Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre
Artistic Director, David Herriott
David Herriott received his early dance training with Loyd Tygett at the Huntsville Civic Ballet. He danced professionally as a principal soloist with Canada’s Royal Winnipeg Ballet and North Carolina Dance Theatre, touring internationally, and working with noted choreographers including Agnes de Mille, John Neumier, Norbert Vesak, and Elliot Feld. Mr. Herriott has held the positions of Artistic/Executive Director of Huntsville Ballet Company and Columbus Ballet, and Artistic Director of AYB since its inception in 2006. He has choreographed for Fantasy Playhouse, Ars Nova, and Huntsville Community Chorus, and won the contemporary division of the 1992 Panoply Choreography Competition. He has been an instructor at Santa Monica College and at The University of the South. Mr. Herriott’s former students have been invited to study and perform with Alvin Ailey, ABT, Joffrey, Royal Winnipeg Ballet, Atlanta Ballet, Alabama Ballet, and Harrid Conservatory to name a few.
Assistant Artistic Director, Keren Gibb-Hilliard
Keren Gibb Hilliard began her dance training in Mobile as a child and continued to study during her college days in Montgomery, performing with local dance companies and theater groups in both cities. She taught dance classes at Huntingdon College while a student there and completed her degree at UAH in Huntsville. She held various positions with Community Ballet in her 40+ years with them, including dancer, teacher, choreographer, ballet mistress, school director, and both associate and interim director of Huntsville Ballet Company. She has twice won the ballet division of the Panoply Choreography Competition and became certified to teach the Zena Romett Floor Barre Technique in 2002. Her community service includes serving on the Arts Council Board, Community Ballet’s Board, and setting choreography for Community Chorus, Fantasy Playhouse, Ars Nova, and Bob Jones High School presentations.
Liturgical Director, Alicia Wright
Alicia Wright is the director of AYBT's Liturgical Company and has been dancing since age 3 and under the direction of David Herriott and Keren Gibb Hilliard since 2000. She has performed leading roles with Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre as Dew Drop, Orchid, Snow Queen, and Sugar Plum Fairy in the Nutcracker, Cinderella, Aurora and Blue Bird in Sleeping Beauty, Snow White, and Odette and Odile in Swan Lake. In 2014 she was awarded Alabama Youth Ballet Theatre's Dancer of the Year Award of Excellence. Alicia also holds several nominations for Wing's Awards and her choreography was a finalist in the Panoply Choreography Competition. Alicia graduated from the University of Alabama with a master’s and bachelor's of science in nursing. She is employed as a RN with Hospice Family Care.