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Wendy Perron… young, ebullient, and bursting with energy…
Stoner Winslett
Artistic Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 37
Stoner Winslett is the founding Artistic Director of Richmond Ballet, the first major company of professional dancers in the Commonwealth of Virginia.
Upon Ms. Winslett’s arrival in 1980, Richmond Ballet was a student company that contracted with guest soloists for its performances. By the end of the year, she had become the Artistic Director of this promising organization. Since 1984, when she and the Ballet’s Board took the company professional, Richmond Ballet has grown from a small ensemble of twelve dancers, contracted for twenty weeks per season, to a group with twice the number of performers and work weeks. The Company is now recognized both nationally and internationally for the strength of its dancers and its culture of cultivating new ballets while preserving classic traditions. Proclaimed The State Ballet of Virginia in 1990, Richmond Ballet has expanded its reach, performing across the Commonwealth and in major cities around the United States. Making its international debut in London in 2012, in a highly acclaimed run at the Royal Opera House’s Linbury Theatre and conducting 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, the Company will conclude this season in May 2017 by returning to New York City’s Joyce Theater for the first time since 2010.
Today, Richmond Ballet reaches over 100,000 people annually across the Commonwealth and beyond, and boasts an expansive repertory that contains full-length classics as well as over 60 original works from over 20 choreographers from around the world. Nine of these works 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 celebrated its 40th anniversary in 2015 and serves more than 700 students annually; and many outreach programs featuring the unique Minds In Motion program now in its 22nd 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 was trained by Ann Brodie, Aldofina Suarez, and Michael Lland in Columbia, South Carolina, at the American Ballet Theatre School in New York, and the North Carolina School of the Arts on scholarship. After knee injuries curtailed her performing career, Ms. Winslett attended Smith College where she graduated summa cum laude and Phi Beta Kappa. Ms. Winslett is the longest tenured artistic director of a major ballet company and one of the few female artistic directors in the U.S. She has received numerous awards and recognitions at local, state, and national levels, and remains an active leader in the country’s performing arts community, including serving as a former Vice Chair of Dance/USA, as the President of the John Butler Foundation, and as a U.S. delegate to the 2014 U.S.-China Consultation on People-to- People Exchange in Beijing. Still, she 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. Ms. Winslett’s tenure at Richmond Ballet is a testament to the power of dance, and to the culture which can emerge when like-minded people come together.
As the Company looks forward to its next decades, the organization has adopted the following vision for the future: The Richmond Ballet aspires to help transform our world through the unique and special power of dance by training and presenting ballet dancers as the ultimate artists/athletes who inspire us by demonstrating unlimited human potential and beauty. Through the work of Richmond Ballet, this community will continue to move towards one that universally respects the value of human life, both physical and emotional; the power of cooperation and mutual respect; the work ethic and discipline required to achieve anything truly meaningful; and the joy of existing in a compassionate community.
Brett Bonda
Managing Director
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 34
Brett Bonda is now in his 34th 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 Institute of Dance, 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, and lives in Mechanicsville with his wife, Annette, and their two sons, Aaron and Ethan.
Malcolm Burn
Artistic Associate, Ballet Master
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 32
Malcolm Burn, who originally hails from New Zealand, is in his 30th 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. Burns’ 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.
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.
William G. Hancock
Campaign Director and Major Gifts
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 4
William G. Hancock, a former business lawyer at Troutman Sanders and former two time President of the Richmond Ballet Board of Trustees, re-joined Richmond Ballet in February 2014. Mr. Hancock serves as Campaign Director and Major Gifts, managing campaigns designed to promote the organization’s long-term financial sustainability. Mr. Hancock played a leadership role in both the Ballet’s ‘Raising the Roof’ and ‘Anniversary’ campaigns.
Throughout his 40+ year relationship with The State Ballet of Virginia, Mr. Hancock has led a variety of the Ballet’s outreach and development initiatives, including the Fundraising Committee the Corps of the Richmond Ballet (an all male engagement group) and the Encore Society, while also serving on the Building Committee which oversaw the design and construction of our headquarters. Mr. Hancock and Ms. Leslie Strickler co-chaired the Marketing Committee which set the tone for the company’s inaugural trip to the Joyce Theatre in 2005.
