WHO'S WHO IN THE ARPINO DANCE FESTIVAL?
Guest artists
FABRICE CALMELS, born and raised in France, began ballet training at three years old. At age eleven, he entered the prestigious Paris Opera Ballet School, and following his graduation, he moved to the United States, where he joined the Rock School in Philadelphia and danced with the Pennsylvania Ballet. Calmels furthered his training in both Russian and Balanchine techniques and Boston Ballet and the School of American Ballet. In 2002, he established himself in Chicago with the Joffrey Ballet, where became a lead dancer two years later. Calmels was honored to perform the Othello pas de deux for the 2016 Benois de la Danse Gala at the Bolshoi Theatre, and in December 2019, he took his final bow with the Joffrey Ballet in order to pursue other artistic ventures.
In 2014 and 2016, Calmels was a guest judge on So You Think You Can Dance and was later signed by IMG Models New York. As a model/performer, he has appeared in several international fashion magazines, including the Versace 2016 fall/winter campaign. Calmels can be seen on the Fox series The Big Leap, and at over 6’ 6”, he proudly holds the Guinness World Record for Tallest Ballet Dancer.
KEBRA-SEYOUN CHARLES (they/them) is a double bassist and composer lauded for their innovative and integrated approach to musical expression, as both soloist and creator. As a modern virtuoso and composer of concerti, ballets, and pop ballads, Kebra’s music has been praised for its “buoyancy and verve — pushing the far reaches of tonality while savoring hummable grooves” (ICareIfYouListen). A rising star and advocate for a more inclusive classical music community, The Strad confirms that “Versatility defines Charles’s approach.” The 2024/2025 season opens with the world premiere of Kebra’s new double bass concerto Nightlife conducted by Mei-Ann Chen at Carnegie Hall featuring the American Composers Orchestra. This season also features the premiere of a new ballet commissioned by Peter London Global Dance Company in Miami, plus chamber collaborations with NYC supergroups Bang On a Can, Alarm Will Sound, and International Contemporary Ensemble.
Kebra has been featured on Performance Today, Young Arts, and NPR’s From The Top, and they have soloed with orchestras including the New World Symphony, Indianapolis Symphony, Wilmington Symphony, and Sphinx Virtuosi. Other notable performances include those at Jazz at Lincoln Center, the Aspen Music Festival, and the Library of Congress. Kebra has also collaborated with esteemed improvisers and composers such as Jon Batiste, 2024 Pulitzer Prize winner Tyshawn Sorey, and jazz musician/composer Jason Moran, as well as new music supergroup Bang On A Can. Originally from Miami, Florida, Kebra received their Bachelor’s degree from the New England Conservatory of Music and Masters degree from the Juilliard School.
ANGELO GRECO (Principal, Houston Ballet), born in Nuoro, Italy, grew up in Modena and then trained at Il Balletto di Castelfranco Veneto and then La Scala Ballet Academy in Milan before joining La Scala Ballet where he had a life contract. Honed on prestigious stages around the world, his experience and breadth of repertoire led him to follow his passion arriving in the United States in 2016 where he danced as a soloist at San Francisco Ballet and was promptly promoted to principal in 2017. He joins Houston Ballet as Principal Dancer in July 2024. Numerous renowned choreographers have created works on Greco, including Yuri Possokhov’s Optimistic Tragedy, Helgi Tomasson’s Harmony, Dwight Rhoden’s LET’S BEGIN AT THE END, Christopher Wheeldon’s Bound To, and Stanton Welch AM’s Bespoke. He has also performed principal and featured roles in Kenneth MacMillan’s Romeo and Juliet, Rudolf Nureyev’s Don Quixote, Alexei Ratmansky’s The Sleeping
Beauty, and Maurice Béjart’s Gaîté Parisienne. Among his accolades, Greco has been the recipient of Dance Europe’s Outstanding Artistry Award in 2011 and 2012, and the Erik Bruhn Prize in 2016.
MISA KURANAGA (Principal, San Francisco Ballet) was born in Osaka, Japan and has been a Principal dancer with San Francisco Ballet since 2019. Among the choreographers whose works she has performed with the company are Tomasson, Balanchine, Lander, Morris, Petipa, Ratmansky, and Wheeldon. She has also danced with Boston Ballet. With other companies she has also performed works by Cranko, Elo, Ekman, Forsythe, Kylián, Neumeier, Nereyev, and more. She was awarded a gold medal in the junior division of the Ninth Moscow International Ballet Competition and a gold medal in the senior division of the USA International Ballet Competition.
THE JOFFREY BALLET
ASHLEY WHEATER, MBE (The Mary B. Galvin Artistic Director, Joffrey Ballet) has dedicated his life to dance. He was born in Scotland and trained at The Royal Ballet School in England. He worked with Frederick Ashton, Kenneth MacMillan, and Michael Somes in numerous ballets at Covent Garden, including Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Manon, Anastacia, and The Dream. Wheater danced with Rudolf Nureyev in Nureyev and Friends at the London Coliseum. On Nureyev’s advice, Wheater joined the London Festival Ballet and danced in his Romeo and Juliet and Sleeping Beauty. He danced in Glen Tetley’s Sphinx and Greening and in Festival Ballet’s large repertoire of classics and new creations. Under the artistic direction of John Field, he was promoted to Principal Dancer at the age of 20. In 1982, he joined the Australian Ballet where he continued dancing principal roles in both classical and contemporary work, especially in the John Cranko full-length ballets.
In 1985, at the invitation of Gerald Arpino, Wheater joined The Joffrey Ballet. For the next four years, he performed various works by American choreographers including William Forsythe, Gerald Arpino, Mark Morris, Paul Taylor, and Laura Dean, as well as repertoire by Ashton and Cranko. Joining the San Francisco Ballet in 1989, he continued his creative career working under Helgi Tomasson, and with choreographers James Kudelka, David Bintley, and many more. In 1997, he retired from dancing and was appointed Ballet Master and, later, Assistant to the Artistic Director at the San Francisco Ballet.
Since his appointment in 2007 as artistic director of The Joffrey Ballet, his passion and commitment to the Joffrey have been evident in the quality that he has brought to the dancing and to the repertoire. He has invited world-renowned choreographers, as well as fresh young talent, to create new work for the company. Wheater has added new full-length works to the Joffrey’s repertoire, including Lar Lubovitch’s groundbreaking Othello, Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow, and Yuri Possokhov’s Don Quixote. In 2008, Wheater was the recipient of the Boeing Game-Changer Award in recognition of his commitment to community engagement in Chicago and to the celebration of diversity through dance. He sits on the Advisory Board for Dance Magazine, serves as the Artistic Advisor for ChiArts, and is the Advisor to the Arts for the Lincoln Academy of Illinois. In 2010, Wheater, representing The Joffrey Ballet, was named Lincoln Academy Laureate, the highest honor presented by the State of Illinois, and in 2013 the Chicago Tribune named him "Chicagoan of the Year". In 2015, Wheater received the University of Chicago Rosenberger Medal for Outstanding Achievement in the Creative and Performing Arts. In December 2019, he was appointed to be a Member of the Most Excellent Order of the British Empire (MBE) by Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth II. (2022) and the 43rd edition of the International Festival of New Latin American Cinema. She has recorded with the Camerata Romeu the album Libertango.
EDSON BARBOSA, raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil, began his training in ballet, jazz, and tap at age ten with Patricia Marques at Grupo Cultural de Dança, Ilha. He was named Best Male
Dancer at the 2012 Festival de Dança de Joinville — the world’s largest dance competition by number of participants, as recognized by Guinness World Records. A decorated competitor, Barbosa was a two-time Top 12 finalist at Youth America Grand Prix, a Top 6 finalist at the Beijing International Ballet Invitational.
In 2012, he won a top prize at the Prix de Lausanne, where he was named Best Male Dancer of the competition’s 40th edition. He joined San Francisco Ballet School on scholarship under Patrick Armand and trained in works by Christopher Wheeldon, Helgi Tomasson, Val Caniparoli, Myles Thatcher, and Wayne McGregor. While at San Francisco Ballet, he performed in Romeo & Juliet at the Kennedy Center and Cinderella at Lincoln Center, among other classical and contemporary works by Lifar, Cranko, and Possokhov.
Barbosa joined The Joffrey Ballet in 2014 and has since performed an expansive range of soloist and principal roles across classical and contemporary repertory. Highlights include Tybalt in Romeo & Juliet (Pastor), Sea Witch in The Little Mermaid (Neumeier), Basilio in Don Quixote (Possokhov), The Great Impresario in The Nutcracker (Wheeldon), Escamillo in Carmen (Scarlett), Karenin in Anna Karenina (Possokhov), Robbie in The Times Are Racing (Peck), Elegy in Serenade (Balanchine), Lennie in Of Mice and Men (Marston), Saint John in Jane Eyre (Marston) and the Mad Hatter in Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland (Wheeldon). He has also danced leading roles in works by Jiří Kylián, Wayne McGregor, Justin Peck, Alexander Ekman, Gerald Arpino, Stanton Welch, Chanel DaSilva, and many others.
