Malcolm Burn (Artistic Associate and Ballet Master) is a native New Zealander in his 26th year on the artistic staff of Richmond Ballet. During his 25-year dancing career he performed leading roles in the standard classic repertory as well as numerous creations of contemporary ballet. Prior to his coming to Richmond Ballet as a principal dancer, Mr. Burn was Co-Director of Ballet Arizona. He has performed with the London Festival Ballet, and was a principal dancer with The Royal New Zealand Ballet, The National Ballet of Zimbabwe, Ballet West, and P.A.C.T. Ballet in South Africa, where he won the Ivan Soloman Award for Best Male Dancer in 1973, 1976, and 1980. Mr. Burn's choreographic works for Richmond Ballet include Romeo and Juliet, The Sleeping Beauty, Cinderella, A Tribute, Classical Symphony, Faces, Walpurgis Nacht, Pas Glazunov, and Complete Trust.

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 and Pacific Northwest Ballet, and from 1990-2007 was Associate Artistic Director of North Carolina Dance Theatre. Ms. Kumery was awarded an Arts & Science Council Fellowship for her meritorious contribution to the artistic community in Charlotte, North Carolina. She is the curator of the Salvatore Aiello ballets and serves as repetiteur with The George Balanchine Trust.

Igor Antonov (Richmond Ballet II Director) was born in Zaporozie, Ukraine. Upon graduation from the Kiev Choreographic Institute, he joined the Donetsk Ballet (Ukraine) as a soloist. 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, Malcolm Burn, and Stoner Winslett. During that time he was also a medalist and best couple award winner at the International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi. For the next several years, he danced with Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Dusseldorf, Germany, and made guest appearances with major ballet companies in Berlin, Madrid, and Nice. Returning to Richmond Ballet in 2003, he continued to perform with the company, conduct rehearsals, and teach. September 2011 marked his final performances on the Richmond Ballet stage. Since then, Igor has stepped into the role of leading Richmond Ballet's new second company, Richmond Ballet II, through the first year of rehearsals, performances, and tours.

Cody Beaton, of Round Rock, Texas, studied at the Austin Conservatory of the Arts for 12 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 in the next three years, she progressed through Richmond Ballet's trainee and apprentice programs. She joined the professional company in 2010.

Trevor Davis, began ballet at the age of six in Los Angeles, California, with Meridith Baylis. At the age of 12, he continued under the direction of Philip and Charles Fuller and soon attended the Los Angeles 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 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 two years as an apprentice. Lauren has performed as a company dancer with the Suzanne Farrell Ballet in Washington, D.C., and the Texture Contemporary Ballet in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. This is Lauren's second season as a company dancer at Richmond Ballet.

Lauren Fagone is originally from Kennett Square, Pennsylvania. She received her training in New York City; Charlotte, North Carolina; and in Indiana while attending Indiana University. After a two-year apprenticeship, Lauren joined Richmond Ballet and is now in her tenth season as a company member. She has also spent four summers participating in the National Choreographers Initiative in Irvine, California.

Matthew Frain began his ballet training at The School of DanceWest Ballet in Naperville, Illinois, and at The Chicago Academy for the Arts in Chicago. He has worked with the Joffrey Ballet and the Milwaukee Ballet, where he appeared in works by Val Caniparoli, Twyla Tharp, Michael Pink, and Petr Zahradnicelz. This is his first season with Richmond Ballet.

Thomas Garrett a native of Jacksonville Beach, Florida, began his training with Dulce Anaya and Laurie Byrd. He attended Douglas Anderson School of the Arts in Jacksonville, Florida. He joined Richmond Ballet as an apprentice in 2003 and joined the company in 2005. He has performed as a guest artist with VOICE Dance Company, has spent the past two summers working with Jessica Lang Dance in New York City, and performed at Jacob's Pillow in the full company debut last July. He is entering his eighth season with Richmond Ballet.

Shira Lanyi was born and raised in Richmond, Virginia. She began her dance training at the age of eight 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 two years before being promoted into the professional company in 2007. Shira is now enjoying her sixth season in the 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 Juilliard Summer Intensive and danced with the City Dance Troupe. He enjoys teaching, choreography, and time with his family. Thomas is celebrating his sixth 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 second 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 seventh 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 Richmond Ballet and has been dancing with the company for fourteen years. Phillip enjoys teaching swing dance, renovating his historic Northside home, and being a father.

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. While she was in middle school, Maggie also participated in Richmond Ballet's Minds in Motion educational outreach program. She spent one year at the Tisch School of the Arts at New York University before joining the Richmond Ballet company. For the past three summers, Maggie participated in the National Choreographer's Initiative, has appeared periodically with VOICE Dance Company, and recently performed with Jessica Lang Dance at Jacob's Pillow. She is beginning her seventh season with the Richmond Ballet.

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 has worked 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, Deutsche Oper am Rhein in Germany, and Tulsa Ballet in Oklahoma. Cecile is now in her seventh season with the company.