Young Stars of Ballet Artists Bios
- Michelle Wiles – Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre
- Charles Askegard – Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet
- Yuriko Kajiya – Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
- Jared Matthews – Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
- Daniil Simkin – Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
- Skylar Brandt – Corps de Ballet, American Ballet Theatre
- Jackson Dwyer – Corps de Ballet, National Ballet of Canada
- Alexandre Hammoudi – Corps de Ballet, American Ballet Theatre
- Emma Hawes – Corps de Ballet, National Ballet of Canada
- Keenan Kampa – Corps de Ballet, Boston Ballet
- Alexey Popov – Corps de Ballet, The Mariinsky Ballet
- Ashlee Dupre – Musical Theatre Professional
- Chris Lingner– Jacob’s School of Music at IU (IN)
- Aaron Smyth – Guest Artist
- Alex Anderson – Juilliard School (NY)
- Demitra Bereveskos – Indiana Ballet Conservatory & Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory of NY (IN/NY)
- Hannah Sink – Central Indiana Academy of Dance (IN)
- Aran Bell – Maison de la Danse (Italy)
- Hannah Bettes – Next Generation Ballet at Patel Conservatory (FL)
- Grace Davidson – Faubourg School of Ballet (IL)
- Tyler Donatelli – Southland Ballet Academy (CA)
- Fernando Ribiero Duarte – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet
- Patrick Frenette – Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy (CA)
- Grace Fulton – Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy (CA)
- Gabrielle Johnson – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet (NY)
- Yoshiko Kamikusa – Goh Ballet Academy (Canada)/li>
- Shu Kinouchi – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet (NY)
- Katerina Placha – Dance Conservatory of Prague (Czechoslovakia)
- Cassandra Pearl Trenary – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet (NY)
- Veronika Verterich – Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory of New York (NY)
Michelle Wiles – Principal Dancer, American Ballet Theatre
Born in Baltimore, Maryland, Michele Wiles received her early training in Washington, D.C. At the age of ten, she received a full scholarship to the Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington, D.C. where she studied from 1991 to 1997. Wiles also participated in the summer programs at The Joffrey Ballet and The Royal Ballet before joining American Ballet Theatre's Studio Company (now ABT II) in 1997.
In 1996, Wiles was a Gold Medal winner at the 18th International Ballet Competition in Varna, a Bronze Medal winner in Nagoya, Japan and a finalist at the Paris International Dance Competition. She was a Princess Grace Foundation -- U.S.A. Dance Fellowship recipient for 1999-2000 and won the Erik Bruhn Prize in 2002.
Wiles joined American Ballet Theatre in 1998 and was promoted to Soloist in 2000 and to Principal Dancer in 2005. Her roles with the Company include Polyhymnia in Apollo, Gamzatti and a Shade in La Bayadère, the Fairy Godmother and the Winter Fairy in Ben Stevenson's Cinderella, Aurora in Coppélia, Medora and an Odalisque in Le Corsaire, Kitri, Queen of the Driads and a flower girl in Don Quixote, Hermia in The Dream, Myrta in Giselle, Grand Pas Classique, His Experiences in HereAfter, Lescaut’s Mistress in Manon, the Sugar Plum Fairy and the Snow Queen in Kevin McKenzie's The Nutcracker, Hagar in Pillar of Fire, the Siren in Prodigal Son, Raymonda and Clemence in Raymonda, Princess Aurora and Lilac Fairy in The Sleeping Beauty, Odette-Odile, the pas de trois and the Polish Princess in Swan Lake, Ceres and the title role in Sylvia, the fourth movement in Symphony in C, the pas de six in The Taming of the Shrew, the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, and leading roles in Baker's Dozen, Ballet Imperial, Ballo della Regina, Black Tuesday, The Brahms-Haydn Variations, Dark Elegies, Diversion of Angels, Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes, Études, Glow - Stop, In The Upper Room, The Leaves Are Fading, Marimba, One of Three, Petite Mort, Sinfonietta, Symphonie Concertante, Theme and Variations and workwithinwork.
She created leading roles in Concerto No. 1 for Piano and Orchestra, Dumbarton, Gong, One of Three and Within You Without You: A Tribute to George Harrison.
Charles Askegard – Principal Dancer, New York City Ballet
Charles Askegard was born in Minneapolis, Minnesota, and began his dance training at the age of five with Loyce Houlton and the Minnesota Dance Theatre. He continued his studies in Minneapolis until the age of 16, spending one summer at the School of American Ballet (SAB), the official school of New York City Ballet, in 1983. Mr. Askegard joined American Ballet Theatre as a member of the corps de ballet in 1987, and was promoted to soloist in 1992. In 1997, he left ABT to join New York City Ballet as a soloist. He was promoted to principal in 1998.