Beyond his work as a performer, Barbosa has established himself as a choreographer and educator. His choreography has been featured in the Grainger Academy of The Joffrey Ballet's Winning Works (On the Same Boat), Embarc (Heart Asks for Pleasure, Moody Rhapsody), and International Ballet Greenville (Moody Rhapsody) and the Grand Rapids Summer Festival (Indifferent). He has performed as a guest artist with Grand Rapids Ballet, Michigan Ballet Theater, and Monarch Dance Academy, Westside Ballet and Danzamérica Opening Ceremony in Argentina. He served as a Guest Judge at the Prix de Lausanne in 2024. His choreographic voice continues to develop alongside a celebrated performance career spanning over a decade with The Joffrey Ballet.
EVAN BOERSMA was born in Chicago, Illinois, and grew up in Dyer, Indiana. He began dancing at a local dance studio at age five and continued until age 14. In 2013, Boersma was accepted to the dance department at the Chicago Academy for the Arts under the direction of Randy Duncan. At the Academy, he received his classical training from Natalie Rast, Guillermo Leyva, and Patrick Simoniello while also receiving training in jazz and modern dance. He graduated from the Academy in May, 2017.
Boersma competed in the Youth American Grand Prix in 2017 where he was awarded first place in Chicago, and invited to compete in the YAGP Finals competition in New York City. Boersma attended The Joffrey Ballet Summer Intensive in 2014 and 2017, where he was invited to join the Joffrey Studio Company for the 2017-2018 season. In the fall of 2017, Boersma was promoted to the main company.
During his time with the Studio Company, he danced roles in ballets including Viva Vivaldi, Napoli, and Episode 31.
JONATHAN DOLE was born in Bellingham, WA, and grew up in Sacramento, CA. He began dancing at a small studio doing one tap class a week. By age 15, he had been convinced to try a ballet summer intensive and found a new love, ballet. He then moved to the biggest dance school in the Sacramento area and began training in ballet and contemporary. In 2016, Dole joined the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Official School of The Joffrey Ballet, as a Trainee. In 2017, he attended the Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) where he was awarded first place in Chicago and was invited to compete in the YAGP International Finals in New York City. Dole was awarded top 12 senior men in the New York International Finals. He continued his training at the Joffrey Academy for two more years as a Studio Company member, taking summer programs with The Bolshoi Ballet, Houston Ballet, and The Royal Ballet. In 2019, Dole was promoted to the main company at The Joffrey Ballet. During his time with the Academy,
Dole performed in Swan Lake as Von Rothbart, Nicolas Blanc’s Ferdinand the Bull, Don Quixote, Gerald Arpino’s Viva Vivaldi and Suite Saint-Saens, Alexander Ekman’s Episode 31, and Bournonville’s Napoli.
DEREK DRILON grew up in Vancouver, Washington. He began his training at Northwest Classical Ballet (NCB) under the direction of his mother, Maricar Drilon in 2009. During his years at NCB, he performed numerous principal roles in several full-length ballets and contemporary works including international performances in countries such as China, Canada, France, and the Philippines. Drilon joined the Studio Company of The Joffrey Ballet in 2015, where he danced in The Nutcracker Suite (Cavalier) and in Coppelia (Franz). He also performed with the main company in Robert Joffrey’s The Nutcracker (Snow Wind) and Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella (Court Couple). In 2016, he joined Boston Ballet under the direction of Mikko Nissinen and associate direction of Peter Stark. With Boston Ballet II, he performed in La Bayadere (Solor), George Balanchine’s Haieff Divertimento, Christopher Wheeldon’s The American (Principal Couple), and Flames of Paris pas de deux, as well as in the main company such as Ivan Liska’s Le Corsaire, Mikko Nissinen’s The Nutcracker, William Forsythe’s Artifact 2017, Jorma Eli’s Pièce d’ occasion, Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty, John Cranko’s Romeo and Juliet, and August Bournonville’s La Sylphide
In 2016, he was the Grand Prix winner of the Youth America Grand Prix semi-final in Chicago, IL. After moving on to the final round in New York, he was the only male candidate representing the U.S. to place among the top six Senior Men. Drilon was also a competitor in the 2018 XI USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, MS.
Since joining the Joffrey, he has performed in Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake and The Nutcracker, Yuri Possokhov’s Anna Karenina, Liam Scarlet’s Vespertine, Yoshihisa Arai’s Afternoon Watch, Andrea Walker’s HOME, Nicolas Blanc’s Beyond The Shore, Stephanie Martinez’s Bliss!, Justin Peck’s The Times Are Racing, and the world premiere of Nicolas Blanc’s Under The Trees’ Voices.
In 2019, Drilon was invited to join Ballet Philippines as a Guest Artist for their 50th anniversary season where he performed the role of Albrecht in Giselle. After a year and a half hiatus from the stage, he danced his first live performance in May of 2021 as Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake with Barlow Ballet Theatre. Soon after, he appeared as a Guest Artist with Long Beach Ballet also performing the role of Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake
DYLAN GUTIERREZ grew up in Van Nuys, California, and received his training at the Los Angeles Ballet Academy under the direction of his mother Andrea-Paris Gutierrez. In 2006, he was awarded a full scholarship to train at The Royal Ballet School in London. With the guidance of Gailene Stock, Gary Norman, and Meelis Pakri, he was offered a job as an apprentice with the San Francisco Ballet where he danced ballets such as The Four Temperaments and West Side Story Suite
Since joining The Joffrey Ballet, Gutierrez has danced many roles in the Joffrey’s extensive repertory. Favorite roles danced include Death in The Green Table, Basilio in Don Quixote, Prince Siegfried in Christopher Wheeldon’s Swan Lake, Prince Albrecht in Giselle, Main Pas de Deux couple from Wayne McGregor’s INFRA, Sanguinic in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, and Justin Peck’s Year of the Rabbit and the Pas de Deux in The Times Are Racing.
Gutierrez has also been a part of several Joffrey world premiere roles including Buffalo Bill, and The Great Impresario in Christopher Wheeldon's The Nutcracker, Vronsky in Yuri Possokhov's Anna Karenina, Stone Furies in John Neumeier's Orpheus and Eurydice, and most recently the role of Lennie in Cathy Marston’s Of Mice and Men, set to premiere in 2022.
Gutierrez is 1/3 part of the production company Action Lines, alongside fellow dancer Xavier Núñez and friend/writer Eric Grant. Action Lines has created several original dance films for The Joffrey Ballet, including their inaugural project, an original installation for the 150 Media Stream titled Interim Avoidance
JERALDINE MENDOZA was born in San Francisco, California, and trained at City Ballet School of San Francisco since the age of five, under the artistic direction of Galina Alexandrova. At age 17, Mendoza was invited to graduate in the Russian course at the prestigious Bolshoi Ballet Academy in Moscow. She later won First Place at the YAGP San Francisco Regional Semi-Finals in 2011.
Within her first year with the Joffrey, Mendoza danced lead roles in Yuri Possokhov’s Don Quixote, Robert Joffrey’s The Nutcracker, Wayne McGregor’s INFRA, Edwaard Liang’s Age of Innocence, and Jerome Robbins’s In the Night. In 2012, she won the prestigious young artists’ scholarship from the Leonore Annenberg Fellowship Fund, under the nomination of Artistic Director Ashley Wheater, making her the first Chicago artist to win since the award’s inception. Mendoza later graced the cover of Dance Magazine in May 2015, the magazine’s first-ever international issue.
Since joining the Joffrey, Mendoza has danced principal roles in Stanton Welch’s La Bayadére (Nikiya), Son of Chamber Symphony, and Maninyas; Jiři Kylián’s Forgotten Land; Gerald Arpino’s Sea Shadow, Light Rain, and Round of Angels; Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs; George Balanchine’s Allegro Brillante and The Four Temperaments; Christopher Wheeldon’s Continuum, Swan Lake (Odette/Odile), Liturgy, Fool’s Paradise, The Nutcracker, and Commedia; Jerome Robbins’s Interplay and Glass Pieces; Krzysztof Pastor’s Romeo & Juliet (Juliet); Yuri Possokhov’s RAkU, Miraculous Mandarin, and Anna Karenina (Kitty); Anthony Tudor’s Lilac Garden; Alexander Ekman’s Tulle and Midsummer Night’s Dream; Justin Peck’s In Creases, Year of the Rabbit, and The Times Are Racing; Val Caniparoli’s Incantations; Myles Thatcher’s Passengers; John Neumeier’s Sylvia (Sylvia); Ashley Page’s Tipping Point; Sir Frederick Ashton’s Cinderella (Cinderella); Lola de Avila’s Giselle (Giselle, Myrta); Nicolas Blanc’s Beyond the Shore, Lorelei, and Under the Trees’ Voices; Andrew McNicol’s Yonder Blue; Liam Scarlett’s Vespertine; and Cathy Marston’s Jane Eyre (Blanche).
