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Southern California's Pointe Shoe Experts Since 1994
MON - SAT, 12:00 - 6:00 p.m.
• DANCE THREADZ AMBASSADORS •
ASHLEE PONG
Ashlee Pong is a 12-year-old ballerina at Long Beach Ballet, where she most recently performed Clara in The Nutcracker and was part of Long Beach Ballet’s Ambassadors Tour to China, performing in Don Quixote.
In the Classical category at Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), Ashlee received Top 12 (2022); Top 12, 3rd Place and attended the finals in Florida (2023); and Top 24 (2024.)
IG: @ashlee.pong
Studio: Long Beach Ballet
Pointe Shoes: Bloch European Balance
AUBREY BANAAG
Aubrey Banaag is a 16-year-old ballerina at Dance Academy of Southern California and Orange County School of the Arts. At Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP), she placed 2nd in the Pas de Deux category, 3rd in the Contemporary category, 3rd in the Classical category, and attended the finals in New York (2024). Last summer, Aubrey attended her summer intensives at the Ellison Ballet in Los Angeles and Cary Ballet Conservatory in North Carolina.
IG: @aubreybanaagdance
Studio: Dance Academy of Southern California
Pointe Shoes: Nikolay SmartPointe
RIA MELWANI
Ria Melwani is a 14 year-old ballerina at Huntington Academy of Dance, where she has been dancing for 11 years and is a member of its company, Ballet Etudes. She is also a first year dance major at the Huntington Beach Academy for the Performing Arts. Her favorite pieces to perform are the variation from La Fille Mal Gardee, Autumn in The Four Seasons, and Snow in The Nutcracker.
IG: @riam_dance
Studio: Huntington Academy of Dance
Pointe Shoes: Gaynor Minden Europa
WENDY RASMUSSEN
Wendy Rasmussen is a 14-year-old ballerina at Southland Ballet Academy and a member of its company, Festival Ballet Theater. In 2024, she placed in the Top 24 in the Classical category at Youth America Grand Prix - Los Angeles and attended her summer intensive at the Mosa Ballet School in Liége, Belgium. Her favorite roles have been Party Girl, Flower and Sugar Plum Attendant in Festival Ballet’s The Nutcracker.
IG: @wendabeeballet
Studio: Southland Ballet Academy
Pointe Shoes: Suffolk Stellar
Interested in becoming a Dance Threadz Ambassador? Check out our program here.
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