Amber Elizabeth Bochte

Former Willis Ballet Member of the Willis Conservatory of Classical Ballet

Photo by Peggy Wiltz

Amber Elizabeth Bochte. was born in Neillsville, Wisconsin. At the age of 4 she began dancing at Tricia's Academy of Dance in Marshfield, Wisconsin. Under new ownership, the studio became Main Street Conservatory of Dance. When she was in the 8th grade, she began the Classical Ballet Program at the studio under the direction of Mrs. Leslie Skorzewski. Mrs. Leslie began her training in Classical Ballet. Unfortunately, after about 3 1/2 years, Mrs. Skorzewski moved away, and her Classical Ballet training was interrupted. It is through Mrs. Skorzewski, now a pedagogical student of Prof. Willis-Aarnio, that she came to find out about Dr. Peggy Willis-Aarnio and her professional training classical ballet at the Willis Conservatory of Classical Ballet in Panama City Beach, Florida. Through Mrs. Skorzewski’s recommendation, Prof. Willis-Aarnio agreed to accept Amber as a student, so in August of 2008, Amber chose to study Classical Ballet training in lieu of going to a dance dept. in college and moved to Florida to begin training with her and to really begin her dance career. Since Amber moved to Florida, Prof. Peggy Willis-Aarnio made her a Willis Ballet Member with The Willis Ballet and she traveled as a Willis Ballet Member in The Willis Ballet’s production of the Nutcracker, starring the Saint-Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre of Marina Medvetskaya. As part of the cast of The Willis Ballet’s production of "The Nutcracker" , Amber performed the last few years in Panama City, FL, Columbus, MS, Waco, TX, Chickasha, OK, San Juan, Costa Rica, Islamorada, Florida, Miami, Florida, Rockwall, Texas, and Green Bay, Wisconsin. Not bad experience for a second year student of Prof. Willis-Aarnio. Intelligent, hard working and passionate about the art of classical ballet, Amber enrolled in a special teacher’s course this past January with Prof. Willis-Aarnio. She plans a parallel career in teaching so is planning to attend all of Prof. Willis-Aarnio’s teacher’s courses and is now on the teacher’s faculty at the Willis Conservatory of Classical Ballet. In conjunction with looking to Direct her own ballet school someday, Amber is also enrolled in Gulf Coast Community College to study business. Amber, a serious student is also one of the most respectful, sensitive, intelligent and kind students that Prof. Willis-Aarnio has ever had the pleasure to teach. Dr. Peggy Willis-Aarnio predicts a great future for Amber, as she is a very deserving person, a rare individual, with the talent, professionalism and mental attitude light years ahead of her age. Recently, Amber has also been appointed the Office Manager at the Willis Conservatory of Classical Ballet. She and Dr. Peggy Willis-Aarnio just returned from Apex, North Carolina where Professor Willis-Aarnio just completed her 14th Annual International Teacher's Congress, hosted by Infinity Ballet Conservatory (Debra Sayles Senchak- Director) and demonstrated by Ms. Amber Bochte. Amber married this past February. David Bochte, who is serving our country in Afganistan. Amber enters her third year of schooling with Dr. Peggy Willis-Aarnio this Fall and looks forward to being coached also by Ms. Marina Medvetskaya, Artistic Director of The Willis Ballet's sister company from Russia, The Saint-Petersburg Classic Ballet Theatre of Marina Medvetskaya.