David Keary began his ballet training with the Jackson Ballet under the direction of Albia Kavan Cooper, and later the first professional dancer under the direction of Thalia Mara. He completed his training at the School of American Ballet, the official school of the New York City Ballet. Mr. Keary was invited by George Balanchine to join the New York City Ballet where he performed the extensive repertoire of the NYCB and performances on the PBS series Dance in America. While a student at the School of American Ballet, he was invited to perform as guest artist to honor Princess Grace of Monaco. Before joining NYCB, he performed with Natalia Makarova's Company Makarova and Company at the Uris Theatre in New York.

He also appeared in the film, Reflections of a Dancer: Alexandra Danilova. Mr. Keary later joined the Fort Worth Ballet as principal dancer, where he performed ballets by George Balanchine including Allegro Brilliante, Concerto Barocco, Rubies (Emeralds), Scotch Symphony, Square Dance, Who Cares, and works by choreographers such as Lew Christiansen, Lambros Lambrou and Michel Rahn.

Upon returning to Mississippi, he completed his undergraduate studies at Millsaps College and later received a Juris Doctorate from Mississippi College School of Law. He was the first legal intern at the Court and later served as a law clerk to Justice James W. Smith at the Mississippi Supreme Court.

In 1994, Mr. Keary transitioned and restructured Ballet Mississippi from a professional company into a professional school. He was appointed Artistic Director of Ballet Mississippi and he choreographed a full-length production of The Nutcracker. Ballet Mississippi presents an annual Spring Gala, which highlights the emerging talent in the school while presenting classical, neoclassical and emerging choreographic works. Guest artists from the New York City Ballet, American Ballet Theatre, Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet and many other companies have performed with Ballet Mississippi. Ballets performed include Le Jardin Animee from the ballet Le Corsaire, Act II from Giselle and Swan Lake, Act III Sleeping Beauty. Mr. Keary served on the faculty International Dance School of the 2006 USA International Ballet Competition, where he has also taught classes for the competitors since 1998. Mr. Keary teaches throughout the United States and provides consulting work for many ballet schools and performing artists. Aside from his work at Ballet Mississippi, he is a jazz guitarist with Swing de Paris, Jackson’s version of a Hot Club of France which features the gypsy jazz music of Django Reinhardt.

Cherri Barnett began her dance training with the incomparable Linda Lavander Ford and Madame Cecelia Kelly with the Twin City Ballet of Monroe, LA.  Ms. Barnett earned a B.F.A.  in dance from Texas Christian University where she also performed with the Fort Worth Ballet under the direction of Fernando Schaffenburg.  In 1982, Ms. Barnett joined Ballet Mississippi’s professional company under the direction of Charles Dickson and Alan Woodard, where she became a principal dancer.  She remained with Ballet Mississippi for nine years.  Her many ballets include: The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Paquita, Raymonda, Divertimento, Firebird, Graduation Ball, Coppelia, Daughters of Morning, Eventide, Traffic, Snow Maiden, and personalfavorites, Alan Woodard’s Reverie and William Dollars’ American classic, Le Combat.

Barnett, with Madison Mayor Mary Hawkins Butler, worked tirelessly to pioneer what is now the Madison Square Center for the Arts, where Barnett has now taught dance for fourteen years.  In 2003, Ms. Barnett established dance in the curriculum of St. Andrew’s Episcopal School, where she now teaches students from the middle and upper schools.  Ms. Barnett has served as a dance school administrator for the International Dance School, as well as being a Past President of Friends of the IBC, and currently has the honor of serving on the IBC’s Board of Directors.  Ms. Barnett has also received recognition as an emerging choreographer in the Southwest Regional Dance Association. 

In 2007, Ms. Barnett was invited by Mr. Keary to join the faculty of Ballet Mississippi.  It is an honor to again work with Mississippi’s premier performing arts organization.

Kelly Harp Haber began her dancing career in Monroe, Louisiana. She studied under Linda Lavender Ford with the Twin City Ballet Company for over 7 years. During her time there, she perfromed in The Nutcracker, A Midsummer Night's Dream, Cinderella, Rudolph, A Christmas Story, Stories from the Levee - Louisiana, and A Storybook Christmas. While with Twin City Ballet, Kelly trained with Cherri Barnett of Ballet Mississippi.

At Louisiana Tech University, Kelly studied ballet and modern dance under Alvin Ailey's Diane Maroney while earning her degree in Elementary Education. She later earned her Master of Education degree at Vanderbilt University.

Upon moving to Mississippi, Kelly joined Encore Ballet Company in Madison and performed in The Messiah, Spring on Main, and The Nutcracker. She joined Ballet Mississippi as an instructor in 2007. Kelly resides in Ridgeland with her husband, Lawrence, and her three sons Jackson, Sam, and Henry.

Millie Clanton began her classical ballet training under the direction of Jozia Mieszkowski at the Mississippi University for Women at age nine, where she performed in numerous productions of The Nutcracker in addition to Coppelia and Les Sylphides. Millie continued her dance training at Ballet Mississippi while attending Mississippi College, where she received a bachelor degree in social work. She performed in Ballet Mississippi's The Nutcracker and Country Moon.

After graduation from Mississippi College, Millie studied ballet at the Cincinnati Ballet and the Maryland Youth Ballet. Millie has over ten years experience teaching dance, including teaching children with disabilities at the Joseph P. Kennedy Institute in Washington, D.C. Millie holds a Masters degree in special education from the University of Maryland.

Susan Hamilton began studying ballet at age six with Olga Hopkins. Through elementary school, she studied tap and jazz with Carolyn Hall. Later, she received ballet and pointe instruction from Linda Scafidel for whom she begain student teaching. Susan danced with the Hinds High Steppers under the direction of Ann Bell until she moved to the Gulf Coast. There, she taught under privledged children in continuing education programs. She also danced in a semi-professional dance troupe under the direction of Nancy Ward. In her spare time Susan judges many talent and beauty pageants.

Susan is a certified teacher through Dance Masters of America.