Ava Coussens received her dance training from age 3 at Ballet Quad Cities School of Dance where she studied ballet, modern, jazz, tap, African and Indian. Ava currently studies Communication Sciences and Disorders with a minor in disability studies at Augustana College, where she is also on the executive board of Augustana Dance Company. She has performed as a student dancer in numerous productions with Ballet Quad Cities and Ballet Quad Cities School of Dance. Other recent performances include productions both with Quad City Music Guild and the Augustana Theatre Department. Ava has a special place in her heart for Penguin Project of the Quad Cities where she is a peer mentor performing alongside young actors with special needs. In 2021 and again in 2023, Ava completed teacher training in Tap for Children’s Division through Ballet Quad Cities School of Dance teacher training program.