later became involved with Onco-Ballet, where she found a community that understands the power of movement in recovery. Liz is passionate about making ballet accessible to all, especially those navigating the physical and emotional challenges of cancer.