Sacramento Ballet Dancers
COMPANY
Darwin Black
Birthplace: Newark, NJ
Previous Affiliations: Miami Contemporary Dance Company
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2008.
Darwin began dancing at Newark Arts High School under the direction of Ronnie D. Carney and Kim Richardson. After graduation, he trained for a year as a fellowship student at the Alvin Ailey School of Dance. Following his training at the Ailey School, he joined Miami Contemporary Dance Company under the direction of Ray Sullivan. He has appeared as a guest artist with both Adams Company Dance and Connecticut Ballet Theater. Darwin is pleased to be a member of the Sacramento Ballet.
Kirsten Bloom
Birthplace: Cleveland, OH
Previous Affiliations: Southern Ballet Theatre, Suzanne Farrell Ballet Company
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 1995.
Currently on maternity leave. Kirsten Bloom has performed leading roles in numerous ballets including Romeo & Juliet (Juliet), Hamlet (Ophelia), Don Quixote (Kitri), Swan Lake (Odette/Odile), The Nutcracker (The Sugar Plum Fairy), Giselle (Giselle), and The Sleeping Beauty (Aurora). In Balanchine repertory, she has performed principal roles in Serenade, Rubies, Western Symphony, Apollo, Theme and Variations, Who Cares?, The Four Temperaments, Agon, Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux, Scotch Symphony, Stars & Stripes , and The Prodigal Son. Ms. Bloom has also danced the lead in Ron Cunningham’s Carmina Burana and Bolero and created the role of Blanche in his A Streetcar Named Desire, and Lucy in his Dracula. She was featured in an episode of Law and Order and was cast as “The Ballerina” in a work by Patricia Birch (Grease). Kirsten enjoys reading, wine tasting, and spending time with her dog Lucca.
Rachelle Butler
Birthplace: Madison, WI
Previous Affiliations: Sacramento Ballet Apprentice, Madison Ballet, and Ballet Chicago Studio Company
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2007.
Rachelle is happy to be returning for her 3rd season with the Sacramento Ballet as a full company member. Some of her favorite roles have been Ave Maria Pas De Deux, Principle couple in Allegro Brilliante, and Stairway solo in Who Cares. She began her training in Madison, WI, her hometown, and went on to train with the Rock School, Miami City Ballet School, and School of Ballet Chicago. In her off time Rachelle likes to read, watch Discovery Science, and cook. She thanks W. Earle Smith for inspiration and constant faith in her as a person as well as a dancer.
Stefan Calka
Birthplace: Albany, NY
Previous Affiliations: Le Grand Ballet Canadiens de Montreal
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2004.
Stefan is a graduate of Indiana University where he trained with the legendary Violette Verdy. There he performed the roles of the Cavalier in The Nutcracker and Siegfried in Swan Lake. In his five years with The Sacramento Ballet, he has danced principal roles in The Sleeping Beauty (Prince Desire), Ron Cunningham’s Bolero, Carmina Burana (Blue Couple), and created the role of Jonathan Harker in Dracula. Stefan has also danced featured roles in Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs (One for My Baby), Trey McIntyre’s Like a Samba and Wild Sweet Love as well as in George Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments (Third Theme), Western Symphony (Adagio), Scotch Symphony, and Serenade (Waltz Couple). He has toured China with John Clifford’s production of Casablanca and assisted him in staging Balanchine ballets for the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballets. Stefan’s interests include classical guitar, musical composition, philosophy, and choreography.
Roberto Cisneros
Birthplace: Hayward, CA
Previous Affiliations: Smuin Ballet, Sierra Nevada Ballet, Sacramento Ballet Apprentice
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2009.
Roberto Cisneros began his serious ballet training at the Academy of Ballet under the direction of Richard Gibson and Zory Karah. At the age of nine, Roberto began performing with the Smuin Ballet of San Francisco where he eventually became a company member and stayed for the next eight years. His roles of pride with Smuin Ballet consist of: Pinocchio (Pinocchio), Medea (Son), The Christmas Ballet (Little Drummer Boy), Dancin’ With Gershwin (It Ain’t Necessarily So), and the 10th Anniversary for Smuin Ballet (Homeless). Last season Roberto was offered an apprenticeship with the Sacramento Ballet and this year he is so excited to have been given the opportunity to come back to the Sacramento Ballet as a full-fledged company member.
