| Matthew
Prescott
|
Matthew
was born in Idaho. He received his initial ballet training at Interlochen
Arts Academy in northern Michigan. He went on to train for a year
at the Joffrey/New School University before accepting a contract with
the Joffrey Ballet. After leaving the Joffrey, Matthew has danced
with companies such as Donald Byrd’s Spectrum Dance Theater, Alonzo
Kings LINES Ballet, Ballet NY, Complexions, and the Suzanne Farrell
Ballet |
| Kellye
A. Saunders
|
Ms. Saunders is currently
a principal dancer with Fugate/Bahiri, Ballet NY. Prior to that, she
danced with the Dance Theatre of Harlem where she was also a principal
dancer. She began her dance training at the Jones-Haywood School of
Ballet in Washington, DC. Ms. Saunders continued her dance education
at Le Centre de Danse International in Cannes, France under the tutelage
of Rosella Hightower, before joining DTH. Some of Ms. Saunders’ featured
roles include Firebird, Giselle, A Song for Dead Warriors, Apollo,
Serenade, Adrian (Angel on Earth), The Four Temperaments, The Moor’s
Pavane, Allegro Brillante and Fancy Free. Ms. Saunders has also appeared
as a guest artist dancing the role of The Stripper in Slaughter on
Tenth Avenue in a collaborative project with The New York City Ballet
.Some of her other guest appearances include performances with Washington
Ballet, Maryland Ballet, Ballethnic Dance Company, DC Artworks, Gala
of International Ballet Stars, Complexions Contemporary Dance and
The Metropolitan Opera. Ms. Saunders has also had extensive experience
teaching and coaching dancers at both academic and professional levels. |
| Jamal
Story
|
Once an aspiring astronomer,
Jamal Story's basic dance training (Adria Wilson, Oui Geometer, Ron
Brown) were all taken to task in hometown Los Angeles under Lula Washington,
who ushered him into the adult company during his late teens. Undecided
about what career to pursue, Jamal began earning two degrees at Southern
Methodist University in Dance Performance and TV/Radio Communications.
While there, Dallas Black Dance Theater and Fort Worth/Dallas Ballet
among others opened up their doors for replacement and guest artist
gigs. Never one to leave his roots behind, Jamal continued his close
ties to Lula, joining the company for various touring dates. After
college, Jamal danced with Donald Byrd/theGroup, Madonna’s 2001 Drowned
World Tour and Complexions. Cher’s Living Proof: The Farewell Tour
gave Jamal an opportunity to explore his gymnastics background to
tackle aerial work. Immediately thereafter, he was called back into
the studio with Donald Byrd to help discover the movement for the
history-making Broadway show, The Color Purple, where he spent the
duration of its run as a dancer and assistant dance captain. In addition
to choreographing for Cincinnati Ballet, Kathy Chamberlain Ballet
and Dallas Black Dance Theater, Jamal continues his advocacy for educating
young artists about the changing landscape of dance. Jamal is currently
dancing for Cher at Caesar’s Palace in Las Vegas and completing work
on the first workshop for his choreopoem, The Soul in My Purse.
|
| Francesca
Harper
|
Conceptual pop artist,
Francesca Harper, blends original choreography, dance, music and film
to create groundbreaking works that are category-defying. Harper was
raised in New York City, where she studied at the School of American
Ballet, the Joffrey Ballet School, The Ailey School, and under Madame
Darvash and Barbara Walczak. After performing with the Dance Theater
of Harlem, she danced as a principal in William Forsythe’s Ballett
Frankfurt from 1994-1999. Since returning to the States in 2000, Harper
has performed in several Broadway productions including Fosse, The
Producers, The Frogs and The Color Purple. She most recently played
Helene, a Principal Role, opposite Molly Ringwald in a national tour
of Sweet Charity. Harper’s choreographhas been seen at the Holland
Dance Festival, Ailey II, Tanz Graz and her own company, The Francesca
Harper Project, which has become the platform for her own artistic
vision: classical dance forms deconstructed and fused with cutting-edge
text, music, film and video. As a singer and lyricist Harper has released
singles in Europe and Japan. In November 2003, her single Would I?
was released on Powerhouse Records. In 2006, she released her debut
solo album Modo Fusion with 10 original tracks of soul-inspired R&B
and electronica.
"Harper, who has the physique of a modern goddess had the audience
on the edge of its seats. One would like to see more of a performer
with such phenomenal presence."
