Leading the Company
Our experienced teachers and professionals cultivating
the skills of young and pre-professional dancers.
Marleigh Bucenell
Executive and Artistic Director
Marleigh is originally from Traverse City Michigan, where she trained and performed with the Northwest Michigan Ballet Theatre. Recently Marleigh was the Director’s Assistant at Birmingham Ballet where she taught and choreographed Ballet, Contemporary, Jazz, Pre-Ballet and YAGP Prep. Marleigh was a part of the professional Repertory Company at Birmingham Ballet performing in productions such as, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Graduation Ball, The Sleeping Beauty and Beauty and the Beast for which she choreographed and co-directed. Also in Birmingham, Marleigh taught for Danceworks and performed with Arova Contemporary Ballet. She earned a B.F.A. in Dance from Mercyhurst University where she was awarded both dance and academic scholarships, was a Dean’s List recipient and graduated with honors in association with National Honors Society of Dance Arts. Marleigh acted as an assistant to the dance department chair Tauna Hunter, for four years, and as a part of the Mercyhurst Study Abroad Program danced and choreographed for a semester in Ireland. She attended the American Ballet Theatre Collegiate Summer Intensive, Gelsey Kirkland Academy of Classical Ballet and Interlochen Arts Camp. She has appeared with Traverse City Dance Project, and as a guest artist with West Michigan Youth Ballet. Most recently Marleigh served as the NMBT Company Manager for five years and is thrilled to be stepping into the roles of Executive and Artistic Director. Marleigh is dedicated to providing a healthy and loving dance education that encourages and welcomes all.
Lisa Bristol
REHEARSAL ASSISTANT
Lisa Bristol danced for more than 20 years and studied Ballet, Modern and Jazz. She danced with Company Dance Traverse, Pedestrians UnHinged Dance Company and Glory DanceWorks. She has had various roles with Northwest Michigan Ballet Theatre including the Bag Lady in Scenes From a Park, a Fairy Godmother in A Midsummer Night’s Faerie Tale, a hunter in Peter & the Wolf and a Villager with a pitchfork in The Reluctant Dragon (yes, it was scary for everyone). She has worked as Rehearsal Assistant for NMBT since 2008 and is so thankful that she has the opportunity to work with her daughter, Marleigh, and all of these talented dancers.
Thomas Morrell
Founder and Artistic Director Emeritus
Thomas Morrell began his dance training at Western Michigan University where he received his Bachelor of Science Degree in Education, majoring in Physical Education and Dance. He earned his Master of Fine Arts Degree in Dance from The University of Michigan in 1981 and began dancing professionally with the Harbinger Dance Company in Detroit. He spent five years in Flint as Principal Dancer with Ballet Michigan, and three more years with Memphis Concert Ballet before moving back to his native Michigan. While in Memphis, Tom became the resident choreographer for Opera Memphis where he choreographed productions of Tales of Hoffman, Hansel and Gretel, and La Traviata. In 1996, Tom opened Ballet Etc. Dance Institute offering pre-school to professional dance training for ages three through adult. The studio serves as the home of NMBT. He has choreographed for the Traverse City Children’s Theatre, Old Town Playhouse and West Michigan Youth Ballet Company in Ada, Michigan. His teaching career spans more than thirty years, including the Flint Institute of Music, The University of Michigan-Flint, the Harbinger School, Memphis Concert Ballet School, Performing Arts of Germantown, Charlevoix Community Education and numerous private studios. Tom has earned the distinguished honor of being named “The 1998 Michigan Dance Teacher of the Year” by the Michigan Dance Council. When not teaching at the studio, Tom is an avid cyclist, accumulating over 3,000 miles per year. He also sings and plays the guitar, mandolin and 5-string banjo.