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Richmond Arts Review Fish & Chips 8 BalletCheers to Richmond Ballet for taking ballet abroad with their particular kind of verve and gusto.
Stoner Winslett
Artistic Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 37
Stoner Winslett is the founding Artistic Director of the Richmond Ballet professional company. Her unique, strong partnership with the community has built a fine civic organization into an important national dance force through working toward a clear and shared vision. In the 41 years under Ms. Winslett’s direction, Richmond Ballet has established the first major company of professional dancers in the Commonwealth of Virginia, commissioned nearly 75 original works from over 35 choreographers from around the world, introduced the much-acclaimed Minds In Motion program into Virginia schools and now Israel, and renovated and occupied its landmark downtown building on Canal Street. She led the Company through its New York debut at The Joyce Theater in 2005, with return productions in 2008, 2010, and most recently in May 2017, and directed its international debut in London in 2012, in a highly acclaimed run at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre. The Company conducted its first tour to China in May of 2015, with performances at the National Centre for the Performing Arts in Beijing and the Shanghai Grand Theatre.
Ms. Winslett received her early training from Ann Brodie, Aldofina Suarez, and Michael Lland in Columbia, South Carolina, and later trained at the American Ballet Theatre School and the North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship. After knee injuries curtailed her performing career, she pursued a course of independent study at Smith College, where she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. In 2005, she was awarded the Smith Medal, which is the highest honor the College can confer on an alumna.
Ms. Winslett’s vision for the organization has always encompassed not only performing but also the training of artists and the education of the community, which are necessary to both preserve the heritage and explore new directions for the Company. Richmond Ballet reaches over 100,000 people annually across the Commonwealth and beyond, and boasts an impressive repertory with a foundation of full-length classics and 20th-century masters (George Balanchine, John Butler, Agnes de Mille, Jose Limón, and Anthony Tudor, among others),coupled with a strong commitment to new works, nine of which are are Ms. Winslett’s own choreography and include her highly acclaimed version of The Nutcracker. The Ballet’s scope also includes a school, the School of Richmond Ballet, which opened its dance studios 46 years ago and now serves more than 900 students annually; and many outreach programs featuring the unique Minds In Motion program now in its 26th year. The organization operates from a state-of-the-art training and performance center on Canal Street, developed in 2000 under the direction of Ms. Winslett and the Ballet’s Board.
Ms. Winslett is one of the longest tenured artistic directors of a major ballet company and one of the few female artistic directors in the United States. She has received countless awards and recognitions at local, state, and national levels, and remains an active leader in the country’s performing arts community that includes serving as a former Vice Chair of Dance/USA, as the President of the John Butler Foundation, and a U.S. delegate to the 2014 U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange in Beijing. Recognized as a leader in diversity and inclusion in the ballet field, in 2017 Ms. Winslett was part of a small group of artistic directors invited by Dance Theatre of Harlem to begin discussions addressing these issues throughout the field. This two-day exchange of ideas launched The Equity Project, a 3-year cohort led by Dance Theatre of Harlem, International Association of Blacks in Dance, and Dance/USA and funded by the Andrew W. Mellon Foundation. Although sessions with this alliance of 21 ballet companies including The State Ballet of Virginia concluded January 2020, the promotion of equitable representation throughout the ballet industry remains ever-present at the heart of Richmond Ballet. Despite these many distinctions, Ms. Winslett often states that her highest honor has been the privilege to work with the talented professionals and dedicated community members who have made a real difference in the world by building Richmond Ballet.
Brett Bonda
Managing Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 34
Brett Bonda is now in his 36th season with Richmond Ballet, having served the organization as a dancer, administrator, educator, and director. A dancer with the professional company from 1985-1995, Mr. Bonda performed much of the company’s repertory, dancing lead roles in ballets such as Rodeo and Coppélia, and appearing in the premiere of Stoner Winslett’s original work, Ancient Airs and Dances. After learning of the outreach work done through Lori Klinger and the National Dance Institute, Mr. Bonda elected to retire from the stage to become the Education and Minds In Motion Director for Richmond Ballet. Mr. Bonda served as the program’s artistic and administrative coordinator for 16 years. Additionally, Mr. Bonda has served as the Ballet’s Company Manager, Tour Manager, and video producer, before stepping into his current role as Managing Director, where he has worked closely with members of the Ballet’s Board to oversee the organization’s strategic planning and governance, and to initiate the Road To China project in 2014. Mr. Bonda’s work with Richmond Ballet has been recognized both statewide and nationally: he has served as a panelist for the National Endowment for the Arts and as a juror for the Coming Up Taller Awards, and he is a board member for Virginians for the Arts. In 2001, Mr. Bonda received Richmond Magazine’s Theresa Pollak Award for Excellence in the Arts and, in the summer of 2014, he represented the United States at the U.S.-China Consultation on People-to-People Exchange in Beijing alongside U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry and Richmond Ballet Artistic Director Stoner Winslett. Mr. Bonda is an alumnus of Virginia Intermont College.