Mr. Hancock returned to Richmond Ballet after serving in a variety of roles for several businesses, which followed a 34-year law career at Troutman Sanders, LLP, and its predecessor, Mays and Valentine. Both a Partner and the Chair of the firm’s Marketing Committee, Mr. Hancock practiced law at Mays and Valentine for 25 years before becoming Counsel for Troutman Sanders in 2000. Mr. Hancock’s areas of practice at Troutman Sanders included commercial real estate development and finance, insurance legislative and regulatory matters and issues affecting early stage companies, including strategy, corporate structure, capital formation and financing.
Having previously worked on campaigns for St. Christopher’s School, the YMCA, United Way, and the American Heart Association, Mr. Hancock brings considerable non-profit fundraising experience to the Ballet, In addition, he has served on numerous boards, including that of a publicly traded Fortune 1000 company, as well as of small businesses and not-for-profit arts and educational organizations such as Richmond Ballet, The Carpenter Center, St. Christopher’s School, the Richmond Ronald McDonald House, and the Richmond Tennis Patrons. He has also served on the Executive Committee of the Virginia Bar Association and as President of the St. Christopher’s School Alumni Association.
Mr. Hancock holds a B.A. in Economics from the University of Virginia, attended Tulane University Law School, and received his Doctor of Jurisprudence from the University of Richmond Law School, where he sat on The Moot Court and the Editorial Board of the Law Review.
He and his wife, Austin Cary Hancock, have two children, Robert and Charles, and three grown children, Claiborne Hancock, a publisher, James Hancock, a filmmaker and Carter Johnston, a fashion designer.
Judy Jacob
Artistic Associate, 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 professional company for two years and has been director of The School of Richmond Ballet since 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
Human Resources Manager, Executive Assistant to the Managing Director, Company Photographer
Susan Collet
School Business Director
Bio Coming Soon…
Malcolm Burn
Artistic Associate, Ballet Master
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 32
Malcolm Burn, who originally hails from New Zealand, is in his 30th 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. Burns’ 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.
Judy Jacob
Artistic Associate, 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 professional company for two years and has been director of The School of Richmond Ballet since 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 the New York City Ballet under the direction of George Balanchine, Jerome Robbins, and Peter Martins. Ms. Kumery has served as répétiteur for Ballet Teatro Lirico Nacional and Pacific Northwest Ballet, and from 1990-2007 was Ballet Master/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 Trust and serves as répétiteur with The George Balanchine Trust.
Igor Antonov
Richmond Ballet II Director
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 positions 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 Performing Arts, which presents the annual Wintergreen Summer Music Festival and Academy in the Blue Ridge Mountains, 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. The upcoming 2018-2019 season includes her debut at Symphony Hall in Boston with Berkshire Choral International, multiple engagements with the Richmond Symphony, and two performances at Le Madeleine in Paris. 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 getting hired into the company in 2014. Her favorite roles include Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Butterfly in The Nutcracker, and dancing in Balanchine’s Tarantella. During her free time Lauren works on her fashion/ lifestyle blog, Felix & Flora. Follow her on Instagram: @felixandflora.
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 the 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.
Elena Bello
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Jersey City, New Jersey
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 6
Elena Bello grew up in Jersey City, New Jersey, where she became a part of the National Dance Institute program. She then auditioned for the School of American Ballet (SAB) in New York City. After being accepted into SAB, she spent four years there and found her love for ballet. Elena moved to South Carolina to attend the South Carolina Governor’s School for the Arts and Humanities. After graduating, she spent two years studying dance at Purchase College before auditioning for Richmond Ballet. She spent two years as an apprentice and one year in Richmond Ballet II, and is now enjoying her sixth season as a part of the Richmond Ballet professional company. In the summers, Elena enjoys teaching at Rosie’s Theater Kids in New York City.
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 sixth season with Richmond Ballet.