DAVIDE OLDANO is from Turin, Italy which is where he began dancing at the age of five. After moving to Nice, France, Davide performed in the ballet Coppelia choreographed by Eric Vu-An with Les Ballets Nice Méditerranée at the Opera de Nice Côte d’Azur. He then moved to London, England where he joined La Sylvaine School of Dance for two years. During this time he performed in the ballets Romeo and Juliet and Sleeping Beauty with the Royal Ballet Company as a Junior Associate with The Royal Ballet School. Following, Davide was accepted into The Royal Ballet School year round Program at White Lodge for five consecutive years. In May 2015, he worked and performed in the world premiere and following performances of Wayne McGregor’s ballet Woolf Works with the Royal Ballet company on the Royal Opera House main stage. Davide also performed in The Nutcracker by Sir Peter Wright with the Royal Ballet Company. As a student Davide worked and performed the works of choreographers such as Robert Binet, Petal Miller Ashmole and Didy Veldman with the school.
In 2019, Davide was accepted into the Joffrey Academy of Dance Chicago with full scholarship in the Conservatory program. A year later, he got into their Trainee Program. In 2021, Davide joined their Studio Company. During his time in the Joffrey Academy of Dance, Davide performed with The Joffrey Ballet in their production of The Nutcracker by Christopher Wheeldon and Don Quixote by Yuri Possokhov. In the Academy, Davide took part and performed in Winning Works for two years. He performed as the lead dancer in Viva Vivaldi, Raymonda, and Sleeping Beauty Jewel Suite.
In 2021, Davide attended The Youth American Grand Prix semi finals in Chicago and received first place in the senior contemporary category and second place in the senior classical category as well as a place at the finals. The same year, Davide was invited to attend and perform in a Gala with the Youth American Grand Prix in Italy alongside Company artists from all around the world. Davide joined The Joffrey Ballet Company for the 2022-2023 Season.
RYAN JOLICOEUR-NYE (Artistic Director, Oklahoma City Ballet) is a choreographer, arts advocate, teacher, and Oklahoma City Ballet’s seventh Artistic Director since its founding in 1963. Originally from central Maine, Jolicoeur-Nye began his ballet training with Andrei Bossov at the age of 16, and after graduating from the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, he danced professionally for Eugene Ballet, Ballet Idaho, Kansas City Ballet, plus many guest roles throughout North America before retiring from the stage in 2016.
In 2018, Jolicoeur-Nye was named Artistic Director of Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre based in Bentonville. Under his tenure, the company experienced exponential growth, creating more than 80 performances and reaching over 28,000 area residents.
As a choreographer, he has created ballets for Northwest Arkansas Ballet Theatre, Ballet Idaho, Chicago Repertory Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, Royal Winnipeg Ballet School, Moving Arts Dance Festival, Ballet Des Moines, Oklahoma City Ballet, among others. Jolicoeur-Nye was named “Outstanding Choreographer” at the 2017 Youth American Grand Prix as well as “Best Choreographer” at the World Ballet Art Competition (WBAC) Grand Prix 2019. JolicoeurNye joined Oklahoma City Ballet in August 2020 as a Rehearsal Director, working closely with company dancers. Since 2020, he has choreographed crowd favorite short pieces such as Chan Chan, Abbey Road, Playlist, and feature-length ballets The Sleeping Beauty and a brand new version of The Nutcracker that premiered in December 2024.
Jolicoeur-Nye took on the role of acting artistic director in January 2022 and was officially named Artistic Director of Oklahoma City Ballet in October 2022 following an international search. Jolicoeur-Nye is married to Racheal Nye, School Director for the Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School and together they have two children. In his free time, Ryan enjoys playing music, painting, cooking, and family time.
ALEJANDRO GONZÁLEZ, originally from Caracas, Miranda, Venezuela, trained with Isabel Franklin and Gloriant Herrera at the Gustavo Franklin School, followed by two years of training at the Houston Ballet Academy under Shelly Power, School Director. González started his career with Oklahoma City Ballet in 2017 as a studio company member, then was offered an apprenticeship in 2018, promoted to corps de ballet in 2019, to soloist in 2021, and to principal dancer in 2023.
His repertoire includes works by Stanton Welch, Ben Stevenson, August Bournonville, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Helen Pickett, Val Caniparoli, Septime Webre, Robert Mills, Gerald Arpino, Cayetano Soto, Nicolo Fonte, Jessica Lang, and Michael Pink.
González’s favorite roles include Armand in Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, Prince Charming in Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye's Cinderella and Bell Boy in Michael Pink’s Dracula González was awarded Gold Medalist in 2016 at CIBC (Concurso Internacional de Ballet Clásico), Gold Medalist in 2020 at MIBC (Miami International Ballet Competition), featured in Pointe Magazine’s “2020 Stars of the Corps,” nominated “NextGenerationUnder 30” in 2020 and most recently a Semi-Finalist at XII USA IBC 2023 (USA International Ballet Competition).
In addition to his career as a dancer, González is part of the faculty of the Oklahoma City Ballet Yvonne Chouteau School.
MAYU ODAKA , originally from Los Angeles, trained at the Lauridsen Ballet Center in Torrance, California, where she danced in the pre-professional company Ballet California. She was offered an apprenticeship with Oklahoma City Ballet after participating in the 2015 summer intensive and was promoted to corps de ballet in 2017, to soloist in 2019, and to principal in 2023.
Since joining Oklahoma City Ballet, her repertoire includes works by Twyla Tharp, Gerald
Arpino, Jerome Robbins, Bryan Pitts, Jessica Lang, Nicolo Fonte, Helen Pickett, Paul Vasterling, Agnes de Mille, Dennis Spaight, Robyn Pasternack, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Amanda Herd-Popejoy, and Dayoung Jung. Favorite roles include Marguerite and Nichette in Val Caniparoli's Lady of the Camellias, 4th Movement Principal Couple in George Balanchine's Western Symphony, Lucy in Michael Pink’s Dracula, and Lucille Grahn in Robert Joffrey’s Pas des Déesses. She has also performed feature roles that include Ariel in Robert Mills’ The Little Mermaid, Firebird in Robert Mills’ The Firebird, Eaglet in Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), and demi-soloist roles in both George Balanchine’s Serenade and The Four Temperaments
In 2022, Odaka was one of only two American ballerinas to be selected for the 2022 Helsinki International Ballet Competition in the senior division.
LEAH REITER, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, began her training under Rachel Vickrey and Robin Welch in Omaha, Nebraska, at the Heartland Youth Ballet from 2010-2013. She then trained with Racheal Nye at Kansas City Ballet School from 2013-2017. Reiter later joined De Nationale Ballet Academie in Amsterdam and trained with Nathalie Caris, Ernst Meisner, and Grigory Tchitcherine from 2017-2021.
She joined Oklahoma City Ballet as a member of OKCBII in 2021, and was promoted to apprentice for the 2023 season. Her repertoire includes works by Wayne McGregor, Alexander Ekman, Cayetano Soto, George Balanchine, Septime Webre, Gerald Arpino, and Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye. Favorite roles include Echappe Girl in Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, Odette in Swan Lake staged by Racheal Nye after Marius Petipa, and Nymphs in Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye’s The Sleeping Beauty
PAIGE RUSSELL began training at the Maryland Youth Ballet, in her hometown of Silver Spring, Maryland. Over the course of her years there, she performed leading roles in The Nutcracker, The Sleeping Beauty, Raymonda, and La Bayadere. In the summer of 2015, she was accepted into the Houston Ballet Academy, where she furthered her training for two more years. While in Houston, Russell performed Stanton Welch’s Brigade, The Long and Winding Road, Young Person's Guide to the Orchestra, and The Nutcracker
In 2017, Russell joined Ballet Austin II, where she performed in Stephen Mills’ Romeo & Juliet and The Nutcracker, as well as George Balanchine’s Valse Fantaisie, Paul Vasterling’s Peter Pan, and Thang Dao’s Quiet Imprint. In 2018, Russell attended Oklahoma City Ballet’s summer intensive, and was offered a position with the Studio Company. During that time, she performed Robert Mills’ The Nutcracker, Romeo & Juliet, and The Firebird, as well as George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Michael Pink’s Dracula, Septime Webre’s ALICE (in wonderland), and August Bournonville’s La Sylphide. She was promoted to Apprentice in 2020, then to Corps de Ballet in 2021. Since then, Russell has added Jessica Lang’s To Familiar Spaces in Dream, Nicolo Fonte’s Of Dreams and Dice, Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye’s The Sleeping Beauty, The Nutcracker, and Cinderella, as well as Val Caniparoli’s Lady of the Camellias, Twyla Tharp’s The Golden Section, Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations, and George Balanchine’s Western Symphony to her performance repertoire.
ANNA TATEDA, from Tokyo, Japan, began her ballet training at TATEDA Ballet Studio with her mother Keiko Tateda when she was three years old. She has been fortunate to have been involved in workshops led by Laura Morera (The Royal Ballet, principal) and Diane Van School (The Royal Ballet, former principal). She then spent time at The Rock School for Dance Education. At the age of 18, she moved to Canada to train as part of the Post-Secondary Bridge Program at Victoria Academy of Ballet. After graduation, she moved to Oklahoma City Ballet to join the Trainee Program. After one year, she was promoted to OKCB II then in 2022, promoted to corps de ballet.