Timothy Coleman
Birthplace: Townsville, Australia
Previous Affiliations: San Diego City Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2006.
Timothy began his training at Ann Roberts School of Dance before moving to the Marie Walton-Mahon Dance Academy and later training at The National Theatre Ballet in Melbourne, Australia under Beverly Jane Fry. He has enjoyed performing several of George Balanchine’s ballets including Tarantella, Stars and Stripes (El Capitan), and Apollo (Apollo) as well as dancing the principal role in Valse Fantasie. Since joining The Sacramento Ballet last year he has appeared in Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs (Softly As I Leave You), George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, and Scotch Symphony, Septime Webre’s D-Construction and Where The Wild Things Are (Max’s Toy) as well as Ron Cunningham’s Etosha and The Nutcracker. The highlight of last season for Timothy was dancing the role of The Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty. In his spare time, he enjoys origami, designing dancewear, and spending time with his girlfriend Heidi.
Alexandra Cunningham
Birthplace: Baltimore, MD
Previous Affiliations: Sacramento Ballet Apprentice
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2006.
Alexandra is excited to return for her fifth season with the Sacramento Ballet. With the Sacramento Ballet she has been delighted to perform the title role in Ron Cunningham’s Alice in Wonderland, as well as in his Bolero, Carmina Burana and A Woman’s Journey. She has also enjoyed appearing in George Balanchine’s Concerto Barocco, Serenade, Donizetti Variations, and Stars and Stripes, and Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs (Somethin’ Stupid). Other career highlights include working with Trey McIntyre, Amy Sweirt, Sidra Bell, Matthew Neenan, Ron de Jesus, John Selya, Helen Pickett and Nolan T’sani. Alexandra trained under Barbara Crockett and has attended summer intensives at Springboard Danse Montreal, Juilliard, Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet, Boston Ballet, Harid Conservatory, and The Kirov Academy. In her free time, Alexandra enjoys traveling, editing the dancer’s website, yoga, bike riding and playing with cats! She is currently deferring admission from UC Berkeley, and looks forward to attending school full time in the future.
Roy Gan
Nicole Haskins
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Previous Affiliations: Westside Ballet
Named Apprentice in 2005. Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2006.
In her fifth season with the Sacramento Ballet, Nicole was most recently featured as Alice in Ron Cunnigham’s Alice in Wonderland. Previously with the company she has danced in George Balanchine’s Four Temperments (Melancholic), Scotch Symphony (Scotch Girl), Concerto Barocco, Allego Brilliante, Serenade, and Donizetti Variations, Ron Cunningham’s Etosha, Carmina Burana, and The Nutcracker (Rose, Lead Marzipan, Solo Candy Cane), Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty (Fairy of Happiness, Pas de Cinq), Septime Webre’s Fluctuating Hemlines, David Lichine’s Graduation Ball (Fouette Competition), and Amy Seiwart’s end quote. She has danced in premieres by John Selya, Sidra Bell, and Ron de Jesus. Nicole received her training from the Westside School of Ballet under the direction of Yvonne Mounsey, where she was a recipient of the Rosemary Valaire Scholarship and was a 2004 Los Angeles Music Center Spotlight Award winner. Nicole’s choreography has been chosen three times for the McCallum Theater’s Dancing Under the Stars Choreographic Competition, and this year she has been selected for the prestigious New York Choreographic Institute.
Chloe Horne
Birthplace: Reno, NV
Previous Affiliations: The Foundry
Named Trainee in 2005. Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2008.
