Artists
Company
Company
Andrea Allmon was born in Miami, Florida and began her ballet training with Marielena Mencia and Yanis Pikieris at Miami Youth Ballet. She performed with Miami Youth Ballet in several …
Felecia Baker grew up in Chesapeake, Va and began her dance training at Academie de Ballet. She trained for 11 years studying the Vaganova Method for ballet technique, as well …
Rafael Bejarano Vidal, from Guadalajara, Mexico, began dance training at the age of 11 at the Royal Academy of Dance in Mexico with Ana Torquemada. He has studied intensively throughout …
Nardia Boodoo, born in Baltimore, Maryland, of Indo-Trinidadian heritage, is in her fourth season with The Washington Ballet, after dancing for two years in The Washington Ballet’s Studio Company and …
Kimberly Cilento, of Middletown, DE is in her third season with The Washington Ballet after being a member of both their Studio Company and Trainee Program. Cilento began her dance …
Nicholas Cowden began his ballet training at the age of nine at Virginia Ballet Company under the direction of Tish Cordova. He continued his training at Southold Dance Theatre in …
Gilles Delellio, from Belgium, began dance training in tap and jazz and then studied ballet at 10 years of age at The Tap Show Company and Balletomania under Piotr Nardelli. …
Kateryna Derechyna of Ukraine is in her 13th season with The Washington Ballet. She trained and graduated from the Odessa Ballet Academy under Elvira Karavaeva where she performed at the …
Sponsored by Celina and Mark Emery
Jessy Dick, a native of Michigan, is in her seventh season with The Washington Ballet. She joined TWB Studio Company in 2017 and was promoted to the company in 2019. Jessy …
Catherine Doherty, from Olathe Kansas, is in her first season with the Company at The Washington Ballet. Catherine began her professional training at The Kansas School of Classical Ballet when …
Nicole Graniero of New York City is in her ninth season with The Washington Ballet. Her repertoire with the company includes principal roles in Ashton’s The Dream, Symphonic Variations, Balanchine’s …
Akira Iida was born in Osaka, Japan, where he began training at the age of seven. Mr. Iida studied at the Washington School of Ballet beginning with a summer scholarship …
Ayano Kimura of Japan, is in 13th season with The Washington Ballet and sixth year teaching at The Washington School of Ballet. Kimura, born in Germany, went on a short-term …
Eun Won Lee from Korea is in her third season with The Washington Ballet. She was formerly a Principal dancer with Korean National Ballet for six years and received her …
Sponsored by James Smailes and Susan Gehring
Lope Lim of Manila, Philippines, is in his second season with The Washington Ballet. He was a member of the Studio Company before being promoted to Apprentice in 2019. He …
Ariel Martínez began his ballet studies at School of Ballet Alejo Carpentier and continued his education at Fernando Alonso National Ballet School, associated with Ballet Nacional de Cuba. His instructors included Dunia Vera, Verónica Muxó, Normaria Olaechea, and Elena Cangas. He has competed in Italy, South Africa, Mexico, and Cuba, obtaining awards in many of these events, including a silver medal in the contest of the International Meeting of Academies for the Teaching of Ballet in 2014 and a gold medal for contemporary ballet performing Innovation in South Africa in 2016. In 2014 he became a company member of Ballet Nacional de Cuba, becoming a first soloist in 2016. He performed in the world premiere of Annabelle Lopez-Ochoa’s Oscurio, as well as her ballet Celeste. His repertoire includes Giselle, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Don Quixote, Coppélia, and other other ballets by noteable Cuban choreographers. Martínez is now a company member of The Washington Ballet.
Photo by XMB Photography.