Michelle Muller
Chief Financial Officer
Bio coming soon.
Malcolm Burn
Artistic Associate and Ballet Master
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 32
Malcolm Burn, a New Zealand native, is in his 34th year with Richmond Ballet. During his 25-year dancing career, he performed in companies such as London Festival Ballet, 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. A Richmond Ballet company dancer from 1987 to 1993, Mr. Burn remains fondly remembered for his principal roles in full-length ballets, for the memorable works created on him, and especially for his riveting portrayal of “Death” in The Green Table. He became a Company ballet master upon retirement from dancing with Richmond Ballet and was named an Artistic Associate in 1999. As ballet master, Mr. Burn has re-staged many of the classic full-length ballets and choreographed his own versions of Romeo & Juliet and Cinderella, as well as other shorter pieces including Pas Glazunov and A Tribute. Prior to coming to Richmond Ballet, Mr. Burn was co-director of Ballet Arizona. He is also currently a répétiteur for The John Butler Foundation.
Cat Studdard
Development Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 17
Cat Studdard studied at American University and Virginia Commonwealth University graduating summa cum laude with a BFA in dance and choreography. She began working with Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion (MIM) in its third year, training under founding director Brett Bonda and continuing her training in New York with Lori Klinger, Executive and Artistic Director of Rosie’s Theater Kids and Jacques d’Amboise, founding Artistic Director of National Dance Institute. Ms. Studdard appreciates bringing together people from all walks of life to share transformative, meaningful arts experiences.
Judy Jacob
Artistic Associate and School Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 22
Judy Jacob is from Detroit, where she studied ballet with Evelyn Smith. She trained in London, England, with Anne Heaton, John Field, and Valerie Taylor, and at Butler University (B.A.) and Indiana University (M.S.) with George Verdak, William Glenn, Peggy Dorsey, Anton Dolin, and Kenneth Melville. After graduation, Ms. Jacob danced professionally with Memphis Ballet, performing principal roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker), Swanhilda (Coppélia), and the title role in Cinderella. She also created roles in ballets by choreographers Ron Cunningham, Jill Eathorne Bahr, Norbert Vesak, Robert Kelley, and Philip Jerry. Ms. Jacob was the Associate Artistic Director of Fort Wayne Ballet prior to joining Richmond Ballet in 1995. She was Assistant Ballet Master of the Richmond Ballet professional company for two years and became Director of the School of Richmond Ballet in 1998.
Carrie Bilek
Marketing & Communications Director
After 14 years in healthcare marketing, Carrie joined Richmond Ballet in May of 2017. She is a graduate of the University of Richmond where she studied Business Administration (Finance) and French. Carrie was a member of UR’s University Dancers, serving as co-captain her senior year. Having always had a goal to work in arts administration, Carrie completed internships with the French Film Festival in Richmond, The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington, D.C., and Shakespeare’s Globe in London. Carrie is thrilled to be able to combine her love for dance with her business experience as a member of the Ballet’s marketing team.
Tracie Woods Morin
Production Manager
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 7
Sarah Ferguson
Operations Director and Company Photographer
Susan Collet
School Business Director
Bio Coming Soon…
Malcolm Burn
Artistic Associate and Ballet Master
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 32
Malcolm Burn, a New Zealand native, is in his 34th year with Richmond Ballet. During his 25-year dancing career, he performed in companies such as London Festival Ballet, 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. A Richmond Ballet company dancer from 1987 to 1993, Mr. Burn remains fondly remembered for his principal roles in full-length ballets, for the memorable works created on him, and especially for his riveting portrayal of “Death” in The Green Table. He became a Company ballet master upon retirement from dancing with Richmond Ballet and was named an Artistic Associate in 1999. As ballet master, Mr. Burn has re-staged many of the classic full-length ballets and choreographed his own versions of Romeo & Juliet and Cinderella, as well as other shorter pieces including Pas Glazunov and A Tribute. Prior to coming to Richmond Ballet, Mr. Burn was co-director of Ballet Arizona. He is also currently a répétiteur for The John Butler Foundation.
Judy Jacob
Artistic Associate and School Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 22
Judy Jacob is from Detroit, where she studied ballet with Evelyn Smith. She trained in London, England, with Anne Heaton, John Field, and Valerie Taylor, and at Butler University (B.A.) and Indiana University (M.S.) with George Verdak, William Glenn, Peggy Dorsey, Anton Dolin, and Kenneth Melville. After graduation, Ms. Jacob danced professionally with Memphis Ballet, performing principal roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker), Swanhilda (Coppélia), and the title role in Cinderella. She also created roles in ballets by choreographers Ron Cunningham, Jill Eathorne Bahr, Norbert Vesak, Robert Kelley, and Philip Jerry. Ms. Jacob was the Associate Artistic Director of Fort Wayne Ballet prior to joining Richmond Ballet in 1995. She was Assistant Ballet Master of the Richmond Ballet professional company for two years and became Director of the School of Richmond Ballet in 1998.