Chloe received her primary training from Deane Dance Center and The San Francisco Conservatory of Dance (Summer Lee Rhatigan). In the 08-09 Season she enjoyed dancing a variety of ballets, some that required acting. She found this to be a wonderful new side of dance and looks forward to working on theatrical pieces in the future. Before coming to dance for Sacramento Ballet, Chloe danced with the San Francisco based company The Foundry (Alex Ketley and Christian Burns) where she was integral to the creation of works involving processes such as improvising outdoors, working with poets and going to Residency programs around the country. Through SFCD, she has performed works by William Forsythe, Jiri Kylian and many other Bay Area choreographers. Chloe is overjoyed to have married her long-time friend Josiah Horne this past summer and is endlessly grateful for their union. Chloe would like to thank all of those who help keep the ballet strong. She believes in dance as a medium to share good and loves being a part of it.
Rachel Speidel Little
Birthplace: Saginaw, MI
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2009.
Rachel began her career as a member of Milwaukee Ballet II, and then went on to dance with the Channel Islands Ballet and with the Oakland Ballet. Recently, she has appeared with Les Grands Ballet Canadiens de Montreal, Madison Ballet, Sierra Nevada Ballet, and Ballet de Teatres Generalitat Valenciana in Valencia, Spain. She spent her early training at the Flint School of Performing Arts in Flint, Michigan under the tutelage of Karen Mills-Jennings and Ruth Leney-Midkiff, and subsequently went on to study full time at the Joffrey Ballet School in New York. Her performance highlights include principal and soloist roles in ballets by George Balanchine, Yves de Bouteiller, Phillipe Trehet, and W. Earle Smith. She has also performed in numerous pieces by such notable choreographers as Dwight Rhoden, Peter Quanz, Mark Dendy, Bronislava Nijinska, Eugene Loring, Jean-Paul Comelin, Inma Rubio Thomas, Michael Lowe, Robert Garland, Twyla Tharp, and Kathryn Posin. Rachel is pleased and excited for the opportunity to work with the Sacramento Ballet.
Isha Lloyd
Birthplace: Helena, MT
Previous Affiliations: Sacramento Ballet Apprentice, Artisan Dance
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2009.
Isha studied privately under the love and guidance of Sallyann Mulcahy and performed with Artisan Dance for seven years before moving to Seattle as a trainee with the Pacific Northwest Ballet under the direction of Francia Russel as well as Peter Boal, where she was offered a position with the Sacramento Ballet. She has enjoyed performing Kent Stowell’s Swan Lake, the lead in Balanchine’s Valse Fantasie, Michael Smuin’s Frankie & Johnny, Le Corsaire, Flames of Paris and most notably the lead in Carmen with Artisan Dance as well as Sallyann Mulcahy’s Trois Femme and the solo Separation. Isha has also been a part of many world premieres by choreographers such as Amy Seiwert, Matthew Neenan, Viktor Kabaniaev, Sonia Dawkins, Melissa Barak, Brian Reeder, and Sallyann Mulcahy. Outside of dance Isha enjoys teaching IM=X Pilates, cooking, traveling, trapshooting and spending time with family and friends. She is currently coninuing her education through the University of Montana.
Brik Middlekauff
Birthplace: Carmichael, CA
Named Apprentice in 2005. Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2007.
Brik trained with Barbara Crockett at Crockett-Deane Ballet in Sacramento and attended summer intensive programs with Pittsburgh Ballet Theatre, Atlanta Ballet, and at Alonzo King’s LINES Ballet. She performed with the Sacramento Ballet in child and student roles for more than 15 years before being invited to become an apprentice with the Company. Previously with the company she has danced in Ron Cunningham’s Bolero, Romeo & Juliet (friend of Juliet), and The Nutcracker (Solo Candy Cane, Rose), George Balanchine’s Western Symphony, Stars and Stripes, Serenade (Four Russian Girls), Concerto Barocco, Scotch Symphony, and Donizetti Variations, Petipa’s The Sleeping Beauty (Fairy of Happiness, Pas de Cinq), Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs (One For My Baby), Trey McIntyre’s Wild Sweet Love, as well as the company’s annual Modern Masters and Beer & Ballet series.
