Our Team
The Children’s Ballet of San Antonio (CBSA), directed by Vanessa Bessler, seeks to inspire the pursuit of excellence and prepare children for productive and creative lives through dance by offering extensive training and performance opportunities for talented children from all backgrounds. CBSA will target a children’s audience to inspire, motivate and nurture the love and appreciation for ballet and the performing arts that children and their families will carry with them as future patrons of the arts.
Kelly Leary, Choir Director
Kelly Leary is a choir director, theatre producer, and organist based in San Antonio, TX. She most recently taught at a K-12 school, teaching elementary music and conducting elementary, middle, and high school choral ensembles. She is also a member of the internationally-competitive barbershop quartet, Saving Grace.
Kelly is the founder, producer, and music director of the St. Mary’s University Musical Theatre Camp, a summer program where students learn and rehearse a full-length Broadway show in the span of one week. Some of her favorite directing credits include Bye Bye Birdie, Rodgers & Hammerstein’s Cinderella, Mary Poppins, Joseph & the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat, The Sound of Music, and Fiddler on the Roof.
Isabella Grosso, Choreographer
Passionate and dedicated dance instructor with a lifelong commitment to the art of movement. Beginning her dance journey at the age of 3, she has trained in a diverse array of styles, including classical ballet, contemporary (both commercial and concert), modern dance, tap, lyrical, and Broadway jazz.
Her extensive performance background spans theatrical and musical theater productions, which she began at a young age. Growing up with a mother who was a theater director, she was fortunate to have had countless opportunities to perform and develop her craft.
As a military child, Isabella was able to travel and train with world-class instructors from across the globe, including Brazil, Italy, and New York City.
Her diverse training and wide-ranging performance experience shape her unique and enriching teaching style, fostering creativity, discipline, and passion in every class.
ISABELLA GROSSO, CHRIS MILLER - Assistant Choreographers, Mean Girls Jr The Musical
MATT VAN GORKOM - Production Manager
Administrative Team: Lisa Dunne, Andrea Valdez, Isabella Grosso