Meet Leanne

Leanne is a founding member of the Ballet Fantastique contemporary chamber ballet company. She joined the company as a soloist beginning with the 2009–2010 season. Since joining Ballet Fantastique, Leanne has appeared locally and on tour in soloist roles such as: Esther in The Book of Esther: A Rock Gospel Ballet (with the UO Gospel Choir, premiere 2014 + 2016 performances), Miyuki, the samurai's daughter in Tales from the Floating World (with Portland Taiko and international koto player Mitsuki Dazai, premiere 2014 + 2017 performances); Light in the Night in ZORRO (with the LA-based band Incendio and violinist-composer Kim Angelis, premiere 2013 + 2018 performances); Madama Samovara, the Teapot in Scarlet Flower: Beauty & the Beast Retold (with Trio Voronezh, premiere 2016); Saoirse, the magical bird in Dragon & the Night Queen: Celtic Stories (with Gerry Rempel Ensemble and Eliot Grasso, premiere 2016); Parvaneh in Aladdin: A Rock Opera Ballet (with Satin Love Orchestra, premiere 2017); Mercury in The Odyssey (with live looping electric violinist Cullen Vance, premiere 2015); Judy in An American Christmas Carol (with Halie Loren and her live jazz band, premiere 2014 + 2015 performances); Kitty Bennette, the raucous little sister in Pride & Prejudice: A Parisian Jazz Ballet (with Gerry Rempel Jazz Syndicate, premiere 2013 + 2016 performances); Faustina, the famous opera singer in The Misadventures of Casanova (premiere 2013); Estrella, the Lonesome Diva in Cirque de la Lune (with Betty and the Boy, Mood Area 52, and Troupe Carnivale, premiere 2012 + 2015 performances); the Sunnydale Fairy Godmother in Cinderella: A Rock Opera Ballet (with Shelley and Cal and the Agents of Unity, premiere 2012 + 2015 performances); the Diamond Statue in Arabian Nights (premiere 2011); Cupid in As You Like It: A Wild West Ballet (including on Ballet Fantastique's Italy tour in 2013; original premiere 2011); Squirrel Nutkin in Tales of Beatrix Potter (premiere 2010); Chloe, the waitress in Love at the Cafe Terrace (with composer Jeremy DeKyle Schropp and orchestra; premiere 2009); and many others. During her time with Ballet Fantastique and as a lead teacher with The Academy of Ballet Fantastique, Leanne singlehandedly  built BFan's inaugural Adult Ballet Program, has helped to raise thousands of dollars for the company, has trained and mentored dozens of aspiring young artists. Leanne is known for her dramatic power has earned rave critical reviews for her performances in a range of roles, and has toured with Ballet Fantastique across the Northwest and internationally.

Leanne started her training under Susan Blazy at the Metropolitan Ballet School. She later studied at Virginia Ballet, where she trained under former Ballets Russes dancers Oleg Tupine and Tania Rousseau. Leanne continued her training at the University of Hartford’s Hartt School, where she graduated cum laude with a BFA in Dance Pedagogy. There, Leanne trained under Peggy Lyman, Peter O’Brian, Alla Nikitina, and Hilda Morales. She performed with American Ballet Theatre in The Nutcracker and Romeo and Juliet. Leanne also attended summer programs at the Joffrey Ballet and Virginia School of the Arts. Leanne was a company dancer for four years with Manassas Ballet Theatre, performing many soloist roles including Helena in A Midsummer Night’s Dream and Michaela in Carmen.

Quick Facts

Hometown: 
Burke, VA

Ballet Fantastique: 
Since 2009

Favorite BFan Role: 
Esther in The Book of Esther: A Rock Gospel

Favorites: 
Macaroni, gummy bears, West Side Story

Pointe shoes: Grishko 2007s


"As Esther, Leanne Mizzoni dances with a precise, yet earnest approach.
Her delicate, lyrical quality is tempered by her strength."

—Rachael Carnes
Eugene Weekly


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