MCB Staff 2024-2025

Rebecca Rogo, Allie Yates, Susan Presti, Debra Pearse Rogo, Joshua Burnham, Torrie Mower, Claire Thomas, Lily Wutzke

Debra Pearse Rogo – Artistic Director

Debra grew up in Melbourne, Australia where she trained in the Cecchetti (Italian) Method of Ballet passing all exams, including her teaching certification, with Honors. She also received teaching and performing opportunities with the National Theatre and Ballet Victoria. After finishing her schooling, she performed with the Sydney City Ballet for three years before moving to the United States where she was the Assistant Director and then Artistic Director of Ballet Omaha, a professional company with its own school. In 1987, Debra and her husband, Joel, moved to Washington State to buy a small ballet school; the Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet. After more than 35 years it is now the Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet and Music and includes a Performing Arts Pre-School.

Debra is currently the Chairman of The Ballet Alliance, and has previously served as Chairman of Regional Dance America, on the Honorary Committee for the USA International Ballet Competition and as Executive Director of Regional Dance America’s Craft of Choreography Conference. Debra has been a guest teacher at many US schools and universities, the National Dance Foundation of Bermuda, the 2013 Australian Cecchetti Conference, the 2014 USA International Cecchetti Conference and the 2016 Cecchetti USA Summer School. In recognition of her work in the Tri-Cities, Ms. Rogo received the City of Richland 2014 Contribution to the Arts Award.

Joshua Burnham - Assistant Artistic Director

Josh started his dance training at the school of Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre, then moved to eastern Washington to train with Debra Pearse Rogo at the Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet and perform with Mid-Columbia Ballet. Upon graduation, Josh was a trainee with San Francisco Ballet, then danced for six seasons with Cincinnati Ballet. He then settled in Virginia at Manassas Ballet, as a principal dancer and Ballet Master as well as a teacher in their school. Josh retired from the stage in the spring of 2024 and returned home to the Tri-Cities. In addition to his role as Assistant Director of MCB, he teaches all levels at MCB’s official school, Tri-Cities Academy of Ballet.

Who We Are

Led by Artistic Director, Debra Pearse Rogo, the Mid-Columbia Ballet consists of a Senior Company and Junior Company made up of young dancers committed to the art of ballet. The Board of Directors is comprised of members of the community who have an interest in supporting the art of dance in the Tri-Cities. The MCB Guild provides financial and volunteer support to the Mid-Columbia Ballet.