Jerri Kumery
Ballet Master
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 10
Jerri Kumery began her studies with Roman Jasinski and Moscelyn Larkin in Tulsa, Oklahoma, and later studied at the School of American Ballet. In 1977, she was invited to dance with New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine and Jerome Robbins. Ms. Kumery has served as répétiteur for Ballet Teatro Lírico Nacional and Pacific Northwest Ballet, and from 1990-2007 was Ballet Master/Associate Artistic Director of North Carolina Dance Theatre under the direction of Salvatore Aiello. 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 Trust and serves as a répétiteur with The George Balanchine Trust.
Igor Antonov
Richmond Ballet II Director and Ballet Master
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 18
Igor Antonov 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. In 2003, he returned to Richmond Ballet, and while continuing to perform with the Company, he began conducting rehearsals and teaching at the School of Richmond Ballet. After his retirement from the stage, Mr. Antonov stepped into the role of leading Richmond Ballet’s second company, Richmond Ballet II.
Erin Freeman
Resident Conductor
Erin Freeman serves in multiple capacities throughout the Commonwealth of Virginia and maintains a national presence through Guest Conducting engagements. Freeman holds a joint position as Director of the award-winning Richmond Symphony Chorus and Director of Choral Activities at Virginia Commonwealth University. Additionally, she is the Artistic Director of Wintergreen Music and Resident Conductor of the Richmond Ballet. Guest conducting engagements include the Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra, the Neglia Ballet, South Carolina Philharmonic, Savannah Symphony, Charlottesville Symphony Orchestra, Virginia Symphony Orchestra, and additional ensembles in Massachusetts, Maryland, Virginia, Georgia, Missouri, North Carolina, and Illinois. In recent seasons, Freeman made her debut at Symphony Hall in Boston with Berkshire Choral International, conducted multiple engagements with the Richmond Symphony and Richmond Ballet, premiered with the Portland (Maine) Symphony, and led an international ensemble of singers and the Orchestre Symphonique Bel’Arte at La Madeleine in Paris. During the pandemic, Freeman devised and led a new Wintergreen Music Online Community, created a choral ideo project for VCU Choirs called Adaptation 2020, and programmed a full 20-21 season of virtual programming for the Richmond Symphony Chorus. Freeman holds degrees from Northwestern University, Boston University, and Peabody Conservatory.
Lauren Archer
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 5
Lauren Archer is originally from Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. After finishing her training at the Ellison Ballet Professional Training Program, she spent one year in Richmond Ballet II before joining the professional company in 2014. When off the stage, Lauren creates fashion and lifestyle content for Felix & Flora. She has also started a flower business, Monarch Flower Farm, with fellow company dancer, Cody Beaton.
Cody Beaton
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Round Rock, Texas
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 9
Cody Beaton, of Round Rock, Texas, began her training at the Austin Conservatory of the Arts. She continued on to join the Colorado Ballet for one season. She has been with Richmond Ballet since 2008 and recently married fellow company dancer Trevor Davis. She enjoys cooking, reading, and spending time with Trevor and their three cats.
Trevor Davis
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Sacramento, California
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 9
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 through Kaatsbaan International Dance Center, Jacob’s Pillow, and 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.
Marty Davis
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Sacramento, California
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 6
Marty Davis began his training at the age of seven in Los Angeles, California, with Meridith Baylis. When he was 13, he continued his training with Philip and Charles Fuller while attending Los Angeles County High School for the Arts. Marty attended summer programs at San Francisco Ballet and Boston Ballet, where he was invited to continue his studies through the company’s trainee program. He then went on to dance with Kansas City Ballet for six years. This is his eighth season with Richmond Ballet.
Abi Goldstein
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Sarasota, Florida
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 5
Abi Goldstein, of Sarasota, Florida, began her professional training at The Sarasota Ballet School. She attended summer programs at the School of American Ballet and Miami City Ballet School. As a trainee at Boston Ballet for two seasons, Abi performed with both the company and Boston Ballet II. Abi spent two years with Richmond Ballet II and is excited to begin her seventh season with the professional company.
Sabrina Holland
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Frankfort, New York
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 5
Sabrina Holland of Frankfort, New York, began her training at Ballet Arts. She furthered her education by studying at Canada’s National Ballet School for four years. After graduating, she spent one year as a trainee with The Washington Ballet. She attended many summer programs, including at Boston Ballet and with an exchange program through the John Cranko School in Stuttgart, Germany. Sabrina spent two years dancing in Richmond Ballet II, and this is her seventh season in the professional company.