Matthew Frain
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Chicago, Illinois
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 7
Matthew Frain began his ballet training at The School of Dance-West 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 seventh season with Richmond Ballet. Matthew participated as a choreographer in Richmond Ballet’s New Works Festival for the 2014-2015 season, premiering his work Inventory. He has also created works on the trainees of Richmond Ballet for New Works II. In April of 2017, Matthew premiered An Open Letter…, his first full, commissioned ballet for 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. After two years with Richmond Ballet’s second company, she is very excited to begin her fifth 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 from their Post Secondary Program, she spent one year as a trainee with The Washington Ballet. During her schooling, she attended many summer programs, including those at Boston Ballet, Nutmeg School Conservatory, and an exchange program through the John Cranko School. Sabrina spent two years in Richmond Ballet II, and this is her fifth 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 the Richmond Ballet II in August 2016 and is thrilled to be joining the professional company this season.
Thel Moore III
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Baltimore, Maryland
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Thel Moore III was born and raised in Baltimore, Maryland. He started his training at the Baltimore School for the Arts and finished at Nutmeg Ballet Conservatory. Thel has spent 2 years with the second company here at the Richmond Ballet and is excited to start his first season with the first 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 her friends. Eri is thrilled to start her second season in the professional company.
Anthony Oates
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Richmond, Virginia
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 2
Anthony Oates received his ballet training with the School of Richmond Ballet, starting at the age of 8, and is currently enjoying his second season as a company dancer. During his time with the company he originated roles in ballets by Ma Cong and Katarzyna Skarpetowska, performed at the Joyce Theater in New York City, and was a part of the 2018 Ballet West National Choreographic Festival in Salt Lake City. Most recently Anthony performed in Virginia Repertory Theatre’s West Side Story as Snowboy. Offstage, Anthony attends Savannah College of Art & Design.
Melissa Robinson
Richmond Ballet Company Member
HOMETOWN: Sykesville, Maryland
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 3
Melissa Robinson, originally from Sykesville, Maryland, began dancing at the Carroll County Dance Center and eventually graduated from the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington DC. Melissa progressed through Richmond Ballet’s trainee program and Richmond Ballet II before joining the company in 2016. In her spare time, Melissa enjoys spending time with her family and her dog, Harper.
Fernando Sabino
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Ribeiraõ Preto, SP. Brazil
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 13
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. This past summer Fernando married company dancer Sabrina Holland.
Maggie Small
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Richmond, Virginia
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 13
Maggie Small, a native of Richmond, Virginia, began dancing at The School of Richmond Ballet. She completed the trainee, apprentice, and Minds In Motion programs before joining the company, where she enjoying her thirteenth season. Recently she earned a B.A. in Performing Arts from the LEAP Program at St. Mary’s College of California. Outside of the Richmond Ballet, Maggie has enjoyed working with the National Choreographers Initiative, VOICE Dance Company, and Jessica Lang Dance at Jacob’s Pillow. In 2012, she was featured on the cover of Dance Magazine as Richmond Ballet’s ‘Homegrown Ballerina’.
Mate Szentes
Company Dancer
HOMETOWN: Budapest, Hungary
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 4
Mate Szentes, born in Budapest, Hungary, began studying ballet at the age of 6. By the age of 10 he was accepted at the Hungarian Dance Academy where he graduated in 2009. In 2007 & 2008 he attended the summer intensive programs at the School of North Carolina Dance Theatre on full scholarship. After graduation he joined the Hungarian National Ballet. In 2012 he moved to California and started working with the Sacramento Ballet. He joined Richmond Ballet for its 2015-2016 season. In his spare time Mate loves to cook and travel.
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 fourth year with the main company.
Baylee Sullivan
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 2
Baylee Sullivan, originally from Racine, Wisconsin, started her training at the Studio of Classical Dance Arts under Marc Darling and Linda Bennett. She then joined the Civic Ballet of Chicago at Ruth Page Center for the Arts, for a year, before becoming a trainee at Richmond Ballet. She was in the trainee program for two years and is very excited to start her second year with Richmond Ballet II.
Naomi Wilson
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Naomi Wilson, of Brandon, Mississippi, trained under David Keary of Ballet Mississippi for four years. At seventeen she joined Miami City Ballet’s pre-professional program for two years. Afterwards, she auditioned for Richmond Ballet and spent one year as a trainee. Naomi is excited to begin her first season with the second company.
