Faculty

Audrey Burdick

Director of Preschool Division

Carmel, Indiana, native Audrey Burdick danced with Central Indiana Academy of Dance and Central Indiana Dance Ensemble from 2011 until she graduated from Carmel High School in 2018. During her tenure with CIDE, Audrey had the privilege of dancing in numerous CIDE productions. Her favorite roles include Sugar Plum Fairy and Arabian in The Nutcracker and the Dove in Snow White. Audrey also had the honor of attending numerous summer intensive programs including Boston Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Cincinnati Ballet, American Ballet Theater, And the Washington Ballet.

Upon Graduating high school, Audrey attended the University of Cincinnati College-Conservatory of Music. While at CCM Audrey was cast in George Balanchine’s ballet Serenade, but unfortunately never got to perform due to COVID. After her sophomore year at CCM, Audrey accepted an offer to dance with the Cleveland Ballet. She spent two years as a trainee before being promoted to full-time company member.  While at Cleveland Ballet, Audrey had the opportunity to dance in The Nutcracker, Alice, Don Quixote, A Midsummer Nights' Dream, and Swan Lake.

Audrey is very excited about the opportunity to return to CIAoD as a faculty member and cannot wait to see what this year holds for both her and the dancers she has the privilege of training.

Anna Davis

Youth America Grand Prix Director

Youth Director, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble

A native of the Washington, D.C. area, Anna Davis began her training at the Maryland Youth Ballet under the instruction of legendary teachers, Hortensia Fonseca and Michelle Lees. She continued her training on scholarship at Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C., where she had the opportunity to perform the leading roles of "Cupid" in Don Quixote and "Clara" in The Nutcracker.

In 2014, Ms. Davis attended the School of American Ballet's summer program in New York City on full scholarship and was subsequently invited to attend the prestigious year round program. While there, she performed with the New York City Ballet, New York Choreographic Institute, and in the School of American Ballet Workshop. Ms. Davis was also one of the select students chosen to perform in the School of American Ballet's famed Lecture-Demonstrations, performing excerpts from Swan Lake, Jewels, and other Balanchine ballets. Ms. Davis also had the opportunity to teach young dancers at the School of American Ballet during the last two years of her training.

Other training Ms. Davis has received includes summer intensives on full scholarships at Boston Ballet, Miami City Ballet and Carolina Ballet. Davis is also a 2-time Youth of America Grand Prix New York City finalist, performing classical variations from Giselle, Coppelia and Paquita. In addition, she has trained in the Royal Academy of Dance syllabus and has completed multiple exams with distinction. Ms. Davis graduated Summa Cum Laude from Liberty University with an Associate of Arts Degree.

Anna then went on to join the Indianapolis Ballet. During her professional career she danced numerous roles in Balanchine's Serenade, Allegro Brilliante, 4 Temperaments, Who Cares, Valse Fantasie, and Raymonda Variations, The Nutcracker, Carmen, Paquita and Swan Lake, as well as numerous community outreach programs including Indy Classrooms.

shelby Lorch

Shelby Lorch danced with Central Indiana Dance Ensemble for nine years and continued dancing with the Butler University Dance team while in college. As a member of the Butler Dance Team, Shelby performed at Madison Square Garden, Indianapolis Circle of Lights and every home basketball games at Hinkle Fieldhouse. In 2018, Shelby graduated from Butler University with a degree in Elementary Education. She taugh 4th grade in Plainfield, Indiana and also at Smokey Row Elementary and also coached the Middle School and High School competition dance teams, before having her daughter, Piper. Most recently Shelby has been a party mom in Central Indiana Dance Ensemble‘s Nutcracker and is on the board of directors.

While Shelby may not be dancing ballet at this point in her life, she credits Suzann Delay and her staff for creating a foundation and love for dance. Without ballet, Shelby would not have been able to achieve all her dance hopes and dreams.

Shelby is also the owner of The Walking Waffle Company.

Abby Milhorn

Abby is a passionate and experienced dancer with over 20 years of training and performance experience. She began dancing at just 2 years old at the Oglebay Institute School of Dance in her hometown. At 14, she moved to New Jersey to continue her training with the prestigious New Jersey Dance Theatre Ensemble, then went on to dance in New York City with the renowned Manhattan Youth Ballet. At 17, Abby relocated to Orlando, Florida, where she danced with the Orlando Ballet before joining Ballet Tessera, a company known for blending classical and modern styles.

At 21, Abby began teaching at the Orlando Ballet School, where she discovered her love for sharing dance with the next generation. In addition to teaching, she performed professionally at Universal Studios Orlando in the entertainment department. With a strong foundation in ballet, modern, and stage performance, Abby brings energy, dedication, and joy to every class. Her mission is to inspire dancers of all ages to grow in both skill and confidence through high-quality instruction and a love for the art of dance.