- The Oakland Tribune
|
| Meredith
Webster
|
Meredith Webster grew
up in Manitowoc, Wisconsin studying with Jean Wolfmeyer. She attended
the Harid Conservatory and Pacific Northwest Ballet School, and earned
a Bachelor of Science in Environmental Science from the University
of Washington in 2003. Before moving to San Francisco, Meredith worked
in Seattle with Spectrum Dance Theater (Artistic Director, Donald
Byrd), and Sonia Dawkins' Prism Dance Theater. This fall, she was
honored with a Princess Grace Award in dance. This is Meredith's third
season with LINES. |
| Brett
Conway
|
Brett was born in
Fort Wayne, Indiana, where he began his dance training at the Fort
Wayne Ballet School. He continued at the Virginia School of the Arts,
Joffrey Ballet School, and Boston Ballet School. Brett has been a
guest artist with KUNST-STOFF and the Sacramento Ballet. This is Brett's
sixth season with LINES Ballet. |
| Elizabeth
Mason
|
Elizabeth Mason was
born in Virginia, USA. She received her first ballet training at the
Kirov Academy of Ballet in Washington D.C. Later she was trained at
the John Cranko-School in Stuttgart. As a student, Elizabeth Mason
took part in the „Prix de Lausanne“ in January 2000, where she danced
e.g. an especially created piece by Douglas Lee, A Green Place. She
was awarded as Semi Finalist. After graduating in 2001, she became
apprentice at the Stuttgart Ballet. In the season 2002/03, she was
taken into the Corps de ballet. In the season 2005/06 she was promoted
to Demi-Soloist and in 2007/08 to Soloist. She has danced many leading
roles in both Classical and contemporary. Further roles were created
for Elizabeth Mason by Douglas Lee in Viewing Room and by Kevin O’Day
in Igor Poems. She joined the Stuttgart Ballet on tours to Paris,
Luxembourg, Switzerland, the USA, Egypt, South Korea, Hong Kong, Thailand
and Japan.
|
| Marijn
Rademaker
|
Marijn Rademaker was
born in Nijmegen, Netherlands. He started his ballet training in Nijmegen
and then went to the National Ballet Academy in Amsterdam (1991-1992).
Afterwards he was trained at the Arnheim Institute for the Arts (1992-96)
and completed his studies at the Royal Conservatory in Den Haag in
2000. In 1998 and 1999 Marijn Rademaker took part in a ballet competition
of the “Young Dancer” foundation of Alexandra Radius and Han Ebbelaar,
where he won the Grace Prize in 1999. In 2000/2001, Marijn Rademaker
became a member of the Corps de ballet at the Stuttgart Ballet. At
the beginning of the season 2004/05 he was promoted to Demi-Soloist.
After his highly successful debut as Armand in The Lady of the Camellias
in July 2006 Reid Anderson promoted him immediately after the performance
to Principal Dancer. |
| Tiit
Helimets
|
Tiit Helimets was
born in Viljandi, Estonia and received his ballet training at the
Tallinn Ballet School. In 1996 Mr. Helimets joined the Estonian National
Ballet as a soloist, and was appointed a principal dancer, within
six months, that same year. Mr. Helimets' repertoire included Prince
Desire and Bluebird in The Sleeping Beauty, Albrecht in Giselle, Siegfried
in Swan Lake, Romeo in Romeo and Juliet and Daphnis in Daphnis and
Chloe. In 1999 Mr. Helimets joined the Birmingham Royal Ballet and
was promoted to principal dancer in 2002. Notable for being an elegant
classical dancer and superb partner, Mr. Helimets joined the San Francisco
Ballet as a Principal in 2005. |
| Molly
Smolen
|
Born in Philadelphia,
Molly Smolen trained at the Pennsylvania Academy of Ballet under John
White and Margarita de Saa. At 14 she joined American Ballet Theatre
and from 1997 to 1999 she performed as a guest artist with the Estonian
National Ballet. Molly joined BRB as a Soloist in 1999 and was promoted
to Principal in 2002. Her performance of Five Brahms Waltzes in the
Manner of Isadora Duncan brought her critical acclaim in many countries.
She has shone in roles as diverse as the Siren in Prodigal Son and
Maggie in Hobson's Choice. She is also a sparkling classical dancer,
dancing most of the leading classical roles with the Estonian Ballet
before she was 21. Molly joined San Francisco Ballet as a Principal
in 2006. Her Awards include: Bronze medal and the Prix de Nina Ricci
for Artistic Excellence at the Varna International Ballet Competition;
bronze medal at the Osaka International Ballet Competition, 1995;
Critics' Circle nomination for Newcomer of the Year (2000). Tiit Helimets
and Molly Smolen are principal dancers with San Francisco Ballet.
They are married to each other and married to dance. |
| Rubinald
Rofino Pronk
|
Rubinald Rofino Pronk
was born and raised in The Hague, Netherlands. He received his training
at the Royal Conservatory of Dance and joined the Dutch National Ballet
at 16, where he danced as a soloist and performed works by several
leading choreographers such as William Forsythe, George Balanchine,
Martha Graham, Frederic Ashton, and Jacopo Godani, to name a few.
In 2006 he joined Dwight Rhoden and Desmond Richardson’s Complexions
Contemporary Ballet in New York City, where he toured extensively
and performed works by Dwight Rhoden and Ulysses Dove. His awards
include the presitgious Alexandre Radius Prize for the best dancer
of Holland and two nominations for the VSCD “Silver Swan” award for
best performance of the year. Elsevier Magazine named him “Holland’s
sexiest ballet dancer ever.” Jacoby & Pronk are also principal
dancers with Morphoses/The Wheeldon Company. |
| Drew
Jacoby
|
Drew Jacoby, hailed
“guest dance goddess” by Ballet-Dance Magazine, is from Boise, Idaho.
