From Ennis to New York

What does it take to build a career as a ballerina in Ennis, Montana? For Austyn Coleman, a dancer who won’t turn 14 until May and has earned a spot in the prestigious Chautauqua Institute’s Summer Workshop, the answer comes down to one word, dedication. 

“Austyn is extremely focused and self-driven. It’s not uncommon to see her in the studio practicing on her own, refining details and pushing herself to be better,” said Coleman’s instructor at the Montana Ballet Company, Melissa Bowman when asked about the qualities that earned Coleman a selection to the prestigious Chautauqua Institute in New York. 

“That kind of dedication and internal motivation is exactly what prepares a student to thrive in a competitive program like Chautauqua. Her commitment is steady, disciplined, and fueled by a genuine passion for her craft,” Bowman continued. 

Coleman was introduced to ballet shortly after her family relocated to Ennis. 

“We moved to Ennis, Mont., when I was nine. I was invited to go to one of DC DANCES classes and immediately fell in love with ballet and jazz,” said Coleman. “It was a very small company but I learned a lot from DC and she gave me a great sense of pride to dance. I wanted even more classes and started having online private lessons with two different Vaganova instructors at age 10-11 while still attending DC’s classes, both ballet and

jazz. My Vaganova teachers are the ones who helped me prepare for my auditions at Montana Ballet Company’s Academy.”

Once a part of the MBC Academy, Coleman continued to grow as a dancer and developed an influence on the other dancers around her.  

“Above all, Austyn’s positivity and supportive spirit elevates everyone around her,” explained Bowman. “She is the kind of student who strengthens a program simply by being part of it.”

While at MBC, Coleman has had a significant number of opportunities to showcase her commitment to her craft. 

“Age 12 was my first nutcracker with MBC and I landed way more roles than I thought I would; Maid, Lieutenant (lead soldier), Trepak Core, and Mother Ginger,” said Coleman. “Age 13, the most current performance year, was an amazing one. I got to perform my first full dance en pointe and loved all of my roles. In the Nutcracker I was casted as Papa Rat, Chinese Dragon Head (brand new part), and Russian lead. Im about to dance in Sleeping Beauty March 7th and 8th also casted as a Garland Lady in Garland Waltz with MBC.”

“One of the things that stands out most about Austyn is her quiet leadership,” explained Bowman. “There have been moments when others might have been overwhelmed by a challenge, and she instead rose to the occasion with calm determination.”

“I’ve seen her take on particularly demanding material that initially pushed her outside her comfort zone. Rather than shying away, she embraced the challenge, worked diligently, and ultimately delivered a performance that exceeded expectations. Those moments reveal her resilience and growth mindset.”

Growth is the goal of Coleman’s trip to New York for the Chautauqua Summer Intensive program, which will be not only her visit to New York, but also her first trip on an airplane. 

“Im looking forward to going to a new company and working with some amazing teachers and professionals, getting new experiences in life, travel, the confidence to do more intensives,” said Coleman. “The thing I am most excited about is the fact that I got accepted into a company all the way in NEW YORK! I've never traveled to a different company so I am very excited.”

“Being selected for the program at the Chautauqua Institution is a significant achievement,” said Bowman. “These summer programs are highly competitive and attract talented students from across the country. The application process typically involves submitting recorded auditions, letters of recommendation, and other supporting materials that reflect both artistic ability and potential.”

“The selection committee looks not only for technical proficiency, but also for artistry, individuality, and the ability to thrive in a rigorous, collaborative environment. Simply being selected is a true honor,” she explains before expounding on the qualities that she sees as setting Coleman apart. 

“One of the things that stands out most about Austyn is her quiet leadership. There have been moments when others might have been overwhelmed by a challenge, and she instead rose to the occasion with calm determination,” she said. 

“She listens carefully, applies feedback immediately, and consistently strives to improve. That openness to learning, paired with her foundational skills and expressive presence, undoubtedly helped her stand out in such a competitive applicant pool.”

Coleman started dancing in her living room and while balancing five days a week of ballet classes that she has to travel to Bozeman for with her school work she still spends a significant amount of time practicing on her own in the hallway “dance studio.” 

“I work out 1-2 hours a day doing exercises and stretching on my little dance area my parents built me in our hallway, where I have a built in bar and marly floor,” she explains. 

“I’m homeschooled which is a huge advantage. So I can do school when it fits into my daily life,” she explains when asked how she balances her studies with ballet. 

Coleman plans on using her experience at Chautauqua to launch her towards other goals that she has set for herself. 

“One of my goals for this year is to land Clara in the MBC Nutcracker and I'm willing to push myself to get it and crush the goals I need to hit in order to make it happen,” she explains. “My long term goal with ballet is to become a professional ballerina and choreographer. Wherever life takes me in my ballet adventure, I’m dedicated.”

Coleman’s family has set up a GoFundme.com account for anyone who would like to contribute to the cost of her traveling to New York for the Chautauqua program. More information is available at https://gofund.me/4bb69dd8d