Tateda has acquired many awards at dance competitions throughout her short career. Her repertoire includes works by Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye, Robert Mills, August Bournonville, Gerald Arpino, George Balanchine, Septime Webre, Rena Butler, Amanda Popejoy, John Alleyne, Jorden Morris, Angela Mousseau, Alysa Pires, and Bleiddyn Bellis.
FLANNERY WERNER, originally from Denver, Colorado, began her formal ballet training at Classical Ballet Academy with Elizabeth Shipiatsky. Following six years of study with Shipiatsky, Werner moved to Houston to attend Houston Ballet Academy. Upon graduation, Werner joined Texas Ballet Theater’s Studio Training Company, where she danced for two seasons. Werner joined Oklahoma City Ballet as a member of OKCB II for the 2021/22 season after attending the summer intensive program. She was then promoted to apprentice for the 2022/23 season, and to the corps de ballet in 2024/25. She has enjoyed performing works by Septime Webre, Val Caniparoli, and Ryan Jolicoeur-Nye while with the company. Her favorite roles so far have been Clara in The Nutcracker and the Bouree Girl in Gerald Arpino’s Birthday Variations.
DANCE THEATRE OF HARLEM
ROBERT GARLAND (Artistic Director, Dance Theatre of Harlem) Garland was a member of the Dance Theatre of Harlem Company achieving the rank of principal dancer. After creating a work for the DTH School Ensemble, Arthur Mitchell invited Robert Garland to create a work for The Dance Theatre of Harlem Company and appointed him the organization’s first Resident Choreographer. He was also Director of the Professional Training Program of the DTH school, and the organization’s webmaster. In addition to choreographing several ballets for DTH, Mr. Garland has also created works for New York City Ballet, Britain’s Royal Ballet, Oakland Ballet, and many others. His commercial work has included music videos, commercials and short films, including the children’s television show Sesame Street, a Nike commercial featuring New York Yankee Derek Jeter, the NAACP Image Awards, a short film for designer Donna Karan, and the “Charmin Cha-Cha” for Proctor and Gamble. Mr. Garland holds a Bachelor of Fine Arts Degree from the Juilliard School in New York City.
DEREK BROCKINGTON Born: Chicago, IL, raised in Holland, Michigan; Training: Grand Rapids Ballet School and Interlochen Arts Academy, summer intensives with Ballet West, Pennsylvania Ballet, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet; Professional Experience: Cincinnati Ballet, Grand Rapids Ballet, guest artist with Houston Ballet, Dance Theatre of Harlem (eighth season); Repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Robert Garland, William Forsythe, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Annabelle Lopez Ochoa, Claudia Schreier, among others.
Derek is an emerging choreographer whose work has been commissioned by DTH, NJFO, SoHo House NY, and others. He was recognized by Crain’s Business “20 in Their 20s” for his contributions to the DTH’s social media.
KOUADIO DAVIS Born: Oneonta, NY; Training: Holbrook-Wade School of Dance, Fokine Ballet, New York State Summer School of the Arts with Daniel Ulbricht, NYCB. Carolyn Adams. Alvin Ailey, Nutmeg Ballet, Charlotte Ballet, Alonzo King Lines, French Academie of Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and Springboard Danse Montreal. 2019 Graduate of Ellison Ballet. ; Professional Experience: Dance Theatre of Harlem (fifth season). ; Awards: Youth America Grand Prix in 2017 and 2018, where he and his partner won second and then first place in the contemporary Pas de Deux category
LINDSEY DONNELL Born: Midland, TX; Training: La Petite Dance Studio, Midland Festival Ballet under Susan Clark; Education: cum laude graduate of Butler University, Dance-Arts Administration and Journalis; Professional Experience: Nashville Ballet (trainee), Dance Theatre of Harlem (twelfth season); Repertoire: Works by George Balanchine, Nacho Duato, William Forsythe, Ulysses Dove, Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa, Geoffrey Holder, Donald Byrd, Dianne McIntyre, and Robert Garland; Awards and Honors: Featured artist at opening of One World, Trade Center, TEDx Broadway 2016, performer at Kennedy Center Honors 2016 & 2022, & White House performance for Michelle Obama.
KAMALA SAARA Born: Los Angeles, California; Training: Yuri Grigoriev School of Ballet, School of American Ballet; Professional experience: Ensemble cast in Prime Video’s Etoile Season 1.
Performed excerpts of George Balanchine’s Pas De Dix principal variation and Agon pas de deux with The Royal Ballet at The Royal Opera House, London, England May 2024, Dance Theatre of Harlem (fourth season).
Repertoire: William Forsythe’s Vertiginous, Thrill of Exactitude, Blake Works IV, George Balanchine’s Allegro Brilliante (Corps De Ballet), Pas De Dix (Principal role), Agon Pas De deux Excerpt, Robert Bondara’s Take Me With You pas de deux, Jodie Gates’ Passage of Being
Awards & Honors: Recipient of the Grow Annenberg Fellowship and a full scholarship to The School of American Ballet. Received the 1st place Award for training and performance scholarship at the 2018 Bolshoi Ballet Academy. Placed 2nd in the Classical category at the 2016 Youth American Grand Prix Paris, France.
BALLET WEST
ADAM SKLUTE (The Willam Christensen Artistic Director Chair, Ballet West), since 2007, has expanded Ballet West’s outlook, repertoire, and visibility with exciting company premieres, increased touring, heightened public exposure, and a greater focus on the Ballet West Academy. Sklute began his training in Oakland, California and was with The Joffrey Ballet for twenty-three years, starting in New York as a dancer where he was one of the last two artists personally chosen by Robert Joffrey for his company. He became Ballet Master in 1995 and was part of the team that moved the company from NY to Chicago. In 2004, he became the Associate Director of the Joffrey Ballet. Sklute has extensive television and film credits and is an Adjunct Professor at The University of Utah as well as a teacher, lecturer, coach, and judge for ballet schools, competitions, and companies worldwide.
Sklute was listed as one of the 25 Movers and Shakers of the Utah Arts Scene in 2007. In 2014, he was named one of Utah’s Enlightened 50, and he received the Utah National Guard’s Bronze Minuteman Award for outstanding service to Utah and the nation. Sklute was awarded the Utah Diversity Connection’s Business Award for “Outstanding Commitment to Diversity Initiatives,” and Westminster College’s MLK Unsung Hero Award for his ongoing work to promote inclusivity and diversity in ballet and in our community. Most recently, Sklute was included in Deseret Magazine’s 25 Changemakers of the West for his efforts to build greater equity and inclusion in classical ballet. In 2016, Sklute took on the dual positions of CEO and Artistic Director of Ballet West for the year.
EMILY ADAMS is from Newtown, Pennsylvania. She joined Ballet West II in 2005 and the main company in 2007. Emily was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2011, Soloist in 2013, and Principal in 2015. Emily trained at Studio Maestro with Deborah Wingert and Francois Perron; Ballet Technique with Julie Caprio; with Nancy Bielski and David Howard at Steps on Broadway; and privately with Christina Fagundes. At 15, she was awarded an honorary scholarship to train full-time at the School of American Ballet. She participated in summer programs at San Francisco Ballet School, School of America Ballet, Exploring Ballet with Suzanne Farrell, and the Royal Ballet School. In 2007, she performed with Suzanne Farrell Ballet at the Kennedy Center. With Ballet West, Emily has danced leading roles of Juliet in Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, Odette/Odile in Sklute’s Swan Lake, Diamonds Pas de Deux in Balanchine’s Jewels, and Cinderella in Ashton’s Cinderella, to name just a few.
Emily began choreographing as a student and was invited by Peter Martins to participate in the New York Choreographic Institute’s Spring Session 2004. Emily has created six ballets for Ballet West. In her latest work in 2025, Emily collaborated with composer Katy Jarzebowski on Mass Hysterical, which explores the comedy and horror of group social behaviors and the challenge of being brave when fear and distrust abound.
The Thing with Feathers in 2021 featured an original score by Sundance Institute Fellow, Katy Jarzebowski. She was awarded the Utah Arts Festival’s Choreographic Commission in 2017. Her creation, Laden, is now included in Ballet West II’s repertoire. In August 2019, Emily collaborated with The Way of the Rain, Sibylle Szaggers Redford, and composer Tim Janis
to create Earth Movements: A Symphony for Ballet. The ballet was presented at the UN 68th International NGO Conference, and featured dancers of Ballet West alongside the Utah Symphony. In July 2022, Emily was one of four choreographers chosen to participate in National Choreographers Initiative under the direction of Molly Lynch.