Sunchai Muy
Birthplace: Long Beach, CA
Previous Affiliations: Long Beach Ballet
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2002. Rejoined in 2008.
Sunchai began his ballet training at Long Beach Ballet under the direction of David Wilcox. As a student, his choreography for the school’s Junior Company was selected for performance at the Regional Dance America/Pacific festival in 1999, 2000, 2001, and 2002. Joining the Sacramento Ballet in 2002, he worked with choreographers Ron Cunningham, Dwight Rhoden, Septime Webre, Alan Hineline, Val Caniparolli, Trey McIntyre, and Amy Seiwert. In 2004 his piece, Untamed Prodigies was chosen to close the Sacramento Ballet’s 2004 Modern Masters Series. Sunchai has danced with Holland America Cruise Line and is excited to return this season to dance with the Sacramento Ballet.
Christopher B. Nachtrab
Birthplace: Long Island, New York
Previous Affiliations: The Richmond Ballet
Joined Sacramento Ballet: 2009
Christopher began his dance training under the tutelage and guidance of his mother, Susan Nachtrab, in his native New York. He continued his dance studies at Indiana University’s Jacobs School of Music with Violette Verdy, Guoping Wang and Virginia & Jacques Cesbron. While at Indiana University he performed principal roles in such ballets as Gerald Arpino’s Viva Vivaldi!, George Balanchine’s Who Cares?, and Asaf Messerer’s Spring Waters. After graduating magna cum laude with a degree in Ballet and Comparative Literature, Christopher continued on to begin his professional career with The Richmond Ballet. Some of his most memorable performances have been in George Balanchine’s Mozartiana (The Gigue), Val Caniporoli’s Djangology ("Si, j’aime Suzy” Pas de Deux) and Malcolm Burn’s Cinderella (Stepsister). For his many accomplishments, Mr. Nachtrab has been the recipient of various performance awards including the Marina Svetlova Memorial Award and the Verdy Award for Ballet Excellence. In his free time he dedicates his energy towards the youth of his home community as the resident choreographer for “The Elite Corps de Ballet of Long Island.” Christopher is also an accomplished stage actor and has appeared most notably in the role of Puck in Benjamin Britten’s opera A Midsummer Night’s Dream.
Amanda Peet
Birthplace: San Francisco, CA
Previous Affiliations: Utah Regional Ballet
Named Apprentice in 2002. Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2003.
In her sixth season with the Sacramento Ballet, Amanda has performed leading roles in Trey McIntyre’s Wild Sweet Love, Like A Samba, and The Illuminations. She has danced in Balanchine’s The Four Temperaments, Who Cares?, Serenade, Allegro Brillante, Western Symphony and Concerto Barocco. She created the role of Mina in Ron Cunningham’s Dracula and has danced leading roles in his Bolero, Carmina Burana, Etosha, The Firebird and as The Sugar Plum Fairy in The Nutcracker. Other credits include The Sleeping Beauty (Lilac Fairy), Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Song’s (That’s Life), Kathy Posin’s Scheherazade, George Balanchine’s Donizetti Variations. In 2006 she was featured in Dance Magazine as the September “Dancer on the Rise.” Amanda received her training from Contra Costa Ballet, Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and City Ballet in San Francisco, and then The San Francisco Ballet School. She enjoys surfing, fashion, and spending time with friends and family.
Ilona Pociunas
Birthplace: Los Angeles, CA
Previous Affiliations: Sacramento Ballet Apprentice, Santa Monica Contemporary Ballet, Earth Walk Dance Co.
Named Apprentice in 2001. Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2003.