Featured Roles Since Joining NYCB
Since joining New York City Ballet, Mr. Askegard has danced featured roles in George Balanchine's:
- Allegro Brillante
- Apollo
- Brahms-Schoenberg Quartet (Fourth Movement)
- Concerto Barocco
- Coppélia (Frantz)
- Cortège Hongrois
- Firebird
- The Four Temperaments
- George Balanchine's The Nutcracker™
- "Diamonds" from Jewels
- Ivesiana
- Kammermusik No. 2
- Liebeslieder Walzer
- A Midsummer Night's Dream
- Monumentum pro Gesualdo
- Movements for Piano and Orchestra
- Orpheus
- Robert Schumann's "Davidsbündlertänze"
- Scotch Symphony
- Serenade
- Stars and Stripes
- Stravinsky Violin Concerto
- Swan Lake
- Symphony in C
- Tschaikovsky Pas de Deux
- Tschaikovsky Piano Concerto No. 2
- Tschaikovsky Suite No. 3 (Theme and Variations)
- Union Jack
- Vienna Waltzes
- Walpurgisnacht Ballet
- Western Symphony
- Who Cares?
Peter Martins':
- Barber Violin Concerto
- Fearful Symmetries
- Morgen
- Naïve and Sentimental Music
- The Sleeping Beauty (Gold)
- Swan Lake (Siegfried and Russian)
- The Waltz Project
Jerome Robbins':
- The Four Seasons (Fall)
- Glass Pieces
- In Memory of...
- In the Night
- Ives, Songs
and Eliot Feld's:
- Intermezzo No. 1
- The Unanswered Question
Mr. Askegard originated featured roles in:
- Mr. Feld's Organon
- Robert La Fosse's "Rockin' in Rhythm" from Duke!
- Mr. Martins' Harmonielehre, River of Light, Swan Lake, Them Twos, Thou Swell and Viva Verdi
- Helgi Tomasson's Prism (2000 Diamond Project ballet)
- Christopher Wheeldon's Carnival of the Animals
Other Performances
In 2002, Mr. Askegard appeared in the nationally televised Live from Lincoln Center broadcast, "New York City Ballet's Diamond Project: Ten Years of New Choreography" on PBS, dancing in Them Twos.and in May of 2004 he appeared in the Live From Lincoln Center broadcast of “Lincoln Center Celebrates Balanchine 100,” dancing in Vienna Waltzes.
In addition to his appearances with New York City Ballet, Mr. Askegard has been a guest artist with Pacific Northwest Ballet, Ballet Etudes of South Florida, Bavarian State Ballet, Philippine Ballet Theatre, The Daring Project and the Stars of American Ballet. He can also be seen in the documentary Ballet, directed by Fred Wiseman.
Yuriko Kajiya – Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
Born in Nagoya, Japan, Yuriko Kajiya began her training at the age of eight. At ten, she moved to China and became one of the first foreign students to study with and graduate from the Shanghai Ballet School on scholarship. During her stay in China, Ms. Kajiya performed many times on Chinese national television.
In 1997, at 13, Ms. Kajiya won the Best Performance Award in the senior category at the Tao Li Bei National Ballet Competition. In 1999, she became one of the youngest finalists at the Third International Ballet Competition in Nagoya. In January 2000, she won the renowned Prix de Lausanne Scholarship which enabled her to study at the National Ballet of Canada School in Toronto. Ms. Kajiya starred in the 2007 documentary Passion Across a Continent in Japan. It aired on channel MBS becoming hugely popular having the highest ratings in this television series. She also appeared on the Tokyo Talk Show and presented the American Ballet Theatre documentary Dancers. She has performed as a guest in Japan dancing Odette in Swan Lake, Act II and A Midsummer Night’s Dream, as well as appearing in galas at the West Virginia Dance Festival, Santa Fe Festival, Chicago Dancing Festival and at the Hopes and Pride Gala of Japan.
Ms. Kajiya joined American Ballet Theatre’s Studio Company in September 2001. She became an apprentice with the main Company in 2002 and, in June of that year, joined ABT as a member of the corps de ballet. She was appointed a Soloist in August 2007.
Ms. Kajiya’s repertoire includes Gamzatti in La Bayadère, Blossom in Cinderella, Gulnare in Le Corsaire, Kitri, Amour and a Flower Girl in Don Quixote, Zulma and the peasant pas de deux in Giselle, Valencienne in The Merry Widow, Clara in Kevin McKenzie's The Nutcracker, Clara in Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker, Henrietta in Raymonda, the Fairy of Joy and the Fairy of Fervor in The Sleeping Beauty, the pas de trois in Swan Lake, the Waltz in Les Sylphides and leading roles in Ballo della Regina, Birthday Offering, Brief Fling, Désir, Diversion of Angels, In the Upper Room, The Leaves Are Fading, Overgrown Path, Petite Mort, Seven Sonatas and Theme and Variations. She created a leading role in Dumbarton and one of The Nutcracker’s Sisters in Ratmansky’s The Nutcracker.