Kristin Cowger
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 2
Kristin Cowger, originally from Hollidaysburg, Pennsylvania, began her training at Allegheny Ballet Company. She continued her dance training at the HARID Conservatory and graduated in 2015. Kristin then joined Richmond Ballet as a trainee. She is excited to be starting her second season in Richmond Ballet’s second company for the 2018-2019 season.
Miles Deane-Grundman
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Miles Deane-Grundman was born in San Francisco where he attended the San Francisco Ballet School and the Academy of Ballet. He joined Ballet West as a trainee last year. This is his first season with Richmond Ballet II.
Lukas Pringle
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 2
Lukas Pringle, from Carmel, Indiana, studied at the Central Indiana Academy of Dance. Lukas performed lead roles in The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, and Peter Pan with Central Indiana Dance Ensemble. Last season he danced with Kansas City Ballet in The Nutcracker, Midsummer Night’s Dream, and Sleeping Beauty. He is thrilled to start his second season with Richmond Ballet II.
Dylan McIntyre
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 2
Dylan McIntyre began dancing at Palm Beach Ballet Center in West Palm Beach, Florida at eight years old. At age sixteen, he was invited to train at the Next Generation Ballet, where he studied for two years. Dylan joined Richmond Ballet’s trainee program in 2016. After one year as a trainee he joined the Richmond Ballet’s second company, and is excited to return for his second season.
Zion Harris
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Zion Harris, of Boston, Massachusetts, began his ballet training at the age of four at Walnut Hill Dance Academy. When he was 11 he joined Boston Ballet to continue his training. One year later he was accepted into the pre-professional program where he spent seven years, including two as a trainee. He has attended summer intensives including American Ballet Theater, Orlando Ballet, Ballet Arizona, and Pennsylvania Ballet, to name a few. Zion is thrilled to begin his first year with Richmond Ballet’s second company.
Ronald Wagstaff
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Ronald Wagstaff, originally from Kennesaw, Georgia, began acting, singing and dancing at the age of 6. 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 first season with Richmond Ballet II.
Elise Gaubatz
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 3
Elise Gaubatz began dancing at age four in Colorado. After 12 years of dancing, she moved to Washington D.C. to train with The Washington School of Ballet. Starting in 2014, Elise joined the Richmond Ballet Trainee Program. After two years, she was hired into Richmond Ballet’s second company. She is excited to be returning for her third season with Richmond Ballet II.
Izabella Marietta Tokev
Richmond Ballet II Company Member
HOMETOWN: Las Vegas, Nevada
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 3
Izabella Marietta 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 and is now in her third season.
Katherine Smothers
Associate School Director, Community Engagement
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 26
Katherine Smothers is in her 26th year with the Richmond Ballet, having received her dance training through the 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. 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 in Virginia, and establishing a MIM residency in Israel. In addition, she serves on the faculty of the School of Richmond Ballet, and is now in her first year as Associate School Director of Community Engagement.
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 will be retiring from the stage in October, 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 first year as Minds In Motion Director, striving to share the joys of dance and collaboration with students across the state of Virginia.
Emily Dandridge
MIM Teaching Artist
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 9
Emily Berg-Poff Dandridge graduated from the College of Charleston with a BA in Arts Management and Music Performance (oboe/vocal). A graduate of Virginia School of the Arts, she trained with Petrus Bosman, and was the principal dancer with the Robert Ivey Ballet Company for four years in Charleston, SC. A local performer and choreographer, Dandridge has been RTCC nominated for Best Choreography for her work with “Carrie” and Toxic Avenger”. Since 2011 she has been a Minds In Motion Teaching Artist, and accompanist for The School of Richmond Ballet, and in 2016 started Minds In Motion Summer Camps.
Paul Dandridge
MIM Teaching Artist
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 9
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, moving through the School’s divisions into its trainee program. Paul attended Indiana University (IU) on full scholarship, studying ballet and philosophy. 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.
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.
Christine Wyatt
Larri Branch
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 5
Larri Branch is a pianist and bandleader in Richmond, Virginia. He performs regularly as a solo pianist and as a member of several bands.