Ilona Pociunas was born and raised in Los Angeles, CA and began dancing at age five. She trained at “Westside Ballet” in Santa Monica, CA under the direction of Yvonne Mounsey. She also trained at School of American Ballet in New York City at fourteen years old. Ilona danced with the Sacramento Ballet previously from 2001-2006 and is excited to return this Nutcracker season to perform with the company once again. Some of her previous roles have been in The Nutcracker (Rose & Arabian), Ron Cunningham’s Dracula (Vampire) and Carmina Burana, and George Balanchine’s Serenade and Concerto Barocco. She has also worked with Nolan T’Sani, John Selya, and Kathy Posin, and John Clifford’s production of Casablanca. She recently performed in the Nuskin 25th Anniversary Awards Night show as a “Rockette Dancer” under the direction of Michelle Zeitlin (More Zap Productions) at the Nokia Theatre in Los Angeles. Currently, Ilona is on staff teaching ballet at “Westside Ballet,” attending college at St. Mary’s College LEAP (Liberal Education for Arts Professionals) Program, freelancing in Los Angeles with various dance companies, and has also received a massage therapy certification in 2008. Ilona is excited to be back and would like to send her thanks to all of her family and friends for their loving support.
Richard Porter
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Previous Affiliations: West Australian Ballet, Melbourne Ballet Company
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2008.
Born in Melbourne, Australia Richard received a scholarship to study at Dance World 301, where he trained for four years. Following this, he continued his studies at the Australian Ballet School. In 2003 Richard joined the West Australian Ballet performing such works as Simon Dow’s world premiere of La Boheme, Cinderella, The Red Shoes and Dangerous Liaisons as well as Ted Branson’s Romeo & Juliet. Other works included Matjash Mrozewski’s Soft Punch, Chrissie Parrott’s A Midsummer Nights Dream, Frances Ring’s Debris and Kim McCarthy’s 19. In 2008 Richard joined the Melbourne Ballet Company for their Season of New Modern Works. Since joining the Sacramento Ballet, he has enjoyed performing in Ron Cunningham’s Bolero, The Nutcracker (Snow King and The Sugar Plum Fairy’s Cavalier), as well as Michael Smuin’s Frankie & Johnny (Johnny). Richard enjoys surfing, golf and playing guitar.
Richard Smith
Birthplace: Sydney, Australia
Previous Affiliations: Urban Ballet Theatre, Australian Ballet, Manhattan Youth Ballet
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2008.
Richard began studying in a variety of dance styles before moving to La Vive Classique Academy of Dance in 1999. Three years later, he was accepted into the Australian Ballet School where he was chosen to perform in Jiří Kylián’s Evening Songs, Sinfonietta and Lossen Yellov. In his final year he appeared with the Australian Ballet Company in the opening ceremony of the 2006 Commonwealth Games, and was chosen to perform with them in their season of Scheherazade. Also joining the Australian Ballet on their Dancers Company Tour (Classical Triple Bill), he performed in Graduation Ball (Lead Junior Cadet) and in Sleeping Beauty, Act 3 (Ivan). Other memorable roles have included Swan Lake (Hungarian Cavalier), George Balanchine’s Tchaikovsky Pas de Deux and The Four Temperaments (3rd Theme), Urban Ballet Theatre’s The Nutcracker (Snow Pas de Deux, Marzipan), and Martha Graham’s Diversion of Angels (White Lead).
Megan Steffens
Birthplace: Chicago, IL
Previous Affiliations: Ballet Austin Trainee, Sacramento Ballet Apprentice
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2009.
Megan is thrilled to begin her first season as a company member with The Sacramento Ballet. As an apprentice she enjoyed dancing in such ballets as George Balanchine’s Serenade and Valse Fantasie, Stefan Calka’s Day & Night, and the role of Columbine in Ron Cunningham’s The Nutcracker. Megan began her early training at the Northwest Ballet Academy and Faubourg School of Ballet in her hometown of Schaumburg, IL. She then attended The Harid Conservatory on full scholarship for two years before moving to Texas to join Ballet Austin as a Trainee. Megan has enjoyed working with and dancing in multiple premieres by such choreographers as Mark Godden, Gina Patterson, Thang Dao, Thaddeus Davis, and Sallyann Mulcahy. Over this past summer Megan began her training to become a Pilates instructor through Balanced Body University. Megan also enjoys spending time with her friends and family, photography, music, and traveling.