Ms. Kajiya has taught Master Classes for the David Howard Foundation and Dance Project New York. She continues to teach master classes and lecture demos in the United States and across Japan.
Jared Matthews – Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
Jared Matthews was born in Houston and received his early ballet training there under the guidance of Victoria Vittum and Gilbert Rome. Mr. Matthews was awarded a full scholarship to study at North Carolina School of the Arts summer program as well as the School of American Ballet and American Ballet Theatre. While attending American Ballet Theatre’s Summer Intensive Program in 2001 as a Coca Cola Scholarship winner, he was invited to join ABT’s Studio Company (now ABT II). Mr. Matthews is currently being coached by David Howard.
Mr. Matthews joined the Company as a member of the corps de ballet in April 2003 and was appointed a Soloist in August 2007. His repertoire with the Company includes the Head Fakir in La Bayadère, Tractor Driver in The Bright Stream, a Stepsister's Escort in Cinderella, Franz in Coppélia, Lankendem in Le Corsaire, Espada in Don Quixote, Lysander in The Dream, the Turning Boy in Études, Hilarion and the peasant pas de deux in Giselle, Gaston in Lady of the Camellias, Camille in The Merry Widow, Cassio in Othello, the Head Wrangler in Rodeo, Mercutio and Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, the Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty, Benno and von Rothbart (Ballroom) in Swan Lake, Gurn in La Sylphide, Orion and Jaseion in Sylvia, the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, and leading roles in Brief Fling, Dark Elegies, Désir, Drink To Me Only With Thine Eyes, Gong, In the Upper Room, The Leaves Are Fading, Overgrown Path, Petite Mort, Sechs Tänze, Seven Sonatas, Sinfonietta, Some Assembly Required, Symphonic Variations, Troika and workwithinwork. He created the Spanish Dance in Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker and leading roles in C. to C. (Close to Chuck), Glow – Stop, One of Three and Thirteen Diversions.
As a guest artist, Mr. Matthews has performed with both the Noriko Hara Ballet and the Kamakura Ballet Company in Japan. He has toured as a guest artist with Les Ballet GranDiva. He has also appeared in the 2008 Hopes and Prize Gala in Japan. In America he has danced with the Rochester City Ballet, Civic Ballet of Chicago, the Houston Repertoire Ballet, New England Dance Ensemble, the West Virginia Dance Festival and the 2007 and 2008 Chicago Dancing Festival.
Mr. Matthews has taught technique and partnering classes for the David Howard Foundation’s A Month of Sundays program, West Virginia Dance Festival, at workshops in Yokohama, Japan and at local dance studios in the United States.
Daniil Simkin – Soloist, American Ballet Theatre
Daniil Simkin was born in Russia to a ballet family. In 1990, the family left for the West and, after several international engagements, settled in Wiesbaden, Germany, where Simkin first appeared on the stage. From the age of six he often appeared onstage, dancing alongside his father Dimitrij Simkin.
At ten, Simkin began his training under the direction of his mother, Olga Aleksandrova. At 12, he began participating in ballet competitions and galas around the world and, at the same time, he finished his academic education. He joined the ballet company of the Vienna State Opera in 2006 as a demi-soloist and since then has danced many roles in the classical, neoclassical and contemporary repertoire of the company. In 2007, he danced his first principal role, Basilio in Don Quixote, as a guest with the Lithuanian National Opera.
Simkin’s awards include the Senior Gold Medal at the USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson 2006, Grand Prix International Ballet Competition Helsinki 2005 and First Prize and Gold Medal at the 21st International Ballet Competition in Varna 2004, among others.
Simkin joined American Ballet Theatre as a Soloist in October 2008. His repertoire with the Company includes the Bronz Idol in La Bayadère, the Ballet Dancer in The Bright Stream, a featured role in Company B, Franz in Coppélia, Lankendem in Le Corsaire, Basilio and the Lead Gypsy in Don Quixote, Puck in The Dream, the first sailor in Fancy Free, the Flames of Paris pas de deux, the peasant pas de deux in Giselle, the Nutcracker-Prince in Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker, the Son in Prodigal Son, Benvolio in Romeo and Juliet, Boy With Matted Hair in Shadowplay, the Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty, Benno in Swan Lake, Gurn in La Sylphide, Eros and a Goat in Sylvia, the Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, and leading roles in Allegro Brillante, The Brahms-Haydn Variations and One of Three. He created the Chinese Dance in Ratmansky's The Nutcracker and roles in Everything Doesn't Happen at Once and Troika.