Khaiyom Khojaev
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Dushanbe, Tajikistan
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Khaiyom Khojaev was born in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. At the age of 10, Khaiyom was accepted in the National Tajik Choreographic School. Shortly thereafter, he was sent to Russia to study at the Perm State Choreographic College. He studied there for eight years and learned from some of Russia’s finest teachers. By the end of his education, Khaiyom’s repertoire surpassed most others. In 2016, Khaiyom competed in Arabesque Ekaterina Maximova Ballet Competition. Khaiyom joined Richmond Ballet II in August 2016 and is thrilled to be starting his third season with the professional company.
Eri Nishihara
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Hiroshima, Japan
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 2
Eri Nishihara, originally of Japan, began her training in Reno, Nevada. She holds a BFA in Ballet from the University of Utah, where she studied for two years before joining Richmond Ballet II. In her spare time, she enjoys being outdoors and spending time with friends. Eri is thrilled to be dancing her fourth season in the professional company.
Izabella Marietta Tokev
Richmond Ballet Company Member
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas, Nevada
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 3
Izabella Tokev was born in Las Vegas, Nevada. From an early age she found her love for dance. She continued her ballet training in Las Vegas, focusing on the Russian Vaganova method. At the age of 16, she moved to Russia to study at Perm State Choreographic College. In August of 2016, Izabella joined Richmond Ballet’s second company. After three years in RBII, she was accepted into the main company.
Ira White
Company Member
HOMETOWN: Richmond, Virginia
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 4
Ira White, native to Richmond, Virginia, discovered his love for dance through Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion program. Soon after, he signed up for ballet and other countless classes that Richmond Ballet offered. Through the years, he rose through the ranks of the School, including a year spent in its trainee program and three seasons in the second company. He is proud to be in his sixth year with the main company.
Naomi Wilson
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Brandon, Mississippi
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Naomi Wilson, of Brandon, Mississippi, trained under David Keary of Ballet Mississippi for four years. At 17 she joined Miami City Ballet’s pre-professional program for two years. Following, she auditioned for Richmond Ballet and spent one year as a trainee. After two years in Richmond Ballet II, Naomi is excited to begin her first season with the main company.
Patrick Lennon
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Grand Rapids, Michigan
Patrick Lennon was born in Grand Rapids, Michigan. He began dancing at the Grand Rapids Ballet School under Attila Mosolygo. He continued his training at Master Ballet Academy in Arizona under Slawomir Wozniak. During his time at MBA, Patrick competed in the Youth America Grand Prix New York Finals and at the Beijing International Ballet Competition for Dance Schools. Patrick is excited to be joining Richmond Ballet II for his first season.
Kate Anderson
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Kansas City, Missouri
Kate Anderson, originally from Kansas City, Missouri, started ballet training at Kansas City Ballet School when she was 11. At age 18 she was invited to join Kansas City Ballet’s second company as a trainee. Kate then found her way to Richmond Ballet where she was a trainee for two seasons before being promoted to Richmond Ballet II. Kate is excited to begin her first season with the company.
Jackson Calhoun
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Winston-Salem, NC
Jack Miller
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Fort Wayne, Indiana
John Miller, of Fort Wayne, Indiana, began his training at Fort Wayne Ballet. He has attended many summer programs, including those at San Francisco Ballet School, Boston Ballet, and American Ballet Theatre. John is also working towards his bachelor’s degree through Indiana University’s online classes. He looks forward to his first season with Richmond Ballet II.
Naomi Robinson
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Cincinnati, OH
Marjorie Sherman
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Richmond, VA
Raquel Smith
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Palos Verdes, California
Raquel Smith grew up in Palos Verdes, California where she trained with Roberto Almaguer. She furthered her training at San Francisco Ballet School on scholarship for three years where she worked closely with Patrick Armand, Tina Le Blanc, and many others. Raquel is very excited for her first season with Richmond Ballet II.
Ronald Wagstaff
RBII Dancer
HOMETOWN: Kennesaw, Georgia
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Ronald Wagstaff, originally from Kennesaw, Georgia, began acting, singing and dancing at the age of six. He first started as an award-winning hip hop dancer. He began his ballet training in 2012 at Chamberlain School of Ballet in Plano, Texas and continued on to Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. Ronald has spent his summers training at Pacific Northwest Ballet, Miami City Ballet, Joffrey Ballet, and Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet. This is Ronald’s second season with Richmond Ballet II.
Katherine Smothers
Associate School Director, Community Engagement
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 26
Katherine Smothers is in her 28th year with the Richmond Ballet, having received her dance training through School of Richmond Ballet. After graduating magna cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BA in political science, she joined Richmond Ballet’s professional company for 6 seasons, loving dancing both classical and new works. During that time, she became a founding teaching artist with Minds In Motion. Upon retiring from the company, Katherine continued as a MIM teaching artist enjoying bringing the power of dance to area 4th-graders. Over the years, she assisted in writing and directing culminating MIM performances, and helped to establish the now 10-year-old residency in Israel. She continues to oversees MIM residency programs around Virginia and teaches for the Ambassador program bridging new dancers into the School of Richmond Ballet.
