Guest Artists

Aaron John Smyth

Aaron John Smyth was born in Gold Coast, Australia. He trained with Prudence Bow Atelier and Dianne Talbot and attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre on full scholarship under the direction of Franco De Vita. Mr. Smyth was then promoted to ABT II under the Direction of Wes Chapman where he danced at the Guggenheim Museum in Jessica Lang's La Belle Danse, Vivace Mottifs and Oblivion. Mr. Smyth joined the Royal Ballet in 2012 where he created a role in Christopher Wheeldon's Titian: Metamorphosis. Mr. Smyth was "Showcase" Australian Dancer of The Year in

2006 and in 2008 he won the Gold Medal at the Genee International Ballet Competition and the Bravo Audience Choice Award. In 2010, he was a Finalist at the Prix De Lausanne and won the Silver Medal (Partner) at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson Mississippi. In 2012, he was the Silver Medalist at the Cape Town International Ballet Competition, the Silver Medalist at the Beijing International Ballet and Choreography Competition in 2013. Mr. Smyth won a Bronze Medal at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson Mississippi 2014. He received the prestigious Royal Academy of Dance Solo Seal Award, placed 3rd in the Australia's Got Talent Television Series. He performed at the Metropolitan Opera House in American Ballet Theater's Spring Gala and the Royal Academy of Dancing Gala in Tokyo, Japan. In 2012, he performed at The International Olympic Committee Gala at the Royal Opera House, in the Beijing International Ballet Awards Gala in China and the Seoul International Dance Gala in Korea. Recently, he has been a guest artist at The International Ballet Gala in South Africa and has performed with The Joffrey Ballet of Chicago and Royal Ballet, London. Prince. Aaron recently performed the lead role in the London production of American in Paris. In 2018, Mr. Smyth played the ‘Snow Cavalier’ in Disney’s “The Nutcracker and the Four Realms”. Ventura County Ballet is pleased to have Aaron return as the Nutcracker for our 23rd annual performance.

Elizaveta Domracheva (Leeza)

Leeza was born in Santa Barbara, CA, and graduated with honors from International Perm State Ballet College – a professional Ballet School in Russia and danced professionally with Russian Ballet Theatre in Moscow. She has toured through Germany, Switzerland, China, and Greece. In 2016 Elizaveta became a finalist of the Russian national Talent TV show “Blue Bird” in Moscow. In the spring of 2019 Elizaveta won Second Place at the International Ballet and Contemporary Dance Competition “Domenico Modungo” in Italy, where she also got a Special Jury Prize. In the fall of 2018, Leeza performed the principal part of Liza in the ballet premiere “La Fille Mal Gardee”, on the Stage of the famous Perm Opera and Ballet Theater. Also, at a young age, she was trained at the Official school of State Street Ballet and Ballet Academy Ventura prior to attending Perm State Ballet College. She has performed with State Street Ballet in Cinderella and with Ventura County Ballet and Fresno Ballet Theater.

GUEST ARTISTS

Jack Stewart

From Albuquerque, New Mexico, received his dance training at New Mexico Ballet under the direction of his mother, Jennifer Boren. Jack has performed principal roles with the State Street Ballet in The Nutcracker, The Secret Garden, Starry Night and An American Tango. Jack return for his twelfth season with Ventura County Ballet having recently danced the principal role in Convergence part of Ventura County Ballet’s Dance ART presentation. He will dance the role of Herr Stahlbaum and Snow King in The Nutcracker this season.

Alvaro Quita

From Tucson, Arizona, began his ballet training at Dancing in the Streets Arizona under the direction of Joseph Rodgers and Soleste Lupu at age 17. He then attended State Street Ballet’s Summer Intensive and joined the Professional Track training program for two years. Alvaro has performed in numerous State Street Ballet productions, both in Santa Barbara and on tour, and has been a guest dancer with Fresno

Ballet Theatre, Northwest Ballet, and at his home studio in Tucson. This is Alvaro’s third season with the Ventura County Ballet.

Caleb Knight

From Grand Junction, CO, started his training with Absolute Dance. He received additional training from Milwaukee Ballet, Kansas City Ballet, and has been receiving training from State Street Ballet PreProfessional program in Santa Barbara, CA, since the fall of 2020. Caleb has performed as the Snow King in Absolute Dance’s production of The Nutcracker and Rat with State Street Ballet.