Skylar Brandt – Corps de Ballet, American Ballet Theatre
Skylar Brandt was born in Purchase, New York and began her training at the age of six with teachers Diana White and Christian Claessens at Scarsdale Ballet Studio. She also studied with Susan Jaffe, Valentina Kozlova, and Fabrice Herrault. She attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre from 2005-2009, under the direction of Franco DeVita. Brandt was a silver medalist at Youth America Grand Prix in 2004 and 2008. She performed as Swanilda in Coppélia in the Guggenheim Museum's tribute to Frederic Franklin. Brandt was invited to dance at the Juilliard School's Antony Tudor Centennial Celebration. In 2007, she choreographed and performed in Capezio's DVD for its national campaign. In 2009, Brandt joined ABT II. With the company, she toured throughout the United States and Europe, performing Medora from Le Corsaire, Aurora from The Sleeping Beauty, Jerome Robbins' Interplay, George Balanchine's Allegro Brilliante, and leading roles in other original pieces by such renowned choreographers as Jessica Lang, Aszure Barton, Jodi Gates, and Edwaard Liang. Brandt has performed in numerous galas at New York's Lincoln Center and City Center, including the "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow". She has also performed in other galas in Japan and elsewhere in the United States. She is profiled in an ABT II feature on the web series Dance Media 212. At the early age of seventeen, Brandt was invited to join the American Ballet Theatre, and has extensively performed its repertoire at the Metropolitan Opera House and the Brooklyn Academy of Music. In addition, she performed in the Royal Ballet's production of Cinderella at Lincoln Center. Brandt was also nominated for the Princess Grace Award.
Jackson Dwyer – Corps de Ballet, National Ballet of Canada
Jackson Dwyer was born in Montréal, Québec. He trained at John Cranko Schule in Stuttgart, Germany and Canada’s National Ballet School. Mr. Dwyer joined The National Ballet of Canada as an Apprentice in 2010 and became a member of the Corps de Ballet in 2011.
Mr. Dwyer’s repertoire includes Cinderella, The Nutcracker, Don Quixote and Onegin. He also danced in the company premiere of Christopher Wheeldon’s Alice’s Adventures in Wonderland.
Mr. Dwyer was a NFAA YoungArts Week Finalist and received a Peter Dwyer Award and the Lawrence Haskett Scholarship.
Alexandre Hammoudi – Corps de Ballet, American Ballet Theatre
Born in Paris, France, Alexandre Hammoudi began his training at seven with Max Bozzoni of the Paris Opera Ballet. He continued his training at the Academy of Dance Salle Playel in Paris from 1996-1999, received further training at the English National Ballet School in London and, most recently, at the School of American Ballet.
Hammoudi has won numerous international competitions, including the Trophee Arabesque and the Biarritz Dance Competition. At 16, Hammoudi became a member of the National Ballet of Cuba and toured South America with that company.
Hammoudi joined ABT’s Studio Company in 2002, joined the main Company as an apprentice in April 2003 and became a member of the Company’s corps de ballet in April 2004. His repertory with the Company includes the Rajah in La Bayadère, Pyotr and the Lead Highlander in The Bright Stream, Lead Mazurka/Czardas in Coppélia, Duo Concertant, the Jailer in Manon, the Nutcracker-Prince in Alexei Ratmansky's The Nutcracker, Olga’s Fiancé in On the Dnieper, Paris in Romeo and Juliet, the Spanish Prince and a Fairy Knight in The Sleeping Beauty, Orion and Apollo in Sylvia, a featured role in Brief Fling and roles in The Brahms-Haydn Variations, Clear, Continuo, Désir, Glow – Stop, The Leaves Are Fading and Overgrown Path. He created the Spanish Dance in Ratmansky's The Nutcracker and roles in Everything Doesn't Happen at Once, From Here On Out, Pretty Good Year, Seven Sonatas and Thirteen Diversions.
Hammoudi has been dancing all over Spain as a guest artist with Angel Corella and Stars of American Ballet.
Emma Hawes – Corps de Ballet, National Ballet of Canada
Emma Hawes was born in Delaware, Ohio. She trained at the Ballet Met in Columbus, Ohio
and Canada's National Ballet School. Ms. Hawes became a member of The National Ballet
of Canada's Corps de Ballet in 2011.
As a student Ms. Hawes danced The Swan Queen in Swan Lake and roles in Serenade, Yondering and Sequentia.
Keenan Kampa – Corps de Ballet, Boston Ballet
Keenan Kampa began her training at the Conservatory Ballet in Reston, Virginia, under the direction of Julia Czillar Redick. At the age of 17, she was invited to attend the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia and was placed in the class of Tatiana Udalenkova. She graduated after 3 years at the Academy and proceeded to join the Boston Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet.
Alexey Popov – Corps de Ballet, Mariinsky Ballet
Alexey Popov studied at the Vaganova Ballet Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia in the class of Mansur Enikeev. Immediately following his graduation, he joined the Mariinsky Ballet as a member of the corps de ballet. After only one year, he has already made his debut in several notable roles including the Harlequin in Mikhail Fokine’s Le Carnival.
