About the Academy

Located in the heart of downtown Boise, Ballet Idaho Academy is the only dance academy in the region affiliated with a professional ballet company. Enrollment is open year-round for all ages and levels of dance classes.

Our mission is to train young dancers through musicality, technical precision, and artistic expression. We strive to develop accomplished dancers and well-rounded, healthy individuals. We believe that a proper dance education builds self-determination and confidence, poise and posture, a strong work ethic, and teamwork values.

Performance opportunities include recitals, outreach events, and the BIA Youth Company. Additionally, students have the opportunity to audition to perform with Ballet Idaho’s professional company in our production of The Nutcracker and other story ballets. These performance opportunities allow students to fine-tune performance skills and see firsthand the immense impact that dance has on audiences.

Below, meet our dedicated ballet faculty and staff — a passionate team committed to nurturing talent, discipline, and creativity. With deep experience and a love for dance, they inspire students to grow and excel at every level.

Jessica Sulikowski

Ballet Idaho Academy Director

Jessica began her dance studies in Jackson, New Jersey. She competed regionally and nationally as a title winner. She then studied dance at Princeton Ballet School and Academy of Dance Arts, where she successfully passed the Royal Academy of Dance major examinations and performed as a pre-professional dancer with Company of Dance Arts. She attended summer intensives at the Kirov Academy, Washington School of Ballet, and Complexions Contemporary Ballet.

Jessica joined Ballet Idaho’s company in 2008 and rose through the ranks as soloist and then retired as a principal in May of 2023. Jessica’s performance highlights include Sugar Plum Fairy in Anastos’ The Nutcracker, The Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Fairy Godmother in Liang’s Cinderella, and Dark Angel in Balanchine’s Serenade. Jessica performed featured roles in works by Lubovitch, Stowell, Cerrudo, Rowe, Saunders, and Davidson. Jessica has been a guest artist for Nevada Ballet Theatre, Anchorage Classical Ballet, LED, and Project Flux. She has been featured in commercial works and starred as lead actress of locally produced Boise film, Almosting It.

Jessica began teaching at Ballet Idaho Academy over a decade ago, instructing levels from Ballet 1 through Advanced. She has coached figure skaters and rock climbers and is a certified yoga instructor. She is an award winning choreographer.

As Operations Coordinator, Jessica developed and launched Ballet Idaho Academy’s Competition Program, where select students will compete at YAGP. In 2024, Jessica was named Ballet Idaho Academy Director.

Sada Popick-Ogburn

Ballet Idaho Academy Administrator

Sada was born in Portland, Oregon, where she trained and danced at Oregon Ballet Theater and The Portland Ballet, and she has extended training from Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, Ballet Chicago, and Ballet Austin. She moved to Boise to join Ballet Idaho in 2008, and moved into the Academy Administrator position in 2019. She also teaches both students and adults in the Academy.

Madeline Bay

Ballet Idaho Academy Youth Company Director

Madeline began her training at Illinois Ballet Theater in Moline, Illinois. She danced for the pre-professional company River Pointe Ballet in her teen years. After high school she attended the University of Utah and joined the resident company, Utah Ballet. She received her Bachelor of Fine Arts degree with a double emphasis in ballet performance and teaching essentials. After graduation she joined Ballet Idaho where she danced thirteen season with the company, retiring in 2025 as a soloist. She has been featured in many roles including the title role in Ricardo Amarante’s world premiere Carmen, Fairy Godmother in Edwaard Liang’s Cinderella, a principal woman in George Balanchine’s Divertimento no.15, and Snow Queen in Peter Anastos’ The Nutcracker, as well as the lead roles in Danielle Rowe’s Dreamland and Chaminade. Madeline danced eight summer seasons for ARC Dance, in Seattle, where she originated principal roles for works by Alex Ketley, Wen Wei Wang, Marika Brussel, Ilana Goldman and David Fernandez. She also danced three summer seasons in with Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance. With Terpsicorps she performed lead roles in Asheville and Winston-Salem, North Carolina, including the title role in Cleopatra, a full-length world premiere created by artistic director Heather Maloy. Madeline also performed as a guest artist for A.V.A Ballet Theatre in Reno, Nevada where she has performed principal roles in The Sleeping Beauty and The Nutcracker.

Locally, Madeline has danced with LED, Boise Dance Co-op and Treefort Music Fest, performing works by Lauren Edson, Brendan Duggan, Whyteberg, Daniel Ojeda, and many others.

During her career she has also pursued her life-long love of teaching and has served Ballet Idaho Academy faculty since 2012. Given Madeline’s degree, performance history, and experience in dance education, she is a highly sought after private instructor and coach. This year she will be director of the Youth Company in addition to teaching the intermediate and advanced ballet classes six days a week. She also coaches the students in the competition program and helps to set and rehearse the children’s roles for Ballet Idaho’s The Nutcracker.