Sarah Ruppel Bullis

Sarah Ruppel Bullis is a former professional ballerina originally from Annapolis, MD. She began her dance studies at the age of 4 with Ballet Theatre of Maryland, under the direction of Edward Stewart. Before graduating high school she continued her training in Washington D.C. at the Kirov Academy and later at the Washington School of Ballet, under the direction of Mary Day.

She spent her summers attending programs at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. After graduating high school she studied in the B.F.A. program at the University of Cincinnati for 1 year and then was invited to train with Edward Ellison in New York City. Sarah began her professional dance career with the Richmond Ballet, and in 2008 she joined the Sarasota Ballet of Florida. She currently performs independently as part of various local choreography projects.

Since 1997 Sarah has been independently teaching children's ballet camps in the Annapolis, MD area. Her strong passion for teaching dance led her to join the Richmond Ballet faculty in 2010 where she continues to teach as a full-time faculty member. Additionally, since 2012 she has taught ballet and creative movement at the Weinstein Jewish Community Center, Central Virginia Dance Academy, Regency Dance Academy, Chester Performing Arts Studio, Goddard School of Short Pump, Country Club of Virginia, Willow Oaks Country Club, and Cartwheels and Coffee. In 2014 she began directing Passion Dance Academy, a new dance academy in the West End of Richmond.

Her life-long passion for dance, love for teaching, and desire to create a positive, encouraging dance environment has led Sarah to develop her own Illuminated Motions camps and classes in the Richmond and Annapolis communities.