Jordan Glunt
Minds In Motion Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 12
Jordan Livermon Glunt began her study of dance in her hometown of Powhatan, VA and continued her dance training through The School of Richmond Ballet. She graduated magna cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University in 2003 with a BFA in Dance and Choreography, while continuing her connection with Richmond Ballet as Marketing Associate. Jordan began dancing with the Starr Foster Dance Project in 2004 and retired from the stage in October 2018, after 14 years of amazing performances. She joined the Minds In Motion staff in 2007, and has served as an artistic assistant, administrator for the MIM Ambassador program, and teaching artist for the Richmond and Charlottesville MIM programs. Jordan is thrilled to be in her second year as Minds In Motion Director, striving to share the joys of dance and collaboration with students across the state of Virginia.
Elise Gaubatz
MIM Teaching Artist
Elise Gaubatz began her study of dance at age four in Colorado. She received training from Bolshoi Ballet and the Washington School of Ballet before joining Richmond Ballet in 2014 as a trainee. Following her traineeship, she performed for three years with Richmond Ballet II, and found her passion for dance education through the lecture demonstration program. While dancing with RBII, she has been earning a degree from Arizona State University and will be graduating with a BS in Urban Planning in May 2020. Elise is excited to support the Minds in Motion team as a Teaching Artist.
Steele Goldman
MIM Teaching Artist
Steele Goldman was raised in Chapel Hill, North Carolina. He began his dance training under the direction of Melody Eggen. Steele graduated from VCU’s Dance and Choreography department in 2018. During that time he had the pleasure of performing in pieces by faculty members including Martha Curtis, Courtney Harris, Scott Putman, Autumn Proctor-Wadell. and Dr. Gaynell Sherrod. Steele has also performed in works by Lucinda Childs, Liz Lerman, Shen Wei, Helen Simoneau, Junichi Fukuda, Li Wen-Qi, Ching-I Chang and Jenna Reigel. Steele has performed with RVA Dance Collective and Annielille Gavino and her company Malayaworks. In 2018 he was the recipient of the VCU Dance Department’s Student Research Award for his research in Japanese art history.
Kiersten Kratzer
MIM Teaching Artist
Kierstin Kratzer began her study of dance on the Eastern Shore of VA and spent many of her summers at the Richmond Ballet. In 2014 she accepted a traineeship with the Richmond Ballet and after graduation in 2016, moved to Norfolk, VA to dance professionally with both the Virginia Ballet Theater and Todd Rosenlieb Dance for two years. While studying under Todd Rosenlieb, she had the opportunity to teach within the MixMo Adaptive Dance Program, crafted for children and adults with Downs Syndrome and other special needs, as well as work with the Richmond Ballet on their Norfolk tour of The Nutcracker. Kierstin has been a dancer artist with Experimental Film Virginia, has guested with local dance company, Karar Dance, and currently dances with the Richmond-based dance company, Starr Foster Dance. Kierstin is extremely excited to bring her love of dance and working with children back home to the Richmond Ballet!
Alexandra Zaslav
Israel Residency Coordinator/MIM Teaching Artist
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Alexandra Zaslav received her dance training with the Richmond Ballet, and spent five years dancing as a student in Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion program. She then went on to train at Walnut Hill School for the Arts, and graduated magna cum laude from Butler University with a BFA in Dance Performance. In 2016, Alexandra moved to Israel to dance professionally with KAMEA Contemporary Dance Company, before returning to school to pursue her Master’s degree in Conflict Resolution and Mediation at Tel Aviv University. Alexandra’s research focuses on the role of dance in peace-building. This year, Alexandra continues in her second year working with the Minds In Motion team as the Israel Residency Coordinator. She is excited to continue to develop the Minds In Motion residency in Israel and to bridge barriers through dance.
Blanton Bradley
Minds In Motion Music Supervisor and SRB Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 24
Blanton Bradley, Jr. is a graduate of Arizona State University and Baylor University. Blanton joined Richmond Ballet as Musical Director in 1997, and currently serves as Minds In Motion Music Supervisor. Blanton has also been musical director for productions at SPARC, Dogwood Dell, and Theater VCU.
Larri Branch
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 5
Larri Branch is a pianist and bandleader in Richmond, VA. He performs regularly as a solo pianist and a member of several bands. Along with performing, Larri teaches private piano lessons and is an accompanist for the Minds In Motion program.
Amy Hruska
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 3
Amy Hruska has taught music and performed in the Richmond Community for 38 years. In her retirement, she enjoys playing piano for Minds In Motion, directing the Children’s Choir at the Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, directing the community a cappella ensemble, Impromptu, and adjudicating choral groups at District events throughout Virginia. Amy received her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts and East Carolina University. She received her Masters in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University and a Masters in Liberal Arts from University of Richmond.