Emily has performed as a guest artist and in galas across the country, including for YAGP and the 50th Re-Opening Anniversary Gala of the Chicago Auditorium Theater. She collaborated with artists from the Utah Symphony and Pioneer Theater Company in Intermezzo Chamber Music’s performance of Stravinsky’s Soldier’s Tale Suite, both as a dancer and choreographer. Emily has been featured in Pointe Magazine and other publications multiple times for her work as a dancer, choreographer, and her artistic projects outside the studio.
Follow her on Instagram @emilyadamsdance and check out her website!
KATLYN ADDISON is from Ontario, Canada. She joined Ballet West in 2011 and was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2014, to Soloist in 2016, and to First Soloist in 2018. In 2016, Katlyn was the first black principal ballerina to perform the role of the Sugar Plum Fairy in Willam Christensen’s The Nutcracker, and Katlyn again made history in 2021 when she became Ballet West’s first black female Principal Artist. Also in 2021, Katlyn was awarded the Performing Arts Fellowship Award by the Utah Division of Fine Arts & Museums. Katlyn began her professional ballet training at the age of ten with the National Ballet School of Canada and continued her training with Quinte Ballet School of Canada, Pacific Northwest Ballet, Boston Ballet, and the Houston Ballet Ben Stevenson Academy. She joined Houston Ballet’s corps de ballet in 2007, and in 2008, she was awarded the Sarah Chapin Langham Award at Youth America Grand Prix and was invited to perform at the prestigious YAGP Gala the same year. With Ballet West, Katlyn has performed Tatiana in Cranko's Onegin, Juliet in Smuin's Romeo & Juliet, and lead roles in Sklute’s Swan Lake, Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, Stevenson’s Dracula, Fonte’s Carmina Burana, and many others.
Katlyn has also worked to find her choreographic voice. In 2015, Katlyn was chosen to choreograph The Hunt for Ballet West’s Choreographic Festival Program. She was again selected to create new works for the festival in 2018 (Hidden Voices), 2021 (Eden), and in 2024 (Andromeda). She has created new ballets for the Utah Arts Festival (Unnamed, 2019), the Ballet West Academy, the University of Utah Dance Department (Saint-George, The Composer, Frenchmen, and Creator, 2020), the Kansas City Ballet (Sanctuary, 2022), Ballet Jorgen (There Were TWO, 2022), and Ballet Des Moines (Outside of US, 2024),
In 2015, Huffington Post named Katlyn as one of the top “26 black female dancers you should know,” and she has regularly been featured in Pointe and Dance Magazine. She danced and acted in Miu Miu’s Woman’s Tales, a short film that premiered at the 2017 Venice Film Festival and appeared on the Prada Miu Miu website. In 2019, Katlyn performed for attendees of the 68th United Nations Civil Society Conference, dancing the role of Mother Earth in The Way of the Rain – Earth Movements – A Symphony for Ballet with choreography by Emily Adams. Throughout the fall and winter of 2019-2020, Katlyn performed the principal/soloist roles at the Scottish Ballet in Glasgow, Scotland, including Tituba in Helen Pickett’s The Crucible and Snow Queen, choreographed by Christopher Hampson, Artistic Director of Scottish Ballet. In June of 2022, Katlyn was featured in Reforming the Narrative at the Kennedy Center in Washington D.C., where she performed a lead role in a new ballet created by renowned choreographer Donald Byrd. Most recently, she performed Gerald Arpino's Ruth, Ricordi per Due pas de deux in the Arpino Centennial Celebration.
In early 2022, Katlyn was included as an honoree in Microsoft’s virtual interactive museum, The Legacy Project, and she was also featured in the Utah Black Chamber’s book Black Utah: Stories of a Thriving Community.
Katlyn is involved in many passion projects and is dedicated to using her platform to give back to her community and to help raise the voices of other minority artists. Katlyn has volunteered her time for: the Redlining Project, an initiative drawing attention to injustices created by red lining voter districts; Ballet West’s I CAN DO Program; Curly ME, which supports young girls
of color; Morning Star Middle School and Ridgewood Elementary School, both in Ontario, Canada; and she also serves on the board of directors for the Utah Black Artist Collective
Follow Katlyn on Instagram @katlynaddison, and be sure to check out her website for her full bio!
DOMINIC BALLARD is from Albury, New South Wales, Australia. He joined Ballet West in 2017, was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2022 and to Soloist in 2025. Dominic trained at the Australian Ballet School in Melbourne, Australia. He began his professional ballet career in Europe with the National Ballet of Slovakia and Philadelphia Ballet in 2016. At Ballet West, Dominic has enjoyed leading roles such as Dr. Jekyll in Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll and Hyde and Death in Kurt Joos’ The Green Table, as well as feature roles in Christopher Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour and Ulysses Dove’s Red Angels. Dominic received his earliest training in ballet from his mother, stepfather, and older sister. Outside of dancing, Dominic loves reading and trying his hand at various arts and crafts like drawing, painting, or crochet.
Follow Dominic on Instagram @dominicjamesballard.
ISABELLA CORRIDON is from Westport, Connecticut. She joined Ballet West II in 2019 and was promoted to the main company in 2021. With Ballet West, Isabella has danced roles in Christensen’s The Nutcracker, Sklute’s Giselle, Kunikova’s Paquita, and Stevenson’s Dracula, to name a few.
Follow Isabella on Instagram @isabellacorridon.
HADRIEL DINIZ is from Uberlândia, Minas Gerais, Brazil. He joined Ballet West in 2015 and was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2018, to Soloist in 2019, to First Soloist in 2020, and to Principal in 2021. He began training at the age of twelve with Guiomar Boaventura at the Vórtice Escola de Danças. Soon after, he started competing in international competitions and has won numerous awards. He qualified for the Youth America Grand Prix NYC finals in 2010, 2011, and 2012, where he placed in the top six. He was offered a full-year scholarship from San Francisco Ballet School, and Hadriel left Brazil to study there at age seventeen. After two years of training on full scholarship, he joined the Trainee Program under the direction of Patrick Armand. With Ballet West, Hadriel has danced the leading roles of Benno in Sklute’s Swan Lake, Hilarion in Sklute’s Giselle, Balanchine’s Prodigal Son, and Romeo in Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, to name a few.
Follow Hadriel on Instagram @hadrieldiniz
NICOLE FANNÉY is from Cary, North Carolina. She joined the Ballet West Academy as a Trainee in 2016 and joined Ballet West II in 2018. She was promoted to the main company in 2020. Nicole began her training at the International Ballet Academy in Cary, North Carolina. She then attended Houston Ballet Academy on full scholarship in 2015, and in the summer of 2016, studied at the Paris Opera Ballet School. In 2015, she was awarded the Grand Prix at the Youth America Grand Prix Tampa Semifinal.
Fannéy performed in Youth America Grand Prix’s Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala in Tampa in 2015 and 2016, and in Indianapolis in 2015. With Ballet West, Nicole has danced Ratmansky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, Kylián’s Symphony of Psalms, Rowena in Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde, Sklute’s Swan Lake, Archibald’s Tides, Forsythe’s Blake Works I, Lady Capulet in Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, and Fonte’s Carmina Burana and Rite of Spring, to name just a few. She has also originated featured roles in works by Sophie LaPlane and Juliano Nunes.
Fannéy debuted her work as a choreographer with Lingering Echoes, a world premiere during Ballet West’s Works From Within in 2025.
Follow Nicole on Instagram @nikki.fanney.
ADRIAN FRY is from Omaha, Nebraska. He joined Ballet West in 2010 and as promoted
to Soloist in 2012, First Soloist in 2014, and to Principal in 2017. Adrian trained at Omaha Theater Ballet School, School of American Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet School. In 2016, Adrian appeared with the contemporary dance company NOW-ID in the Copenhagen Opera Festival. He was also featured in the 25th International Ballet Festival in Havana, Cuba, where Ballet West was one of the first American companies invited to perform since relations changed between the nations. With Ballet West, Adrian has danced leading roles in Sklute’s Giselle, Balanchine’s Apollo, and the title roles in Stevenson’s Dracula and Cranko’s Onegin, among many others.
Adrian has choreographed since 2012. He’s created dance pieces for music videos and sitespecific installations in addition to works for the ballet stage. In July of 2016, he received the first ever Ballet Commission from the Utah Arts Festival to create an original work for their 40th anniversary. In March of 2017, he premiered his first narrative work, The Emperor’s New Clothes, for Ballet West.
In addition to dancing, Adrian frequently teaches for the Ballet West Academy and is principal faculty for the artÉmotion summer intensive. He also assists his wife, former Ballet West Artist Jordan Richardson, in building their luxury wedding cake business, Ballerina Baker (@ballerina_baker).
Follow Adrian on Instagram @fryadrian
JENNA RAE HERRERA is from Ontario, California. She joined Ballet West II in 2007 and the main company in 2010. Jenna was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2015, to Soloist in 2016, to First Soloist in 2020, and to Principal in 2021. She trained under Cynthia Young, Laurence Blake, and Randall Graham. Jenna’s favorite leading roles with Ballet West include Balanchine’s Rubies and Stars and Stripes, Forsythe’s In the Middle, Somewhat Elevated, Tatiana in Cranko’s Onegin, and Juliet in Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet
Jenna is a faculty member with the Ballet West Academy and has taught at the Ballet West Academy Summer Intensive, as well as at the Brigham Young University Advanced Ballet Intensive. She is currently enrolled at the University of Utah with the hopes of obtaining a bachelor’s in the Fine Arts.
