Young Gyu Choi – Basilio
The South Korean dancer Young Gyu Choi joined Dutch National Ballet in 2011 as a member of the corps de ballet. In 2013, he was promoted no less than twice: first to coryphée and later in the year to soloist. He then danced leading roles in Don Quixote and Cinderella, among others. On the first of January 2016, immediately after his debut as the prince in The Nutcracker and The Mouse King, he was promoted to principal.

Immediately after reaching the final of the Prix de Lausanne in 2006, Young transferred to the Tanz Akademie in Zurich, where he studied for two years. He then temporarily returned to Korea; although he already knew by then that he wanted to dance in Europe, he still had to get out from under military service. He succeeded initially by studying at Sun Hwa Arts School for another period, and finally for good by winning the gold medal at the Youth America Grand Prix in New York in 2009.

Young has more major awards to his name. At the Youth America Grand Prix, he already won a silver medal in 2005 and a bronze in 2007. In 2006, he took second place at the prestigious International Ballet Competition in Varna, and in 2010 he won the award there for ‘best performance in a contemporary choreography’. He also won first prize at the Boston International Competition in 2010. In Amsterdam, he was awarded the Alexandra Radius Prize in 2017 and in October 2022 he won the Swan for ‘Most Impressive Dance Performance’ from the Association of Theatre and Concert Hall Directors for his performance in Toer van Schayk’s 7e Symfonie. From the British dance magazine Dance Europe, Young received the honourable mention ‘Outstanding performance by a male dancer’ in 2020, 2021 and 2022. In 2022, the magazine also nominated him, alongside eleven other top international soloists, for the Dancer of the Year Award.

Olesia Shaytanova , was born in Ukraine( Crimea , Sevastopol) (10.07.1995) In 2013 Olesia Shaytanova graduated from the Kyiv State Ballet School with honours. In that same year she became a soloist with the Ukraine National Opera and Ballet Theatre, and since 2016 she has been a principle with the LNOBT. Her awards include first prize at the 6th Rudolf Nureyev International Ballet competition in Budapest (2013), first prize at the 4th International Istanbul Ballet competition (2014) and first prize at the 5th Beijing International Ballet Invitational for Dance Schools (Dance Performance Series; 2014). With various companies O. Shaytanova performed in Greece, Italy, Japan, Germany, Portugal ,Poland , UK, China ,Korea, USA  and etc. 

2018 ( LNOBT) – special prize for the best young ballerina ( Lithuania)

2022-  soloist of the year ( 2021-2022) , the best female dancer in Lithuania ( LNOBT) 

Worked with choreographers: Manuel Legris , Wayne MacGregor, Martynas Rimeikis , Krzysztof Pastor , Angelika Cholina , Itzik Galili 

2022- the best ballet soloist of the year ( 2021-2022) ( LNOBT) Lithuania The dancer has previously created the roles of Odette and Odile (“Swan Lake”), Bluebird and Princess Aurora (“The Sleeping Beauty”), Clara (“The Nutcracker”), Kitri (“Don Quixote”), Giselle (“Giselle”), Juliet (“Romeo and Juliet”), Medora and Gulnara (“Le Corsaire”), Gamzatti and Nikiya (“La Bayadere”), Cinderella (“Cinderella”), Snow White (“Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs”), Paquita (“Paquita”), Infra ( MacGregor) , Process ( Martynas Rimeikis) , Le Corsaire ( by Manuel Legris ) , R&J ( by Krzysztof Pastor ) , The Queen of Spades ( Anželika Cholina ) and etc.