Joe Lubman
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Joe Lubman has been playing and teaching in the Richmond area professionally for the past 10 years. He graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a Bachelor’s in Drumset Performance in 2012. In 2013, he started a non-profit organization called “The Universal Room,” which is a percussion-based class that has been held in a wide variety of settings, including churches, schools for autism, business meetings, and drug rehabilitation facilities. Musically, his main focus is on jazz, Latin, rock, and funk, though he is able to teach all styles on the drumset and also teaches guitar, bass and piano.
Along with teaching, Joe has performed at The Virginia Museum of Fine Arts, The Camel, The Broadberry, Insbrook After Hours, Virginia Repertory Theater, Broad Appetite and the Watermelon Festival as well as various local food venues. Joe also performs in many local theater productions and serves as a musical accompanist for the Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion program.
Joy W. Price
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 5
Joy Weaver Price, a graduate of the JMU school of music, is beginning her fifth year as a Minds In Motion and Richmond Ballet pianist. She enjoys collaborating with teaching artists to create a fun and energizing experience for the young dancers. When not working for the ballet, Joy enjoys teaching private piano lessons to about 30 students, directing the music at River Road UMC, and performing as much as possible.
Rachel Shimkus
Minds In Motion and SRB Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 13
Rachel Shimkus is thrilled to be starting her fourteenth year with the MIM program. She holds degrees in music from Grove City College and Miami University. Favorite moments from a decade-plus of Minds In Motion include creating a musical dragon for Team XXL’s touring show in 2014, grooving out on the MIM stage with 4th-grade teachers, and the annual metamorphosis of 4th-graders from students to performers. In addition to Minds In Motion classes, Rachel accompanies classes at the School of Richmond Ballet, and serves as the SRB Music Administrative Assistant. When not playing piano, she can usually be found curled up with a book, or knitting, probably accompanied by a mug of coffee.
Doug Wanamaker
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 2
Doug Wanamaker joined the Minds In Motion Music Team in 2017. A native of Skaneateles, NY, he studied piano performance in both Classical and Jazz at Syracuse University and Shenandoah Conservatory. Doug has toured, recorded and performed with numerous National and Regional acts across the U.S. Now residing in Crozet, Virginia, he currently teaches piano, serves in the music ministry at his church, and continues to perform as a soloist and with various artists.
Judy Jacob
Artistic Associate and School Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 22
Judy Jacob is from Detroit, where she studied ballet with Evelyn Smith. She trained in London, England, with Anne Heaton, John Field, and Valerie Taylor, and at Butler University (B.A.) and Indiana University (M.S.) with George Verdak, William Glenn, Peggy Dorsey, Anton Dolin, and Kenneth Melville. After graduation, Ms. Jacob danced professionally with Memphis Ballet, performing principal roles such as the Sugar Plum Fairy (The Nutcracker), Swanhilda (Coppélia), and the title role in Cinderella. She also created roles in ballets by choreographers Ron Cunningham, Jill Eathorne Bahr, Norbert Vesak, Robert Kelley, and Philip Jerry. Ms. Jacob was the Associate Artistic Director of Fort Wayne Ballet prior to joining Richmond Ballet in 1995. She was Assistant Ballet Master of the Richmond Ballet professional company for two years and became Director of the School of Richmond Ballet in 1998.
Tara Penick
Associate School Director, Training Divisions
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 16
TARA PENICK (Associate School Director – Training Divisions) is from North Carolina where she received her early training in Chapel Hill and attended the American Dance Festival for many summers. She continued her training in NYC in addition to teaching with Feld Ballets/NY (now Ballet Tech), directing the Children’s Program at Broadway Dance Center, choreographing new works for the American Place Theatre, and filming with the Children’s Television Workshop for Sesame Street. Tara continues to travel nationally as a choreographer of musical theatre working with schools, regional theatres, and universities. Tara joined the SRB faculty in 1997 and currently serves as Associate School Director – Training. She enjoys creating children’s ballets for the SRB Ensembles and collaborating with the Richmond Symphony for their popular Lollipops Series.
Katherine Smothers
Associate School Director, Community Engagement
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 26
Katherine Smothers is in her 28th year with the Richmond Ballet, having received her dance training through School of Richmond Ballet. After graduating magna cum laude from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BA in political science, she joined Richmond Ballet’s professional company for 6 seasons, loving dancing both classical and new works. During that time, she became a founding teaching artist with Minds In Motion. Upon retiring from the company, Katherine continued as a MIM teaching artist enjoying bringing the power of dance to area 4th-graders. Over the years, she assisted in writing and directing culminating MIM performances, and helped to establish the now 10-year-old residency in Israel. She continues to oversees MIM residency programs around Virginia and teaches for the Ambassador program bridging new dancers into the School of Richmond Ballet.
