For Hailey Rozzano-Keefe, dance has always felt like home. Originally from Daly City, California, she began her training at the Westlake School for the Performing Arts under the guidance of Cristina Fargas, Malu Rivera-Peoples, Irene Liu, Adam Sage, and Zherlin Ndudi. There, she studied a wide range of styles — from ballet and contemporary to jazz, tap, hip hop, and even Polynesian dance — but it was ballet and contemporary work that captured her heart.
Her love for the art form began at just four years old, when she watched her older sister perform in The Nutcracker. “The magic and music caught my attention immediately and I haven’t stopped dancing since,” Hailey recalls.
When the time came to decide her next step after high school, Hailey weighed her options but struggled to find the right fit. Then, she remembered that two dancers she admired — Victor Maugaud and Eugene Obile — had recently joined Sacramento Ballet. Curious, she researched the company, discovered the trainee program, and signed up for the very last audition. That decision would change everything.
Hailey was accepted into the 2022/23 trainee class, and from the very beginning, she felt at home. “I remember thinking that it was a very family-based, supportive community,” she says. “The company was made up of dancers who were all very different, but together created a beautiful representation of this art form. I knew from my first week that this is where I was supposed to be.”
From trainee to SB2, and now a company apprentice, Hailey’s journey has been defined by growth, resilience, and a deep sense of support from those around her. One pivotal moment came during last season’s Nutcracker, when she was asked to step into a company role at the last minute due to an injury. “I felt nervous yet calm, because every moment in the past couple of years with the second company had trained me for this moment,” she says. “I’m still so grateful that the staff put their trust in me to just go out there and do it. I’d never felt so believed in.”
Her time in SB2 gave her not only stage experience but also confidence in herself as both an artist and a person. Performing soloist roles, working closely with choreographers like Adam Hougland, Thang Dao, Ilana Goldman, Colby Damon, and Anthony and Jill Krutzkamp, and receiving constant encouragement from mentors helped her shed self-doubt. “Coming into Sacramento Ballet, I had the mindset that I’d never be ‘good enough’ to be chosen for things like that. But Jill, Rhodes, and Anthony were always there to remind me that my hard work was paying off. They were our biggest cheerleaders.”
Beyond performance, the varied responsibilities of Second Company dancers — from outreach to understudying to leadership within the studio — shaped Hailey’s sense of discipline and resilience. “Consistent hard work will always be one of the most important things,” she says. “No matter how much pressure I feel, I remind myself of the process that gets me there. If I keep working hard, I can make anything work.”
For Hailey, dance is more than a profession; it’s a lifeline. “When I’m dancing, I always feel at home and like this is what I’m meant to do,” she shares. “Dance has always been my safe place, especially in times when life felt overwhelming. It’s an outlet for emotions, a reminder that hard times are temporary. That’s also what makes it so powerful for audiences — it’s an art form that expresses what words can’t.”
Now stepping into her role as an apprentice with the main company, Hailey is filled with excitement — not just for specific ballets or roles, but for the entire experience. “This has been something I’ve wanted and worked for over the past couple of years, and I can’t believe the time has finally come,” she says. “I want to take in every class, rehearsal, and performance as a learning opportunity, push myself past my comfort zone, and just enjoy every moment.”
Looking back, Hailey is deeply grateful to her 18-year-old self for taking a chance on that last-minute audition. “Going from being a trainee to an SB2 to now an apprentice, I feel fully ready for this moment,” she says. “I am so elated to be taking this next step in my journey with Sacramento Ballet.”