Avery Ward began her dance journey at the age of 3 at the Lawrenceville School of Ballet under the direction and instruction of Phyllis Allen and Amy Gilbert. Her early training continued at Gwinnett Ballet Theatre under the direction of Wade Wathall and at the Atlanta Ballet Conservatory program under the direction of Sharon Story.  In 2019, during her senior year of high school,  Avery joined the Trainee program at The Joffrey Ballet Academy of Dance in Chicago where her love for classical ballet and contemporary dance flourished under the instruction of Sir Ashley Wheater, Raul Casasola, and Katlin Bourgeois.

After graduating from the Joffrey Trainee program in 2021, Avery continued as a Trainee with Cincinnati Ballet under the direction of Victoria Morgan, Jodie Gates, Sarah Hairston, and David Morse. While at CB, Avery performed in Victoria Morgan’s The Nutcracker, Bolero, and Juliet in her Romeo and Juliet Balcony Pas de Deux. Additionally,  Avery performed as a flamingo and playing card in Septime Webre’s Alice in Wonderland, in George Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie staged by Margaret Tracey, and Les Corsaire Pas de Deux.

In 2023, Avery joined New Orleans Ballet Theatre as an Apprentice where she performed featured roles such as Clara and the Coffee divertissement in The Nutcracker, Roasted Swan in Carmina Burana, and Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade. Avery is thrilled to join the Indianapolis Ballet as a Company Artist and looks forward to the 2024-2025 season!

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