Carla Stallings began her training with Marquerite Phares in Sacramento, CA. As a member of the Theater Ballet Association, a student company directed by Mrs. Phares, she attended the Pacific Regional Festival for many years. Through the Festival Carla was awarded scholarships to New York City Ballet’s School of American Ballet and the American Ballet Theatre School. These led to her joining American Ballet Theatre as an apprentice. She soon entered the corps de ballet and was subsequently promoted to soloist. Carla went on to join Boston Ballet as a principal dancer. Her repertoire included the principal roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Nutcracker, La Sylphide, Sacre du Printemps, and many more. She also had the privilege of touring with Mikhail Baryshnikov, Rudolph Nureyev, and Fernando Bujones and of working with the many up and coming choreographers that competed in the Boston Ballet’s International Choreographers Competition. Ms. Stallings-Lippert loves giving back to students through teaching, and has taught at schools and summer programs across the nation throughout her career. In addition to teaching at Severance Fresno Ballet School, Carla currently coordinates and teaches for American Ballet Theatre’s summer intensive program in Tuscaloosa, AL, and is an American Ballet Theatre Certified Teacher for Pre-Primary through Level VII. She also has co-directed the local Nutcracker for 10 years with over 100 students involved. Having danced with many great artists and performed a great many roles and variations in her career, Carla takes special joy in coaching dancers in the classical repertoire and helping them reach their personal best both artistically and technically.