Ashlee Dupre – Musical Theatre Professional
Credits include: Off – Broadway: Silence! The Musical (Dream Clarice), Where’s Charley?(2011 Encores!) Movin' Out National Tour (Brenda, Judy), Phantom Of The Opera (Las Vegas Spectacular), Reel to Real under the direction of Lynne Taylor-Corbett (Featured Dancer), Colorado Ballet, New York Theater Ballet. She is a graduate of Kirov Academy Ballet. Additional training includes: American Ballet Theatre, Les Jeunes Danseurs. Special thanks to her friends and family, Love You!!
Chris Lingner – Jacob’s School of Music at IU (IN)
Lingner began dancing in a small studio in Indianapolis at the age of five. After high school, Chris was
cast in the national tour of “Movin Out” [Eddie, James, Ensemble]. In '09-10 he was cast in the first
Broadway musical on a ship in “Hairspray” [Brad] and was a featured aerialist in the revue show, “Come
Fly With Me,” on the Oasis of the Seas. Chris also performed with Las Vegas Star, Clint Holmes in his new
musical “My Own Song” at Flatrock Playhouse. Chris has been a featured guest artist with Gregory Hancock
Dance Theatre and Indianapolis School of Ballet. Intensive training includes studies at Hubbard Street
Dance Chicago and Nederlands Dans Theatre. Chris is in his second year studying ballet in the Jacob’s
School of Music at Indiana University where he has performed works by Twyla Tharp, Anthony Tudor, and
Paul Taylor and in principle roles in works by Michael Vernon, Josh Bergasse, and George Balanchine.
Aaron Smyth – Guest Artist
Aaron Smyth was born on the Gold Coast, Australia, he attended the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at
American Ballet Theatre on full scholarship, under the direction of Franco De Vita. Whilst at the school
he performed excerpts from The Nutcracker at the Saks Fifth Ave Holiday Window Unveiling, demonstrations
at the Guggenheim Museum, Flames of Paris and Blue Bird Pas De Deux, he also performed in leading roles
in Jessica Lang’s La Belle Danse and Oblivion.
Alex Anderson – Juilliard School (NY)
Alex Anderson has been dancing since the age of 12 and throughout his years of experience has worked with many well known choreographers who’s work has been presented in companies such as Boston Ballet, The Joffery Ballet, Hubbard Street 2, Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater, Ballet British Columbia and many more. In the fall, Alex will be continuing his professional training as a 2nd year student at The Juilliard School in the class of 2014. In December of 2010, Alex received Choreographic Honors for a piece he created entitled “Unresolved” and was featured on Juilliard’s very own Peter Jay Sharp Theater along with 6 other student works. Alex has recently worked professionally with a newly developed dance company entitled the Lunge Dance Collective under the ownership of Billy Bell (seen on the TV series So You Think You Can Dance). After receiving his B.F.A. in dance, he will officially be emerging into the entertainment work force. He wishes to follow his dream of becoming a professional dancer and choreographer.
Demitra Bereveskos – Indiana Ballet Conservatory and Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory of NY (IN/NY)
Demitra Bereveskos, age 12, is a native of Indianapolis and began her ballet training at the age of seven. She has trained at Valentina Kozlova's Dance Conservatory of New York, at the Indiana Ballet Conservatory, and through Master Classes offered by the Indianapolis City Ballet, and she has been coached by Valentina Kozlova, Tatiana Pali, Alyona Yakovleva, and Sergey Sergiev. Her ballet accomplishments include a solo performance in the Gala of the 2011 Boston International Ballet Competition, the Hope Award at the 2011 YAGP Indianapolis regional ballet competition, Finalist in the YAGP International Finals in New York for the last three years, and performances of various roles (including Masha or Clara) in Indianapolis and New York productions of The Nutcracker. Demitra also studies piano, is on a swim team, and is homeschooled.
Hannah Sink – Central Indiana Academy of Dance (IN)
Hannah Sink, age 15, Fishers, IN, has been dancing ever since she could walk and has been taking ballet classes since the age of 3. She trains locally at Central Indiana Academy of Dance with Suzann DeLay in Carmel, IN. Hannah has been blessed with many performance opportunities over the years. She has performed with Central Indiana Dance Ensemble (CIDE), under the artistic direction of Suzann DeLay, including full length productions of The Nutcracker, Cinderella, Alice in Wonderland, Peter Pan, The Sleeping Beauty, and Coppelia. Hannah has also performed professionally in productions with the Radio City Rockettes, playing the role of Clara for two years in the Radio City Christmas Spectacular at the Grand Ole Opry House in Nashville, Tennessee. Her solo performances at Youth America Grand Prix in Chicago, IL have earned her awards in both the classical and contemporary divisions. This past year, Hannah received scholarships at the Regional Dance America Festival in Pittsburgh, PA and at the Carey Rose Memorial Scholarship competition in Chicago, IL and has previously received the regional American Dance Awards Junior Dancer of the Year. This summer, Hannah returned to train with the School of American Ballet at Lincoln Center in New York City. She hopes one day to perform with a professional ballet company.