In 2009, Larri formed the Larri Branch Agenda; a band that performs original compositions, new arrangements of jazz standards and a select group of covers. They have released two albums, Labragenda and Labragenda Volume 2. They are also featured on the 32 Bar Records holiday album, A Season to Remember.
Larri is a member of the Flavor Project and is featured on their debut album, Frijoles Negros and their upcoming album, Food for Thought. He has also been featured on albums by Blue Prototype, M-Law and the Prophets of Jazz, and the Clay Motley Band.
Core members of the Flavor Project form The Studio 804 Band. They serve as the house band for RVA Tonight with Beau Cribbs; Richmond, Virginia’s only live late-night talk show. They are also the house band for The Elbys, Richmond’s Restaurant Awards.
Larri portrayed pianist Jimmy Powers in TheatreLAB’s production of Lady Day at Emerson’s Bar & Grill about the final days of renown singer, Billie Holiday.
Larri has performed at the Richmond Jazz Festival, the Virginia
Museum of Fine Arts, The National, The Byrd Theatre, The Altria Theatre, The Science Museum’s IMAX Theater, The Broadberry, The Camel, Hardywood Brewery, Twins Jazz, The Hamilton and Bethesda Blues & Jazz Supper Club.
Along with performing, Larri teaches private piano lessons and serves as an accompanist for the Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion program. He is a graduate of Virginia Commonwealth University where he received a Bachelor’s Degree in Mass Communications.
Bentley Cobb
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 10
Bentley Cobb, Jr. is a Richmond, Virginia based musician versed in hand percussion and drum kit. Since 2003, Bentley has been playing for numerous musicals at Virginia Repertory Theatre’s Children’s Theatre, November Theatre and Hanover Tavern, the Swift Creek Mill Playhouse, Theatre VCU, Richmond Triangle Players, the University of Richmond Theatre and the Glen Allen Cultural Arts Center. Bentley has had the privilege of touring with rock and jazz fusion bands internationally and has toured with several theatre and dance companies in the United States. As a live rehearsal accompanist for modern dance, Bentley worked at Virginia Commonwealth University Dance Department and the University of Richmond Department of Theatre & Dance from 2009-2015. Bentley has composed music for Richmond based choreographers on several occasions. He was honored in 2014 to compose his first full-length score for the play, Arabian Nights, at Virginia Commonwealth University and serve as musical director for the production. As a private instructor of hand percussion and drum kit, Bentley has many students in the Richmond and Tri-City area. Bentley began working with Minds In Motion in the spring of 2014 and is honored to accompany classes at many schools in the Minds In Motion year-long and two-week residency programs this year.
Eric Franzen
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Eric Franzen is a keyboardist who has built a dynamic and versatile career as a musician, composer, and educator. He is currently the Music Director at Immanuel Lutheran Church in Charlottesville, plays in numerous ensembles including the Eric Franzen Trio, works extensively as an accompanist with area schools, and also teaches privately as a certified instructor with the Royal Conservatory of Music program. He received his degree in Piano Performance from the University of Minnesota and went on to study organ and a Masters of Music Education at Augsburg College.
Katherine Nies
Minds In Motion Musician
Katherine Nies is a classically-trained musician with more than 17 years of experience in piano performance, acting, vocal performance, and accompanying. She graduated summa cum laude from Albertus Magnus College with a Bachelor of Arts in English, Spanish, and Creative Writing. After spending a summer studying linguistics at Georgetown University, Katherine combined her love of music and visual arts by diving into cinematography, producing two short films, acting and singing in West Side Story, and Shakespeare’s The Tempest, and performing with orchestras and other ensembles. She has been a resident of New England, DC, and Honolulu, and is now back in beautiful Virginia collaborating with artists, accompanying choirs, shooting films, and working as the pianist for the Charlottesville Ballet. She is thrilled to be part of the Minds In Motion Team where she can use her love of musical improvisation to make art with others.