Denys Nedak- Espada

Denys born in Odessa, Ukraine. In 2005, he began to study in the Kyiv Municipal Ukraine Dance Academy, named after Serge Lyfar. While in the Academy he was invited to perform at the National Opera House in Kyiv, where he danced his first professional performances as Paris in Romeo and Juliet and Prince in The Nutcracker. After graduation, Denys joined National Opera House of Ukraine in Kyiv, working under the supervision and guidance of a People’s Artist of Ukraine, N.D Pryadchenko, to create his repertoire. In 2008, Denys became principal dancer. He has become known as a performer of lyrical-romantic repertoire at National Opera House of Ukraine. In the theatre he frequently partners with leading ballerinas, including E. Filipeva, T. Golyakova, N. Matsak, U. Lopatkina, N. Polakova, V. Part and P. Herrera. In 2011, Denys was honored with the title of Merited Artist of Ukraine. His popularity in Ukraine has led to many invitations to perform at international festivals. I am a regular guest artist at the, Rudolf Nureyev International Festival of Ballet Art in Ufa. Since 2014, Denys performed as a regular guest at the National Theater of Serbia; from 2014 to 2015, as a guest dancer with American Ballet Theatre and the Vienna State Opera; from 2016 to2017, as a guest dancer in the Finnish National Opera and Ballet; and the Norwegian National Opera & Ballet. He worked with teachers, such as N. Pryadchenko, V. Yaremenko, N. Makarova, I. Kolpakova, I. Muchamedov, M. Legris, J. Boocca, and O. Evreinoff. In 2017, Denys was honored with the prestigious title of People’s Artist of the Ukraine. He now travels frequently throughout Russia, France, Italy, Germany and Japan to show his skill. Denys’ repertoire includes: Solor in La Bayadere, Basil in Don Quixote (Nureyev), Prince in The Sleeping Beauty (Ratmansky), Prince Siegfried in Swan Lake (Nureyev), Albert in Giselle, Jose and Escamilio in Carmen Suite, Jean de Brienne in Raymonda, Conrad in Le Corsaire, Prince in The Nutcracker, Krass in Spartacus, The Golden Slave in Scheherazade and Alexandre in Lady of Camellias, as well as roles in a Classic Pas de Deux (Balanchine), a Grand Pas de Deux (Ober), Silvia Pas de Deux (Balanchine), Red Giselle as Chekist (Eifman) and Touch of illusion (Ricardo

Sergiy Mykhaylov – Kitri Father

1987– 1995: attended the Kiev State Choreographic College
1995 – 1998: National Ballet of Ukraine (soloist)
During these years, he also worked as a soloist with The Classical Ballet of Paris.
1998 – 2009: Orlando Ballet (as a principal dancer under the direction of Vasiliy Petrutiu, Fernando Bujones)

During this time, he was a principal guest artist in Boca Raton Ballet, Ocala Ballet, Terada Ballet Arts Academy (Japan), Cincinnati Orchestra, Orlando City Ballet, Russian Ballet Academy, Kansas City Ballet

2001 – 2009: Sarasota Ballet (as a principal dancer, under the direction of Robert de Warren. and Ian Webb). During this time, he was principal guest artist with Central Florida Ballet, Terada Ballet Arts Academy (Japan), Orlando City Ballet, Kingsport Ballet, Steward Ballet, Russian Ballet of Alafaya

1996: Silver Medal winner at Serge Lifar International Ballet Competition in Kiev
2002: Semi-finalist in USA International Ballet Competition in Jackson, Mississippi

He has taught and choreographed at Orlando Ballet School, Terada Ballet Academy in Japan, Sarasota Ballet School, Russian Ballet School of America in Orlando, Arts Ballet Theatre of Florida (Miami), Florida Ballet Arts Academy, and more.

In 2010, Sergiy Mykhaylov with his wife Darya Fedotova proudly opened the School of Russian Ballet in Sarasota/ Bradenton. In 2022 the school changed its name to International Ballet of Florida.