Follow Jenna on Instagram @jetejenna.
DAVID HUFFMIRE grew up in Reno, Nevada. He began dance with all things except Ballet: Tap, Jazz, Hip-Hop, and even Ballroom. David began his ballet training around the age of 12 with Alexander Van Alstyne at a small conservatory in Reno. He eventually attended Ballet West and San Francisco Ballet Summer Intensives at the age of 14 before moving to Salt Lake City at 16 when he joined the Ballet West Academy Trainee program. He was promoted to Ballet West II in 2016, to the main company in 2018, Soloist in 2022, and finally to Principal in 2024.
While dancing for Ballet West, David has danced many leading roles spanning a large range of styles and techniques, including Balanchine’s Tarantella, El Capitan in Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes, Balanchine’s Apollo, Dolan’s Variations for Four, Hyde in Caniparoli's Jekyll and Hyde, Lensky in Cranko’s Onegin, Mercutio in Smuin’s Romeo and Juliet, as well as featured roles in works such as Kylián's Symphony of Psalms and Return to a Strange Land, Ratmansky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Forsyth’s Blake Works, Dove’s Red Angels, and de Mille’s Rodeo David performs in galas and guesting gigs year-round and has been critically revered and reviewed for his stunning technique, stage presence, and acting range, as well as adaptability to multiple styles of dance.
Follow David on Instagram @davidhuffmire97
VINICIUS LIMA is from Vitoria, Brazil. He joined the Ballet West Academy as a Trainee in 2016 and then joined Ballet West II in 2018. He was promoted to the main company in 2020. With Ballet West, Vinicius has danced roles like Lensky in Cranko's Onegin, Lubovich's Concerto Six Twenty-Two, Fonte’s Carmina Burana, Archibalds' Tides, Laplane's Galantheae,
and Nunes’ Orange, among many others. Lima was promoted to Demi Soloist in 2023 where he performed Forsythe’s Blake Works, Ratmansky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, Wheeldon’s Within the Golden Hour, Renfield in Ben Stevenson’s Dracula, Whitehead’s Fever Dream and Quan’s Play on Impulse.
He choreographed his first ballet Elis on Ballet West in the Spring of 2025 and was promoted to Soloist starting this upcoming season.
Follow Vinicius on Instagram @vinicius_vinilima
LEXI MCCLOUD is from North Salt Lake, Utah. She joined Ballet West II in 2022. She trained at MOGA Conservatory of Dance under the direction of Misa Oga. Lexi was awarded the Senior Bronze Medal at the 2022 Youth America Grand Prix International Finals. She was named the Grand Prix Winner at the 2022 YAGP Seattle Semi-Finals. Also in 2022, she was one of the 20 finalists at the Prix de Lausanne. Lexi was awarded first place in the classical division at the YAGP Salt Lake City Semi-Finals in 2019, 2020, and 2021. She has performed in galas including the YAGP Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala in Orizaba, Mexico (2021) and Night of Shining Stars in Salt Lake City, Utah (2017).
Follow Lexi on Instagram @lexi_mccloud
AMY POTTER is from Roanoke, Virginia. She joined Ballet West II in 2011 and the main company in 2012. Amy joined Oklahoma City Ballet in 2014, was promoted to Soloist in 2015, and to Principal in 2018. he returned to Ballet West in 2021 as a Soloist and was promoted to Principal in 2022. At the age of 15, Amy moved to Torrington, Connecticut to begin her professional training at Nutmeg Conservatory for the Arts. She then continued her training with Boston Ballet as a trainee and later joined Houston Ballet II, performing with the company and touring nationally and internationally.
With Ballet West, Amy has danced leading roles in Cranko’s Onegin as Tatiana, Ashton’s Cinderella as Cinderella, Odette/Odile in Sklute's Swan Lake, Kylián’s Petite Mort, Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, Robbins’ Glass Pieces, Aurora in Sklute's The Sleeping Beauty, Robbins' In the Night, Red Angels by Ulysses Dove, and Arpino's Light Rain, to name a few. Amy has also worked with Penny Saunders, Robert Mills, Cayetano Soto, Sarah Tallman, and Juliano Nunes, developing roles she then performed in their respective world premieres.
Follow Amy on Instagram @potter.amy.
RYLEE ANN ROGERS is from Orem, Utah. She joined Ballet West II in 2020 and was promoted to the main company in 2022. Her ballet training began in Utah County at the age of 3 with the Barlow Arts Conservatory and The Dance Club. As a pre-teen, Rylee Ann spent her summers in New York City training with The School of American Ballet on full merit scholarship. At 14, she was invited to join SAB’s year-round program. She graduated with honors in 2020 from The School of American Ballet and the Professional Performing Arts High School. Rylee Ann thrived in the competitive dance world for several years where she was awarded top honors and scholarships from the most renowned dance and ballet organizations in the world. Most notably, she was a two-time recipient of the Grand Prix Award at the prestigious Youth America Grand Prix ballet competition. Rylee Ann has performed on some of the world’s most celebrated stages, including Radio City Music Hall, where she danced the role of Clara in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular, and the David Koch Theater at the Lincoln Center in various roles with the New York City Ballet and SAB. With Ballet West, Rylee has danced roles in Robbins’ Glass Pieces, Christensen’s The Nutcracker, Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, and Stevenson’s Dracula, to name a few.
Rylee Ann’s passion for dance and ballet have only deepened during her opportunity to teach the upcoming generation and explore her artistry and creativity through her original choreography. Faith, family and beauty are Rylee Anne’s inspirations and hard work, devotion, and determination are making her dream of being a professional ballet dancer come true.
Follow Rylee Ann on Instagram @r_y_l_e_e_a_n_n.
CLAIRE SPAINHOUR received her early ballet training at schools across the U.S., including Ballet Austin and Ballet Memphis, and later studied extensively at Ellison Ballet in New York under Edward Ellison and Erin Forrest. She has earned recognition at Youth America Grand Prix, including performing in the 2015 Gala at Lincoln Center, and received the Grand Prix Award at Oleg Vinogradov’s 2018 Gala.
Claire began her professional career with Colorado Ballet’s Second Company, performing in works such as Serenade, Firebird, and Swan Lake
She joined Ballet West as a Trainee in 2017 and was promoted to Ballet West II in 2019. During this time, she danced in Giselle, La Ventana, La Konservatoriet, and Balanchine’s Jewels, as well as leading roles in Snow White and The Glass Slipper for Ballet West’s Family Series.
In 2021, Claire was promoted to the main company. She has performed a wide range of classical and contemporary works, with notable roles including Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Russian Demi in Balanchine’s Serenade, Robbins’ Glass Pieces, Nicolo Fonte’s Carmina Burana and Rite of Spring, Juliano Nunes’ Orange, Forsythe’s Blake Works, Jewels Pas de Trois from The Sleeping Beauty, Autumn Fairy in Ashton’s Cinderella, Kylián's Symphony of Psalms, The Nurse in Val Caniparoli’s Jekyll & Hyde, and the Snow Queen in William Christensen’s The Nutcracker.
Follow Claire on Instagram @wilsonhour.
JORDAN VEIT is from Seattle, Washington. He joined Ballet West II in 2012 and the main company in 2013. Jordan was promoted to Demi-Soloist in 2016, to Soloist in 2018, and to Principal in 2022. He began his dance training at Pacific Northwest Ballet. With Ballet West, Jordan has danced the leading roles of Jekyll in Caniparoli's Jekyll and Hyde, Prince in Ashton's Cinderella, Apollo in Balanchine's Apollo, Romeo in Smuin’s Romeo + Juliet, Lensky in Cranko’s Onegin, the Sugar Plum Cavalier in Christensen’s The Nutcracker, Frederick in Stevenson's Dracula, and Prince Desire in Sklute’s The Sleeping Beauty, among others.
He has originated roles in works by Juliano Nunes, Sophie LaPlane, Nicolo Fonte, Val Caniparoli, Edwaard Liang, Matthew Neenan, and Africa Guzman. In addition, he has guested with Royal Danish Ballet, Houston Ballet, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Los Angeles Ballet, and Utah Metropolitan Ballet.
Follow Jordan on Instagram @jdveit.
LOREN WALTON, originally from Austin, Texas, Loren Walton moved to Salt Lake City to continue his training at the Ballet West Academy. He joined Ballet West as a Trainee in 2019, was promoted to Ballet West II in 2020, and became a member of the main company in 2022. In 2025, Loren was promoted to Demi Soloist.
Loren has preformed a wide range of repertoire with the company, with highlights including Robbins’ Glass Pieces, Forsythe’s Blake Works I, and Ratmansky’s Pictures at an Exhibition, to name a few.