Callie Moore
MIM Teaching Artist
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Callie Moore graduated from Virginia Commonwealth University with a BFA in Dance and Choreography in 2017. A Richmond native, she grew up dancing at the Village Dance Studios and then Henrico High School Center for the Arts. She has attended the American Dance Festival, Doug Varone and Dancers’ Summer Workshop, and Bates Dance Festival. Since graduating, Callie has worked for the American Dance Festival, VCU Dance, Henrico High School Center for the Arts, and Dogtown Dance Theatre. She is the founder and artistic director of Snap Soup Dance, a contemporart abstract dance and dance film company, and is a Teaching Artist for the Richmond Ballet’s Minds In Motion.
Amy Hruska
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 3
Amy Hruska is a retired music teacher of 36 years. After receiving her Bachelor of Music in Vocal Performance from the North Carolina School of the Arts and East Carolina University, she traveled as a professional singer with Fred Waring and the Pennsylvanians. She also performed in various nightclubs and dinner theaters in Pennsylvania and Virginia. She has sung numerous jingles for radio and has held church jobs as a soloist, cantor, and section leader for over 40 years.
Mrs. Hruska studied and obtained her teaching certificate and a Masters in Music Education from Virginia Commonwealth University. She discovered her love of teaching others the joy of music. She taught at St. Bridget’s School in Richmond, Va. for 22 years and also taught at Marymount School, St. Benedict’s School, and St. Catherine’s School. While teaching the primary and intermediate grades, she taught private voice lessons and summers teaching School of the Performing Arts in the Richmond Community (SPARC).
Mrs. Hruska spent three years as a full time Music Director for Virginia Repertory (also known as Theatre IV) and the Barksdale Theatre. She also performed in several musicals with Virginia Rep. During this time she was a voice instructor at Randolph-Macon College. She also earned a Masters in Liberal Arts from University of Richmond.
Mrs. Hruska went back to teaching high school music for the last 14 years of her teaching career. She taught at Monacan High School, Henrico High School and Douglas Freeman High School where her choirs consistently earned superior scores and were in demand to perform throughout the community.
Scott Milstead
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 1
Scott Milstead grew up in Radnor, Pennsylvania, about 15 miles west of Philadelphia. Upon his graduation from Randolph-Macon College (Ashland, Va) in 1996, he did what all environmental science majors do – he joined a band and went on the road. His current endeavors include: private drum set lessons at Grove Avenue Piano music store; drum line instructor for Monacan High School (Chesterfield County); accompanist for the VCU dance department; drummer/bandleader for The Significant Others; drummer for AfroZen Allstars (Ethiopian jazz/funk), Elizabeth Wise (blues/Americana), and Alice and The Reverie (alternative/indie). Scott has also drummed for several local theater productions, including Cadence Theater’s productions of “Violet” (2017) and “The Christians” (2018). Scott is honored to have worked with Minds in Motion since the fall of 2016, playing for several schools throughout the greater Richmond region.
Joy W. Price
Minds In Motion Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 5
Joy Weaver Price graduated from James Madison University where she received a BA in music with a concentration in piano performance and minored in music industry. Joy has performed for several musical theatre productions and has enjoyed accompanying for choirs and solo vocalists/ instrumentalists. This is her fifth year with Richmond Ballet and Minds In Motion!
Rachel Shimkus
Minds In Motion and SRB Musician
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 13
Rachel Shimkus is thrilled to be starting her thirteenth 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.
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. Alexandra joins the Minds In Motion team this year as the Israel Residency Coordinator. She is beyond excited for the opportunity to develop the Minds In Motion residency in Israel, and to bridge barriers through dance.
Joe Lubman
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.
Judy Jacob
Artistic Associate, 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 professional company for two years and has been director of The School of Richmond Ballet since 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.
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.
Rebecca Hodal
YEARS WITH COMPANY: 21
REBECCA Z. HODAL completed her undergraduate degree at Bennington College, and holds an M.I.S. from Virginia Commonwealth University. Ms. Hodal lived on the west coast for several years, where she studied, choreographed, and performed through the Dancer’s Workshop and Metro Dance in Portland, Oregon. Ms. Hodal directed the dance program at George Wythe High School for the Arts in Richmond, VA for nearly a decade and has taught at the University of Richmond as adjunct dance faculty. Ms. Hodal is currently Director of Dance at the Appomattox Regional Governor’s School for the Arts and Technology. She has been a member of the faculty of The School of Richmond Ballet since 1990.