Tamako Miyazaki of Tokyo, Japan, is in her 10th season with The Washington Ballet after dancing with Columbia Classical Ballet. Prior to that, Miyazaki was a member of The Washington …
Javier Morera of Havana, Cuba is in his fourth season with The Washington Ballet after dancing with the Florida Classical Ballet, where he was a Principal Guest in 2015, and …
Ashley Murphy-Wilson of Shreveport, Louisiana is in her sixth season with The Washington Ballet after dancing for 13 years with Dance Theatre of Harlem. In 2002, she trained and performed …
Stephen Kristopher Inainakame’ekuakeali’inuiokekai Nakagawa of Fontana, California began his training at the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet. He then continued to train at various schools such as the University of North …
Andile Ndlovu of Johannesburg, South Africa, is in his ninth season with The Washington Ballet, after dancing one season with TWB’s Studio Company. Ndlovu began his training in Latin American …
Born in Kanagawa, Japan, Maki enters her 20th season with The Washington Ballet after one season with The Studio Company. Before joining TWB, she danced and studied with Goh Ballet …
Samara Leila Rittinger, from North Vancouver, Canada, started her training at Anna Wyman School of Dance Arts when she was eight years old and then continued her studies at Goh …
Oscar Sanchez is in his seventh season with The Washington Ballet. Sanchez was born in Havana, Cuba in 1991 and started training at the age of 15 at The National …
Noura Sander, originally from Northern California, is in her third season with The Washington Ballet. Noura started training seriously at the age of eight at Franklin School for the Performing …
Stephanie Sorota of Glen Rock, New Jersey is in her eighth season with The Washington Ballet. She has performed in works by various choreographers including George Balanchine, Gemma Bond, Sir Anthony …
This is Mr. Tapkharov’s first season with The Washington Ballet. Mr. Tapkharov is originally from Irkutsk, Russia. He received his education at the Buryat Republican Choreographic School and the East …
Studio Company
Studio Company
Roman began his ballet training at age 12 at City Ballet School in his hometown of San Francisco. Following his years there, he began training at the San Francisco Ballet …
Ida Cacanindin grew up in Asheville, North Carolina training at Southside Dance Studio and The Ballet Conservatory of Asheville. She then spent her sophomore and junior years of high school …
Olivia DeAngelo, a native of Minnesota, is starting her first season as a Studio Company member of The Washington Ballet. In 2020, Olivia began her professional training at the Harid …
Elena deGuzman began her ballet training at age three in California. She has trained at the Philadelphia Dance Theatre, The Washington School of Ballet, The Rock School for Dance Education, …
Mario Elefante from Naples, Italy, began dance training at age 9 with modern dance in his hometown. At age 12 he joined The Ballet School of Teatro Alla Scala in …
Andrey Maciano, from São Vicente – SP Brazil, began his dancing at 7 years old with Balé Jovem de São Vicente. In 2017, Andrey participated in the YAGP Finals in …
Francesco is joining The Washington Ballet’s Studio Company following his graduation from The Washington School of Ballet’s Trainee Program (Formerly known as The Professional Training Division) as a member of …
Originally from Fayetteville, Arkansas, Jackson spent his early years moving around the U.S. playing numerous sports and adventuring outdoors. He started dancing at a small studio in Northern California where …
Charlize is from Novi, Michigan. Her classical training began at age 9 at the Academy of Russian Classical Ballet. Charlize was 14 when she received a full scholarship to attend …
Katelyn Yang was born and raised in Seattle, Washington and began dancing at the age of four. At age 16, she moved to the Netherlands to pursue professional training at …
Artistic Team
Artistic Team
Artistic Director
Currently completing his eleventh and final season as Artistic Director of BalletMet (Columbus, Ohio), Liang is credited with reinvigorating the organization through his collegiality, creativity, and authentic commitment to community building. During his tenure, BalletMet nearly doubled in size, successfully launched and completed a major capital campaign, and expanded the size and scope of its ballet school.
As a choreographer, Liang has created 21 world premieres for BalletMet. In his new role as The Washington Ballet’s senior-most artistic leader, Liang will oversee all aspects of the company, including its creative vision; its professional Company and training studio; The Washington School of Ballet, with campuses in Cathedral Heights and at THEARC in Southeast Washington, D.C.; and the organization’s robust community engagement programs.
Liang will step into the position currently held by Acting Artistic Director Trinidad Vives, who will remain with TWB through December 2023 to assist with the transition. He succeeds Julie Kent, who served as TWB’s Artistic Director from 2016 to June 2023; Septime Webre (1999–2016); and Washington Ballet founder Mary Day (1967–1999).
Liang’s appointment concludes a year-long, international search led by a dedicated Search Committee in coordination with David Mallette and his team at Management Consultants for the Arts.
Rehearsal Director
Andres Estevez began his training in Havana, Cuba, and joined Ballet Nacional de Cuba under the direction of Alicia Alonso. After several seasons, Mr. Estevez joined Ballet Clasico de la
Havana under the direction of Laura Alonso; where his career flourished…
Rehearsal Director
Tamás Krizsa, of Hungary, is in his 13th season with The Washington Ballet. Krizsa graduated from the Hungarian Dance Academy with honors in 2002. During his school years, he was …
Music Supervisor
gsales@washingtonballet.orgGlenn Sales, Pianist, has been well-known to Washington, DC audiences since his National Symphony Orchestra debut at age 14 and his subsequent invitations as soloist with NSO. Sales attended the …