When he’s not in the studio, Loren enjoys listening to music, playing the flute, riding horses, hiking, and playing tennis.
Follow Loren on Instagram @thelorenwal.
EMILY SPEED (Artistic Director, Artistic Ventures in Dance, AVID) is known for her dynamic artistry onstage and her entrepreneurial vision offstage. Originally from Argyle, Texas, she began her training at Denton Ballet Academy under Hugh Nini and graduated from the Marina Almayeva School of Classical Ballet. Early in her career, she earned First Place at Youth America Grand Prix, was a finalist at the World Ballet Competition, and competed internationally at the prestigious Varna and USA International Ballet Competitions.
As a professional dancer, Emily has performed leading roles across a wide range of repertoire spanning neoclassical, contemporary, and dramatic narrative works. Her credits include works by George Balanchine, Jiří Kylián, Antony Tudor, Twyla Tharp, Clark Tippet, Derek Deane, Fernand Nault, Danielle Rowe, Gerald Arpino, Christopher Wheeldon, and Yuri Possokhov, as well as a full range of classical roles. She has danced as a Soloist with Colorado Ballet and Ballet Idaho, appeared as a Principal Guest Artist across the country, and been featured at major festivals including the Vail Dance Festival, Battery Dance Festival, Little Island, and the Arpino Dance Festival at The Joyce Theater. Among her favorite roles are Russian Girl in Serenade (Balanchine), Petite Mort (Kylián), Jardin aux Lilas (Tudor), and Aurora in The Sleeping Beauty.
Based in New York City with deep roots in Colorado, Emily is the Founder and Artistic Director of Artistic Ventures in Dance (AVID), a company committed to cultivating new voices, producing innovative work, and expanding access to professional dance. She is currently working with The Antony Tudor Ballet Trust, learning to stage Fandango and helping carry Tudor’s legacy forward. In 2023–24, she was honored as an Artist-in-Residence at Perry-Mansfield in Steamboat Springs, CO.
Beyond the stage, Emily is an active mentor and educator, a real estate investor, and an arts entrepreneur. Her leadership reflects not only a deep love for the art form, but a belief in building lasting infrastructure for artists to thrive, not just survive. Whether performing or directing, she brings a spirit of rigor, curiosity, and joy to every endeavor.
MADELINE BEZ began her dance training at Ballet Arizona before moving to Canada to join the Royal Winnipeg Ballet School. After completing her education, she danced with the Royal Winnipeg Ballet and then moved to Oregon to dance with Eugene Ballet. In her time with Eugene Ballet, she danced numerous roles including Tall Swans in Swan Lake, Lady Capulet in Romeo and Juliet, as well as a variety of contemporary and neo-classical works. From Oregon, Madeline moved to dance with Harbin Ballet, where she had the opportunity to tour China and dance in a variety of the classic ballets, Paquita, Swan Lake, and Nutcracker to name a few. Madeline now lives in New York as a freelance artist where she has had opportunities to work with a variety of choreographers such as Christopher Stowell, Juliano Nunes, and Ilya Jivoy. This is Madeline’s second season with AVID Dance Company.
AMANDA CARRICK is from Southfield, Michigan. Her primary training began with the Cecchetti Counsel of America Syllabus and varied modern dance styles at The Link School of the Arts (Troy, MI). During her primary education, she had the opportunity to learn from Lauren Anderson (Houston Ballet), Andrew Murphy (Australian Ballet & Houston Ballet), Judy Milner (Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater), and Steve Rooks (Martha Graham Dance Company). Amanda Eve then continued her professional training at the University of Oklahoma’s School of Dance. She completed her Bachelors of Fine Arts, Cum Laude, in May of 2016 with a minor in Nonprofit Management. During her time at OU, she had the opportunity to work with a wide range of ballet and modern professionals as well as perform internationally at the Austrian Haydntage Festival (2014). Her professors included, Clara Cravey Stanley, Steve Brule, Jeremy Lindberg, Ilya Kozadayev, Mary Margaret Holt, Rebecca Herrin, Derrick Minter, Austin Hartel, and Kira Blazek Ziaii. Master classes included Violette Verdy, Jock Soto, Don Edwards, and Francia Russel. Following graduation, Amanda Eve danced with the Louisville Ballet for their 20162018 seasons, performing works by notable choreographers George Balanchine (Theme
and Variations, Rubies) and Val Caniparoli (The Nutcracker). She was also selected for the American premiere of Steven Bayne’s Requiem. Amanda Eve then joined Fort Wayne Ballet from 2018-2022, and performed works by notable choreographers Robert Joffrey and Gerald Arpino. She represented Fort Wayne Ballet on the tour to Taizhou, China with Sister Cities International (2018), and performed her first principal role in Fort Wayne Ballet’s production of Cinderella (2019). Amanda Eve is honored to have been part of the first restaging of Edward Stierle’s Empyrean Dances by Kim Sagami (2019). Amanda Eve is currently a Principal Dancer for Ballet Pensacola and is excited to join AVID Dance in performing Confetti for the Arpino Dance Festival 2025 at The Joyce.
JULIAN GOODWIN-FERRIS is very excited to be dancing with AVID again, after first working with the company this January, performing Quinn Wharton’s Hopes and Dreams Julian currently dances with New Jersey Ballet. Previously, he danced for five seasons with Miami City Ballet, where he performed in a variety of works including George Balanchine’s Prodigal Son (Friend), Rubies, and Square Dance; Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels; Alexei Ratmansky’s Swan Lake; and Justin Peck’s Rodeo. During the 2016-17 season, Julian danced with Ballet Austin where he toured China for a month, performing in 14 different cities.
Julian graduated with high distinction, from Indiana University Jacobs School of Music in 2019, with a degree in Ballet and an outside field specializing in Music Theory and Art History. While growing up, Julian spent more than ten years at the Houston Ballet Academy, training under Claudio Muñoz, and dancing in numerous productions with the professional company. He spent summers studying with Irina Vakhromeeva, and attended the ballet program at Jacob’s Pillow in 2017 and 2021. Julian choreographed works for Miami City Ballet’s Pop-up series in 2021, 2022 and 2024. In 2022 and 2023 he choreographed two commissions for New World Symphony, collaborating with composer Matthew Schultheis and Wesley Ducote.
ETHAN SCHWEITZER-GASLIN is a New York City based freelance dance artist and educator. Originally from Western Massachusetts, he began studying ballet at age five at Amherst Ballet, then trained on scholarship at the University of North Carolina School of the Arts, and at summer programs around the country. After graduating from the UNCSA high school program, he spent two years as an apprentice at Oregon Ballet Theatre and eight years as a Company Artist at Ballet Idaho.
He has been a member of AVID since its founding in 2024, has been appearing regularly with ARC Dance Company in Seattle since 2015 and with Project Flux Dance in Boise since 2018, and has appeared in the New York area as a Guest Artist with Eglevsky Ballet, CityDanceNY, Jersey City Ballet, MorDance, Staten Island Ballet, Valerie Green/Dance Entropy, Thomas/ Ortiz Dance, Chevalier Ballet, Neville Dance Theatre, Long Island Ballet Theatre, and Catskill Ballet Theatre. He was a semi-final Silver and Bronze medalist and a two-time finalist at Youth America Grand Prix, and has been invited to perform and present his choreography at the Men In Dance Festival and Treefort Music Festival.
Ethan is known for performances in the roles of Peter Pan and the Nutcracker Prince, and in works by choreographers including George Balanchine, Alejandro Cerrudo, Penny Saunders, Edward Liang, Marika Brussel, Alex Ketley, Marie Chong, Daniel Ojeda, Lauren Edson, Anne Mueller and Peter Anastos. He has choreographed for dancers from Boston Ballet School, Houston Ballet II, Oregon Ballet Theatre, Northwest Dance Theatre, and Ballet Idaho.
Ethan has been a Teaching Artist for the Misty Copeland Foundation BE BOLD Program, Ballet Idaho’s Learning Through Dance outreach program and the Project Flux Dance community class program, and a guest instructor at Ballet Idaho Academy, Boise State University TRIO Upward Bound, Idaho Fine Arts Academy, Northwest Dance Theatre, Long Island Ballet Theatre, Long Island Youth Ballet, SLK Ballet and Amherst Ballet.
DAVID HOCHBERG is from New York, where he trained at Studio Maestro/Manhattan Youth Ballet under Francois Perron and Nadege Hottier, and Ellison Ballet under Edward Ellison. In 2012, David joined Sarasota Ballet under director Iain Webb. He then joined
Nevada Ballet Theater in 2014, where he danced for five seasons under James Canfield, and Roy Kaiser. Since returning to New York in 2019 he has worked as a freelance dancer for MorDance, The Metropolitan Opera, Tom Gold Dance, Amanda Selwyn Dance Theater, Movement Headquarters, The Chase Brock Experience, Guggenheim Works & Process, East Coast Contemporary Ballet, Graham Lustig at The Princeton Festival, XAOC Ballet, and Margo Sappington.