Aran Bell – Maison de la Danse (Italy)
Aran Bell began his training at age four in Bremerton, WA. with Michiko Black, continued training at Central Pennsylvania Youth Ballet, and in 2009 began studying with Denys Ganio in Rome, Italy. He has also attended the Royal Ballet School, and American Ballet Theatre summer programs. Aran was the winner of the Hope Award at the Youth America Grand Prix Finals in 2009 and 2010. In 2010, he was also the Grand Prix winner of the Milan International Ballet Competition. Most recently, he was awarded the Junior Grand Prix at the 2011 YAGP Finals, and the gold medal at the Rieti (Italy) International ballet competition. Aran has performed in numerous galas in Italy, France, Germany, England, Austria, Poland, Romania, and several U.S. cities.
Hannah Bettes – Next Generation Ballet at Patel Conservatory (FL)
Hannah developed a love for ballet and began her ballet training at the age of 12 after studying jazz for four years at a local studio. She is currently training with Peter Stark and Ivonne Lemus at The Next Generation Ballet at Patel Conservatory in Tampa, Florida.
Hannah was a finalist at YAGP in NYC in 2009, 2010, and 2011, winning the Gold medal in NYC in the junior women's division and silver medal in the pas de deux division in 2011. She also received the silver medal at the World Ballet Competition in 2008 and 2011. In January of 2011, Hannah was featured in Dance Spirit Magazine as a "You Should Know Dancer". She also participated in the YAGP tour "Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow". Hannah was honored to perform at The Guggenheim Museum in NYC as part of the "Works in Process" series "How Judges Judge", and perform at the YAGP gala at The New York City Center in 2011. Hannah studied under scholarship at The School of American Ballet in the summer of 2009 and 2010. In the summer of 2011, Hannah studied under full scholarship at Houston Ballet and The Carreno Dance Festival. Finally, Hannah has had the opportunity to dance a pas de deux with Boston Ballet soloist, Jeffrey Cirio in December of 2010 and will be dancing a pas de deux this December with American Ballet Theater principle dancer, Jose Carreno. Her dream is to one day dance professionally.
Grace Davidson – Faubourg School of Ballet (IL)
Grace Davidson began her formal ballet training under the direction of Rebekah von Rathonyi at Peoria Ballet at the age of five. She is currently training at the Faubourg School of Ballet, under Watmora Casey and Tatyana Mazur. Ms. Davidson has competed in the YAGP for 3 years. In 2010, she was awarded the Hope Award at the YAGP 2010 Chicago, IL Regional Semi-Finals. In 2011 she repeated this feat and was also awarded the Hope Award at the NY Finals of 2011, where she had the honor of dancing on the New York City Center Stage in the 2011 Gala – “Stars of Today Meet the Stars of Tomorrow”. She has performed in numerous student productions and the Festival Ballet Theatre’s Gala of the Stars in California.
Although Grace loves to dance and perform for audiences, one of her greatest pleasures has been helping to teach a creative movement class to autistic children.
Tyler Donatelli – Southland Ballet Academy (CA)
Tyler Donatelli, age 14 has been dancing at Southland Ballet Academy in Fountain Valley, Ca. since she was five. She has been competing as a soloist for the past 3 years. In 2010, Ms Donatelli competed in the Youth America Grand Prix Los Angeles, CA, Regional Semi-Finals and placed in the Junior Women's Contemporary Division and was awarded First Place in the Junior Women's Classical Division. From there she was invited to the YAGP NYC Finals where she danced at the New York City Center in the Final Round of the competition. She was then invited to perform in the XV Anniversary International Ballet Festival of Miami in 2010. In 2011 Ms. Donatelli competed in the Youth America Grand Prix Los Angeles, CA. Regional Semi-Finals and won Junior Grand Prix. Again she traveled to NYC to to compete in the YAGP Finals where she once again danced in the Final Round of the competition at the New York City Center and performed in the prestigious "Stars of Today meet the Stars of Tomorrow Gala". Tyler also toured with the YAGP "Stars of Today meet the Stars of Tomorrow " Tour throughout the Southeastern US. Tyler went on to win the Bronze Metal in the Junior Women's category. Tyler was then invited to dance in the Anaheim International Dance Festival in CA. this past August. Tyler has been awarded scholarships to the Kirov Ballet Academy, the Rock School of Ballet, the Bolshoi Ballet Academy, the Washington School of Ballet, Houston Ballet Academy (where she was awarded the "Teacher's Award, inviting Tyler to return to Houston for the Summer of 2012) and the Royal Ballet School in London Summer Intensive.
