First State Ballet Theatre Appoints Aynsley Inglis as Director of The School of FSBT at Whitehall

Wilmington, DE – First State Ballet Theatre (FSBT) is delighted to announce Aynsley Inglis will serve as Director for The School of FSBT at Whitehall, effective June 3, 2024. Inglis is a native Delawarean, original company member of First State Ballet Theatre, and an alum of The School of FSBT. She graduated from Ursuline Academy in Wilmington and received her bachelor’s degree from The University of Delaware.

In addition to FSBT, Inglis was a professional dancer with Universal Ballet Company in Seoul, Korea where she toured the world performing in numerous classical and contemporary ballets. She’s performed across the United States with Ballet Fleming, Tulsa Ballet, Christopher Caines Dance Company, Metropolitan Ballet, and Bay Area Houston Ballet. In 2010, Inglis was selected to compete in the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS, which is regarded as the “olympics of ballet.” Inglis was the first Delawarean ever selected for this prestigious competition, and she was entered into the Library of Congress.

Inglis brings over 20 years of experience teaching across all levels and ages to her new role. Working closely with Kristina Kambalov, FSBT’s Executive Director & Chair of Faculty, Inglis will oversee the opening of and programming for FSBT’s new satellite school in Whitehall, DE which is slated to open later this year.

“I’m thrilled to welcome Aynsley into this key role for the company as we continue to expand our reach across Delaware. Her deep technical knowledge of ballet and infectious enthusiasm for this art form will delight and inspire students,” said Kristina Kambalov. “As a Delaware native and former FSBT student, this is a homecoming for me. The training Kristina and Pasha provided to me as a student was foundational to my professional career, and I can’t wait to get into our new studios to share my love of ballet with the next generation,” said Inglis.

The School of FSBT at Whitehall will offer a range of dance and specialty classes for ages 16-months to adults with a focus on classical ballet instruction. The School of FSBT was recently named in the Top 5% of U.S. Ballet Academies in a study by Northeastern University.*

ABOUT FIRST STATE BALLET THEATRE

Established in 1999 by Artistic Director Pasha Kambalov and Executive Director Kristina Kambalov, First State Ballet Theatre is Delaware’s only professional ballet company. FSBT employs a diverse roster of dancers from around the world to present classical and contemporary ballet, including new works from local and internationally-recognized choreographers, on stages across the state of Delaware and beyond. The School of FSBT offers ballet classes year-round at the company’s headquarters at The Grand Opera House in Wilmington, DE and attracts students from all three counties in Delaware as well as Maryland, Pennsylvania, and New Jersey. A satellite school in Whitehall, DE is scheduled to open in 2024. FSBT’s mission is to present ballet boldly to Delaware; to enrich the community with live professional performances; to inspire and educate dancers and audiences of the future; and to connect local youth with a creative, inclusive movement experience. FSBT reaches over 6,000 people annually through its performances and outreach programs.

*according to “Quantifying Hierarchy and Prestige in U.S. Ballet Academies as Social Predictors of Career Success,” published by Northeastern University, October 2023.