LILIT HOGTANIAN is a Los Angeles native who began her ballet training under Yuri Grigoriev. She graduated from Académie Princesse Grace in Monaco under the direction of Marika Bessobrazova and Luca Masla and went on to work for the Slovak National Theatre, Ballet Memphis, and Dance Theatre of Harlem. Lilit was recognized as a Los Angeles Times “Face to Watch” following her performances as Clara in Los Angeles Ballet’s production of The Nutcracker. She was a semi-finalist in Prix de Lausanne in 2008 and a 1st place winner at YAGP, Long Beach.
Her repertoire includes The Sylph in La Sylphide, Autumn Fairy in Michael Corder’s Cinderella, Diana & Acteon, as well as featured roles in Nacho Duato’s Coming Together, Matthew Neenan’s Darting Eyes, William Forsythe’s The Vertiginous Thrill of Exactitude, Square Dance, and Minkus Pas de Trois by George Balanchine.
SARA JUMPER , originally from Colorado Springs, Colorado began her training at The Dance Center of Colorado Springs and later furthered her training with Antonia Matchefts. She competed in YAGP placing Top 12 in the Denver Semifinals in 2014. She then went on to join the Professional Training Division of Nashville Ballet for two years. From there she began her professional career, dancing with Colorado Ballet’s Studio Company, Zikr Dance Ensemble, BRIAH Danse, Columbia Classical Ballet, Nashville Ballet 2, and The Minnesota Ballet. She also had the opportunity to perform Balanchine’s Serenade at the 2017 Vail Dance Festival, alongside Colorado Ballet. She is now a freelance artist based out of New York City, regularly performing with Ballets with a Twist, City Dance NY, Minnie Lane and #QueertheBallet, as well as working for many project based choreographers and photographers.
JONATAN LUJAN, a native of Mendoza, Argentina, began his training at the age of 10 at Jesus Vera Arenas Dance School, while also performing with Ballet Folklorico Municipal. In 2006, he was the recipient of a full scholarship to Julio Bocca’s Musical School in Buenos Aires, which provided him the opportunity to train with the most prestigious ballet teachers, including Julio Bocca. Mr. Bocca invited Mr. Luján to join his company, Ballet Argentino, performing soloist roles in some of the most important operas in the world, including the Bolshoi Theater in Moscow, where he performed at the Prix Benois de la Danse Awards, as well as in Italy, Spain, Greece, United States, Brasil, Chile, and others. Feature roles were in Carmen by Alicia Alonso, Desde Lejos by Mauricio Wainrot, Cruz y Ficcion and Bocca Tango by Ana María Stekelman, Entre Tangos y Milongas by Oscar Arais, and Nine Sinatra Songs by Twyla Tharp.
In 2009, Mr. Luján joined Victor Ullate Ballet Company in Madrid, Spain as a soloist. His repertory with the company included 2 you Maestro, Samsara, Coppélia, Jaleos, Seguirilla, and Bolero, among others. In 2014, he joined Ballett Zürich as a Soloist under the direction of Christian Spuck. Some ballets danced include Anna Karenina, Romeo and Juliet by Christian Spuck, Wings Of Wax by Jiri Kylian, Giselle by Patrice Bart, Frank Bridge Variations by Hans van Manen, and A Life by Douglas Lee. In 2015, he joined Slovak National Theater as a Soloist under the direction of Josef Dolinsky, performing lead roles in Beyond Sin by Boris Eifman, Le Corsaire, Nutcracker, Giselle, Swan Lake, and Sleeping Beauty
Starting in September 2018, Luján began his career as a freelance dancer in New York City, working as a guest artist in the most prestigious companies throughout the United States. Sleeping beauty dreams with Diana Vishneva., Tabula Raza dance theatre, Creative Genesis, Duncan Lyle dance, Mordance, Ballet Frontier, among others. In 2020 Jonatan co-founded Dance Compañía creating a summer program along side Luciana Paris and Amanda Cobb.
His Teaching Appearances include, American Ballet theatre’s Studio Company. Ballet Frontier in Texas City., Ballet UNC. Mendoza, Argentina. Studio Roxander, Oregon. His latest work, which he choreographed and performed, was for the musical video of Drew Angus “Made to love you”.
Luján is currently a guest artist at New Jersey Ballet directed by Maria Korovski.
MELODY MENNITE, a native of Santa Cruz, California, trained at Santa Cruz Ballet Theatre under Robert Kelley and Diane McLarty and at Pacific Northwest Ballet. She also attended summer intensive programs with Suzanne Farrell. Mennite attended three consecutive summer intensive programs at Houston Ballet's Ben Stevenson Academy, starting at the age of 13. She then spent one year in Houston Ballet II on full scholarship and stipend, also winning a scholarship award from Regional Dance America/Pacific. She joined the company at the age of 17 and rose through the ranks quickly, achieving Principal dancer status in 2008. She begins her 22nd season with Houston Ballet this fall.
With Houston ballet, in Houston and on tours nationally and internationally, Melody has originated many roles (designated by an asterisk) and performed all of the leading classical roles in the company’s rep including Ben Stevenson’s Giselle, Coppelia, The Sleeping Beauty, August Bournonville’s La Sylphide, John Cranko’s Onegin, and Taming of the Shrew, Sir Kenneth McMillan’s Manon, Sir Fredrick Ashton’s La Fille Mal Gardee, Stanton Welch’s Romeo and Juliet, Swan Lake, La Bayadere, Marie,* Cinderella, The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum Fairy and Clara*), Sylvia (Psyche*), Madame Butterfly (Cio Cio San and Kate), Ronald Hynd’s The Merry Widow, Trey McIntyre’s Peter Pan, John Neumeier’s A Midsummer Night’s Dream
Her neoclassical and contemporary repertoire includes principal roles in ballets by Jiri Kylian, George Balanchine, Justin Peck, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, Christopher Bruce, Aszure Barton, Christopher Wheeldon, Trey McIntyre, Cathy Marston, Twyla Tharp, Nacho Duato, Paul Taylor, Jorma Elo, James Kudelka, Garret Smith, Mark Morris, Wayne McGregor, David Bintley, Edward Liang, and Stanton Welch. Mennite originated many roles with these choreographers. In 2015, Mennite Co-Founded and Directed REACH - a choreographic project that curates evenings of world premieres by emerging choreographers and designates all proceeds for arts education programs in underserved schools. Following the success of REACH, Mennite and her colleagues were invited to collaboratively create a world premiere for a theatre in the round at the George R. Brown Convention Center, for Houston Ballet. As a choreographer, Mennite has created 16 commissioned works, including Ana for Ballet Arkansas, Next of Kin for Houston Ballet Academy, Own commissioned for Kingwood Dance Theatre which won a Regional Dance America award, The 64 and 91 for Kansas City Ballet, We all are for Contingent Ballet in 2020, Nostalgia de los montañas for Houston Chamber Orchestra Festival, and You and me and the waves for Houston Ballet, among others. She was the choreographer, lead actor, and dancer in the award-winning film Self Sabotage, which was the short film category winner for the Festivus Film Festival in 2012. Melody frequently appears as a guest artist in galas and with companies nationally and internationally and as teacher and coach in both ballet technique and somatic experiencing practices in movement for holistic wellness.
ELIAS RE was born in Milan, Italy and trained at the La Scala Ballet School, Sarasota Cuban Ballet School and the Escuela Nacional de Ballet of Cuba. Professionally, he has danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem, American Repertory Ballet, New Jersey Ballet and the Cleveland Ballet. His repertoire includes works by George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, William Forsythe, Christopher Wheeldon, Geoffrey Holder, Stanton Welch, Robert Garland, Claire Davidson, Anna Rita Larghi, Gino Labate, Victor Alexander and Da’Von Doane, and Ingrid Silva.
THOMAS CALEB ROBERTS began his pre-professional dance training at the Center for Dance Education and Ann Brodie’s Carolina Ballet under the direction of Mimi Worrell.
He graduated from the SC Governor’s School for the Arts under the tutelage of Stanislav Issaev and attended North Carolina School for the Arts, studying with Ethan Stiefel.
His professional career began with Boston Ballet as a trainee, continued with Cincinnati Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet, Columbia City Ballet as a demi-soloist, and Fort Wayne Ballet as a principal. Thomas has enjoyed performing in ballets such as Black Swan, Don Quixote, The Sleeping Beauty, Giselle, Romeo and Juliet, Spartacus, Fancy Free, Light Rain, and many other ballets.
This is his first season with AVID and he is looking forward to bringing the choreographers’ visions to life onstage.
TANNER SCHWARTZ began dancing at The Westside School of Ballet in Los Angeles, CA and with Marat Daukayev, former principal dancer at the Mariinsky Ballet. At age 13, he moved to New York to study at the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center, and at age 16 was the recipient of the D.A.N.C.E. (Danish American National Cultural Exchange) award, to dance as an apprentice with the Royal Danish Ballet.
After this, Tanner went on to dance with Philadelphia Ballet, Boston Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, The Washington National Opera, and The Metropolitan Opera, where he currently performs.