Nikki Trerise
Birthplace: Helena, MT
Previous Affiliations: Smuin Ballet
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2007.
Nikki began her training with her mother, Diane Trerise, and later with the School of Classical Ballet in Billings, Montana before accepting scholarships to train with both Pacific Northwest Ballet and The National Ballet of Canada. She was a member of Smuin Ballet for six years and has danced with Oakland Ballet, Amy Seiwert’s im’ij-re, and SallyAnn Mulcahy’s Artisan Dance. This is her third season with the Sacramento Ballet where her most memorable role to date was in Ron Cunningham’s Alice in Wonderland (Alice). She is also a newly certified yoga teacher and is a founding member of Urban Art Farm.
John Whisler
Birthplace: Sacramento, CA
Named Apprentice in 2005. Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2008.
John trained with Deane Dance Center, performing with the Sacramento Ballet as a child in their annual productions of The Nutcracker. In 2005, he was invited to become an apprentice with the Sacramento Ballet, performing in numerous ballets with the company including The Nutcracker (The Nutcracker, Solo Candy Cane), George Balanchine’s Scotch Symphony and Western Symphony, as well as Ron Cunningham’s Carmina Burana. This past year he danced for and taught on the faculty for Northern California Dance Conservatory in Roseville, California. John is very excited to return to the Sacramento Ballet this season as a Company Member and is looking forward to a wonderful season. His other interests include cars, drawing, painting, hiking, camping and reading.
Heidi Zolker
Birthplace: Melbourne, Australia
Previous Affiliations: City Ballet of San Diego, State Street Ballet, Ajkun Ballet Theatre
Joined Sacramento Ballet in 2006.
Heidi trained at The National Theatre in Melbourne, Australia under Beverly Jane Fry, earning her diploma in classical ballet. Previously she has enjoyed dancing in George Balanchine’s Stars and Stripes (Liberty Bell), Tarantella (Pas de Deux), Rubies and Donizetti Variations as well as creating the role of Costanza in Chiara Ajkun’s Mozart: Epilogue of a Genius and the Pas de Deux from Diana and Acteon. Since joining the Sacramento Ballet, Heidi has performed in Balanchine’s Western Symphony, Scotch Symphony, Serenade and Concerto Barocco. She has also appeared in Septime Webre’s Where The Wild Things Are, Twyla Tharp’s Nine Sinatra Songs (Forget Domani), and in Ron Cunningham’ s Etosha, The Sleeping Beauty (Bluebird Pas de Deux), and The Nutcracker. Heidi enjoys arts and crafts, wildlife, summer days, and chocolate.
APPRENTICES
Alex Biber
Jessica Lawrence
CHARACTER ARTIST
Nolan T’Sani
Mr. T’Sani performed as a soloist with the New York City Ballet for ten years partnering some of the great ballerinas of our time such as Suzanne Farrell, Gelsey Kirkland, Patricia McBride, and Allegra Kent. Returning to Sacramento, he became Artistic Director of the Capitol City Ballet and also served as ballet master with the Hong Kong Ballet and Ballet du Nord. He is currently on the faculty of CSUS and is a frequent guest performer and teacher for The Sacramento Ballet.
BALLET MISTRESS/CHARACTER ARTIST
Lynlee Towne
Ms. Towne began her training with Mendocino Ballet under the guidance of Mary Knight. She danced with Sacramento Ballet for seven seasons, where she performed some of her favorite roles, including Fortuna in Ron Cunningham’s Carmina Burana and Lady Capulet in his Romeo & Juliet. Lynlee also danced with her mentor Robert Kelley at Fort Wayne Ballet, in addition to performing at BalletMet, Ballet Austin, Oakland Ballet, Liss Fain Dance Company, and Mark Foehringer Dance Project. For fellow Sacramento Ballet alumna Amy Seiwert’s company im’ij-re with whom she collaborated for 10 years, she created roles in lessness and Passive Aggression. Lynlee has also acted as an instructor for Marin Ballet, San Francisco School of the Arts, San Francisco Dance Center, and Mendocino College.
