Elevating Youth Dance Through the Power of Performance.
Our aim is to strengthen rural arts access by connecting local young talent with stage experience and collaborative creative projects.
About the Lily Youth Ballet Project
Founded in 2026, the Lily Youth Ballet Project was created to address a vital need in the Upper Valley of Vermont and New Hampshire: accessible, dedicated performance opportunities for youth dancers.
We believe that true artistic growth happens both in the studio and on the stage. Under the guidance of Artistic Director Emily Higgins, the project bridges classical training with dynamic performance experience, giving young dancers the stage time they need to refine their technique, build performance confidence, and express themselves creatively.
Our Mission & Core Values
Performance-Driven Growth: Providing structured, high-caliber annual performance opportunities that turn technical training into expressive storytelling.
Building Community: Fostering a supportive, collaborative environment where dancers from across Vermont and New Hampshire connect, grow, and inspire one another.
Artistic Excellence: Cultivating discipline, musicality, and strong ballet technique guided by professional artistic leadership.
Regional Impact: Strengthening rural arts access by providing Upper Valley youth with a vibrant platform to share their passion for dance with local audiences.
Company Structure
Junior Company (Ages 8–9) Focuses on building foundational ballet technique, musical rhythm, and stage presence in a joyful, supportive setting. Young dancers learn essential ensemble coordination, rehearsal discipline, and performance etiquette while preparing for their annual mainstage production experience.
Intermediate Company (Ages 10–12) Designed to refine technical precision, artistry, and spatial awareness as dancers transition into more complex classical and contemporary repertoire. Dancers deepen their understanding of corps de ballet work, character development, and performance dynamics, with pre-pointe and early pointe work integrated where appropriate.
Senior Company (Ages 13+) Emphasizes advanced classical technique, pointe work, partnering, and expressive storytelling for serious high school dancers. Members tackle challenging featured roles and soloist repertoire, developing the artistic maturity, discipline, and performance confidence required for pre-professional or collegiate dance pathways.
Our Team
EMILY HIGGINS
Artistic Director Under the artistic vision of Emily Higgins, the Lily Youth Ballet Project prioritizes both technical discipline and the joy of dance. Emily is dedicated to mentoring the next generation of dancers, creating an encouraging studio culture where students ages 8 to 18 can challenge themselves, discover their artistic voices, and share the magic of live performance with their community.
“Whether taking the stage for the first time or preparing for advanced classical repertoire, every dancer at the Lily Youth Ballet Project finds a home to leap, grow, and belong.”
REBECCA SEXTON
Rebecca Sexton brings a deep passion for youth advocacy, education, and community-building to her role as Executive Director of the Lily Youth Ballet Project.
As an elementary school librarian, PTO president, dance parent, and long-time counselor at Camp Ta-Kum-Ta, Rebecca’s career and volunteer work center on creating safe, supportive, and empowering environments for children to thrive. Her extensive experience in educational leadership and community engagement ensures that the Lily Youth Ballet Project is not only an inspiring artistic initiative, but also a well-run, inclusive home for young dancers and their families across Vermont and New Hampshire.
Executive Director