Lauren Fagone
Adult Programs Coordinator
Lauren Fagone was a professional dancer with Richmond Ballet from 2001-2015, performing leading roles in works that span the spectrum of classical and contemporary ballet. After the conclusion of her performing career, Fagone became Chief Concept Officer of The Barre Boutique where she codified a technique founded in her extensive knowledge of the anatomical principles of alignment; recruited, trained, and leads a team of instructors, and continues to grow a community founded on mutual support, empowerment, and inclusivity. Fagone maintains her connection to the dance world through work as a repetiteur and guest ballet master, having worked with BalletMet, Sacramento Ballet, Guangzhou Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet. She is thrilled to once again join the Richmond Ballet Family as Coordinator for Adult Programming and Coordinator of The Barre Boutique at Richmond Ballet.
Cecile Tuzii
Upper Division Principal
CECILE TUZII (Upper Division Principal) graduated from The Academie de danse Princesse Grace de Monaco and studied with Marika Besobrasova. Cecile danced with The Ballet du Rhin in France, as well as Basler Ballet in Switzerland, Deutsche Oper am Rein in Germany, Tulsa Ballet in Oklahoma and Richmond Ballet. Her career includes major roles in ballets like Romeo and Juliet, Coppelia, The Nutcracker, Swan Lake, Midsummer Night’s Dream, The Rite of Spring, Carmina Burana, as well as works from Hans Van Manen, Mats Ek, Uwe Scholtz, Jerome Robbins, George Balanchine, Ben Stevenson, Nacho Duato, Agnes De Mille, Val Caniparoli, Ma Cong, Malcolm Burn and Stoner Winslett among others. Cecile recently retired from dancing and has joined The School of Richmond Ballet faculty as Principal of the Upper Division.
Deanna Seay
Anne Sidney Hetherington
SRB Lower Division Principal
Anne Sidney Hetherington began her training at The School of Richmond Ballet at the age of 7, under the tutelage of Jerry Schwender, Leslie Peck, Arnott Mader, Jasmine Grace, Malcolm Burn, Susan Massey, and Ruth Petrinovic. She spent summers studying at Ohio’s BalletMet and England’s Yorkshire Ballet Seminars, where she was privileged to work with and receive a Merit Award from Dame Alicia Markova. Ms. Hetherington earned a BA from Butler University in Dance Pedagogy. After graduation she enjoyed a ten year professional career with both Richmond Ballet and Dayton Ballet. Highlights include dancing the title role in Giselle, Cinderella and Sleeping Beauty, being part of the many new works created for Richmond Ballet, and appearing twice at New York’s Joyce Theatre. Ms. Hetherington enjoys teaching for The School of Richmond Ballet.
Jasmine Grace
SRB Faculty
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 26
Jasmine Grace A.I.S.T.D. (Cecchetti) is trained and qualified in the Cecchetti Method of Classical Ballet under Joecy Pretorius and Faith de Villiers. After graduating from the Johannesburg School for Art, Ballet and Music under Marjorie Sturman F.R.A.D., Mercedes Molina (Spanish dance), and Jean Beckley (Classical Greek), she joined PACT Ballet, South Africa. She enjoyed the honor of working, studying and performing with renowned teachers, producers, choreographers and artists such as Faith De Villiers, Denise Schultze, Louis Godfrey, Roland Casanave, Ronald Emblen, Ronald Hynd, Nicholas Beriozoff, Andre Prokovsky, Sir Frederick Ashton, Galina Samsova, Dame Margot Fonteyn, Attilio Labis, Natalia Markarova and Ivan Nagy. Ms. Grace also danced in Germany (Staatsteater Wiesbaden), Switzerland (Staatsteater St. Gallen), and New Zealand (Auckland City Opera Ballet). She has also performed in numerous television productions, operas and musicals. Prior to joining SRB in 1987, she was ballet mistress for Ballet Arizona.
Susan Israel Massey
Faculty
Susan Israel Massey joined the faculty in 1992. She is also an adjunct faculty member, since 1976, at Virginia Commonwealth University. She received her M.F.A. degree in ballet and modern dance from the University of Utah, under William Christensen and pursued additional training in Russia, Denmark, Europe and England during a year of study abroad. She performed with and choreographed for what is now Ballet West. Her teaching career spans over 50 years in professional organizations, college festivals, and schools, including University of Utah, BYU, University of Wyoming, University of Richmond, Virginia Ballet Theatre and St. Catherine’s. In 1990 she designed and implemented a four-year dance program for the Center for the Arts at Henrico High School. She occasionally performs character roles in the full-length ballets presented by Richmond Ballet.