Douglas Horne – Tarantella, Toreador, Gipsy

Douglas danced professionally after studying on full scholarships with American Ballet Theatre (New York), Miami City Ballet (Miami, FL), and Studio Maestro (New York). In June 2010 he was the Bronze Medal winner in the World Ballet Competition: and in June 2009 he was a finalist in The New York International Ballet Competition. Additionally, he was a semi-finalist in the renowned International Ballet Competition in Varna, Bulgaria. He won Gold in the senior classical division of the Youth American Grand Prix semifinals in Torrington, CT. In 2007 he won the Gold Medal in the senior division of the Youth Dance Festival in New Jersey. Mr. Horne has danced leading roles with the Orlando Ballet.

Roberto Vega – Toreador

Mr. Vega has been dancing with Dance Alive National Ballet from 2015. Prior to joining DANB, Mr. Vega was first soloist with the Cuban National Ballet. Mr. Vega has performed as soloist and first soloist with ballet companies all over the world, among them companies in the Dominican Republic, Canada, Nicaragua, Spain, Italy, Mexico, England, France, Australia, Puerto Rico, and the United States. He has danced leading roles in Giselle, Swan Lake, Sleeping Beauty, Don Quixote, Nutcracker, Coppelia, Theme and Variations, Napoli, La Fille Mal Gardee, Time Out of Mind, and Flames of Paris among others. Featured and principal roles at DANB include the Firebird in Gerard Ebitz’s Firebird, all principal roles in The Nutcracker, A Haunted Swan Lake, Corroboree, The Ring, Lady Bug: Action Hero, ‘Puck’ in A Midsummer Night’s Dream, L’Amour, and Don Quixote. Mr. Vega is a virtuosic and versatile dancer and has a beautiful daughter, Valeria.

Carlos de Quesada– Tarantella, Toreador, Gipsy

Carlos began his ballet education at the International Ballet of Florida under Sergiy Mikhailov and Darya Fedotova. He continued his training at the Sarasota Cuban Ballet school and The Sarasota Ballet Margaret Barbieri Conservatory. The recipient of merit scholarships, he attended summer intensives locally as well as with Bolshoi Ballet in New York, Modas Dance in New Mexico, and Oklahoma City Ballet. Carlos was awarded a full scholarship for the year round program with Joffrey Ballet School in New York. As a student Carlos has danced Don Quixote’s Basilio, Giselle’s Albrecht, The Flames of Paris’ Marseillaise, The Sleeping Beauty’s Prince Florimund as well as contemporary works. Carlos also performed the role of the Gangster Rat in John Ringling’s Circus Nutcracker and the Clown soloist in Oklahoma City Ballet’s Matthew Hart’s The Nutcracker. Carlos is currently a member of the Gulf Coast Studio Company in Sarasota where he has danced the principal role in La Vivandiere and the Pas de Deux from Paquita. This December he danced the role of The Nutcracker.

Shannon McNiven – Street Dancer, Marcedes

Shannon began dancing recreationally at age five in Washington Township, New Jersey. Within a few years, she began her formative ballet training at the International Ballet of Florida, where she was taught by Sergiy Mykhaylov and Darya Fedotova. She performed in many ballets including Snow White, The Little Mermaid, The Wizard of Oz, and The Snow Queen. At age 12 she started at Indiana Ballet Conservatory (IBC), where she was taught by Alyona Yakovleva, Sergey Sergiev and renowned former prima ballerina Tatiana Pali. During her time at IBC, she competed extensively in Youth America Grand Prix, placing Top 12 regionally from 2020-2024, 2nd for Contemporary in 2022, and first place for many ensembles over the years. She also went on to win the World Ballet Art Competition Finals in 2020 and receive Honorable Mention from the World Ballet Competition from 2022-2023. In 2023 she was invited to attend the School of the Nashville Ballet on full scholarship. After training with Anais Chalendard and Maria Konrad, working on Mazurka from Le Sylphides and graduating high school, she finished out the season at IBC before committing to be a Trainee at Orlando Ballet in August of 2024.