Kristina Pool

Kristina Pool is a native of Princeton, New Jersey. She received her early training at Princeton Ballet School and attended prestigious summer programs, including the School of American Ballet and Miami City Ballet School. She later trained with the Joffrey Concert Group, a pre-professional company based in New York City, performing extensively across the United States, Italy, and China.

Kristina began her professional career with Ballet West II, where she spent a year and a half before being invited by Artistic Director Adam Sklute to join the main company. Within seven years in the main company, she rose through the ranks and became a Soloist. Her repertoire includes leading roles in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, John Cranko’s Onegin, Michael Smuin’s Romeo & Juliet, and Nicolo Fonte’s Carmina Burana, among many others. After a decade with the company, Kristina retired from the stage in May of 2025 to join her loving husband full time in Indiana.

In addition to her performance career, Kristina holds a Bachelor of Arts in Dance with a concentration in Performance from Mercyhurst University. She is also a certified STOTT Pilates instructor in both Mat and Reformer.

Kristina is a dedicated and experienced educator, having taught ballet, pointe, and Pilates to dancers of all ages across the nation. She has also coached students for Youth America Grand Prix (YAGP) and has served as a guest teacher for intensives, master classes, and pre-professional programs. Kristina is passionate about helping dancers grow in both artistry and technique, while also promoting wellness and injury prevention through cross-training.

Megan Tillman (Hustel)

Ballet Mistress and Communications Coordinator, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble

Megan Tillman (Hustel) is from Carmel, Indiana. She began her pre-professional training with Suzann DeLay at the Central Indiana Academy of Dance and Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. She went on to earn her BFA in Ballet Performance from the Department of Ballet at the University of Utah. There, Megan was a member of Utah Ballet and Ballet Ensemble where she performed in various contemporary works and classical ballets, most notably as Russian Girl in George Balanchine’s Serenade, and Swanhilda in René Daveluy’s Coppelia.

During her eight seasons with Ballet Arkansas, Megan was featured in works by renowned choreographers Ma Cong, Yoshito Sakuraba, Mariana Olivera, Chris Stuart, and Kiyon Gaines. She appeared in featured roles in Michael Fothergill’s Chiaroscuro, Ink, Dracula, and most recently in the world premiere of Sleepy Hollow as Katrina. Megan additionally had the privilege of performing in George Balanchine’s Who Care’s? and Glinka Pas de Trois, and in classical favorites including as Fairy Godmother in Cinderella, Odette in Swan Lake, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, Swanhilda in Coppelia, and the Sugar Plum Fairy, Dew Drop Fairy, and Snow Queen in The Nutcracker.

A dedicated educator, Megan taught ballet at multiple studios in the Central Arkansas area for seven years, serving as the Ballet Director for Blackbird Academy of Arts and Rock City Dance Center Conway and most recently the Associate Artistic Director for Tupelo Ballet in Tupelo, Mississippi. Certified in Progressing Ballet Technique, Megan is passionate about helping dancers enhance their stability, posture, and overall well-being.

After years of performing and teaching across the country, Megan is thrilled to be returning to Central Indiana Academy of Dance and Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. She looks forward to passing on the tradition and love of ballet to the next generation of dancers.

Paul Tillman

Rehearsal Director, Central Indiana Dance Ensemble

Paul Tillman is from Dallas, Texas. He began his pre-professional training with Dallas Ballet Company under the direction of Judy and Brent Klopfenstein. Tillman then trained at Boston Ballet’s pre-professional division. Tillman joined Ballet Arkansas in 2009 and has performed classic works such as Kenneth Macmillan’s “Romeo and Juliet Balcony Pas de Deux”, Agnes de Mille’s “The Other Pas de Deux”, Christopher Wheeldon’s “The American Pas de Deux”, Gerald Arpino’s “Birthday Variations” and George Balanchine’s “Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux”, “Valse Fantaisies”, and “Donizetti”. He has also been featured in original choreography by Flockworks, Ma Cong, Chris Stuart, Harrison McEldowney, Greg Sample, Darrell Moultrie, Kiyon Gaines, Mariana Oliveira and many others. In addition to performing, Tillman has choreographed a number of original pieces for Ballet Arkansas, “Gymnopedies” and “Chaconne” (both in collaboration with Arkansas Symphony Orchestra’s Interim Artistic Director, Geoffrey Robson.), “Chimera”, “Awanyu”, “Umbra”, and “Echo”. He has also choreographed and directed an original full length “Peter Pan” ballet for Blackbird Academy of Arts. 

Tillman taught dance in the Central Arkansa area for over 12 years and was was the Education Director at Rock City Dance Center in Little Rock. Most recently he was the Associate Artistic Director of Tupelo Ballet in Tupelo, Mississippi.

Tillman is certified in Progressing Ballet Technique. He is very excited to join the CIAoD faculty, and looks forward to working with such dedicated staff and students!