Fernando Duarte – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet
Fernando Duarte was born and raised in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. At the age of nine he began his ballet training at Dalal Achcar Dance Academy and later at the Maria Olenewa Municipal School of Dance. In 2008, Duarte attended The Harid Conservatory Summer Intensive, where he won a full scholarship for the academic year. He studied at The Harid Conservatory for two years. During this time, Duarte won several awards including the prize for Excellence in Dance Performances by Jennot Cerrone and an award dedicated to the dancer who most improved during an academic year. He has worked with such notable artists as Dalal Achcar, Marisa Estrella and Janice Botelho in Brazil, as well as Svetlana Osyieva, Victoria Schneider, Olivier Pardina, and Mark Godden at The Harid Conservatory. Duarte joined the Jacqueline Kennedy School at American Ballet Theatre, under the direction of Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens, on full scholarship in 2010.
Patrick Frenette – Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy (CA)
Patrick Frenette, 16, a native of Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada, began his early ballet training at the Goh Ballet Academy under the watchful eye of Ms. Fiona Smith. He currently trains with Dmitri and Jennifer Kulev at the Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy in Laguna Hills, California. Patrick has won numerous awards and scholarships for ballet and contemporary dance, including his most recent accomplishment as the Grand Prix recipient in the Los Angeles Youth America Grand Prix regional competition in February 2011, and first place in the Pas de Deux category for Les Sylphides in San Diego. As a finalist in the 2011 NYC YAGP competition, Patrick received the Mary Day award for artistry and was honored to perform at the New York City Center YAGP Gala in the trio Insight, which placed second overall for ensembles. Patrick was also honored this year as a Spotlight on the Arts, semi-finalist in the classical ballet division in Southern California. Patrick is a three-time recipient of the Petit Oasis Scholarship, awarded by Ms. Toshiko Honda, which provides scholarships specifically for male dancers in Southern California.
In June of 2010, Mr. Frenette performed in the Vancouver Junior Professional Division’s production of Giselle, where he portrayed the role of Albrecht. He performed the roles of Snow King and Russian in Orange County Ballet Theater’s Nutcracker this past year, and was a guest with Marina Almayeva’s School of Classical Ballet’s Nutcracker. Mr. Frenette has participated in many ballet summer-intensive programs, including San Francisco Ballet School, Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT NYC, The Bolshoi Ballet Academy Summer Intensive in NYC, and the Royal Ballet School, all on scholarship. This past spring Patrick was invited to perform the Paquita Grand Pas Classique with San Diego Ballet and it June 2011, Patrick returned to Vancouver BC, Canada to perform the lead in VJPD’s staging of Etudes. Patrick was also invited to guest perform at the Anaheim International Dance Festival in association with YAGP as one of the Stars of Tomorrow in 2010 and 2011. Patrick has always aspired to be a professional ballet dancer and choreographer.
Grace Fulton – Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy (CA)
Grace Fulton, age 15, began her training at Westside Ballet under the legendary Yvonne Mounsey, one of George Balanchine’s first principle dancers. Curiosity and interest in Russian training lead her to Dmitri Kulev Classical Ballet Academy. Within her first year with Dmitri and Jennifer she placed third in woman’s classical at YAGP Los Angeles and in New York City, became a 2010 YAGP Finalist. In 2011 she returned to YAGP dancing with her current partner Patrick Frenette. She regionaly placed first as a soloist classical dancer, third place contemporary, choraphaphed personnally for Grace by Victor Kabiniev, and first in pas de duex - Le Sylphides. Grace continued on to the YAGP New York Finals dancing her classical, contemporary, and pas de duex pieces. She finished as a top twelve woman finalist at the New York Fianals. Along with dancing Grace has enjoyed success acting in film and television. She played young Natalie in The Natalie Wood Story, appeared as a guest star on Jag, Bones, Ghost Whisperer, and recently in Hallmark’s Our First Christmas. Currently devoting all of her time to ballet she is thankful to be training under the direction of Dmitri and Jennifer Kulev.
Gabrielle Johnson – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet (NY)
Gabrielle Johnson was born in Palmer, Alaska, where she started training at the age of seven at the Anchorage Classical Ballet Academy under the direction of Michelangelo and Farah Canale. In the summer of 2008, she attended the Rosella Hightower Summer Program in Cannes, France under the direction of Monique Loudiere. In 2008-2009, Johnson competed in the Youth American Grand Prix where she was the second runner up in the classical category of the semi-finals in San Francisco, California. Johnson has attended the American Ballet Theatre Summer Intensive in New York since 2009. In the fall of 2009, she joined the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre, under the direction of Franco De Vita and Raymond Lukens. Johnson performed the lead role in an excerpt from Coppelia during the JKO School final performance in 2010. She also performed as Juliet in excerpts from Romeo and Juliet, in Oscoda, Michigan, at the North East Academy of Dance under the direction of Giuseppe Canale and Scott Heinrich. Johnson will join ABT Studio Company in September 2011.