Brooke Wasserman – Kitri Friends

Born in Marlborough, CT. After receiving a scholarship toward her summer studies she trained at The Sarasota Ballet Academy in Sarasota, FL under the direction of Adrian Ciobanu following her initial education with founding company member Yseult Leger at the age of 12. The school’s faculty included Pavel Fomin, Isabel Dubrocq, Ludmila Lopukhova and Darya Fedotova. While studying, she was invited to perform with The Sarasota Ballet performing in Eva Peron: A Dance Portrait, Coppelia, Don Quixote and as Mary in La Boutique Fantasque. In 2008 she enrolled in the State University of New York at Purchase College where she had the opportunity to perform as a part of Dancer’s Responding to AIDS at the Joyce Theater NYC. She was also a member of the Purchase Dance Corps performing several BFA and MFA contemporary works. In 2010 she moved home to Connecticut to study with famed ballet master Alexei Tchernichov and dance with Hartford City Ballet and CONNetic Dance. 

She has taught at The Jacqueline Roach School of Dance, Dance City and The Arts, Revelle Academy, Starz Choice Dance Academy, ReFlex and International Ballet of Florida. Her classes focus on the Vaganova style of classical ballet. In 2016 and 2020 she attended weeks of the Open World Dance Foundation’s Vaganova Teacher’s Training taught by Ekaterina Shchelkanova in collaboration with Professor Mme. Ludmila Safronova of The Vaganova Academy in St. Petersburg, Russia. 

Her soloist roles have included: Jasmine in Aladdin, Zulme in Giselle, Magnolia in Snow Queen, Winter Fairy in Cinderella, and Mercedes in Don Quixote. Her repertoire includes: The Nutcracker, Giselle, Aladdin, Snow Queen, Snow White, Little Mermaid, Don Quixote, Wizard of Oz, Cinderella, Sleeping Beauty, Paquita, George Balanchine’s Serenade, Marius Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty, Vainonen’s Flames of Paris Pas De Deux, Carolyn Paine’s A Midsummer’s Night Dream, Roman Baca’s Homecoming, and Jonathan Riedel’s Verdant Fire.

Iosif Trubin-Don Quixote

Iosif Trubin professional dance artist and performer. Iosif have over 8 years of on-stage,
performing experience in front of large, live audiences. He began his journey in the
dance world at the early age of 9 years old. By the age of 14, he had become a
student at the Krasnoyarsk Choreographic College, attending an all-day intensive
ballet program taught in the Vaganova Method. Towards his senior year at the
choreographic collage, Iosif had the opportunity to participate as a company member
in Krasnoyarsk State M. Godenko Academic Dance Ensemble of Siberia. In 2018, Trubin
moved to the USA and became an academy trainee student at Orlando Ballet.
During this time, he also participated part-time with the studio company of Russian
Ballet Orlando. There Iosif was given many soloist & principal roles. After
participating in the 2021 ADC/IBC Ballet Competition, he received multiple full
tuition scholarships and trainee invitations to various schools around America.
After considering all of the scholarship opportunities, Iosif decided to become a trainee at Maryland Youth Ballet for the 2021/2022 season. Now Trubin also a full-time dancer in the studio company at Maryland Youth Ballet.

“Ballet will always be my passion and life work. I deeply enjoyed all of the experiences I have had so far
and am looking forward to the new opportunities to come. I am eager to learn
new techniques and apply my artistic abilities as a dancer within a professional company.”

Kathrine Michelle Tanner – Sancho Panza

Katherine Michelle Tanner is a professional actress, singer, director, playwright, choreographer, filmmaker and teaching artist.  She owns Tree Fort Productions, a full Theatre Company and Performing Arts Studio for all ages.  Her passion for performance has taken her from Broadway to Regional Theatre, from Film to Television and from Country to Country.  She trained at the Andahazy Classical School of Ballet and holds her M.F.A. acting from the Asolo Theatre Conservatory.  Catch her onstage in Nineteen at Tree Fort Productions Studio Theatre. or in the films Bridge to the Other Side and My Guardian Angel.  treefortproductionsprojects.com   Katherinemichelletanner.com