Emily Dandridge
MIM Teaching Artist and Summer Camp Coordinator
Emily Berg-Poff Dandridge graduated from the College of Charleston with a BA in Arts Management and Music Performance (oboe/vocal). A graduate of Virginia School of the Arts, she trained with Petrus Bosman, and was the principal dancer with the Robert Ivey Ballet Company for four years in Charleston, SC. A local performer and choreographer, Dandridge has been a RTCC (Richmond Theater Critic’s Circle) nominee for Best Choreography for her work on “Carrie” and “Toxic Avenger” with 5th Wall Theater and “Preludes” with Firehouse Theater. Her most recent performances roles include Velma in “West Side Story” with Virginia Repertory Theatre, Ensemble in “Mary Poppins” with Virginia Repertory Theatre, White Rabbit in “Alice” with Firehouse Theater/Theater Lab, Lola in “Damn Yankees” with JFT, and Peggy Sawyer in “42nd Street” with Dogwood Dell. Dandridge has been a MIM Teaching Artist, Accompanist, and School of Richmond Ballet Faculty, and Accompanist since 2011. In 2016 she created and started Minds In Motion Summer Camps – sign up today!
Kathie Reinoehl
KATHIE REINOEHL has an extensive background in dance, music, theater and art. She holds a B.S. in Arts and Sciences from University of Richmond. She’s performed and choreographed at UMKC, studied and performed at William Woods College, Webster College, and studied, performed and taught at VCU. As a member of the Dance, Ltd performing group she added stage managing, backstage technical support and costuming to her resume. A dance musician for over 25 years, she’s composed for dance and teaches private piano lessons. She teaches Invitation to the Dance students and Music and Movement classes for the Richmond Ballet.
Mikhail Nikitine
Callye Robinson
Arnott Mader
SRB Faculty
Arnott Mader received his early dance education in Toronto, Canada and from there went to the Royal Ballet School, on scholarship, in London. Many teachers both in New York and London influenced his career, Northcott, Danelian, Dollar, Pereyaslavec, Griffith, and Joffrey among others. In London he appeared in two musicals, choreographed by Robert Helpmann and Pauline Grant, before joining the Royal Ballet. With the Royal Ballet he made four American tours and several European tours, including the first Holland Festival after the war and performances in L’Opera in Paris, La Scala in Milan, La Fenice in Venice, San Carlo, in Naples. Returning to America in 1958 he performed at Radio City Music Hall for one year before joining American Ballet Theater in 1960. In 1963 when ABT was on one of their many hiatus, he joined the Tour of Camelot, followed by Hello Dolly, Fiddler on the Roof, and a number of summer stock and dinner theater stints. In thirty seven years of teaching he directed the Fort Wayne Ballet, went to Cleveland Ballet, and then to Richmond Ballet as a full time teacher in 1982. His guest teaching in summer intensives has included the University of Alaska, Long Beach Ballet, Reed College in Portland, Oregon, and Dallas Ballet Center and Pittsburgh Youth Ballet for 17 and 16 years, respectively. For fun he travels to southern countries in the winter and Europe in the summer.
Betsy Gorman
School Administrator
Susan Collet
School Business Director
Bio Coming Soon…
Katherine Johnson
Music Supervisor
KATHERINE JOHNSON (Music Supervisor) received her Bachelor of Arts in music from Virginia Commonwealth University where she studied with Dr. Sonia K. Vlahcevic. She began accompanying for Richmond Ballet in 2003, and has been SRB music supervisor since 2008.
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
Bio Coming Soon…
Ken Myers
Tricia Vesely
Joy W. Price
Katherine Johnson
Music Supervisor
KATHERINE JOHNSON (Music Supervisor) received her Bachelor of Arts in music from Virginia Commonwealth University where she studied with Dr. Sonia K. Vlahcevic. She began accompanying for Richmond Ballet in 2003, and has been SRB music supervisor since 2008.
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Studio Theatre Seating Chart
Studio Theatre Seating Chart - Choreographer's Club