Yoshiko Kamikusa – Goh Ballet Academy (Canada)
Yoshiko Kamikusa, born in Japan and 15 years old, began ballet training at the age of seven in Hawaii. She is currently training at the Goh Ballet Academy, which is located in Vancouver, Canada. Yoshiko was the recipient of third place in the Pre-Competitive Division at the 2007 Youth American Grand Prix (YAGP) Huntington Beach Semi-Finals. In 2009, she was awarded second place in the Junior Division Contemporary Ballet Category at YAGP San Francisco Semi-Finals. In that same year, she also won the silver medal in the Preparatory Category at the World Ballet Competition in Florida, as well as first place in the Junior Category and the Gold Star Award of Prix du Japon in Japan. In February of 2011, she has competed at the Tanzolymp in Berlin, Germany, where she has received the gold medal in the classical category and the silver medal in the contemporary category. Most recently, she has participated in the first edition of the Boston International Ballet Competition in Boston and was given the bronze medal in the Junior Category. Under the tutelage of Vera Solovyeva, Nikolay Levitsky, and the artistic director, Choo Chiat Goh of Goh Ballet Academy, Yoshiko danced principal roles in numerous performances including; “Kitri” in Don Quixote Suite of China Tour 2009, “Maria” in The Cavalry Halt at The Massey Theater of Vancouver in 2009, “Sugarplum fairy” and “Snow Queen” in The Nutcracker as a guest artist in Little Ballet Theatre, Oregon, USA in 2009, “Dewdrop” and “Snow Queen” in The Nutcracker at The Center in Vancouver for Performing Arts in 2009 and 2010, “Raymonda” in Raymonda Suite, “Satanella” in Carnaval, and “Dying Black Swan” (choreography by Vera Solovyeva and Nikolay Levitsky) at the Vancouver Playhouse in 2010 and “Mazurka variation” in Les Sylphides and “Vakhanka” in Faust - Walpurgisnacht at The Center in Vancouver for Performing Arts in 2011
Shu Kinouchi — Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet (NY)
Shu Kinouchi began dancing at the age of two at Mayumi Kinouchi Ballet Studio under the direction of his mother. At the age of nine, he began participating in ballet competitions in Japan. Kinouchi attended American Ballet Theatre’s Orange County Summer Intensive in 2005 and New York Summer Intensive in 2006 on full scholarship. He has been a National Training Scholar at ABT since 2007. Kinouchi trained on full scholarship at the Hamburg Ballet School in Germany. In September of 2008, he joined the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at ABT. His repertory at ABT includes Swan Lake Act I pas de trois, Flames of Paris pas de deux, and Napoli as well as original choreography by Raymond Lukens, Jessica Lang and Aszure Barton. He was a finalist in the 2010 Prix de Lausanne. Kinouchi will join ABT Studio Company in September 2011.
Katerina Placha – Dance Conservatory of Prague (Czechoslovakia)
Katerina Placha is 18 years old and studies at the Dance Conservatory of Prague. She is a winner of the First Prize at the Brno Competition in Czechoslovakia, Second Prize at the Valence Competition in France and Third Prize at the Olomouc Competition in Czechoslovakia and has performed Don Quixote (Kitri), Sleeping Beauty (Florina), Le Corsaire (Medora Variations), Coppelia (2nd Act), Chopiniana (Mazurka) and Le Papillion (Pas de Deux).
Cassandra Trenary – Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School of Ballet (NY)
Cassandra Trenary, a native of Georgia, began training at age three at Lawrenceville School of Ballet. She joined the school's company, Southern Ballet Theatre, in 2006 under the direction of Phyllis Allen. She performed various contemporary works with SBT in addition to full-length ballets.
Trenary received additional training at Southeast Regional Ballet Association conventions and performed in various pieces, including the lead role in Defy. In 2009, she received a SERBA Star Student award. From 2006 – 2010, Trenary was an American Ballet Theatre National Training Scholar and attended the Summer Intensive in New York City. She is a 2011 YoungArts Winner and Presidential Scholar in the Arts nominee. Trenary trained on full scholarship at the Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis School at American Ballet Theatre and joined ABT as an apprentice in April 2011.
Veronika Verterich – Valentina Kozlova Dance Conservatory of New York (NY)
Veronika Verterich was born in Moscow, Russia in 1994. She moved to the U.S. at the age of three with her parents who are both professional dancers. Veronika started her ballet training six years ago at Valentina Kozlova’s Dance Conservatory of New York, where she is currently enrolled. Veronika has participated and placed in national and international ballet competitions including the “World Ballet Competition” in Orlando, “The Youth America Grand Prix,” and “The New Jersey Dance Festival.” In 2010, she became a laureate of the “The Young Ballet of the World Competition” in Sochi, Russia. Veronika was also invited to multiple galas, such as the “Boston International Ballet Competition Gala,” which took place this past May, and the 2010 “Indianapolis City Ballet "Evening with the Stars".