Stefan Calka

Stefan Calka received his formal dance training at Indiana University under the legendary Violette Verdy, whose mentorship deeply shaped his artistry and lifelong commitment to the craft.

He began his career with Les Grands Ballets Canadiens in Montreal, touring internationally and serving as assistant répétiteur for John Clifford, staging George Balanchine ballets for both the Kirov and Bolshoi Ballets during the International Balanchine Centennial Celebration. He also toured China, performing in Clifford’s Casablanca at the Great Hall of the People in Tiananmen Square, Beijing.

In 2004, Stefan joined the Sacramento Ballet, where he enjoyed a distinguished 16-year career as a Company Artist. He danced leading roles including Prince Désiré (The Sleeping Beauty), Prince Siegfried (Swan Lake), Romeo (Romeo and Juliet), Count Dracula (Dracula), and Jay Gatsby (The Great Gatsby), as well as featured roles in Carmina Burana. He was also a principal in works by George Balanchine, Twyla Tharp, Trey McIntyre, Lila York, Septime Webre, Amy Seiwert, Matthew Neenan, Darrell Grand Moultrie, Ma Cong, Jodie Gates, Edwaard Liang, and Adam Hougland, among others.

Alongside his performance career, Stefan developed a distinct choreographic voice and aesthetic. He created works for Sacramento Ballet’s Modern Masters series and the Mondavi Center for the Performing Arts, and choreographed for film projects including the feature Ukrainian Dance Movie directed by Roxy Toporowych. He also appeared in Toporowych’s documentary Folk! and in PBS’s Sugarplum Dreams: Staging the Nutcracker Ballet. He continues to choreograph and teach master classes nationwide.

A founding member of Capital Dance Project, Stefan has been a driving force in Sacramento’s arts scene, collaborating with local artists and musicians to create innovative new works. For over a decade, he has also served as teacher, ballet master, and choreographer for the Roma Pryma Bohachevsky Summer Dance Workshop, mentoring aspiring pre-professional dancers.

Since retiring from the stage in 2020, Stefan has served as Rehearsal Director for the Sacramento Ballet. In this role he works closely with choreographers, stages and maintains repertoire, oversees rehearsals and production planning, and mentors dancers through the creative process, continuing his lifelong dedication to the art of ballet.