As the curtain rises on Kansas City Ballet School’s end-of-year performance this May, two dancers take the stage not only as performers, but as young artists beginning an exciting new chapter in their ballet journeys.
Addison Jankauskas and Reagan Kinney, both 18, are completing their final year in the School’s Pre-Professional Daytime Program. This fall, they’ll take the next step in their dance careers as Trainees in Kansas City Ballet’s Second Company – a prestigious opportunity designed to prepare promising young dancers for professional life.
Both credit the School’s merit-based scholarships as pivotal – not only in shaping their development, but in making it possible to stay and train in Kansas City.
A Place to Grow: Reagan’s Path to Kansas City
“The scholarship made it possible to be here,” says Reagan. “I got offers from other programs, but Kansas City Ballet was my top choice. I’m so happy I get to stay and grow here.”
Reagan, who grew up in Phoenix, began ballet at age three and trained at Ballet Arizona. From an early age, she knew that dance was more than movement – it was a language uniquely her own.
“When I’m dancing, I feel most like myself,” she says. “It’s how I communicate best.”
After attending Kansas City Ballet School’s Summer Intensive in both 2023 and 2024 – with the help of merit scholarships – Reagan made the leap to move to Kansas City full-time and join the Daytime Program. Since then, she’s danced in The Nutcracker and Don Quixote onstage at the Kauffman Center for the Performing Arts.
One of the most memorable moments? Dancing in Don Quixote as part of the corps de ballet, performing the same choreography as Company members – a rare and formative experience for pre-professional students.
“The environment here is so supportive,” Reagan adds. “The teachers want the best for everyone. The Company’s repertory is incredible. And I’ve come to really love Kansas City – there’s something charming about it.”
From Chicago to Kansas City: Addison Finds Her Ballet Home
Addison’s path shares the same deep passion. Raised in the Chicago area, she started ballet at age two, quickly developing a love for its structure, artistry, and physical rigor.
“It’s both athletic and artistic,” she says. “It challenges your body and your emotions – and you can make the audience feel something. That’s powerful.”
After receiving a merit scholarship to attend the 2024 Summer Intensive, Addison was encouraged by faculty to remain in Kansas City for full-time study. Now living with fellow students, she balances dual enrollment in high school and college while training five days a week.
Like Reagan, Addison appeared in The Nutcracker and Don Quixote, where both were selected to perform alongside the professional Company in the corps de ballet. This May, Addison is also performing in Celts, part of Kansas City Ballet’s FUSION mixed repertory production.
“Being selected as a Trainee is incredibly exciting,” Addison says. “It’s a chance to grow professionally, to be in the room with people who’ve had more experience. The scholarship helped propel me here – it gives you confidence that you belong.”
Scholarships That Inspire and Empower
That sense of confidence – and the ability to pursue dance with fewer financial barriers – is exactly what Kansas City Ballet School’s scholarship funds are designed to provide.
Since the creation of the Todd Bolender Scholarship Fund, generous supporters have helped ensure that both artistic talent and financial need are met with opportunity. Additional funds honoring Tatiana Dokoudovska, Shirley Weaver, and the Building Diversity in Ballet initiative have further expanded access.
For Addison and Reagan, the impact of scholarship support goes far beyond tuition assistance. It has offered them the chance to dream bigger, train harder, and take meaningful steps toward professional dance careers – with a deep sense of purpose and belonging.
To learn more about supporting Kansas City Ballet School’s scholarship programs, please contact impact@kcballet.org.
Header image: Addison Jankauskas and Reagan Kinney. Photography by Brett Pruitt & East Market Studios.
