07/02/2026
We are thrilled to welcome Karisa Skiba Stich back to Central Wisconsin School of Ballet for week four of our Summer Intensives!
After an inspiring week with our dancers last summer, we're excited to have Karisa return to share her wealth of professional experience, artistry, and passion for ballet once again. A former Milwaukee Ballet soloist and accomplished Pilates instructor, she brings not only exceptional technical knowledge, but also an encouraging teaching style that helps dancers grow in strength, confidence, and artistry.
Our students are in for another incredible week of learning, inspiration, and beautiful dancing. We can't wait to have you back, Karisa! ❤️🩰
⬇️ Read more about Karisa's impressive professional background below.
Karisa Skiba (Stich) is a professional Ballet and Pilates instructor who is passionate about the beautiful art form that ballet is. Her ballet students can expect inspiration and to hone their technique, alignment, prevent injuries, and develop their artistry and love of dance. Karisa began her studies at Central Wisconsin School of Ballet with Madam Karkar, who inspired her dream of becoming a professional ballerina. Upon receipt of a scholarship to study In NYC with the Joffrey Ballet Academy, her point of focus was to make her dream a reality. Subsequently, she trained on scholarship with Wisconsin Dance Ensemble, Milwaukee Ballet and Boston Ballet. She trained with renowned teachers, Madam Karkar, Janne Dean, Jojean Retrum, Kate McQuade, Susan Clark, Jean Pierre Bonnefoux, Violette Verdy, Nicole Sowinska among many others. She was invited to join Milwaukee Ballet at age 19 and made Milwaukee Ballet her home company for 13 years. Additionally, she performed with Chautauqua Ballet and as a guest artist for numerous productions across the midwest. Her repertoire includes; Swan Lake, Romeo and Juliet, Giselle, Dracula, Nutcracker, Sleeping Beauty, A Midsummer’s Night Dream, as well as multiple Balanchine ballets such as; Apollo, Concerto Borocco, Stars and Stripes, Serenade, Allegro Brilliante, Scotch Symphony to name a few. Often chosen for lead roles in contemporary works, she was featured by choreographers, John Utans, Mark Diamond, Charles Moulton, Mark Godden, Lila York, Kathryn Posin, and Michael Pink among others. She retired from the stage as a soloist after a 13 year career to focus on spending time with being a mother to her two young sons.
Upon moving to the Washington DC area, she received her Classical Power Pilates Comprehensive certification in New York City with Bob Liekens. Since then, she has seized opportunities to lead dancers and clients to health and wellness, and launch dancers on professional career tracks. She seeks to inspire, and educate with compassion and a finely developed eye for detail.
Her professional teaching experience is diverse having taught in many environments such as Milwaukee Ballet School, University of Wisconsin, and many prominent Pilates and dance schools. She has coached elite dancers for YAGP and World Ballet Competition.
While living in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania she launched her ownbusiness, Ballet with Karisa. She ran a successful ballet curriculum for young dancers and a thriving Pilates business with diverse classes in multiple locations. She currently teaches for Skye Ballet Center in Herndon, VA and runs a thriving Pilates business.
Her dedicated career as a professional ballerina is what first influenced and inspired her desire to become a Pilates instructor and her experience in the Pilates studio has further developed her understanding of ballet technique. She has a passion to educate, and inspire dancers with classes meant to develop their mastery of ballet as art in motion.
