Richmond Ballet

	Company Artists 2011-12
	Jerri Kumery (Ballet Master) began her studies with Roman Jasinski and Moscelyn Larkin in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and later studied at the School of American Ballet. She danced with the New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins and Peter Martins. Ms. Kumery has served as repetiteur for Ballet Teatro Lirico Nacional, Pacific Northwest Ballet, and in 1990, she became repetiteur and Associate Artistic Director of North Carolina Dance Theatre, under the direction of the late Salvatore Aiello. From 1996 until 2007, Ms. Kumery was Co-Associate Artistic Director of North Carolina Dance Theatre with Jean-Pierre Bonnefoux. Ms. Kumery was awarded an Arts & Science Council Fellowship for her meritorious contribution to the artistic community in Charlotte, NC. She is the curator of the Salvatore Aiello ballets and serves as repetiteur with the George Balanchine Trust.
	Igor Antonov (Artistic Associate) was born in Zaporozie, Ukraine. Upon graduation from the Kiev Choreographic Institute, he joined the Donetsk Ballet (Ukraine) as a soloist. For the next four years he performed solo and principal roles in Swan Lake, Giselle, Spartacus, The Nutcracker and 1001 Nights. In 1990, he was invited to join Richmond Ballet, where for five seasons he danced leading roles in works by George Balanchine, John Butler, Antony Tudor, William Soleau, Malcom Burn and Ms. Winslett. For the next several years, he danced with Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Deuseldorf, Germany, and made guest appearances with major ballet companies in Berlin, Madrid and Nice. Returning to Richmond Ballet in 2003 as Resident Artist, he continues to perform with the company, conduct rehearsals and teach.
	Cody Beaton, of Round Rock, Texas, studied at the Austin Conservatory of the Arts for twelve years. She attended summer programs at Colorado Ballet, Virginia School of the Arts, and American Ballet Theatre. She spent one season with the Colorado Ballet Studio Company, and the following three years, she progressed through Richmond Ballet's trainee and apprentice programs. This is her first season with the company.
	Thomas Volpe Bettin, of Marietta, Georgia, received his early training at Atlanta Ballet and the Kirov Academy. He went on to perform with the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami, the Suzanne Farrell Ballet and the Columbia Classical Ballet. Thomas received a Recognition Award at the American Ballet Competition in 2007. This is his first season with Richmond Ballet.
	Trevor Davis, began ballet at the age of six in Los Angelos, California with Meridith Baylis. At the age of twelve, he started under the direction of Philip and Charles Fuller and soon attended the Los Angelos County High School for the Arts. He studied with various scholarship programs including Kaatsbaan, Jacob's Pillow, and the Boston Ballet. After two seasons as a trainee in Boston, Trevor joined the Richmond Ballet in 2008 as an apprentice and became part of the professional company in 2010.
	Lauren Elizabeth, of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, studied ballet at the Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre School for 11 years before coming to Richmond Ballet, first as a Trainee and then for 2 years as an Apprentice. Lauren has attended summer programs at Boston Ballet School, Miami City Ballet, and the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and she also performed as a company dancer with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Washington D.C. Lauren is excited to join Richmond Ballet for her first year as a company member.
	Lauren Fagone is originally from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She received her training in New York City and Charlotte, NC while attending Indiana University. After a two-year apprenticeship, Lauren joined Richmond Ballet and is now in her eighth season as a company member. She has also spent four summers participating in the National Choreographers Initiative in Irvine, California.
	Thomas Garrett is a native of Jacksonville, Florida. He started his training at the age of 11. Thomas worked with many choreographers before coming to Richmond Ballet including Eddie Toussaint, Yanis Pikieris and Ronin Koresh. Thomas was an apprentice with Richmond Ballet for two seasons and is currently enjoying his sixth year in the company.
	Shira Lanyi was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She began her dance training at the age of 8 with the School of Richmond Ballet and continued her training there through high school. Shira also attended summer programs at Boston Ballet, San Francisco Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. After graduating from high school, Shira joined the Richmond Ballet's apprentice program for 2 years before being promoted into the professional company in 2007. Shira is now enjoying her 4th season in the professional company.
	Thomas Ragland of Richmond, Virginia, began his dance training with Annette Holt and the Parks and Recreation City Dance Program. He then continued his training with the School of Richmond Ballet, eventually attending both the trainee and apprentice programs. Thomas attended the Julliard Summer Intensive and danced with the City Dance Troupe. He enjoys teaching, choreography, and time with his family. Thomas is celebrating his fourth season in the professional company.
	Ariel Rose of New York City began his training at Ballet Academy East and continued at La Guardia High School for the Performing Arts and at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre. As a trainee on full scholarship at Boston Ballet, Ariel performed extensively with the main company and with Boston Ballet II from 2008-10. Ariel was invited twice to perform as a guest soloist with the Ballet Municipal de Lima in Peru. Ariel came to Richmond Ballet in 2010 and is excited to begin his first season as a company dancer.
	Fernando Sabino studied at Ballet Renata Celidonio for five years in Brazil. Fernando danced with Prodanza, the Laura Alonzo Company in Cuba. He also studied at Juilliard in the summer intensive program. In his free time, he enjoys playing soccer and riding bikes. Fernando is in his fifth season with Richmond Ballet.
	Phillip Skaggs, of Louisville, Kentucky, graduated from The Youth Performing Arts School in 1996 and moved to Connecticut to train with The Nutmeg Ballet. He danced with the Hartford Ballet and then in 1999 joined the Richmond Ballet and has been dancing with the company for 12 years. Philip enjoys digital photography, teaching swing dance and renovating his historic Northside home.
	Maggie Small began dancing at the School of Richmond Ballet where she rose through the ranks of the school to become a trainee and an apprentice. Maggie also participated in the Minds in Motion educational program while she was in middle school. Maggie spent one year at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University. In the summer of 2009, Maggie participated in the National Choreographer's Initiative. Maggie also appeared with VOICE Dance Company throughout last season. She is now in her fifth season in the company.
	Valerie Tellmann, originally from Tulsa, Oklahoma, began her professional training with the School of Richmond Ballet. She attended both the trainee and apprentice programs before being promoted into the company in 2000. Valerie recently completed her first summer working with "Terpsicorps Theatre of Dance" in North Carolina and has enjoyed spending previous summers working with "National Choreographers Initiative" in Irvine, California. Valerie spends her mornings teaching at her Alma Mater, Saint Gertrude High School, and looks forward to another exciting season!
	Cecile Tuzii graduated from the Academie Princesse Grace de Monaco and studied with Marika Besobrasova. Cecile danced with the Ballet du Rhin in France as well as the Basel Ballet in Switzerland and Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Germany. Most recently, Cecile danced with Tulsa Ballet in Oklahoma. Cecile is now in her fifth season with the company.