Cassandra Hope

Originally from Gilbert, Arizona, Cassandra Hope began her training at the Yen-Li Chen Ballet School and with the Southwest Youth Ballet Theater both under the artistic direction of Yen-Li Chen where she danced until she graduated in 2018. Under the direction of Ms. Chen, Cassandra was given the opportunity to perform the roles of Sugar Plum, Dew Drop, and Clara in The Nutcracker, Aurora in Sleeping Beauty, and Dawn in Coppélia. There, she also performed works choreographed by Nayon Iovino, Ian Poulis, Kara Davis, and Aaron Cash. Cassandra then went on to continue her training as a Trainee with BalletMet in Columbus, Ohio. As a trainee, Cassandra performed in George Balanchine’s Serenade and as Lise in excerpts from La Fille mal gardée. Since joining the Ballet Theatre of Maryland in 2020, Cassandra has performed roles such as the Nomad Lead in Don Quioxte, Tarentola Doll and Chinese Lead in Dianna Cuatto’s The Nutcracker, and originated the role of The Princess in Roman Mykyta’s Kotyhoroshko. She also loved performing in Artistic Director Nicole Kelsch’s restaging of Giselle and Edward Stewart’s Sapphire Romance. This is Cassandra’s fourth season with the company and second as a Demi-Soloist.