Sarah Ruppel
SARAH RUPPEL BULLIS began her dance studies at the age of four with the Ballet Theatre of Maryland and at thirteen continued her training at the Washington School of Ballet. She spent her summers attending intensive programs at the Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet and American Ballet Theatre of New York. After graduating, she studied for one year in the College Conservatory of Music’s B.F.A. program at the University of Cincinnati. She was then privileged to train with Edward Ellison in the first year of his pre-professional program in New York City before joining the Richmond Ballet as a Trainee. She enjoyed a professional career with the Sarasota Ballet of Florida, under the direction of Iain Webb, before returning to Richmond and joining the SRB faculty in 2010.
Paul Dandridge
Artistic Assistant and MIM Teaching Artist
Paul Dandridge, a Richmond native, was introduced to dance through Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion program. He continued his training at the School of Richmond Ballet and its Trainee program. Paul attended Indiana University on full scholarship, studying ballet performance. After graduating in 2011, he accepted an apprentice position in Richmond Ballet’s professional company and began teaching as an MIM Teaching Artist and faculty member at the School of Richmond Ballet. Paul still performs and most recently has been on stage with Virginia Repertory Theatre in Mary Poppins and as A-Rab in West Side Story.
STARRENE FOSTER
STARRENE FOSTER, a Richmond native, is a performer, dance educator and the Artistic Director of Starr Foster Dance Project. Starrene is the recipient of the Theresa Pollack Award for Artistic Excellence and was recently featured on the PBS broadcast Virginia Currents. Foster was also awarded Richmond’s Most Prestigious 25 Arts Innovators, The Top 40 under 40 and has been nominated for two ARTSIE awards by the Richmond Theatre Critics Circle for her choreography. Starrene is the beneficiary of the 2003 VCU Star Alumni Award where she is presently in her fourteenth year as an adjunct faculty member. She has received grants from the Virginia Council for the Arts, and many commissions for new dance works from universities and various dance companies. Starrene teaches throughout the country and her choreography has been presented nationally which include: The Philadelphia Fringe Festival (PA), The Jack Guidone Theatre (DC), SUNY Buffalo (NY), The New World School (FL), Old Dominion University (VA), Cornell University (NY), James Madison University (VA), Dance Charlotte (NC), The Goose Route Dance Festival (WV), the Demetrius Klein Dance Festival (FL), The Richmond Ballet (VA), University of Richmond (VA), Scranton Cultural Arts Center (PA), Baltimore Theatre Project (MD), The Lorton Workhouse (DC), and the Festival of Choreography (NC). As a dancer, Starrene trained under many dance greats and has had the pleasure of training with and performing works by Mark Taylor, Chris Burnside, Doug Varone, Sharon Kinney, Ronald K. Brown, Mark Dendy, Pewan Chow (Hong Kong), Raul Parro (Mexico), among many others.
Fernando Sabino
SRB Faculty
Fernando Sabino started dancing at Ballet Renata Celidonio at age 14. He studied there for five years before moving to Cuba where he danced with Prodanza, under the direction of Laura Alonzo, for one year. He then studied at Juilliard in the summer program on full scholarship before joining Richmond Ballet in 2006. He spent fourteen seasons with the professional company.
Ira White
Company Member
HOMETOWN: Richmond, Virginia
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 4
Ira White, native to Richmond, Virginia, discovered his love for dance through Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion program. Soon after, he signed up for ballet and other countless classes that Richmond Ballet offered. Through the years, he rose through the ranks of the School, including a year spent in its trainee program and three seasons in the second company. He is proud to be in his sixth year with the main company.
Susan Collet
School Business Director
Bio Coming Soon…
Lauren Fagone
Adult Programs Coordinator
Lauren Fagone was a professional dancer with Richmond Ballet from 2001-2015, performing leading roles in works that span the spectrum of classical and contemporary ballet. After the conclusion of her performing career, Fagone became Chief Concept Officer of The Barre Boutique where she codified a technique founded in her extensive knowledge of the anatomical principles of alignment; recruited, trained, and leads a team of instructors, and continues to grow a community founded on mutual support, empowerment, and inclusivity. Fagone maintains her connection to the dance world through work as a repetiteur and guest ballet master, having worked with BalletMet, Sacramento Ballet, Guangzhou Ballet, and Cincinnati Ballet. She is thrilled to once again join the Richmond Ballet Family as Coordinator for Adult Programming and Coordinator of The Barre Boutique at Richmond Ballet.
Mariah Taghavie-Moghadam
SRB Administrator
Blanton Bradley
Minds In Motion Music Supervisor and SRB Musician
Blanton Bradley, Jr. is a graduate of Arizona State University and Baylor University. Since 1997, he has been Musical Director for Richmond Ballet and most recently Minds In Motion Music Supervisor. Blanton has also been musical director for productions at SPARC, Dogwood Dell, and Theater VCU.
Rachel Shimkus
Musician
Bio Coming Soon…
Ken Myers
Tricia Vesely
Joy W. Price
Carpenter Theatre Seating Chart
Carpenter Theatre Seating Chart: Single Tickets
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Studio Theatre Seating Chart
Studio Theatre Seating Chart - Choreographer's Club