She received her training at the School of American Ballet, San Francisco
Ballet, and Pacific Northwest Ballet. While at PNB, she performed
ballets by George Balanchine, Kent Stowell, Val Caniparoli, and Michael
Smuin. At 17 Drew joined Lines Ballet in San Francisco, where she
was made a principal dancer and had works created on her by award-winning
choreographer Alonzo King. She was a guest star in Sylvie Guillem’s
2005 Japan tour, performing featured roles in ballets by Sir Kenneth
MacMillan and Alberto Alonso. Since moving to New York CIty in 2007,
she has had works created on her by acclaimed choreographers Lar Lubovitch
and Dwight Rhoden. While dancing with Complexions Contemporary Ballet
for a portion of 2007, she was featured in William Forsythe’s Herman
Schmerman, alongside Desmond Richardson. A Princess Grace Award winner,
a Level 1 Award recipient from the National Foundation for Advancement
in the Arts, and Dance Magazine’s “It” Girl, Drew is “known for her
sumptuous extensions and powerhouse attack.” (Dance Magazine) Jacoby
& Pronk are also principal dancers with Morphoses/The Wheeldon
Company. |
Hayna
Gutierrez
|
Born
August 14th, 1981. Hayna began her studies at the Provincial Ballet
School “Alejo Carpentier” in Havana and finished them at the National
School of Ballet in 1998 under the guidance of outstanding professors.
As a student she won important awards, among them the Gold Medals
and the Prize of the Fine Arts Institution (in 1993 and 1994) and
Silver Medal (1997) at first, second and third International Ballet
Students Contest held in Havana. Her previous experience before
her professional career includes her participation in the cultural
agreements with Mexico, the “Alicia Alonso” Dance Professorship
in Spain and the International Ballet Contest of Varna, Bulgaria.
In 1998 she joined Ballet Nacional de Cuba under Alicia Alonso’s
technical and artistic direction and she danced her way up to First
Dancer, when she left BNC in December 2007 she was one of the four
First dancers in this company. With the BNC she has toured many
countries such as: pain, France. Italy,Portugal, England, Holland,
China, Egypt, Tunes, Mexico, Brazil, Argentina, Chile, Canada, Cuba,USA,Panama,Costa
Rica,Venezuela,etc. Her repertoire includes the leading role in
ballets such as: Swan Lake ( Odile, Odette), Giselle, Don Quixote
(Kitri), La Bayadere (Gamzatti), The Nutcracker (Sugar Plum), La
Silfide ( Mazurka, Vals), Coppelia ( Swanilda), Tchaikovsky pas
de deux, Le corsaire pas de deux, Flames of Paris, Spartacus pas
de deux, Tema y Variaciones, Ballo de la Regina (Balanchine), Sleeping
beauty, Romeo & Juliet (Juliet), Le Grand pas de quatre. She
was promoted to Premier Dancer in April 2005. Hayna has been invited
to many international Ballet Galas, recently she attended in August
2007 the Gala for the Celebration of the 150th Anniversary of the
Principal Theater in Chile, Unesco Ballet Galas Madrid 2006 and
2007. Hayna performed a spectacular Swan Lake with the Cuban Classical
Ballet of Miami on February, 2008 at the Filmore Theater in Miami
Beach and has been the principal guest dancer for this company since
her arrival in the US. Hayna is currently a Principal Dancer with
the Cuban Classical Ballet of Miami.
|
Miguel
Angel Blanco
|
Born
in Havana, he began his ballet training in 1991 at the Provincial
School of Ballet «Alejo Carpentier» and continued it
at the National School of Ballet, under the guide of Professors
Marta Bosch, Silvia Rodríguez, Lena Delgado and Mirta Hermida.
When graduating in 2001 he joined the Ballet Nacional de Cuba under
the technical and artistic direction of Alicia Alonso. With our
main dancing Company, he has performed in Mexico, Venezuela, the
Dominican Republic, the United States, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy,
and the People's Republic of China. His repertoire includes the
soloists' leading roles of the great romantic-classic tradition
of the 19th century: Don Quixote, Swan Lake, Nutcracker, Giselle,
and Sleeping Beauty. He has also performed in Cuban and foreign
choreographers' contemporary works, among them; Vital Song, Please,
do not limit me; Majísimo, Suite generis, Carmen, and Shakespeare
and his masks or Romeo and Juliet. In 2003, he was promoted to the
category of First Soloist. In 2005, he was promoted to BNC principal
dancer. Now, he is one of the most outstanding masculine figures
of the youngest generation of dancers of the Cuban school of ballet.
Miguel Angel is currently a Principal Dancer with the Cuban Classical
Ballet of Miami.
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